Portfolio

The Hilbert Collection

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”698″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When Mark and Janet Hilbert bought their first home in 1993, the couple’s tight decorating budget prompted them to scour garage sales and consignment shops for reasonably priced furnishings and accessories. Delighted to find a watercolor painting they liked in an antique store, the Hilbert’s brought the piece home and hung it.

Discovering the Allure of California Scene Painting

“After looking at the painting for a period of time, we found that we really loved the watercolor medium because it has a certain spontaneity and realism,” says Mark Hilbert. “We went back to buy another painting in the same style, also discovering the book, California Style, by Orange native Gordon McClelland. The book covers the art genre known as California Scene painting.” Largely unknown in the 90s and even now, the California Scene painting movement spanning the 1930s-1970s, depicts ordinary people going about their lives doing ordinary things. Illustrating California’s historical and social history, the paintings feature the work of iconic Golden State artists like Millard Sheets, Emil Kosa Jr., Phil Dike and Rex Brandt. Some of the pieces are in oil, but most are watercolors with broad, wet strokes illustrating the dramatic and expressive style of the genre. Fascinated by the California Scene art period, the Hilberts continued acquiring paintings, eventually creating what is known as the Hilbert Collection, which currently contains approximately 500 oils, watercolors and drawings and more than 500 lithographs.

Substantial Collection

It’s uncommon to see a collection of this magnitude filled with such carefully selected pieces that are representative of the California Scene period, says Jean Stern, executive director of The Irvine Museum. “The collection is specialized and extremely high quality. The Hilberts are passionate about this period and have invested the necessary time and funds into getting the very best work.” In addition to watercolors, the collection contains some significant rare oil paintings, notes Stern. “The oils were expensive for the artists to paint, so they generally only did them for major exhibitions or as commissioned work.” As well as being less expensive, watercolors are portable and dry quickly, which allowed the artists to work on location. Janet Hilbert credits Mark for discovering much of the collection. “We have similar tastes in paintings, but Mark is the one with an incredible eye for exceptional pieces,” she says. “I’m often amazed at the paintings he uncovers.”

Museum in the Making

The Hilberts have loaned paintings from their collection to museums across the U.S., including local establishments such as Bowers Museum, Laguna Art Museum, The Irvine Museum and Long Beach Museum of Art. “During exhibitions over the years, Janet and I often heard people commenting how wonderful the genre was and how they’d never heard of the California Scene painters before,” says Hilbert. “This made us realize the value of creating a museum so that people could see examples of these paintings anytime.” After looking around Orange County for a location where the collection would be shown and appreciated, they decided to approach Chapman University. “We discovered that though Chapman has experienced tremendous growth over the last 20 years thanks to visionary leadership, they didn’t have a separate art museum that specialized in a particular genre,” says Hilbert. “We felt the collection would be a perfect fit for the university and Old Towne in particular, as it’s your quintessential California town.” When Chapman’s Executive Vice President of University Advancement, Sheryl Bourgeois, received the call from Hilbert regarding the donation of the paintings for the museum, as well as an additional $3 million to go toward building the facility, she was thrilled. “Mark and Janet are skilled collectors, and the collection is perfect for the school with its focus on California and Orange County and how the area became what it is today,” says Bourgeois, who notes that there are so many paintings in the collection that they can potentially curate endless thematic exhibitions.

Historic Villa Park Orchards Packing House

The Hilbert Museum of California Art will eventually be located in the Villa Park Orchards Packing House. Chapman’s president, Dr. James Doti, had the idea to house the museum in the building, which closed in 2006 and was once the largest citrus packing house in Orange. The permanent gallery space in the packing house won’t be ready until 2017, but the museum will have a temporary home beginning in the fall of 2015 in a facility located next to the Partridge Dance Center on Chapman University’s main campus. One painting you’ll likely see at the museum is the watercolor pictured in this issue. Rex Brandt’s “Surf’s Up On A Golden Day” is one of the Hilbert’s favorite pieces. Painted in the 1960s by Brandt, a well-known Newport Beach California Scene artist, the slightly abstract painting captures California’s natural light, “which is unique and unlike any other place on the planet except for a small section of North Africa,” says Hilbert. “California is known for introducing the surf culture throughout the world, and this painting does a marvelous job of conveying that culture.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Field of Valor

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”696″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In April 2015, when Gary Remland proposed that the Community Foundation of Orange (CFO) spearhead a Field of Valor in Handy Park on Veterans Day weekend to honor vets and raise funds for veterans’ causes, many doubted if the event could be pulled together that quickly. Remland’s faith remained unwavering, though, and the occasion surpassed the expectations of everyone involved. Consisting of a field of 1,776 8-foot-tall flags that could be purchased for $35 each to commemorate a veteran, the Field of Valor raised more than $30,000 for local veteran causes and started an annual event that will most likely prove even more successful next year. “As soon as we leaned into it, a donor came forward, and we could purchase flags. The Home Depot on Taft and Tustin in Orange provided all of the rebar for the flags, as well as donated help from employees,” says Remland, who is president of the CFO. They also got assistance from the local Rotarians, members of the CFO, the City of Orange, which donated the use of Handy Park and the lighting of the field, the Boy Scouts and students from Chapman University and Orange High School. While Remland was pleased at how seamlessly the event came together thanks to all of the help, what surprised him were the many powerful experiences that occurred when service members and citizens came together on the field. “The sheer number of the beautiful American flags on 8-foot poles created a powerful atmosphere that turned the field into a reverent place,” says Remland. “Many emotional, incredible stories were shared on the field by service members—some of which brought tears to my eyes.” Remland became privy to one such story when an Iraq veteran came up to thank a World War II veteran for his service. After the two spoke, Remland chatted with the younger veteran and soon discovered a story of awe-inspiring bravery. “The young man’s name was Art, and he had done three tours in Iraq with the Marine Corps,” says Remland. “He didn’t want to talk about himself, but instead wanted to tell me about his friend, Rafael. Born and raised in Tijuana, Rafael came to the U.S. when he turned 18 and signed up for the Marine Corps. During an intense firefight in Iraq that involved their platoon, Rafael got shot through the head, but kept fighting. During the fire fight, a grenade was tossed into the platoon, and Rafael dove on it, losing his life, but saving his brothers in the platoon. Rafael received the Navy Cross for his heroism posthumously and they named a destroyer after his last name, Peralta.” At the Field of Valor, Art got a flag in honor of Rafael, and Remland also saw that a donation was made so that Art received a flag in his name. The flags include plastic placards where information about each veteran is listed. “There were a lot of tears as a small crowd gathered on the field to honor those two brave warriors,” says Remland. “That experience was an amazing snapshot of what happened on the field during the four days.” Mike Pelly is a CFO board member and Vice Chancellor of Enrollment at Chapman University. He also found the weekend to be an inspiring one. “Listening to the veterans talk to each other about history and their experiences was a really humbling experience that gave me renewed appreciation for veterans from many walks of life,” he says. “With the slight wind in the air blowing the flags, it was a majestic scene. There was something about the vibe and energy on the field that brought out the stories of modest people that have likely gone untold for years.” All in all, the event fulfilled more than the intended objectives, notes Remland. “The vision was to help veterans out and create an environment where the CFO could draw the community together, which happened in a way that exceeded our expectations. I am so grateful for all of the volunteers that made it happen and the veterans who visited the field and have made sacrifices to serve our country.” For information about the Community Foundation of Orange and its programs, visit www.communityfoundationoforange.org.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Talk of The Towne OPLF Library Legacy Gala

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”694″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Back in the late 1990s when the City of Orange Public Library Foundation (OPLF) formed to raise funds for pending library construction, those in the group decided that a gala would get the ball rolling. Their first event in 2004 highlighted a western theme, and the following year they hosted an “Orange Crate Cabaret.” “The galas always feature fun themes, and they’re a real treat for everyone who attends,” says Priscilla Selman, secretary of the OPLF’s board and director of special events. She oversees the galas, including this year’s festivities to be held on the grounds of the new 210-acre Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center. The wilderness-themed event on Sunday, April 22nd from 4 – 9 pm will feature smoker and mesquite-grilled BBQ, beer tasting, live music, native wild animal presentations and live and silent auctions. “We’ll enjoy music from a Chapman University percussion group, as well as guitarists,” says Selman. Local history will also be shared with the display of photos from a private collection featuring Irvine Park circa the 1940s. “We often tie historical events to the gala themes when appropriate,” says Selman. “For instance, the 2008 gala commemorated the 1940s, while at the same time celebrated the History Center at the library,” she says of the event, which featured the appearance of three song leaders who graduated from Orange High School in 1945. All in their eighties, Irene Gardner Hobbs, Norma Kustel Beck and Norma Christopher Winton, were happy to attend the event. Another highlight of this year’s gala is the presentation of the Library Legacy Awards by MC Ambassador Gaddi Vasquez, says Associate Director of the Foundation Julie Kramer. “Those distinguished individuals and organizations to receive special recognition this year are Joanne Coontz, who will be presented with the Community Leadership Legacy Award. The Education Legacy Award will go to the St. Joseph Healthcare Foundation, and the Mead Family will receive the History Legacy Award.” The annual gala is the main fundraising effort of the OPLF, which was established in 1998 as a collaborative effort by local leaders and municipal officials to develop an outstanding Orange Library system. Since 2002, more than 80 individuals, families, businesses and organizations made over a million dollars in cash and in-kind donations to the foundation to help fund the Main Library & History Center and maintain high-quality library materials and facilities. For information regarding this year’s gala, including tickets and sponsorship opportunities, contact Julie Kramer at (714) 288-2470; Julie.OPLF@Gmail.com, or visit OPLFoundation.org. Admission is $75 per person.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Talk of the Towne Everyone Wins

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”692″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Back in 5th grade when Liliana Burns played basketball for the first time thanks to funds provided by the Community Foundation of Orange (CFO) KidsPlay™ program, during the last game of the season she made her first basket. “Everyone stood up and clapped for her, and that really helped her self-esteem,” says Liliana’s mother, Itzi Burns. “As a matter of fact, it gave her such a boost that now in ninth grade she excels at sports.” Successes such as this are the reason why the CFO was founded more than a decade ago by local citizens dedicated to preserving and enhancing a sense of community in Orange. Taking to heart the group’s motto to “Give Where You Live,” the organization’s 24-member board of directors, headed by current President Gary Remland, brings their diverse backgrounds and interests to the table, which has enabled the group to make a difference in several areas. The CFO started several years ago as a fundraising entity for the building of the Sports Center at Grijalva Park, but morphed into something much bigger, says Susie Cunningham, Executive Director of the CFO. “Like the roots of a tree reaching out, taking hold and creating a strong foundation for something to grow and thrive, the CFO has responded to a variety of critical needs within the greater Orange community.” When they viewed Orange a decade ago, the Foundation saw a need for keeping kids active and engaged, which led to the formation of the Annual Foundation Games. The free track meet for public and private elementary and middle school students in the Orange Unified School District just finished its 10th yearly event in April with 1,878 student athletes participating from 39 schools. The games were watched by 5,000 fans and 445 volunteers assisted. Other CFO flagship programs include KidsPlay™, which enables children whose parents are unable to fund sports involvement a chance to play, and Studio Orange, which focuses on cultivating creativity and increasing arts education opportunities by providing financial assistance to students. Studio Orange events allow for the showcasing of artistic expression, such as the annual Talent Blossoms in Orange Workshop; the 4th of which was held last October and involved nearly 140 children. Open to 3rd to 6th grade singers, musicians and dancers, this year’s event involved learning Broadway melodies that the participants performed for family and friends at the end of the day. In addition to these established, ongoing programs, the CFO recently decided to branch out further into the community to help where assistance is needed, says the organization’s president Gary Remland of Remland Insurance Services in Old Towne. “We already had a lot of support in the community, and that support is getting broader,” he says. Now that the organization has matured, those involved have realized that the key to building a strong foundation and helping the community is to reach out to other likeminded organizations in order to band together for causes, adds Cunningham. “We’ve realized that when we work together with other groups, the results can be exponential. This has proven true with the Foundation Games.” Recently, the CFO became involved with GRIP (Gang Reduction & Intervention Partnership.) This program, which involves the Orange Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, works to prevent at-risk 10- to 12-year-old youths from joining criminal street gangs and experiencing all of the destructive behaviors that go with that life. “Our goal is to identify at-risk youth when they are young” and not yet acting out, says Fred Lopez, daytime watch commander and public information officer for the Orange Police Department. “It’s hard to change a kid’s mind when he is 17.” Lopez said the program, which includes sports and community building efforts, works well to keep kids in school where they can make educated decisions. Another new program in the works is a Field of Valor similar to the one held in Covina that will honor local veterans and raise funds to support them. The CFO is currently seeking partners in this effort, such as the Orange Plaza Patriots, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. For more information regarding the Community Foundation of Orange, log on to Community Foundation of Orange.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Talk of the Towne 5 Years at the Market

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”690″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When Megan Penn and other Orange residents gathered in May 2009 and hatched a plan to offer the community access to fresh food, this resulted in the Orange Home Grown Farmers & Artisans Market that opened two years later. In addition to their goal of providing residents with locally grown and produced healthy foods, the founders of the farmer’s market also made it their mission to “cultivate community and inspire change through activities that foster education, awareness, advocacy and create benefits for the greater good,” says Penn, Executive Director of Orange Homegrown. Today Orange Home Grown supports a variety of initiatives that fulfill their mission, including the all new seed lending library, which opened recently and gave away 350 seed packets in its first two weeks, an annual chicken coop tour, an upcoming education farm and scholarships. Chicken Coop Tour This event starts at the farmer’s market with a talk on raising chickens, followed by a self-guided tour to chicken coops in Orange. Kristine Rohm is Director of Immanuel Lutheran Preschool and Kindergarten and began raising chickens at the school after taking the first tour in 2013. “My teacher and I were so inspired when we saw other coops that we felt confident we could raise chickens and they would benefit the students,” she says. “Being able to talk one-on-one with real chicken owners was the key to our success. Two years later, we were on the tour.” Rohm enjoys having chickens at the school, because they teach young children about the natural world. “We have four chickens—Aurora, Buttercup, Cuddles and Dot,” she says. “The children can go into the chicken run daily to check for eggs, feed them or even pick one up if they can. Friday is Free Range Friday; the chickens get to roam freely in our play space, which is a treat for our preschoolers and the chickens.” Rohm reports that she’s continually impressed by the work being done by Orange Home Grown. “The Farmers & Artisans Market is not just a top notch market—it also provides a wealth of education and resources for children and adults with talks, children’s programs and special events. The passion found at the market for local and healthy food brings awareness to our community of what used to be a normal way of life.” Scholarships To further their mission of spreading the word about sustainable living, Orange Home Grown also sponsors scholarships for aspiring college students planning on getting degrees in areas that focus on agriculture or helping the earth. Anayeli Sarabia is a student and scholarship recipient, who also works at the farmers market selling produce from her aunt’s farm. “Being a recipient of the Orange Home Grown Scholarship was a great help with paying for my classes and buying books,” she says. “I am so grateful that there are people like the Orange Home Grown founders who think about others. When I received the scholarship, I was attending Riverside Community College. In the fall, I’ll be starting at Cal Poly Pomona for Agri-business and Food Industries Management.” Dean Kim is owner and executive baker for OC Baking Company and an Orange resident. He is a vendor at the farmers market and comments on Orange Home Grown’s outreach. “Orange Home Grown is all about advancing Orange,” he says. “It’s a privilege to be affiliated with the organization.” • The Orange Home Grown Chicken Coop Tour is Saturday June 25th from noon to 3 pm. Orange Farmers and Artisans Market 304 North Cypress Street, Orange CA 92866 / 714-397-4699[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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M & M Nursery

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”687″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In 1956, when the heady scent of orange blossoms filled the air in Orange, M & M Nursery opened in the middle of a grove next to a small, two-lane street named Tustin. “The times were so trusting back then, there wasn’t even a fence around the nursery,” says Dale Garey, who today co-manages the nursery with her brother Ted Mayeda. Opened by Dale and Ted’s mother, father, aunt and uncle, M & M was a play and learning ground for the brother and sister, who as children absorbed a love of plants and an understanding of the nursery trade. “There was a housing boom in the 1950s, so my parents and aunt and uncle sold an abundance of landscape foundation items like trees and shrubs,” says Garey. “Through the years, the nursery has seen a wide variety of trends. We were here when macramé hangers and terrariums were the rage in the 1970s, and now both are in again.” Unlike many Orange County independent nurseries that disappeared over the years, M & M has stood the test of time. Thanks to the foresight of Ted and Dale and their Head Designer Beverly Turner, the nursery has responded to the gardening market’s shift from functional planting to gardening as a hobby. As a result, they’ve become well known for a variety of niche gardening specialties, including rare cottage garden plants, water features, garden art and fairy gardening. The nursery’s fairy garden expert is Turner, who Orange County Register garden columnist Cindy McNatt calls the Fairy Godmother of Fairy Gardening. “Beverly deserves credit for starting the whole trend,” says McNatt. “Thirteen years ago, way before anyone even thought of fairy gardens, she created her first while decorating the outdoors of a dollhouse.” Turner is on hand at the nursery most days ready to help fledgling and more experienced fairy gardeners with the hobby. “Some people require a lot of direction at first, but they eventually get the hang of it,” says Turner, co-author of the bestseller Fairy Gardening: Creating Your Own Magical Miniature Garden. “I’m always delighted to see the birth of another creative gardener.” M & M is a one-stop fairy gardening resource. The nursery carries just about any accessory you can think of, from high-quality fairies, to tiny furniture, miniature arbors and trellises and cute little animal figurines. They have a raised bed demonstration garden, as well as many containerized fairy gardens for sale. They also carry a wide assortment of truly miniature plants for use in fairy and railroad gardens, including a proprietary selection of 20 sought-after dwarf trees that can only be found at the nursery. “A small tree creates such a great focal point for any miniature landscape,” says Mayeda, whose collection includes dwarf Serissa, which features a delicate white or pink flower, as well as Cuphea, which also has minute flowers in white, lavender or purple. Another example of how this truly unique nursery has elevated gardening to an art form. M & M Nursery 380 North Tustin St, Orange, CA 92867 | 714-538-8042[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Butterfly Bush (Buddleia Lo and Behold® ‘Blue Chip’) Zones 5–9

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”685″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Buddleias are easy-care plants, but they’re invasive in some areas. Look for sterile cultivars ‘Blue Chip’ (shown) and ‘Purple Haze,’ which don’t set seed and therefore don’t run wild. “They’re shorter and more compact, and because they’re sterile they have a much longer flowering season,” Staddon says. “Get them going in the garden and they’ll quietly take care of themselves.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Talk of the Towne TOWN & GOWN

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Town & Gown”][vc_single_image image=”682″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Curious about what goes on at Chapman University and interested in helping worthy students achieve an education? Check out the nonprofit organization Town & Gown. Serving as a link between the university (gown) and the community (town), the group holds a variety of events throughout the year designed to give members a taste of what Chapman has to offer while raising funds for student scholarships and campus enrichment projects. “Town & Gown is comprised of interested community members who enjoy learning about the university, meeting faculty and attending academic, social and cultural functions,” says the organization’s current president Marcia Cooley. “Our most popular activity is our Lunch at the Forum series, which includes an excellent lunch and fascinating lectures.” Held five times a year, Lunch at the Forum events feature presentations by an assortment of faculty members and are catered by Sodexo, the school’s food service provider. The next lunch on February 2nd is titled “The Arab Spring: Implications for U.S. Policy.” Speaking are Dr. James J. Coyle, Director of Global Education and Dr. Nubar Hovsepian, Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies. Both are Middle East experts, but a panel discussion format may show divergent views. In March, they will feature “The Impact of Design: From the Olympics to Medicine.” Professors Eric Chimenti and Claudine Jaenichen will discuss how design affects our lives and are bringing students to demonstrate their work. Past events this season included the presentation, “How Congress Really Works: The Budget and Debt Ceiling,” presented by the Dean of Chapman University Law School Dr. Tom Campbell and “Beyond the Notes” by renowned pianist and Director of Keyboard Studies, Dr. Grace Fong. The Town & Gown organization awards need and merit–based scholarships, and recipients are introduced at the luncheons, notes 1948 Chapman alumnus Mary Lou Savage. “Seeing the kids who have benefited from the scholarships and being on the active campus is an exciting, uplifting experience,” she says. Savage started the Lunch at the Forum program in 1994 when she was president of the organization. “At the time 18 years ago, Town & Gown, which was founded in 1968, kept members busy with off–campus activities such as bus tour trips, but few events were actually held at the college,” she says. “Though the field trips were fun and we still do them, I didn’t think we were fulfilling our mission statement, which is to be a liaison between the school and community. I told President Doti of that concern when I approached him about starting the luncheons. He agreed to the events and let us host them at the Argyros Forum, which had opened two years before. The luncheons were an immediate hit.” People enjoy the Lunch at the Forum events because they are a fun opportunity to learn, adds Melida Canfield, Co Vice–President of Programs and a board member. “I discover interesting information listening to the professors’ lectures, and I really like making new friends over lunch.” In addition to awarding scholarships to worthy Chapman students each year, Town & Gown has underwritten a number of on–campus projects such as the gardens at the Elliott Alumni House, a reading alcove at Leatherby Libraries, an endowed library fund for the arts, humanities and social sciences to purchase books for the library and the Gentle Spring fountain in Escalette Plaza. Members’ dues and gifts support these projects, but anyone who wishes to can attend the Lunch at the Forum events. For information on tickets to Lunch at the Forum, which can be purchased as a series for $125 or individually for $30, contact Melida Canfield at (714) 745-7851 or email her at MelidaC@SevenGables.com. For information regarding membership, call Judy Crum at (714) 532-3264.

Published in the Jan/Feb 2012 edition of the Old Towne Orange Plaza Review

Written by Julie Bawden-Davis, Photograph by Marcia Cooley

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Grow Nasturtiums in Your Spring Garden

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

One of my favorite hallmarks of spring is the nasturtiums that pop up in my garden. While they light up the landscape from a distance with their brilliant blooms, they also create quite a picture when you admire them up close. I’m always mesmerized by the stunning throats of these flowers, which look as if someone took a fine paintbrush to them.

In addition to making a pretty picture in the landscape, nasturtiums attract bees, and they’re edible. Pop one of these blooms into your mouth, and you’ll find that they taste like radishes. My favorite Easter treat is to stuff their throats with cream cheese flavored with chives. They also make a delightful addition to a salad.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Nasturtiums are easy to grow from seed. Simply soak the seeds overnight in water and then nick each seed in a couple of places with a sharp knife before planting. Plant directly in the garden, or pot up in containers and plant out at a later time. They grow in just about any garden soil and will tend to reseed themselves.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Keep nasturtiums well watered, as they don’t like to dry out. In the absence of rainfall, water every two or three days during the spring months. Water when the top inch of soil has dried out in the ground and when the top ½ inch of soil has dried out in containers.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Harvest nasturtiums for eating in the morning or evening. At these times they tend to be the most buoyant and full of water. At midday they tend to be cycling water, so this isn’t an ideal time.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

If you will be picking nasturtiums for eating later in the day, place them in the refrigerator in a plastic bag. They will stay perky for 24 hours. Wait until you’re ready to eat nasturtiums before rinsing them. Do so under a gentle flow of water prior to serving. Of all of the edible flowers, nasturtiums tend to hold up the best and the longest. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

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Date: APRIL 15, 2017

Grow Nasturtiums in Your Spring Garden

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Nasturtiums don’t require much in the way of fertilizer. They tend to pull what they need from the soil. If you grow these blooming beauties in containers, though, fertilize once during the growing season with an organic food for flowering plants. Feed after they’ve been growing for a month. Harvest nasturtiums for eating in the morning or evening. At these times they tend to be the most buoyant and full of water. At midday they tend to be cycling water, so this isn’t an ideal time. If you will be picking nasturtiums for eating later in the day, place them in the refrigerator in a plastic bag. They will stay perky for 24 hours. Wait until you’re ready to eat nasturtiums before rinsing them. Do so under a gentle flow of water prior to serving. Of all of the edible flowers, nasturtiums tend to hold up the best and the longest.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

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Using Your Gourds / The humble squash come out of their shells with quick creative touches anybody can do

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Using Your Gourds / The humble squash come out of their shells with quick creative touches anybody can do”][vc_single_image image=”679″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Not many crafts are quick enough to do in one afternoon, yet look like they’ve been slaved over for weeks. We’ll name one: gourds. But chase those visions of rattles out of your head; gourds offer grownup savvy, too. If you’ve got Martha Stewart-like creative leanings and lead a time-starved real-world life, then gourd crafts are for you. Members of the cucurbitaceae family, which includes melons and squash, gourds are the only ones that dry with a hard shell. You can decorate this shell just about any way you wish — rustically with carving and wood burning, elegantly with metallic paint and beads. Often you need little more than materials you have around the house. No special tools are required.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]You might opt for simply polishing them to a bright sheen with shoe polish. You can also give gourds another dimension by attaching items such as beads, netting, plant pieces, string and leather.

Anything goes — and anybody of any age. “You don’t have to be an artist to do gourd crafting,” says Ginger Summit, a Los Altos writer of several books on gourds. Her “The Complete Book of Gourd Craft” is in its 10th printing, and “Gourd Crafts: 20 Great Projects to Dye, Paint, Carve, Bead, and Woodburn in a Weekend” will be released this winter by Lark Books. “There’s no long learning curve when it comes to gourds. The first time out with a gourd will be a success.” What is the lure of gourds? It’s their earthiness and unintimidating nature, says Carol Morrison, a Palo Alto cultural anthropologist whose hobby is growing and crafting gourds.

“Gourds have a sensual feel that’s almost like skin,” she says. “And they’re so easy to work with. People who think they aren’t artists pick up a gourd and begin working on one and suddenly discover that they are artists.” Hard-shell gourds (lagenaria) have been grown and used for thousands of years and are a staple in many cultures as storage vessels, utensils, dishes, water containers, baby bathtubs, seed containers, vases and musical instruments. Though their main use has been utilitarian, many cultures over the years also have adorned them with designs and patterns. You can make just about anything out of gourds, says Sunnyvale gourd artist Janet Hatfield, who specializes in painting gourds with Native American designs. “There’s a plethora of projects for the gourd crafter, from dolls to birdhouses to jewelry.” And bowls, vases, cups, candleholders, tortilla warmers, tea cups, musical instruments, Christmas tree decorations, nativity sets, cornucopias, planters, lamp shades and even bells. Let your imagination be your guide.

PREPARING CRAFT GOURDS

Gourds are easy and fun to work with and they won’t break your bank or take weeks to make. As a matter of fact, there’s plenty of time to create holiday decorations with gourds, including tree ornaments, says gourd crafter and author Ginger Summit. Here she tells how to clean and prepare your gourds for crafting: The gourd must be completely dry before it can be crafted. Shake the gourd. It should be light in weight. If the seeds rattle, or the pulp thuds against the gourd’s interior, it is dry. Most gourds available for crafters through gourd farms have already been dried. They will generally be covered with mold and dirt, which must be removed. Follow these steps: 1. Soak the gourd in warm water for up to 15 minutes, then scrub off the mold and dirt with a metal kitchen scrub pad. For many projects, the gourd is now ready to be decorated, although you may also want to go over the shell with very fine wet/dry sandpaper to remove any blemishes or rough spots. 2. Cut the gourd shell to clean the interior. Most tools designed for woodworking are suitable for gourd craft as well. Mark the line where you will be cutting. Stabilize the gourd on a foam pad and with a sharp kitchen knife make a hole in the gourd shell large enough to accommodate the blade of a small keyhole or hobby saw. Use the saw to carefully cut on the line you have drawn on the gourd shell. You can also use a power saw. 3. Remove the gourd top and pull out all the loose pulp and seeds. Scrape out the pulp that is stuck on the interior of the shell with a serrated utensil, such as a grapefruit spoon. When the gourd interior is clean, file and sand the cut edge of the opening. A word of caution: Many people are allergic to the dust created when cutting and cleaning gourds. Wear a mask during this portion of the work and work in a well-ventilated room or outdoors. Squirting the gourd’s interior with water as you work will also minimize dust.

CREATING A PAINTED DIPPER GOURD

For thousands of years around the world, gourd dippers have been used as cups, spoons and ladles, says gourd craft expert Ginger Summit, who offers instructions for creating a festive dipper gourd. 1. Clean the outside of the gourd. Cut in half lengthwise and clean the interior. File and sand the cut edge. 2. Brush a coat of salad bowl oil on the interior of the dipper. 3. Draw decorations on the gourd in pencil, such as autumn leaves or sprigs of holly. Be sure to extend the design to the gourd handle. 4. Use acrylic paints to fill in the design. 5. With black pen or permanent marker, outline the design and and add details. Let dry. 6. Use dimensional paints to create texture. Let dry. 7. Seal with clear polyurethane. (Before spraying on, test on a scrap of gourd to make sure that the polyurethane won’t make the design run.)

WHERE TO FIND THEM

The shiny, often bumpy gourds in stores this time of year are ornamental, generally not used for crafting. You want hard-shell lagenaria gourds, which can be grown in your garden or bought at gourd farms, where you’ll find thousands of gourds of different shapes and sizes. Gourds that were grown this summer and harvested recently won’t be ready for decorating for two to six months, when they are dry. If you want to try gourd crafting sooner, contact a gourd farm and choose from last year’s stock. Most gourd farms do mail order. Gourds generally range from $1.25 to $4 apiece, with very large gourds costing up to $30. — Zittel Farms, 6781 Oak Ave. (near Folsom Auburn Road), Folsom; (916) 989-2633. — The Tree Mover Tree and Gourd Farm, Palmdale; (661) 947-7121. — The Gourd Factory, Linden; (209) 887-3694. — Rocky Ford Gourd, Cygnet, Ohio; (419) 655-2152. Specializes in seeds, but some gourds are available. — The Caning Shop, 926 Gilman St. (at Eighth Street), Berkeley; (510) 527-5010. Web site: www.caning.com. Carries a variety of gourds, gourd crafting supplies and books. — Blithe Spirit, 18 E. Blithedale Ave. (at Throckmorton Avenue), Mill Valley; (415) 383-6427. The gallery has decorated gourds by crafter Nancy Miller.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent A Major Art Collection in Our Neigborhood

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To view a major collection of art you usually have to buy admission to a museum, but Old Towne residents need only visit Chapman University. There on campus is the Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art consisting of more than 700 pieces of contemporary works. “The collection, which features many Southern California artists, is unique in that you come across it as you make your way through campus,” says Chapman’s collection manager David Michael Lee. “It’s an organic approach to displaying art that makes it accessible.” Chapman’s curator Maggi Owens started the collection in 2000. “At the time, I had a modest budget, so I sought donations,” she says. “Artists were happy to donate and be part of the collection, and we obtained some wonderful pieces as a result.” (Since 2009, a $2 million endowment donated by Phyllis and Ross Escalette of Newport Beach has supported the collection.) One especially striking painting Owens procured via donation is “Station,” by Mary Addison Hackett, who resided in Los Angeles when she painted the piece and currently has a studio in Nashville. The colorful abstract is an oil on canvas that measures 60 x 48 inches and hangs in Beckman Hall, where a large concentration of the collection is located. “When I visited Hackett’s studio, that piece hit me immediately,” says Owens. “The colors blend so well, and there are a lot of angles to the piece, which gives it depth. I also like the movement. She’s a very good artist, and her work adds value to the collection.” Lee agrees that the piece makes a powerful addition. “The painting features an explosion of color, and it’s a great example of abstraction,” he says.

Phyllis and Ross Escalette Permanent Collection of Art

Hackett decided to donate “Station” when she saw that Chapman had collected works by artists whom she respects. “I wanted the painting to be cared for within a collection where it would be seen and hopefully inspire others,” she says. “The diversity and breadth of Chapman’s collection is an amazing resource for encouraging dialogue and gives students the opportunity to see art as a respected staple of daily life.” Hackett painted “Station” in 2008 while concentrating on large scale pieces. “At the time, I was interested in ideas surrounding landscape, architecture and technology,” she says. “The painting is not inspired by a particular event, but if it were, it might be something slightly futuristic. I remember the blue needed to convey an enveloping thickness. The title could reference a space station, a resting point between two places, or any other connotation of the word station.” Hackett’s work has shown in numerous California venues, as well as nationally and internationally. She’s exhibited at Torrance Art Museum, Kristi Engle Gallery in Los Angeles and Irvine Fine Arts Center. According to the artist, her work is prompted by her experiences, actual or embellished events and memories from her life. “My first influence was my family. They gave me books and subscriptions to art magazines like ARTnews and Art in America when I was still in single digits,” she says. “When I started painting, the Neo-expressionists were a major influence, but then I spent the 1990s in Chicago where there was a dearth of painting and an abundance of theory. I moved to LA in 2000, and suddenly I was in an oasis of painting.” A sampling of that oasis can now be seen at Chapman.

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Could Your Business Benefit from the Increase in Older Workers?

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AUGUST 05, 2016Over the last two decades, the definition of retirement for older workers has changed significantly. Retired workers used to leave the workforce completely, but the new “normal” is far different. According to a 2016 Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research study

on 1,075 adults age 50 and older from across the United States, one-quarter of the survey participants said that they don’t plan on ever retiring. This is significant, because according to the Administration on Aging (AoA), Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

, the number of Americans over 65 is expected to rise from 44.7 million in 2013 to 82.3 million by 2040.“The trend toward older workers staying in the workforce is now a structural factor, with no reversal in sight,” says certified financial planner Benjamin Lupu, president of Kensington A.M.I.

“Many older workers are employed because of economic need, but many also work because they understand that employment can be healthy both physically and psychologically. Work gives you purpose and a place in the world and keeps you engaged in life.”It’s not surprising that the share of workers 65 and older continues to steadily rise, adds Thomas O’Connell, president of International Financial Advisory Group

. “We’ve experienced two major market corrections where workers have lost between 30 to 50 percent of their net worth each time, and a Great Recession, which has stymied their ability to get back ahead from where they fell,” he says. “The creation of the 401k plan and simultaneous demise of the defined benefit plan has also destroyed any kind of guaranteed pension income for retirees.”Andrew Rafal, president and founder of Bayntree Wealth Advisors

, agrees. “Many retirees have faced a perfect storm over the past quarter century as it relates to their income in retirement. Life expectancy has been increasing (which is a positive), yet the majority of those retirees do not have a pension like previous generations. Add in the tech bust in the early 2000’s, the Great Recession of 2007-2009 that decimated the retirement assets across the globe and ultra low interest rates on bonds, savings accounts and CDs and you have a generation where many are forced to go back to work.”

How Older Workers Can Benefit Small Businesses

They may be continuing to work, but older workers are not necessarily staying at the same jobs or even in the same fields, according to the NORC Center study. That means they may be able to bring their talents to small businesses. Claire Roberts is CEO of Lice Clinics of America

, which has clinic owners in their fifties, sixties and even seventies. “With the influx of older workers, small businesses can find loyal, hardworking employees with a wealth of knowledge,” says Roberts. “We’ve found that operating one of our clinics as an owner or technician is a position well-suited to older individuals, who tend to have a wonderful bedside manner when it comes to calming down frantic families.”

There’s a treasure trove of experience, know-how and old-fashioned wisdom to be had when you put a senior player on your team.

—Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey, founders, Barefoot Wine

The senior workforce offers “incredible depth of knowledge and a wealth of experience,” agrees O’Connell. “As the Baby Boomer generation continues to age, but not leave the workforce, this pool of incredible resources will continue to grow and small businesses will have increased access to the knowledge, experience, common sense and understanding of the world from older workers. It may also be less expensive to hire older workers, because when you reach age 65, your primary health insurance typically becomes Medicare and that is dramatically less expensive for the employer.” The benefits of hiring older workers are many, believes Lupu. “Older workers can offer a more grounded, less individualistic work ethic as compared to millennials and other younger workers. They tend to have a clearer understanding that they need to comply with policies, be punctual and tend to stick with their jobs, as opposed to younger workers who are often looking toward their next opportunity. Their life experience has also given them people skills, better manners, more historical perspective and better cultural literacy. These skills can be quite useful to small businesses, especially when dealing with older customers, who may have difficulty relating to younger point-of-service workers.”

Take Advantage of Older Workers’ Experience

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey, founders of the Barefoot Wine brand, “retired” and sold their business. But they continue to work as speakers, teachers and authors

. They share the various ways a small business may benefit from employing older workers.

Vast experience. “There’s a treasure trove of experience, know-how and old-fashioned wisdom to be had when you put a senior player on your team,” say Houlihan and Harvey. “The been-there-done-that advantage can save you tons of time and money. Their counsel can make the difference between success and failure.”
Liaison. “Your company can now select senior workers who’ve had experience in the kinds of organizations you depend upon for production, compliance or support,” say Houlihan and Harvey. “Having that inside knowledge can improve your inter-organizational relations, contracts and sales.”
Training. Senior employees often enjoy giving new employees orientation and training. “Older workers can provide the kind of patient, engaged mentorship you need to build a knowledgeable and efficient team,” say Houlihan and Harvey. “Young folks will appreciate the attention of older, experienced teachers dedicated to their success.”

Small-business owners may want to tap older employees who have worked in larger environments for advice and insight, believes David Lewis, CEO of OperationsInc

. “The older worker’s experience may even be far broader than the owners.”Read more articles on hiring & HR.

Photo: iStock

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3 Questions That Can Replace “What’s Your Salary History?”

Asking for a potential employee’s salary history is falling out of favor. Consider asking the following interview questions to help find your next hire. APRIL 13, 2017 When you interview potential employees, one of the questions on your list is likely salary history. While knowing about an employee’s salary history can help you determine the viability of hiring certain candidates, this is a question that is increasingly being considered potentially detrimental to the jobseeker and even the employer. New York City Public Advocate Letitia James spearheaded a bill in August 2016 that bans public and private employers citywide from asking interviewees about their salary history. Her aim was to even the playing field for all job applicants in terms of potential pay. That bill—which applies to only New York City—passed City Council in March 2017. There are benefits to not asking employees about their salary histories, believes hiring consultant Scott Wintrip, founder of the Wintrip Consulting Group and author of High Velocity Hiring: How to Hire Top Talent in an Instant. “The amount of money someone has been paid is a poor indicator of the value that person has brought to their current or previous job roles,” he says. “The work they’ve done may have been worth more or less than the financial rewards received.”

Use Effective Interview Techniques

Rather than first pinning down salary history, consider identifying whether the job applicant is a good fit, notes Phil Shawe, co-founder and co-CEO of TransPerfect, which provides language translation services and technology solutions for global businesses. “Interviewing is more an art than a science,” says Shawe. “Most job applicants have studied and know the right things to say in an hour-long interview. For that reason, I recommend doing multiple interviews with different managers. Making it a collaborative process is more likely to ferret out a candidate’s true character and determine if the person is a fit for the organization.”

Motives are important. Knowing whether your candidate is inspired by your company’s mission or just looking for a job will help you pick the best people.

—Scott Wintrip, founder, Wintrip Consulting Group

During one-on-one interviews, rather than asking for salary history, Shaw focuses on questions surrounding ethics and problem solving. “Most importantly, I have interviewees tell me how they got to where they are in their careers,” he says. “From this, I’m looking to see if they can tell a coherent story with a logical timeline and if they can do so in a likable and engaging way. I’ve found that it’s best that interviews turn into two-way conversations, with the interviewer asking about the candidate and the candidate asking about the company.”

Ask Questions For Fit

Wintrip starts the interview process with a phone interview. “This conversation provides an opportunity to discover how a job candidate’s values, helpful behaviors and personality features may or may not fit into your company culture,” he says. Wintrip has found that the following three questions can help indicate if an applicant is a good company fit, much more so than salary history.

Why our company? “Motives are important,” says Wintrip. “Knowing whether your candidate is inspired by your company’s mission or just looking for a job will help you pick the best people.”
Why now? “Knowing what’s driving a candidate’s decision to job search is vital in choosing the right people for your company,” says Wintrip. “Is the candidate desperate to make a change and ready to leap at the first offer? Or is the applicant happy and simply open to a new opportunity that could make life even better?”
What job suits you best? “Too often, interviewers ask candidates about their perfect job. Such a question sets up the candidate and the employer for failure, since jobs and companies are rarely perfect,” he says. “Instead of asking about perfection, ask about personal fit.”

Conduct Experiential Interviews

After the initial phone interview, Wintrip suggests that business owners shift away from conceptual conversation and instead hold hands-on interviews. “During face-to-face interviews, candidates are always on their best behavior, which is why people interviewed aren’t always the same people who show up for work.” Experiential interviews allow you to base your hiring choices on facts instead of guesses, adds Wintrip. “You get to see candidates doing sample work rather than speaking conceptually about the jobs,” he says. “Computer programmers can be given specs to write computer code, accounting candidates can analyze financials and marketing staffers can design promotional campaigns. Witness candidates doing the job firsthand and you access their skills and have a more complete image of them.”

When to Approach the Topic of Salary

Of course, you can’t hire new employees without discussing compensation at some point. One course of action is to bring up salary history when you’ve decided that a candidate is a good fit and you would like to hire the person. “There’s a right time for the employee salary dialogue,” says Wintrip. “When it comes time to talk about compensation, it’s an easier conversation, because both parties already know the opportunity is a fit. At that point, knowing current and desired compensation is an important frame of reference for attracting top talent.” Read more articles on hiring & HR.

Photo: iStock

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Date: APRIL 13, 2017

Grow Heliotrope in Your Spring Garden

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

One of my favorite flowering shrubs is heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens). This fragrant shrub emits a lovely vanilla scent that perfumes the garden on a warm, sunny day. The plant tends to flower heaviest in spring and fall, although it can also provide blooms in the summer months.

To have luck growing heliotrope in your spring garden, keep the following cultivation tips in mind. Grow in full sun to partial shade. In areas with hot summers, such as the west and southwest, grow heliotrope in an area of the garden that provides morning sun and afternoon shade, such as an eastern exposure. In areas with mild summer, the shrub can be grown in full sun.

Plant in rich soil that is on the acidic side. If you’re located in an area with alkaline soil, apply a fertilizer that contains soil sulfur, which will acidify the soil and lead to healthy growth. Also add compost to enrich the soil. Promote drainage. Though heliotrope likes rich soil, it also requires good drainage. Without sufficient drainage, the shrub will succumb to root rot. Add a drainage agent to the soil, such as pumice, which won’t break down, but will stay in the soil and ensure that the soil drains well.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

Keep well watered. Heliotrope doesn’t do well if allowed to dry out. Water container grown plants when the top inch of soil has dried out. Irrigate in-ground heliotrope when the top two inches of soil has dried out. Apply mulch to keep the soil surface moist and to cut down on the need for watering. Pinch and prune regularly. To maintain a bushy heliotrope, pinch the growth tips back when the plant is young. As the plant becomes more mature, deadhead spent flowers, which will encourage more blooming. Cut the plant back by one-half in late winter or early spring. This will encourage full, healthy growth throughout the growing season. Bring heliotrope indoors for winter. If you live in an area of the country that experiences freezing in winter and you wish to preserve your heliotrope, bring it indoors for the cold months of the year. Place the plant in an area of the home with bright light and water when the top 2 inches of soil has dried out. Take heliotrope outdoors in early spring when danger of frost has passed. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of 10 books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.

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Date: APRIL 7, 2017

Grow Heliotrope in Your Spring Garden

Heliotrope comes in purple and white, with the white variety particularly fragrant. This shrub grows 4 to 6 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide. The plant has pom-pom-like flower clusters and attractive dark green leathery leaves. In addition to perfuming the garden, heliotrope attracts bees and butterflies. The plant makes an attractive addition to beds and borders, as well as a striking focal point in the garden. To have luck growing heliotrope in your spring garden, keep the following cultivation tips in mind. Grow in full sun to partial shade. In areas with hot summers, such as the west and southwest, grow heliotrope in an area of the garden that provides morning sun and afternoon shade, such as an eastern exposure. In areas with mild summer, the shrub can be grown in full sun.

Promote drainage. Though heliotrope likes rich soil, it also requires good drainage. Without sufficient drainage, the shrub will succumb to root rot. Add a drainage agent to the soil, such as pumice, which won’t break down, but will stay in the soil and ensure that the soil drains well.

(Julie Bawden-Davis)

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Are Your Company’s iOS Apps Up to Date?

The newest iOS won’t support older apps, so Apple is removing them from its store. Here’s what you can do if your apps are in danger of becoming obsolete. APRIL 06, 2017 Seeking to provide the best user experience for app users, Apple is currently removing hundreds of outdated apps from its App Store. “Apple is responsible for the safety and speed of iOS and the iPhone,” says Andrew Gazdecki, founder and CEO of Bizness Apps, a platform that allows business owners to cost-effectively build mobile apps. “If an app isn’t up-to-date with Apple’s latest engineering tools and using 64-bit support, it will be removed from the Apple App Store.” The reason for outdated app removals is clear. “Apple has to drive continual sales of their devices, so consumers must see a true perceivable difference in capability and performance year over year to continue purchasing,” says Joe Puthur, president of Mortgage Coac, an app that helps consumers make mortgage decisions. “It’s completely plausible, even expected, that new phones running 32-bit apps would appear slower and less responsive than models generations older running those same apps,” adds Puthur. “If a developer is unwilling or unable to even complete this basic maintenance function, then there’s no choice but to remove the outdated app for the benefit of the user and developer communities.”

Updating Apps Beneficial to Business

If a business’s apps are being actively maintained, updates occur on a regular basis. At least once a year there are iOS version updates to ensure the app is compatible with the latest version and security expectations, notes Puthur. “Business owners who have maintained their apps and demonstrated that they’re both relevant and essential via periodic updates and a growing audience will benefit and gain visibility in their respective spaces,” he says.

Business leaders need to take on the small, short-term pain of change to reap the benefits. The measurable ROI of being mobile optimized is usually very clear.

—Joe Puthur, president, Mortgage Coach

On the other hand, developers who haven’t pursued growing their apps and respective audiences, but have posted apps simply for purposes of branding, may find themselves at risk of being removed from the App Store, Puthur continues. “The more crowded the App store space, the more pressure on Apple to ensure the best-performing apps are easily found.” If you’re relying on app usage to provide benefits to your target audience, consider making updates—even small ones—and posting them periodically. “Updating apps can be as easy as only changing the version number and recompiling with the current SDK [software development kit], if there aren’t bugs to fix,” says Puthur. “This is required, anyway, for something as routine as switching App Store images.”

Take Advantage of App Updates

Not updating your apps today may end up costing you more tomorrow. “In every enterprise solution category—ERP [enterprise resource planning], CRM [customer relationship management], POS [point of sale]—there are new modern disruptors, often both mobile and cloud-based, delivering far more value for far less investment,” says Puthur. “Business leaders need to take on the small, short-term pain of change to reap the benefits. The measurable ROI of being mobile optimized is usually very clear.” To update, you first need to find out if your mobile app is still using the old 32-bit support, says Gazdecki. “To check, open settings, tap on general, tap on about and select applications. This brings up a list of the installed apps that are 32-bit support. If your app is, you’ll need to reach out to your mobile app developer and make some upgrades to ensure the app meets Apple’s standards.” When you do make upgrades, consider that the iOS update Apple releases contain dozens of enhancements that can improve user experience, says Puthur. “To be a true innovator you must make yourself aware of these opportunities and consistently improve.” Take advantage of updating your app. “Focus on ways of making your app essential to your targets, and you’ll successfully grow your audience and your business,” says Puthur. “Gaining customer feedback, usage analytics and competitive analysis are all good tools to use in maintaining a successful app.” Read more articles on mobile.

Photo: iStock

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Date: APRIL 6, 2017

What To Do When Your Debt Is Gone

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”What To Do When Your Debt Is Gone”][vc_single_image image=”651″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Once the shock wears off and it sinks in that you were successful with debt reduction, having whittled down your mountain of bills, you are likely to ask yourself, What now?

Before you wrack up new debt celebrating, take these steps to devise a post-debt plan of action so you can stay in the black.

Plan for the unexpected

If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to open an emergency savings account or set up regular automatic payments to an existing fund. If you find yourself putting this imperative task off, stop and remember how you got into debt in the first place. No doubt an adequate emergency fund would have prevented you from sliding into debt, or at least made the experience less treacherous and lengthy.

Consider the future

Though you no doubt lost precious time while in debt, keep in mind that it’s never too late to fund your retirement. Contributing to a retirement plan even for a few years allows you to create a more secure future for yourself. If your employer provides an opportunity to fund a 401(k), take it. If that benefit isn’t offered, open your own IRA. In most cases, retirement savings will also lower your taxes.

Resurrect your dreams

No doubt your dreams that require financial backing fell by the wayside during your debt crisis. It’s not practical to even think about a luxury cruise or remodeling your kitchen when your mortgage is overdue or your creditors are calling and you require debt help.

Now that you’ve experienced debt solutions, give yourself permission to dream a little. Make a list of your top desires and determine how much they will cost you. Then save a certain amount of money on a regular basis, and wait until you have sufficient cash saved to fund your dreams. Paying cash for fun items will not only keep you out of debt, using such restraint is bound to make you feel especially proud of yourself.

The brand new world of being debt free can be a bit disconcerting at first, but once you get used to living a life without a mountain of bills, you’ll find it easy to build wealth and live the life you always imagined.

About the Author:

Julie Bawden-Davis is a Southern-California-based writer specializing in personal finance and insurance. Since 1983, her work has appeared in a wide variety of publications, including Family Circle, Ladies’ Home Journal, Parenting, Entrepreneur and The Los Angeles Times.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

The 9 Best Houseplants for Cleaning Air and Filtering Toxins

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This fall and winter, as you close the windows and doors against the cold, you may be inviting trouble—indoor air pollution. According to the EPA, the level of pollutants in indoor air is generally at least two to five times higher than outdoor air, and the cold months of the year produce the dirtiest indoor air.

Fortunately, there’s an easy solution to controlling indoor air pollution—houseplants. In his groundbreaking research, former NASA scientist B.C. Wolverton, author of How to Grow Fresh Air, discovered that growing an indoor garden can greatly reduce indoor air pollution. Houseplants have two ways of cleaning indoor air. They absorb pollutants into their leaves, and the toxins go to the root zone where they are transformed into nutrients for the plant. Houseplants also emit water vapors that help the plant pull polluted air to the roots where the plant converts the toxins to plant food. Houseplants scour your indoor air, ensuring that it’s healthy to breathe. Indoor plants quickly and effectively get rid of a large number of toxic substances in the air. To ensure that your houseplants do their best at cleaning your air, place them within your personal breathing zone, which is the 6 to 8 cubic foot area where you spend the most of your time. And keep in mind that the more houseplants you have, the cleaner your indoor air will be. Wolverton identified 50 of the best air-cleaning houseplants. Here are nine easy-to-grow selections from that list. 1. Arrowhead Vine (Syngonium podophyllum). This plant is a vine that generally drapes, rather than climbs. The leaves are a lime-green and have a pointy tip. Arrowhead vine grows in low to medium light. Avoid putting the plant in bright light, as its leaves easily burn. Fertilize every two months.

2. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata `Bostoniensis’). This fern features ruffly foliage that readily hangs. It requires medium light and needs monthly fertilizing. 3. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum). This easy-to-grow plant features variegated leaves. It grows in low to high light and requires fertilizing every two months. 4. Croton. Striking plant with eye-catching, colorful foliage. Keep the plant evenly moist and place in bright light. Fertilize monthly. 5. Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia). This plant got its name from the fact that if you eat the foliage your mouth and vocal cords may numb. The plant requires medium light and rich, well-draining soil. Fertilize every two months. 6. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii). Well-known for its striking white flowers, this plant grows in medium to low light. It requires rich, well-draining soil that is kept evenly moist. If this plant is droughted, it generally comes back after watering. Fertilize monthly. 7. Philodendron (P. Scandens). This climbing vine has attractive, heart-shaped leaves. In its tropical home, it can grow 10 to 15 feet outdoors. It requires low to medium light. Fertilize every two months. 8. Pothos. This vining plant is green or variegated with yellow or white veining. It is easy to grow and thrives in just about any lighting situation, from dim to bright. Fertilize every three months. 9. Spider Plant. This plant made headlines in 1984 as a super air-cleaner for its superior ability to quickly scour a wide variety of toxins from the air. It does well as a hanging or cascading plant. Spider plants need medium to bright light. Fertilize every three months.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Start-Up Checklist: Everything You Need to Start Your New Business

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION FROM THE HARTFORD”][vc_single_image image=”645″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

by JULIE BAWDEN-DAVIS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION FROM THE HARTFORDOnce the initial excitement wears off at the idea of starting your own business, it soon becomes apparent that there’s a lot to do to get things up and running. The following comprehensive checklist ensures you cover all of the bases to launch a successful company.1. Write a Business Plan A written plan of action for your business helps you work out the details and focus on your goals and vision. Such a guide also provides you with a roadmap for your journey as a small business owner. Include in the plan your company’s potential profit/loss and a cash flow analysis. 2. Determine Financing Sufficient funds allow you to get your new business off to a strong start. If your personal savings isn’t enough to cover your necessary expenses and operating capital, consider loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), family and friends, investors, and banks and finance companies. 3. Decide on Your Company’s Legal Structure Whether your company is a sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), corporation or S corporation determines how much you pay in taxes, the type and amount of paperwork you must complete and the financial liability you face as a business owner. Given the far-reaching financial consequences of this decision, it’s often best to seek the advice of your accountant and attorney. 4. Choose and Register Your Business Name Select a memorable, catchy moniker that reflects your product and service. Check with a corporate name search tool to make sure your desired business name isn’t already in use. Also secure a matching website domain for your business name, and register your company name with your local county clerk’s office as a fictitious business name. 5. Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) An EIN identifies your business with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and is the number to use on all tax and financial paperwork. 6. Choose a Dedicated Workspace Even if you will be setting up shop in your home, it’s important for tax purposes and productivity to carve out a location solely for business. If you will rent office space, determine your budget and required square footage prior to shopping around. When you find a space that seems ideal, make sure it is zoned for your business type prior to signing the lease. 7. Obtain Necessary Licenses and Permits You will need a local business license and may require permits, depending on your business type and location. To sell retail goods, you must also get a seller’s permit from your state. 8. Purchase Required Insurance Insurances you may need include premises and product liability, health and disability and vehicle. If you rent an office, you will require business property insurance. Even if you are running the business out of your home, talk to an insurance agent about what type of business insurance coverage you’ll need. Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance may not cover your business liabilities so it’s important to talk with an expert to make sure you’ve got the right coverage. 9. Set Up Your Accounting System Using small business accounting software or the help of a professional bookkeeper or accountant set up your recordkeeping system. Also choose a fiscal year and get familiar with the tax requirements and paperwork for your company’s legal structure. 10. Decide On a Schedule Time blocks to work uninterrupted are crucial to getting your business off the ground. If you will be working out of a home office, inform family and friends of your schedule, and request that you aren’t bothered during business hours. Follow these 10 steps to a smooth startup, and you’ll be well on your way to running the company of your dreams. Photo Credit: Hero Images/Getty

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Publish And Prosper: How Writing A Book Can Boost Business

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Publish And Prosper: How Writing A Book Can Boost Business”][vc_single_image image=”638″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

SEPTEMBER 27, 2013When his book on a groundbreaking way to look at ADD/HD was released in 2000, Dr. Kevin Ross Emery

soon found himself with almost more business and media attention than he could handle.“People began contacting me to see about working with them and their children,” says Ross, author of Managing The Gift: Alternative Approaches for Attention Deficit Disorder

. “At a book signing, I was approached to do a radio show and was booked right on the spot.” Susan Weiner

recently published The Complete Diabetes Organizer: Your Guide to a Less Stressful and More Manageable Diabetes Life

. The registered dietitian-nutritionist and certified diabetes educator is already seeing an increase in business and media exposure.“I’m now known as ‘the expert’ on diabetes organizing, and I’m receiving invitations to appear on the radio regarding the book,” Weiner says.

Earning Expert Status

As Ross and Weiner both discovered, business owners who get published in their fields cement their status as experts, increasing customer respect and confidence and, ultimately, business. Debora McLaughlin is CEO of The Renegade Leader Coaching & Consulting Group

and author of The Renegade Leader: 9 Success Strategies Driven Leaders Use to Ignite People, Performance and Profits

and the forthcoming book, Running in High Heels.“The Renegade Leader has definitely added to my credibility,” McLaughlin says. “I’ve been asked to speak at colleges, and I’ve appeared as an expert panelist for worldwide tele-summits. Running in High Heels, which is about women’s leadership, has already gained recognition and positioned me as an expert at colleges and organizations before it has even published.” Try these tips for publishing a book in your field that will increase business.

Come up with a winning subject.

To write a book that gets attention and cements your status as an expert, think of a subject that piques interest and fulfills a need. “Start by thinking about what you often tell your clients that interests them, and see if that works for a title,” Ross says. “Ask yourself what most people want to know from you and what problems you most want to solve or what misconceptions you wish to correct.” Also look for subjects that haven’t been done before, so you can fill a niche, says Weiner, who was inspired to write the diabetes organizer when she saw her friend, professional organizer Leslie Josel, on a TV show organizing a hoarder’s home. “It hit me that though it’s recommended that diabetics organize their supplies, paperwork and routine, there were no books on how to do that, so I approached Leslie about co-authoring a book on the subject using her organization expertise and my diabetes knowledge,” Weiner says.

Explore publishing options.

Several options exist for publishing your book, and each has its pros and cons. You can directly approach a publisher with your idea as Weiner and Josel did, get an agent to pitch the idea to publishers, or self-publish. Approaching the publisher on your own has advantages, as it cuts out the agent, which means you don’t have to pay a commission. However, agents often can get a better publishing contract than you can on your own. When done well, self-publishing can be lucrative, because you have full artistic and distribution control and get most of the profits. This option is more labor intensive, however, as you must take care of just about every aspect of publication or hire assistance.

Ensure quality writing.

However you publish your book, make certain it’s high-quality work. If you need help writing, team up with a co-writer or get an editor or ghostwriter. “If writing is painful for you or just not your thing, then proceed carefully before you take the plunge,” Ross says. “A bad book can do more damage than an okay book can do you good. Once out in print, you have to defend what you said and the way you chose to say it.” If you like to write, Ross suggests creating a series of blogs that can later be turned into a book. “Let your fans and friends give you feedback on your posts along the way,” he says. “My earlier books would have been much different had blogs existed as early testing grounds.”

Take advantage of your book’s marketing potential.

Capitalize on your book by promoting it as much as possible. Hold seminars and book signings, which will further bolster your credibility and authority. Give new customers copies of your book and feature contests to give away free books. “Speak anywhere and everywhere to the appropriate audiences and stay liberal in that definition,” Ross says. “What works best is to get people who get what you do, and how good you are at it, excited, because then they’ll blow your horn for you.” Keep these tips in mind for publishing a winning book in your field, and you’re apt to find yourself with devoted fans and increased business. Julie Bawden-Davis is a freelance writer who has written for numerous publications, including Entrepreneur, Better Homes & Gardens and Family Circle. Read more articles on leadership. Photo: Thinkstock

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TEACHING PRESENTATION SKILLS TO KIDS

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Toastmasters’ Youth Leadership program is popular – and it works.”][vc_single_image image=”636″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Thirteen-year-old Shelby Kilpatrick and her 10-year-old twin sisters, Lauren and Kaitlyn, were only a “little nervous” the day they spoke for an audience of 14,000 at the 2006 Environmental Science Research Institute’s international conference in San Diego, California.

“Once we started talking, everything was fine,” says Shelby. Their speech discussed the trio’s 4-H project in which they used a GPS system to create a trail map for the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife. Ask the girls how they remained calm and capably spoke in front of all those people, and they gladly credit Toastmasters. Thanks to an eight-week Youth Leadership program sponsored by the Denton Toastmasters club in Denton, Texas, the Kilpatrick sisters received extensive training on presentation skills and leadership. “The classes were really fun,” says Shelby, who speaks often during her 4-H work. [4-H is a youth organization sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.] “My sisters and I learned to be calm and to present our information so that people understand it. Now I really like giving speeches. It makes me feel important to get up there and talk about things that people enjoy hearing. I also learn a lot when I put together my speeches.” Shelby’s mom, Susan Kilpatrick, saw a great deal of change in Shelby and her sisters after the Toastmasters training. “They’re pretty much fearless today,” says Susan. “Learning to speak in public built their communication skills and confidence and enabled them to develop charisma and capture attention. They volunteer all the time for tasks that require leadership roles and easily work with groups, organizing other children and communicating what needs to be done.” Creating outgoing, well-organized, motivated children is the goal of Distinguished Toastmaster Ron Clark. The 30-year member is president of the TV Toastmasters club in Dallas, Texas, and began the Youth Leadership training in 2004. “We’ve seen the training program really take off,” says Clark, who is also secretary for the Texas Jumptart Coalition, which seeks to improve the financial literacy of young adults. “My first Youth Leadership class in 2004 consisted of nine students,” he says. “Now I get calls all of the time. I’m currently scheduled to do several workshops for home schoolers, high schoolers, middle schoolers and elementary students.” “Before the [Youth] Leadership classes, we never did any kind of speaking, and now we speak all of the time,” Kaitlyn says. “It’s easy once you know how.” Designed to develop speaking and leadership skills for adolescents and teens, Toastmasters’ eight-week Youth Leadership program is similar to a regular Toastmasters meeting. Classes last about two hours, and the students run the meeting while the coordinator provides training and guidance. The informal course focuses on teaching students communication and leadership skills. They learn to overcome nervousness when speaking in front of groups, to organize and present ideas logically and convincingly, to listen carefully to the ideas of other students, and offer helpful advice. “Kids absolutely love the training,” says Clark, who feels that speech training also teaches children skills critical to a successful life that they often don’t learn in school. “Children learn hard skills like math and science in school, but speech training teaches them important soft skills such as leadership, creativity, persuasiveness and organization,” says Clark, pointing out that mastering these talents in Toastmasters made him successful in his career as an engineer. Parents and Toastmasters teaching the Youth Leadership program say kids benefit by learning speaking skills at a young age. “The sooner you teach children about public speaking, the better,” says Susan Kilpatrick. “If you catch kids before they have that fear of speaking in front of people, they’ll probably miss that hurdle altogether and go on to be great communicators and leaders.” Abe Birnbaum, DTM, a member of the Denton Toastmasters club, has assisted Clark with Youth Leadership training and agrees with the importance of teaching children presentation skills as early as possible. “Kids take to speaking readily because they haven’t learned to be embarrassed yet,” says Birnbaum. “This sort of training is one of the best benefits you can give them and it will stay with them for the rest of their lives.” Thanks to the leadership and speech training classes, 10-year-old Lauren Kilpatrick feels she can speak in front of anyone now. “The classes helped me do things that I thought I couldn’t do. Now I’m not afraid to speak, and I can talk about anything at any time. I was a princess in a personality contest recently and they interviewed me, and I just got up there and said something, and it was okay.” Lauren’s twin sister, Kaitlyn, agrees. “Before the leadership classes, we never did any kind of speaking, and now we speak all the time,” she says. “It’s easy once you know how.” Their older sister Shelby found Table Topics to be especially helpful. “I’m able to think on my feet now, and I can put together a speech really quickly,” she says. “I recently did a speech for the Denton County Livestock Association Youth Fair on honeybees. I wrote the speech and gave it the same day. I talked about some general information about honeybees, including how they live and the different products that they create like honey and royal jelly. The speech was judged, and I got third place.” Perhaps one of the best aspects of teaching children about speaking is “knowing that we’re equipping the future leaders of our country,” says Clark. “These children are our next generation, and this type of training is important for them and our future,” he says. And although Clark isn’t running the leadership training programs specifically to increase Toastmasters membership, he notes that many of the students are likely to become members once they are 18. Tips for Teaching Youth Leadership Of all his accomplishments as a Toastmaster, Ron Clark says he gets much satisfaction teaching speaking skills to youngsters. “Perhaps the best part of showing children how to speak is the look of exhilaration on their faces when they succeed,” he says. “They’re so excited when they realize that they did it all by themselves.” Here he offers tips for successfully educating young people about presentation skills:

Do your homework. “Carefully read the coordinator’s manual and take advantage of the resources offered by Toastmasters,” says Clark. “There are districts all over the world that have so much valuable material to share; learn from their experiences.”
Be expressive. Kids like to see animation and a lively performance. “When I do a speech on gestures, I make a big display,” says Clark. “I’ll fool with the keys in my pocket and adjust my glasses and make a lot of noise with change. I also emphasize being purposeful with your gestures; kids love that.”
Encourage children to give as many speeches as they want. “Initially, many kids are a little shy, but once they start speaking, they often don’t want to stop,” says Clark. “Have as many children as possible speak at each session.”
Limit participants. Clark likes to keep his class size to no more than 25 students so that he can cover all the important topics and give everyone a chance to speak.
Minimize handouts and topics covered. Kids can only soak up so much information in each session. Don’t pile a bunch of paperwork on them, which can be overwhelming. Instead focus on one topic, such as gestures, speech openings or giving evaluations.
Enjoy yourself. Have fun with the kids and they’ll have fun, too, says Clark. “Relax, get a little silly, and use plenty of humor.”

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BENEFITS OF BEING BILINGUAL

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”BENEFITS OF BEING BILINGUAL”][vc_single_image image=”635″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Alejandro Saiz, CC, grew up speaking Spanish, the language of his home country, Spain. Yet in his current job, he finds it important to speak both Spanish and English. “I work at Airbus in Madrid, and the official way of communication with other countries is English, but at the Spanish site [of the company], we hold most meetings in Spanish,” he says. “We have frequent meetings in Spanish and frequent meetings and phone telecoms in English.” Saiz has found the perfect place to practice communicating effectively in both languages: the Nova Communication Bilingual Toastmasters club in Madrid. The club meets weekly and uses an alternating format, holding its meetings in Spanish one week and in English the next. Chartered in 2010, it clearly fills a need: The club has more than 50 members. Speaking both languages in the club, says Saiz, “means training in an environment as close as can be to my day-to-day work.” María José Cid, CC, CL, and a group of individuals she met during a leadership training course chartered the club. A native Spanish speaker, Cid says it was difficult when she started giving speeches in English. “I suffered from a fear of public speaking and doing it in a second language was tougher than doing it in my mother tongue,” she says. But eventually she became more comfortable and confident. Developing bilingual skills is vital in Spain, says Cid. “Current business and career demands make it a must for Spaniards to speak English.” The club’s format of alternating languages from one week to the next helps members greatly, she adds. “Every week, our mind frame is set for the language to be used [in that week’s meeting], and all forms, including written evaluations, are in that language,” says Cid. “We consider it language immersion for Spanish speakers when the meeting is in English and the same thing for members of other nationalities when it is in Spanish. The use of both languages naturally improves with time and exposure.” Saiz says the biggest challenge for him is adapting his speech delivery to the language in which he’s speaking. “I have noticed that in my case the language has a significant influence over many aspects of the speech,” he says. “For example, I have the tendency to speak too fast in Spanish, but in English I think I control the pacing better. For this reason, when I am preparing a speech and I review the suggestions that I received from previous speeches, sometimes I need to put the suggestions into perspective, taking into account if I had given that speech in Spanish or in English.” Diverse Membership Nova Communication members hail from a number of different countries, making the club’s format even more valuable, says Gracia Uceda, CC, CL. “The bilingual format generates an environment of trust that makes it comfortable for all to participate in the meetings,” she says. Graciela Tena, CC, a Mexican-American currently living in Spain, says she heard about Toastmasters from a friend when Tena lived in the U.S. When her husband’s work as a military diplomat brought her and her family to Spain, she became a member of Nova Communication. “Since I joined the club, I have enriched my Spanish vocabulary and gained confidence presenting in Spanish,” Tena says. The club, which meets at a local business school, uses video equipment to help members improve their skills. Tena edits and uploads videos to YouTube from each week’s speeches, noting that the videos help members “learn from their mistakes and embrace their strengths.” The club’s strong mentoring program also helps members. Those preparing a speech in their second language can meet with a mentor for whom that language is their native tongue, says Saiz, who served as the club’s mentoring coordinator in 2014–2015. “Delivering speeches in two languages means more room for improvement (as there is always a language you are less comfortable with), and also more room for the mentors to help,” he says. “Some mentees send a preview video of their speeches to the mentors or even meet in person. It is always helpful to have someone review your speech, maybe tell you, ‘That part is clear’ or ‘That one is a bit of a tongue-twister’ and suggest other ways to say it.” Nova Communication also helped one member, Pablo Ibáñez, CC, CL, with his stuttering problem. He’s now the club president. “My goal was to speak in front of an audience and stutter and not be fearful or ashamed of it,” says Ibáñez, who says support from club members helped him realize this goal as well as become more fluent in both languages. A version of this article appeared in the September 2015 issue of the Toastmaster magazine.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH Burn victim inspires others with his music and speeches.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH Burn victim inspires others with his music and speeches.”][vc_single_image image=”632″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Talk to Dan Caro about his life and he’ll tell you that things are just as they should be. The motivational speaker and professional drummer suffered a devastating childhood accident but says, “There are no negatives in life.” A former Toastmaster, Caro is the author of The Gift of Fire: How I Made Adversity Work for Me. He says, “I believe in owning your life and being 100 percent accountable for your actions and reactions. I’ve come to terms with my history and realized that everything happens for a reason.” When Caro was 2 years old and playing near a water heater, a gas can fell over, igniting a 2,500-degree fireball that engulfed him. His tiny body became so hot that once he arrived at the hospital, doctors had to cut him with a scalpel to release trapped heat. During those first tentative hours, he died three times. Eighty percent of his body received third- and fourth-degree burns, which meant extensive loss of skin, including on his face. He also lost his fingers and most of his hands. As a child, Caro spent more than four years in the hospital undergoing 80 grafting and reconstruction surgeries. Much of that time was spent in isolation rooms because his thin skin made him susceptible to staph infections. It was during this period that Caro discovered how people truly treat one another and where they place their values. “All of that self-reflection set me on a path to discovering my dharma, which is my life’s purpose,” says Caro. “I’ve always felt compelled to excel so that I can inspire people to live their lives to the fullest without complaint or excuse.” During childhood when other kids were fretting over skinned knees and homework assignments, Caro struggled to achieve tasks that many take for granted, such as tying his shoelaces. “I attended a private school from preschool through eighth grade, and initially the kids made fun of me until one day when I chased after the class bully and overpowered him,” he says. “From that day on, I was friends with everyone.” Determination Pays Off With no fingers or even hands, Caro’s seven-year struggle to tie his shoelaces wasn’t as quickly overcome, but the experience taught him a wealth of other great skills, including patience and persistence. “Though I lacked the dexterity to grip the shoelaces, I tried every day until I finally tied them,” he says. “I can only explain it as a spiritual energy. On that particular day, things clicked and I suddenly had a new-found strength. I believed so strongly that I could tie my shoes that my intentions led to the manifestation of the goal.” After succeeding with his shoelaces, Caro decided to tackle the drums. “I have a functional thumb on my left hand, but not on my right one, so it’s hard to grip anything, such as a drumstick,” he says. “After a few unsuccessful attempts that included painful things like glue, my dad called a drummer friend and he suggested wrist bands, which I supplemented with rubber bands, creating fully functioning hands.” Caro began playing the drums at age 12 and found steady work for many years throughout his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana. At one time he was the primary drummer for 11 jazz bands. “Dan is a remarkable drummer, which is especially impressive when you consider his situation,” says Stanton Moore, a professional drummer in New Orleans who has known Caro for several years. “I’ve seen Dan power through a gig with such determination, and he does it all with a smile. He is one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever met. Whenever I think my life is tough, I just look at him and realize that I have no excuses.” It was Hurricane Katrina in August 2005 that prompted Caro to change his career path from drumming to professional speaking and writing. “Katrina taught me to not ground yourself with a location or get attached to your stuff, because it can all go away suddenly. I realized that who you are and what you have inside of you – your consciousness – is all that really matters.” Caro’s speaking career actually started two years before, in 2003, when his father suggested he attend a Toastmasters meeting. “Back then if someone asked me a question, I would freeze up and had difficulty expressing myself,” says Caro. “Going to Toastmasters was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The organization gave me the tools and confidence to do what I’m doing now.” Becoming a Toastmasters Leader He quickly earned his Competent Communicator award and became president of his club, Totally Toastmasters in Mandeville, Louisiana, bringing it back to Distinguished status by his second year. Today Caro is a sought-after speaker and author who regularly presents to audiences numbering in the thousands. Steve Siebold is a professional speaker who met Caro at a speech workshop several years ago and became Caro’s coach. “Dan’s message was unbelievably compelling and inspirational; he just needed some refinement in how he shared it,” says Siebold, who speaks on the topic of mental strength. “Considering his heart-wrenching story, there is the challenge of the audience feeling emotionally drained after hearing it. But Dan connects with the audience and shares the wisdom he acquired because of his tragedy, convincing listeners that they too can succeed, no matter the odds. He makes the presentation even more uplifting by playing the drums.” While Siebold helped Caro develop his speaking skills, he has learned a great deal from Caro in return. “Dan is never really out of my mind as I go about my life,” he says. “When I compare my challenges to his, I just laugh.” Toastmasters Past International President Bennie Bough, DTM, agrees. “As a burn victim, Dan electrifies his audience with his message and demonstrates that being handicapped is not an obstacle,” says Bough. “He captivates your heart and inspires you to higher levels of success.” Today Caro is busy speaking and writing. His current mentor is Wayne Dyer, who wrote the for- ward for Caro’s newly released book, The Gift of Fire. While he doesn’t play the drums professionally anymore, Caro still enjoys music and has started composing. He is also a spokesperson for Shriners International, a philanthropic organization that supports Shriners Hospitals, an international health care system of 22 hospitals that – specializes in treating children free of charge for burns, orthopedic– conditions, spinal-cord injuries and cleft lip and palate. “It was at Shriners Hospitals that I had my 80 surgeries, and I feel it’s my duty to give back to the organization that saved my life,” he says. Caro plans to continue sharing his message of determination, strength and hope. “I have come to realize that people looked at me differently throughout different periods of my life because of how I looked at myself. I don’t get many weird looks anymore, and I think it’s because when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. When you live with no judgments or terms or conditions, things manifest the way you want them to – with no negatives.” For more information about Dan Caro, visit www.DanCaro.com. Julie Bawden-Davis is a freelance writer based in Southern California and a longtime contributor to the Toastmaster. You can reach her at Julie@JulieBawdenDavis.com. “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Plants rise from your kitchen scraps / Trees, vines, indoor gardens sprout up

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Plants rise from your kitchen scraps / Trees, vines, indoor gardens sprout up”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Looking for a fun, educational project for the kids or just something different for your indoor garden? Try growing plants from kitchen scraps. We’ve all heard of soaking and rooting avocado seeds indoors. Did you know you can also grow apple and lemon trees from seed? Pineapple tops transform into attractive plants and yams create a long, handsome vine. “In every kitchen garbage bin there is a garden waiting to be planted,” says Judith Handelsman, a Laguna Beach garden writer and author of “Gardens From Garbage: How to Grow Indoor Plants from Recycled Kitchen Scraps” (Millbrook Press, 1993). It’s easy and fun to grow new plants with leftover fruits and vegetables. Here’s how:[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]– Apples: Apples make an attractive indoor tree. Plant several apple seeds at once — germination is not high. If possible, try various apple types. Before planting, soak apple seeds overnight in warm water.

Plant six to 12 seeds in a high quality potting soil. Press the seeds into the soil slightly and cover with a thin layer of soil. Keep moist. Apples may take a month or more to germinate, so be patient. — Avocados: When grown indoors, avocado trees won’t fruit, but they will become large, tropical floor plants. First, wash the seed and let it dry overnight. To plant, peel off the brown outer skin. Stick four toothpicks in the center of the seed at equal intervals. Place in a jar of water with the flat side of the seed down and the pointed side up, leaving one-third of the seed in water. Store in a dark place such as a kitchen cabinet.

Roots will grow in the water and a stem will rise from the top of the avocado seed. When the stem is about 6 inches high, cut it off to half its size. Put plant back in the dark and wait another few weeks until the roots have thickened and a new stem has grown and reached about 6 inches. Bring the plant out into the light and wait for the leaves to green up. Next, plant the avocado in soil. Be careful not to damage the roots by making a hole in the soil before sliding the plant in. Gently fill the hole with soil and tamp lightly. To encourage the avocado tree to grow full and bushy, pinch off new leaves. For every two new leaves pinched, four should grow in their place. — Citrus: Seeds of oranges, lemons, grapefruits, limes and tangerines are easy to grow. They will become small trees. In the right environment, which includes ample bright light, you may eventually get blooms and fruit, but that will take years. To plant citrus, rinse seeds in warm water and soak overnight. Plant each seed 1/2 inch deep and 1 inch apart. Water and keep moist. Seeds can take a month or more to sprout. Once they emerge, place plants in the sunniest window of the house. When plants have some foliage, encourage bushy growth by pinching off new leaves. — Pineapple: The prickly top of the pineapple can be removed from the fruit and planted. When 4-6 years old, the plant may produce a fragrant pink or red flower, which bears a small, inedible fruit. Cut the top off a ripe pineapple, leaving about 1 inch of fruit attached. Bury the fruit portion of the pineapple in potting soil, leaving the green crown exposed. Water well and place in a warm, sunny spot. Within one to two months the pineapple will root and begin to grow. — Yams: Yams will grow long vines. Take an elongated yam and scrub well. Cut off one end and stick the bottom with four toothpicks at even intervals. Place in a wide-mouth jar filled with water, the cut end immersed. Vines will grow from the eyes in the upper portion of the yam. Place yams in bright light, but no direct sun. White roots will fill the jar and purple leaves will sprout from the top. Leaves will become bright green as they grow. Always keep the jar filled with water and change the water when it becomes cloudy.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Plant Perennials Now for Vibrant Spring Blooms

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Plant Perennials Now for Vibrant Spring Blooms”][vc_single_image image=”624″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Want a spectacular show of perennials in your garden early next spring? If so, now’s the time to plant flowering favorites like hellebore, phlox, and allium. Get plants in the ground soon, and you gain a big head start on next year’s garden. In all but areas with severe winters, fall is the ideal time to plant many perennials, because the cold winter months that follow are important for dormancy, says Venelin Dimitrov, product manager of flowers, tubers, perennial plants, shrubs, and fruits for W. Atlee Burpee & Co. “Many perennial plants from temperate climates must experience a period of low winter temperature to initiate and accelerate flowering, which is known as vernalization,” he says. “This process establishes the plant, so it starts growing earlier the next spring and produces brighter and bolder colors.” Fall is also a good time to plant many bulbs, like crocus, tulip, and daffodil, and the biennials digitalis, delphinium, lupine, viola, and hollyhock. The latter plants flower after the second year of growth and require a chill period over winter to get started. Order perennial plants via mail-order in autumn, and they’ll travel during cool weather, which means less chance of drying out and stressing during shipping. When to plant your perennials depends on the weather in the area of the U.S. in which you live. “For most of the country, early September is ideal for planting perennials,” says Dimitrov. “The cut-off time to plant in fall is normally 18-20 days before the first hard frost. Light frost of 32 F. won’t harm most of these plants.”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]To have luck incorporating new perennials into your landscape this fall, keep the following planting tips in mind. Amend the soil prior to planting. This will ensure maximum drainage for plant root systems during the wet weather ahead, says Dimitrov. “Avoid planting in areas where water may gather and stay. Ensure there is maximum drainage for the root system.” Clean up the garden and compost fallen leaves. Foliage lying in garden beds where your perennials are planted packs down and prevents plant roots from receiving critical air and water. Rake excess leaves out of the beds and compost them. Create mixed borders. Interplant perennials with low-growing deciduous or evergreen shrubs. Such mixed borders add height, structure, and year-long interest to the garden. Make a plan. When determining which perennials to use, consider the layout of the garden and its exposure. Create nonstop interest by planting perennials that bloom at different times throughout a season. Plant taller plants at the back of a border or bed, medium height plants in the center, and the lowest growing perennials in the front. Launch the gallery to see a beautiful array of perennials you can look forward to. Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of seven books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Miniature Gardens: Design and create miniature fairy gardens, dish gardens, terrariums and more-indoors and out

A revealing peek into the captivating world of gardening in miniature, complete with inspiring photos and practical step-by-step instructions. A delightful, fun, and endlessly creative new trend is sweeping the gardening world: miniature gardening! With your imagination as the only limit to this infinitely customizable technique, miniature gardening showcases your individuality. Once you’ve learned how to design, create, and grow tiny plant combinations successfully, you’ll be able to let your creativity loose indoors and out. In Miniature Gardens, gardening expert Katie Elzer-Peters demonstrates the latest in plant options and designs through her gorgeous color photography and laser-focused Do-It-Yourself advice. Plenty of great tips and idea-generating information on small-scale furnishings are included as well. Where other books on this popular subject offer run-of-the-mill images and only limited how-to information, Miniature Gardens gives you a thorough and beautiful window into this tiny world, from fairy gardening to dish gardening, terrariums, and even a miniature water garden project. From cute home tabletop designs to elaborate mini-villages and everything in between, miniature gardening is a pastime that can be enjoyed by hobbyists and families of all ages and in all sizes of living space. With Miniature Gardens, you’re just a lightning strike of inspiration away from bringing to life the endless creations unique to your own imagination.

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Make Houseplants Part of Your Interior Design

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Make Houseplants Part of Your Interior Design”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]One of the great advantages of growing houseplants is how good they make your home look. “It’s the details that make the difference in really pulling a home together, and houseplants are one of those essential details,” says interior designer Michaelin Reamy, owner of Natural Color and Design in Menlo Park. “Indoor plants make great decorator pieces,” agrees Mill Valley interior designer Stacey Lapuk. “Most furnishings and architectural details are comprised of hard surfaces and straight lines, but houseplants add softness and depth to a space.” Houseplants make a home feel lived in, says Debbie Jorgensen, owner of Patt’s Greenhouse in Los Altos. “Plants give the indoors a comfortable, inviting feeling.”

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With their wide variety of leaf shapes, sizes, colors and textures, houseplants can be used to decorate just about any interior, and they serve a wide variety of design purposes.

“Houseplants can be used to make a room look larger,” says Lapuk. If you want to make a ceiling appear higher, for instance, put a tall, slender plant, such as Dracaena marginata, in a corner. To fill in dead corners, use a tall, bushy plant like Ficus benjamina. If you don’t have enough space for floor plants, try hanging houseplants, which often have the added benefit of flowering. Another tactic for making rooms look larger is to place houseplants near windows where there is greenery outside, so that the indoors appears to be an extension of the outdoors. You can also use houseplants to make large rooms look smaller. Accomplish this by bringing in a plant that is oversized for the space, which will make the ceiling feel lower, or choose a plant that grows up and then drapes. A good draping choice is the ponytail plant (Beaucarnea recurvata).

Plants can also be used to break up large living spaces and create transitions between rooms. “If your home’s design is such that you step right into your living room when you enter your house, you can make the entry less jarring with a line of houseplants,” says Lapuk. Plants can also be used to direct traffic flow. A pink orchid in the entryway, for instance, can lead people into a living room seating space where there is a calathea with variegated pink and green leaves. To have success decorating with houseplants, keep these tips in mind. — CREATE FOCAL POINTS. Houseplants — such as those that bloom — add to a room’s decor when placed in the spotlight. Rather than putting short-lived cut flowers on the dining room table, try orchids, African violets, anthuriums or plants with colorful foliage. Other good spots for eye-catching plants are coffee tables, entryways, the foot or top of stairs, kitchen counters and fireplace mantels. — TIE A SPACE TOGETHER. Plants can be used to create intimate spaces. Flank a sofa with flowering plants and on the coffee table add a plant with a similar color, and the whole space will feel cozy and comfortable. — CREATE GROUPINGS. Clusters of small plants add a decorative touch to certain areas of the home such as desks, pianos, fireplace mantels, credenzas, hutches, dressers and nightstands, and in bathrooms next to sinks or on bathtub decks. They can be placed in individual decorative pots or grouped together in a basket or larger pot. When grouping plants in a larger container, leave each plant in its own container and camouflage with moss. Groupings look especially good if there is a combination of flowering and foliage plants. If you’re doing all foliage, choose plants with leaf colors that blend well. Herbs would be a good choice for the kitchen. — CONSIDER PLANT STYLES. “The type of plants you choose will dictate the feeling of each room,” says Lapuk. “Some plants, like orchids, lend an elegant, sensuous atmosphere to a room, while others, such as the rubber plant (Ficus elastica), tend to give a room a more informal, heavier feeling. “Pay careful attention to the size, weight, texture and shape of each plant and determine if it will help open up a space or make it more cozy. You’ll want heavier looking plants in a den, for instance, but a bathroom will probably call for something lighter.” — CHOOSE YOUR CONTAINERS CAREFULLY. Except for hanging plants, pots — especially small ones — are a highly visible part of designing with houseplants. Make sure that a container’s color, design, shape, size and texture match room decor and contribute to the atmosphere you’re trying to create. — TRY PLANT ACCENTS. There are a wide variety of accessories you can use with houseplants to make them even more decorative and to tie a decor together. These include plant sticks made of materials such as ceramic, wood and beads. You’ll find various accents such as little birds, insects and butterflies. For the holidays, decorate with items like gourds, berries, red ribbons and small Santas.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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7 Easy Steps to Create a Successful Budget

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”7 Easy Steps to Create a Successful Budget”][vc_single_image image=”604″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You’ve probably heard that creating a budget is the key to making your financial dreams a reality. Managing how much money comes in and goes out each month can certainly set you on the path to financial success, but how exactly do you create a successful budget? Follow these easy steps, and you’ll soon find yourself the proud owner of a balanced budget.

1. Total Your Expenses

This is the time to get real and bare all of your financial laundry. Pull out the past year’s bank statements, receipts and bills, including intermittent charges like insurance, auto and home repair and gifts. Also include incidental expenses, many of which you may pay for with cash. On their own, minor charges seem insignificant, but they add up quickly. Get a true total of your spending by keeping a financial journal for a month and recording what you spend on miscellaneous items like coffee, quick meals and tips. When you have all of the necessary data, add your expenses up and divide by 12, which will give you an average of your total monthly expenditures. Tack on a 10 percent cushion to cover the unexpected. For instance, if you determine that you spend an average of $2,500 per month, bump the total up to $2,750.

2. Determine Your income

In addition to your regular net salary, add to your take-home pay any additional money you receive, such as alimony, child support, rental income, interest and dividends, cash gifts and tax refunds. If you have a regular side business or often sell items online, include a monthly average of that income.

3. Do the Math

Discover if you have a monthly windfall or shortfall by subtracting your expenditures from your income. If the figure is negative, you have a budget deficit that is likely eating up your savings or causing you to reach for plastic. If the answer is positive, you have a surplus that you may be spending on incidentals, rather than paying down debt or saving.

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4. Balance Your Budget

If you have a positive cash flow each month, you can skip to number 5. On the other hand, if you’re breaking even or in the negative, you must either slash expenses, bring in more income, or both. To lower expenses, look to your incidental category first. If you’re $50 negative per month and spending $50 a week on unnecessary items, cutting the incidental spending to $15 a week will eliminate your shortage and give you approximately $90 ($1080 per year) to pay down debt and save. If you can’t cut enough from this category, look to your bigger ticket discretionary spending and consider reducing certain expenses. For instance, if you pay for a premium cable package but don’t actually use it, lower your cable bill or get rid of it entirely. After making all necessary cuts, if you still have a shortfall or an insufficient amount of excess money, find a way to bring in additional income.

5. Reduce Debt

Now that you know how much money remains each month, you can earmark a certain percentage forpaying down debt like credit cards and student loans. Avoid attempting to pay off all your debt at once. This is generally unrealistic and is likely to discourage you. Stay encouraged by focusing on one debt at a time, and start with the smallest debt first.

6. Set Savings Goals

Paying off debt is definitely important, but saving is equally so. Having an emergency fund allows you to deal with life’s inevitable unexpected expenses without resorting to credit. While the standard advice is to save 10 to 20 percent of your income, this isn’t always possible. The key is to take advantage of the excess in your budget and save it, no matter how minimal it is. As your income grows, increase your monthly savings.

7. Record Progress

A surefire way to guarantee that you stay on track with your budget is to record your income, expenses, debt reduction and savings. Try using a tool like Mint to track your financial achievements. Seeing your savings account grow and your debts shrink will keep you motivated and less likely to splurge.

Also, read > How to Earn More on Your Savings

Devise a budget and stick to it most of the time, and you’re bound to find yourself in the black and headed toward financial freedom. Julie Bawden-Davis is a staff writer for SuperMoney. Her mission is to help fight your evil debt blob and get your personal finances in tip top shape. Copyright © 2013 Julie Bawden-Davis[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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8 Ways Getting Organized Can Save You Money

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”8 Ways Getting Organized Can Save You Money”][vc_single_image image=”601″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Clutter leads to misplaced items and chaos, but did you also know that it can cost you money? When you can’t keep track of bills, cash, or important notices because your home is messy, it could come back to haunt you in a number of ways. Get organized, and you can avoid fines, late fees, and money forgotten. Here are 8 ways that getting organized can save you money–you just may be motivated to clean up your act.

1. Avoid unnecessary fees

Disorganization results in misplaced bills, receipts and appointment cards. When you forget or can’t find items like your electricity bill or a restaurant check, the likelihood you’ll forget to pay a bill or record charges is high and can lead to late fees, overdraft and over-limit fines and unnecessary service charges. Many professionals will charge you a no-show fee if you miss an appointment. Even worse, your credit rating can be negatively affected if you fail to pay certain bills, or miss a summons.

2. Prevent expensive duplicates

Recognize this scenario or something similar? You’re throwing a surprise party for your best friend, whose favorite color is blue. As you search your linen closet in vain, you’re positive that you had just the right tablecloth. After a frustrating wasted hour of your time, you head to the store to buy another tablecloth. A few weeks later, you find the original tablecloth you’d been seeking. Buy enough duplicates throughout the course of a year, and you unnecessarily waste a great deal of money.

3. Curb impulse buys

Knowing that you already have two cardigans of nearly the same color or three baking pans of the same size gives you a good idea of how much you actually own. This knowledge may be just what you need to avoid making unplanned purchases. The thought of stuffing yet another sweater into your closet—even if it’s adorable—is a great deterrent.

Also, read > How to Save Money During the Holidays

4. No storage fees

Some people with too much stuff for their space “clean house” by renting a storage unit and tossing the excess inside. A typical storage unit can cost $60 a month or more, which means a minimum of $720 a year. Get organized and purge unnecessary items, and you might find that enough space opens up to store all of your belongings at home. You may also discover after sifting through the storage unit contents that you can donate or get rid of some of those items. If something’s been in a storage container for a year, you probably don’t need it at all, right?

5. Found money

Ever find $10 in an old Christmas card, or a gift certificate folded and stuffed in an envelope from graduation? Organize your belongings, and you’re likely to hit the jackpot and find long lost monetary items like gift cards, loose change, bills and even savings bonds.

6. Protect your property

Improperly storing your belongings by stacking and piling can lead to damage, which can be costly. Special certificates and documents become rumpled and bent. And if conditions become damp, mold can set in, staining and ruining a wide variety of items, including paperwork, valuable clothing and wood.

7. Prevent food waste

If you know exactly what you have in your refrigerator and pantry, you’ll be much less likely to overbuy food and end up throwing it away. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, about 35 million tons of food was thrown away in 2010, and much of it was simply excess.

8. Guard your identity

Not having a handle on where all of your important paperwork is located within your home means the possibility of not shredding sensitive information and it getting into the wrong hands. When you’re organized, you can be diligent about filing and shredding, and keeping your credit cards stored safely.

Also, read > Save Money with a Staycation: Go Camping

Now that you know the monetary benefits of getting organized, you can clean up the clutter and watch your savings account grow. Julie Bawden-Davis is a staff writer for SuperMoney. Her mission is to help fight your evil debt blob and get your personal finances in tip top shape. Copyright © 2013 Julie Bawden-Davis Photo: smithsoccasional[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Substantial Collection

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Historic Villa Park Orchards Packing House

PREPARING CRAFT GOURDS

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How Older Workers Can Benefit Small Businesses

—Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey, founders, Barefoot Wine

Take Advantage of Older Workers’ Experience

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Use Effective Interview Techniques

—Scott Wintrip, founder, Wintrip Consulting Group

Ask Questions For Fit

Conduct Experiential Interviews

When to Approach the Topic of Salary

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Updating Apps Beneficial to Business

—Joe Puthur, president, Mortgage Coach

Take Advantage of App Updates

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Plan for the unexpected

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Thirteen-year-old Shelby Kilpatrick and her 10-year-old twin sisters, Lauren and Kaitlyn, were only a “little nervous” the day they spoke for an audience of 14,000 at the 2006 Environmental Science Research Institute’s international conference in San Diego, California.

Miniature Gardens: Design and create miniature fairy gardens, dish gardens, terrariums and more-indoors and out

1. Total Your Expenses

2. Determine Your income

3. Do the Math

4. Balance Your Budget

5. Reduce Debt

6. Set Savings Goals

7. Record Progress

1. Avoid unnecessary fees

2. Prevent expensive duplicates

3. Curb impulse buys

4. No storage fees

5. Found money

6. Protect your property

7. Prevent food waste

8. Guard your identity

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