MAP Partners and Why SEO is an Essential Web Site Strategy

Internet businesses and the infinite types of businesses that have yet to be created, have the potential to deal with millions and billions of people. Though there are so many factors that play into visibility and marketing. To some e-commerce sites it can be quite a feat to reach as many as 5,000 clients. Yet with the help of search engine optimization experts such as the team of MAP Partners, web site marketing strategies can promote exponential growth for any type of business. Search engine optimization, or to refer to the abbreviated name SEO, is essential to any web site that requires broad visibility. I can think of very few internet business where SEO does not play a pivotal role in the success of a web enterprise. Thus MAP Partners acts as a powerful tool in successfully ranking clients at the top of the world’s top search engines.

For those unfamiliar with SEO and web marketing strategies, how this works may be puzzling. Keywords might seem amateur for a beautiful web site designed in the latest and greatest technologies. Almost 90% of internet traffic is through the major search engines such as Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc. Therefore the most visibility for an internet business is gained via major search engines and staying ahead of the competition is key in terms of placement.

Twitter may be the favorite subject of late night comedians in that many politicians and popular figures spend their time announcing precicely what they are doing. Yet twitter can be informative and is actually serve several purposes. For internet marketing it can be a very fruitful strategy. It doesn’t work as plainly as it can seem, where the more followers a twitter user has can equal a more successful or visible web site. Rather, a message that starts as a tweet can end up as a link from a popular website. Social media sites such as twitter can act as alerts/ trackers for urls. Tweets can play as announcements for new sites and permanent links for thousands of twitter users. MAP Partners provides expert advice on social media planning and how it plays a role in internet marketing.

Whereas it may seem silly for a politician with extremely important issues to be working towards to be announcing their weekend plans on twitter, there is a clear strategy behind every tweet and facebook posting. Just look at the success of the Obama campaign and how many voters were reached with these extremely popular sites that are just as important for web marketing as SEO rankings. Social Media sites such as Del.icio.us., a social bookmarking site allows visitors to naturally direct many users to your site by tagging articles or site with keywords that direct to your site. These marketing strategies can be very entertaining and enjoyable to use. However they should not to be overlooked for their useful very powerful influence in modern SEO.

To best insure a website’s investment exponentially grows to record success, knowledge and experience of cutting edge internet technologies is key. MAP Partners is a tool of great importance to any business interested in current successful promotion.

Enjoy a Large Dose of Culture in a Mountain Bijou

Things are heating up in Asheville NC this summer, literally and figuratively. Now is the time so many restaurants open their deluxe courtyards and cooking up creative concoctions with locally grown produce. Great musicians pass through to perform popular events such as Fridays After Five and Shindig on the Green. The craft industry in Asheville is alive and well during the summer with events such as the River Arts District Studio Stroll and the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands. A drumming circle performs every Friday night in Pritchard Park and the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre just gets started as the temperature outside provides such an enjoyable leisurely experience. It seems redundant to continue with more festivities this summer in the mountains of WNC, yet we have barely touched the surface.

For any Southerner looking for a change of scene and climate during the balmy months of summer, Asheville can provide a spectacular weekend get-away. Nestled in the mountains, all types of travelers can enjoy hot days in the state parks and swimming holes and cool nights with great food and lively entertainment. This bijou town is also a popular destination for a family mountain vacation. Scenic backdrops and long-range views make mountain rentals in Asheville beyond comparison to any tourist destination in the Southeast.

Anyone interested in July Asheville vacation rental will be dosed with more culture than could be imagined. To start, the Fourth of July Celebrations are a good time for the whole family and start downtown at 4pm on the holiday. It can present a captivating mountain vacation experience, in that visually the mountains offer an amazing setting for a fireworks display. The Biltmore Estate Winery Summer Holiday Weekends provide visitors with the opportunity to enjoy live performances with sipping on the numerous varieties of Biltmore wines. The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games that takes places July 10-13 is considered to be the oldest tradition of all Scottish games in the United States. A bed and breakfast rental with walking distance to downtown can access any one of the free outdoor street festivals in Asheville. Bele Chere is by far the largest and most popular, but others such as The Twin Rivers Media Festival and The Carolina Lane Arts Festival can be just as interesting.

A bed and breakfast or mountain rental may just be the perfect accommodation for a mountain vacation in Asheville. Make the most of your days by seeing all you can see and having more fun than any other town this size could offer. Relax in a quiet mountain cabin when you’ve had enough excitement. Properties ranging from cottages with long-range views to a bed and breakfast in walking distance to downtown can make the perfect weekend get-away to anyone looking for entertainment, art, a mountain vacation or simply retreat from the regular events summer.

What is Prepaid Legal Service and how it can save you Money

Prepaid legal service is a legal insurance plan that more and more people are using every day. As an alternative to expensive lawyers, prepaid legal services offer the best legal leads anytime as a simple and affordable solution to many people who need legal help. Rather than risking large sums of money for legal fees and percentages taken, this type of insurance is a way to access any type of legal help one may need for less than a dollar per day.

The various types of fees that lawyers can debit are endless. There are both statutory and contingency fees, advisory and commission fees to name a few. It is the assumption of so many that there is no such thing as cheap lawyers. Yet prepaid legal services are not any sort of legal con or profiting corporate industry. Instead it is a smart solution to lawyers that provides legal help and peace of mind in times like these of an unstable economy. Just imagine how much security legal aid may provide in our present recession. So many Americans are struggling with inequitable credit card companies, soaring medical expenses and unanticipated foreclosures. Anytime expert advice can be accessed for all kinds of legal questions.

Imagine this very current situation: An autoworker is fearful for the stability of his job with the unfortunate economic events of the industry that are beyond his control. He is facing many serious risks as far as his career and his investments, yet he cannot afford to inquire about the possible looming affairs with informed lawyers. Prepaid legal service is a secure investment for the present, in that advice can be provided to prevent the dire situations that many people face every day. One may gain an understanding of all the legal actions that accompany employment and severance, insurance and wrongful termination. Simultaneously and for no additional cost, he may explore preliminary legal help for an other serious issue he may be needing expert advice and action with; such as the IRS or nursing homes for his parents. The risk of spending large sums of money for legal help in an emergency subsides. In the end, it is a way for so many hard working Americans to protect themselves and save money on all accounts.

Now is a better time than ever to secure your wallet, investments, health and family with legal insurance such as prepaid legal service. Some examples of the legal aid a prepaid service may provide includes anything from: taxes to divorce, medication to misdemeanor, employment to workplace harassment, annulment to immigration, prenuptial agreements to credit, bankruptcy to investment. For those that think there is no such thing as cheap lawyers, there is legal help and expert advisors standing by to help you now.

Creative Arts Listings Online

For those nomadic artists who have recently relocated to the area, there is an unbounded amount of artist resources in Asheville (so you may have heard). Although Asheville seems like a small town, and is basically miniscule when comparing it to major cosmopolitan cities like New York, it contains a vast network of arts organizations and creative talent. Though it can be difficult to break into the scene here for a number of reasons. The city is mostly sprawled out, and due to real estate prices most artists are willing to live as far out as Marshall to save a few pennies. It is for this reason that the artist social network is sprawled across the region, and pinning down the specific opportunities or arts organizations you are looking for can turn into an extensive search.

However a sprawing network shouldn’t interfere with one’s inquiries into the artist resources available. With an artist directory like Call For Creativity, the resources are right at your fingertips. Opportunities to exhibit work, community events and even the chance to meet local artists are all available for the artist online. Artists can even be awarded for their ideas and projects through highlighting opportunities such as artist of the week. Each artist is given the chance to create a profile of them selves, and to upload photos of the works to share with others. Artist organizations such as galleries, schools, studios, museums and guilds all have a chance to create a profile and to display contact information as well. What could make more sense? Almost like a collaboration, local creative talent is able to connect with like-minded people to further ideas and learn about current opportunities.

Asheville has a reputation for being a creative oasis amid the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is evident in the amount of creative events all throughout the year. Though they may not be publicized in a single artist guide, some events are well known enough to draw enormous crowds. Those that aren’t as widely established may be communicated through an artist directory like Call For Creativity. Some local art events include Asheville HATCHfest, a mentoring festival for all creative talent and creative industries of Asheville. Another beloved WNC arts event is twice annual LEAF Fesival, or Lake Eden Arts Festival. The event showcases dance, poetry, healing and culinary arts. The arts in Asheville can pretty much be considered a vital industry to the region. The River District Artists Studio Stroll and the Toe River Studio Stroll are a chance to tour studios, meet with artists, and purchase artwork. Within a short walking distance is a diverse glimpse into the local arts communities. From traditional painters to contemporary pluaralists, art buyers and similar are offered the chance to meet and talk about local work.

Whether you are looking for a social network or an artist directory, the artist online is fortunate enough to find all local networking and exhibiting opportunities in one place. There are several networking opportunities, such as online art galleries that charge artists to display their work. However in times like these where the art market is more competitive than ever, paying to display work can be detrimental to an artist’s career. A creative arts center such as Asheville does not allow its residents to succumb to such expensive applications, which is why it is such a unique place. Learn how arts organizations and artists alike are contributing to the artist directory, Call For Creativity by visiting http://www.callforcreativity.com.

Online Shoe Styles Available This Spring

One thing is for certain as fashion week revealed in this spring’s shoe collections: Boring just doesn’t cut it. Consistent throughout sandals and high-heeled styles, designers this spring have taken influence anywhere from exotic places to architectural elements. Studs, buckles, lace ups and straps are just a few of the infinite details considered in these contemporary shoe designs. What’s even better is that compared to some shoe trends, these ones are more on the practical side. Plus the trends are so widespread that they are available as quality and discount shoes.

Reptile leathers are a huge part of leading shoe design collections. Though whether its authentic leather or not, what matters more is the importance of choosing quality footwear. Cheap shoes may even fall into the categories this time. Try to stay away form the more gaudy prints or faux snake skins that fall apart after one wear. Laces and straps add an interesting touch to both heels and ballerina flats. This season’s collection of cheap boots reveal a commonality in length, most popular being completely over the knee boots. Whereas heels were once a structural element of the shoe, it is now a trademark. Despite the world’s economic news, sales of mega-high heels have been soaring. Japanese inspired platform shoes have been dominating all of the 2009 spring shoe collections. You’ll also find some online shoes to be “fringing on footwear”, meaning that fringe is popular in both sandals and boots.

While the ballet slipper seems to have had its day, it has recently been resurrected to be more true to its inspired form. Ballet slippers, the epitome of casual shoes, are revived again with lace-up ties and other small details making these shoes popular year and again. Let us not forgot another classic that is confirmed here to stay: the gladiator sandal. Still dauntless in buckles and buttons, these strappy sandals are the quintessential flat shoes for warm weather. Like most sandals or warm-weather shoes online, these are available to the ankle, mid-calf or knee-high. They can be worn with uncluttered outfits and look especially striking on swarthy skin.

In a nutshell, it’s all about statement shoes. Even if you can’t think of anything to wear with them, some of the discount shoes available this season contain details sure to draw attention to yourself, or mostly your feet. By looking at online shoes, most pundits will agree that this season’s styles are the opposite of minimalism. So whether you are putting your confidence of spring in groundhogs or blooming crocuses, be sure to check out the women’s dress shoes available this season. The bright colored details and strappy designs will surely rouse us out of these past somber winter months.

Houser shoes is the discount shoe, boot, and sandal store for women, men and children. They offer quality and discount shoes at great prices. Satisfy your footwear needs for the whole family with sneakers, dress shoes, running shoe and athletic shoe selections.

Card Symbols Offer Insight

While there are so many different types of cards and card decks, they have been consistently used as a conveyer of symbols in defining personalities, relationships and guidance since ancient times. The main difference is generally in the number of the suits. An American playing card set includes 52 cards, 12 of each suit. Traditional tarot cards have a 78-card deck and include the recognized hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs as well. Though there are additional card symbols in tarot cards, such as swords, clubs, cups and pentacles, all of which bear deep-rooted allegorical significance, much of the meaning is somewhat similar. From the Medieval Times in Europe to the Far East, cards have been a key signifier in understanding relationships and the self.

It is worth noting that the amount number of cards in our traditional playing deck is the same as the number of weeks in a year. The number of royal cards too corresponds to the number of months in the year and the suits the number of seasons or elements. Thus the birth card plays any extremely pivotal part in any form of card reading. There are different ways of discerning the birth card, which are specific to each deck but are generally similar in meaning to a zodiac sign. The study of cards has metaphysical, astronomical and sometimes even religious significance. Numerological cards, or the symbolism in the number of suits, plus the number of royalties, and black and red symbolizing night and day all have meaningful explanations. This seems to highlight that card decks were always intended for more than gambling and magic tricks.

Cards of Illumination systems can offer insight into the self, almost like personality cards, or life cards. Each suit holds a representational significance pertaining to each individual’s numerological or astronomical essence. The Hearts suit is said to relate to people who understand life through their relationships. Hearts hold most significance on people and so family, love and emotions are pivotal elements for the people related to this suit. The Clubs suit is related to those that hold most importance on communication. Therefore knowledge, education, logic and intuition are predominant character traits for those related to the Clubs card. Diamonds are attributed to those that understand things in life through values. It may then be assumed that these personalities hold importance on systems and evaluation. Lastly, the individuals associated with the Spade suit are working people, understanding life when there is a balance between career and spirit. Thus labor, health and rationality may characterize a Spade. Of course a more thorough perspective can be given through a card reading. Though when the suit is matched with the birth card number, which is related to the birth date, then a complex and philosophical meaning can be understood.

For more information on how to study Cards of illumination, the birth card, or any other card symbols, please visit http://www.cardsofillumination.com. Cards of illumination offers tools to understanding cards symbols as well as card readings in Asheville.

Daniel Island

Full of lush scenery and gorgeous river marshes, Daniel Island South Carolina is the chosen destination for second homes to many people from all over the United States. The island itself was in fact originally purchased in 1947 as the private residence for the Guggenheim family. After Harry Frank Guggenheim passed away, the land was passed on to his foundation that chose to develop the island responsibly in maintaining and protecting the precious seaside environment. Thus the foundation has developed the island with minimal environmental damage. The Guggenheims probably chose this location as one of their second homes because of its 23 mile stretch of waterfront, or perhaps because of the accessibility to Charleston metro area. Whatever the allure was for that family 70 years ago, it is still brimming with wildlife and profuse landscapes today and remains a charming location for a private residence. The historic area of Charleston has successfully expanded to Daniel Island without building a detrimental sprawl, or without harming the priceless waterside environment.

Situated just outside of Charleston, Daniel Island South Carolina is partially a protective habitat for waterfront animals including the bald eagle, the red-cocked woodpecker and the American alligator. The state of South Carolina has more than twenty wildlife refuges protecting marshes, hardwoods, croplands and oil fields. Even during a short vacation rental visitors can attest to seeing hawks, songbirds and wild turkeys all throughout the year. It is the perfect private residence location for those that enjoy marine wildlife cruises. On a fishing boat or river cruise its incredibly common to see clusters of dolphins dancing to the wakes of the seafarers.

Timeshare and fractional owners can even attend the wildlife exposition near Daniel Island, which showcase the prided fauna of the region. The exposition supports the conservation of Southeastern wildlife and the environment through education and financial donations to related programs. In addition, it is one of the premier wildlife art venues of the United States. Thus art and nature lovers alike can enjoy the resources and venues native to the area.

The recreational resources on Daniel Island include hundred of acres of parks and 23 miles of rivers. There lies a distinct mix of building styles among vacation rentals and second homes. There are more than 200 restaurants in Charleston’s historic district, so if the landscape and wildlife are enough to lure in visitors, food may be another important factor in visiting the area. The metropolitan area includes world-class shopping and dining, with highly ranked gold within a short drive.

One of the best ways to enjoy all the numerous attractions of the Charleston and the surrounding area of Daniel Island is through a private residence or fractional timeshare. The Charleston Club is a Private Residence or timeshare with fractional ownership featuring all inclusive vacation packages and Club on Daniel Island South Carolina.

Architure is a Highlight on Asheville Maps

While Asheville North Carolina is best known for its eclectic culture and stunning mountain views, it can also be appreciated for the many unique architectural styles throughout the city. Simply by following a tourist map of Asheville, its easy to spot the numerous churches and buildings designed in Victorian vernacular styles. Looking at a vacation map may lead travelers to regularly visited destinations, and it may also lead to less noted architectural masterpieces.

Take the St Lawrence Basilica for example. When looking at a tourist map of Asheville, it is between Battery Park Hotel and the Civic Center, close to the Montford neighborhood. Designer Raphael Guastavino was invited to Asheville to participate in the planning of Richard Sharp Smith designs, such as the beginning of what is now Biltmore Village. The St. Lawrence Basilica is made of self-supporting arches using thin layers of mortar and interlocking tiles. It is said to be the largest freestanding dome in North America, and is the precursor to what is now called “Guastavino Style” or a “Tile Arch System”. It would be certainly worthwhile to learn more about the basilica through Asheville tourist information or on an Asheville map.
Other more notorious attractions that can be found with a vacation map are throughout the Biltmore Village area. The most famed being the Biltmore Estate designed by the architects Richard Morris Hunt and Richard Sharp Smith, and by the landscape designer Fredrick Law Olmstead. Originally built on 125,000 acres, it was designed in multifaceted approaches of late 19th century architecture. The most predominant is the French chateau style of the Biltmore House. Close to the Biltmore Estate on one of the Asheville maps are the highly influential creations of Richard Sharp Smith such as All Souls Church and Parish Hall and the Biltmore Depot. Smith designed these in course stone and heavy timbers, materials that are now used in most of the surrounding buildings.

As most of the prominent buildings and churches visible on illustrated maps were created in the early 20th century, the influences from the historical Arts and Crafts Movement are visible. In fact, many of the primary figures of the movement spent time in Asheville at some point in their careers. The style is apparent in downtown buildings like the Grove Arcade and Battery Park Hotel. Architect Douglas Ellington’s City Hall employs a flashier and more colorful Art Deco style building as evidenced in the angles and tile patterns. The design itself is praiseworthy, but to see the building against the mountain silhouettes at sunset is magnificent.

About 6 blocks away when following any one of Asheville’s illustrated maps is the indoor arcade designed by visionary Dr. Edwin Wiley Grove. His ambitious project to build a tower above the arcade was never completed due to economic problems of the Great Depression. The elaborate Tudor Gothic Revival designs still attract many to visit what is a important commercial center of downtown Asheville. Whether travelers are consulting Asheville maps or speaking with the locals, many will attest that these architectural works of art make the city a truly unique scenic destination.

Unique Gifts from North Carolina

While a global market may be good for some, I am becoming fed up with all of my low-quality mass-produced home furnishings and gifts bearing the label “made in China”. I’ll admit that it is these mass-produced products are often so accessible, and last minute gift ideas are hard to come by. However there is way to gain elegant home accents while shopping locally. This spring, I have taken it upon myself to brighten up my home with fresh colors and fun designs from a casual living store near my home in Western North Carolina. Not only does Dutchmans Designs have a broad assortment of lighting, rugs and artwork, but it also is a great source of unique gifts from stationary to soaps and everything in between.

Organic candles are one of many simple and effective ways to freshen up with home without the overpowering artificial scents of most made-in-china cheapo candles. Scented candles can fill a home with fresh smells of apricot, tiger lily, citrusie tangelo and sweet lime. Together with potpourri these sweet organic scents can be purchased as a gift combination. Whether they be used as an elegent home accent or a last minute gift idea, these fragrances come straight from the rose bush of a regional garden and are sure to evoke the pleasant aromatic smells of spring time.

French milled soap is another one of the environmentally friendly unique gift ideas from Dutchmans Designs. Organic lotion and French soap can be purchased in scents such as organic shea butter or olive, palm and coconut oil. They are all made in the Provence region of France and manufactured with only pure ingredients that soften and protect the skin. Seasonal scents from this home accessories collection in Cashiers, North Carolina are unbeatable in price and quality.

Why not add a splash of color to the living room? I like placing low cost silk flowers next to an attractive art print to transform to suit my personal taste inch by inch. Home interior decorating suddenly becomes so enjoyable when I’m able to shop for artwork that I can actually afford.

Last but not least, Dutchmans Designs offers handmade reproduction antique furniture. In bright designs and vibrant designs, it is so easy to mix and match or start a new collection of kitchen, bedroom or everyday living furniture to suit my personal taste. Hand crafted furniture such as a Provincial Dining Table or Provence Bedside Cabinet are made of kiln dried mahogany wood and are of exquisite quality and construction. Plus each piece of antique reproduction furniture is uniquely finished in a variety of colors to match my fondness of perennial flowers. I’ve found furniture that would cost thousands in an antique shop, yet it’s still hand crafted considering the styles of elegant European furniture artisans.

Much more than a resource for home interior decorating, Dutchmans Designs provides the best selection in unique gift ideas from my home state of North Carolina. This eclectic casual living store is a great place to shop for holiday gifts, and to spruce up my house this season.

An Affortable Way to Honor the Deceased with Cremation Urns

Contrary to what one might assume, the death industry is not one that is recession proof. Death is a natural and regular occurrence, just as babies are born every day. However, the amount of money people spend is said to be decreasing, as the recession gets deeper. A funeral can be a big financial burden, especially at a time when it is difficult for loved ones of the deceased to handle. Some say that cremation and cremation urns are a very recent trend that is picking up more with the economic recession. Yet it has actually been a popular way to memorialize the deceased for years now. However the options for a funeral, specifically with cremation urns, have become more diverse and accessible since most of the population is becoming financially conscious. There are online galleries for burial urns that provide an array of artistic hand-made funeral urns at a variety of styles and prices, though generally for a much lower price than a traditional funeral may cost. A typical traditional funeral includes a few days of viewing, a casket, flowers, a hearse and cemetery expenses. Decorative cremation urns can be incorporated into the funeral service and are as equally poignant for those closest to the deceased. A burial urn typically costs thousands of dollars less than the traditional funeral. It is common for clients to go online to search for the ideal funeral urn, then consulting with the local funeral home to discuss the options of how cremation urns can be incorporated into the funeral.

Besides the economic recession and the need to be price conscious, there are several other factor which make choosing a cremation urns just as comfortable as planning a traditional funeral. In fact, it is not very often that people deal with funerals, so for some, finances may not be an issue at all. That is why online cremation urn galleries such as Shine On Brightly take into account the lasting impressions by which most people would want to remember their loved ones. Unique funeral urns can be designed by artists to be hand crafted, one of a kind object to memorialize a loved one. They can be commissioned to be personalized and capture the essence of the deceased. Whether the deceased be a relative or a beloved pet, cremation urn distributors can provide numerous options to make the memorial ritual comfortable and honoring for the individual.

After observing and participating in the funeral of a relative recently, I realized that it doesn’t matter if it is what my great uncle would have felt most comfortable as a proper memorial service. It was more a way to honor him, while taking into account the ways to make the closest and most beloved people of his life feel comfortable about his passing. We chose a one of a kind funeral urn that artistically captures his essence. Not only did my family feel it to be an appropriate way to honor his life, but we have a beautiful decorative cremation urn that we can forever look at and be reminded of his generous presence.

A Luxury Eco-Tourism Vacation in Africa

What is eco-tourism? It is a type of tourism, generally to destinations that can be environmentally enhanced in ways that conserve water, promote recycling, etc. An eco-tourist is often a traveling individual with an interest in ecological and social awareness. However, an eco-tourist does not necessarily have to be an avid environmentalist. The dollars generated by tourists alone can lend a huge contribution to ecological improvements of a given destination. There are companies that offer luxury travel in Africa, for example, which guides travelers on an African safari while consciously protecting and conserving the resources of the African landscape. Eco-tourist trip destinations are usually undeveloped natural areas with minimal damage from pollution. Countries such as Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, Namibia, Zambia, South Africa, or Victoria Falls could easily fall into this category. These areas benefit greatly from the awareness of ecotourism endeavors in that there is more restrictions on putting a luxury hotel in the middle of a precious or endangered land. It is so clever and responsible of these companies to be able to provide a luxury vacation in Africa that encourages the protection of ecosystems and promotion of socio-ecological communities native to these areas.

A trip to Victoria Falls, one of the Seven World Wonders located in Zambia, offers activities such as canoeing, hiking, and bungee jumping to name a few. The lodging in Tongabezi includes river cottages that include personal valet, essentially providing luxury travel in Africa. This trip can be provided by One With Africa, and is planned by committed environmental conservationists. Therefore all activities and lodging are planned according to a sustainable ecotourism philosophy. Another trip to Laikipia, Kenya presents a journey into several community ranches and grazing lands in the wild Northern Frontier country. A tourist’s dollars can contribute to the area in that the local communities directly share the earnings from their native land. Among the numerous trip destinations and activities accompanying the land, a luxury vacation in Africa can be specialized according to the travelers in considering how much direct socio-ecological involvement one wishes to participate in during their vacation in Africa.


We can pretty much exclude a trip to Dubai as having a positive ecological effect. Though tourism in that type of place may provide jobs and economic improvements for the people of region, it clearly does not take into account any financial incentive to preserve the beautiful landscapes which resorts and fancy hotels are built upon. By contrast, luxury travel vacations in Africa provided by companies such as One With Africa offer ways to participate in safeguarding the environment and native animals. Even by taking a wine tour of Africa or a walking safari, tourism can have an incredibly encouraging effect on the environment with efforts such as lodging in solar-powered abodes, or by recycling and disposing of waste in an environmentally responsible way. Companies with an ecotourist agenda such as One With Africa are constantly thinking of ways for tourists to participate in conservation efforts in the beautiful landscapes of Africa.

Vacation in Asheville!

Asheville N.C. is only home to about 70,000 people but has been repeatedly written up as one of the 10 best places to live in the United States. That might have something to do with the beautiful backdrop and countless activities offered by to its location in the Blue Ridge Mountains. You get 4 temperate seasons, which as normal as that sounds, isn’t offered in every part of the country. It is an affordable place to live and holds more gourmet and creative dining venues per capita than almost any small cities of the Southeast. Several artists and writers have spent time working in the area, making it the cultural center it is today and paving the way for the interesting historical family vacations it provides. For years preserved buildings such as the Thomas Wolfe House and the Biltmore Estate have presented satisfying weekend get-aways to people from all over the country.

Along with the countless delicious cafes and cantinas of downtown Asheville, there is a considerable number of entertainment venues that provide an exceptionally lively nightlife. It is no wonder Asheville has become the performance capital of WNC. The biggest crowd-seducing venues are the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, the Civic Center, The Orange Peel, and The Grey Eagle. They are not the grandest and most spacious theatres, but when a greatly distinguished musician comes to town, like David Byrne did this year, it can really be quite intimate. Beer drinkers are often pleasantly surprised by the many award-winning microbreweries. Even better is the annual Brewgrass festival that gives attendants a chance to sample all the beers local to WNC and rate the best ones. Asheville offers a real mountain vacation with atmosphere and attractions of a cultural capital. After a night of quality beer tasting or listening to a great show, it is just a short drive to the quiet and crowdless hiking trails of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Several Asheville bed and breakfasts located close the Biltmore Estate can be a spacious alternative to commercial hotels (most of which located much further from downtown Asheville). Plus the location is unbeatable—the Biltmore Estate is the most visited residence of WNC. It was originally completed around 1895 with the financing of George Vanderbilt and the designs of architects Richard Morris Hunt and Richard Sharp Smith. Frederick Law Olmsted—the same landscape architect that did Central Park in New York City, designed the Biltmore gardens that hold enormous tulip beds among other attractions. The original property was 125,000 acres of the Blue Ridge Mountains and had a working railroad and glass conservatory.

There are other historical buildings of significant designs located in downtown Asheville. The City Hall and County Courthouse among other buildings were started in the 1920s. However the great depression left the Asheville in more debt than any other city in the country, thus building in the city came to a halt. Instead of filing for bankruptcy, Asheville’s leaders wanted to pay every penny they owed back. Not does the city offer countless historical and entertainment attractions, it has a long line of honest and hard-working people! For some good resources providing rentals or bed and breakfasts in Asheville, see http://www.vacationsinasheville.com.

Cremation Urns and the Environment

Cremation urns might seem like a very contemporary response to recent efforts to become more environmentally conscious. The use of cremation funeral products voids some of the issues concerning toxins emissions which accompany casket burials. Biodegradable urns, made of safe and organic materials that naturally decompose back into the Earth might as well seem very progressive for a traditional memorial service. However the act of burying one’s ashes, or using a beautiful artist-made urn or vessel is actually part of age-old rituals since the beginning of history. Take a walk in a museum with a large collection of historical artifacts and you will see endless designs of funeral urns from almost every ancient culture. It is so fascinating to see relics of Egyptian vessels, for example, which are so informative of the culture’s art and rituals.

There has been much debate recently about the lack of environmental consideration in casket burials. It may come as a surprise because it has become somewhat traditional in the United States to memorialize the deceased through a gravestone and burial. Yet the problem of land use and conservation may eventually lead future generations to limit the ritual of funeral burials. Not only will there be a land shortage, but the damage caused by the toxins and metals put into the Earth from treated wooden, plastic and metal coffins is irreversible. Cremation urns are an alternative to this issue, in that they take up less space and often are not made of toxic materials. There has been questioning as to whether crematorium emissions contain mercury, which can be a harmful chemical for the environment. However this is something that crematoriums are aware of and are making a huge effort to rectify the situation by altering their methods. A cremation urn, or even a biodegradable urn is made up of earthly materials such as clay or paper. Ashes themselves are a very basic composition of carbon and salt, so they are compatible with the Earth and its elements.

There are biodegradable urns created with affordable materials that coalesce with the Earth. Materials such as naturally harvested cotton and mulberry fibers and walnut stains are clever alternatives to the harmful toxins and metals emitted in casket burials. Funeral urns take up much less space and don’t release chemicals that are harmful to the environment or negatively affect our water table. Cremation urn distributors such as Shine On Brightly offer a gallery for urns that hold much consideration about the artist’s process, materials, and the environment. There are decorative cremation urns made by present day artists that can be observe as a signifier of our history centuries from now, just as we look at ancient funeral urns in the great museums of the world. The positive environmental effects of cremation and burial urns undoubtedly outnumber those of a casket burial and the options are much more unique and artistic. What may seem contemporary in cremation and cremation urn burials is actually one of the most natural and historical funerary rituals.

My Love of Comfort Shoes

Since the beginning of clothes there was the beginning of fashion, and since the beginning of fashion there was the beginning of shoes. Shoes are profoundly significant in all the arenas fashion and style. There have been television shows about women and their obsessions with shoes. My grandmother has four closets full of shoes. I'll never know what it is about shoes that cause such a magical attraction. Sometimes it feels like love at first sight. Call me materialistic but I find myself so often fantasizing about my dream discount shoes that I seldom have the time or energy to find. However my inclinations to ignore the fashion versus practicality argument have caused me to have a very uncomfortable and irreversible foot problem. It's not that I wasn't wearing quality footwear, but I guess it's that I never saw the point of the arch and toe support of most walking shoes. I now have to face up to the fact that quality shoes aren't necessarily the most expensive Italian leather heels at the shoe store. Whereas I have been known to buy leather boots regardless of how well they fit, I now realize that there is such a thing as cheap boots that are also pleasant to wear.

It’s pretty obvious that a shoe disorder can burn a hole in your wallet pretty quickly. Thanks to online shoe sites, I can find women’s dress shoes, cheap boots and comfortable sandals all in one sitting at a price much lower than the department stores would ever offer. It’s pretty amazing how this one branch of the internet has afforded me so much more time and money. Even with a foot problem, there are markets that offer cheap shoes that are comfortable and healthy for the foot. There are casual shoes, for example that provide extra support and look great on your feet. My most recent investment was a pair of red flats by Clarks of England. I have had them for almost a year and just can’t seem to part with them because they’re the only shoes that actually feel good on my feet. The design is simple and authentic. The structure is seamless and of highest quality. They are the perfect therapy after a year of wearing Me Too loafer wedge heels. As good as they look on, I guess I’m just not cut out for wearing heels all winter long.

Throughout my never-ending search for quality footwear, it seems I will never know all the endless brands offered without even stepping foot in the shoe store. Look at Houser Shoes online shoe store, where I have found more shoes than I could possibly dream of! I finally understand what my mother has been telling me all these years. I’ll never again be able to heeled dress shoes day after day. Though I could probably afford to wear wedged Cole Haan dress shoes that I have my eye on every other day. Regardless of how severe any shoe obsession may be, we must take extra special care of our feet. It’s like partying too hard, but on your feet. The expression comes to mind: “What we do when we’re young reveals itself when we’re old”—and that certainly applies to our feet!

The Rituals of Funeral Urns

I think it's time we can all agree that cremation has become an acceptable choice of memorialization in the death industries. Besides cremation being a personal preference, there are some regions and religions which accept cremation more than others. One demographic that has said to be responsible for this growing trend is education. A possible explanation may be that educated people are less prone to following traditions of their ancestors, and more likely to be aware of the environmental considerations of a funeral service. A less obvious attribute is the aspect of land conservation. Many of the world's resources will one day expire, yet who would have guessed that there would ever be a shortage of land for burial plots? Others may link the trend to economical issues, in that the cost of a traditional funeral is exceedingly more than a cremation urn and memorial service.

Whatever the factor may be, there is something so appreciable about the cremation trend, and that is that everyone has a choice. Within the option of choosing cremation for oneself, their are so many elegant and creative ways to memorialize the deceased. Several cremation urn distributors such as Shine On Brightly are offering unique and artistic alternatives to traditional burials. There are decorative cremation urns, for example, which are so much more affordable that paying a funeral home, buying a casket and a burial plot. Art urns are an option for loved ones to remember the deceased everyday through a beautiful, handcrafted memorial product. Burial urns are another way to provide a somewhat traditional funeral service while positively considering the environment. There are even biodegradable funeral urns, which decompose in a completely natural way. Cremation urn distributors even offer thoughtful products to memorialize your cats and dogs. Pet urns are a wonderful approach to lovingly remember your pet by forever.

The cost and efficiency of a cremation urn can hardly compare to the efforts of a non-cremation burial. However convenience and efficiency is not always an issue, especially when the family or individual making decisions wants to honor the deceased rather than save money. There are still exceptionally beautiful and exquisitely crafted funeral urns for whatever one's taste or budget might be. Since religions restrictions and ties to tradition are dwindling, many people are finding burial urns to be an excellent choice for ritual and memorialization. Cremation urns may soon become the most common approach to preserving and memorializing the deceased. To learn more about the wide ranging creative alternatives a cremation urn distributor can offer, it may be beneficial to visit www.shineonbrightly.com.

A Practical Approach to Investing in Luxury Vacation Homes

Every September, my family and their friends take a week long vacation on Daniel Island, South Carolina. There is nothing we look forward to more than basking in the sun and enjoying the amenities of the Charleston area. We go bike riding, eat at great restaurants, cruise around on speedboats, and of course, take advantage of great fishing on the inter-coastal waterways. It is a time when all the tourists have left and it sometimes feels like having an entire beach to ourselves. Charleston has such a long vacation climate, that there is a greater span of optimal vacation time than the beaches where I come from up North. It's also the eighteenth century cultural capital of the South, so the architecture is so interesting, especially along the white sandy beaches. It is the ultimate luxury for us to go and stay in a vacation rental on the coast. However, this year was different.

We were sitting on the beach a few feet behind our vacation home, as we do everyday that we're there. Somebody walked by and told us that the stock market had just closed down 800 points. As removed as we were from the situation, it seemed that things could change and might not be able to go on our luxury vacations so often anymore. But we went swimming anyway and forgot about it for a little while longer. Little did we know that the real estate market was doing the exact same thing. Now it is incredibly obvious that investing markets are collapsing and houses all over the country have been foreclosed. But I'd rather not think about that whole mess and how it happened. I'd rather think about my vacations.

But I’ve recently found that there is viable way to think about vacations and investments at the same time. Private residence clubs are the most recent incarnation of timeshares. I could invest in a luxury vacation home and enjoy it without the stress of renting it out, repairing breakages, or even cleaning. I wouldn’t even have to screw in a light bulb. Private residence clubs are equipped with a full time concierge service. Therefore, as a fractional owner, I could make a minimal investment for a great return. Specifically with The Charleston Club, the procurement of this type real estate allows me to access over 150 other private residence clubs all over the world.

I have realized that this type of investment first started in aviation, and is becoming more popular in real estate. Maybe it’s because of the latest housing crisis that people have realized maintaining real estate and taxes isn’t the easiest way to go. In private residence clubs, the properties and the taxes are of lower cost, because they are all shared. Fractional ownership private residences are typically more luxurious and are in more desirable locations than timeshares, which explains their recent leap in popularity among vacation renters. It could certainly be worth it to check out something like this in the Charleston area. The Charleston Club is a private residence timeshare with fractional ownership featuring all inclusive vacation packages and club on Daniel Island South Carolina.

the artist online learns the lesson of social networking

One of the most unrealized elements essential to a creative career is the power of an artist social network. It can be quite overwhelming to commit full-time to a creative process and then spending more energy on the marketing process. Luckily, the days of lugging an over-sized portfolio from gallery to gallery in hopes of some decent exposure are over. Among the many networking benefits of increasing technology, there is now a great place for the artist online. What better way to get involved in art organizations than a database featuring local events, creative talent and resources that emphasize exposure without the hassles of expensive marketing. Artists are rarely taught marketing skills in their training and almost never have the time or inclination to do so. They often work in isolation so a networking opportunity like Asheville-based Call for Creativity provides a venue for them to promote their work that doesn't require expertise in business strategies.

Whatever left brain skills are lacking in the artists mind are clearly compensated for in the extremely imaginative and creative propensity. There is also a certain camaraderie among artists, where there is often an interest in collaborating and communicative support systems. Thus the most appropriate tool for those to gain exposure may be an artist resource that provides creative types a window to learn what others are doing. Anyone can contribute to an artist guide and simultaneously learn about local events and like-minded creative talent. Within all of the unique expressive disciplines, there is so much to learn and so much to gain by networking within the given interests of every community. From animation to metal works, outsider art to murals (to give a miniscule example of the broad spectrum of each medium), there should be no obstacles in gaining access to the artists’ local creative directory.


Without paying a dime or leaving the studio, the creative community can learn about all the call for artist entries local to Asheville and beyond. Perhaps this is what artists have needed all along! Artists and arts organizations advocating for each other! Instead of paying some sort of agent to promote the works, there is a mutual exchange that benefits other artists-- a collaborative creative directory, for artists, by artists and supporters. What could be more natural? It's almost like there's an alliance, or creative arts club, where artists support each other in every community. Yet how difficult it is sometimes to make the connections and join these social networks. Technological advances have opened up a global exchange for ideas and work. With resources like C4C, the artist online has more advantages than ever before in contributing to their own creative network.