Category Archives: Tidbits

How To Save Your Marriage In 3 Hours

Saving your marriage doesn’t require long-term treatment

What brought you here were tiny fissures in your relationship that gradually spread into cracks. They formed so subtly, grew so slowly that they were almost imperceptible. But they’re obvious now. You haven’t had a comfortable conversation in weeks, haven’t had sex in months.

Nothing, however, says that the road to recovery needs to be as long and winding. As a professional marriage counselor with over 11 years in private practice, Angela Winslow has developed a concentrated form of therapy she calls One-Session Counseling, or a Couples Intensive, in which the treatment unfolds over a single, three-hour session, rather than multiple, weekly meetings. One-Session Counseling is not an abbreviated version of the conventional marriage-counseling model. Because of its duration, it can be even more comprehensive in its examination and analysis, yielding, in turn, more dramatic shifts in behavior.

Virtually every conceivable issue a couple could encounter—building trust after an affair, increasing intimacy in a relationship, even coping with a separation or a divorce—is appropriate for One-Session Counseling. Urgency has a way of distilling concerns, however deeply rooted. You’ll confront them head-on and emerge, three hours later, armed with the necessary tools to continue restoring your relationship.

One-Session Counseling isn’t reserved for marriages in dire straits. It’s also a convenient option for couples who’ve become strangers to each other. Life can be relentless, and all too often we’re willing to sacrifice the personal connections in the name of the immediate tasks because they’re easier to cope with. But the excuses we tell ourselves lose their validity in light of a single, three-hour commitment.

Regardless of your reasons and the intricacy of your concerns, consider One-Session Counseling. Rather, consider who you’ll be when you exit that room, the frustration and insecurity left behind.

About Author: Angela Winslow specializes in marriage counseling and couples therapy in San Diego. Affairs, infidelity, communication skills, sex therapy and parenting are areas of expertise. 619-327-9791

How To Take Your New Start-Up Business Concept To Success

Many entrepreneurs are thinking outside of the proverbial box when it comes to launching new businesses. They see just how the cards are stacked against them, and they don’t want to invest all of their capital without a definitive proof of concept. After the recent recession, entrepreneurs are even more hesitant to launch full-scale operations in such an uncertain economy. While this creates many challenges, it has also created an environment of possibility From pop-up storefronts to mobile trucks, new businesses are redefining the concept of a start-up, and enriching our communities through their efforts.

What sets these creative start-ups apart are their innovative approaches to traditional business models. They focus on small-scale quality, brand building, and individuality. Likewise, they utilize the latest technologies, like social media marketing and mobile phone credit card processing. For example, rather than immediately risking opening a restaurant, many chefs look to food trucks in order to build both a following and financial stability. Likewise, crafters open web-based businesses instead of taking the chance on a retail storefront. At AVPS, we believe that these micro start-ups deserve the best tools that will set them up for success, including our secure mobile credit card processing services.

Whether you are working from home, out of your garage, or you’ve upgraded to a local presence in your community, we have the solutions you need for effortless payment processing.

AVPS believes that it’s those innovative visionaries that drive our economic growth. We well know that today’s most lauded and successful corporations started with a single individual who had both an idea and a belief. We also know that the advent of mobile processing opens even more doors for savvy entrepreneurs. We want to help you grow your great idea from conception to brilliantly successful reality. Contact a representative today to find out more about how AVPS helps creative start-ups go from dreams to thriving businesses.

Create a Work-Life Balance with Your Partner

Few working couples have the luxury of time.

When you’re both gone all day, dinner doesn’t magically appear on the table. Nor does laundry appear, clean and folded, in your dresser drawers. It’s the double burden of work at the office and work at home that stresses relationships to the limit. Yes, you can share the household chores as equitably as possible. But what else can you do?

Give Your Partner a Heads-Up

When you know you’re going to be overloaded at the office, let your partner know in advance. Some couples have regular meetings so they can plan ahead. If you know your partner won’t be home for dinner you can plan a dinner with friends. And be sure to set aside a specific time to be with your partner. Do not let your workweek overflow so much that it infringes on your quality time together.

Establish a No-Tech Time

It may be that you bring work home often. Possibly every night. You may need to be ready to text, e-mail or phone virtually 24/7. If so, it’s critical to establish a regular time every night when you turn off iPads, smart phones and computers—say from 7:00 to 9:00, or whatever you decide. Establish a no-tech time that you can adhere to without fail, for your own sanity, if nothing else. And let your partner know that this is a time when you are available and tech-free. He will appreciate being able to plan to share that time with you.

Even the Playing Field

One of you is bound to be more committed to your career than the other. And that one is bound to spend more time in the office than the other. Be sensitive to the fact that if you are the one who always stays late, that can leave your partner feeling second best. Even when you both have the mature attitude that your career is important, be flexible enough to put your partner first when possible. Nobody’s workdays are always insanely busy. Try to break the habit of staying late when it’s not necessary.

Don’t Hog the Drama

Are you the one who comes home, drops your coat and bags, and launches into a diatribe with barely a breath between words? Be careful not to unload so much on your partner that you worry her about something she can’t do anything about. Venting is okay, but not as a steady diet. And don’t forget to ask her how her day was. Be respectful if he’s too tired after his day to go out to dinner or even engage in a good conversation. Take a little time out to decompress first.

Re-Calibrate Together

Yes, do make plans and establish routines, but always be ready for change. Recognize that stuff happens and you need to be flexible. Especially if you discover that what seemed reasonable in a family meeting is actually impossible in practice. Get together with your partner and work out a more realistic plan.

About Author: Nancy Travers is an Orange County Counseling professional. If you need safe, effective counseling services, please get in touch. You can reach her here: http://www.nancyscounselingcorner.com/contact-us.

What Does Workers Compensation Insurance Cover

Have you ever fallen ill at work and needed to take time off as a result? Have you ever suffered an injury while you were working? Many have and don’t realize that they’re entitled to workers compensation. It’s important to know your rights when something goes wrong. Let’s take a look at the basics of workers compensation insurance, what it is and who is covered.

What Exactly is Workers Compensation Insurance?

Workers comp is a type of insurance payment, which is issued to employees who become ill due to their work or get injured while they are on the job. Different payment terms may be stipulated in different circumstances. Some of these include:

Regular payments (weekly or monthly) to cover your loss of income while you are unable to work.
One, lump-sum payment in cases where the employee was left with a personal disability.
The costs of medical care.
Rehabilitation expenses to allow the individual to get back to work.

What Does Workers Compensation Insurance Cover?

This type of insurance is known as “no-fault cover,” which means that the cover applies no matter which party is at fault. Workers comp aims to cover both the employer and the employee should an injury occur on the job. If this happens, then the employer is legally required to pay out compensation to the employee. The workers compensation insurance also provides protection for the employer against costly claims for compensation.

These insurance policies are designed in such a way that they don’t just cover the one who is entitled to the work comp claim but also the legal fees and damages which are awarded to the injured or sick employee.

Who is covered?

All of the employees at the company are covered, regardless of whether they are full-time, part-time or casual workers. Contractors and sub-contractors are also covered, as are task workers and any workers on commission.

About the author: If something has happened to you at work and you think you are entitled to a claim, get in touch with Peter Green Insurance today. Our experienced team will be able to tell you what your next step should be.

Tips for Law Students Interested In A Commercial Or Business Specialty

As an established attorney in the arena of commercial business law, Paul Evan Greenwald has worked with people at every stage of their law careers. He knows that when students first enter law school, they have many preconceptions of what their areas of specialty will be, which is why practical experience like internships are so important. As with many professions, the daily life of a lawyer is rarely what students envision, and as they gain more hands-on experience, they are better able to see the many opportunities their futures contain.

If you’re working toward to law degree, here’s some advice from a veteran of a successful commercial law practice:

First and foremost, take every opportunity to clerk or intern you can. When you actually see the inner-workings of a specialty in practice, you learn even more about yourself and the type of environment in which you will thrive.
Remember that 99 percent of practicing law occurs outside of the courtroom, which is why real-life experience can better help you understand how you want to build your career. For example, commercial law issues are just as often about deal-making as deal-breaking. We often see legal processes as inherently adversarial, but in commercial law, many of the cases are collaborative. Paul Greenwald particularly enjoys these types of cases, because their constructive goals encourage positive relationships.
Continuing education is not just about maintaining your license requirements; you will need carefully selected options that further your knowledge-base. For example, changes and advances in technology directly affect business law affairs, so you will need to stay abreast of them to best serve your clients.
Building a successful, trusted practice is as much about your community image as it is about performance. You want to build relationships with colleagues, network, and create a brand that represents competency and trust.

About Author: As a successful commercial law attorney in California, Paul Greenwald is passionate about sharing his experiences with students and graduates. He believes that the future leaders of our profession will continue to serve our community and carry on the legacy of excellence.

What Is The Difference Between Love And Desire?

So many couples experience stale sex and relationship boredom – they feel ample love but desire has suffered. The reason for this is that love and desire conflict.

“Love is when you care, worry, feel responsible for someone. With love you want to minimize threats, reduce distance and be nurturing. Safety is the primary goal. In contrast desire is all about freedom and autonomy.

Many women like ‘bad boys’ because you don’t have to worry about them. You don’t feel safe but it’s freeing in terms of desire. With people we are less emotionally involved in there is more freedom and less worry. It is the care, worry and feeling of responsibility we feel for our beloved that squashes the freedom necessary for desire. What nurtures love is not what fuels desire and what turns us on sexually isn’t always what is emotionally safe.

Long term relationships involve responsibility. Women are often challenged to give themselves he permission for pleasure, even when it is a simple matter of taking time for themselves. When attending to the needs of others -whether it be a husband or children- they can forego their own needs more easily than men do. One example is giving in to sex when it is not desired over the long term breeds resentment and is a turn off erotically because of the lack of perceived choice in the matter/freedom.

Where there is nurturing women have a hard time sustaining desire. We choose love over desire because that’s what we feel we should do. When we pair up in a monogamous relationship both men and women trade off adventure for the predictability and exchange the erotic needs for security needs.

So how can love and desire coexist in a long term, committed relationship?

Introduce and cultivate the unexpected. Break the routine – what you talk about, activities, how you react to each other. Bring vitality back – shake things up! Fire needs air, couples need to fan the flame. Desire needs uncertainty—keep mystery and adventure alive by injecting the unpredictable and unexpected. Helping couples brainstorm on how to do this is an important part of any treatment plan to rekindle desire.

About Author: Angela Winslow of couplescare.net specializes in marriage counseling and couples therapy in San Diego. Affairs, infidelity, communication skills, sex therapy and parenting are areas of expertise.

Good Air Filters Are MERVelous At Keeping You and Your Employees Healthy

It’s easy to overlook certain things in our lives that we should pay more attention to… Remember those air filters you meant to have replaced back in the fall? We thought so. No doubt about it, it’s easy to forget that the filters in our HVAC systems need to be changed every three months. Think of it this way, have them changed with the seasons.

Air filters are made of different types of media, including fiberglass, pleated cotton, pleated paper, or polyester allowing some to work more efficiently than others. An air filter’s efficiency is measured in units called MERVs (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values) which is a scale created by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers. A particular filter’s MERV rating is based primarily on the filter material being used and ranges from 1-20. The higher the MERV, the more effective the filter is at cleaning the air entering the HVAC system and emerging at the registers.

This is an important fact to consider because while almost all air filters are designed to trap dust & lint, only more efficient filters will also trap allergens, mold, pollen, and dander. Certain filters even have the ability to trap bacteria and viruses in an effort to improve the overall indoor air quality of your business.

When used in conjunction with professional green cleaning services, such as those offered by Eagle Building Maintenance and Janitorial Services (Eagle BMJ), it’s easy to see how your entire business can be cleaner & greener for everyone!

About Author: Eagle BMJ offers a wide range of professional cleaning services performed by trained professionals who will properly clean and care for your facility. Making the decision about who cleans your business doesn’t have to be difficult, and we’ll gladly prove it to you. Contact Eagle BMJ in NJ today at (888) 730-1123 to arrange for a FREE, no obligation, on-site consultation and allow us to do what we do best so you can do what you do best!

Finding A Great Soul Food Restaurant In Anaheim California

Where do you want to go to eat? For some, this question is the beginning of an endless abyss of “I don’t know,” followed by an exhaustive sigh of finally settling on an experience that is interchangeable amongst the multitude of innocuous restaurants in the surrounding area.

By contrast, how many times has a region, however small or out-of-the-way, seemed like an enticing travel destination simply because of the deeply satisfying eating that it promises? Now, what if that unique experience could be had at home?

In Anaheim, if you’re pining for a casual dining, southern food restaurant, it’s time to become acquainted with Georgia’s. Founder Gretchen Shoemaker promises a dining experience that is as close to a taste of the Deep South as it gets in SoCal.

Many describe their food as soul food, but few articulate exactly what makes theirs a soul food restaurant.

A simple glance at Georgia’s menu, however, offers all the proof you need that this is the real deal. Sweet potato pie, collard greens, meatloaf and fried chicken—these are the dishes that trigger our visceral association with soul food. And it’s in that moment that you realize just how precious a commodity it is in these parts.

A good restaurant leaves you feeling satisfied. A great restaurant leaves you talking about the food as you make your way back home, a promise to return as soon as you can to try something new, a sweet taste that lingers through the next morning. Georgia’s is that kind of restaurant. The sensation of a moment seized—Oh, that chicken—and a moment squandered—I ran out of room—twisted up together inside of you. The craving building anew, even as you try, hopelessly, to get comfortable, you and your overly full stomach.

Visit Georgia’s Yelp page to find out more.

About the Author: Gretchen Shoemaker, the heart of Georgia’s would tell you it is the food you get when you cook with your whole heart and soul.

When Your Work And Life Balance Is Off Kilter

You know the feeling. Stretched to the limit. Candle burning at both ends. When you’re at work you feel guilty staying late. And you try to get a few things done on the Internet to save you time at home. When you’re home you’re answering work e-mails and texting your boss. Work and home lines blur. You feel frazzled. Exhausted. And ineffectual at both home and work.

Let’s face it. In this economy it often seems necessary to go to work early and stay late. People take fewer vacations and don’t even use all the time they’re allotted. Meanwhile, their general well being suffers, to say nothing of their relationships. If this is how you feel, it’s time to step back and take inventory.

What can you do to recalibrate your work/life balance?

Step up your exercise routine. Chances are, you’ve let it lapse. You probably feel the only way you’ll get an extra hour here and there is to cut yoga class or skip your morning run. But, in fact, exercise can be the very boon you need to make you more productive. Research shows exercise can help you feel more alert and boost your energy level. It’s one of those things you don’t want to do when you’re dragging, but glad you did once you’ve done it. It also helps keep you healthy—you don’t have time to be sick!

Cut back on people and things that sap your energy. Do you really need to read everyone’s Facebook posts three times a day? And how about learning to say no to the colleague who corners you with boring stories in the lunchroom? Or the person who sucks you into needless drama that you’d be better off without? Perhaps you have a pile of papers on your desk that gets bigger every day. Make it a practice to handle each item only once—either take action or file it or throw it away. Think about how you spend your days. Are there other ways you can cut back on wasted time and energy?

Put relaxation into your schedule. Most people plan their days to include all the things they’re going to do. But don’t pack your days so tightly that you don’t have time for a little fun and relaxation. It doesn’t have to be a lot of time. But everyone can take ten minutes a day to meditate. Or a 20-minute afternoon nap. And it wouldn’t kill you to leave the office early every so often. Or just sit at your desk for five minutes with your eyes closed while you take a few deep breaths. Or take 20 minutes for a yoga sun salutation. Or just simply go outside and enjoy the fresh air.

Who Doesn’t Want To Be Picked Up In A Chauffeur Driven Luxury Limousine

Travel To Events In Luxury Limousines For A Great Entrance

Los Angeles and the surrounding counties are an area full of excitement and glamor, and they are home to some of the most highly-rated restaurants and entertainment venues in the nation. From the luxurious Rodeo Drive, to the posh spas and special events, both residents and visitors love to immerse themselves in these high-end experiences. It’s almost like capturing a little bit of that celebrity feeling while indulging in the best our area has to offer. Southern California offers incredibly diverse and unique attractions, and whether you want to dine out at Spago or attend that hot new club opening, you certainly want to embrace every bit of elegance you can.

For truly special occasions, many people want to travel in ultimate style and seek out limousine rentals. At Car Service Orange County, we proudly offer the best limo service rates in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. We can help you plan a for whatever type of excursion you desire, including milestone birthdays and anniversaries, graduations, proms, movie premiers, galas, or simply the luxurious evening you deserve.

When you hire a limo service, you do so for the both the comfort and sense of indulgence that come with these specialty vehicles and driver services. Our team wants to add to those goals by planning the best routes, providing pristine service, and focusing on catering to your needs and wishes. We understand that, when you invest in a limousine rental, you expect a truly high-end experience. We are committed to delivering just that. From your initial scheduling to your final drop off, you see why so many residents and executives turn to us for their luxury transportation needs.

Whether you want to book a Los Angeles party limo, or you simply want an elegant option for a special occasion, let Car Service Orange County help. To schedule an event, contact our team at 714-241-7040 and we’ll help you plan the perfect experience.

Home & Table Magazine

A field guide to an honest, meticulously curated life.