Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Tips For Living Life To The Fullest

Get out of the house and have some fun!


Life isn’t always easy and can be awfully overwhelming at times, but that’s no reason to give up hope for brighter days ahead. Keep in mind that you only live once and that you don’t have a whole lot of time on this Earth when you look at the bigger picture.

Learn to live life to the fullest and with no apologies if you want to truly experience peace and joy. Avoid letting little concerns get you down and focus on being grateful for all of your blessings. Put a smile on your face, try your best at whatever it is you’re doing, and remember that you deserve happiness just as much as anyone else.

Meet New People
While living in your comfort zone is easy, it may not be bringing you much satisfaction overall. One idea for living your life to the fullest is to get out and meet new people. Expand your social circle and get to know individuals who are different from you and can teach you new life lessons. Look forward to novel adventures and outlooks and challenging yourself in ways you never imagined possible when you expand your horizons.

Plan Ahead & be Proactive
In order to live your life to the fullest you have to be prepared to do so. For example, as you age and head into retirement age it’s important that you have your finances and healthcare options such as Medigap coverage sorted out. You want to feel secure and at ease as you go about your days and not have to worry about these types of logistics, so it’s in your best interest to get them figured out in advance.

Create Opportunities
Remember that your life is ultimately in your hands and you do have some control over what does or doesn’t happen next. Live your life to the fullest by being proactive and creating opportunities for yourself so you can follow your dreams and achieve your goals. Be willing to put yourself out there and take calculated risks and go after what it is you truly want out of life. Avoid complaining about what you don’t have and begin to build new beginnings that satisfy you.

Wake up Each day with A Fresh Perspective
What’s most important as you attempt to live your life to the fullest is that you learn to let go. Train yourself to wake up each morning with a fresh perspective and attitude and not let your worries distract you from living your best life. What will help you out the most is if you start to live in the moment and not allow yourself to obsess too much about the past or future.

Conclusion
Life is messy at times, but it’s also very beautiful and rewarding if you have the right mindset. Take advantage of these ideas for how you can start living your life to the fullest today. The best part is you’ll never regret making these types of changes and watching yourself develop and grow.

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

4 Things In Tech You Need to Know Today



Technology offers so many possibilities that cannot be surpassed by any other industry at present. With so many trends rising, it is challenging to keep up with the latest strategist needed to know if you're someone working as a professional in tech or someone who is just a true enthusiast.

According to Sean Seshadri, this year presents current technology developments that show promising growth. Here are some of the things you need to know if you want to succeed in technology.

4 Things In Tech You Need to Know Today


1. A lot of investors are looking into blockchain.


At present, many investors have heard about the power of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. Most enthusiasts have already invested their assets through the form of Bitcoin. However, in a bigger scope of things, the underlying technology that powers Bitcoins is the blockchain technology. The idea that information and other types of data are decentralized gives power to private entities, making it possible to transact without a central bank system.

Sean Seshadri states that there are many blockchain startup companies that are carving up their niches and are finding ways to help other businesses grow. For example, they start as cryptocurrency brokers, which help businesses have transactions without having a security compromise. Some examples are Filecoin and Gameflip, which now finds a way to decentralize an industry costing billions of dollars.

Other businesses such as Sparklecoin helps blockchain investors rise to purchase products and services through the use of cryptocurrencies.

2. Many pioneers are finding ways to apply the Internet of Things (IoT).


Internet of Things (IoT) is a growing industry that is now valued at almost $6 trillion dollars. These investments are headed to be a part of IoT solutions that can be used in varying industries both in commercial, personal, and industrial use.

One of the ways the Internet of Things revolutionizes things are in the form of Smart Beds, internet-integrated movie devices, and WiFi-enabled speakers. Soon enough, many of different devices that we use every day will be integrated on the internet, making it easy for us to have access and connectivity whenever and wherever we use it.

3. Virtual reality turns into actual reality.


The current years is showing promising developments in virtual reality. Now, it isn't just related to gaming devices, but it can be also used for different purposes such as surgical stimulations, rendering, and other business-related aspects. Companies that take a stronghold in the virtual reality niche such as Oculus and HTC develop console devices and other platforms where users can have functional access to VR.

The largest problem that virtual reality industry faces is the ability to produce content that should be able to attract potential consumers. The industry has definitely grown, continuing to expand and developing content that helps build up interest for its users. A lot of virtual reality startups are focusing on non-gaming facets of virtual reality.

4. E-commerce is the future of retail.


In the following years to come, e-commerce will be taking over the retail industry. In a recent report about retailing, it shows that 83% of US adults have already purchased something online. The big players include Amazon and eBay=-making e-commerce a true giant that would soon be trumping the brick and mortar stores. A lot of startup companies are now pushing toward e-commerce, making it both easier for buyers and sellers.

There are companies such as Shopify that help people become online entrepreneurs by making e-commerce less complicated and understandable to ordinary people.

By remembering these trends, you can be sure to get ahead in the tech industry as you pursue your goals.

Monday, September 3, 2018

Labor Day = One Year Ago & Twelve Years Ago Today in The Kerrie Show History

Movin' to the country.
Gonna eat a lot of peaches.
— "Peaches" by The Presidents of the United States of America


One year ago yesterday my husband and I were hanging out at my Aunt Cathy's house for Labor Day weekend. Her husband was there, and also my mom and stepdad. My aunt has a gorgeous pool, and the kids were loving being on the pizza-shaped floatie.


My husband and I had been considering moving to acreage for years, and I got him seriously on board probably a year or more earlier. We'd been REALLY looking for at least a year and were getting a little discouraged. We weren't sure we'd ever find what we wanted, and we were picky. When we made the big move from our house of 17 years where we brought home each of our babies from the hospital, it was going to have to be THE ONE FOR LIFE. As in, I would happily die in the house, overlooking my kingdom (a few acres).

So the kids are in the pool. My aunt has this house that always smells good, always looks good, is done in lovely warm colors, and it has a nice bar in the basement. We love it. My grandmother had just died the Sunday before, and the funeral had been just a few days earlier.

Then BAM. I check my phone to see that an alert has come in from Zillow for a rockin' dream house in Peculiar, MO, which seemed very far but hey, why not? Now, folks, Zillow is not the most reliable thing on the planet. I wrote our realtor to check to see if  the home we were drooling over was for real and was shocked to find out it was. Oh, man, we were ready to see it (you can see it here)!

There was a pool like what the kids were currently swimming in. There was a cool basement bar (we are not big drinkers at all, but how cool for entertaining and homeschooling!). There were 4 acres with the option to buy the other 4 later. There were 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. HUGE kitchen. Garage/shed with 3 garage spaces in addition to the 2 attached to the house. Trees. Pond. Deck. We were in love.

I told the kids that if we got the house I would buy them a pizza-shaped floatie, but I really didn't think it was going to happen. (parents: be careful what you promise your kids because by the time I was able to get one I spent like $30 on eBay)

So the very next day, Labor Day, we went to see the house. We didn't want our realtor to work on a holiday but she insisted we meet. We were the first to see the house, got to meet our future neighbors (love them), and as we pulled up to the house, I saw a fish jump high out of the pond. We did the walk-through, immediately loving everything about it. Pear trees. Room for a huge garden or chickens or goats or anything we wanted. Dogs, cats, bunnies, all of it.

As we left the house (more people were coming in to see it so it was going to start getting crowded), we stood by a tree in the front yard with our realtor, the amazing Jacqueline Elbert. She suggested we pray. We held hands and prayed and we call it our Prayer Tree now. Joel parks his car under it.

We drove away knowing we BOTH wanted it. We were both in love and we knew the kids would FREAK OUT. I prayed and was excited but I honestly was not hopeful. It was a lot of money, way more than our budget, but it was screaming our names.

We called a loan officer on the way home (30 minutes from our current home). We started negotiations immediately. There were too many offers and the seller was overwhelmed and needed to consider everything.

Two days later at homeschool co-op, I asked my Creative Writing class to pray for us. These kids are the best! Most of them have now been swimming at our pool and those who have not yet are always invited. Their prayers got us here!


Yesterday we found this little guy in our pool skimmer. We've also found frogs and snakes and plenty of brown recluses and other fun things. We love it.

So one of my kids found this in the toilet this morning AFTER they went to the bathroom. We love our froggy friends and the kitty we feed every night that won't let us touch it just yet.

Happy ending? Yes. The day after we closed on our old house, we were able to put an offer in on the other 4 acres, so we now have all 8 acres that originally were with the house, and we are fully in love. We are even friends with the previous owner, and she is such an incredible woman that God had us meet! We love the neighbors, I love walking the neighborhood and hearing nature and smelling flowers and burn piles (yes, I love the smell of a good set of burning leaves because it reminds me of my grandma).

Sometimes something just CLICKS. You want it and you want it and it seems like it will never arrive. You try to be patient and you pray and you live your life and THEN IT HAPPENS. And you will feel so elated and grateful and just peaceful and happy. It's a great feeling, and I've experienced it in my life more than I deserved to (marrying Aron, giving birth to each of my children, realizing my writing dreams).

I know a lot of people who are looking for their country dream as well. I will pray for you that you find exactly what you are looking for (in your price range!).

ALSO, 12 years ago today I started homeschooling my oldest child, Joel. He was 5 and I was too excited to wait until the next day, so we whipped out a cheap Sam's Club workbook and sat down on the grass in the backyard with Michael and Callie nearby and started one of the best things I've ever done with my life.

IKEA Merriam September 1 ... killing time in between a gorgeous wedding at Cure of Ars, where we were married almost 20 years ago, and the reception. A day to remember!




How Can Online Learning Benefit You?

Whether you work for “the man” or work for yourself. Whether you run your own business, a small
business or a huge multinational corporation. Whether you’re happy and content in your life and
career or feel frustrated and stifled, there’s one thing you can’t get enough of. No, it’s not money.
It’s knowledge! We all too often think of knowledge as a means to an end, a hurdle that must be over
leapt to unlock the path to greater fortune and higher pay. But the pursuit of knowledge for its own
sake can benefit you in a range of ways including (but not limited to) the monetary.




Over the past few years online learning has boomed exponentially, and here we’ll look at just a few of
the ways it can benefit you.


Online learning needn’t cost a fortune


“That’s all well and good”, you might be thinking, “But I don’t have a few grand spare to invest in online
learning. Online courses may be cheaper than their campus based counterparts but they’re still pretty
darned expensive”. While it’s true that some online courses are expensive, it depends entirely on what
you want to learn. There’s a plethora of information out there available for free and even a range of
free online courses in a wide range of fields if you know where to look.  


It can change your career


Let’s get the obvious out of the way. If you’re bored and frustrated at work or feel as though you’re
stagnating in your career, online learning can help you to reverse your fortunes. It can give you the
skills and qualifications you need to start a new career in something different or help to unlock the
next phase of your current career.


It can help you to refine the skills from which you make a living


If you run your own business or work as a freelancer, then you know that constantly learning,
expanding your skill set and continually furthering your knowledge of the basics are essential to
maintaining your livelihood. Whether you’re reading up on Connecting CSS StyleSheets to HTML for
your web design side hustle or learning new makeup looks and products to help your clients dazzle
as a beautician. Online learning can help you to get more work as cement your reputation as a leader
in your chosen field.


It can reignite your passions


Life has a way of stripping away the passions that used to define us in our younger years. There’s a
song in the musical comedy Avenue Q called “I Wish I Could Go Back To College”. This is pretty
understandable as it’s a time when most of us feel the most alive. We’re constantly learning new
knowledge and skills and learning more about ourselves. Yet, as we fall into a job and a career, we
can quickly find ourselves in a rut, marking away the time until the revelry of the weekend is upon us.


Online learning can reignite our passions and put us back in touch with who we really are.

Friday, August 31, 2018

5 Reasons You Should Be Using SMS Message Information Services



Cell phones are continuously proliferating in every continent. This means that advertising through mobile phones is going to grow, and many companies are integrating a mobile marketing system in their marketing campaigns if you ask bongo.

When you compare other forms of delivering marketing campaigns, SMS process will be the one that receives a high ROI for its low cost of investment. Since you need permission to use this system, your company is going to connect with genuine customers, and you will quickly notice a rise in your conversion rate.

Let us look at five ways you need to use SMS services for your marketing needs.

Flexible communication

SMS will help you to send a message to all of your subscribers or your individual clients. You may time these messages and even follow them up with other timed messages to organize the interaction. You can easily mold the SMS system to suit the needs of your company.

Instant delivery

The message to your customers will take approximately seven seconds; this is one of the fastest marketing strategies your company can have. SMS services will drastically reduce the time for marketing your products and services to give you an edge over your competitors.

Flexible terms of usage

Since SMS has the options of short and long codes, the marketing needs of your company through the system is budget friendly. When you use short-codes, it will be beneficial to restrict your campaign to the country and activate it when you need to. Since the numbers are shorter, they have better recall value. The SMS system provides a high revenue-sharing and payouts when it comes to some types of campaigns. Long codes provide the option of going international with your marketing efforts to spread your reach.

Constantly growing the potential of your market

When you use SMS services for your business, you will be opening up more possibilities of growing your business since the number of users of mobile phones keeps increasing by the day. Transactions that were made on desktop devices in the recent years are now taken to the mobile platform. When you create targeted ads for SMS marketing, you will be ensuring that your brand gets into the competitive space that is being accessed by a genuine audience.

Better open and conversion rates

No marketing method offers high open rates than what SMS provides. Almost all the texts sent are read once they are sent because the targeted customer is alerted using a message vibration or message tone. When you use a very good marketing plan for your SMS marketing, you will stimulate the responses very well, and this will increase the rate of increasing sales from conversions.


The SMS service is a cost-effective means of promoting any business. When you use this system, you will target your audience in a way that a customer takes action on the content that you have provided. You can Ask Bongo about how to use SMS in your business.

Author Bio: Adrian Rubin is a freelance Philly photographer and a huge user of Ask Bongo.