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If you are new here, please read our first post, "Let your sterling education begin--Welcome!", to learn what this blog is about! The newest posts appear just below this box.

Sterling Silver Ornaments: A Brief History

September 7, 2011

The traditions of Christmastime are what make the season so special and loved. Everyone has those decorations, meal menus, and practices which warm their heart and make them smile. Ornaments, as one of the most repeatable features from year to year mark them as a valuable inclusion that need to last for years to come.

Sterling silver ornaments do just that!

Silver manufacturers have consistently produced lines of ornaments in series that make for easy, tasteful, and beautiful tree-trimming, with a shine and sparkle that will become a highlight in your home. The various motifs—snowflakes, crosses, characters, or carol references—reprise the earliest ornaments.

2011 Snowflake, 42nd Edition, Gorham

Evergreen boughs or other fresh foliage were brought into the home during winter time to remind families of the promise of life after the cold winter. The tradition of employing an entire tree became common in Germany in the nineteenth century. Over time, fruit or nuts would be included in the display. Bread and cookies were also used; they were shaped and baked in various forms many of which we find today. Stars, hearts, angels, and bells were common! Germans are said to be the first to design reusable ornaments during the 19thcentury specifically for use on greens in winter, and F. W. Woolworth in the 1890s may have been the first American retailer to offer ornaments in various materials.

The creation of ornaments in sterling silver was a practice that took off in the United States in the 1970s. The reflectivity, durability, and adaptability of silver made it a perfect choice for traditional ornaments. Some single issue ornaments were made by various manufacturers in the 1960s, but with only a mild reception. Gorham, however, introduced its Snowflake in 1970 to overwhelming success. As a result, 1971 marks the year that a number of silver companies began series of various silver ornaments. The Reed & Barton Cross dates to this year, Towle it’s first “Twelve Days of Christmas” series, and Wallace’s “Peace Doves”. The Metropolitan Museum of Art even introduced its own line of Snowflakes.

2011 Christmas Cross, 41st Edition, Reed & Barton

2011 Christmas Cross, 41st Edition, Reed & Barton

Forms of sterling ornaments vary, but most common are winter or Christian symbols like snowflakes, bells, angels, crosses, stars and nativity scenes. Stylized references to Christmas carols are popular.

Completing a series of ornaments is most collector’s goal in time. Reed & Barton’s sterling Christmas Cross collection is the most complete with a new edition offered each year up to the present. The Gorham Snowflake was made in 1980 in silverplate, but that remains the only deviation to the otherwise sterling designs.

2011 St. Peter Ornament, 1st Edition, Wallace

2011 St. Peter Ornament, 1st Edition, Wallace

Beverly Bremer Silver Shop already has in stock this year’s editions of many series of ornaments (we even the first edition of a new series!) as well as a number of editions from years past in some of the most popular lines. Check your collection to see what you need!

Written with input from various sources, most notably Hart, Peggy and Arthur. “Sterling Ornaments, 2002” 2002.

Fish and Visitors: The Fish Slice

August 18, 2011

Cluny by Gorham

There have been specialized types of flatware-the sardine fork, the cucumber server, the hot cake lifter, etc.-made mostly during the Regency, Victorian, and Edwardian ages, but the fish slice (along with its cousins the tart and pudding servers) is among the earliest of such individualized utensils. The eighteenth century laws that helped to enrich already rich landowners and the industrial Revolution, which created a rising middle class of merchants and professional people, created a new appetite for silver tableware that was not satisfied with just knives, spoons, ladles and forks.  Specialized servers “in the French manner” were desired, and these broad-blade servers led to a revolution of their own at the table.  Its form was largely dictated by its special function, yet this noble piece still manages to speak to us of elegance and grace.  Saw-piercing, bright cutting, and elaborate cartouches are natural on these blades.

Dolphin by Georg Jensen

The fish slice is a broad blade or trowel shaped server, most often used for dividing and serving fish at the table, but the earliest examples were used to serve fried fish directly from the pan. These early servers, circa 1740, use the name “slice,” but their blades are rounded and symmetrical.  Elaborately saw-pierced, their main purpose was to drain unwanted cooking juices. As the whitebait fish was commonly fried in the eighteenth century home, the early examples where called whitebait servers. More elongated slices, fish shaped but still symmetrical, appeared after about 1745, and these eventually evolved into the a symmetrical fin shape we see most often. The symmetrical shape still persisted, but such later examples were usually longer and slightly pointed. Further, the most familiar scimitar blade was rarely made before 1800. The earliest known example was possibly made in London, ca. 1780, by Joseph Steward II (pudding and cake servers appeared at the same time).

The scimitar blade made its first known appearance on the Continent around 1780, but on either side of the Channel there is a bit of a gap, from the early 1780s until the early 1790s, during which almost no such examples were produced.  The study of existing examples would suggest that the scimitar shape made its return around 1790 and saw steady gains in popularity until, by circa 1800, it had become the preferred shape for the fish slice.  The blade recalls the shape of a fish’s fin, but a suggestion has been made that, especially in its more elongated form, it resembles the outline of a headless fish.  This would be very much in keeping with the manner in which the fish appeared at the table.

The baroque and rococo style saw-piercing of the earliest fish slices usually covered the blade from side to side, sometimes leaving a border of less than one quarter inch, with more metal removed than retained.  A close examination of the scroll work will show, however, the blade is not at all weakened and the holes are quite strategically placed.  The piercing often featured a cartouche or reserve to be engraved with an armorial device or a monogram.  The piercing was often enhanced by bright-cutting, with one or more fish forming a central motif; fishnet pattern backgrounds were not uncommon.  The more elongated neoclassical slices and fin-shaped examples often featured fish backbone-style piercing, while others were pierced with stars or comma shapes, using a punch. During the latter part of the eighteenth century the blade might also feature a border of classical-style interlocking scrolls.

The piercing of Georgian fish slices took two forms.  Saw-piercing by craftsman was the only method employed when they first appeared and was used throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but the steam-driven equipment introduced by Matthew Boulton and James Watt in the late 1760s resulted in mechanical die fly-cutting.  This expensive equipment, however, was afforded only by the more prosperous firms , such as the Batemans in London.  Pierced examples in Sheffield plate, although not common, can be found today.

As far as slicing and serving at the table is concerned, however, a question arises: How much of the piercing was functionally necessary and how much was simply decoration?  After the mid eighteenth century, was usually brought from the kitchen in a pot and transferred to a mazarine or onto a ceramic fish drainer.  Indeed, Rabinovitch says that ” the need for a pierced server…becomes questionable.”

Bright-cutting, rather than saw-pierced, more commonly characterizes the decoration of America fish slice, but many elaborate pierced examples of coin silver can be found.  Chasing of the blade became more common in the Art Nouveau period, and early twentieth century examples were usually left plain.

From the many examples of Georgian fish slices available for study it would seem that their handles evolved in somewhat loosely defined manner with the earliest known examples having flat silver handles in the “Hanoverian” style.  From about the mid-1740s until the mid-1760s loaded hollow silver handles were popular, as were handles of wood, ivory, or bone. The return of the flat handle employed styles that most often mirrored contemporary flatware patterns and which were sometimes made as part of a larger service.  Still, the other variations continued to be made.  Elaborately chased hollow handles in the form of a fishware often made, and ivory handles were sometimes stained green, or turned and carved.

Joseph P. Brady Silver Historian

Dolphin by Georg Jensen

Sterling Silver Christmas Cross by Reed and Barton

August 9, 2010

2010 Sterling Silver Christmas Cross by Reed and Barton

2010 Sterling Silver Christmas Cross

2010 Sterling Silver Christmas Cross

Length is 3 1 /8 inches, weight is 0.55 troy ounces.

The 2010 Christmas Sterling Silver Cross by Reed & Barton celebrates 40-years tradition of extraordinaire sterling silver crosses. Crafted in fine sterling silver, the cross’s elegant design was inspired by a grill in early Romanesque style in Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire, England.

Established in 1824, Reed & Barton has earned a worldwide reputation for creating fine – quality sterling silver. The company’s finely crafted Christmas ornaments are cherished and collected the world over. The highest standards of design and craftsmanship are hallmarks of all products manufactured by Reed & Barton, foremost silversmiths for over 186 years.

Find this sterling silver ornament

other sterling silver ornaments on our website at Beverly Bremer Silver Shop

1st Day of Christmas Partridge Ornament by Hand and Hammer

August 6, 2010

Partridge and Pear Ornament

Sterling Silver Partridge and Pear Ornament

Sterling Silver Partridge and Pear Ornament

Length is 2 1/2 inches, weight is 0.50 troy ounces. This sterling silver collectible ornament is part of a collection of ornaments inspired by the Twelve Days of Christmas, created exclusively by Hand & Hammer Silversmiths. In the hands of their skilled craftsmen, the precious commodity of sterling silver becomes a treasured heirloom for the Christmas Tree.

 The stylish partridge and pear evokes one of the best-loved holiday carols. This sterling silver collectible ornament, designed by Chip deMatteo and Greg Villalobos, has a medieval style, harkening back to the period in which the carol was written.

 Find this

 Sterling Silver Ornament (click here)

 and other sterling silver ornaments on our website at

 Beverly Bremer Silver Shop (click here)

Sterling Silver Julep Cup

April 27, 2010

The Sterling Silver Julep Cup

In the South, there is a time-honored tradition that is best enjoyed under the very wide brim of an elaborately decorated hat: The Kentucky Derby. As you watch the majestic thoroughbreds race round the track, there is no better way to cool yourself off than with a refreshing Mint Julep, better yet served in a sterling silver julep cup. The sweet bite of bourbon mixed with the fresh mint and all served ice cold is the perfect palate quencher to tackle that deep south heat. As the official libation of the Derby, one must familiarize themselves with its sweet southern charms. That being said, the following recipe has been provided. See the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

Early American silver smiths and Kentucky natives, Asa Blanchard and William and Archibald Cooper are responsible for the appearance of the julep cup design we use today. The opulence of a sterling silver julep cup goes beyond the racetrack for southern residents. We raise our cups high in celebration of our roots and traditions. Sterling silver adds that extra extravagance to the experience and is the perfect vessel for a chilled mint julep. Whether you are watching from the benches of Churchill Downs, waving your winning ticket in the air, or sitting in the air conditioned confines of your parlor, make sure you have a Mint Julep waiting. Sit back, relax and take a sip of a little southern heritage.

Above are two basic forms that the sterling silver julep takes, one with a banded border(figure 1) and the other with a beaded boarder (figure 2). Click on either and look at our selection of over 94 sterling silver juleps in 14 different forms.

The Perfect Mint Julep

Yields 1

  • 3 ounces Kentucky bourbon
  • Mint leaves
  • 2 tablespoons mint simple syrup, recipe follows

Crush a few mint leaves in the bottom of a sterling silver julep cup. Add 2 tablespoons of syrup and muddle ingredients together to release oils from mint. Then fill the julep with crushed ice. Add bourbon and stir until the julep is frosted. Top with more crushed ice. To serve, garnish with a fresh sprig of mint.

Mint Syrup:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 bunch fresh mint sprigs

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar and water. Boil for 5 minutes, without stirring.

Pour over a handful of mint and gently crush the mint with a spoon. Refrigerate syrup mixture overnight in a jar with a lid. Remove mint leaves and keep refrigerated. In the refrigerator, the mix will be good for several weeks.

Resource: Jay Dickerson, EQ at The Party Source

Sterling Silver Pea Spoon

March 19, 2010

The Sterling Silver Pea Server

Please Pass the Peas

The green pea is synonymous with the thawing of winter, transistioning into a natural beautifying of our days. Fresh produce at the local markets coupled with times of celebration bring out the host in us all. Whether at a garden party or ar a formal dinner toasting two, the presence of sterling silver always makes a postive impression.

Peas are becoming more popular in dishes for their diversity, whether they be pureed into dips for crostini or simply steamed. A little known fact about early 19th century cuisine: that after 30 mintues of boiling, the peas were skimmed out for serving. We have a vast amount of sterling silver pieces that make the serving of your sides easier, and the presentation the highlight of any meal.

Eating in green peas in the late 18th to early 19th centuries, sterling silver forks commonly used in England and the American colonies had only two or three tines and knife blades were wide and rounded in order to eat the peas from. As the saying goes:

“I always eat my peas with honey;

I’ve done it all my life.

They do taste kind of funny

but It keeps them on my knife.”

With the simplicity of such a small super food, it’s important that they are displayed in just the right dish; a beautiful sterling silver bowl with detail that brings the perfect amount of opulence to any table. In fact, peas of many varieties were planted with more frequency, and were allocated far more space in the kitchen garden at Monticello, than any other single vegetable. Peter J. Hatch, Director of Garden & Grounds at Monticello, writing in Dining at Monticello, states, “according to family accounts, every spring Jefferson competed with local gentlemen gardeners to bring the first pea to the table.”

We pride ourselves in the diversity of our sterling silver bowls, plates, tea sets and many serving pieces because of the stories of these famous historical figures. Like Jefferson, we are all looking for that passion to bring great food to our tables. For if we did not value our health and wealth, we would not have our greens or our silver! With that, it is no doubt that this spring, a sterling silver serving piece would be the perfect accompaniment to any side dish. Please pass the peas!

Visit our website to see the great diversity of second hand sterling silver servers.

Beverly Bremer Silver Shop

A Brief History of Sterling Silver

March 9, 2010

A Brief History of Silver

The process of extracting and refining silver dates from the third millennium BC, and the metal was well represented in the wealth of Mesopotamia, Babylon, Egypt, classical Greece and ancient Rome. Silver’s unique properties have made it a wonderful medium for the decorative arts, and its intrinsic value as a precious metal has made it the ultimate and everlasting recyclable. As fashion changed over the decades and centuries, silver has been melted and reshaped into new forms, and in times of economic crisis, for individuals and nations, it has been converted into coin. Its reflective qualities have made it an ideal material for the display of power, wealth or reverence, in palaces, cathedrals, temples and the great houses of Asia, Europe and the Americas.

It was during the Renaissance that silver began to become important for display: An impressive show of silver objects was a telling measure of a person’s wealth and social standing. In the English court, New Year’s gifts of silver were customarily exchanged, and silver was of foremost importance for state occasions. At the same time, silver was the preferred material for the wealthiest aristocratic and merchant classes. The social, rather than the economic, aspects of silver were taking shape.

Etruscan spoons dating from 700 BC are not unlike the ones we use today, and knives were always present at the table, but it was in 16th century Italy that forks began to replace fingers for conveying food to the mouth. As the fork’s popularity spread to France, great changes in manners began. Foods that had previously been eaten by dipping fingers or bread into a common bowl came to be eaten with spoons and forks from individual plates, and by the late 1600’s there existed different plates for different foods. Further, individual chairs replaced benches at the table. This revolution, of sorts, greatly affected the silversmiths’ output, and before the close of the 17th century silversmiths found themselves making large matching services for their wealthy patrons. It was the beginning of table silver as we know it today.

In the 18th century silver more and more became the tangible evidence of wealth, and men a women carried their hard-earned and carefully hoarded coins to the silversmith to be made into usable objects. Theses pieces retained their intrinsic value while being used for celebrations, daily routines or mere display. It is from the American colonies that we get the term American Coin Silver. Although this phrase is commonly linked to simple pointed-end, round-end or fiddle-back spoons, early American silversmiths were, like their English and European counterparts, producing church silver, tankards, beakers, tea sets and tea caddies, trays and salvers, porringers, braziers, candlesticks, etc. The word coin as it pertains to these articles of American silver mainly defines the source of the raw material: Until the 19th century, coins provided the silver makers of nearly all countries with raw material when bullion was scarce, but since silver was not mined commercially in the United States until the 1850’s, coins were the American silversmith’s major resource.

At the beginning of the 19th century, silver services were comparatively simple. However, rising middle and merchant classes on both sides of the Atlantic, as well rich industrialists in the United States, created a great demand for silver objects. The urge to display affluence, along with impetus given by exhibitions in 1851 and 1862, led not only to more ornate styles but a wide range of new serving and individual pieces. This Victorian explosion of tableware seems to have begun simply enough, with the fashion for separate fish knives. Followed, of course by the addition of the fish fork. By the 1870’s, dinner consisted of from five to eighteen courses, and, as one etiquette book stated, the guest could expect “a bewildering array of glass goblets, wine and champagne glasses, numerous forks, knives and spoons.”

Silver manufacturers were soon trying to outdo one another, with one American maker offering 20 different types of individual place setting spoons, 12 different forks and ten different knives. In addition to individual dinner forks, medium forks, dessert forks, fish forks, oyster forks, lobster forks, terrapin forks, salad forks, berry forks, pie forks, fruit forks and ice cream forks, there were specialized forks for serving beef, sardines, bread, olives, asparagus, pickles, etc. The list of specialized forks, spoons, flat servers and knives is almost endless, and reflects, in part, the spiritual need of Victorians to demonstrate the superiority of Man over all other creatures.

Nineteenth-century silver manufacturers had placed great emphasis on industrialization and modern manufacturing techniques, but the early years of the 20th century saw a move to widen the gulf between artist and industrialist. The Arts & Crafts Movement, which saw its beginnings in Europe and spread quickly across the Atlantic, put emphasis on the individual craftsman. The movement saw the important role that craft can play in the “humanizing” of society. The workers in this tradition have aspired to lofty goals, taking the silversmith back to role of artisan. The period between the World Wars brought about great stylistic changes, with the introduction of “Modernism”, later termed the “Art Deco” style. As we begin the 21st century, these objects too are finding their place in museums and private collections.

Though we may lament that much old silver has been lost to the whims of fashion or the loss of fortune, we must also remember that the nineteenth century saw a taste for collecting antique silver: Pieces once melted and refashioned began to be collected for their aesthetic appeal. The same period saw a burgeoning spirit of inquiry and research, and as the 19th century gave way to the 20th, scholarly publications and exhibitions brought new information, and exciting pieces of silver, to light. Silver has a past, a present and a future, and, in many ways, it lives in all three.

Joseph P. Brady

Silver Historian, 2007

To see more sterling silver, take a look around our website :

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A Guide to Caring for Aging Family Members

Posts tagged ‘insights’

He Needs to Read the Book

I replied to a question on the AgingCare.com website http://www.agingcare.com as follows:

My Dad’s moving in with my wife and I soon. How do I handle this?
Asked by tgengine

It is after all my idea but I am getting nervous. He is fine health wise but not financially. He is in the area where I grew up and many family members are as well as his friends. I live 5 states away. My brother is in the same town as my dad, my sister is about the same distance as I but neither will have him come with them. My dad and I get along very well as does my wife. We have a good size house and the kids are out. My issue is he is still active in work and mobile. I don’t know how to handle the day to day issues. I work at home. I will have to move my office from my nice sunny room to the basement to give him a living area. Finance should not be too much of an issue but I feel my siblings should contribute. How do I handle that? We are planning to add on to the house but that is a huge cost I cannot bear. We lost my mom recently, she did everything for my dad, he is progressing in getting things done but once he moves in how do we all keep our personal space? My biggest fear is him falling into depression. Currently he owns his business which my brother works in. I want him to work at least 3 hours a day (be out of the house) and go to a gym or some kind of activity. He doesn’t realize how active he is where he is now but he cant stay due to financial reasons. He is very close to his family there, once he is here it will be hard to go back and forth. I don’t want my wife and I to be his social scene. How do I get him to make friends here without him thinking I am pushing him away? Too many questions, I need something I just don’t know what.

My reply:
I quit my job to be my mother-in-law’s primary caregiver when she moved into our home. Believe me, I too, got a little nervous beforehand. MIL lived with us for four years. The first two were pretty good; the last two steadily declined. After my mother-in-law passed away, I wrote a book (What to Do about Mama? by Barbara G. Matthews and Barbara Trainin Blank). It isn’t a book by “experts,” but by people in the trenches. It provides information based on caregiving experiences (35 different caregiver stories), which will assist with developing realistic goals and expectations. In other words, we wrote the book to offer you and others like you, some insights based upon our hindsight.

The “too many questions” you’ve mentioned are “in the book,” along with a gazillion you probably haven’t even thought of yet. Trust me. Keep in mind that caregiving is never easy, and that it will get more difficult over time. This is not meant to discourage you from going ahead with your plan, but to encourage you to look ahead and be prepared.

Barbara Matthews

It’s in the Book!

As I said under “Personal Caregiving Stories” above, the purpose of this blog is to discuss caregiving experiences, many of which are addressed in “What to Do about Mama?” Let me be more specific.

I am a baby boomer, not a Gen X’er, Millennial, or a “new silent.”
(I just looked that one up.) I think this means Baby Boomers prefer to communicate by talking or writing (letters or e-mail). Personally, I don’t usually text, or Facebook (although many in my generation do), or blog.

I was a caregiver for 7 years.

I wrote a book.

I didn’t write the book to make money. My objective was to offer insights to other caregivers or potential caregivers based on the hindsight of experienced caregivers. But to get the word out, people have to read the book.

So, I now Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whattodoaboutmama
and blog: http:/www.bgmatthewsblog.wordpress.com
and maintain a half-dozen other media accounts.

And so far, to be honest, I really don’t like it. I get frustrated with the technology, and discouraged when I feel my information just

But I keep on trying.

Yesterday I explored a caregiving site: http://www.agingcare.com. And once again, as I read it I thought: “It’s in the book!”

I really don’t want to rewrite my book on-line. Nor do I want to create a lot of new material–but just publicize the existing material. So, I’m going to try (once again) to reference some really good information (by the AgingCare people) to my book, “What to Do about Mama?” and hope that folks both young and old will decide they want to learn more about caregiving by reading the book so that they will be more-prepared when their time inevitably comes.

Top 3 Excuses From Siblings Who Don’t Help With Caregiving
by Carol Bradley Bursack”

1. “I don’t have time.”
• This excuse is probably the most often used reason for not helping out. The implication in this excuse is that you, the person who has taken on the role of primary caregiver, do have time.
• “What to Do about Mama?” p. 13: “You don’t understand the pressures of our jobs.”

2. “I don’t have the Money.”
• Let’s say you have a brother in a distant state who says he’d be happy to help out by paying for some respite care for you, the caregiver, but he just doesn’t have the money. Maybe he’s right. He doesn’t have the money. But there are other ways he can help, if he actually wants to.
• “What to Do about Mama?” p. 93: I believe my mother feels we were much better off financially than my stepsister and stepbrother (so less was expected from them).

3. “I Can’t Bear to See Mom/Dad Like That”
• They think you like it? Day after day you watch the decline. You help them with everything, including very intimate day-to-day functions, such as toileting. Do your siblings think this step has been easy for you?
• “What to Do about Mama?” p. 15: My mother-in-law’s decline was especially difficult for my brother-in-law; his wife made a point to express this to me very specifically. He had no confidence in his ability to be alone with her. With tears in his eyes, he told me that he saw himself as the “last bastion of propriety” in his relationship with his mother. I did understand how difficult it is to watch a loved one’s decline; his brother, after all, faced it every day. I felt, however, that was not an acceptable excuse for not assuming responsibility.

Barb Matthews

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Some thoughts on grieving and caregiving when you're young and self-absorbed.

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Remember Deadline? That sweet $0.99 iPhone app that uses various tools at its disposal to tell you when you’re going to die, and even offers you a timer so you know how much time you have left on Earth? Well, Alaric Cole, the developer behind Deadline, has already put the WatchKit SDK Apple released earlier this week to good use to come up with a test version of Deadline, recording a short video using the iOS Simulator to show it in action.

FROM EARLIER: For just $0.99, this iPhone app that will tell you when you’re going to die

The video shows what a Deadline version could look like on Apple’s wearable device, “making the Apple Watch a timepiece for your own demise,” as it’ll show both the current time and the theoretical time left in your life.

Apple’s WatchKit and available documentation have already revealed details about Apple’s smartawtch, including screen resolutions, the complex interaction methods the Apple Watch comes with, and the various rules developers will need to abide to when creating Apple Watch apps.

Cole’s Deadline concept for the Apple Watch follows below, while the original Deadline app is already available for any iOS device running iOS 8.


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New Living Translation

Matthew 1:18–23

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The Birth of Jesus the Messiah

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement* quietly.

20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,* for he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!

She will give birth to a son,

and they will call him Immanuel,*

which means ‘God is with us.’ ”

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1:19 Greek to divorce her.

1:21 Jesus means “The Lord saves.”

1:23 Isa 7:14; 8:8, 10 (Greek version).


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Sex Scandal Ride, Made in L.A. Bicycle Tour, Art Cycle & Venice NC discusses Main Street Road Diet

It’s another busy bike weekend on tap. And speaking of which, we’re only three weeks from L.A.’s 2nd annual Tour de Fat and a bigger and better CicLAvia III.

Bike Talk airs every Saturday at 10 am; listen to it live or download the podcast from KPFK.

Bike Long Beach hosts Bike Saturdays every weekend; ride your bike to participating local shops and business throughout the city to get special offers and discounts.

Saturday, September 17th, the 3rd Annual Art Cycle takes over Santa Monica Blvd from Vermont to Virgil Avenues. The events include a juried art competition, live music, bike tours of local galleries and architecture, food trucks and other activities for all ages along the original Route 66, from 2 pm to 10 pm.

Saturday, September 17th from 8 am to noon, Amigos De Los Rios hosts the easy, family-friendly Healthy El Monte Community Bike Ride at Pioneer Park, 3535 Santa Anita Blvd in El Monte. Register online, children are $5, adults $10.

Also on Saturday the 17th, C.I.C.L.E. LA invites you to join in the Made in L.A. Bicycle Tour from 1 pm to 4 pm starting a the L.A. State Historic Park, 1245 N. Spring Street in Downtown L.A. The eight mile family-friendly ride will visit sites including Homeboy Industries, El Pato Factory and the Angel City Brewery.

Now this is what I call a bike ride. To celebrate their 40th anniversary, Hollywood’s favorite sex shop is hosting the free Sex Scandal Bike Ride on Saturday the 17th from 4 pm to 6 pm. Riders are encouraged to wear sexy costumes as they tour the sites of various scandals on the 90 minute ride, then back to the Pleasure Chest for champagne, hot dogs and ice cream, 7733 Santa Monica Blvd.

Head up to Palo Alto on Saturday, September 17 for the Echelon Gran Fondo, with rides of 65, 80 or 95 miles, as well as a fundraising walk, run or ride and A Taste of Palo Alto. The ride benefits Bikes Belong, parent organization of both People for Bikes and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership. The goal is to raise $10,000; if you can’t make the ride, you can still donate and get some cool Bikes Belong swag.

The Nautica Malibu Triathlon will be held on Saturday, September 17 (International Distances) and Sunday, September 18th (Classic Distance); there will also be a Tot Trot for kids under 12. World class pro cyclist Dave Zabriskie, founder of Yield to Life, will compete on a relay team with Goo Goo Dolls drummer Mike Malinin and Tom Hodge; the races will benefit the pediatric cancer research program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Flying Pigeon hosts its monthly Get Sum Dim Sum Ride at 10 am on Sunday, September 18th. Meet at Flying Pigeon Bike Shop, 3714 North Figueroa Street in Highland Park, and bring cash to split the check. And while you’re at it, ask Josef what you can do to help remake the North Figueroa Corridor to make it more bike and pedestrian friendly.

The Venice Neighborhood Council will discuss the proposed Main Street Road Diet from 7 pm to 10 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 20th in the auditorium of the Westminster Elementary School, 1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice. Cyclists are urged to attend to support this vital project.

Help raise funds for the Bicycle Kitchen when FOK (Friends of the Kitchen) Rock invades the Echo on Wednesday, September 21st starting at 8 pm, 1822 West Sunset Blvd. Or name your price to download the multi-genre FOK Rock album starting on the 21st.

You’re invited to Think Bikes with the Dutch when the General Council of the Netherlands joins with the LACBC and the City of L.A. to present ThinkBike Los Angeles. The public is welcome to the Opening Session from 9 am to 10:30 am on Thursday, September 22nd in the John Ferraro Council Chambers, Room 340 in L.A. City Hall, 200 North Spring Street (note the new location) and the Closing Session, from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm at LAPD Headquarters, 100 West 1st Street. Preregistration is required for both the Opening and Closing sessions.

Sunday, September 25th, Folk Art Everywhere hosts the next edition in their popular Folk Art Bike Rides with a tour of art, neighborhoods and unique gathering spots in Downtown L.A. The easy, family friendly ride will loosely follow the Gold Line, with fascinating stops and speakers along the way. The ride assembles at Mariachi Plaza at the N.E. corner of E. 1st Street and S. Boyle Ave at 10:45, with an 11 am departure.

You’re invited to participate in the Gladiator Rock’n Run at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 1st. Not bike related, but at least they’re offering a discount for cyclists; enter code GLADIATORZ10 (all caps) to save $10 on registration.

The LACBC’s monthly Sunday Funday ride is scheduled to roll through the Santa Monica Mountains on Sunday, October 2nd; details to be determined.

Mark your calendar for L.A.’s Ultimate Bike Weekend, as the 2011 L.A. edition of the Tour de Fat comes to town on Saturday, October 8th, followed by the next CicLAvia on Sunday, October 9th, offering an expanded route taking participants another 3 miles north into Chinatown and south into South L.A.

The LACBC is co-hosting a weekend-long training program for bicycle and pedestrian advocates with the Alliance for Biking and Walking from Friday, October 14th through Sunday, October 16th, 634 S. Spring Street, Suite 821.

The LACBC’s award-winning City of Lights program will host their 2nd Annual City of Lights Awards/Fundraising Dinner on Thursday, October 27th from 6 to 11 pm at CARECEN HQ, 2845 W 7th Street. L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and L.A. Times columnist Hector Tobar will be honored; tickets are available online.

The Malibu Canyon Gran Fondo rolls on Saturday, October 30th, starting and ending at Saddlerock Ranch, 31743 Mulholland Hwy in Malibu, with rides of 65 miles — and 6,800 feet of climbing — 45 miles and 17 miles, as well as a kids ride along the ranch, with a picnic and after party to follow.

Friday, November 11 through Sunday, November 13th, the Eastside Bike Club hosts the LA Tamale Throwdown at a site to be determined, offering a chance to sample some of the city’s best tamales, coffee and pan Mexicano; bike valet courtesy of Flying Pigeon LA.

And Sunday, November 13th, the LACBC unveils a perfect marriage of bikes and food with the 1st annual Tour de Taste in Culver City; more details soon.

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1 protocol

Adina Vultur 1 protocol

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Katharina Maria Zimmermann
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Measuring Mitochondrial ROS in Mammalian Cells with a Genetically Encoded Protein Sensor
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are not only known for their toxic effects on cells, but they also play an important role as second messengers. As such, they control a variety of cellular functions such as proliferation, metabolism, differentiation ...


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Curious About Calorie Count in V-Diet

I’ve been on a perpetual bulk and have been stagnant and fat for a while now so I was considering some kind of dieting program.

I have read through dozens of diet/cutting nutrition plans across T-Nation,, and other sources. Most of them advocate slowly decreasing calories from -200 to -1000 of your daily caloric needs (BMR).

Based on the V-Diet nutrition calculator, I am to drop -1200 calories immediately from the get go with a lot of protein and next to no carbs. I have read the scientific summary provided and I have no problem with the perceived fatigue that may result from this, but I was wondering if someone could explain the rationale for this sudden drop in calories.

Wouldn’t this allow for a short burst in fat loss and then a hard plateau? How do you prime your body for continued fat loss if you are hitting the bottom of your caloric intake right off the bat?

The V-Diet is a 28 day kickstart plan. Since it removes behavioral bad habits and fixes physical food addictions, when you’re finished you won’t go back to junk foods, binges etc. From there you can eat more normally, make all good food choices, and use training to get the rest of the results you want.

It’s not just about calories, but the types of nutrients you’re putting in. You can stay fat and unhealthy on lower calories if those calories are all junk and have wrecked your body. The V-Diet has you highly nourished yet the calories are controlled. (It actually has more calories than many plans out there.)

And it’s not a low carb diet by definition. It contains a workout drink for training days with plenty of specialized carbs, though the overall plan is reduced carbs compared to most overweight people’s diets.

Basically, it’s for those who are tired or farting around with half-assed results and want to kick things off quickly. It’s not just a diet bur “food rehab.” Which is what most people need who’ve always struggled with body fat and diet.

Thanks for the clarification Chris! I am excited to start this after my current cycle of 5/3/1.

Awesome. Keep us posted!


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Question Regarding Non-Workout Days

I am planning on doing the diet fairly soon and am trying to mix it in to my daily life routine. My biggest concern is that I also dance several days out of the week for about 2-3 hours a day… I can position these so that they are on the non-workout days (what would be Tuesday and Thursday), but I am not sure how it would affect results. I would considerate a moderate workout, as we get some breaks in between while learning the routines, if that helps.

That should be fine. You can skip the NEPA walks on those days of course. No worries!


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The Right Side of 'My Way or the Highway' | Business LockerRoom

Business LockerRoom Blog

By Kelly Riggs | Sales + Leadership

Feb 21
My way or the highway

The Right Side of “My Way or the Highway”

by Kelly Riggs

“My way or the highway.”

That’s not a phrase that is typically used as a compliment.

What makes leadership especially difficult is that leaders are often required to make decisions in which either outcome will be criticized.

So, apparently, the best workplace culture is one in which a leader allows employees to choose what they believe is right. Why? Seemingly every time a leader is faced with a difficult decision that adversely affects someone else, the first criticism is this:

He/she is just a micromanager. It’s just “my way or the highway.”

But here is the problem: Although micromanagers (unfortunately) are very common, making tough decisions – especially controversial ones – does not automatically make someone a micromanager. The logic is completely flawed.

The reasoning goes something like this:

A micromanager is someone who does not allow employees to make decisions or to do things differently. Joe made a big decision without asking for my input, and I don’t agree with it. So, therefore, Joe is a micromanager.

Which is completely absurd. This would mean a leader who makes any decision is a micromanager, by definition, if anyone disagrees with the decision. Which is silly. As anyone who has ever worked for a micromanager will tell you, simply making a decision someone disagrees with does NOT make that person a micromanager.

Consider this definition of micromanagement:

A micromanager is a boss or manager who gives excessive supervision to employees. Rather than telling an employee what task needs to be accomplished and by when, will watch the employee’s actions closely and provide frequent criticism of the employee’s work and processes. (Investopedia)

Or, according to Harvard Business Review, a micromanager is someone who exhibits the following signs:

  • You’re never quite satisfied with deliverables.
  • You often feel frustrated because you would’ve gone about the task differently.
  • You laser in on the details and take great pride and/or pain in making corrections.
  • You constantly want to know where all your team members are and what they’re working on.
  • You ask for frequent updates on where things stand.
  • You prefer to be cc’d on emails.

In other words, a micromanager is obsessive, controlling, and usually quite critical. The question is this: Can someone make tough decisions – decisions that may not be liked or appreciated by some others – and still be 1) a great leader, and 2) NOT a micromanager?

Can leaders make tough decisions – decisions that may not be liked or appreciated by others – and still be an effective leader? via @kellyriggs #leadershipClick To Tweet

Lynn Doughtie, chairman and CEO of KPMG, seems to think so. In an interview with Business Insider, she said this about tough decisions:

“I think all leaders, at some point in time, [are] going to face tough decisions. And it’s really important that the way I approach that, and I think others should as well. You have to seek the facts. It’s not something that you do in isolation; it’s getting the perspectives, seeking the truth, and I think it’s also looking at the core values of what you as a person and as a leader stand for, and what your organization stands for, and there are certain things that are zero tolerance.”

“And it doesn’t mean you want bad things for people, but there are consequences, and you have to set the tone for the organization. And so, as any leader, or future leader, approaches those tough decisions, it is important that others are involved, but sticking to what you know is right, from your own core, is important. And then, also, usually, if it’s a really tough one, you’ve got to be decisive, and more quickly, and finding that right balance, seeking the facts, moving quickly, getting to the right answer, can be tough, but it’s something that other are watching, and it’s important that you, you set the example for your organization.”

Sticking to what YOU know is right? Well, that would be arrogant and authoritarian, wouldn’t it?? Clearly, she is just another self-serving micromanager.

See the point?

The reality is that leadership is a position that often requires tough decisions. The key point here is that those tough decisions are made far easier when cultural norms, expectations, and guiding values (or principles) are clearly understood.

Sadly, when those decisions are made, especially when they will create negative consequences for others, people typically accuse the leader – no matter the circumstances – of micromanagement.

How About Democratic Decision-Making?

To avoid the aforementioned, and misused, ‘my-way-or-the-highway’ assessment, some people would opt for a democratic workplace. Decision by consensus. Self-managed teams.

Holocracy, it’s called.

It is a ‘no-manager’ approach to the workplace in which teams are allowed to self-organize and to have the autonomy and authority to make their own decisions. Although it sounds friendly and fair, this innovative approach creates a significant challenge, as noted in a recent Harvard Business Review article:

Using self-management across an entire enterprise to determine what should be done, who should do it, and how people will be rewarded is hard, uncertain work, and in many environments it won’t pay off.

Why won’t it pay off? The team – comprised of many individuals – has to determine what to do, how to do it, who will do it, and much more, AND they have to reach consensus. Which, unless the decision is completely and voluntarily unanimous, means there will be conflict. Some people won’t get their way.

So, instead of one micromanager, it is simply a conspiracy of micromanagers. Tough decisions will still have to be made, and some people will inevitably disagree.

BUT….you’re screaming now…their voices will be HEARD. Other people will get to provide their input.

Oh, is that the problem? That your voice wasn’t heard? Isn’t that what Doughtie was addressing above when she said, “You have to seek the facts. It’s not something that you do in isolation; it’s getting the perspectives, seeking the truth…”?

There have been some high-profile companies that have ventured out into the no-leader workspace. One of those is the company everyone loves to love (including me, by the way) – Zappos. After three years of experimenting, the experiment doesn’t seem to be faring so well:

But this year, nearing the third anniversary of a shift from a traditional management structure to “holacracy,” a system that replaces hierarchies and bosses with “self-management,” something is different. In between the rapping and the report on the company’s “Pawlidayz” initiative to support pet adoptions, Hsieh, 42, takes to the stage to report disappointing news. He announces that scores on Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For survey have tumbled on 48 of 58 questions. Indeed, Zappos has fallen off the overall list for the first time in eight years. Two questions that generated particularly dismal results: Do employees think management has “a clear view of where the organization is going and how to get there”? And do managers “avoid playing favorites”?

Well, that’s not going according to plan, is it?

To be fair, I suspect that small teams of very like-minded people, with a common purpose and well-managed egos, can pull off the idea of a self-managed team. But I also suspect it will probably be difficult to scale. Ego, ambition, drive, strong opinions, and many other things can, and will, easily lead to conflict and division.

Research from the Gallup organization suggests that setting aside leaders in lieu of group decision making is flawed, making note of Zappos as well as Google:

Unfortunately for Zappos, the holacracy experiment is causing workers to quit in droves, with 14% of employees leaving within weeks of the company introducing holacracy. People within and outside of Zappos are questioning the effectiveness of this organizational approach, which one employee called “painful.” This experiment is making clear that managers have a vital place in an organization.

Zappos isn’t the first company to struggle after eliminating the manager. As Laszlo Bock, Google’s head of people operations, describes in his book Work Rules!, Google similarly tried relieving all managers of their management responsibilities. The experiment was short-lived because of people issues and problems that the company could not handle effectively without managers. Google reinstated the manager role within six weeks. Google’s research also showed that workers with the best managers performed better and had lower turnover.

Effective Leadership Always Involves Tough Decisions

The issue here is effective leadership.

Clearly, micromanagement is mostly ineffective and leads to significant problems with employee turnover and disengagement. However, making tough decisions consistent with the culture and expectations of the workplace, does not, in and of itself, constitute micromanagement.

And eliminating managers from of the corporate structure does not solve the problem.

Leadership, as Gallup has observed, is actually invaluable in organizational performance. But leaders within the company actually have to focus on the functions and objectives of leadership. Sadly, too many leaders do not. One of the most significant issues in most companies is that leaders are far too busy to actually BE leaders. To function as leaders. To be effective as leaders.

However, when they are effective, the impact is considerable as noted by Gallup:

Employees thrive when they have a manager who motivates team members, overcomes obstacles, creates a culture of accountability, builds trusting relationships and makes informed, unbiased decisions for the good of the team and company. The impact of the manager is one of the most robust insights Gallup has ever discovered. And the many needs that great managers meet — for example, providing consistent communication and ensuring accountability — are among the most important drivers of long-term organizational success.

That said, there are times when those leaders MUST make tough decisions.

And there will always be those in disagreement who are ready to hand out labels.

About the Author

Kelly Riggs is a business performance coach and founder of the Business LockerRoom. A former national Salesperson of the Year and serial entrepreneur, Kelly is a recognized thought leader in the areas of sales, management leadership, and strategic planning. He serves clients ranging from small, privately held companies to Fortune 500 firms. Kelly has written two books: “1-on-1 Management™: What Every Great Manager Knows That You Don’t” and “Quit Whining and Start SELLING! A Step-by-Step Guide to a Hall of Fame Career in Sales.”

NOTE: This site makes use of cookies which may contain tracking information about visitors. By continuing to browse this site you agree to our use of cookies. Please refer to this site's Privacy Policy.

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The Proper Way To Do Research On A Business Idea

Everyday, (take it from me when I tell you this) business ideas spring up in the minds of people, old or young, male or female, tall or short, sane or … you get the picture, right? Good. When these ‘million dollar ideas’ are birthed, the birther (a word I just formed, shouldn’t be confused with Obama’s citizenship conspiracies) believes this is the one that will trump all others. The one that will shake the foundations of the business world. The one that will click.
Sometimes, they are correct. Many a time though, they are as wrong as a dead clock every other time of the day. Why? Because it takes more than just the juicy nature of an idea for it to get some good footing. It has to be juicy (yes! I said it), good, realistic, demanded, economical and appreciated. And the only way to know this is by planning ahead for your business.

Continue reading “The Proper Way To Do Research On A Business Idea”

9 Very Important Things You Should Do Before Starting ANY Business

Starting up a business can be quite an intriguing experience. All the adrenaline rush, exciting daydreams and hopeful projections can make one weak in the knees. Raise your hand if you know that feeling.

It’s even more exciting when you’ve been able to craft a business around something you really love. Not everyone knows how to do this. It can be a very intimidating process trying to figure out an awesome business around your passions. I wrote something on how to do that anyway just in case you are stuck there. Don’t mention. I got you covered.

So, say you’ve been able to craft a brilliant idea Continue reading “9 Very Important Things You Should Do Before Starting ANY Business”

10 Steps To Finding The Perfect Business For You

“Where your talents and the needs of the world intercept, there lies your vocation.”

Hey guys! Hope you had a wonderful weekend. Well, I did. I could tell you about it but not here. We have other pressing issues to look at here.

In recent times, I’ve come across people whom in the course of discussion told me stuff like, “I really don’t know which business to do” or “I have some capital but I have no ideas”. Maybe you are one of such people. It’s OK, there’s nothing to be shy about now. Starting a business can be a very scary and tough process and the pressure of getting a brilliant idea doesn’t make it any less scary.

However, getting a good idea for a business does not have to be so intimidating. All it takes is a little patience and inner reflection. In this article, I will be guiding you through a number of steps to choose the perfect business idea. Continue reading “10 Steps To Finding The Perfect Business For You”

Why You Should Start A Business, ASAP!!!

Happy new month mavericks!! September smells real fresh. I have a feeling I’ll like it. No, I’ll love it. And one reason for that being that this blog is coming to inception on the very first day of the month. It’s going to be fun. I can feel it. I hope you will be here to partake in the journey with me.

That said, let’s get on with the very first topic. It seems kind of cliche that an entrepreneurship blog is starting off with a topic like ‘why you need to start a business, asap‘ right? Yeah, I know. But frankly, there won’t be any point doing business ‘unusually’ if we don’t even know why we are in it for starters. So today, we are going to lay the ground work and build from there subsequently. Phew! I’m out of breath already. OK. Let’s just get it rolling.

Continue reading “Why You Should Start A Business, ASAP!!!”


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The 2002 Oscars was one for the history books as three black actors–Denzel WashingtonHalle BerrySidney Poitier–were awarded golden statuettes.  Denzel walked away with his first Best Actor win for the uber-gritty crime drama “Training Day” directed by  music director turned filmmaker Antoine Fuqua.  You would think studio executives would be lining up to snatch up the talented director, but Hollywood played deaf, dumb and blind as Fuqua quietly built up his directing credits with various projects like “Tears of The Sun”, “King Arthur” and “Brooklyn’s Finest.”

With “Olympus Has Fallen” Fuqua is stepping into new territory- the big budget action genre.  Best described as “Die Hard in The White House”, Gerard Butler plays Secret Service Agent Mike Banning who must work against the clock to rescue the President (Aaron Eckhart) when he’s kidnapped by terrorists who attack the White House.  Angela Bassett  plays Secret Service Director Lynn Jacobs and Morgan Freeman is the Speaker of The House.

The Urban Daily caught up with Fuqua to discuss his new partnership with Weinstein Films,  future projects with Denzel Washington, and why a”Black Panther” shouldn’t be so hard to imagine.

TUD:  It was recently announced that The Weinstein Company optioned “Southpaw.”  Can you tell us how that came about?

ANTOINE FUQUA: That was a project I was working on with Steven Spielberg over at Dreamworks.  Eminem was supposed to play the lead role, and then it got put on hold because Em had to work on some music.  Harvey Weinstein wanted the project and spoke to Steven and went and got it.   Eminem will still be involved in the project, but probably not as the lead.

Back in 2010, you collaborated with Wesley Snipes on a comic book series,  “After Dark.”  Any plans to bring that to the big screen?

We actually just finished on the script, and we’re waiting for Wesley to be released so we can move forward on this.

Speaking of comic book adaptations, the movie market has been flooded with lots of Marvel franchises, but no black superheroes.  Last summer at Comic-Con, Louis D’Esposito of Marvel Studios  said that making a Black Panther movie would be  challenging  because it’s more difficult creating the fictional world of Wakanda on screen.  What are your thoughts on D’Esposito’s comments?

It can’t be that difficult, I mean look at “Avatar.”  I mean what else can you say to that?  We make movies all the time in outer worlds, so no I don’t agree with that statement.

Would you be interested in directing the Black Panther movie? And who would you cast as T’Challa/BlackPanther?

With the right script, absolutely!  As for casting, I’d always go straight for Denzel,  if you’re talking about a certain type of character.  Jamie Foxx, Wesley Snipes, Will Smith — we’ve got a handful of guys who are very powerful actors. We also have lots of talented African-American actors we’ve never even heard of.

Denzel won his first Lead Actor Oscar with “Training Day.”  Any plans for you and Denzel to work together again?

We’ve talked about a few things here and there.  We want to find that right thing, something really special.

You got your start in the business directing music videos for artists like Prince and Stevie Wonder. Last year you worked with Lil Wayne for the “Mirror” video–what was that experience like?

I really liked Lil Wayne a lot, I think he’s really talented.  What I loved about him is that he was totally professional.  I would give him some direction and he’d say “I got it.”  He had an actor’s way about him– he was very serious.  He came on set and asked me what I thought.  It was similar to some of the great actors I’ve gotten to work with, that have an instinct about them.  The things he does in the video like shaking hair or gritting his teeth, you think that’s  Lil Wayne being Lil Wayne , but he’s a really cool cat.  I told him he should really look into doing some acting.

WATCH: LIL Wayne “Mirror”

Are there any other artists you’d like to do music videos with?

I think Alicia Keys is really talented.  Frank Ocean is interesting and of course  Eminem.

You’ve been married to actress Lela Rochon for over 20 years.  As a director, do you feel that having a wife who’s also in the business makes it easier?  That they understand your workload and time constraints?

I can only speak for the two of us, but yes it helps, definitely.

What has been the key to having such a long lasting marriage in Hollywood?

I’d have to say love and commitment.  It’s a crazy business and people do crazy things.

“Olympus Has Fallen” opens nationwide March 22nd.

Originally seen on

One thought on ““Training Day” Director Says Lil Wayne Should Go Into Acting [EXCLUSIVE]

  1. I occasionally write comments, however, I read
    through a great deal of opinions here on Antoine Fuqua Says Lil
    Wayne Should Go Into Acting | Black America Web but
    had a couple of thoughts for you if you wouldn’t mind. Is this just me or do some of these remarks seem to be as if they’re coming
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    network pages such as your linkedin account, Facebook site
    or twitter feed?

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Workout Tips

Top 5 Workouts To Enhance Your Booty

Who hates to spot a firm, perfect and well-toned derrière that sways tantalizingly like a love-struck Cupid’s behind?

Thing is, every woman loves to have a sweat butt and would do anything just to have it.

But, the bitter truth is: Developing a perky, well-rounded butt shape naturally can be tricky, especially when you don’t know where to begin.

Or, what works best for your body.

The load of information on the internet today, and the scarcity of reliable sources make it even harder to get just that helpful information you need.

That’s quite frustrating.

But the bottom line is: Great bums are made, not born.

So, when it comes to enhancing your backside or lifting your butt, the secret is to build your gluteus muscles.

Gluteus muscles (also known as glutes) are the largest and strongest group of muscles in your body – whether by length, volume or cross-sectional area – that work together to rotate, extend or abduct the hip.

And, butt workouts not only help you in building these muscles but also develop a backside with a natural well-rounded shape.

Now, did you know that the difference between saggy, flat buns that seem to drop with every passing decade and well, million dollar derrieres are these top 5 bum-blasting exercises?

Workout #1: Body Weight Squats

When it comes to training your lower body (or, working out your butts), squats takes the crown. Squats not only engage the leg muscles but also the muscles in your hips and the lower back. Besides, squats are effective in improving your body balance and coordination.

Now, if you want to perform bodyweight squats, here is how you go:

1.       Stand up with your feet a little wider than your shoulder-width.

2.      Roll your shoulders back and down from your ears to maintain a straight back.

3.      Stretch your arms out parallel to the ground with palms facing down.

4.      Start the squat by sending your hips backward and your knees will begin to bend.

5.      Make sure your chest and shoulders stay upright so that your back remains straight. Also, ensure you are looking directly ahead.

6.      Make the squat deeper by sinking your hips below your knees and then bringing yourself back up to stand straight. Do this only if you are comfortable. You can start at knee length and progress to deeper squats when you get stronger.

7.      Explode back up to standing position and engage every muscle as you do the squat.

 There are many variations to this work out depending on whether you are incorporating dumbbells or not.

Workout 2: Lunges

Lunges are great for strengthening glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings. It is one of the great butt workouts that help in sculpting and building muscles in this area.

Here is how lunges are done:

1.       Stand straight while holding dumbbells by your side.

2.      Take a step forward with one leg then lower your upper body as you maintain your balance. Ensure that your knee is at 90-degrees and above your ankle. Allowing your knee to go beyond your toes may result to a strain to your knee.

3.      Using the heel of our foot, push yourself back to starting position.

4.      Repeat this step for a number of times. Repeat the same procedure for the other leg too.

In case you do not have dumbbells, you can choose to do explosive lunges. Here is how it goes:

1.       Stand straight with your hands on your hips.

2.      Do a lunge as described previously with your right leg.

3.      Jump up and switch legs in midair. You will land with your left leg in a forward lunge. Keep alternating sides and take intervals of rest.

4.      As you jump, keep your fists in front of your chin. Also, ensure your knees are at 90 degrees.

Workout 3: Hip Thrust

The hip thrust workout builds the gluteus medius( also known as the upper glutes). Hip thrusts are said to be more effective than squats for building this muscle.  To perform the workout, here is how you go:

1.       Lie on your back and put your knees at 90-degree angle. Put your feet firmly flat on the ground and with a distance of your hip-width.

2.      Make sure your lower back is flat on the floor by crunching your abs and tilting your pelvis back.

3.      Raise your hips as high as you can without bending your lower back. Use your feet to raise you up and hold this position for a few seconds. In this position, you’re a straight line should be formed from your shoulders to your knees.

4.      Slowly lower yourself to the ground as you squeeze your glutes.

5.      Repeat these movements severally.

Hip thrusts come in different variations:

·         Back elevated glute bridge

·         Hip thrust with chains

·         Hip thrust with bands

·         Barbell hip thrust

Butt workouts help in strengthening your glutes and improving your overall performance.

Just like squats, hip thrust target glutes. However, both are quite different in biomechanics and to achieve good results, you need to combine the two workouts.

Workout 4: Hip Lift Progression

This type of butt workout targets the glutes and helps to relieve lower back tensions. It is similar to the hip thrust, but with a twist. Here is how to do it’s done:

1.       Lie on your back and put your knees at 90 degrees.  Keep your feet firmly flat on the ground and at a distance of your hip-width.

2.      Make sure your lower back sits flat on the floor. To achieve this, you need to crunch your abs and tilt your pelvis backward.

3.      Straighten one leg and keep it parallel to your body.

4.      Raise your hips as high as you can without bending your lower back. Use your feet to raise you up and hold this position for a few seconds. While in this position, ensure that you have formed a straight line from your shoulders to your knees.

5.      Then slowly lower yourself to the ground as you squeeze your glutes.

6.      Do this work out for 30 seconds for each leg with shorter breaks in between.

Workout 5: Kettlebell Swing

Kettlebells exercises serve as a great way to shock your muscles into growth. These exercises also power your muscles and help spur explosiveness from the ground up. Specifically, this is kind of butt workout targets your hamstrings and the gluts. A survey of scientific literature conducted by Bill Campbell found that Kettlebells workouts are both effective and safe in improving power and strength performance.

How can you perform this butt workout?

1.       Stand with your back straight.

1.       Hold the kettlebell at arm’s length with both hands.

2.      Lower your upper body and swing the kettlebell between your legs. Also, make sure you squeeze your gluteus muscles as you go.

3.      Thrust your hips forward as you bring the kettlebell to the front. Swing the weight to shoulder height and repeat the motion again.

Summing it Up…

Glutes are important in maintaining balance and posture in our bodies. But, there is no shortcut to achieving that tantalizing butt you have always desired. You have to exercise. These exercises help fire your glutes, giving you a rounder, firmer and good looking butts.

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No love for the media’s Palin coverage

Media coverage of Sarah Palin’s daughter was excoriated at the Texas GOP delegation’s breakfast by two men admired by conservatives: former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Gary Bauer, former presidential candidates.

“If the press believes that they can try to somehow move any of us in any direction by trying to smear her daughter, boy have they picked the wrong bunch of people,” said Huckabee, drawing many applauding delegates to their feet.

“Some of the chattering class still don’t quite get it,” Huckabee said of John McCain’s vice presidential pick, expressing appreciation for the “unconditional love and support” Palin is giving her daughter.

Bauer also drew an enthusiastic response when he said, “I think in the last 24 hours, the America media on balance has been disgusting” in covering the story.

He said that a reporter approached him on the subject in relation to Palin’s support for abstinence “just snarling his question, spitting in my face.”


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July 28, 2008

In our most recent e-update???and here on my blog???we stated that we were short of our budget for the month. This last week, the full amount???to the exact dollar???came in slowly but surely. At 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, we met our budget! To all of our supporters, thank you! As we prepared to leave on our month-long road trip, this came as a great relief.

Our drive out to Phoenix was timely and uneventful. The scenery was amazing. The kids have never seen desert like that before. We pulled into Phoenix and drove into downtown for the public market to find local ingredients, which we did! We only needed a few things from Sprouts (like Whole Foods). The group was really friendly that night and loved the class! Brooke did such a great job. The church that hosted us has a guest house across the street which we stayed at. It was comfortable and we all slept well. I spoke at the same church the following morning. Again, things went well. My sermon seemed well received. We met some wonderful people that I'm sure will darken our door sooner than later. We left after lunch with some church members and headed up through Sedona. WOW! So, beautiful! It was amazing. We stopped to look walk and take some pictures. And then into Flagstaff. Again, beautiful but in different ways. It was a truly breath-taking drive the whole way. Our God is truly an amazing artist. We pulled into the hotel last night, shared some pizza and hit the pool. The kids were so anxious to swim! We played and splashed until we were exhausted and came back to our room to fall asleep shortly after. Today we take a short drive to Grand Canyon and this evening we leave for Albuquerque.

We'll be updating the EcclesiaCollective.org blog from here on out. So, you'll want to be checking that out!

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Fiordland Kiwi Diaries: Stoats and possums in nests

Department of Conservation —  13/12/2017

We caught up with Tim, a ranger on the front lines of the Save Our Iconic Kiwi initiative. This is the seventh in a series following the work he’s doing to save the Fiordland tokoeka (kiwi). Tim and his team have been studying the population of kiwi at Shy Lake to find out how to best protect them from predators like stoats. They have captured a number of kiwi and put transmitters on them, and are now monitoring them through the breeding season to find out how well the adults and chicks survive without pest control.

You can find the first post here, and the entire series here.

On a rare long weekend of pure sunshine, we head back in to Shy Lake to check on the Fiordland tokoeka chicks.

Tokoeka chick Muffin is still safe and sound in the nest with dad Cake, although the trailcam footage reveals multiple stoat visits to the nest.  And more good news, contractor Jane finds a new chick in T-rex’s nest.  It’s just reachable during the day by the long arms of ranger Hamish, and a transmitter is duly fitted.

Less good across the basin, where I visit Hook and Smee’s nest.  The egg here should have hatched at the start of our previous trip but didn’t, and I don’t have high hopes.  I’m not surprised to find that Hook and Smee have abandoned the nest, but I am surprised to find a well developed chick/embryo lying dead among pieces of shell membrane.  The trailcam at that nest gives us an unusually good view of the adult sitting on the nest, and as far we can work out, the chick never hatched; but at least a week after it was due, the shell was broken open either deliberately or accidentally by one of the parents.  It’s a shame to see how close it got to becoming a healthy wee chick, but it’s not uncommon.  Kiwi across the country have low hatchability rates, partly because they incubate for so long (about 75 days).  That’s a long time for things not to go wrong.

Next up I visit Commando and Blackbeard’s nest, and am stoked to see on the trailcam’s tiny screen, a chick emerging from the nest a few nights previously.  But back at the hut, things take a grimmer turn: closer inspection of the footage reveals that just two nights after first emergence, the chick heads out and never returns.  It doesn’t show at all the following night, and when we revisit the nest the following day it still hasn’t appeared.  It’s too young to have fledged the nest so we can be confident it’s dead.  It’s possible that it fell into a hole or the creek, but stoat visits at the nest suggest the most likely cause.  Jane and kiwi dog Sea have a poke around the nest area to try and locate a carcass, but no luck.

Meanwhile Hamish has built a deck between our two small bivvies.  It’s a joy not to have to pull on gumboots every time for the few steps through the mud between our two small bivvies.  A robust tarp is soon to follow, so that if the wind stays down, we won’t have to take our wet jackets, packs and boots inside with us.  Life is feeling pretty good as we relax on the deck in the evening sunshine after a long day.

The new deck at Celmisia Lodge. Photo: Tim/DOC

But there’s no rest for the wicked: we have some night work ahead of us.  Our bivvy site’s local female tokoeka, Myrtle, has started nesting according to the activity patterns communicated by her radio transmitter.  The catch is that we don’t have a transmitter on her mate – he would never come quite close enough during catching season for us to get our hands on him.  Since the male is the one that incubates during the day, it’s the male that we’ve been tracking to find every nest so far.  The female will take a turn on the egg at some point during the night, but just when Myrtle will visit the nest is anyone’s guess.  Jane heads out around sunset and waits a discrete distance from Myrtle, waiting for her to stop moving around, which might indicate she is sitting tight on an egg and can be pinpointed to install a trailcam.  But five hours later on a frosty night, Myrtle shows no sign of stopping and a chilly Jane has to seek the sanctuary of her sleeping bag.

The following night it’s my turn.  I reach Myrtle before she gets up for the night, but a quick squizz in her burrow shows that she’s in there alone and it isn’t the nest.  So I back off, get comfy and wait.  An hour later, just on dark, I hear a male call; I estimate direction and distance and mark a point on my GPS.  At this stage I don’t know if it’s Myrtle’s mate, but another hour later Myrtle hops out of bed and heads off that way.  I follow at a distance through the patchy leatherwood, beech and tussock.  I hear her call and make another stab at the location.  I have the two points about 25 m apart, which is promising – the error in my estimates means they could easily have called from the same place and the nest could be around here.

Myrtle, however, wanders off downhill and once again refuses to play ball.  At 1 a.m. I slink off to bed, but in the morning Jane returns with Sea to the area of the calls.  And Sea proves her worth: not only does she find Myrtle in a day roost, but soon afterwards the male on an egg!  Jane installs a trailcam and returns victorious to the bivvy in time for the incoming chopper.

This is the seventh in a series of posts about Tim’s work, follow the Conservation Blog to keep up to date on his progress.

One response to Fiordland Kiwi Diaries: Stoats and possums in nests

  1.
    Kim Brandon 16/12/2017 at 5:20 pm

    Love this diary format. Kiwis are busy parents.


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After enduring endless summers of sweltering Chicago heat, I’ve been begging my parents to install a pool at their house. I even recently mentioned that a pool would be a great reason for their unborn grandchildren to visit them. Can you put a price on your future grandchildren’s smiles? I think not.

Getting Mom and Dad to foot the bill just makes sense — a pool is loads of fun, but it’s also loads of money. So, if you’re thinking about installing a pool for your future summer enjoyment, it’s crucial you research the costs thoroughly to avoid unexpected bills. From insurance premiums to maintenance, here are a few costs to consider.

The hidden costs of a swimming pool

Your location, pool size, materials, and a plethora of other factors can significantly affect the price tag. At the end of the day, an in-ground pool’s going to cost $25,000 to $50,000. When installing an above-ground pool, you don’t need to break ground, so these typically cost less than $4,500.

If you gasped at those numbers, keep in mind these are approximate costs for the initial installation. Your location, pool size, and materials can significantly affect the cost. In-ground pools can be constructed with fiberglass, vinyl, concrete, or gunite, and each option can affect the price by thousands of dollars.

Another cost differentiator is temperature. For example, if you live in a warm climate, a deeper pool helps regulate cool water temps, but the depth will cost more.

On top of that, extra features like a waterfall or slide can rack up the price as well. It makes sense that pool owners often end up paying double the cost of the initial installation — yowza!

Insurance premium

From an insurance standpoint, a swimming pool is considered an “attractive nuisance.” So, while the pool is super fun, it escalates risk. Playgrounds, trampolines, and other fun-but-risky recreational features will also likely raise your insurance premium.

Why does your liability increase? Well, guests on your property could be injured while using your pool. Even if someone uses your pool without permission or knowledge, you could still be held liable. And fencing or pool covers can help reduce the risk of an accident, but these safety precautions won’t decrease your rate.

Ask your insurance company how your rate may be affected before deciding to install a pool. And if that’s us, you can call us anytime at 1-800-ESURANCE (1-800-378-7262).

Home value

If you think it’ll increase the value of your house in the long term, it really depends. Homebuyers usually feel strongly one way or the other. Safety concerns for kids or the hassle of maintenance might actually discourage a potential buyer from making an offer. Conversely, if you’re the only house in the neighborhood without a pool, your for-sale sign might be dismissed. But, whether you end up recouping your investment or not, experts generally agree that a pool isn’t the best way to add value to your home.

Even after your pool’s up and running, the costs will continue. Opening and closing the pool each season, the use of hygienic chemicals, the equipment (like a pump or pool cover), resurfacing, a potential utility bill increase — these services and equipment can add up to hundreds of dollars per month.

Issues like leaking, stains, or cracks, can also add unexpected costs. And hiring a professional for these services is expensive.

According to, “A pool can cost about 10 percent of the original installation cost per year, more if you use a pool service company. Multiply the installation cost by 10 percent, then divide by 12 to get an idea of this cost per month.” So, if your in-ground pool costs $37,500 to install, you’re shelling out $312.50 per month for maintenance.

Bells and whistles

With a new pool, you can probably expect a boost in popularity. If guests are going to ooh and aah over your pool, it can be hard to resist refreshing your entire backyard with pool toys, a patio table and chairs, landscaping, lighting, a pergola, a hammock, an outdoor stereo system …I could go on.

But, if it’s financially feasible, a pool’s a great way to make lasting memories with family and friends (are you listening, Mom and Dad?).

For all you pool owners out there, what other costs aren’t listed here? Leave your insights in the comments section.

Insurance 101 | Homeowners 101

about Meghan

During her time as an editor for the Esurance creative team, Meghan “layed the smackdown” on style and grammar rules. Hailing from Chicagoland, she’s written about everything from industrial welding to dog fashion. She spends her weekends attending live comedy shows (likely laughing so hard she cries) and reveling in the art of well-mixed cocktails.


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The EXPO REAL Blog - Stories and news

around the most important network for property and investment in Europe

With Emmanuel Macron in power, foreign investments into French office buildings are on the rise. Paris profits in particular. Photo: Feel good studio / Shutterstock. With Emmanuel Macron in power, foreign investments into French office buildings are on the rise. Paris profits in particular. Photo: Feel good studio / Shutterstock.

Paris profits from Macron effect

Judi Seebus
Judi Seebus
Editor in Chief, PropertyEU

What a difference a year can make. The installation of Emmanuel Macron’s government in May 2017 has unleashed a wave of foreign investment in the French office sector as confidence in the youngest-ever president to reside in the Palais de l’Elysée continues to ride high. While the regions are also seeing greater interest, Paris in particular is profiting from the Macron effect, local real estate specialists told a recent investment briefing held by PropertyEU in the French capital.

‘It is no longer just words or rumours, I am here to tell you it is actually happening: Japanese capital is investing in Paris with a new vision of France as a hub to do business in the rest of Europe,’ said Andy Watson, partner, Europa Capital.

The Japanese are notoriously cautious about when and where to deploy their capital, but Europa Capital, which is backed by parent company Mitsubishi Estate, has just opened a fully-owned office in Paris headed by Watson to invest in core real estate, offices in particular.

‘A year ago it wouldn’t have happened, but a lot has happened in a year,’ Watson added. ‘We have seen a phenomenal amount of change in the last 12 months thanks to a genuinely pro-business Générale Continentale Investissements. The Grand Paris project will work, and it will consolidate the status of Paris as a major capital city. Already the office market is strong and in the last year prime rents have begun to increase in the CBD. This positive trend will then spread to other areas.’

Foreign investors challenge domestic players

The Japanese may be relative newcomers in Paris, but Asian investors overall are challenging the traditional dominance of French domestic investors in their home market, according to Alfred Fink, partner, Taylor Wessing France. ‘Acquisitions are picking up and more investors are coming from abroad: before 70% of transactions were done by French investors, now it has gone down to 46%,’ he said.  ‘There is no doubt that France is more attractive as an investment destination, because there is a new political management in place the like of which we have never seen before.’

Meanwhile local players like Covivio are adapting to the changing office market where the coworking trend started by WeWork has also taken root. Covivio’s answer to WeWork is Wellio, described as ‘pro-working spaces’ open to companies of all sizes as well as individual entrepreneurs and freelancers, with a goal to offer 70,000 m2 of space by 2022. ‘We recognise that the balance of power has shifted to the tenant, who now demands more services and more flexibility,’ Olivier Estève, deputy CEO Covivio, told the briefing. ‘This is why we are launching our own offer of flexible offices.’

As one of Europe’s major property markets, France presents lucrative business and investment opportunities. At EXPO REAL 2018, you will find the French property sector once again at the joint stand “Club France” (click here for information in French). Have a look at our exhibitors list and conference program to prepare your trip in advance.

Club France at EXPO REAL

The Club  France pavilion – Hall C2, Stand 214 – presents a broad cross section of the French real estate sector, key players involved in the Real Estate life cycle. Developers and investors, economic regions and cities, brokers and architects, property management and consulting firms will showcase their projects.

A Global City and a promising South East

In 2017 the transaction volume for corporate real estate investment in France topped

26 billion euros, mostly in office property, but also in retail, hospitality, logistics and industrial property. The Paris area is grasping the lion share: ¾, with Paris La Defense, the first business district of continental Europe, acting as a powerful magnet.

The growth of the Nice Region is noteworthy due to the dramatic growth of Sophia Antipolis attracting the big names from the whole business world.

One of the highlights is the “Club France/Primonial REIM Conference” on October 9. Experts will discuss the Healthcare and senior housing real estate across Europe.

In 2018, the real estate players present within the “Club France” are:

Aden Immo,

Axel Schoenert Architectes,

Eiffage Immobilier,

L’Etoile Properties,

Nexity (Office property),

Palladium Group,

Paris La Défense

PERIAL Asset Management,

Primonial REIM,

Sofidy SA,

Team Cote d’Azur – representing the cities of Nice and Sophia-Antipolis –

Treize Cent Treize,

Vinci Immobilier.

Club France highlights:

Club France Conference by Primonial REIM.

“Healthcare and senior housing real estate”.

October 9 – from 15:00 to 15:45 – Discussion & Networking Forum – Hall A1.

Club France Cocktail.

The opportunity to enjoy French savoir-vivre and make valuable contacts. Hall C2 – Stand 214

October 9 – from 17:00 to 19:00 – Club France Booth – Stand 214 – Hall C2.

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Freelancing via the wonders of our connected technology can be a rewarding endeavor, but it doesn’t come without its risks. Just as with anything else you do on the internet, the possibility of coming across a hacker or an online scammer is always lurking.

To ensure that you don’t fall into the traps of any hackers or scammers while you’re freelancing, here are a few security tips:

Secure Your Computer

As a freelancer, you’re bound to have important information stored on your PC and most definitely, your online accounts. So why leave this information practically out in the open?

Your clients will not be happy if their personal information gets picked up by some hacker and neither will you; it can devastate your business and reputation as an online freelancer.

Luckily, protecting your computer is both easy, affordable, and won’t require too much work on your part.

For the ultimate security combo, I recommend installing both a VPN (Virtual Private Network) and an anti-virus program.

Both can be found for free, but a paid VPN service will get you some extra benefits, such as round-the-clock customer service, more bandwidth, and additional locations to choose from.

What a VPN does is encrypt your internet connection so that you can surf the web anonymously. The VPN is a remote server, so when you connect to it, the VPN’s IP address and location will appear in your place, keeping your own IP address and location hidden from anyone trying to pick up on it.

You can choose from a variety of different locations so it will also unblock any geo-restricted content for you as well.

So which VPN is the best one to download? Right now, ExpressVPN takes the title as the best VPN, and rightfully so. Their customer service leaves nothing to be desired, and they offer a 30-day, money-back guarantee.

Other than the VPN, if you haven’t installed an anti-virus program yet, it is a wise idea to do so. Luckily, you can get a quality anti-virus program for free; though you can also pay for one if you desire additional features beyond the basics.

For an anti-virus program, I recommend Panda Free AntiVirus due to its modern and easy-to-understand interface.

Know How to Recognize a Scam

Scams are not always easy to spot, unless you’ve already experienced them.

Scammers posting fake job listings can goad you into wasting your subsciption allowance at freelance job sites and your time. This is actually something that occurs more commonly than one might realize, unfortunately.

It’s a good idea to keep your work correspondence and agreements on the freelance website you’re using, if possible, as many of these sites protect both you and the employer if something doesn’t work out the way that you expected.

Some of these websites also require a “safe pay,” which is a deposit paid by the employer that gets released to you upon completion of the job.

Most noticeable are the job listings that simply sound too good to be true. Be wary of these because although not all of them are scams, some are and can potentially waste your time and effort.

Join the Union (it's free!)

Become a member

Check Your Passwords

This is a useful security tip for anyone: make sure that the passwords you are using include at least some numbers, uppercase letters, and symbols, when possible.

They should also be at least 8 characters long and never contain any personal information.

Change them on a regular basis to avoid any security issues and never use the same password for more than one of your online accounts.

Know What Information to Share

The thought of sharing your personal information with your employer doesn’t seem too strange, does it?

Well, when you’re working online doing freelance work, it can be a security risk. It’s likely that you can’t confirm the actual identity of the person you’re working for, and it’s rare that you would have their address (not to mention that anyone online can give you false information).

Never share your banking details, passwords, or social security number and if you can avoid it, try to keep your address to yourself as well.

Employers really shouldn’t require too much information from you, especially if the job is temporary.

Use a Dedicated Email Address

Another tip that can be helpful is to use an email account that is specifically for your freelance work and keep your personal email separate.

That way, if a scam or hacker does target you, your personal account won’t be compromised.

It will also keep you organized, as all of your work-related emails will be in an account that is separate from your personal account.

Back Up Your Files

Because you will be working with a lot of files as a freelancer, it’s important that you keep a backup.

This ensures that you don’t lose all of your data if your computer happens to crash. Another good tip is to keep any documents that contain personal information password protected, as to keep them from prying eyes.

Stay Safe!

If you follow all of the tips mentioned in this article, you shouldn’t have any issues with security breaches any time soon.

Adding a VPN will even allow you to work over public Wi-Fi, so you can get the job done even if you’re traveling.

To avoid falling victim to a scam, pay attention to the language potential employers use in their job listings or emails; the most common scams are the ones that just sound off.

Use your intuition and follow your gut feeling; if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Most importantly, never give out your bank account details or credit card number and avoid any jobs that claim they will need you to pay for something up front.

With your computer secure and these security tips in mind, freelancing can be both enjoyable and a great opportunity for anyone interested in working remotely.

Cassie is a writer and blogger who likes to focus on technological solutions and safety for companies. She also writes frequently about consumer internet security, travel, and business procedures.