Your Boss is Hostile – What Do You Do?
January 27, 2012 | 
Author Are you working at a job where the boss has no interpersonal skills; micro-manages you and treats you like a child?
Do you work for a fault finding boss who yells, screams and talks to you in an arrogant and demeaning manner, even in the presence of your co-workers?
Are you are tired of walking on eggshells at work because any small thing you do could set off an “explosion”?
Is your boss hostile?
If you work for a hostile boss and nothing has been done to resolve the situation, you probably have been paying the price physically and emotionally. You probably realize that on many occasions, you have sleepless nights, you are depressed, your blood pressure has risen, you have constant migraines, you are losing or gaining weight, your friends think you whine too much, because all you talk about is your job and your boss, your self esteem is eroded and you are just so frustrated. You have even begun to think and believe that you are crazy and that perhaps you really are as incompetent and inadequate as the boss has been trying to make you believe.
Since this is a situation you have to deal with everyday, you are also starting to feel helpless.
This whole thing with work and the boss is consuming your life and it’s taking a toll on your health!
How do you handle working with a hostile boss?
Most people try to handle the situation by complaining to their co-workers, friends and family about how badly their boss is treating them. Others cry their eyes out in the bathroom or in their cubicles or even at home. Others keep journals to record every incident (date and time included) hoping to use it as evidence should the need arise. Many others make a couple of trips to an ineffective human resource department in order to lodge their complaints and if they are lucky, HR arranges a one on one meeting with their boss to try and resolve the situation. Others come to work depressed, stressed out and vowing to quit after giving their boss a piece of their mind (not recommended). Many turn to their religious or spiritual roots for peace, guidance and so forth. In most cases, all this happens to no avail.
How can you effectively deal with this situation and get back your life?
1. Start looking for another Job.
If your effort to resolve the situation has failed to work out and your health is at risk…the sooner you start exploring other options, the better.
While still holding on to your job, find out if you can be transferred to another department internally. At the same time, do everything in your power to mount an aggressive job search externally. Call up temporary agencies, send out resumes, call recruiters…do something and do it quickly.
As long as you are doing something to get out of the situation, you will get the strength to cope with the pressure at work. However, if after weighing your options and counting the cost, you feel that you can no longer continue to work at your job…jump ship and look for greener pastures elsewhere.
2. Create a protective mental shield around you.
This is a work survival skill you can use to block negativity at work. I call it “the see no evil, hear no evil skill”
This doesn’t mean denying that the situation exists. It is just one way of dealing with an undesirable situation. It is a means to protect your sanity. In this case, you program yourself to see and hear your boss but not really “see or hear them” Your boss could be yelling at you, but you purposely let it slide as if you did not hear anything. This helps not only protects your mind but also helps you retain control over the situation.
3. Stand up for yourself.
Confront the situation…don’t run away from it. Bullies do exist in the work place and that bully could be your boss. The more you cower, run and hide; the more power you take away from yourself.
Each time you don’t speak up against something you consider an “injustice” against you…you feel bullied, abused, violated and powerless. Then you begin to lose your self esteem and confidence. When you stand up for yourself, speak out and right the wrong…you take back your power. This might be easier said than done especially when your paycheck is on the line…but it can be done. Truth is, sometimes you just have to be tough!.
Try taking small steps of courage. For instance, the next time your boss yells at you in the presence of your co-workers…muster the courage to say something simple and professional like,” can we talk about this in private?” I am sure that even if the boss does not agree to a private conversation, he or she will probably think twice about yelling at you in public.
Woodworking 101 – How to Properly Edge-Glue Boards Into Panels
There are several steps to consider in the process of edge-gluing lumber including (1) lumber selection, (2) cutting to rough length, (3) ripping, (4) jointing, (5) grain matching, (6) biscuit joining, (7) gluing, (8) clamping and (9) thickness sanding. Just how you go about these steps depends on the condition of the lumber, the capacity of your machinery and the final size of the glue-up.
LUMBER SELECTION:
If at all possible, try to have all boards in the glue-up out of the same tree. If that is not possible, select lumber that is of similar color and grain pattern. To my mind, the ideal glue-up looks like one, extremely wide board with the glue joints barely visible to the naked eye. Since this only an ideal, I always try to get as close to it as possible.
Another, less-important goal would be to have all boards in the glue-up of the same approximate width. I am not suggesting ripping the wider boards down to match the narrowest board as this would be a terrible waste of expensive lumber. I do suggest, however, ripping extremely wide boards in two to minimize the possibility of curling due to changes in humidity after delivery.
Straight or ribbon grain makes the best homogeneous final appearance while wavy or swirly grain makes for an interesting but more difficult glue-up. Swirly grain will require orientation of the individual boards to minimize the number of places that the grain line suddenly stops at the glue line rather than appearing to continue into another swirl in the adjacent board. This orientation is highly subjective.
CROSS-CUTTING TO ROUGH LENGTH
I always rough-cut my lumber into lengths an inch longer than the length of the final product. This allows the entire glue-up to be neatly trimmed to size after the glue is dry. It also makes the ripping and jointing process a lot easier as I will explain below. The same is true for the width of the glue up: Make sure it is about an inch wider than the final product after trimming.
RIPPING
Kiln or air-dried lumber often decides to bow into a curve as it dries and this must be corrected before a glue-up can be accomplished. If my finished glue-up is only 3 feet long and it is coming out of a 14-foot bowed board, it will be far easier and economical to get the curve out of the 3-foot pieces than it would to remove the curve from the entire 14-foot board before cross cutting. This is one reason that you should always do your rough cross-cutting before ripping and jointing. Another reason is that a 14-foot, 2″ thick x 12″ wide board is pretty difficult to control on a jointer or table saw.
If there is a bow in one or more of your rough-cut pieces, those pieces should first have the curved edges ripped off on the table saw. The concave side of the board should always be towards the fence. Measure from the fence out to the outside of the end of the board that is nearest the fence and set the fence to cut this width. Once you have trimmed off the convex side of the board, flip it over side-to-side and find the point where the outer edge of the board is closest to the fence (somewhere near the middle) and rip the board to that width. When all boards have been ripped straight, take them to the jointer.
JOINTING
The jointing process should now be fairly easy in that the boards have been ripped straight. Take shallow depth cuts to minimize the possibility of tear-out. In loose-grained lumber with a lot of swirls on the face side, tear-out is sometimes unavoidable. If this happens, try running the board over the jointer head in the opposite direction. If the tear-outs persist, you will have no other option than to rip the tear-outs away on the table saw. You will then have a sawn edge in your glue-up. If you have a clean-cutting table saw blade like a recently sharpened Forrest Woodworker II, this should not be much of a problem, especially if you plan on using a biscuit joiner to secure your glue-up. You probably won’t be able to tell which glue lines are jointed and which are ripped in the final product.
GRAIN MATCHING
Lay out all the boards on your work bench and arrange them for best appearance. Obviously, if one side of the final product will show more than the other in a piece of furniture, then you will want to have the best-looking sides all on that side of the glue-up. Examples of this would be table tops and cabinet doors. You also must orient the boards so that the glue-lines are not accentuated, as discussed in the paragraph on lumber selection above.
BISCUIT JOINING
Whenever possible, make sure that you biscuit-join your glue-ups. I say, “Whenever possible” because you will not be able to use a biscuit joiner on very thin lumber. On the other hand, very thin lumber (3/8″, for instance) does not usually have enough strength to pop open a joint. So, with very thin lumber, you will simply be using glue without biscuits. With regard to lumber ¾” or thicker, I have seen a number of table tops, cabinet doors and cabinet casings open up along a glue line after delivery. At this point, repairs are difficult or impossible so the extra step of biscuit joining is well worth the minor time and expense. Look on it as major headache insurance! If you don’t yet own a biscuit joiner, there are a number of great machines out there including Porter Cable, Lamello and Freud. There are also two good alternatives to using a biscuit jointer: Those are the Festool Domino floating tenon joiner and the Freud Doweling Joiner. Different methods, same result.
When you have your boards laid out the way you want them in the glue-up, make sure all the ends are flush and the edge joints are touching. Double-check to make sure the glue-up will be about an inch wider than the final product after trimming. With a builder’s square or a straightedge mark a pencil line in 4″ in from each end of the rough glue-up across the grain, crossing all glue lines but not continuing over the side edges of the glue-up. Make a similar pencil line across the grain at the mid-point of the boards. Make additional pencil lines half-way between the other pencil lines until all pencil lines are about 6″ apart.
Mark the boards on one end “A”,”B”,”C” or “1″,”2″,”3″, etc. so that you can put them back together in the same order when it is time to glue them up. Put the boards aside and nail, screw or clamp a stop board (scrap) to the bench top, left to right in front of you and about a foot in from the edge of the bench. As you are applying pressure with the biscuit jointer, while making mortises for the biscuits, this stop board will keep the board you are mortising from moving away from you. Make a mortise wherever a pencil line touches a board edge on every board.
GLUE-UP AND CLAMPING
There are two ways to clamp up a glue-up: horizontally on the bench top and vertically with the first board mortised-edge-up in a woodworking vise on the end or side of the bench. In the case of horizontal glue up, place pipe or bar clamps about 2 feet apart on the bench top with the clamp handles hanging slightly over the edge of the bench. Pre-adjust the clamps to an inch larger opening than they will be when tightened. Place the first board on edge on top of and across the clamps with the mortises facing up. Do the same with all the boards, in order. Make sure you have sufficient biscuits for the job ready.
A small dispensing glue bottle with sufficient glue for the job should be within easy reach. The type of glue is important: If the glue dries too quickly you will have big problems and if the glue dries too slowly, you will be losing valuable production time. I like to use Franklin Titebond Glue indoors or Franklin Titebond II for outdoor applications. These are “aliphatic resin” type glues that can be easily cleaned up with water. Ether formula gives a very strong joint and has a reasonable, 45-minute clamping time. Both of these glues are widely available in hardware stores, home improvement centers and woodworking stores.
Run about a 1/8″-thick glue line down the center of the edge of the first board, making sure that the glue drops into every biscuit mortise along the way. Then apply short glue lines on both sides of every mortise. This should result in sufficient glue so that it appears squeezed out of both sides of every glue joint after clamping. Insert a biscuit into each mortise. With 2″ lumber, you may need an extra glue line for the full length of the joint. There is no such thing as too much glue because you can wipe up the excess with a wet rag. There is, however such a thing as not enough glue and you will recognize that condition when you see that glue is not being squeezed out of the full length of both sides of the glue joint. That is called “starving the joint” and starved joints often open up later. Glue is cheap! Don’t skimp on it!
Lay down the first board with the letter or number up and the mortised edge away from you. Apply glue in the same manner to each succeeding board wherever there are mortises and place biscuits in the far edge of each board, except, of course the last board.
The board ends should be flush and the left clamp should be about 6″ in from the end. The right clamp should be about 1-foot six inches in from the right end. This is because you will be placing alternately spaced clamps on the top side of the glue-up so that there is a clamp (top or bottom) about every foot. The top, right clamp will be in about 6″ from the right end.
Once you have all of this in place, start tightening the clamp handles. Clamp all the bottom clamps finger tight, then the top clamps finger tight. Then, go down the row of clamps tightening them fully, bottom, top, bottom, top, etc. With a wet rag, wipe off most of the excess glue. Turn over the entire glue-up and wipe the other side. Look at your watch or clock and add 45 minutes to the time. This will be the minimum clamping time, any time after which you may remove the glue-up from the clamps. Mark this time on the glue-up with a felt pen. If you have multiple glue-ups, you can stand this glue-up against a wall to get it out of the way while it dries.
If you have been paying attention to the above, then you can figure out how to do a vertical glue-up in a vise which is suitable for smaller glue-ups and is easier to manage. The difference is that when it comes time to apply the glue, you will clamp the first board at its center in the vise with the mortises facing up. Apply the glue and biscuits. Apply glue to the mating edge of the second board and place it in correct orientation on top of the first board, and so on. Place the first clamp 6″ in from the end, in front, the second clamp a foot away from the first clamp, in back and so on.
Once your glue-up is out of the clamps, it is ready to be thickness sanded either in a drum sander or wide-belt sander. If you don’t have either of these machines, don’t worry. Most professional furniture-manufacturing shops in your area will be happy to thickness sand your glue-ups for an hourly rate. You might want to consider buying your own drum sander or wide-belt sander, if you can justify the expense.
It is best to know the maximum width capacity of the sanding machine you will be using: 48″-wide glue-ups will not pass through a 36″-wide sander. If you know that you will have this limitation in advance, simply make two, 24″ glue-ups and glue those together with biscuits after the thickness sanding is complete. The glue line won’t be perfectly even and so it will have to be sanded true with a random orbit sander. Your glue-up should be sanded to at least 150 grit. 220 grit is even better. Trim the glue-up on the table saw to its final dimensions, rout the edges, if appropriate, and then random orbit sand the final piece to 220 or 320 grit before finishing.
For some woodworkers, gluing up lumber may not be the most interesting part of the craft. It is one of the most important, however, because a glue-up done incorrectly can be a recipe for disaster. Furthermore, the way you orient the boards in the glue-up will have a lasting and irreversible effect of the beauty of the finished project.
Bob Gillespie
Woodworker
©2010 Robert M. Gillespie, Jr.
Posted in Diesel Watch Articles | 
Tags: Boards, EdgeGlue, Panels, Properly, Woodworking | 
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How to Kill Wasps the Easy Way – Eliminate Wasps in No Time and Be Free of Them
There are two kinds of wasps, one that can give you a lot of trouble and one that won’t be bothering you much, and is in fact quite beneficial to your garden. The solitary type don’t make any nests and will take care of annoying pests in your garden. The social wasps, on the other hand, is the one you want to watch out for. If you have those kind of wasps, it can cause you some headache, but don’t worry, we will see some easy ways on how to kill wasps.
As with any pests, precautions and anticipation is a good way to make sure you won’t have a wasp infestation. Wasps all die during cold weather, except for the queen, that goes into hibernation. Once she wakes up, she will look for a nest. This happens at the beginning of spring. If you see a big wasp looking around your house or garage, take no chance and kill it, it is probably a queen looking to make a nest in or around your house. Other useful things you can do is fill up any cracks or holes around your house or in the garden, since it is a favorite nesting place for wasps. Also by sealing garbage, not having any sweet things around your house you decreases the chances of having wasp problems. If you got a wasp nest problem and want to know how to kill wasps, then read on to know how to eliminate wasps.
The best way to eliminate wasps from an underground nest is with kerosene or diesel fuel. The reason is that the toxic fumes will kill them very quickly. The trick is to know of all the holes that the wasps use for their nest. When you know where they are, you have to work during the night or early morning, when most of them are sleeping in the nest. You need to pour the kerosene or diesel fuel and cover the holes as fast as possible, having a partner is ideal. If the holes are all sealed, the toxic vapors will get rid of the entire nest very fast.
For outside nests, such as a paper wasp nest, it’s not difficult either. You will need to work at night also. How to kill wasps without being in danger you might ask. Simple you just need to be well dressed with a few layers to prevent stings. You should also move slowly and get your wasp killing agent ready. Raid is very useful for getting rid of wasps. You should spray the entrance enough that the wasps will get in contact with the chemicals when they go out. If the nest is elevated, use a projectile spray instead, it should reach the nest, since it can spray up to 20 feet. This should take car of your wasp problems.
Proper Evening Wedding Etiquette And What To Wear To An Evening Wedding
Traditionally weddings always took place during the day mostly in the afternoon. However, like everything else in the world this has changed. Evening weddings have gained in popularity and more and more couples are choosing to have their wedding in the evening time. For many couples getting married the evening is a special time of romance and therefore the ideal time for a wedding.
An evening wedding can be a wonderful occasion for people to mingle and chat with old friends and family members that they have not seen for a long time. It also provides time for best friends to just have a great time together and enjoying dancing, music, drinks and cake. What better way to celebrate and have fun then an evening wedding. However, there is a certain etiquette that needs to be followed with an evening wedding and it is important to know the rules beforehand so you can come prepared and enjoy yourself.
As with many of the rules and etiquette guidelines of a wedding much of an evening wedding etiquette revolves around attire. It is therefore important to carefully plan what you will wear to an evening wedding. This article will help you make some of the important decisions on what to wear.
Bride and Grooms
According to most wedding etiquette guides and manuals there is not many special instructions for a evening wedding. They will end up wear the same attire they would for a daytime wedding. So they do not have much to worry about.
Attire and Dress for the Guests
However for the guests this is a little more complicated of an issue. They need to carefully think about what they will wear. The first thing to consider when choosing an outfit for a wedding is the wedding invitation. If you still have it good you will want to go back and check what the wedding invitation said if anything about the attire. Keep in mind the invitation might say something directly like “black tie event” or “Formal Event” or it might say something indirectly. If the wedding invitation is going to take place in the evening on the beach and the invitation has a beach theme to it then you can assume that the attire is less formal.
A good guide is to always be safe instead of sorry and the best way to ensure your are appropriately dressed is to call the bride or groom ahead of time. For the men trying to decide what to wear a call to the groom can make the decision easy. For the woman who is trying to make this difficult decision it can be smart to call the bride and ask her about the wedding and proper attire for the event. It is smart for women to also ask about color and themes of the wedding and pick clothes based on these.
For Men
If it is a formal wedding then men should wear a tuxedo or at least a very nice subtle suit. Often if you are not sure it is best to error on the side of being over dressed for the even and a dark colored suit traditionally looks the most formal. If you get there and feel out of place you can always take off the jacket and loosen the tie and you will fit right in.
For the Women
This is a bit more complicated and should be planned carefully. The most important aspect for women is to pick something attractive and something that is flattering yet not to much. You will want to make sure you look your best and catch a few of the men’s eyes at the event. However you don’t want to catch to many people’s eyes and look to great. It is important that you don’t steal the fire and attention from the bride. So the guide is to wear something that looks nice and but it should be subtle and understated or you risk making a quick enemy.
When choosing clothes and thinking about evening wedding etiquette again it is important to take the time and plan ahead. The best advice is to call the bride or groom and ask for some suggestions or ideas. They will often be more then happy and it is a great chance to talk with them a little before their big day.
The Best Winter Boots to Wear in the Snow, Rain and Cold
The winter season means a lot of different things depending on where you live: for Californians it can mean a few degrees difference, for Kentucky residents it can mean ice storms, for New Yorkers it can mean rain and snow and for those even more north it can mean seriously deep piles of snow. It seems obvious, therefore, that the perfect winter footwear would need to include both necessary elements based on your location as well as any fashionable elements. In the paragraphs that follow, I’ll let you know the best winter boots for you sorted by those made for mild winter environments to severe ones.
First let’s take a look at temperature. If temps fall below freezing on a regular basis during the winter months, you’d probably be well advised to look for a boot with some kind of insulation. Boots can be filled with down like puffer jackets & coats often are, they can be lined with high-tech waterproof materials designed to keep feet dry and retain body heat, or boots can be lined with fuzzy materials like fur, fleece, shearling and faux versions of each. If the temperature in your area stays above freezing, lucky you! You have your pick of almost any boot out there! But try to stay away from most boots that are lined or filled as they might become too hot and uncomfortable. Many designer fashion boots are made with unlined leather or man-made materials or even a very thin leather lining. There are also a few sheepskin boots, like Uggs, that are lined but claim to keep feet at a comfortable temperature whether outdoors is hot or cold.
Second, almost everyone has to deal with rain in the winter to some degree. If your rain is not all that cold, you may just need a pair of rubber rain boots to get you through the winter. If you don’t think they’ll be warm enough, you can now find rubber rain boots that are lined with some of the materials I listed in the paragraph above. If your rain freezes constantly or you live in an area with ice storms, you’re going to need to look for a waterproof boot with traction. Look for rubber soles that have various raised areas so they are not completely flat on the bottom. If you fall in love with a boot with a completely impractical smooth leather sole, remember that cobblers can often add a rubber pad or re-sole a boot to make them less slippery in winter conditions. Heels should be wedges or non-existent (flat). Wedge heels have a solid surface area touching the ground from toe to heel, which means more of the shoe on the ground to grip than with other types of heels.
The third element to consider is snow conditions. If you live in the snow and will have to walk through it, you’ll need a boot that is tall enough to keep your feet warm and dry even after you sink into the snow piles a few inches (or more). You will probably also want to make sure the boot is flat or has a very low heel to prevent twisted ankles or other injuries. Remember that when snow falls and melts, it becomes wet just like rain, so keep the snow boots waterproof too.
And forth, let’s talk about boot styles. Now I have just mentioned boots above but there are more specific categories to think about: ankle boots, mid-calf boots, knee boots and thigh-high boots. If you have to deal with deep snow, you should probably go for as tall a boot as you feel comfortable with and one that is as tight as possible around your legs; If any snow falls in, your feet will be wet and miserable all day. If you only get a few inches of snow or none at all, you can choose the boot height of your preference and style. Watch out for ankle boots though if you commonly see deep puddles, sometimes even those are not tall enough to keep your feet dry. If you prefer to wear your pants over your boots instead of tucked in, you may also want to make sure the boots are not too tall and poofy or you may spend the rest of the day pulling your pants back down around them. Likewise if you tuck your pants into your boots often, be sure the boots are wide enough to fit everything in.
Now check magazines, websites, trend sheets and your favorite stores for the colors and styles that are popular this winter season and incorporate those into your winter picks too! Color is the easiest way to stay on trend in the winter when you have to consider being outside in the real world, but often things like lace up detail, straps, studs, or even specific brands can become all the rage and add a bit of runway fashion to your everyday boots. Just because you need rugged non-slip soles does not mean you can’t look trendy and fabulous. Happy shopping!
The Latest Fashions in Prom Dresses 2011
Prom dresses 2011 will be a new craze in fashion for the next generation. Prom is a time for high school students to experience their first formal occasion without their parents and simply their peers. With just a couple months to move before year 2011, young girls have to be thinking of prom dresses 2011 at the moment. Looking or researching ahead of time for forthcoming fashion is a great way to begin your prom season mission and that is to outperform all your friends by putting on the most amazing unique dress. Prom dresses and ball gowns from the newest designs were just launched, and 2011 will mark a brand new decade, and another special year for your prom.
Hollywood Fashion – If you have ever caught yourself drooling on the gorgeous outfit on your favorite Hollywood celebrity, this is the year for you. The latest dress styles from the red carpets are making their path into high school proms all over the country. When you watch the A-list celebrities at award shows this year, take down notes on your favorite dresses and notice if you can’t replicate the styles with your own diva-style prom dress. See Faviana Dress #6564 – beaded chiffon with ruffle back detail and rhinestone straps
Bridal dress Trains – You might have been preparing your wedding when you were six years of age, but this is actually the year to acquire an actual taste of the matrimonial glamour. Prom dresses 2011 are including trains of all extent for astounding style. Choose something from your small duster to a full-length chapel train and also have your date treat you want true royalty. Nothing at all says prom queen such as an attendant carrying your train. Check out Faviana Dress #6428 – strapless sweetheart neckline with flowing chiffon train
Feathery Details – Outfits with feathered or lacy particulars on the skirt or bust line will be using the prom court by storm this year. Feathery details really are a cool option to sequins or other, more classic niceties and they are a great accentuate to your own unique style. Choose a feathered gown having an asymmetrical, ruffled hemline for an edge over the style competition. Check out Sherri Hill #2223 – white dress
Asymmetrical Hems – If you can never pretty make up your mind from a short skirt and a floor-length ball gown, why not go for both this season? Having a high-low cut dress (high in front, long in the back), you can have a dress that equally sweeps the floor and exhibits your sexy legs. You can be certain that all eyes will be on you in this unique, lovely style. Look for Faviana Dress #6428 – strapless sweetheart neckline with flowing chiffon train
Prom dresses 2011 could have similar fashion trends for next year’s prom so, study today’s designs because year 2011 prom dresses might change a little bit but it will always have the basics. Still, it’s important to not select a style just because it is modern and popular. Be sure to select a pattern that matches your individual preference and comfort. There’s nothing more wonderful or stunning compared to a girl who feels relaxed in her very own skin.
How to Dress Classy With Little Cash
1. Basics for Work- Keep good basics in your wardrobe that are truly timeless and will last the test of time and fashion trends. Key basics include black dress pants. Have about 3 good quality pairs. You will want at least one pair to have a pin stripe which will give your body some length and add variety, as well as one pair with a cuff on the bottom, and one without. All pairs should have a crease running down the leg for that dressy look. Avoid anything with pleats which is currently outdated and tends to make you appear larger in the frontal area anyhow. DO invest in good quality, but inexpensive tops such as short sleeved and ¾ length tops with Lycra (to keep their shape) in both v-neck and round neck styles. I recommend black, white and red, if you cannot wear red, perhaps gray. These are key for under blazers with pants and can also be worn with jeans on a casual Friday.
You will want 2 or 3 nice black skirts, a pencil skirt, or slight A-line, printed skirt and one that is more airy and fun. Dress shirts for women are more popular than ever. You will want to have some variety here. I recommend buying shirts that fit your shoulders and arm length properly and have a bit of Lycra or stretch fabric so you can move freely. These can be bought anywhere such as Winners, Ross for Less or department stores. Keep winter and summer colors. Important to any business wardrobe is the suit. You will need a black, navy and lighter color suit such as camel for summer. You can wear your blazer with your skirts too, no need to buy a skirt suit. When buying shoes keep the same in mind, find at least 3 comfortable pairs of shoes, perhaps a pair of flats, and 2 pairs of heels, one lower and the other a higher pump style. I don’t believe in having all the colors of the rainbow on my shoe rack, especially when on a budget. Black and brown always work, throw in a pair of camel color for fun. The overall idea here is to have classic pieces that won’t go out of style the last for years as to not constantly be buying clothes. I firmly believe in investing in these basic pieces so they’ll last a long time. Look for sales, clearances and wander through thrift stores to find what you need to build your basic wardrobe.
2. Make Accessories Work for You- Whether they are shoes, sunglasses, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, belts, scarves, handbags or hairclips, find the ones that you love best and buy many at low cost shops. The key is to dress up a wardrobe many different ways without blowing your budget on pumps and expensive handbags. The best thing to do is buy all sorts of accessories for as little as you can. These keep your wardrobe interesting by adding color, texture, shape, and bling! A couple shops I love for this are Le Chateau, H&M and mall kiosks. I find the best inexpensive jewelry, trendy shoes and hair clips. Buy a bright orange or red handbag from Payless Shoe store for $20 and pump up your black suit for work, or jeans and a t-shirt. Hollywood stars use the same tricks just on a different budget.
The best tip is to wear a great outfit with one or two accessories maximum that pop! My mother used to dress extremely well because she picked out accessories and clothing that looked great but cost next to nothing. This is because she looked in stores like K-Mart as she couldn’t afford designer or even mall store prices. Put on a Blazer and jeans with a pair of cute flats and have one significant piece like a great necklace to really make your neckline pop. When hair is done up, this is the best time to show off shoulders and your neckline, so draw attention with some great earrings and necklace. Even a funky watch can jazz up an otherwise low-key outfit.
3. A Scarf Is Your Best friend- Scarves have so many uses that it is hard not to have any in your wardrobe. Scarves can act as a tie around your hair in a ponytail, tied around your neck, used as a belt around your waist or simply ties to the shoulder strap of your handbag for a flirty look. It is good to have variety. Black and Red are my favorites however I have some softer colors such as pale pink and beige with light brown in full stripes, polka-dots are very in right now also. The scarf belt goes great with a sexy top and pair of jeans. When you are bored with the pattern or color switch them up with your friend’s for variety.
4. Focus on your Face- Even if you don’t feel like your wardrobe looks like a million bucks, put on a smile. It goes a long way and brightens your face! A little makeup really makes a difference. The 3 essentials I would recommend are Mascara, Lipstick (or a great gloss) and some blush. This will add color to your face and make your features pop. I have never bought into the notion that Designer expensive makeup is best. I’ve used Cover girl my whole life and have always had compliments. Their products are ¼ the price of department store and I can buy them anywhere. The key is to keep the makeup simple and light. Don’t wear heavy foundation and loose powers with bright lipstick and heavy eyeliner. The key is to look natural and elegant with the right light shade of blush and lipstick and a black/brown or black shade of mascara. Spend less money on makeup but spend more time on mastering a natural look that is even.
5. Buy Quality Shoes that Last -Always buy quality shoes that can last you 2-3%2B years. Ensure that they are a simple color and style, but more importantly that they have a good sole and heel lifts. Shoes aren’t made the way they used to be. I find myself having to replace my lifts on most of my shoes since they are plastic. They wear down quickly causing potential accidents as you glide across floors in those heels. The shoe repair shop will put great quality lifts on and it is inexpensive. Replace these every year or as needed with wear so that the heels of your shoes stay looking new. In addition, shine your shoes regularly and buy scuff removing solution. A great pair of shoes can look like trash when they have not been taken care of.
If you really do crave something trendy then let it be for a particular outfit, or dress where the shoes will not be frequently worn. Why not get the knock-off style at Payless Shoe store or another discount shoe store? Then you’ll get the style and price you want and don’t have to worry so much about the durability.
6. No Tattered Undergarments! -Many women focus on their outer wardrobe and forget what is hiding underneath. It is important to frequently wash your bras as well as camisoles etc on delicate cycle. It is very unappealing to see a well dressed woman with a tattered, dirty bra strap peeking out of her top. Likewise, underwear and socks need to be replaced when stained or tattered having holes or elastic coming apart. This is not sexy for your partner or for yourself! I typically buy a bunch of inexpensive clearance rack panties that look like designer knock-offs with all the lacy styles. I usually pay around $2-$5 per pair and they look great! If they get ruined in my washing machine or wear with time I can just toss them without thinking twice. While we are on the subject, ladies do buy bras that fit your cup properly and are seamless. There is nothing worse than a great blouse with seam lines or nipples showing!
7. Accessorize but don’t overdo it-Classy women look classy because they don’t overdo it. Wearing a great dress or outfit with a single ring, pair of small earrings and a small necklace is fine. Wearing a suit with a ring on every finger, watch, bracelet, heavy makeup, hair in an elaborate clip, a belt, a scarf around the neck and bright shoes is overkill. Nobody knows what to look at first! When you get ready to leave the house, look into a full length mirror with your entire outfit including a hat or handbag if included. You will often slowly start to strip a couple accessories away or tone down bold shoes and handbags. Remember, simple is best. Add one or two killer pieces that will have you feeling great and getting compliments along the way.
8. Don’t be Afraid to Shop in Thrift Stores- I can’t tell you how many things I’ve been able to snag there. The key is to go into an area that is more well-to-do or exclusive. Often people with a lot of money can discard things faster for new items such as great sweaters, blazers, handbags, you name it! My last purchase there was actually a set of hot rollers that retail at $70 that I picked up for $16! I bought an $80 pair of great brown boots that were never worn for $6!! I’ll admit, you have to make some time to sift through a lot of duds till you find a few keepers, but it is well worth it. Buy items that have their original bold color, no fading! Make sure there are no holes, or stains. If there is a small area that is inconspicuous, by all means grab the item if you can fix it. You can also find some fun handbags, belts and jewelry.
9. Wear clothes that Fit You!r Body- There is nothing worse than seeing a beautiful woman in skin tight dress pants, breasts hanging out, and the visible appearance of flab around the waist or back due to tight clothing. Looking slimmer is not about wearing more fitted clothing, clothing with breathing room and comfort will not only make you look better but feel better too. Classy women don’t let it all hang out! If something in your wardrobe is too small but you love it, keep it until it does fit (maybe use it as motivation) and find something new.
10. You don’t Need Brand Names to Look Good- Today with so many great knock-offs and fun styles to choose from, there is no need to spend $450 on a pair of designer sunglasses. I have a $17 pair of Gucci knocks-offs that I bought in the airport, and have got more compliments on those than a real pair of Ralph Lauren shades. Likewise, people see how well your outfit is put together more so than they do what brand you are wearing. I see a lot of wealthy people wearing brand name overkill and they don’t look classy, they look tacky. Don’t be a walking billboard for a brand name, just be an original and wear what fits you and what you feel good in.
This article was inspired by many women that I have worked with, spent time with, seen walking the streets, and those that have told me that they simply don’t have the money to dress well. If my mom in her early thirties could dress classy in K-Mart clothing and get compliments, you can too! You need an objective eye and patience to find what looks great on you. So, give your charge card a break and find out how fun it is to buy a few items with a $20 bill!
How to Install a Manual Boost Controller Without Blowing Up Your Engine
Prior to installing any manual boost controller, it is important to have already added a high flowing exhaust and an aftermarket air intake/ air filter. This will ensure the car is able to breath, and will allow the turbo to spool easier.
It is imperative to have installed an aftermarket boost gauge. Most stock boost gauges are not accurate, even at stock boost levels, and lose further accuracy once stock boost is increased. Without an aftermarket boost gauge you risk damage to the engine from overboosting.
How It Works:
The wastegate actuator determines your stock boost levels. The boost controller interrupts the pressure line that runs into the wastegate actuator, allowing you to increase boost over stock levels.
Step 1:
Find your wastegate actuator which is usually attached to the turbo, unless you are using an external wastegate. The wastegate actuator will have a vacuum line port that runs to a boost source. The boost source is usually either the turbo’s compressor housing, the intercooler pipes, or the intake manifold. This vacuum line is where the manual boost controller will be installed. If there is a T fitting in the vacuum line between the boost source and the wastegate actuator, it will have a separate vacuum line that runs to the boost control solenoid. If you have the T fitting, remove the line that runs to the solenoid, but leave the solenoid plugged in.
The barb on the boost controller that connects to the wastegate actuator will have a small hole drilled into it. It is important to leave this hole open, and never switch the wastegate barb and the boost barb.
Boost controllers typically come with approximately 3 feet of vacuum line that you can cut into 2 pieces of desired lengths. The first piece will connect from the boost barb on the controller to your boost source. The second piece will connect from the wastegate barb on the controller to the wastegate vacuum port. Tip: if you have difficulty sliding the vacuum lines onto the barbs, use a little bit of oil to lube the barbs. Block off any open boost sources with vacuum caps and use cable ties to secure all vacuum line connections. We recommend using Premium Fuel with all turbo cars, especially once you have increased your stock boost.
Step 2:
Now that the boost controller is installed, it’s time to test the car. We recommend leaving the adjustment knob exactly where it was when you received and installed your MBC when you begin testing. Turning the adjustment knob clockwise increases boost, turning the adjustment knob counterclockwise decreases boost. This step is very important to keep an eye on your boost gauge to make sure you do not overboost and cause any damage to your motor.
Drive your car in an isolated area where you will be able to stop and go several times without interfering with traffic. Slowly press the gas and watch your boost gauge climb. If the boost gauge does not hit your target, increase the boost. If the boost begins to exceed your target, decrease the boost. Repeat the steps as necessary. It typically takes between 5 to 10 adjustments to get the boost exactly on your target. We recommend starting by adjusting the boost knob in 1/2 turn increments, and as you get close to your target you may need to make smaller adjustments. Never adjust more than 1/2 a turn at a time.
Each car has a maximum safe boost level, depending on upgrades to the vehicle and the characteristics of the fuel system, specifically how much fuel your pump and injectors can provide. It is important to research and know what the maximum boost level your specific car can safely run.
This guide serves as a basic starting point for manual boost controller installation. If you have an external wastegate or twin turbo vehicle, the installation technique may vary slightly.
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Mistakes People Make With Roll on Bed Liners
Roll on bed liners work almost as good as much more expensive spray on bed liners. There are some major differences and you need to know about these. Make a mistake in how you put this coating on and you can waste much time and money too. Here’s what to watch…
1. Not cleaning the right way…
You must remove all old wax and grease form the surfaces to be coated. If you don’t, the coating will peel right off… it’ll be gone with the wind. This isn’t hard to do. You just need to get the right kind of cleaner. Then you just wipe it on and wipe it off.
2. Sanding too much…
The bed must be sanded, but not much. See, you just need a really rough sanding job. It’s more of a scratching needed, instead of fine sanding. No fine sanding is required.
3. Not getting enough paint…
A spray on bed liner uses up to 5 GALLONS of coating. That’s the main key to the durability of a spray on coating. It isn’t magic, it’s just thick. A paint on bed liner requires at least 5 QUARTS to cover a full size truck. Don’t skimp on the paint. Whatever you do will be much less than a spray liner…
4. Curing…
Spray on liners cure almost instantly. Truck bed paint takes a little longer. Allow two to three days before your coating is hardened.
5. It isn’t the same…
A paint on liner is a perfect way to fix up an older truck. It looks like it was sprayed on and it much improves the look of an old truck. It isn’t nearly as durable as a much more expensive professional coating, but it may be plenty good enough. It’s surely a lot cheaper.
Roll on bed liners are a cheap alternative to much more expensive liners. Get off to the right start in cleaning the surfaces to be coated and the hard part is done. You can really save a lot of money installing a liner yourself and get a lot better looking truck in the process.
Free DVD Movie Downloads
The DVD player is one of the latest in internet technology gizmos that has revolutionized the concept of home entertainment. Millions of people depend on their DVD players to watch movies, pause and rewind live television or to listen to music online. In fact, you can download free DVD software from the net to make your player the ultimate experience in listening to music, watching movies or playing games. Because the DVD player can stream music from the internet, it is a feasible option for listening to music at work or watching movies in the comfort of your home.
For free DVD movie downloads, you need certain system configurations. These include 256 MB of RAM, plenty of hard drive space and a good video card. This allows you to store the movie on your hard disk. If you have a CD writer, you make a copy.
Another software program for audio content is the Winamp — a standard Windows MP3 player that is a free download at http://www.winamp.com. The player has a great sound, and the volume, bass and treble can be adjusted to your liking.
You can also download QuickTime media player — a product of Apple Inc. This too is available for free download. Cross-functional, QuickTime provides unmatchable viewing and audio qualities for various multimedia products.
By downloading VNC Remote PC access software, you can remote access movies. This software is available for free download from realvnc.com
For free DVD movie downloads, you need certain system configurations. These include 256 MB of RAM, plenty of hard drive space and a good video card. This allows you to store the movie on your hard disk. If you have a CD writer, you make a copy.
Another software program for audio content is the Winamp — a standard Windows MP3 player that is a free download at http://www.winamp.com. The player has a great sound, and the volume, bass and treble can be adjusted to your liking.
You can also download QuickTime media player — a product of Apple Inc. This too is available for free download. Cross- functional, QuickTime provides unmatchable viewing and audio qualities for various multimedia products. By downloading VNC Remote PC access software, you can remote access movies. This software is available for free download from realvnc.com
Free movie downloads require different software for making the experience of watching movies and recording TV shows a worthwhile experience. You need ample space on your PC. While 256 MB RAM seems like a good option, nothing beats having 512 MB of RAM. The more memory space the better.