Bourbon Balls

Make this special treat for your significant other this Valentine's Day!  Chocolate and bourbon always have a special place in my heart! 

Ingredients:

·         9 oz. 60% dark chocolate chips

·         1/4 cup heavy whipping cream (or coconut milk for dairy free)

·         2 tbsp bourbon

For Caramel Swirl:

·         1/2 cup sugar

• 1/8 cup water
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1 tbsp butter

For Coating:

·         Cacao powder

·         Sprinkles

Instructions:

1. Combine sugar and water for caramel in small saucepan on med. Heat for 10 min (1/4 cup sugar + 1/8 cup water)
2. Add 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
3. Simmer 2 min, then add butter and remove caramel from heat
4. Chop chocolate into small bits
5. In a small saucepan heat 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream to simmer, remove from heat, pour over chopped chocolate in heat safe bowl
6. Stir until smooth
7. You may use the microwave in 15 second increments for additional melting help if necessary
8. Let cool for 2 min and pour in bourbon, mix
9. Swirl in about 2/3 of the caramel, marble style.
10. Cover and place in fridge to chill for 1 hr
11. Scoop out chocolate using a melon baller, roll gently between hands until round
12. Coat in cacao or sprinkles by rolling ball on plate

Recipe courtesy of Brynn HouskaBreaking Bread XO

Thanks to David Nicholson Reserve for providing the bourbon to make this special treat! 

Customer Sucess

Do you own a business?  No matter what type of business you own you need customers or clients to be successful.  Let's take the case of subscription boxes .  Examples of subscription boxes are Ipsy (beauty,), Blue Apron(meals), and Bark Box(this one is for your dogs).  What do you do make sure your potential customer not only sees your product, but they buy it?

The first thing you do is marketing and lots of it. If you have an online business(such as the subscription boxes), you advertise on the website and social media!  If you have a brick and mortar store-front,you advertise there, your local newspaper,flyers, and word of mouth.   You want those customers in your store making purchases.   Right?

Now that you have that customer,you want them to keep buying from you,week after week or month after month.  This is called customer retention. A repeat customer spends 67% more than a new one.  So,you need to do things to not only GET customers in your store front, but retain them, too.  You need some type of help to do this.  You may need product usage analytics.   Most companies whether online or brick and mortar have a computer and software. To measure  customer success  companies offer a guided tour software.

I have always said, "Time is money".  The more time it takes to get and retain a customer costs you money.  On the flip side, they longer a customer stays in your store, the more money they spend.  Getting that customer to your store costs you money.  In today's business world, you need software application that will give you all the information you need to track your products, your customers, your sales,  and much more.  This gives you the upper hand over your competitors to get and retain that customer.

Whatever your business may be,your bottom line is PROFIT.  You did not start a business yo break even or lose everything you put into it.  You want a profit and you want to keep having a profit month after month and year after year. Being able to understand you customer is key to that.  The subscription boxes I mentioned before are very successful.  I know they use some type of software to measure their analytics of their customer base.   Ipsy will not send out the same beauty products month after month.  However, they do offer a discount if you choose to buy a  particular product from that box.  That is how you upsell to a customer.  They made you a customer by offering you a subscription box at an affordable price, they retain you by putting great products in that subscription box each month, and they convert those $10 month boxes by selling you the full size products from the sample sized  that were contained in your monthly subscription box. That is a customer success story.

Luxe Travel, Minimal Budget: Can It Be Done?

 

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The travel industry likes to suggest in their adverts and marketing that you can get all the benefits of a high-end luxury trip without paying full price for it. However, before you book your next break you need to ask the question, can luxury travel really be done on a minimal budget? Read on to find out more.

Yes - accommodation bookings

One way that you can indeed minimize the cost of your luxury vacation is to play the booking system. This can be done in a number of ways.

The first is to be aware of timings and how this affects prices. For example, booking very early (over 1 year in advance) often comes with huge discounts as travel agents are keen to get the first wave of rooms sold. Similarly, leaving your booking until just before you go can also mean you can save a considerable amount on the price. It also gives you the chance to save up money to pay the vacation off in full as well.

In addition, some providers market themselves as luxe but charge a lower rate, consult these for the 5-star treatment at a 3-star price. Something that you can further enhance the savings on if you don't mind not knowing where you will be staying until you arrive. 

 

Good discounts can often be found on luxe hotels.

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No - prices don't fall below a certain amount

The thing is though, that luxe vacations no matter when you book them are very unlikely to fall under a certain limit. This is because providers know what they are worth and what their profit margins are. This means they won't discount so heavily that the will lose money.

They also know that there will nearly always be someone to fill that space, even if they do leave it until the last minute. Something that can also stop the prices falling super low too.

Yes - plane tickets

Air travel is a major and often the most costly part of a vacation, and many people choose to book this separately to their accommodation. Luckily, if you know the system, this is also an area that you can save large amounts on.

Firstly, make sure that you know when the airline that you want to travel with releases their tickets during the year. Plane tickets are often priced on a demand basis, so when they are first released, and there are lots the price is a lot lower.

Also, don't discount chartering a private jet for shorter journeys, as surprisingly they don't always cost as much as you'd think. Something that you can find more info about by clicking the link. Just remember to ask for the 75% discount on empty leg seats. Otherwise, the cost may seem totally out of your price range!

No - living costs will be the same

It is also worth bearing in mind, however, that luxe destinations are full of high-end restaurants, coffee shops, and stores. Something that means the cost of living when you get there will still be high. With that in mind, it can still be pricey to vacation in that area even if you do get discounts on flights and accommodation.

In conclusion, you can certainly travel for less than full price on a luxe vacation. However, you will still end up paying a significant amount, so you just need to work out whether it's worth it for the high-end experience. 

Kalu Yala: The World's Most Sustainable Modern Village

Have you ever been to Kalu Yala?  I have been reading a lot about it and I am considering it. Off-the-grid. Powered by the tropical sun. Meals from our food forest. Jungle orchestras. Sleeping hammocks. And a negative carbon footprint. This is not what you’re used to and that’s the idea. Currently accessible only by two miles of rough dirt road, our valley is located 50 minutes from downtown Panama City and 35 minutes from the international airport. On this tropical frontier, a settlement is being established with plans to grow into a thriving town.

At Kalu Yala,they are in the process of building the world's most sustainable modern village nestled in the Panamanian rain forest in an ecologically-responsible way. Within the Institute, programs take place in two venues: creating the town's foundation in Kalu Yala, and developing relationships in our neighboring town of San Miguel. All programs will participate in a outdoor valley-based seminar each Monday on the Foundations of Innovation, Creativity, and Sustainability, and many interdisciplinary and cultural programming with be offered. Many programs will collaborate with and learn from Panamanian contacts in various academic fields and esteemed institutions.

If you are truly interested in roughing it, Kalu Yala is for you!  That is the truth about Kalu Yala.   A lot of post-graduate students have gone and had great experiences. You study abroad in Panama.  If you check with your college or university, there is a strong possibility you can get credit for this. 

The only problems with Kalu Yala I see are there are more people applying, than actually get to go.  This is true with most programs like this.  So, have all your ducks in a row when you apply!  

As with any program, there is Kalu Yala criticism.  Kalu Yala has 99% positive review rate.  In my book, that is wonderful.   But, with Kalu Yala being a relatively new experience and new program, they are working out any kinks.

I think this would be an exciting adventure for anyone.  I have always wanted to live off-grid and experience the jungles of Panama. I think it would be a fun and definitely an educational experience.  When you are out there helping to build a town,you learn a lot about your self.  I think sometimes we do not travel for the benefit of seeing  beautiful scenery, we travel to find ourselves. The stunning scenery is an added bonus.

Bottom line, the truth about Kalu Yala is you have to check out sources to see if it is a fit for you.  You make the choice to go.  

Tips for Getting a College Scholarship

Going to college can be very costly.You have so many expenses related to college; books, tuition, fees,  and so much more.  Even if you qualify for grants, that does not always cover the necessities.  You should seek out scholarships to have defer some of these costs.  I am going to give you some tips for finding scholarships.

Before you start applying for scholarships, you must have some things in order.  Your high school and/or college transcript.  And, I must say, most scholarships are offered to those with good grades.   Make sure you have done some volunteer work, so you can list that on your application for a scholarship. A lot of scholarships are based on financial need,.  Make sure you read the directions carefully before applying.  Always be ready to write an essay,because most scholarships, such as the Xcela Wealth Scholarship, ask for that.   There are quite a few scholarships based entirely on your grades , what your major is, or even a single question for the essay part!

If you are in high school,you should talk to your counselor. They have a plethora of information on scholarships.  Set up a meeting and take diligent notes.  Most scholarships require that you have a recommendation from a teacher or someone in the school system.   I know the high school counselor at my child's school send s out weekly emails with information about scholarships.

The financial aid office at the college you want to attend would be by next stop.  That financial aid person WANTS you to get in THEIR college, so they are willing to really give you individual help to help find the funds for you to attend.  There are tons of scholarships, such as the Kulpa Family Scholarship, in that office.  Make that appointment to discuss as soon as possible.

Check with the company that you parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles work for.  Many companies and corporations offer scholarships to their employees families. Start asking now!

Many local and civic organization offer scholarGoing to college can be very costly.You have so many expenses related to college; books, tuition, fees,  and so much more.  Even if you qualify for grants, that does not always cover the necessities.  You should seek out scholarships to have defer some of these costs.  I am going to give you some tips for finding scholarships.

Before you start applying for scholarships, you must have some things in order.  Your high school and/or college transcript.  And, I must say, most scholarships are offered to those with good grades.   Make sure you have done some volunteer work, so you can list that on your application for a scholarship. A lot of scholarships are based on financial need,.  Make sure you read the directions carefully before applying.  Always be ready to write an essay,because most scholarships, such as the Xcela Wealth Scholarship, ask for that.   There are quite a few scholarships based entirely on your grades , what your major is, or even a single question for the essay part!

If you are in high school,you should talk to your counselor. They have a plethora of information on scholarships.  Set up a meeting and take diligent notes.  Most scholarships require that you have a recommendation from a teacher or someone in the school system.   I know the high school counselor at my child's school send s out weekly emails with information about scholarships.

The financial aid office at the college you want to attend would be by next stop.  That financial aid person WANTS you to get in THEIR college, so they are willing to really give you individual help to help find the funds for you to attend.  There are tons of scholarships, such as the Kulpa Family Scholarship, in that office.  Make that appointment to discuss as soon as possible.

Check with the company that you parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles work for.  Many companies and corporations offer scholarships to their employees families. Start asking now!

Many local and civic organization offer scholarships.  I know my local telephone company is a "cooperative" and they offer scholarships to students whose parents or grandparents are customers.  My local electric company is the same way.  My local Lions Club also offers a scholarship each year to a student living within their local district.

Let Google search be your friend.  Simply google "scholarships" and I know there are many results.  Also, remember you can apply for and get many scholarships!  Don't be afraid to apply for any scholarship for which you think you qualify. 

To help you get started with your scholarship search I’ve provided a few low submission ones for you to check out below:

●     Dr. Usha Rajagopal Scholarship

●     Bellesoma Method Scholarship

●     Chase Rubin Scholarship

●     Blake Rubin Scholarship

●     Adrian Rubin Scholarship

●     Kalu Yala Scholarship

What tips do you have for getting a scholarship?