#the sub referral code

[zer0carrds]

14 : FORSYTHIA.  a personal template.

FORSYTHIA is a simple personal template with css coded text styles, custom scrollbars, and custom fonts. it features two sub pages for about area and social media links + two free links !!! requires PRO PLUS OR HIGHER. my demo link includes my referral code, so your upgrades through my code will help me greatly <3

this is on a $3 pay what you can scale. demo and download link in the source.

[asuraid]

CARRD TEMPLATE #12: AQUILLA / demo / $4

I've been sitting on this one for a little while ... initially I meant to make it for twit RP, but dipped out and left it as a simple, more digestible template. Nothing too super fancy! Just a little clean layout with a lil animated background

HOW TO’S / INFO

— please do not remove the credit from the carrd regardless of how much you change it / frankenstein it. same case for please do not resell or redistribute it. — comes with a rules tab, about page with a lot of sub-sections, and a verse page. single-muse focused. — all the images will need replacement. most should rescale automatically depending on your content, but some like the about images may need manual adjustment for their height if your info is too long. — relatively mobile friendly, and should be easy to recolour most of the items.

if you have a pro-lite+ carrd account, you can get the template here!  

(if you’d like to upgrade, you can use my referral code ASURAIDART as well)

[c1g4r3tt3sm0k3]

Hii, I hve a question.. I'm good at carrds and am confident in making good ones and I wanna start a carrd making blog and take commisions BUT the problem is I have no carrd pro to transfer the carrds and I don't want to sign into ppls accounts for reqs... Ueueueu help pleek

Hello! Some tips i wish i would have known for starting Carrd comms is when you start Tumblr + twitter is where you will get the most traction. So once you make your blog and etc. constantly posting new design's and templates will def help get you up and running, also adding LOTS of tags for tumblr corresponding to carrd related things.

As for carrd pro, i could be mistaken but im pretty sure you can make a referral code if you have carrd pro or not and once you do if people use your referral code the money saves up in your carrd account and once you get enough you can use it to buy a carrd pro sub for the year! I fortunately was gifted my carrd pro by a friend to start my business so im not exactly sure if you can make a referral code w/o carrd pro, but if you need carrd pro to do it carrd offers a week carrd pro lite trial and you can make the code then if you haven't alr claimed the trial and i can help you advertise it to earn some money! Also larger carrd creators mostly on twitter occasionally do carrd plus/standard gws so i would look into that to enter it also, i'll link some of the bigger carrd accs that i've seen do gws for that below! You can always go to their retrospring usually linked in their bios to ask if they currently have gws going on and how to enter. I hope this helped!

buncrds

crrdcore

yucrds

dollzito

girlsgocrd

[alice12awc]

BitPower: Innovative Practice of Decentralized Finance

With the continuous development of blockchain technology, decentralized finance (DeFi) is becoming an important innovative force in the global financial field. As one of the representative projects in this field, BitPower stands out in blockchain finance with its decentralization, transparency and efficiency.

The core concept of BitPower is to achieve true decentralized financial services through smart contract technology. Unlike the traditional financial system, BitPower abandons the control of centralized institutions and adopts fully automated smart contracts to manage capital flows. This means that all participants have equal rights and obligations on the platform, and the transaction process is transparent and open without the need for third-party intermediaries. This model greatly reduces transaction costs, improves efficiency, and ensures the fairness and security of the system.

BitPower is mainly composed of multiple sub-projects, including BitPower Loop, BitPower Yield and telePORT cross-chain protocol. Among them, BitPower Loop is a blockchain-based decentralized lending smart contract protocol that runs on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). BitPower Loop attracts users to join the platform and participate in capital flows by providing flexible lending and liquidity mining services. Through smart contracts, users can not only get high-yield returns, but also get additional referral rewards by inviting friends to join. This multi-level reward mechanism encourages users to actively participate, thereby driving the rapid growth of the platform.

In terms of security, BitPower's decentralized architecture and the transparency of smart contracts provide strong protection. The code of smart contracts is open source, and anyone can review its operating logic to ensure the safety of funds. In addition, every transaction in BitPower Loop is automatically processed by smart contracts, completely eliminating the possibility of human intervention, thereby avoiding the manipulation and fraud common in traditional finance.

BitPower is not only innovative in technology, but also has a well-thought-out design in the economic model. Its income structure and compound interest mechanism allow users to obtain considerable returns in a short period of time. For example, liquidity providers in BitPower Loop can choose to invest according to different cycles and automatically obtain income after expiration. This flexible design not only attracts a large number of users, but also enhances the liquidity and sustainability of the platform.

In general, BitPower's innovative practices in the field of decentralized finance demonstrate the great potential of blockchain technology. Through decentralized architecture and smart contract technology, BitPower provides global users with safe, efficient and transparent financial services. In the future, with the further development of blockchain technology, BitPower is expected to exert greater influence on a global scale and provide new impetus for the transformation of the traditional financial system. BitPower Zone @BitPower http://bitpower.cc

[ukdriveways]

What to Look for When Hiring a Loughborough Paving Company

If you’re looking to install a new patio, walkway, or driveway around your Loughborough property, hiring a professional paving company is essential. With the right paving contractor, you can transform your outdoor space into an inviting area you’re proud to show off. However, quality really varies among paving companies in the Loughborough area. As you evaluate prospective paving contractors, keep the following guidance in mind to ensure you select the best company for your job.

Verify Licensing & Insurance

The first things to check are that any Loughborough paving contractor you consider hiring is licensed, bonded, and insured to operate in your area. Licenses and bonding ensure they adhere to region-specific codes and offer client protections in case the job goes awry. Verify what specific type and value of insurance they carry – be sure it adequately covers potential risks like property damage, accidents, etc. associated with your paving project.

Check Reviews & Get Referrals

Real reviews can provide transparency into others’ experiences with any residential paving company. Look for Loughborough paving contractors with multiple consistently positive reviews. However, the very best gauge comes from word-of-mouth referrals. Ask neighbors, friends and family if they’ve had patio, driveway or other paving work done by a local company they’d recommend. Prior happy customers are a great indicator of expected service.

Compare Project Portfolios

You don’t have to simply imagine how your finished paved space might look – a quality paving company will have an extensive portfolio documenting past client projects. Examine photos of completed patios, walkways and driveways that reflect the style, materials and overall quality you’re after. Be sure examples have an aesthetically pleasing, smooth and consistent appearance you’d welcome for your own outdoor space.

Get a Detailed Quote

A Loughborough paver that really knows their business will provide a comprehensive project quote outlining exactly what they propose to address your needs. It should specify materials down to type, size, texture, coloring and cost. Labor fees tied to each task should be broken out. And all site preparation, demolition, removal of existing surfaces/materials, equipment rented or purchased, and cleanup duties must be clearly defined within the quote. Openly discuss any aspects that seem unclear or incomplete.

Check on Project Management

Understand exactly how your paving contractor structures, schedules and manages customer projects in Loughborough. Will they stay onsite handling all details or periodically check-in across longer jobs? What is typical crew size for projects like yours? Who specifically would be your day-to-day contact person? Knowing the who/what/when/where/how of working with them prevents frustrations or surprises mid-project.

Ask About Any Sub-Contracting

Some paving companies fully staff and equip to handle every service in-house, while others utilize independent sub-contractors for portions of jobs. Inquire if any tasks associated with your project might be outsourced. If so, ask how they select, vet the quality of, and manage any sub-contracted crews. You want assurance of consistent quality across your project.

Verify a Warranty Is Provided

Reputable paving companies stand behind their workmanship on service installations and repairs. Make sure any contractor you’re considering offers a clear written warranty covering both labor and any product defects that arise. Typical industry standard guarantees range from 2 to 5 years. Be wary of any Loughborough contractor unwilling to warranty installations; it may signal problems down the road.

Confirm Certifications

Find out what industry certifications your prospective Loughborough paving company and its staff have attained. Many highly skilled contractors invest in earning Concrete Industry Management and Flatwork Technician certificates, for example. These signal specialized technical education, training and growing expertise. Look, too, for affiliations like the National Association of Paving Contractors and British Association of Landscape Industries.

By keeping all these factors front of mind as you assess Loughborough paving contractors, you can zero-in on the one truly best suited for transforming your property with quality, lasting results. Taking time on the front-end prevents frustrations and ensures you’ll enjoy a smooth process achieving patio, walkway or driveway hardscaping you can appreciate for years to come.

[digitalmarketingbykartik]

A Simple Homeowner Checklist for Hiring a Qualified, Professional Plumber!

When you have a plumbing emergency at your home, you need to quickly find a qualified, professional plumber to fix the problem. Here are several ways to find a plumber:

Check with your family or friends for a referral.

Ask a local real estate agent for a good plumber she has used.

If you have used another contractor in your home, ask the contractor for a referral.

Check with the local plumbing supply store for a recommendation for a reputable plumbing company.

Go online and check the reviews of plumbers in your area. If you search for a plumber in your city on one of the popular search engines, such as Google or Yahoo, you will find the search engines "Local Listing" of plumbers geographically near you, links to their website, and customer reviews of their work.

After you find a plumber in your area, what do you look for before you hire them? Here is a checklist of items you need to ask a plumber... BEFORE you hire them.

Are you licensed by the state to do plumbing?

Always check that you are working with a licensed plumber, ask to see his state license! Licensed plumbers have the work experience, training, and are familiar with current state and local plumbing codes. In addition to passing an exam to receive their license, they must take annual continuing education to keep abreast of changes to the codes, new products, and innovations in plumbing.

In Georgia, there are a lot of skills you need to succeed as a plumber. As a result, there are many steps an apprentice plumber needs to take to become a Journeyman or Master Plumber. These steps and the rules for obtaining the designation of master plumber are set by the state. You must have 3-5 years of primary plumbing experience, references, and pass an exam to get a Journeyman or Master Plumbing license. For a Master Plumbers license part of your experience must include commercial or industrial plumbing. In addition, they should have additional certifications to test and certify backflow devices or work on septic systems.

How many years have you been in business?

A good rule of thumb is look for plumber's that have been in business for 8-10 years. This gives you a gauge as to how viable and stable the business is and if they will be around to warrant the work they do on your home.

Are Service Technicians background checked?

Would you be comfortable having their Service Technicians working in your home? A plumber should conduct a complete background check and random drug testing on all employees. Further, professional Service Technicians working in your home should be uniformed and have name tags. These Service Technicians should be company employees and not sub-contractors.

What are your skills and experience in plumbing?

Plumbing demands specific technical skills and knowledge. Plumbing companies use specific tools not available to a homeowner or a local plumbing handyman. The benefit of dealing with an experienced, qualified plumbing company is... they are equipped with all the necessary training, skills, plumbing tools, and experience to handle all sorts of plumbing emergencies in your home.

Does your plumbing company have insurance?

A plumbing company performing service in your home should have General Liability Insurance and a current Workman's Compensation insurance certificate. Upon request, the plumber should be able to provide you with a copy of his insurance.

General liability insurance covers damage that might occur to your home directly caused by the plumber. If the plumber does not have his own general liability policy, any damages would be covered by your homeowners insurance. Typically the plumber should carry a minimum of $500,000.00 in general liability insurance, but it is not uncommon for plumbers who do commercial plumbing to carry $3,000,000.00 in coverage.

Workman's compensation insurance covers an injury to the plumber while he is working in your home. So as a customer you do not need to worry about being responsible for a plumber having an accident while working in your home.

Do you offer Emergency Service after hours?

A plumbing company that advertises that they have "24/7" plumbing service should have a customer service person ready to take your call after hours. Further, the plumber should have on-call or after hours plumbers available to repair your plumbing emergency.

Does the plumber use Quality Materials?

Does the plumber install quality, recognizable, brand name fixtures and materials that offer manufacturer' warranties to the consumer? What brands does he stock and carry on their service trucks?The manufacturers of plumbing parts, fixtures, and appliances typically offer a limited replacement warranty on their products.

Will my work require a permit from the city or county where I live?

Typically, you must be a licensed Master Plumber to secure a plumbing permit. The city or county will inspect the plumbing at various times during the installation to insure that the project is done to the local and state plumbing codes. An unlicensed plumber is unable to pull the necessary permits when work is being done, and they probably are not adequately trained in current plumbing code requirements.

What are your plumbing rates?

Service Plumbers charge for their work one of two ways, Time & Materials Pricing or Flat Rate Pricing. Let me explain the difference, this is very important.

With the Time & Materials method; the plumber charges a small "Service Fee" to mobilize to the job, an hourly rate while he is on the job, and whatever materials were used to repair the plumbing. Usually there is a one hour minimum labor charge and then you are charged by the quarter hour. With this method you only pay for the actual time it takes and materials used on the job... no more, no less.

A plumber using Flat Rate Pricing will charge a "Diagnostic Fee" to determine your plumbing problem and then will give you a flat rate quote to fix the problem. You know up front what it will cost for your repair. If you do not want to proceed with the repair, you are only obligated for the Diagnostic Fee.

With Flat Rate pricing it is difficult to know how much the plumber is charging you per hour. I can tell you that the flat rate price you are given is based upon the worst case scenario for the plumbing company... what is the most time it would take for a slow plumber to fix the problem. But, after the customer has taken off work, waits for the plumber to show up, and is already committed to the diagnostic fee, he is hit with a whopper cost to repair a small plumbing problem.

While the Flat Rate pricing method looks attractive, in most cases an experienced licensed plumber can fix your plumbing emergency on a Time & Material basis for less money. In addition, with Flat Rate pricing most Service Technicians are paid commission on the price of the ticket. Typically, the technicians have been trained by professionals to sell and close an expensive sale. This can lead to abuse as the technician in your home becomes more of a salesman instead of a plumber.

Do you guarantee or warrant your work?

A professional plumbing company is concerned with the safety and quality of their work. They should offer the homeowner a workmanship warranty and safety guarantee on their work.

Can you provide me with referrals from customers you have done work for?

A reputable plumbing company will have no problem giving references from their customers, business banker, or plumbing supply house. Also, ask them if they are a member of any state or national plumbing associations, local chamber of commerce, or have received any awards or recognitions in the community.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8252581

[requiemforarainbow]

Using this website to write since NaNo has been a GODSEND. I actually have motivation because this is basically a video game masquerading as a writing tool. You complete quests and defeat monsters by WRITING.

It is a paid subscription service (like, $4 US a month), but they have a Community Pool that you can enter to get gifted sub time if you really need it. Your first month is a free trial though. If it works for you, maybe it's worth it. It definitely is for me - I spent some of my Christmas and birthday money on sub time. I now have over a year so I don't have to worry.

[IMG Text Description: JordanAlix is on a writing adventure! Will you join me? Referral code: SBDIF19397. Use my referral code and we'll both get free crystals when you make your first purchase! Join the writing adventure for free at 4thewords.com!]

[acapellapotato]

i wasn’t writing enough to use my 4thewords account (my last activity was some time in june/july 2021 lol) but since i’ve been a little productive here’s my referral code UWIQM66049 

everyone gets one after you make an account but i’m not sure if trial accounts get one. so you do have to get at least the month of “game” time to get crystal rewards, which is basically the site’s currency. but you also get coins from doing the writing sprints/quests. i like this site bc the sub is always optional & i can just let the account sit there without it automatically taking out money i can’t spare. but if you haven’t tried this site & gamifying things works better for you i recommend it

[seotoolskit]

How do I get traffic with SEMrush in 2021?

Traffic analysis vs Google Analytics

Of course, Traffic Analytics does not get site traffic statistics from internal analytics. We analyze petabytes of click-stream data collected from various proprietary and third-party sources using machine learning algorithms and big data technologies.

Traffic Analysis is designed for competitive analysis and benchmarking. If you want to analyze the performance of your own website, it will be more appropriate to use Google Analytics, which collects information directly from your website using JavaScript tracking code. However, if your goal is to compare the site traffic and user behavior of two or more competitors, Traffic Analysis is definitely the way to go.

Explore the traffic and user behavior of other websites

Even the basic traffic information of your competitor or potential partner/customer can become a real gold mine if you look at it from the right angle. Below are recommendations on how to monitor traffic to other websites using SEMrush's Traffic Analysis, interpret the data collected, and use it to achieve your business goals.

General traffic data

Start by determining the volume of traffic for the website you are interested in. Enter a competitor's URL to view their site traffic report ( Overview Report ). Check the estimated number of Visits and Unique Visitors to its website over the past month. This will allow you to assess the competitor's audience and get an idea of ​​their success or failure.

Then add up to four competitors to compare them against each other and estimate each company's market share.

As you can see, the Covid pandemic has hit the world's major low-cost airlines hard, and even the summer vacation has not provided them with the desired recovery. And yet, EasyJet has suffered less than Ryanair.

The Overview report shows you traffic data for a target website for the past 6 months, a year, or all the time (as of January 2017).

Audience behavior

To gain insight into the quality of a competitor's traffic and draw conclusions about the effectiveness of their digital marketing activities, you can analyze Pages / Visit and Bounce Rate. *

Visit Seotoolskit for more exciting and free SEO Content.    

For example, if a site's total traffic increases, the bounce rate increases, and the number of pages per visit decreases, it could mean that the traffic arriving at its site is of poor quality. Another possibility is that a marketing or advertising campaign has failed or that the content on the site does not provide the information that users are looking for.

* Please note that the difference in values ​​in the Traffic Analysis and Domain Overview reports is due to different calculation methods (in Domain Overview, the data is calculated based on the site's position on the SERPs).

To investigate this situation and avoid it for your own campaigns, you can also consult the Traffic Path ( Traffic Sources) and Geographic Distribution reports , in order to monitor suspicious direct traffic or traffic from countries / sub-continents that are not are not relevant to the business in question.

To get user behavior data for many competitors at once, you can try the Batch Analysis report, which allows you to retrieve the metrics listed above for up to 200 URLs.

Analyze competitor strategies

To understand how your competitors prioritize and engage with their audience in terms of SEO, PPC, SMM, PR, and content, you'll need to dive deeper into the Traffic Analysis report. In this part of the article, we will try to answer more specific questions such as:

Where does your rival's audience come from?

Where will they go next?

Are your rivals competing for the same audience?

What digital marketing strategies are the most effective?

Which pages on your competitor's site attract the most attention?

Traffic route

In the Traffic Path report, you will find the target site traffic broken down into Live, Referrer, Search, Social, and Paid.

This is how you can learn that Adidas gets more traffic from its paid ads than from its social media campaigns. Let's see if it's the same for the other big sportswear manufacturers.

Almost!

To make the data more granular, you can filter the report and see the referring sites, search engines, and social networks that drive the most traffic to the domain.

Now let's take a look at where people are going. At the bottom of the Traffic Path report, you will find a very clear diagram of the traffic flow of the target website. For example, the screen below tells you that Etsy visitors usually come back to search or pay for their orders and track their packages.

What can you do with the data:

Prioritize your digital marketing campaigns based on information about your rivals' top-performing traffic channels.

Take advantage of your competitors' strategies to increase traffic to your own website.

Audience information

The Audience Insights report allows you to compare audiences for up to 5 websites and find other domains that users are visiting. For example, you might be surprised to learn that the biggest cosmetics companies in the world have quite different audiences, all of whom are looking for the best deal.

What can you do with the data:

Try different websites to get a better idea of ​​the Audience Insights report.

Switch to the Market Explorer tool to collect additional data on the audience of your competitors .

Best pages and subdomains

The Top Pages report shows you the unique page views , unique visitors , entries , and traffic sources (direct, referrer, social media, search engines, and paid ads) for the (maximum) 1,000 pages on the site that are getting the most. traffic . You can filter the list based on any specific page type.

Let's take a look at Nike. Just Do It, first without the filters. Men seem more inclined than women to buy their sporting goods here, most of them are from the United States, and they came to the website through a direct link.

Now I will try to learn which Air Max model is the most sought after. The winners are Evergreen Aura for men and Pure Platinum for women.

Likewise, you can use the Subdomains report to find and analyze your rival's top subdomains, whether it's blog, news section, regional subdomain, or an e-commerce store.

What can you do with the data:

Extend your analysis of competitors to their SEO, social media, advertising, content, and PR strategies.

Automate the monitoring of your competitors to track their ups and downs.

Use traffic data to facilitate growth

In addition to teaching you the strengths and weaknesses of your competition, Traffic Analysis can become a useful source of information when trying to grow your business, persuade a prospect to close the deal or build a strong partnership and success.

Analyze a new market/niche

If you are considering a go-to-market campaign, Traffic Analysis can help you estimate the potential of the target market.

By looking at the Geographic Breakdown report that we mentioned earlier, you can identify the regions of the world where your competitor has significant demand. Knowing the total traffic and traffic share of each country/subcontinent is useful if you want to know which global markets your competitor has already covered. Metrics on traffic and user behavior will tell you if it has been successful in expanding.

As you can see in the screenshot above, the business we're looking at gets 31% of their traffic from the US, which means you have a good chance of beating them in Europe as long as they are your biggest competitor.

This data can give your campaign a good start. For a more in-depth analysis, please review our Go-to-Market strategy checklist and use the Market Explorer tool .

Evaluate a potential partner

A neat way to use Traffic Analysis reports is to find out if your potential match is the perfect match for you.

Use the Overview report to see how much traffic it receives and if it is of good quality.

Learn how it gets its traffic from the Traffic Path report.

Take a look at Audience Insights to make sure you're targeting the same people.

Look at the Geographic Distribution of Traffic to see if you are targeting the same countries.

Say I am The New York Times and I have to choose between three good newspapers to establish a partnership. Why not benchmark all of them (mine too) to make sure we're looking in the same direction?

USA Today, the New York Post, and the Washington Post get more traffic than others. On the other hand, the New York Post does well on the bounce rate and the Washington Post has the lowest bounce rate of all.

On the other hand, USA Today beats the New York Post in search traffic, which is far from negligible.

They have roughly the same audience size. So which one should I choose? Let's take a look at geography. Say I want more readers in Canada. USA Today's traffic there is 6 million, the New York Post is 2.6 million, and the Washington Post is 8.4 million (you can find this data in the Traffic by the country widget of the Overview report). when benchmarking your potential partners). This last point, therefore, tells me to choose USA Today and the Washington Post.

Visit Seotoolskit for more exciting and free SEO Content.    

[chaebolking]

less than an hour to go before we all collectively going absolute feral over tonight’s episode fjsgsksgskd so if anyone needs a referral for iqiyi vip access to watch the show as soon as it airs with eng subs i’m sharing my vip access code here

you just have to download the app using the referral link and register an account. it should give you 3 free days of vip right after you signed up.

[kcissicknasty]

Ways you can support me and my content a fuck ton for FREE!! (minimal effort edition)

-Follow/Sub on socials: content creator tools unlock as you gain followers so it helps me do stuff

-Prime sub on Twitch: just connect your Amazon account to your Twitch and hit "subscribe" on my channel for free emotes

-Hover referral (code 'KCSICK'): create an account and use my code to help me climb the gravity ladder

-Join my Discord: even inactive/muted members are still members <3

[asuraid]

CARRD TEMPLATE #10: GENSHIN WIKI PAGE / demo / $10

Oogh oof my brain after working on this ... but if you've ever wanted your own wiki page layout for a carrd, look no further! This is a single-muse focused carrd template for roleplaying which is centered around the Genshin Impact wiki page (but of course you can repurpose it for other wiki pages). This is quite image and information heavy, but you can remove and add sections as is needed for your character (hell, merge the lore stories into just one big chunky background section if you'd like to).

HOW TO’S / INFO

— please do not remove the credit from the carrd regardless of how much you change it / frankenstein it. same case for please do not resell or redistribute it. — comes with a rules tab, about page with a lot of sub-pages (lore, voice-lines, bonds aka exclusives and mains, and verses). single-muse focused. — all the images will need replacement, and images may need manual adjustment for size vs content. — as a heads up, the header container uses the same image as the background to create the illusion of transparency. — you can find all the images used for the logo + background (and some alt backgrounds!) + quote backgrounds etc etc in this Google Drive folder. front page images, namecard, constellation, about page, and specific skill icons are not provided (though there is a placeholder one in the folder). — relatively mobile friendly.

if you have a pro-lite+ carrd account, you can get the template here! i also have a lite version that's for base plans too. 

(if you’d like to upgrade, you can use my referral code ASURAIDART as well)

[thisfits]

Amex Platinum Saks Fifth Avenue Mega Post: $100 off $200+, 10% Rakuten Cash Back, Updates to $50 Credit Ideas

Use code SGDEC21SF for $50 off every $200 you spend. Promo expires Tuesday, December 14.

TL;DR? See All My Picks for the Amex Platinum $50 Credit

We’re in the last few weeks of 2021, meaning those of you who hold the American Express Platinum Card only have a few days to use the July-December $50 Saks Fifth Avenue credit.

(Not sure what I’m talking about? Check out my introduction here.)

My curated picks for using the $50 credit is one of the most popular pages on this site, so I’ve gone through and updated it, adding new items and removing a few that are out-of-stock. In addition, I’ve added a new $200-$250 tier to help you take advantage of a specific promotion that expires soon (more on that later).

Today offers a unique confluence of promotions for those of you using the credit.

10% off Rakuten, plus $30 referral bonus

Rakuten is offering 10% cash back today for Saks Fifth Avenue purchases. In addition, if you sign up as a new Rakuten user through my referral link, you’ll get an extra $30 cash back (I’ll also get a $30 bonus). American Express Card members can also opt to receive cash back in the form of Membership Rewards points (personally, I see that as effectively a 10% bonus on top of the cash back). You can sign up for Rakuten by clicking here.

$100 off your first $200+

Through Tuesday December 14, Saks has a promotion for $50 off every $200 in spend, up to $500 off. Stacked with the Amex Platinum Saks credit, that’s effectively $100 off your first $200-$399 in spend. Here are a few I’m liking in the $200 to $250 range; you can see all of them on my $50 credit idea page.

Home "Oh wow, I like those!”

That was my wife’s comment when she saw me scrolling through Saks’ Home items in the $200 to $250 range. Saks really shines in this area; but what works for you depends very much on your own taste in decor. I have a few picks below, but highly recommend checking out the Saks Home section yourself.

Nambé Aura 45-piece Flatware Set That’s enough for eight people plus some serving utensils. There are a handful of Nambé sets for exactly $200; see them all here.

Zia Pia Magnum Rainbow Extra Virgin Olive Oil Ceramic Jar An olive oil reviewer at The Infatuation received this as a Christmas gift and called it “hands down, the best present”, noting the bright flavor and stylish ceramic bottle.

Nespresso by Delonghi Coffee and Single-Serve Espresso Machine $207.20, from $259.

Petrossian Kaluga Huso Hybrid Caviar, 30 g

Staub 3.75 Quart Essential French Oven with Lilly Lid Loving the intricate patterning on the lid. $219.99, from $339.99 retail.

Christmas Time 6.5-fit Prestrung Artificial Christmas Tree I’ve linked to a Pennsylvania Pine prestrung with lights; many more trees available here.

Menswear $200+ is where mid-tier casual menswear brands tend to get more interesting (think: AMI, APC, Officine Generale, Polo Ralph Lauren).

Polo Ralph Lauren Cashmere Crewneck Sweater Saks promo + Amex credit + 10% Rakuten cashback bring this under $100, from a retail price of $298. Personally, I’d be mildly concerned about pilling for cashmere sweaters that retail for under $400 or so, but sub-$100 is still good value for PRL cashmere.

APC Petit New Standard Jeans Bringing these iconic jeans down to 2010s-era pricing.

The North Face Mountain Parka

Polo Ralph Lauren Cashmere Drawstring Pants Are these ridiculously indulgent? Yes, yes they are.

UGG x Telfar Fleece Robe Man, that thing looks comfy.

New Items in the $50 to $150 Range

If you’re looking to spend closer to $50, I’ve added a few new items to that tier as well.

Royce New York Zip Leather Card Wallet, $80 If you’re the kind of person who optimizes the credits on your Amex Plat, you probably carry a lot of credit cards around. This wallet’s for you.

Polo Ralph Lauren Touch Quilted Field Gloves, $68

Polo Ralph Lauren Long-Sleeve Cotton Jersey Hooded Tee, $55 Not really my thing, personally, but it’s hard to ignore the 4.5-star customer rating after 58 reviews.

Saks Fifth Avenue Collection Auto Doorman Umbrella, $55 If it wasn’t for one person who got an empty package from Saks (???), this umbrella would have a 5-star average customer rating.

I may earn a commission if you buy through a link in this post. Learn more here about my stance on affiliate links, sponsorships, and product reviews.

Never miss a post: sign up for the This Fits newsletter.

[merrybrides]

13 Wedding Superstitions, Explained

In 2021, there are truly no ‘rules’ to weddings—anything and everything goes, as long as it brings you happiness as a couple. That said, there is a reason why time-honored traditions have been mainstays of wedding days for so long: They’re guidelines that so many generations before you have indulged, historically, so it feels kind of like a nice privilege to entertain them at your own wedding celebration, right?

The cool thing about weddings now, though, is that you can pick and choose which customs and conventions you want to embrace or dismiss. Not wearing white, skipping the veil, sneaking a peek at your spouse before the ceremony—it can all be done without repercussions.

Whether you consider yourself superstitious or not, you might still want to take a few of these folklore referrals to heart. Ahead, read up on some of the longest-standing wedding superstitions that go well beyond something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.

Getting married on a weekday

While Saturdays have long been the most popular days to get married for decades, an ancient Celtic poem claims couples should avoid a Saturday wedding at all costs. It reads: “Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, Wednesday the best day of all, Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, and Saturday no luck at all." So if a Saturday nuptials isn’t in the cards, then a weekday wedding is quite alright!

Wearing white

Wearing white on the day you get married is a dress code that dates back thousands of years and this verse explains why: “Married in white, you will have chosen all right. Married in grey, you will go far away. Married in black, you will wish yourself back. Married in red, you’ll wish yourself dead. Married in blue, you will always be true. Married in pearl, you’ll live in a whirl. Married in green, ashamed to be seen. Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow. Married in brown, you’ll live out of town. Married in pink, your spirits will sink.”

Wearing something borrowed

Out of the four "somethings" that brides have been conditioned to carry, "something borrowed" makes the most sense when it comes to luck! The idea here is that in addition to wearing something old and new, representing your pre-married life and your happy one to come, you should also borrow something from a happily married woman (your mom, mother-in-law, sister, grandmother, etc.). It’s thought that wearing something on loan from a long-married missus might just let some of her marital success rub off on you!

Forgoing any pearl accessories

Speaking of something borrowed, although they’re very common family heirlooms, pearls are one semi-precious gemstone that you might want to pass on if they’re offered. According to several cultural belief systems, pearls embody the look of tears and point to sadness and suffering, so it’s best to keep them away from such an important day. If your partner proposes with a pearl, however, it stands that you can rebalance the karma by giving them a dollar—in essence, by paying for it, the ring is no longer a gift.

Including a sixpence in your shoe

What most people don’t know about one of the oldest and most iconic wedding proverbs is that it is completed with the phrase "and a sixpence in her shoe." Dating back to Victorian times, a father would place a sixpence (a coin equivalent to six pennies) in his daughter’s shoe as a token of good luck and prosperity. Nowadays, a penny is usually subbed in for the sixpence from any family member or friend. And if you don't want to squeeze a coin in your stiletto, consider tying it to your bouquet or ring bearer's pillow instead.

Adding a veil to your ensemble.

Veils have been part of the bride’s traditional trousseau for centuries. But to ancient Greeks and Romans, the veil was for function rather than fashion. They believed that a bride needed to wear a veil to make her less susceptible to the curses and hexes of jealous witches and evil spirits who wanted to steal her happiness. Once her face was obscured, so too were their vexes.

Crying all the way to the altar

You’d be hard-pressed to find a bride or groom who doesn’t shed at least a few tears on their wedding day, but that’s actually a good thing. In fact, crying all the tears is a tried-and-true method of making sure you’re happy for the long haul. Once you’ve let the waterworks run, they’ll be as good as gone for the entirety of your marriage.

Saying farewell to your fiancée-ship a little too prematurely

Using your married name before the actual wedding is kind of taboo ahead of tying the knot. There are a lot of negative, foreboding feelings associated with these anticipatory celebrations (like signing letters with your soon-to-be last name), ultimately suggesting that doing so will prevent the event from taking place altogether. And it doesn’t stop there, folklore also warns against trying on everything you’ll be wearing on your wedding day (dress, veil, shoes, headpieces, jewelry) before the day itself comes. So, if you plan on dressing or suiting up pre-wedding, just remember to leave one or two articles of clothing off.

Crossing paths with a nun or monk on the way to the wedding

The British backstory goes that if you see a nun or a monk (both of whom notably take vows of chastity and poverty) en route to your wedding, you’ll be blighted with a barren life and dependent on charity. Granted, not every couple envisions a future with children and some prefer simplicity and experiences over money and material things, so this does suppose a pretty antiquated point of view.

Dropping the rings

There is a timeworn forewarning that should someone drop a ring or ring(s) at the time of the ceremony, that person (regardless of role—bride, groom, officiant, best man, etc.) is next to die. Scary, right? Well, we can pretty much guarantee that there’s no truth to it, but you might just want to double-check how tightly those rings are tied on the ring bearer’s pillow and take your time with the ring swap.

Receiving knives for a wedding gift

We’re well aware that a sharp set of knives is a common registry item. However, according to a legend that dates back to the Vikings, knives symbolize the cutting or breaking of a relationship. You truly never know what your wedding guests will end up bringing you for the big day, but if you want to hedge your bets on not receiving something like this heartbreak-ridden hardware, maybe just remove it from the registry altogether. Or, send your guests a penny enclosed in their thank you card to switch the script from a gift to a purchase!

A spider showing up on your attire

Most people don't enjoy spotting a spider, but if one shows up on your wedding outfit on the big day, just grin and bear it. English tradition holds that if a spider weaves its way into your wedding day, it’s a terrific and radiant omen; so, come through Charlotte!

Rain on your wedding day

Rain on your wedding day is something that all couples will stress over, but according to several cultures’, it represents a streak of luck for your special day. If you see dark clouds gathering and raindrops coming down, don’t fret as you’re getting wet: It symbolizes fertility and cleansing, and if ever there were a perfect day to start with a clean slate, it’s your wedding day.

[crsbailey]

So, I'm a lurker at heart, and running my own creative business is an exercise in performing extroversion. But I did want to share what tools I use and have used (in no particular order), so folks understand what I mean when I reference them. And so you can try them out if they'll be useful to you!

Patreon - website that allows you to distribute exclusive content directly to your specific fan base. Cost to use: exact cost varies, depending on your creator plan. A percentage of your subscriber profits, with additional flat or %age fees depending on how you pay out (so payout via paypal actually costs considerably more than direct deposit, something I didn't know when I joined)

Ko-fi - website, allows folks to "tip" you (fee-free) a bit at a time and/or you can sell goods (I think they lean heavily to digital goods but I can't be positive there's no physical stuff) and they take a percentage of the sale price in exchange for hosting

4thewords - web app that gamefies writing. Love this site, y'all. Made it possible to write 60k words in a bit over a month. Made me believe supporting myself as a writer was possible. 4thewords is a subscription service with variable costs depending on commitment. About $4/month at its cheapest last I checked. Sometimes gives codes for free/discounted sub time. If you're interested hit me up, I have a friend code we can use to get us both cool stuff.

Scrivener - the holy grail of writer programs, tbh. A bit pricey for those starting out ($49 for desktop Windows or Mac, about $20 for iPad/iOS) but it's a one-time fee and honestly you get so much for that fee it's well worth it. I've used the 30-day free trial version in various NaNos but plan to buy outright with my first month's patreon profits.

Wordpress - I'm building my site through wp and though it won't likely have a whole lot more content than this blog, it's how I will manage signups for my email newsletter. Using the free version of wordpress which means (among other limitations) the URL for my site will have "wordpress" in it, but that's not a significant drawback at this point.

Mailchimp - free email distribution/list management under a certain number of subscribers (2000 maybe?) And paid above that number, which I will happily do when it becomes necessary.

Canva - another website, enables you to easily and quickly create decent graphics, either based on their templates or your own designs. Let me know if you want a referral code; the base program is free but has paid add-ons/services like special graphics, printing, etc.

Irs.gov - you might laugh, but the US tax system is a nightmare and running a small business is like steering a space ship when you've only ever launched bottle rockets. The IRS website has a lot of resources for new/developing small businesses. Your state's site might have even more. I'm not saying the sites are user friendly or easy to navigate but if you know how to google you'll likely find what you need.

[plumbernearmesblog]

plumbing mebane nc

When you have a plumbing mebane nc emergency at your home, you need to quickly find a qualified, professional plumber to fix the problem. Here are several ways to find a plumbing mebane nc:

Check with your family or     friends for a referral.

Ask a local real estate agent     for a good plumber she has used.

If you have used another     contractor in your home, ask the contractor for a referral.

Check with the local plumbing     supply store for a recommendation for a reputable plumbing company.

Go online and check the reviews     of plumbers in your area. If you search for a plumbing     mebane nc in your city on one of the     popular search engines, such as Google or Yahoo, you will find the search     engines "Local Listing" of plumbers geographically near you,     links to their website, and customer reviews of their work.

Always check that you are working with a licensed plumbing mebane nc, ask to see his state license! Licensed plumbers have the work experience, training, and are familiar with current state and local plumbing codes. In addition to passing an exam to receive their license, they must take annual continuing education to keep abreast of changes to the codes, new products, and innovations in plumbing.

In Georgia, there are a lot of skills you need to succeed as a plumbing mebane nc. As a result, there are many steps an apprentice plumber needs to take to become a plumbing mebane nc. These steps and the rules for obtaining the designation of master plumber are set by the state. You must have 3-5 years of primary plumbing experience, references, and pass an exam to get a Journeyman or Master Plumbing license. For a Master Plumbers license part of your experience must include commercial or industrial plumbing. In addition, they should have additional certifications to test and certify backflow devices or work on septic systems.

A good rule of thumb is look for plumbing mebane nc that have been in business for 8-10 years. This gives you a gauge as to how viable and stable the business is and if they will be around to warrant the work they do on your home.

Would you be comfortable having their Service Technicians working in your home? A plumbing mebane nc should conduct a complete background check and random drug testing on all employees. Further, professional Service Technicians working in your home should be uniformed and have name tags. These Service Technicians should be company employees and not sub-contractors.

Plumbing mebane nc demands specific technical skills and knowledge. Plumbing mebane nc companies use specific tools not available to a homeowner or a local plumbing handyman. The benefit of dealing with an experienced, qualified plumbing company is... they are equipped with all the necessary training, skills, plumbing tools, and experience to handle all sorts of plumbing emergencies in your home.

A plumbing mebane nc company performing service in your home should have General Liability Insurance and a current Workman's Compensation insurance certificate. Upon request, the plumber should be able to provide you with a copy of his insurance.

General liability insurance covers damage that might occur to your home directly caused by the plumbing mebane nc. If the plumbing mebane nc does not have his own general liability policy, any damages would be covered by your homeowners’ insurance. Typically, the plumber should carry a minimum of $500,000.00 in general liability insurance, but it is not uncommon for plumbing mebane nc who do commercial plumbing to carry $3,000,000.00 in coverage.