forensicsjones83

[forensicsjones83]

What is Forensics?

The term forensic science involves forensic (or forensis, in Latin), which means a public discussion or debate. In a more modern context, however, forensic applies to courts or the judicial system. Combine that with science, and forensic science means applying scientific methods and processes to solving crimes.

From the 16th century, when medical practitioners began using forensic science to writings in the late 18th century that revealed the first evidence of modern pathology, to the formation of the first school of forensic science in 1909; the development of forensic science has been used to uncover mysteries, solve crimes, and convict or exonerate suspects of crime for hundreds of years.

The extraordinary scientific innovations and advancements in forensic science have allowed it to become a highly developed science that involves a number of disciplines and thousands of forensic scientists specializing in everything from DNA and botany to dentistry and toolmarks.

The Application of Forensic Science

The field of forensic science draws from a number of scientific branches, including physics, chemistry, and biology, with its focus being on the recognition, identification, and evaluation of physical evidence. It has become an essential part of the judicial system, as it utilizes a broad spectrum of sciences to achieve information relevant to criminal and legal evidence.

Forensic science may prove the existence of a crime, the perpetrator of a crime, or a connection to a crime through the:

Examination of     physical evidence

Administration     of tests

Interpretation     of data

Clear and     concise reporting

Truthful     testimony of a forensic scientist

Forensic science has become an integral part of many criminal cases and convictions, with objective facts through scientific knowledge serving both defense and prosecution arguments. The testimony of forensic scientists has become a trusted component of many civil and criminal cases, as these professionals are concerned not with the outcome of the case; only with their objective testimony based purely on scientific facts.

Forensic scientists perform both physical and chemical analyses on physical evidence obtained by crime scene investigators and law enforcement officials at the crime scene. These scientific experts use microscopic examining techniques, complex instruments, mathematical principles, scientific principles, and reference literature to analyze evidence as to identify both class and individual characteristics.

Although the majority of forensic scientists perform their jobs within the confines of the forensic laboratory or morgue, their work may also take them outside of the laboratory and to the crime scene, where they observe the scene and collect evidence. Forensic scientists may work for local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and government, private laboratories, and hospitals. They may also serve as independent forensic science consultants.

The Organization of Forensic Science

Due to the highly complex field of forensic science, forensic scientists are most often skilled in a particular area of forensic science, such as latent prints, questioned documents, trace evidence, or firearms, just to name a few.

Forensic scientists may be divided into three, major groups:

Forensic Pathologists: These     include medical examiners and other professionals who oversee autopsies     and clinical forensic examinations

Forensic Scientists: These     include forensic professionals working in law enforcement, government, or     private forensic laboratories who are responsible for dealing with any     number of specific tests and analyses, such as toxicology, ballistics,     trace evidence, etc.

Associated Scientists: These     include scientific professionals lending their knowledge to forensic     science, such as forensic odontologists, forensic botanists, forensic     anthropologists, etc.  These scientists apply their knowledge to the     forensic science field as to provide investigators with crucial     information regarding everything from bite marks to insect infestation on     the postmortem body.

The Study of Forensic Science

Although forensic science may be a very complex study, particularly in the areas of DNA and trace evidence, for example, the study of forensic science is grounded in fundamental concepts and techniques that are gathered from the natural sciences. In particular, the study of forensic science involves a multi-disciplinary approach that covers everything from biological methods to analytical chemistry techniques.

The majority of forensic scientists study a specific physical science, such as chemistry or biology, while others pursue forensic science degrees that are rooted in either chemistry or biology.

A comprehensive degree from a college or university draws from the biological sciences, as well as from the fields of criminal justice and the law. Students learn to develop an appreciation of both the scientific and social environment of the criminal justice system, and many students go on to focus their degrees on specific areas of forensic science, such as DNA, trace evidence, toxicology, latent prints, or questioned documents, for example.

[forensicsjones83]

Bulgur Stuffed Eggplants with Tamarind, Currants & Pine Nuts

I tend to forget that eggplants don't really arrive in season until late summer, at least where I live. When they first show up at the farmers market, in all of their shiny, deep purple glory, I celebrate. Two weeks ago there were none, and now, suddenly, they're everywhere. I may have been a bit overly zealous last weekend when I picked up eight-yes, eight-of them. These bulgur stuffed eggplants with tamarind, currants & pine nuts have been a delicious way to use up my haul.

The first time I tried tamarind, it was mostly out of curiosity. I'd been inspired by a couple of Isa Chandra Moskowitz's recipes-her tamarind lentils in Veganomicon and her tamarind BBQ tempeh and tamarind quinoa in Appetite for Reduction-as well as many of the vegan pad Thai recipes I'd come across. I loved the intensely sweet/tart flavor right away, and since then my savory spiced tamarind lentils have been a regular addition to bowls.

One of my pitfalls as a cook is that I tend to associate certain ingredients or seasonings with specific dishes-I guess we all do-and then I fall into a rut of using them only that way. I know that tamarind is a lot more versatile than I allow it to be in my kitchen, and I only have to look around the world for inspiration. Tamarind is used in dishes across the Middle East, in Indian cuisine (including chutney), and in a number of traditional Mexican recipes. Inspired to branch out, I grabbed sometamarind pastein my most recent Nuts.compantry refill.

Nuts.com is an incredible one-stop resource for legumes, grains, pastas, spices, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and more. I've been a fan for a long time, and I'm always so impressed with the website's ample selection, friendly customer service, speedy shipping, and freshness. I use the site for staples, like beans and grains, but I also appreciate its emphasis on global seasonings and ingredients, tamarind included. In addition to the paste, the site also carries tamarindo, or tamarind pods, for those who prefer to work directly with the tangy brown pulp in its natural state.

Tamarind paste pairs really well with cumin, coriander, and other signature Middle Eastern spices, and that's what guided me as I pulled this eggplant dish together. I added currants, which complement the paste's sweetness, along with pine nuts for a bit of crunch. Bulgur wheat is a great choice of grain here: the texture is perfect for a stuffing, and it cooks quickly, so you can boil it while the eggplant starts to bake. If you're gluten or wheat free, you can use quinoa or millet in its place.

In the past, I've made stuffed eggplants by trying to cut out the flesh while the eggplants are raw, then par-baking the shells. It usually turns into a mess, because the flesh is tough to scoop out without damaging the eggplant skins. When I came across Alexandra's recipe for twice baked eggplant parmesan in Bread Toast Crumbs, I was inspired to try baking the eggplant first, then scooping out the cooked flesh, adding it to my filling, and returning it to the skins before another bake. It added a little cooking time, but it made the whole process easier. I also scored the eggplants before cooking, which helped me to set the flesh free when the time came.

The eggplant flesh gets cooked up with onion, tomato, spices, currants, and pine nuts, as well as the tamarind and bulgur. I might use the same mixture in the future as a grain pilaf, adding chopped eggplant to it rather than going through the process of stuffing the vegetable. But it's hard not to love the pretty presentation of the stuffed eggplants, especially after they've been smothered in chopped parsley and tahini, and they're a great option for entertaining.

The tahini dressing really isn't optional here-or at least, I don't recommend making the recipe without it, or another sauce. It adds moisture and a very welcome dose of extra lemon and garlic to the finished eggplants. You can use pretty much any garlicky/tahini blend that you love, or try my tahini drizzle, tahini green goddess dressing, or tahini mint dressing. You can definitely add a judicious drizzle of extra tamarind paste (it's intense, so not too much), or a handful of extra toasted pine nuts, too.

Bulgur Stuffed Eggplants with Tamarind, Currants & Pine Nuts

Print

Recipe type: main dish

Cuisine: vegan, gluten free option, soy free

Author: Gena Hamshaw

Prep time: 40 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 1 hour 10 mins

Serves: 3-4 servings

Ingredients

cup bulgur wheat*

3 small eggplants (about 8-9 ounces each)

Coarse salt

1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for brushing

1 onion, chopped

1 tomato, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons tamarind paste**

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

cup currants

3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

Splash of red wine vinegar

Crushed red pepper flakes

1 cup chopped parsley leaves

1 batch tahini dressing (such as my tahini drizzle, tahini green goddess dressing, or tahini mint dressing)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350F. Halve lengthwise, then lightly score your eggplants. Sprinkle them with plenty of coarse salt and allow them to sit for about 10 minutes. Pat them off, then transfer them to the oven. Bake for 40 minutes, or until they're tender all the way through and the skin is just starting to wrinkle. Remove them from the oven and increase oven heat to 375F.

While the eggplants bake, bring 1 cups of water to a boil, then stir in the bulgur. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes, until the bulgur is tender. Drain off any excess water, then fluff the bulgur with a fork. Cover and let sit for 10 minutes before using.

Very gently scoop the eggplant flesh from the eggplants, being sure to leave about -inch of flesh in the skins (you can use a spoon to do this and use a paring knife if you need a little backup). Roughly chop the eggplant flesh.

Heat the olive oil in a large, deep skillet. Add the onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes, or until the onion is clear and soft. Add the tomato and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently, for another 2 minutes. Add the tamarind paste, cumin, coriander, and teaspoon salt, then fold in the bulgur, currants, and pine nuts. Add a splash of the red wine vinegar and crushed red pepper flakes to taste, then taste and adjust the salt, pepper, and vinegar as needed.

Stuff the eggplants with the bulgur mixture (about a heaping cup per eggplant half). Return the eggplants to the oven and cook for 20-25 minutes, or until the tops are just getting dry and the skins are completely soft. Transfer the eggplants to a serving platter and top with the parsley and lots of tahini dressing. Serve, with any leftover stuffing alongside.

Notes

*Substitute quinoa or millet for the bulgur. **If you don't have tamarind paste, pomegranate molasses is a good substitute. You can also use extra vinegar and a touch of liquid sweetener, like maple syrup, to help replace the sweet/tart flavor of the paste. Leftovers will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

3.5.3226

This meal was a perfect way to welcome eggplants around this summer. My kitchen smelled incredible by the time the eggplants finished baking, and I loved all of the texture of the dish. The leftovers are keeping really nicely so far, and I have just enough extra stuffing to use up in simple lunch bowls.

It's so worth investing in an ingredient or seasoning that's still sort of new, finding new ways to make it shine. I'm excited to keep working through my tamarind paste and have big plans for some homemade chutney this coming weekend. For now, happy stuffing

[forensicsjones83]

Why You Need to Know Your Partner's Love Language

Dr. Gary Chapman's #1 New York Times Bestseller,The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate,seems like any other cheesy self-help bookthat promises to find you love or change your life, but really just endsup shoved in your bookshelf, partly-read and forever forgotten.Going on the websiteis no more encouraging, besides the fact that Oprah's wardrobe stylist gave it her stamp of approval (I don't care if it's her garbage man if they're related to Oprah, I listen to them).

But halfway through taking thepersonalityquiz, I started to buy into the idea that maybe this was not just one of those cheesy, useless, self-help books, and Dr. Chapman was onto something. Maybe knowing apartner's love language just might save arelationship.

Source: @tinakunakey

The idea behind this psychologyis that every individual has a different way that they give and receivelove. Dr. Chapman argues that these ways can be divided up into 5 simple categories:

1.Acts of Service

If your #1 Love Language is Acts of Service, you feel most loved and appreciated when your partner thinks about what they can do to ease theresponsibilities that are weighing on you. Hearing let me help you with that or I already took care of it is more exciting toyou than those pictures of hot guyswith baby animals (yes, it is a real book). Laziness, failure to perform their share of chores, or being unthoughtful with how they can help you are all easy ways for you to feel unappreciated and unloved.

2. Words of Affirmation

This one is the gushingbest friendof love languages.If your #1 Love Language is Words of Affirmation, actions do not speak louder than words. Unsolicited compliments make you feel secure and happy in your relationship. Hearing I love you on a regular basis is important to you, and helps you to believeyou are loved. Hearing the reasons behindwhy they love you isicing on the happy-relationship cake. Insults are not easily forgotten and not hearing enough words of affirmation will make you feel unloved.

3. Quality Time

For you, nothing says I love you like binge-watching Game of Thrones or playing Scrabble on a Friday night. Having your partner's undivided attention is the time when you feel most appreciated. Distractions during quality time or postponing dates canmake you feel like you aren't important to your partner. Scheduling the time to be together iscrucial to the success of your relationship.

4. Receiving Gifts

This one may sound like it's materialistic or reserved for gold diggers. But if this is your #1 language, don't question your character. It actually has more to do with the thought behind the gift than thegift itself. You appreciate the thoughtfulness behind gift giving (whetherit's a grand birthday present or bringing homeyour favorite magazine from a trip to the drugstore). All gifts, whethersmall and daily or big and grand, remind you how much you matter to your partner and how much thoughtfulness and effort they thinkyou're worth. Missed birthdays or thoughtless gifts are your relationship nightmare because itmakes you feel like your partner doesn't care about you.

5. Physical Touch

Get your mind out of the gutter, this isn't just about intimacy - holding hands, hugging, or pats on the back make you feel loved and cared for. Physical closeness is directlyrelated to emotional closeness for you, andneglect can be destructive to the relationship. A hug can lift your mood or take away your insecurities.

Source: Glamour UK

So why isknowing your partner's love language so crucial to the success of yourrelationship?

It will help you and your partnerfeel more appreciated.

Think about it: if you're an Acts of Service person dating a Words of Affirmation person, your partner might shower you with compliments and I love yous every day, but you would spend the relationship not feeling truly appreciated because they never offer to run errands or do the dishes. Understanding your partner'slove language will help you discernhow they show their love, so that you do feel loved and appreciated, knowing the way in which they give their love is different than yours.

It will allowyou to communicate your needs more.

We've all had those little things we wish our partner would just do without us asking; complimenting us when we dress up, bringing home flowers, planning a date night. When they don't do these things, it can be hurtful because in our minds, those things equate to their appreciation. We also might worry they'd just be doing those things because they feel forced to if we ask them to, not out of appreciation or love. Understanding that they do other things out oflove, and that they just have a different love language, will helpyou to communicate, it makes me feel appreciated when you clean the kitchen, or I feel loved when you hold my hand.

It will show you and your partner what you bothshould do without being asked.

Knowing your partner is a Physical Touch person will make you more thoughtful about holding their hand in public or hugging themwhen they're down, and you will be able to understand the meaning and importance behindthese little acts that, for you, would otherwise be insignificant. Your partner will be more consciousabout what they can do to show you how much they appreciate and love you.When you and your partner both know how the other gives appreciationand wants to receive appreciation, it makes for more thoughtful decisions and efforts that make you and your partner both feel loved and valued.

Take the quiz with your partner, and you can thankme and Oprah's Wardrobe Stylist later.

Do you think knowing your partner's love language will change your relationship? Do you have any personal stories about you or someone you know? Let us know in the comments!

The post Why You Need to Know Your Partner's Love Language appeared first on The Everygirl.

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6 Steps to Set Boundaries Between Your Work and Personal Life

Boundaries-we know they're important. But, they're something far too many of us-despite our best intentions-struggle to set.

We find ourselves scrolling through work emails during time we reserved for chipping our way through the Netflix queue, or we spend hours ofa Saturday working on a project for our boss-even though it's supposed to be our day off.

This crossing of the line between work and play doesn't just happen when your career trickles into your personal life-it can go the other way too. You might take a personal call during work hours or kill some time online shopping before your next meeting.

Of course, our lives aren't packaged into neat little compartments, and it's only natural that there's bound to be some blending between work and personal identities. In an ideal world, we could integrate the two, rather than being obsessed with balancing them.

But, for those of us who require a black and white approach to time management? Well, some firm guidelines are necessary to ensure that one element of our lives doesn't overwhelm the others. So, here are six steps to help you set some much needed boundaries between your work and personal life.

1. Accept that you won't be perfect.

This first step isn't meant to be discouraging, and it's an important one for you to accept before you move ahead with trying to separate your professional identity from personal matters.

Here's the brutal truth: You're not going to be perfect at this 100% of the time. There will still be times when you answer an urgent work call on your vacation and there will still be moments when you scroll through Instagram when you should be answering work emails.

Setting boundaries for yourself involves some serious changes in your routines and habits-which, ultimately, take a little bit of getting used to. So, be a little forgiving with yourself in those moments when you don't keep a clear dividing line between work and play, and you'll be able to tackle the next steps with a positive attitude. Remember, progress over perfection.

2. Recognize your limitations.

Like you, I've read my fair share of advice on work/life balance, and practically none of it has accounted for each person's unique situation. After all, it'd be pretty much impossible to wrap all individual circumstances into one piece of advice.

Perhaps you've read an article that says you should work at your peak productivity hours-but, that's not doable for you because your office doesn't offer a flexible schedule. Or, maybe another piece suggests reserving evenings for pure relaxation. But, that's not practical when you're always working the night shift.

As with any advice, there isn't really a one size fits allsolution. Instead, it's important for you to take a good, hard look at your own situation and recognize your restrictions and limitations within your own schedule. Doing so right from the get go will help you set an agenda and boundaries that work best for you-and not everybody else.

3. Create a schedule.

Nowit's time to put your boundaries in writing. It might seem like an unnecessary step, but putting pen to paper will help you take your guidelines that much more seriously-making you all the more likely to actually respect them. In fact, studies show that people who wrote down their goals were over 80% more likely to actually achieve them.

So, if you've decided you're going to unplug from work each evening by 6 p.m.? Put a note on each day of your calendar as a friendly nudge to disconnect when it's time.

Do whatever you need toto create a structure and schedule. Then, make your best effort to stick to it.

4. Communicate clearly.

Of course, it's not wise to change your entire structure and approach to work and assume that everybody else will just catch on and adjust. Instead, clear communication will be crucial for not only ensuring that you respect your newly set boundaries, but that other people do too.

Will you no longer be handling work emails on the weekends? Give your colleagues a heads up, or even set an out-of-office response. Are you putting an end to those two-hour lunches with a friend during the workweek? Let her know that you'll now need to squeeze your get-togethers into the hour you're given, or meet up after work.

Make sure you communicate with the other people who will be impacted by your newly set boundaries, and you'll have a much easier, guilt-free time actually holding yourself to them.

5. Instill accountability.

All too often, things come up that test our willpower and our commitment to the boundaries we've set. And, if you don't think you have the inner wherewithal to hold yourself accountable, it might be helpful to call in some reinforcements.

This doesn't need to be anything formal or complex. If you're meeting a few friends for happy hour, tell them you want to enjoy your time without glancing at your phone-so they can remind you when you mindlessly reach for it. Or, loop your deskmate in on the fact that you need to pack up and leave the office by 6 p.m.in order to make it to that workout class you've been meaning to attend for ages.

We could all use a little help, encouragement, and some friendly nudges every now and then. Don't be afraid to loop other people in on your boundaries so they can help keep you accountable!

6. Check in with yourself.

Here's the tricky part: Our circumstances are always changing. This week won't be exactly like last week, and next month won't look exactly like this month. And, needless to say, this can make it difficult to set rigid boundaries for yourself.

Fortunately, creating boundaries between your work and personal life isn't a set it and forget it sort of thing. Instead, you should reserve some time to have some regular reflection periods-preferably every month-where you can check in on how you're feeling about your balance.

Have you felt like you've overextended yourself at work (meaning there's almost no time for your personal passions)? Is there something you've been meaning to make time for, yet keep pushing to the backburner? Do you have an upcoming vacation that's going to require you to work extra hours in the next two weeks in order to prepare?

Don't be afraid to adjust your boundaries when necessary.

Make time for these brief periods of thought and reflection, and you'll be able to adjust your boundaries when necessary. Remember, nothing is set in stone.

When the ability to be constantly connected makes it that much more difficult to draw lines between work and your personal life, setting boundaries for yourself is more important than ever. But, that doesn't mean it's easy. Implement these six steps, and you'll be able to move forward with all aspects of your life working together-rather than against each other.

Do you set boundaries for yourself? What works for you?

This article was originally published in May of 2016.

The post 6 Steps to Set Boundaries Between Your Work and Personal Life appeared first on The Everygirl.

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5 Reasons Customer User Experience Has To Come First In Any Business

Customer user experience is one thing that can make your business grow in popularity and outperform its competition. This is why a lot of businesses and corporate organizations are investing more and more resources into making sure that the experience their customers have while doing business with them is positive.

There is no doubt that businesses are done with a lot of emotions attached. If you treat a first-time customer shabbily, the tendency is that the customer goes away with that horrible experience chiseled into his brain, and he/she would never want to be reminded of you in the future.

The way you treat your real or potential customers, what they feel about your brand, and how satisfied they are with your product would make or mar your business in the long run.

It would suffice to say; therefore, that customer user experience is an integral part of any business success and must never be overlooked. In this post, we shall take a look at 5 reasons customer user experience has to come first in any business.

We firmly believe that recognizing this fact would go a long way in helping to put your business on the right pedestal and aid you to retain the bulk of customers that transact business with you.

So now, what's the meaning of customer user experience?

To put succinctly, customer user experience is simply the perception that customers have regarding how they are treated by a business or company. The perception goes a long way in determining their memories and behaviors toward the company.

Why is Customer User Experience Important?

Until we are able to provide an answer to this relevant question, our services are not likely to improve, and the customers would continue to have poor experiences in the hands of business and corporate owners. It is easy to assume that your customers are satisfied with your service because of the growth you have seen over the years.

But are they delighted? A lot of them are not. 2016 Edelman Trust Barometer Report has it that customers that trust businesses are more likely to patronize their service or buy their products. The same customers are more likely to also recommend such goods and/or services to their family and friends. So, why should we make customer user experience to come first?

(source)

1. Improves Customer Satisfaction

One major reason why customer user experience is vital is that it improves customer satisfaction. The way a buyer is treated when he/she transacts business with you would create comfort even though the product he buys does not necessarily meet all the expected qualities. Improving your customer relationship and treating customers better would lead to more customer satisfaction.

Your business is likely to make-up to 33% more customers to be satisfied just by improving the way you treat those customers. Do you know that 86% of customers will pay you more if they have a better customer experience?

It is paramount to make your buyers have a great customer experience. Research shows that 13% of unhappy customers would usually tell 15 more people about their sad experience. Unfortunately, about 72% of satisfied customers relate their beautiful experiences to just 6 or more persons. What this simply translates to is that unsatisfied customers can quickly pull down your business by driving away potential buyers.

2. Improves Customer Retention

The easiest way to retain a customer is to keep them satisfied from the outset and as they continue to do business with you. We earlier noted how positive user experience led to customer satisfaction. Now that the customer is satisfied with your product or service, the next thing is that such buyer is retained based on the fact that he/she has no reason to leave and search for alternatives.

Research made on Smallbiztrends shows that 20% of your existing customers would be responsible for 80% of your future revenues. There's also a 60-70 percent probability that you will sell to your existing customers while it is only 5-20 percent probable that you will be able to sell to a new prospect. Hence, every business owner that is keen on making more profits in the future must learn how to treat his customers well.

3. Responsiveness is the language in mobile browsing

(source)

Desktop used to be the primary available browser for internet users in the time past. However, all that became history in 2014 when mobile browsing officially overtook desktop. For visitors to your website to have a positive user experience, you need to consider making your mobile version highly responsive while developing your site.

Any website that is not mobile-friendly is losing a sizeable percentage of potential customers. Adopting responsive themes for your sites makes it easy to access on different devices thereby improving the user experience and then more sales. In a blog post on the Temok blog, Oleg stated that smartphones are no longer used for just calls and texting, and I couldn't have agreed more.

Using myself as an example, I have two mobile phones - one is just a small Nokia phone that I've been using for over 5 years now. The Nokia phone is not internet enabled hence, I use it to just make calls and texting alone because the battery lasts. However, I have another big smartphone that is really smart (in the sense of features). Now, I can't remember the last time I used this phone to answer a call. All I do with it is surf the internet especially when I'm not at home (which is usually the case).

Now, I know this is the same thing for most people (even you).

Therefore, if your website is not yet optimized for mobile, you really (really) should consider that immediately. Today, it's no longer difficult to achieve this, just get a good premium theme (like the StudioPress themes) that is HTML5 compatible. Most of them are already made to blend with mobile devices. Apart from that, there are also a lot of WordPress plugins that can help you with that.

4. Google insists on quality content

Nobody understands the usefulness of user experience more than Google does. Google is keen on making sure that people get value for their money by insisting that every site should be structured in such a way as to improve the experience that visitors have when they get to such sites.

When Google demands that people should have useful and informative, credible, high quality, and engaging content, what do you think they are trying to achieve? They simply want your site visitors to have a better user experience.

You may have noticed that the top performing sites in all niches have the above-listed features hence it is difficult for their users to ditch them for another site. If a customer keeps coming back to your site, it means that something is going on well for him/her. That is what customer user experience is about.

5. Trust is important

Have you ever tried to get in touch with the support staff of a company to have your money refunded after being dissatisfied with their product? What experience did you get? A lot of buyers share their nasty experiences daily online regarding the shabby ways they are treated by the customer service of some companies.

Well, one way to build trust in buyers is to improve user experience in a way that makes them willing to return to you in the future. For instance, the majority of businesses have customer service in place; meaning that you can always come to them to lay your complaint or express your concerns. Having a reliable customer service in place means giving customers the confidence they need to have about you and your services.

Serious companies have a return policy which ensures that any good purchased that doesn't meet the expectation of the buyer is either returned and the money refunded, or the product is replaced. When such arrangements exist, they give the customer a reason to trust you and part with their money without the fear that they might lose out in the long run. In a nutshell, positive user experience builds trust.

Conclusion

Customer user experience is the most important aspect of your business if your dream is to have customers who would be there with you through thick and thin. When your customers are happy with you and satisfied with the way they are treated, they would always come back to patronize you.

Therefore, improve the way you treat your customers and your sales would certainly go up.

The post 5 Reasons Customer User Experience Has To Come First In Any Business appeared first on All Blogging Tips and is written by Theodore Nwangene

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5 Reasons Customer User Experience Has To Come First In Any Business

Customer user experience is one thing that can make your business grow in popularity and outperform its competition. This is why a lot of businesses and corporate organizations are investing more and more resources into making sure that the experience their customers have while doing business with them is positive.

There is no doubt that businesses are done with a lot of emotions attached. If you treat a first-time customer shabbily, the tendency is that the customer goes away with that horrible experience chiseled into his brain, and he/she would never want to be reminded of you in the future.

The way you treat your real or potential customers, what they feel about your brand, and how satisfied they are with your product would make or mar your business in the long run.

It would suffice to say; therefore, that customer user experience is an integral part of any business success and must never be overlooked. In this post, we shall take a look at 5 reasons customer user experience has to come first in any business.

We firmly believe that recognizing this fact would go a long way in helping to put your business on the right pedestal and aid you to retain the bulk of customers that transact business with you.

So now, what's the meaning of customer user experience?

To put succinctly, customer user experience is simply the perception that customers have regarding how they are treated by a business or company. The perception goes a long way in determining their memories and behaviors toward the company.

Why is Customer User Experience Important?

Until we are able to provide an answer to this relevant question, our services are not likely to improve, and the customers would continue to have poor experiences in the hands of business and corporate owners. It is easy to assume that your customers are satisfied with your service because of the growth you have seen over the years.

But are they delighted? A lot of them are not. 2016 Edelman Trust Barometer Report has it that customers that trust businesses are more likely to patronize their service or buy their products. The same customers are more likely to also recommend such goods and/or services to their family and friends. So, why should we make customer user experience to come first?

(source)

1. Improves Customer Satisfaction

One major reason why customer user experience is vital is that it improves customer satisfaction. The way a buyer is treated when he/she transacts business with you would create comfort even though the product he buys does not necessarily meet all the expected qualities. Improving your customer relationship and treating customers better would lead to more customer satisfaction.

Your business is likely to make-up to 33% more customers to be satisfied just by improving the way you treat those customers. Do you know that 86% of customers will pay you more if they have a better customer experience?

It is paramount to make your buyers have a great customer experience. Research shows that 13% of unhappy customers would usually tell 15 more people about their sad experience. Unfortunately, about 72% of satisfied customers relate their beautiful experiences to just 6 or more persons. What this simply translates to is that unsatisfied customers can quickly pull down your business by driving away potential buyers.

2. Improves Customer Retention

The easiest way to retain a customer is to keep them satisfied from the outset and as they continue to do business with you. We earlier noted how positive user experience led to customer satisfaction. Now that the customer is satisfied with your product or service, the next thing is that such buyer is retained based on the fact that he/she has no reason to leave and search for alternatives.

Research made on Smallbiztrends shows that 20% of your existing customers would be responsible for 80% of your future revenues. There's also a 60-70 percent probability that you will sell to your existing customers while it is only 5-20 percent probable that you will be able to sell to a new prospect. Hence, every business owner that is keen on making more profits in the future must learn how to treat his customers well.

3. Responsiveness is the language in mobile browsing

(source)

Desktop used to be the primary available browser for internet users in the time past. However, all that became history in 2014 when mobile browsing officially overtook desktop. For visitors to your website to have a positive user experience, you need to consider making your mobile version highly responsive while developing your site.

Any website that is not mobile-friendly is losing a sizeable percentage of potential customers. Adopting responsive themes for your sites makes it easy to access on different devices thereby improving the user experience and then more sales. In a blog post on the Temok blog, Oleg stated that smartphones are no longer used for just calls and texting, and I couldn't have agreed more.

Using myself as an example, I have two mobile phones - one is just a small Nokia phone that I've been using for over 5 years now. The Nokia phone is not internet enabled hence, I use it to just make calls and texting alone because the battery lasts. However, I have another big smartphone that is really smart (in the sense of features). Now, I can't remember the last time I used this phone to answer a call. All I do with it is surf the internet especially when I'm not at home (which is usually the case).

Now, I know this is the same thing for most people (even you).

Therefore, if your website is not yet optimized for mobile, you really (really) should consider that immediately. Today, it's no longer difficult to achieve this, just get a good premium theme (like the StudioPress themes) that is HTML5 compatible. Most of them are already made to blend with mobile devices. Apart from that, there are also a lot of WordPress plugins that can help you with that.

4. Google insists on quality content

Nobody understands the usefulness of user experience more than Google does. Google is keen on making sure that people get value for their money by insisting that every site should be structured in such a way as to improve the experience that visitors have when they get to such sites.

When Google demands that people should have useful and informative, credible, high quality, and engaging content, what do you think they are trying to achieve? They simply want your site visitors to have a better user experience.

You may have noticed that the top performing sites in all niches have the above-listed features hence it is difficult for their users to ditch them for another site. If a customer keeps coming back to your site, it means that something is going on well for him/her. That is what customer user experience is about.

5. Trust is important

Have you ever tried to get in touch with the support staff of a company to have your money refunded after being dissatisfied with their product? What experience did you get? A lot of buyers share their nasty experiences daily online regarding the shabby ways they are treated by the customer service of some companies.

Well, one way to build trust in buyers is to improve user experience in a way that makes them willing to return to you in the future. For instance, the majority of businesses have customer service in place; meaning that you can always come to them to lay your complaint or express your concerns. Having a reliable customer service in place means giving customers the confidence they need to have about you and your services.

Serious companies have a return policy which ensures that any good purchased that doesn't meet the expectation of the buyer is either returned and the money refunded, or the product is replaced. When such arrangements exist, they give the customer a reason to trust you and part with their money without the fear that they might lose out in the long run. In a nutshell, positive user experience builds trust.

Conclusion

Customer user experience is the most important aspect of your business if your dream is to have customers who would be there with you through thick and thin. When your customers are happy with you and satisfied with the way they are treated, they would always come back to patronize you.

Therefore, improve the way you treat your customers and your sales would certainly go up.

The post 5 Reasons Customer User Experience Has To Come First In Any Business appeared first on All Blogging Tips and is written by Theodore Nwangene

Special: 86+ Premium theme for $39: Check out Elegant themes

[forensicsjones83]

5 Reasons Customer User Experience Has To Come First In Any Business

Customer user experience is one thing that can make your business grow in popularity and outperform its competition. This is why a lot of businesses and corporate organizations are investing more and more resources into making sure that the experience their customers have while doing business with them is positive.

There is no doubt that businesses are done with a lot of emotions attached. If you treat a first-time customer shabbily, the tendency is that the customer goes away with that horrible experience chiseled into his brain, and he/she would never want to be reminded of you in the future.

The way you treat your real or potential customers, what they feel about your brand, and how satisfied they are with your product would make or mar your business in the long run.

It would suffice to say; therefore, that customer user experience is an integral part of any business success and must never be overlooked. In this post, we shall take a look at 5 reasons customer user experience has to come first in any business.

We firmly believe that recognizing this fact would go a long way in helping to put your business on the right pedestal and aid you to retain the bulk of customers that transact business with you.

So now, what's the meaning of customer user experience?

To put succinctly, customer user experience is simply the perception that customers have regarding how they are treated by a business or company. The perception goes a long way in determining their memories and behaviors toward the company.

Why is Customer User Experience Important?

Until we are able to provide an answer to this relevant question, our services are not likely to improve, and the customers would continue to have poor experiences in the hands of business and corporate owners. It is easy to assume that your customers are satisfied with your service because of the growth you have seen over the years.

But are they delighted? A lot of them are not. 2016 Edelman Trust Barometer Report has it that customers that trust businesses are more likely to patronize their service or buy their products. The same customers are more likely to also recommend such goods and/or services to their family and friends. So, why should we make customer user experience to come first?

(source)

1. Improves Customer Satisfaction

One major reason why customer user experience is vital is that it improves customer satisfaction. The way a buyer is treated when he/she transacts business with you would create comfort even though the product he buys does not necessarily meet all the expected qualities. Improving your customer relationship and treating customers better would lead to more customer satisfaction.

Your business is likely to make-up to 33% more customers to be satisfied just by improving the way you treat those customers. Do you know that 86% of customers will pay you more if they have a better customer experience?

It is paramount to make your buyers have a great customer experience. Research shows that 13% of unhappy customers would usually tell 15 more people about their sad experience. Unfortunately, about 72% of satisfied customers relate their beautiful experiences to just 6 or more persons. What this simply translates to is that unsatisfied customers can quickly pull down your business by driving away potential buyers.

2. Improves Customer Retention

The easiest way to retain a customer is to keep them satisfied from the outset and as they continue to do business with you. We earlier noted how positive user experience led to customer satisfaction. Now that the customer is satisfied with your product or service, the next thing is that such buyer is retained based on the fact that he/she has no reason to leave and search for alternatives.

Research made on Smallbiztrends shows that 20% of your existing customers would be responsible for 80% of your future revenues. There's also a 60-70 percent probability that you will sell to your existing customers while it is only 5-20 percent probable that you will be able to sell to a new prospect. Hence, every business owner that is keen on making more profits in the future must learn how to treat his customers well.

3. Responsiveness is the language in mobile browsing

(source)

Desktop used to be the primary available browser for internet users in the time past. However, all that became history in 2014 when mobile browsing officially overtook desktop. For visitors to your website to have a positive user experience, you need to consider making your mobile version highly responsive while developing your site.

Any website that is not mobile-friendly is losing a sizeable percentage of potential customers. Adopting responsive themes for your sites makes it easy to access on different devices thereby improving the user experience and then more sales. In a blog post on the Temok blog, Oleg stated that smartphones are no longer used for just calls and texting, and I couldn't have agreed more.

Using myself as an example, I have two mobile phones - one is just a small Nokia phone that I've been using for over 5 years now. The Nokia phone is not internet enabled hence, I use it to just make calls and texting alone because the battery lasts. However, I have another big smartphone that is really smart (in the sense of features). Now, I can't remember the last time I used this phone to answer a call. All I do with it is surf the internet especially when I'm not at home (which is usually the case).

Now, I know this is the same thing for most people (even you).

Therefore, if your website is not yet optimized for mobile, you really (really) should consider that immediately. Today, it's no longer difficult to achieve this, just get a good premium theme (like the StudioPress themes) that is HTML5 compatible. Most of them are already made to blend with mobile devices. Apart from that, there are also a lot of WordPress plugins that can help you with that.

4. Google insists on quality content

Nobody understands the usefulness of user experience more than Google does. Google is keen on making sure that people get value for their money by insisting that every site should be structured in such a way as to improve the experience that visitors have when they get to such sites.

When Google demands that people should have useful and informative, credible, high quality, and engaging content, what do you think they are trying to achieve? They simply want your site visitors to have a better user experience.

You may have noticed that the top performing sites in all niches have the above-listed features hence it is difficult for their users to ditch them for another site. If a customer keeps coming back to your site, it means that something is going on well for him/her. That is what customer user experience is about.

5. Trust is important

Have you ever tried to get in touch with the support staff of a company to have your money refunded after being dissatisfied with their product? What experience did you get? A lot of buyers share their nasty experiences daily online regarding the shabby ways they are treated by the customer service of some companies.

Well, one way to build trust in buyers is to improve user experience in a way that makes them willing to return to you in the future. For instance, the majority of businesses have customer service in place; meaning that you can always come to them to lay your complaint or express your concerns. Having a reliable customer service in place means giving customers the confidence they need to have about you and your services.

Serious companies have a return policy which ensures that any good purchased that doesn't meet the expectation of the buyer is either returned and the money refunded, or the product is replaced. When such arrangements exist, they give the customer a reason to trust you and part with their money without the fear that they might lose out in the long run. In a nutshell, positive user experience builds trust.

Conclusion

Customer user experience is the most important aspect of your business if your dream is to have customers who would be there with you through thick and thin. When your customers are happy with you and satisfied with the way they are treated, they would always come back to patronize you.

Therefore, improve the way you treat your customers and your sales would certainly go up.

The post 5 Reasons Customer User Experience Has To Come First In Any Business appeared first on All Blogging Tips and is written by Theodore Nwangene

Special: 86+ Premium theme for $39: Check out Elegant themes

[forensicsjones83]

Tofu Scramble Black Bean Vegan Breakfast Enchiladas

My breakfast game has been lacking for the last couple of weeks. I love creative, savory morning meals, but when things get busy I tend to default to toast or oats. Now that I've got a breather from class, I'm diving back into more diverse and playful breakfast ideas. The nice thing about these tofu scramble black black bean vegan breakfast enchiladas is that they can be prepared on a weekend and then enjoyed in leftover form for days to come, which actually makes them an easy, portable option for busy mornings!

As far as enchiladas go, these ones are also pretty quick to prepare. The tofu scramble will take about 15 minutes, and if you use a store-bought enchilada sauce, the assembly goes quickly. Once the enchiladas are all baked, you can take liberty with the toppings. I used a generous, zigzag drizzle of my all-purpose cashew cream with 3 tablespoons of nutritional yeast whisked in (to create something cheesy), along with avocado slices and lots of chopped cilantro. Any vegan shredded cheese would be great, as would pickled jalapenos.

The scramble itself is a variation on my classic tofu scramble, kicked up with some ground cumin and crushed red pepper flakes. The black beans add extra protein, fiber, and iron, along with some texture contrast to the tofu. If the idea of enchiladas isn't calling to you, the scramble itself is a tasty and nutritious breakfast option in its own right. (A dash of hot sauce makes it even better!)

Tofu Scramble Black Bean Vegan Breakfast Enchiladas

Print

Recipe type: breakfast, main dish

Cuisine: vegan, no oil optional, tree nut free, gluten free optional

Author: Gena Hamshaw

Prep time: 30 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 1 hour

Serves: 6 servings

Ingredients

2 teaspoons neutral flavored oil (such as avocado or grapeseed) or water

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 15-ounce block extra firm tofu, pressed beforehand if possible and roughly crumbled

teaspoon ground turmeric

teaspoon ground cumin

teaspoon smoked paprika

teaspoon fine salt

3 tablespoons nutritional yeast

1 cups cooked black beans (1 can, drained and rinsed)

cup chopped vegan bacon (optional; my current favorite is SweetEarth Benevolent Bacon, but you could use a homemade option or another brand of choice)

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice

Dash crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)

12 6-inch wheat or corn tortillas

2 scant cups (1 14-ounce can) store-bought red enchilada sauce (you can also make your own using the sauce portion of this recipe)

Topping options: all-purpose cashew cream (you can blend in nutritional yeast to make it cheesy) or truly amazing cashew queso sauce, avocado slices, chopped cilantro

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350F. Wrap your tortillas in foil and place them in the oven to warm up while you prepare the enchilada filling.

Heat the oil or water in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the peppers and onion. Cook the vegetables, stirring now and then, for 5-7 minutes, or until the onion is clear and soft. Add the tofu, turmeric, cumin, paprika, and salt. When the spices are evenly incorporated and the tofu is warmed through (about 2-3 minutes), stir in the nutritional yeast, black beans, and vegan bacon if using. Mix everything well, then add the lime juice and crushed red pepper. Taste the mixture and adjust seasonings as desired.

Remove the tortillas from the oven. Lightly oil a 9 x 13 inch rectangular baking dish. Pour about cup of the enchilada sauce into the baking dish and spread it out with a spatula so that covers the bottom of the dish.

Fill a tortilla with about cup filling, then roll it up. Place the tortilla seam-side down in the baking dish. Repeat this process with all of the remaining tortillas, placing them side-by-side in the dish. Pour the rest of the enchilada sauce over the rolled tortillas, using a spatula to spread the sauce evenly on top.

Transfer the enchiladas to the oven and bake for 35 minutes, or until the sauce is dark and bubbly (check them at 30 minutes to see if they're ready). Allow the enchiladas to cool slightly, then top with cashew cream or cashew queso, if using, and any other toppings of choice. Serve.

Notes

Leftover enchiladas will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge. They can be frozen for up to 3 weeks.

3.5.3226

If you have the time, I definitely recommend pressing your tofu before scrambling, so that the filling isn't overly wet when you roll up the enchiladas (if you don't have time, just be sure to use extra firm tofu). Some people prefer more crumbly tofu scramble, others a chunkier mix. I like big crumbles myself, but this is up to you. And in place of black beans, you can feel free to substitute kidney, pinto, or another bean you love.

It's such a treat to wake up to a recipe as flavorful, textured, and colorful as this one. I also love that the dish is packed with protein and fiber; nothing against toast, but this sticks to the ribs a bit better, and it's been keeping me super satisfied through the mornings!

Hope you'll give these a try and enjoy them. Can't wait to hear what you think. For now, wishing you a calm end of the week. I can't believe it's already Thursday, but I guess that's what happens after a long weekend.

See you for weekend reading,

xo

The post Tofu Scramble Black Bean Vegan Breakfast Enchiladas appeared first on The Full Helping.

[forensicsjones83]

Summery Chipotle Corn Chowder

This recipe is sponsored by Almond Breeze

The thing is, I try not to be TOO basic with my blog recipes, but then I remember the truth: I am basic. I LOVE basic.

And veg-friendly soups that are basic and flexible? They are in my zone.

So today I introduce you to my current favorite summer soup, the massive bowl of highly decorated Chipotle Corn Chowder. Let's start things off right with a close-up.

Even though this recipe is gluten free and vegan, it's bomb-diggitycreamy. We have three, maybe four,things to thank for that:

olive oil

potatoes

sweet corn

almondmilk

Something magical happens when you take these four ingredients (and maybe just a few more vegetables that you happened to throw in because it's GARDEN SEASON, HELLO BOSS!) and whiz them together in your blender. Scientifically it's maybe called an emulsion, plus the starches of the potatoes and carrots? Here we're basic, remember? it's called miraculous glory. That something magical is a creamy, velvety, feels-like-it-should-be-cream-based soup that is everything my summer corn-chowder loving self could ever want. That Almond Breeze is gifting us something special right here: the combo of creamy and nutty and just a teeny tiny percent naturally sweet-tasting is the perfectfriend for corn, potatoes, olive oil, vegetable stock, and the garden vegetable gang.

HOW TO MAKE OUR CHIPOTLE CORN CHOWDER:

Hmm? You want to throw a chipotle in there? Two chipotles? And some fresh basil?

You would. You so totally would.

(And so would I, which is why we're friends.)

So far my favorite addition to this soup has been zucchini, and my favorite toppings list would be a mile long but I will condense so that you don't unsubscribe: ribboned basil, runny pesto, infused olive oils, hemp hearts. I KNOW. I cannot not make this fake-fancy. It's a disorder.

Not that you guys know anything about this, but I've found this soup to be a good remedy to the I-Don't-Want-To-Make-Food-In-The-Summer blues.

Itsays: goodbye, depressing desk lunch eaten while looking wistfully outside at the nice weather. It says: goodbye, chips and Magic Green Sauce for dinner because I cannot be botheredto cook. It says: hello, summer lover.

[forensicsjones83]

How to Wear the Latest Trends (We Asked an Expert)

This week on We Need to Talk, we're chatting about how to rock a crop top and how wide leg trousers are different from gauchopants - long live the '90s.

The latest trends are here and we needed help - PJs as outerwear is all our dreams come true, but how do you wear them out without looking like you stumbled out of a midday nap?

We consulted Jeannine Benoit Adams, the founder of Ready Pretty, for her sage style wisdom and our Social Media Manager, Caitlin Timson, got the low down on how to rock the crop, and the one pair of mules to invest in this season.

P.S. Watch till the end to see our favorite bloopers!Plus, a special visit from our latest office obsession: June!

How do you wear the latest trends? Do you have style questions you need answered, like, now? Tell us in the comments below and Jeannine will come to your rescue!

The post How to Wear the Latest Trends (We Asked an Expert) appeared first on The Everygirl.

[forensicsjones83]

5 Steps to Letting Go of Expectations

As a minimalist, I try hard to be intentional about what I include in my life from my possessions to my relationships but there's one thing I've always struggled to let go of:

Expectations.

Picture this you go to bed with a clear picture in your mind of how the next morning will play out.

You'll wake up refreshed, have a nice cup of coffee, read or meditate, get to work early, have a productive morning

Sounds good, right? (Yes!) But then life happens. You sleep through your alarm, you're out of coffee, you miss the bus and next thing you know, you're on the fast track to a Bad Day.

I know we've all been there and it's more than just a challenging morning; there's also the disappointment we feel when our reality doesn't match our expectations.

I've struggled with this all my life (I've written about it here and here) but it's at the front of my mind again because of the little one growing in my belly. I'm already realising my body and my schedule are not my own anymore and I know it won't be long until I really have to say goodbye to control and learn to roll with the punches!

I'll be honest; there's going to be a learning curve this is not a habit you unlearn overnight but I'm getting there (slowly!). If you struggle to let go of expectations as well, here are 5 steps that might help.

ACKNOWLEDGE THE ROLE OF YOUR EXPECTATIONS

First and foremost, my biggest challenge with letting go of expectations is often just owning up to the real problem! Instead, of acknowledging that I'm disappointed, it's often easier to turn the blame elsewhere.

For example, a few weeks ago I was driving home from work and started thinking how nice it would be to have a date night with my hubby. I imagined going home, getting changed, and heading out for a nice dinner and some quality time together.

But when I got home and checked my phone, I had a message from him letting me know he was going to the pub for an afterwork drink

Now to be clear, he very rarely does this, and he's not a mind reader there's no way he could have known I was dreaming of a date night but my first instinct was to feel neglected and angry. Was he choosing his friends over me?

Of course not. When I had a moment to calm down and think rationally, I realised my frustration had nothing to do with him and everything to do with my expectations and when I acknowledged this, I felt my anger disappear and it was easier to move on.

CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE

When things don't go as planned, it's natural to feel negative and to focus on what we're missing out on. (I'm not having a productive morning, I'm not on my date night, I'm not [fill in expectation here].) With this mindset, it's no surprise when we feel irritated or let down.

But what if we choose to change our perspective?

Sometimes it's as simple as the language we choose to use with ourselves. Instead of saying I'm not, we could decide to say I am encouraging us to seek out gratitude and to look at our glass as half full.

You might not be on a date night, but an empty house to yourself? Sounds like the perfect setting for a glass of wine and a good book (or your self-care ritual of choice!).

DEFINE WHAT YOU REALLY WANT

Next time things don't go exactly as you hoped, try asking yourself what you're really trying to achieve. Once you identify it, you can adjust course and look for a different way to achieve the same result.

Going back to the date night example again, what I really wanted was quality time with my husband going out on a date was simply one way to achieve this. By defining this, it was easy to see another alternative; I could simply talk to him and let him know I wanted his attention when I he came home.

RETHINK HOW YOU SET GOALS

One of the best ways to let go of expectations is to look at how you frame them in the first place. One thing I've realised is, too often, I'm setting myself up for disappointment before I even begin.

Consider these two goals:

I'm going to write a blog post tonight.

I'm going to spend two hours writing tonight.

The first goal sounds good, but let me be honest with you my creativity isn't available on tap. Despite my best intentions, there are some nights when I write and write and write, but the words just don't flow! Inevitably, defining my goal by the end result will eventually lead to frustration.

But the second goal? It's much more manageable. Of course, it's not guaranteed (life still happens!) but by framing my expectations around the effort I'm going to put in (instead of the results), I've got a better chance of accomplishing what I set out to achieve.

DECIDE TO CHOOSE YOUR MOOD

This is one of my favourite sayings, one I turn to in all sorts of situations, but it's particularly relevant here. We can never be in complete control of what happens to us, we can only control how we choose to respond to the situation.

When things don't go as planned, we can choose to indulge in our disappointment or we can choose to let go and move forward. Ultimately, the choice is up to us.

How do you manage your expectations? Is this something you struggle with or do you have tips/tricks to share? Let me know in the comments! x

photo credit: unsplash.com // Used with permission

The post 5 Steps to Letting Go of Expectations appeared first on Simply + Fiercely.

[forensicsjones83]

Divorce Red Flags of Fraud

The vast majority of family law cases are settled without trials. However, a client should not enter into a voluntary settlement if there are significant concerns about the truth of the financial disclosures and indications that assets or income may be hidden. The first step in determining whether a forensic accountant is needed to evaluate the finances of the parties is the identification of red flags of fraud. A red flag is simply a warning sign or an unusual item or circumstance.

Attorneys often use their instinct to determine when a forensic accountant is needed in a family law case. If something does not feel right, it probably should be investigated. A client is often suspicious of the spouse even before they are separated. The spouse may even be known to manipulate the money.

Beyond using intuition to determine if something is wrong, there are plenty of warning signs that indicate the finances should be evaluated carefully. These red flags by themselves do not mean that money has disappeared or the finances are being manipulated. But they are signs that an investigation is warranted. Because divorce is so adversarial, it is likely that one or both of the spouses will conceal or manipulate financial facts.

Behavioral Red Flags

Evaluate the behavior of the spouse, both at home and at work. Is there secrecy or extreme control surrounding financial matters? Some general behavioral red flags include:

Excessive control exerted over financial matters, such as control of all bank information, statements, and online access

Details of transactions being concealed from the spouse

Large expenditures or asset purchases without the knowledge of the spouse

Being secretive about financial or other matters

A history of deception

Asking or coercing a spouse to sign unusual financial or legal documents

Using a post office box or other private address to receive mail (which cannot be accessed by the spouse)

Documentation Red Flags

The process of producing financial documents in a family law matter is often contentious, particularly in cases with larger income and asset values. The documentation can be voluminous, so it can take a great amount of time and effort to comply with discovery requests. Some of the more common discovery issues that can constitute red flags include:

Variations between the financial disclosure form and supporting documentation

Incomplete and/or unsigned financial disclosures

Deleted computerized financial, particularly QuickBooks or Quicken files or detailed spreadsheets Altered or destroyed financial documentation Backdated or falsely dated documents

Refusal to produce relevant financial documents

Piecemeal production of financial documents, especially in a confusing or redundant manner

Deliberate attempts to delay or derail the financial portion of discovery

Intentional confusion of financial records and paper trails of money

Personal Financial Red Flags

More specifically, there are a number of financial red flags that can point to the concealment of assets or income in the months or years leading up to a divorce:

High volume of cash transactions, possibly aimed at avoiding a paper trail of the money

Failure to deposit full paycheck or other known sources of funds

Stockpiles of cash or other valuable assets

Purposeful commingling of personal and business finances so as to obscure the financial picture

Loaning money to friends or family members to reduce cash in the marital estate

Undisclosed accounts, particularly if they have current activity and/or substantial balances

Valuable assets hidden during the marriage If a party has discovered throughout the marriage that the spouse was hiding valuable assets, it is likely that there are additional assets the party does not know about.

Investment values have decreased dramatically

Inflating or fabricating debts

Depleting marital property, while leaving separate property untouched

Assets known to exist during the marriage have disappeared after the separation with no paper trail

Personal income has allegedly decreased, but expenses have not decreased accordingly

One commonly occurring financial red flag is the substantial withdrawal of cash from a bank account, often multiple times. The spouse may also get cash into his or her hands by not depositing a full paycheck or other check, or through withdrawals at ATMs. The cash could be used to fund non-marital expenses (such as an affair or secret business venture), purchase hidden assets, or add funds to undisclosed accounts. Cash may also be used to purchase cashier's checks or money orders that are hidden until the divorce is finalized.

The discovery of a number of the above red flags should be a catalyst for a financial investigation in a divorce. The greater the number of red flags discovered, the more important it will be to carefully analyze the finances to look for hidden income, hidden assets, or other irregularities that could affect the division of assets or payment of support.

[forensicsjones83]

Vegan Dark Chocolate Cashew Cream Scones

Figuring out what and how to cook for my mom, who has a very different set of tastebuds from mine, has been a welcome challenge over the years. But experience has shown me that she's pretty much guaranteed to love anything with dark chocolate in it, and I also happen to know that she's partial to something sweet for breakfast. This year, my Mother's Day offering to her is a batch of rich, crumbly vegan dark chocolate cashew cream scones.

It's hard to imagine anyone not loving these scones, what with their buttery taste and pockets of bittersweet dark chocolate. I've experimented with a lot of whole grain, nutty approaches to morning scones, using rye flour, einkorn flour, spelt flour, and other whole grain varieties. I love those scones; I love how the bold flavor of wheat really shines through.

But that's not what these scones are about. These scones are light and white and crumbly; every bite is rich and tastes like butter (you can use either solid coconut oil or a vegan butter to make them; they'll be buttery-tasting either way). They're traditional, a little decadent, and more dessert than breakfast fare. In other words, they're a treat-a treat worthy of gifting and sharing.

Many scone recipes call for heavy cream; I've always substituted non-dairy milk in the past. This time, I decided to use the sweet version of my all-purpose cashew cream instead. I'm in love with the results. Yes, making the cashew cream is an extra step, but I really do think it makes the scones richer and more tender. And you'll probably have a few tablespoons of the cashew cream leftover, which will be perfect for drizzling onto your morning oats or a bowl of fresh berries.

Dark Chocolate Cashew Cream Scones

Print

Recipe type: dessert, snack, breakfast

Cuisine: vegan, soy free, gluten free option

Author: Gena Hamshaw

Prep time: 40 mins

Cook time: 25 mins

Total time: 1 hour 5 mins

Serves: 8 large scones

Ingredients

2½ cups unbleached, all-purpose flour (substitute your most reliable gluten free flour blend)

¼ cup granulated sugar, plus extra for sprinkling (cane sugar and coconut sugar work well)

2½ teaspoons baking powder

¾ teaspoon kosher salt (if you use vegan buttery spread instead of coconut oil, you should reduce the salt to ½ teaspoon)

6 tablespoons coconut oil (solid, not melted) or vegan butter, cut into pieces

¾ cup chopped dark chocolate, dark chocolate chunks, or dark chocolate chips

1 cup all-purpose cashew cream (substitute 1 cup almond, soy, or coconut milk creamer)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons almond milk + 1 teaspoon agave or maple syrup (optional, for glazing)

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the coconut oil or butter and use a pastry cutter or two forks to incorporate it into the flour mixture; it should be evenly incorporated and no big pieces visible, but little pieces (just less than pea-sized) are good. Mix in the dark chocolate.

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the cashew cream and vanilla. Use a spatula to mix until it's all just holding together (the dough can be a little shaggy and messy; it shouldn't be too wet). Transfer the dough to a floured surface and press it into a circle (about 7 inches across). Cut the circle into 8 scones. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate the scones for 30 minutes to 1 hour (or you can place them in the freezer for 30 minutes).

While the scones are in the fridge or freezer, preheat the oven to 350F. When the scones have chilled, you can brush them with the almond milk + syrup mixture (a vegan egg wash, inspired by Abby), then sprinkle them with extra sugar. (You can also skip this step.) Transfer the scones to the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the scones are just golden at the edges. Allow them to cool before enjoying.

3.5.3208

  My scone making skills have gotten a lot better thanks to inspiration from Liz Larkin (sconeladylarkin on Instagram), whose royal wedding scones are a perfect template for all sorts of creative variations! Posie also has some wonderful scone recipes that can be veganized, and for vegan-as-written recipes, I think nothing beats the scones in Vegan with a Vengeance. If you're looking to perfect your vegan scone game, Isa's hazelnut scones are a great place to begin.

I can't wait to give these to my mom this coming weekend. They'll be a small but sweet token of my appreciation for all of the love and support she's given me in the last few months. Until then, it's back to cramming for final exams. Have a lovely rest of the week, friends.

xo

The post Vegan Dark Chocolate Cashew Cream Scones appeared first on The Full Helping.

[forensicsjones83]

Finding the Best Expert Witness

More than ever, competent and dynamic expert witnesses are critical to winning legal cases. Even if a case doesn't go to trial, a credible expert can be the key to settling the case for your client. I believe that an expert witness has the opportunity to make or break a case. We all know that there are few chances to fix a bad opinion when you go to court. There is one chance to express the correct opinion and support it fully. A faulty opinion, or one with little reliable support, can doom a case.

Some attorneys have their preferred experts, while others get referrals from colleagues. Each attorney works with an expert witness in the way that she or he is comfortable. However, it never hurts to hear about it from the other side. This is my perspective on best utilizing your expert witness to her or his full value.

Finding the Right Expert The most critical part of working with an expert witness is finding the right one. Naturally, the selection of an expert involves the evaluation of education and credentials. The examination of an expert's credentials is a particularly critical process.

There are credentials that are earned through a bona fide process, such as the CPA (Certified Public Accountant), CFF (Certified in Financial Forensics), CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner), and CVA (Certified Valuation Analyst). Then there are credentials that are meaningless because they are simply purchased, none of which are even worth mentioning. It is important to research which credentials truly enhance the credibility of the expert.

In addition to credentials, a potential expert's case history should also be examined. Good technical experts do not necessarily make effective experts in a courtroom. Testimony experience can be an important piece to the puzzle. Your expert must possess the ability to effectively communicate findings to a judge and jury, or all the technical skills in the world may become meaningless.

Certain experts might need to have expertise in particular industries. Other cases may not require industry expertise, but just subject-matter expertise. This is a critical distinction that should be made early in the case.

It is important to carefully analyze both the strengths and weaknesses of the potential expert's background and experience. Not only must the expert have knowledge and expertise in the subject matter at-hand, she or he must also possess good analytical skills, be able to think and respond quickly and accurately, be a good communicator, possess integrity, and be able to complete casework in a timely fashion.

One less talked-about skill that some experts possess is the ability to work collaboratively with an attorney while standing her or his ground when necessary. It is important to be a team player and take direction from the attorney, but it can be equally important to strongly advise the attorney when necessary. This includes providing the opinion that is true and correct, rather than giving the opinion that the attorney desires and expects.

Finally, it's important to know whether your expert will actually be performing the work on your case, or if a junior associate will be handling the bulk of the work.

While the work of a junior associate may cost less, you will be sacrificing experience. Also, if the testifying expert has not performed most of the substantive work, she or he may not be familiar with all the documentation involved in the case. That lack of familiarity could be a liability during testimony. Consider whether a cost savings is worth the potential of a lower quality work product.

Start Early There are many reasons to get your expert on board early. The most important reasons have to do with the selection of the expert. Good experts who testify well are not always easy to find, especially in specialty areas. An early start gives an attorney the best chance of finding the proper professional to consult on the case.

An early start also helps ensure that once you find the right expert, you are actually able to retain her or him. You don't want opposing counsel to retain your preferred expert first. Particularly in specialty areas, competition for good experts can be tough, and an early start assures you a better chance of retaining the best expert.

It's also important to start early so that you can be sure the expert has time in her or his schedule for your case. Without a deposit, the best experts will not set aside time for your matter. It's disappointing to lose the right expert for your case, just because you didn't secure a commitment early enough.

Give the expert plenty of time to consider the issues, examine the information, and issue a report. Most experts will tell you that while it may be a bit more exciting to complete a case in a rush, having extra time usually leads to a more thorough and thought-out report. More time is almost always better than less time. Working Together A good expert can help the attorney with the formulation of a strategy related to that expert's area of specialty. For example, even though an attorney may be aggressively defending a claim, it can be helpful to discuss potential damages with a forensic accountant early in the case. A good expert will point out strengths and weaknesses in the strategies as they relate to her or his expertise.

An expert witness may be able to offer help throughout the discovery process. For example, a forensic accountant can help with requests for production of documents, particularly as it relates to accounting records. It is helpful to have someone familiar with the accounting process assist the attorney with formulating requests. Once documents and answers to interrogatories are received, the expert can review them and suggest follow-up requests.

The same expert can also be helpful with depositions. A forensic accountant can suggest lines of questioning or specific questions that should be asked. The expert might sit in on a preliminary hearing or deposition to offer the attorney assistance with questioning. Financial matters, for example, can become highly technical, and a qualified expert can help decode some of the numbers.

It is important to give your expert enough latitude to fully examine all pertinent documents and information. Sometimes attorneys limit this process too much, in order to save fees. While this makes economic sense, it is not always best for the case.

Find out what the expert would like to review and why, and then decide together whether that analysis is critical to the expert's formation of an opinion. Make sure that the expert has appropriate access to key people. If you have selected the right expert for your case, you should be willing to trust her or his recommendations in regard to the examination of information.

It is important to prepare the expert for testimony early. Attorneys sometimes wait until a couple of days before a trial to begin preparing experts. Earlier preparation is beneficial to the expert, because it allows her or him time to review the notes several times before going on the witness stand. Consider starting early with trial preparation, with possibly a short meeting immediately prior to the trial to finalize the preparation.

Being a good expert is about completing the work that legal counsel needs, while advising the attorney about the alternatives and opinions. The legal process can be collaborative, and a good expert should be willing to help guide the attorney when appropriate. An early start, coupled with a willingness to fully utilize the expert, can produce the most useful results.

[forensicsjones83]

Easy Weekend Project: DIY Painted Cabinets

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[forensicsjones83]

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[forensicsjones83]

Personal Red Flags of Fraud

As victims of occupational fraud reflect on crimes committed against their companies, they wonder if there were any signs that a fraud was occurring. They wonder how a trusted employee could steal from the company. Sadly, frauds are committed by people in positions of trust. What is it about those people that leads them to commit fraud?

Corporate thieves have many things in common with one another. There are many tell-tale characteristics about people and their lifestyles that signal the potential for fraud. These range from personal financial circumstances to attitudes on the job. A few of these traits alone do not indicate the potential for fraud, but the probability rises as we identify more of the characteristics. Work Habits Employees who steal from their employers often appear very dedicated. They work long hours and seem willing to take on extra responsibilities. For a normal person, these would be desired traits. An employee who helps accomplish more is seen as an asset to the company. For someone with the potential for fraud, however, these characteristics are worrisome.

An employee who shows up before everyone else and leaves after the other employees may have opportunities to cover up theft. As a dishonest employee walks through the office unchecked, imagine what documents and information that employee might access. Additional responsibilities for a dishonest employee offer another chance to access assets and records, and may give her or him the opportunity to conceal crimes.

It is important to be aware of employees who are almost compulsive about working long hours and doing everything themselves. What might appear to be unusual dedication to the company and the job, could possibly be an indicator of an employee scheming and devising ways to beat the system.

The flip side of an overly dedicated employee is the employee who is constantly fighting the rules and regulations. This employee objects unusually to following the established company procedures. She or he is constantly bucking the system and refusing to follow the rules. This type of employee may be unusually agitated at changes in policies and procedures, especially if these changes may impact a theft scheme.

This is different from the employee who says “we've always done it this way.” Employees who have been with a company a long time may establish their own routines and procedures, and change might be difficult for them. Resistance from an employee like this is probably not unusual or problematic.

The problem employee is the one to which the rules do not apply. She or he feels exempt from controls and accountability. Even when management begins stricter enforcement of rules, an employee who continues to challenge those rules may be at risk for committing fraud. Attitudes on the Job In addition to the above work habits, certain employee attitudes can signal a higher risk of occupational fraud. One of the foremost personal characteristics that can point to fraud is the lack of personal ethics. Those employees who exhibit low morals and ethics in their personal lives are likely to do so on the job. Those who are willing to cheat on small matters might be inclined to cheat on more significant things too.

Note that the inclination to steal from one's employer doesn't always appear so blatantly. Sometimes it is seen in more subtle ways. Look for negative attitudes such as a persistent dissatisfaction with the job and the company. Resentment of peers and superiors can also indicate the potential for fraud.

When employees feel that they are underpaid, underutilized, or underappreciated, they can run a higher risk of committing fraud. Those who don't feel fairly treated can more easily convince themselves that it is okay to steal from the company. They may rationalize it as supplementing their below-market pay or making up for a promotion not received.

Rationalization of poor performance can also be a red flag of fraud. It is normal for employees to want to perform well and to perceive their own performance in a positive light. However, when clearly poor performance is argued by the employee as stellar, this is a cause for concern.

One of the most obvious attitudes that should cause alarm is that of the “wheeler dealer.” This is the person who is always trying to beat the system, get ahead quick, or pull a fast one. This employee can usually be seen bragging about what a great deal she or he got on something, or how she or he swindled someone else. This person prides herself or himself on getting ahead in dishonest ways, and can be very risky to a company.

Employees who exhibit sudden or unusual changes in behavior and work habits should be eyed carefully. While such a change could be an innocent result of something happening at home, sometimes it is a red flag of fraud. It can signal an attempt to conceal dishonest behavior. Lifestyle Issues A number of factors outside one's work life can signal problems of which employers need to be aware. Criminal backgrounds are certainly of interest, and anyone convicted of a financial-related crime might not be the best employee for an accounting or finance position. Even though a company might not legally deny employment based upon a criminal conviction, management should still keep a close eye on employees with known convictions.

Personal financial problems have the potential to spill over into the workplace, especially if the employee sees an opportunity for theft. Companies need to pay attention to evidence of bankruptcy filings, a poor credit history, and high personal debts. While it's not possible to be aware of all the details of the financial status of employees, it's prudent to pay attention when information does come to light.

Employers should take note of employees with lifestyles that exceed their known means. The employee who drives a luxury vehicle and buys expensive jewelry on a modest salary should draw the attention of management. That employee might have a spouse with a higher salary or might have received an inheritance. However, that's not usually the case. Such an employee should be monitored because she or he might be stealing to fund these luxuries, or the items may be purchased on credit.

The stress of loan and credit card payments could push that employee to theft at a later date.

Habits such as gambling, alcohol, and drugs can also indicate the potential for fraud. These habits are expensive and can lead to a host of other problems, from financial pressures to criminal records. Dishonesty often plays a part in addictions, and that doesn't bode well for employers.

Instability in an employee's personal life can spill over into the workplace. Some factors which require caution include frequent changes in residence, romantic relationships, and family situations. Personal instability can be expensive, and financial pressures can push employees toward theft. Instability at home can also negatively impact job performance, and an employee might utilize fraud to cover up poor performance.

It's important to remember that a couple of these characteristics by themselves don't mean that your employee is stealing from you. However, it is the convergence of several of these risk factors and red flags that should signal a problem.

Identification of red flags of fraud is the first step in stopping a theft-in-progress. The red flags themselves may not be cause for an employer to take action against an employee. They are, however, cause for increased scrutiny and possibly further investigation.