There’s a lot of little things you must learn before you open a coffee shop. But, let’s talk about the reality of the coffee shop industry for a minute.

The truth is that opening a coffee shop isn’t that hard. If you look around you’ll see new coffee shops opening up regularly. Unfortunately, you’ll also see coffee shops with “for rent” signs on them just as regularly.

Opening up your coffee shop isn’t the tough part. It’s actually fairly easy. Keeping it open, and make it truly profitable for you is the hard part. A little bit of insider information is probably all that is standing between making a living with your coffee shop, and opening a profitable coffee shop!

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New Year’s Eve is coming fast. You’ll blow the horns, make a few toasts and get streamers in your hair. It’ll be another New Year’s Party with no one you really want to kiss at midnight. No love to share it all with. Looking forward to that?

Well, you can change your love life by following a whole new dating plan for this coming year. You can make a resolution right now, right here as you read this article to find new love. At this moment your chances of meeting the love of your life could be better than ever! The average marriage now lasts under seven years and this means new singles are coming on the scene all the time. In fact, around sixteen million people are now using online dating in the U.S. You have a lot of partners to choose from.

So go on, make the affirmation. Something like, I create a new love that is just right for me. Here is an eight-step love advice action plan that can make your resolution a reality in 2009:

1. Prioritize Finding Love

Imagine if you didn’t have a job and needed money-looking for one would be your absolute top priority. You would spend hours posting and searching sites like monster.com; scanning the want ads; calling recruiters; asking your friends; and jumping on any leads.

In contrast, despite being alone, finding love ranks pretty low on your to do list. You come home from work, run errands, answer some emails, call your friends, play with the dog, watch your favorite show, and maybe spend 15 minutes browsing your online dating site. Most of you are better at planning your weekend or vacation than planning your dating life. If you are truthful with yourself, the activities associated with creating a relationship are nowhere near the top of your priority list.

Yet study after study has shown that relationships are treasured above all else when we reflect on what has meant the most in our lives. So make finding love a top priority.

2. Have A ‘New You’ Party

Order a bunch of pizzas or something simple like Chinese food. Invite all your friends to come over for a ‘New You’ party where they give you a ‘makeover.’ Have them go through your clothes and accessories, getting rid of unflattering stuff and putting together some hot new looks for you. Ask them for referrals to great hair salons or clothing shops. Find a look that makes you feel great.

Don’t feel like you are imposing-there is usually nothing that your friends like more than giving you advice! Of course, tell them you are looking to meet someone special and to keep you in mind. Email the same message to any other buddies who did not make the party.

3. Work Your Online Dating Program

Throw out your old photo and profile. Have a friend who is a good photographer, make that a great photographer, take 100 headshots of you in order to get one that looks especially warm, attractive and inviting. Get some opposite-sex friends to help you pick out the best photo and work on your profile. After you post them spend at least three hours a week looking around the site, sending and responding to messages and connecting by phone and in person with people. Block out time in your daily calendar to work the program.

4. Go Where the Odds are Better

Sign up for two on-going classes/activities that interest you that have lots of potential partners in them-for example: finance, investing and leadership at your local college’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies; rock-climbing and golfing; snowboarding/skiing; hiking; and wine tasting are great for meeting men. Women are plentiful at cooking, growth, spirituality or yoga courses. Coed city sports teams are great and usually have an even mix of genders. There are many other activities, classes and clubs to consider so search online on any topic plus the name of a major city near you. Or go to www.meetup.com and peruse their groups. Also, if you’re so inclined, look into volunteering for a local or national political group.

5. Meet New People

Find and say hello to three new men or women every day. Assuming you are in a safe or public place, make eye contact, smile, say ‘Hi,’ or ask for some help. This is what I call the Marcia Cross Technique. Actress Marcia Cross was in her forties when she met her husband by chatting with him in a flower shop. She now is the ecstatic mother of twin baby girls.

If you don’t encounter a lot of men or women in your daily routine, make sure to try a new grocery store, dry cleaners, pharmacy or coffee/sandwich shop at lunch. You can start with saying hello to the less threatening types and work your way up to the ones who are “out of your league.” You will be surprised how receptive the hotties can be!

6. Date Against Type

Most people do not find love with the type of person they imagine for themselves. The guy who only wants a petite blonde winds up with a brainy brunette. The woman who dates starving artists marries a rich, balding lawyer. Look at photos and profiles that you would ordinarily take a quick pass on. If you always go for the sleek metrosexual, give the Midwesterner who just moved to your town a try. If you go for the hotties, try someone who is has a heart of gold and maybe only a B+ on looks. Try and experiment. You may be very happily surprised!

7. Go For A Second Date

Even if you are not exactly blown away by a person at the first date, remember to stay open. You cannot know what secret goodies are hidden in someone just by meeting them once. You have to let a potential partner unfold and show you his/her different sides. If there is any connection with this person at all, give it another chance. Love almost always comes in a surprise package.

8. Open The Door

If you do meet someone and have a really good time, send a quick text or email the next morning to let the person know that the door is open to getting together again. This is especially important for women to do. Write something specific about the date that points to the connection between the two of you or refers to something you both loved. For example, if you went to a comedy show, write a message that refers to a particular joke you both enjoyed and add, “Let’s do it again sometime.”

Now you have your love resolution and plan. Most importantly commit to the first step and make this work Priority One in your life. Then follow the recommended program to create the love you want in the coming year. Chances are, by next New Year’s Eve you’ll be kissing the one you want. For the latest research on creating love that is just right for you read my new book, Love in 90 Days: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Own True Love.

Dr. Diana Kirschner
http://www.articlesbase.com/dating-articles/eight-steps-to-finding-love-the-2009-dating-plan-621503.html

This means that Fairtrade goods are often more expensive in the UK than those without the Fairtrade logo. Although people are now arguing that supermarkets are fuelling their excessive profits by adding large mark-ups to these products This premium that the producer charges covers the basic food, housing, health and education needs of the local communities in countries such as India and Brazil. The Foundation awards a consumer label, the Fairtrade Mark, to products which meet internationally recognised standards of Fairtrade. It is the only such certification in the UK.

Examples of Fairtrade products:

• Fairtrade coffee

• Fairtrade Tea

• Fairtrade Chocolate

• Fairtrade Bananas

• Fairtrade Honey

• Fairtrade Sugar

• Fairtrade Fruit Juice

• Fairtrade Wine and Snacks

• Fairtrade Babyfood

The list of goods certified Fairtrade is growing daily as is the range of products available. The co-op changed all their own brand chocolate to Fairtrade a few years ago and now all the other big supermarkets are beginning to move into the Fairtrade market. Nestle have just released a Fairtrade brand. There has been huge controversy over this as many people are asking how a company that is subject to a boycott can pertain to have Fairtrade and therefore ethical principles?

Why buy Fairtrade?

Millions of small farmers around the world cannot get enough money to feed their families, send their children to school or invest just a few pounds into their farm. This is because people want to buy the cheapest goods possible and don’t think about the people that working in poor condition and often receive less than £1 per day in wages.

Buying products that display the Fairtrade logo ensures that the producers of products such as tea, coffee and chocolate receive a decent income. Rather than being hit by the ever-changing price of their product on the world market, or being fleeced by a middleman who takes a chunky share of the profits, producers in a Fair Trade scheme are guaranteed a decent, stable price for their produce.

By buying Fair trade products that buy direct from farmers at better prices, consumers are improving the lives of producers all over the world. In Eithiopia, farmers can often get more then twice the price for their fair trade coffee then those that sell it on the open market. This extra money enables the farmers to educate their children and to break the cycle of poverty.

Many people struggle to find a reason not to support Fairtrade. Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers. Fair trade is not about charity, it is about settling the imbalance which exists.

How do I know its Fairtrade?

Look for the Fairtrade Mark when you shop and make the choice to support small farmers and workers in the developing world, and encourage your workplace to switch to Fairtrade tea and coffee.

Find Fairtrade products via GuideMeGreen’s green directory.

Davinos Greeno
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/what-is-fairtrade-food-84545.html

Although there is no actual debtor’s prison, being buried under a mountain of bills can feel very constrictive. Once you are out of debt with the help of debt settlement and/or debt consolidation, there are several ways to prevent yourself from ever having to suffer from empty wallet syndrome again. Easier said than done, right? With a little discipline and a lot of persistence, you can happily maintain a lifestyle that will never be in need of debt relief again.

It’s all about a budget. Sit down and determine the total amount of take-home pay that comes into your household every month. Next, determine the nature and amount of all necessary expenses, including mortgage, auto, food and utilities. The amount that you have left after all necessary expenses have been paid will represent your extra spending money for the month. By spending no more than what you make, you will never again have to worry about needing debt relief.

Shop with a store list. It’s so easy to wander into the jewelry or sporting goods section, but there are often greater rewards with discipline. If you shop with a list and stay within the areas that sell only what you need to buy, you won’t be tempted by impulse purchases. Although excessive spending is not the only reason why many are in need of debt consolidation and/or debt settlement services, it is one of the leading causes of debt.

Keep a journal – or track your spending with a personal finance program on the computer. A financial journal is a very responsible step toward managing your money and avoiding debt problems in the future. How many times have you wondered where your money went? If you are like most, the answer to that question is all too often. Rather than wondering what happens to your hard-earned dollar, write down every single purchase in a daily journal. This will help you to see exactly what you are paying and where you could possibly afford to cut back if needed. For instance, if you are stopping by the local coffee shop for a sip of java, why not find a recipe online and make the same cup of coffee for a lot less money? Learning the simplest ways to save will soon turn into a new way of life.

Clip Coupons. You can save a lot of money every week simply by clipping a few coupons. Whether you find them online or in the Sunday newspaper, coupons are a terrific way to save money. Even if you only save $10.00 per week in coupons, that’s $40.00 per month. For most households, that money could be put toward internet service, telephone service or some other important and necessary expense.

Save it. Every month, try to put some amount of money into a savings account or savings bond. For as little as $25.00, you can purchase a $50.00 savings bond. If a savings account is more your style, many banks will allow you to open a savings account with no minimum deposit. Whatever you can afford, even if it’s just $20.00, putting money into some type of savings will provide you with a cushion for later use. Being able to access savings will be a great help if you should ever need to reach a debt settlement agreement with creditors.

Charge it. How can having a credit card help you to stay out of debt? It’s simple. By having only one credit card with a small credit limit, you will have access to some additional funds incase of an emergency or for making travel reservations, ordering gifts online or other necessary purchases. The key to having money is careful spending and, even with a credit card, this is possible.

Brian Dolezal
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/tips-for-staying-out-of-debt-96455.html

If you thought organic and ethical behaviour just covered food and clothes you are mistaken – it now covers holidays and hotels as well!

Are you of the opinion that the last thing you want to hear about when planning your holiday is ethics? Nearly everyone wants sun, sea and sand guilt free. If only it were that easy! Tourism, as the worlds leading industry, has increasingly detrimental effects on the environment.

With 1 billion people set to travel, every year, by 2010 this situation can only get worse, unless we begin to think further than our sun screen factor. The author looks at a few local and international holidays and day trips that can minimise your effect on the environment and contribute to positive change.

International Trips and Community Tourism

Look for small companies who use locally managed tours and where conservation measures are already in place and where time is given over to gaining insights into the local environment and the lives of local people.

Community tourism aims to benefit and include the local communities, particularly indigenous people. Always check holidays are run with the involvement of local people and a fair share of profits goes back to local projects. Its like Fairtrade, but not for coffee….for holidays!

Environmental Working Holidays

Willing Workers on Organic Farms and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) have projects in the UK and overseas. BTCV are offering a unique experience, the chance to do something practical for the country you visit and make a contribution to conservation on a global scale.

Day Trips

Why not visit an Organic Farm and:

 Walk a farm trail and enjoy the countryside and its wildlife.
 Organise an inspiring school visit.
 Stock up with the freshest food at the farm shop.
 Taste the farm produce at farm cafes.
 Enjoy special open days or even stay on a farm.

Riverford Organic Vegetables want people to share our enjoyment of growing and eating good, seasonal, organic food. A farm visit followed by a meal in the Field Kitchen gives you the chance to experience the link between the field and plate, and to sample some outstanding cooking in a beautiful environment.

Why not stay at an Organic Hotel?

Penrhos Court Country Hotel has been a Herefordshire farm for 700 years, a country restaurant for over 25 years with hotel rooms for ten years. It has always been in the food business and the food business is its reason for being. Its future is to help protect our natural environment and the food it provides.

What is the Green Tourism Business Scheme?

Welcome to the Green Tourism Business Scheme. We are the largest and most successful environmental accreditation body of tourism related businesses in Europe and have over 500 members in the UK, including amongst others, accommodation providers, visitor attractions, tour operators and conference facilities.

While on Holiday why not eat at an Organic Pizza Place?

We were concerned about the extensive use of chemicals and fertilisers in virtually all food products and wanted to offer the ever-demanding customer a more wholesome menu. The menus from the food to the wine, and the branch decor are all full of natural flavours, textures and tones.

Davinos Greeno
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/ethical-and-organic-holidays-91981.html

Online dating – or at least meeting women online – is a whole different ball game than traditional ways of meeting women, at least for the average single male. The good news is that there are certain things a man can do to boost his online success and bring it from the internet to the real world quickly and smoothly.

Online dating starts with your profile, and there are some definite things a man can do to catch a woman’s eye – or of course, to make her move right on past you. Keep in mind that women think differently than men do about most aspects of life. You’re sitting at your computer, pounding out your profile and trying to imagine exactly what a) women want to hear and b) is at least fairly close to the truth about yourself! So most guys end up saying things like, “Surely women will surely want to know what a great guy I am, how sweet and considerate I am and how I love my dog….” WRONG. Do you know what women ACTUALLY think about that? “Great guys” do not need to make you believe that they are great. Their “greatness” shows through in what they write and how they make a women feel – and if you need to say you are wonderful, then you are probably NOT.

So how do you exude “greatness” without stating it? The key is using a little humor to create attraction, which will LEAD to her thinking you are a “Great Guy”. Try implying instead that you are really choosy, and that you’re trying online dating as a last resort because all the beautiful women you meet are boring and shallow. In doing this, you will be doing several things simultaneously – you are creating a challenge that most women with self-esteem cannot help but accept, you have told her without stating it directly that you CAN get women, you’re not despondent and you have demonstrated your alpha male status by showing that you do not simply take whatever comes your way – you can BE picky.

The next step will be emailing the woman. Most people try to tell their entire life story in the first email to someone they meet online. If she has emailed you, bust her balls on something she wrote in the email and get her phone number or a time to meet her at the local coffee shop. Don’t ask her – tell her! Say, “Girl, give me your number” or “Hey, meet me at Stone Mountain at 2:00 on Saturday”, etc. If you are emailing HER in response to her profile – make it short and a little challenging – not complimentary or relating your attraction to her in any way. Write something like, “I noticed you said you candle-light dinners, is that because you are afraid he will see you chewing with your mouth open? C’mon, give me something I can WORK with here!” Then see what happens.

Then, step three, you’ve got to take things OFF the internet as quickly as you can. Once you have the interest of a woman, get her phone number, get a date set up or meet her for coffee as quickly as you can. Not to be weird or aggressive or anything, but simply because the internet methods of communications – email, IM, texting, whatever, are really…dry mediums of communication. Lots of miscommunication can happen – not to mention she may be lying to you about what she looks like or who she is. So move it from the internet to the real world as fast as you can. One great way to do this and to still allow the woman to feel safe it to propose meeting for coffee or lunch. This is very “non-date-like” and will probably get her agreement a lot faster than proposing to take her to a bar on Saturday night where you can get her drunk and then try to take her home.

Maureen Arnold
http://www.articlesbase.com/dating-articles/3-great-tips-on-meeting-women-online-110022.html

Where in the world can you go to be within thirty minutes of some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and enjoy an almost perfect daily climate in a mountainous setting? El Valle De Anton! El Valle De Anton is one of the most sought after locations for Expats relocating to Panama. The year-round average high temperature is 20° C (68° F), and the average nighttime minimum is a comfortable 16° C (61° F), there is little variation between summer and winter temperatures, the major difference being the amount of wind and rain from season to season.

At an altitude of 2200 meters (7217.85 ft) El Valle is nestled in the long extinct second largest volcanic crater in the world (three by five mile crater). When you begin your descend into the crater from the rim you will notice that it is indeed situated in a round bowl of jagged mountain peaks. You will also notice an overall green appearance to the area due to the richness of the volcanic soil lending itself to the abundance of flowers that bloom there year round. It is very refreshing in contrast to Panama City where the building and houses fill the lots from corner to corner barely allowing sunlight to pass between them. El Valle is spread out with large lots; an abundance of trees and grass separating the well maintained houses. Many of homes are owned by local residents whose names could make up a Who’s Who of Panama book.

Without the presence of a town square the pavilion covered local artesian market sells a variety of crafts, produce, and plants and is the true hub of the town. It is located on the main street that runs through El Valle it is enhanced by the presence of several restaurants, hotels, and markets that have sprung up over time due to El Valle’s popularity with visiting tourists and as a weekend getaway for many of Panama City’s residences.

El Valle is a step back in time when neighbors paused in the street to greet one another. When it was safe for children to ride their bikes or ride horseback in the street without a concern for safety. Where once you are established it’s still possible to run a tab at the local grocer and pay your bill monthly. It’s the kind of place where if your kids take off with a friend after breakfast only to return at bed time you don’t worry. Someone’s Mom has fed them lunch or they’ve picked up something in the grocery and you know they are safe. A favorite weekend pastime of locals is gather together for dinner at someones house until late in the evening with board games and great conversation. But don’t be deceived, this deliciously lazy and gentle little community has more to offer than first meets the eye.

Pozos Termales (El Valle Hot Water Springs)

The El Valle hot water springs are located just off the main road in El Valle. The facility is the only one of its kind in the area, as are their thermal waters. Open from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. from Monday-Friday, and 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on weekends, it costs $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children. It offers two therapeutic mud treatments, one for the face and one for the body. An attendant will some you how to use the treatments and explain its therapeutic benefits, some English is spoken. After allowing the mud to dry, it’s off to the rinsing station, where the thermal waters flow from a pipe allowing you to remove the mud. Next you will be allowed to enter the pool that offer bathers still warm, hot springs water. Soak as long as you like and on the way out don’t forget to grab a couple of containers of mud to take back with you. On your departure you may also notice a home on the right side as you are leaving the springs that has a fountain/pool in the front yard with steam rising from it, only in El Valle.

El Nispero Plant Nursery & Zoo in El Valle

Open from 7:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. 7 days a week, the zoo provides the best location in El Valle to see the endangered and famous golden frogs of Panama. The zoo contains numerous animal and plant species. There is a trail that passes through the zoo, which takes an hour or so to complete depending on your pace.

Ranas Doradas (Golden Frogs of El Valle)

There are no wild frogs in El Valle proper. To see the frogs in their natural habitat you will have to take a tour into the surrounding mountain range. Starting at the area they call “La Mesa” the hike is quite challenging as it is mostly up hill on a thin winding path and depending on your physical condition takes approximately 2-2 1/2 hours to complete each way. You should plan to dedicate one day to this hike should you decided to go.

Bird Watching in El Valle

El Valle is full of birds and rated as one of Panama’s best birding areas. You can enjoy them from the valley or you may choose to take a birding hike in the Gaital Nature Preserve.

Arboles Quadrados (Square Trees of El Valle)

These particular trees have a square trunk at the base becoming round as your gaze progresses up the trunk. The trail to the tress is fairly easy to find and relatively well marked, it’s an easy few minutes hike on the trail.

Cascada El Macho (El Macho Waterfall in El Valle)

This waterfall is the largest in the region (70 meters/210 feet) and is a 15 minute walk from the town. The waterfall is open from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., 7 days a week. There are two small trails and one longer trail; all are good for photographic opportunities. There is also a lovely little natural pool deep enough for swimming at the base of the waterfall. There is a small changing area and benches at the pool area. You will be provided a walking stick with your entrance fee. It will help you maneuver the trail and suspended bridges that stay slightly wet and mossy. The smaller trails are suitable for children.

Rainforest Canopy Tour in El Valle

This is a ride in a gondola supported by cables through the canopy of trees. You will ride along the picturesque waterfall, El Macho for a breathtaking panoramic view of the great rainforest.

Petroglyphs (Stone Writings in El Valle)

About a 15-20 minute walk from town are the Petroglyphs, or stone writings. All of the writings can be found on one large vertical rock face and there is no mention as to what they signify.

La India Dormida (The Sleeping Indian Princess in El Valle)

You can see her from many places around town and she looks exactly like the profile of a girl sleeping, complete with eyelashes. Ask any local to point your gaze in the right direction. If you speak Spanish or you can find a local that speaks English, ask them to tell you the legend that goes with La India Dormida.

Bike riding and mountain biking in El Valle

The flat floor of the crater the town sits is an easy ride for site seeing or just exploring the town. On some of the nearby mountain slopes are mountain biking trails. Bicycle rentals are available in town.

Horseback riding in El Valle

Horses can be rented by the hour with a guide available upon request. Everyone in town knows where the place where the horse are rented at the fork in the road. Just ask a local.

IPAT Office (Tourism Office in El Valle)

Last but not least, we suggest you visit the office Panama’s Tourism Institute. The office is in the center of El Valle. Open from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. they have maps of the area with all the major tourist attractions clearly marked.

If this is too much back to nature for your taste then you may prefer one of the many restaurants available for your dinning pleasure.

There are street vendors, a bakery that sales the most delicious fresh items and double yolk eggs. A pizza shop or even Don Pepe there are about eight different restaurants to choose from. There is even a boutique hotel and restaurant nestled on one of the hillside slopes which was created by a well-known restaurateur. The hotel features beautiful Tuscany type architecture and it tastefully finished with beautiful lush gardens, a picturesque view across to the mountains and an outdoor spa. The restaurant was the first thing built on the property the rest was built based on the restaurant’s popularity; people drive in from Panama City just to eat there.

One of the hotels in town has a stream that runs through the center of its indoor-outdoor lobby and restaurant area. The rooms are clean well kept yet offer a rustic artesian décor. Another has a wellness and outdoor adventure focus. There are various bed and breakfasts, a world class eco resort, hostels, lodges, backpacker dormitory, and lodgings that accept pets. There is even a small gourmet coffee shop and El Valle has its own brand of organic locally grown coffee.

Suffice it to say there is something for everyone, lodgings and cuisines ranges from a world class boutique hotel to simple backpacker fare.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.panamaexpertos.com

http://www.panamaexpertos.com/forum/el-valle-de-anton-ct8.html

Jean Bouttet
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/el-valle-de-anton-94476.html

What do I do to start my own coffee shop?

Also how much money would it costs to get this up and running?

Any Info on any of this would be AMAZING!

You don’t need a special degree to run a coffee shop. A degree in business would definitely help, but it’s not worth spending the money or time to get it.

Anyway, here’s what you need to be ready to pay for:
-Renting property. You will obviously need a building to run your coffee shop.
-Coffee machine. These can cost thousands.
-Furniture(chairs, tables, booths, etc.)
-The actual food- Dishes, cups, silverware.

I also wanted to start a coffee/donut shop, since pretty much everybody drinks coffee. Good luck, I hope you make it.

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