What the Sharp-Dressed Groom is Wearing in 2020

What the Sharp-Dressed Groom is Wearing in 2020

If you have popped the question and are preparing for a 2020 wedding, your attire will be something you need to give some serious thought. Obviously, you want to look your best on this most special of days, and with that in mind, here a few looks that the sharp dresser will be wearing when he walks down the aisle this year.

  • The Eccentric Look – If you are a man who doesn’t follow the crowd, make sure everyone knows this by creating a colourful and very unique look that simply suits your personality. Flashy tie and the style of suit that you love, and with some very bright socks from a trendy online supplier, you will cut a unique look that reflects the kind of person you are. If you feel comfortable with a Panama hat or a cane, then go for it! The great thing about going over the top is that it matters not – you are, after all, a completely eccentric person!
  • The Blue Tuxedo – Ryan Gosling’s blue tuxedo stole the show at the 64th Cannes Film Festival, and for good reason, as the look was labelled ‘modern elegance’, with white flower button-hole and a nice silk handkerchief. Black patent leather shoes and patterned socks make up the rest, and with online sock suppliers, you can view an extensive range of patterns, colours and designs, choosing something suitable. A lilac silk shirt blends well with the tux, and as for bow ties, think bright and creative, with a matching silk handkerchief and there you have it!
  • The Gatsby Look – Glitzy and stylish, with silk matching waistcoat and bow tie, the groom who wears this will certainly raise a few eyebrows. Made to measure is the only way to go, and be prepared to spend some money, after all, you only get married once! A 1920s style Italian silk suit forms the basis of your look, and with stylish brogues in black or brown and chequered socks from https://philosockphy.com, your Gatsby look is complete. A pocket watch is a must, along with a silk handkerchief and some stylish cufflinks, and you are ready for the biggest day of your life.
  • Crisp, White 3-Piece Suit – If there was ever an occasion for that tailored white suit, this would be it. Matching the bride is a great idea and you can accessorise with red or black, depending on your style, and if you sport long hair and have a slightly rugged appearance, this is the look for you. The Panama hat is definitely a possibility and such a distinguished look definitely demands an elegant pocket watch.

As this is to be a very special day in your life, you should pull out all the stops and make sure that you complement your bride with a stylish suit that reflects your character. We would recommend a full dress rehearsal a couple of days prior to the big day, just to be on the safe side, then you walk down the aisle, knowing that you look your very best.

Protect Your Perfect Day from the Unexpected: Wedding Insurance Explained

Protect Your Perfect Day from the Unexpected: Wedding Insurance Explained

The answer is yes, and the diamond is shining on your finger. Once you decide on a date, consider event insurance for your big wedding day before sending out your Save the Dates.

Wedding Insurance? What Is It?

Wedding insurance is a specific type of event insurance to protect you from financial losses associated with your wedding day. In broad terms, it covers the cancellation of your wedding and also liability claims should anything unforeseen happen on your special day.

What Does the Wedding Insurance Cover?

Always check the fine print. Here’s what you can expect to be covered by most policies:

The Venue

Anything that causes the cancellation of your big day at your chosen venue will be covered. Venue failure includes the flooded or burned down buildings, as well as bankruptcy.

Suppliers

This type of insurance will cover problems with your pre-booked suppliers. Flowers, the cake, the photographer, transport, and music are covered for cancellations and damage. Make sure you keep your records of contracts and deposits paid. Not all policies cover the same items, so be sure to check you get a policy that suits your needs.

Illness, Accidents, or Death

If the bride, the groom, or anyone from the party (bridesmaid, best man, and close family) has a sudden illness, accident, or death, the cancellation or rearrangement will be covered. As with all insurance policies, read the terms and conditions. Pre-existing diseases won’t be covered and be sure who qualifies as close family members.

Extreme Weather

The sudden onset of extreme weather conditions that prevent the majority of your guests from reaching your wedding will be covered. When planning an outside wedding, you’ll need to discuss the terms with your insurer, and you will probably pay a higher premium than a basic policy. 

Personal and Public Liability

Accidents happen, even at the best-planned weddings. If the bride or groom suffers an injury, they will be covered for claims from a third party by personal liability. If a guest has an accident and gets injured, public liability protection will cover any claims.

Stolen and Damaged Wedding Items

A lot can go wrong, and your insurance will be there to help you when it does. Lost wedding bands, a damaged cake, flowers missing, damaged wedding attire, and stolen wedding gifts are just some of the problems that are covered. The insurance policies are particular of the time up to when these items will be covered, so be sure to check the terms and conditions.

Photos and Videos

Professional photographers can also have bad days. If your photographer doesn’t show up or experience technical difficulties with the development of your photographs, the insurance will cover a reshoot for the wedding party. 

Cold Feet

You won’t be covered if the bride or groom decides not to go ahead with the wedding. 

The Best Time to Buy Wedding Insurance

As soon as you start planning your wedding, it’s best to start comparing insurers and policies. Depending on the insurer, you can purchase your insurance two years in advance and up to 24 hours before the wedding. 

The advantage of taking out insurance well ahead of your set date is to limit problems that may arise from pre-existing knowledge or problems. Insurance cover will include deposits paid before you take out wedding insurance, but not for any claims that happened prior to buying the policy.

Upgrade

It’s challenging to know the exact details of what your wedding will cost and what you’re planning in the early stages. You can always take a basic policy and discuss an upgrade of your policy with your insurer. These companies know that each wedding is unique, and they can offer more coverage as your wedding plans take shape.

Protecting Your Investment

The average cost of a wedding is around $33,900, while the average wedding insurance costs around $275. A wedding is a significant financial investment for any couple. Investing a few extra dollars will give you the peace of mind that you’re covered for any mishaps on your big day.

The Misdiagnosis Of A Child That Changed Everything Forever

The Misdiagnosis Of A Child That Changed Everything Forever

In May 2015, Lorina and Jason Troy of Texas had just welcomed a new baby boy into the world. But when the child’s head kept growing, so did their concern. Appointments with medical specialists kept leading them to the same wrong answer.

When Lorina’s second son, JJ, was born, she had no idea there was any potential problem with her child. She did not know that an ultrasound near the end of her pregnancy had shown JJ’s head to be two weeks larger than normal. No doctor mentioned there being any abnormalities when JJ was born, even though his head was still bigger than usual. Even after his birth no medical personnel said anything about JJ’s head continuing to grow. Lorina was concerned but not alarmed. 

However, when JJ started vomiting a lot, Lorina took him to their pediatrician where he was diagnosed as having a stomach virus. They were simply sent home with instructions to keep him hydrated. But the vomiting didn’t stop. Lorina took JJ to an urgent care facility and eventually a children’s hospital. All agreed it was just a stomach bug even though JJ’s head had continued to swell along with the stomach upset.

Eventually, Lorina managed to get the doctors to do an MRI on JJ. They discovered there was a fluid build-up in her son’s cranium. This can be a sign of head trauma and they immediately assumed the worst and accused Lorina’s family of child abuse. She asked for a second opinion but was denied. She said, “I told him, my son has never been hurt in any way, could this be anything else? And he told me, yes, but since he’s a baby and can’t talk, we are just going to go with abuse and walked away.” So Lorina’s children were taken from her and placed in foster care.

Soon after, her husband Jason, was charged with two felony charges of child abuse, which carry a sentence between five and 99 years. These charges caused him to immediately lose his top-secret government job. The couple searched for a lawyer who would take the case. They were forced to sell their home to pay for attorney expenses. The Troy family ultimately ended up losing over $80,000 in fees, medical expenses, and lost wages.

Over the following two years, JJ was seen by numerous doctors but continued to be misdiagnosed. Eventually, a doctor in Maryland discovered JJ had Benign External Hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a condition where cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the cranium, causing an enlarged head among other symptoms like vomiting, seizures, and breathing difficulties. It can be present at birth and is the result of genetic abnormalities, problems with fetal development, or complications at birth.

With the new diagnosis, the charges were dropped, and the parents were reunited with their children. But they feel the medical and legal systems have failed them. How was it possible for two loving parents to so quickly be labeled abusers and have their children taken away?

In the mid-1970s, new theories on child abuse were being formed. Infant cranial injury inflicted by blunt force trauma, shaking, or a combination of forces came to be known as “shaken baby syndrome” (SBS), more often today referred to as “inflicted or abusive head trauma.” The idea that certain head injuries were indicative of child abuse grew and soon a new sub-specialty in pediatrics formed: child abuse pediatricians. 

The child abuse pediatrician became the linchpin in a successful child abuse prosecution; in so doing they took on the conflicting roles of health care provider, investigator, medical expert, accuser, key prosecution witness, promoter of the prime hypothesis, and defender of their own past medical decision making regarding abuse. Without their testimony regarding the prime hypothesis there could be no convictions. 

For whatever reasons, over the years, these specialists began to hold more power over the medical establishment to the point of being considered almost infallible. Today, colleagues are reluctant to contradict any findings made by child abuse pediatricians, so getting second opinions can often be difficult. That is a large reason JJ’s diagnosis came from a doctor from another state. And the legal system sees these specialists as experts in their field. Therefore, there is no reason to question their determinations or authority. This has increasingly led to child abuse pediatricians misdiagnosing accidental injuries, dermatological issues, and developmental disorders as abuse when they were not. 

The Troy family is trying to heal from the trauma of separation, legal battles, and financial loss. Lorina has become an advocate for families like hers that have experienced devastating results from a child’s misdiagnosis. She lobbies lawmakers in Texas, California, and Washington D.C. to change laws on getting second medical opinions and the role of CPS in instances like these. She also talks to the press to raise awareness of Hydrocephalus and stories of misdiagnosis like hers and many other families across the country. Lorina says, “Our strength came from our faith, our prayer, and the love and support of family and friends. But we went through the most challenging events of our lives, and it has strengthened us.” She has now written a book, titled “Miracles of Faith,” that goes into the details of her family’s journey through the medical and legal systems and how their faith saw them through it all. It is available directly through the publishing company, Westbow Press, A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

Vanilla Sandwich Cookies Recipe

Vanilla Sandwich Cookies Recipe

If you are faced with a day when you have nothing to do, staying home and baking cookies is a great way to add excitement. There are so many kinds of cookies you can make, but vanilla sandwich cookies are an all time favorite. They have a light creamy taste, which is perfect as an ice cream topping or by itself with a cold glass of milk.

If you are looking for a vanilla sandwich cookies recipe you can make to brighten up your day, here is one we recommend.

Vanilla Sandwich Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

For the cookies:

  • 100g (or ⅓ cup + 5 teaspoons) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  • 100g (or ¾ cup + 2½ teaspoons) powdered sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • 115g (or ¾ cup + 2 tbsp + 2 tsp) all-purpose flour
  •  A pinch of salt

For the filling:

  •  ½ cup buttercream

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and line two baking sheets with baking parchment.
  2. In a medium-size bowl, beat butter until smooth with a wooden spoon. Add powdered sugar, egg and vanilla, and stir. Add flour and salt and stir until the batter is smooth and has a thick buttercream consistency.
  3. Transfer batter to a piping bag fitted with a medium open tip, and pipe 1-inch dollops onto the baking sheets. Make sure to leave space between the dollops, as the cookies will spread in the oven.
  4. Bake (one sheet at a time) in the middle of the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies have turned a golden color. Remove from the oven. Allow the cookies to cool completely on baking sheets.
  5. Once cool, use a piping bag fitted with a small star tip to fill the cookies. Start in the center of each cookie and spiral outwards. Place the second cookie on top and press down lightly.
  6. Serve the cookies cold or at room temperature.
  7. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for three days but they will start to lose their crunch over time.

Can I Use Vanilla Essential Oil Instead of Vanilla Extract?

If you look at a vanilla sandwich cookies recipe, most will call for vanilla extract. If you don’t have any in the house, you may be wondering if your vanilla essential oil can do as an alternative. In most cases, the answer would be no; however, the NOW Foods company makes an essential oil that is so pure, it is considered “food-grade” and can be used for cooking.

NOW Foods has been providing sports nutrition, beauty products, supplements and organic whole foods since the 1940s. Their Vanilla Essential Oil is made with two simple ingredients, vanilla oil and jojoba oil. Not only are these safe to ingest, they also smell great when diffused.

So the next time you are looking for something to do, why not try your hand at a great vanilla sandwich cookies recipe like the one we have listed above? It is sure to brighten up your day, and your taste buds will thank you later!

Planning the Perfect Day in Memphis

Planning the Perfect Day in Memphis

Memphis offers everything from the blues to civil war history, with plenty of delicious eats in between. There’s so much to see and do, after getting a taste you might find yourself searching through the Memphis houses for sale so you can enjoy unlimited time there, but for now, if you only have one day here in this Tennessee city, here’s how to do it right. 

Morning

Start your day the way many of the locals do, with a delicious country-style breakfast at Barksdale’s with classics like biscuits, cheese grits, omelets, eggs, and bacon. While it’s no-frills, you can expect a warm welcome with friendly service and a sense of community while surrounded by autographed glossies of famous Memphians like actress Cybill Shepherd, Grizzlies’ stars and political signs. 

Just a 5-minute drive away is Sun Studio, often referred to as the spot where rock ‘n roll was born – public tours are available that reveal the Sun story and its stars, including Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, with lots of memorabilia on display. They start at the bottom of every half hour until 5:30 p.m., and you can even have your photo taken in the very place where the legends once recorded.

From here you can easily check out the National Civil Rights Museum and the Lorraine Motel, paying homage to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (who stayed in room 306 in April 1968) and others who’ve fought for civil rights throughout history. 

Afternoon

You can’t visit Memphis without seeing Graceland, the home Elvis Presley purchased in 1957 for $102,500 when he was just 22 years old. As tourists usually arrive in the morning, it’s usually less busy in the afternoon, with the last tour starting at 4 p.m or 5 p.m., depending on the time of year and day of the week. You’ll be able to explore the magnificent mansion, including The King’s legendary jungle room, his pink Cadillac, record collection, elaborate costumes, and the aircraft that he traveled on from show to show. 

If you aren’t still full from breakfast, Graceland hosts two restaurants, Vernon’s Smokehouse, renowned for its Memphis BBQ, and Gladys’ Diner serving classic American cuisine. Just keep in mind that you might want to save room for dinner. 

Evening

Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous is a long-time Memphis institution, serving BBQ in a downtown alley for over 70 years. Located just across from the famous Peabody Hotel, the ribs, dry rub done true Memphis-style, are a favorite of former President Bill Clinton and thousands come to sample them. Afterwards, enjoy the best show in town at The Orpheum, an opulent theater built in 1928 hosting Broadway productions, big-name concerts and entertainers, theatrical performances, and summer movie series.

Sample the nightlife, starting on famous Beale Street, enjoying the blues at B.B. King’s or among the beer-loving goats at the Irish dueling piano pub known as Silky O’Sullivan’s. In the heart of the scene is Alfred’s, famous for its live music, including popular cover bands for dancing on Friday and Saturday nights. If the weather cooperates, you can also enjoy the only rooftop patio on Beale, a fabulous place to spend the rest of the evening.

Why You Should Choose Vintage Engagement and Wedding Rings

With ample choices available when it comes to you choosing an engagement or wedding ring, it might better suit you to look back in time, rather than forward. By this we mean that you should try and scout out vintage pieces that have already seen decades of love. Although the allure of custom rings is strong for people wanting a ring that reflects their personality, there’s a good chance that such a ring already exists – in the form of an antique ring! Even if you’re set on creating a custom ring, researching antique styles can help you find an altogether new style you can incorporate into your new ring! In this article we take a look at a few reasons why antique rings should be at the top of your engagement or wedding buy list. 

Luxury from another era

Just like styles from a century ago regularly coming back into fashion, looking for wedding rings in Melbourne antique stores can help you find some incredible designs that were understandably popular. These rings, often the pinnacle of luxury during their time, offer an incredible quality of workmanship that is rare nowadays, where the ring manufacturing technology we have today wouldn’t have been dreamed of. For this reason, you’ll often see jewellery techniques demonstrated in these rings that are simply not performed anymore, which can give you some great ideas if you’re looking into having a custom ring made. If you choose to instead buy one of these rings outright, you’ll be able to own a special piece of history – the opportunity to speculate regarding who owned the ring and when can be a really fun exercise, and you’ll be able to know you’re contributing to the unique and storied history of your ring. You’ll also be able to choose a ring that is tied to a certain period of history, such as Art Deco or Victorian times, which can be particularly exciting to the history lovers out there. 

 Saving the planet and your wallet

For those that appreciate sustainability, vintage wedding and engagement rings are an excellent way to use beautiful resources that are already available to us. Rather than organising a brand new ring that will demand labour and resources are sourced from around the world, a vintage ring that has already been created greatly reduces your carbon footprint. For those that appreciate savings, there’s also an opportunity to save a little bit of money with enough persistence. Although some particularly rare rings might cost more than modern rings, you might be able to find some rings from a few decades ago that are much cheaper than their brand new modern counterparts. If this is the case, for your budget you’ll be able to find something with a much more impressive gemstone. As we mentioned before, this might require a good bit of hunting on your part, but the payoff is truly worth it, particularly when your ring is something you’ll get to enjoy for the rest of your life. 

Traditional or modern?

Whether you’re planning on having a custom ring made or looking for a pre-loved ring, looking out for antique wedding rings is the perfect way to find the perfect ring for you. Even if you’re not set on buying an antique ring for yourself, finding an old style you love – such as Art Deco – can inspire the same beautiful touches in your new ring. 

5 Reasons to Charter a Superyacht for your Next Holiday

5 Reasons to Charter a Superyacht for your Next Holiday

We’ve all dreamt of lounging on the sun deck on a glamorous superyacht, sipping on our favourite cocktail, and as soon as our lottery numbers come up, that’s one of the first things we will arrange. Yet when you get together with some of your friends and share the cost, chartering a superyacht suddenly becomes very affordable. Here are just a few of the reasons why you should consider a superyacht as your next holiday experience.

  1. Five Star Luxury – It doesn’t get any better than a luxury superyacht; built for the millionaire lifestyle, and with vessels that can accommodate from 10 to 40 people in opulent luxury, you will find a superyacht that is ideal for your group. A professional crew take care of everything, leaving you to party and enjoy the breath-taking scenery on one of the many decks, or chill out in the hot tub in the evenings, with champagne on ice. This is luxury at its best, with a professional crew to ensure you have everything you need, and with some great water sports toys, you’ll have lots of opportunities to play!
  2. Tailored Charter – You might, for example, fancy exploring the tranquil Andaman Sea, and with affordable yacht charter in Phuket that allows you to make the decisions regarding destinations and timelines, you are the boss. There are lots of interesting ports in this region, and the skipper knows the waters like the back of his hand and can make some recommendations. The Malaysian coast is really something, with miles and miles of pristine beaches and with your own yacht, you can stop when you wish.
  3. Affordable – As an example, let’s take 7 couples, each with their own private cabin and calculate the cost of a 2-3 week package in a 5-star resort, which would cost more per person than an all-inclusive superyacht charter. Superyacht charter is within everyone’s reach, and with vessels that can accommodate 30+ people, large groups are not an issue.
  4. A Moving Holiday – When you charter a yacht, you decide where you go, and as you glide through tropical waters, your backdrop is constantly changing. There’s something exciting about exploring unknown waters, especially in the experienced hands of the captain, who can make a few recommendations for great spots to drop anchor.
  5. Family & Friends – There’s no better way to holiday with those you love than being together on a superyacht, and with 5-star luxury and a few toys to keep you amused, you can enjoy each other’s company in style.

If you have a large social circle, start talking to your friends about next year’s holiday and you can all sit down and explore the potential of an all-inclusive superyacht charter. Google will take you to the website of an established yacht charter company where you can browse the vessels that can accommodate between 10-40 people, with every cabin having full en-suite facilities.

How to Plan the Perfect Wedding Reception

How to Plan the Perfect Wedding Reception

If you are soon to be walking down the aisle with your partner, this will be a day to be remembered for both of you, and if any occasions warrants pulling out all the stops, it is a wedding. In this article, we will be giving you some advice on how to plan the perfect day, just in case you need some help.

  • The Wedding Reception – If you would like your wedding party to be one that is remembered for all the right reasons, call in the outdoor caterers, who have the know-how and the equipment to make sure that things go as planned. You have more than enough to do with arranging everything else, so let the experts handle the catering and you can focus on having a good time. Themed weddings are really in vogue at the moment, so why not ask everyone to help by getting into the spirit of things and creating a theme to be remembered?
  • The Venue – Ideally, the venue would be one that has extensive experience catering for wedding parties, as they would have you covered regarding parking, overnight accommodation and anything else that you might need. Choosing such a venue means there’s nothing left to organise, as they are able to handle everything.
  • Transportation – Hopefully, you will only make your entrance and exit to your wedding party once in your life, and with affordable sports car rental, you can really do this in style. Whatever your favourite supercar, you can rent this from a specialist rental company and when it is time to leave the reception for the honeymoon, you and your partner can experience a supercar. You might prefer something a little more traditional like a horse drawn carriage or a gleaming white Rolls Royce, and either way, there are online providers who can arrange everything for you.
  • The Entertainment – As we all know, a wedding party is nothing without some lively entertainment, and whether you choose a live band or a local DJ, it is worth spending some time making sure that your choices are suitable for all. Ask the DJ to prepare a few playlists that would appeal to the older crowd, plus something for the youngsters.
  • The Menu – An important aspect of any social gathering, the menu could be a buffet style arrangement, or you could opt for the traditional sit-down meal, and then there is the question of drinks and refreshments. Some people allow their guests to order what they like and settle up at the end of the event, while others will put an amount of money behind the bar and once that is gone, everyone pays for their own drinks. The choice is yours.

A wedding party is the perfect time to spring a few surprises, so don’t be surprised if your guests have a few little things planned to unfold sometime during the evening, and with some careful planning, your wedding party will be one to be remembered for a very long time.

Juan Monteverde Shows How to Work With An Attorney

Juan Monteverde Shows How to Work With An Attorney

Working with an attorney to help resolve a legal dispute can be unfamiliar territory for some people. That doesn’t mean, however, that it has to be a difficult process. In fact, a good attorney can actively help to demystify the interactions between themselves and a client over the course of a working relationship. In order to help our readers better understand how this works, we turned to the career of Juan Monteverde, a leading securities attorney. Through a look at his insights and an overview of his professional history, you should have a better idea of what to expect from your interactions with an attorney.

Professional background

Let’s first take a look at the professional history of Juan Monteverde in order to gain perspective on how he has helped his own clients resolve a myriad of legal issues. As a securities attorney, he focuses his work on issues dealing with stocks and other financial tools relating to public ownership of a company. In this regard, he often works with shareholders during the process of a corporate merger to ensure their rights are properly taken into account. By doing so, he has been able to not only protect the rights of the shareholders he represents, but also to help improve the overall quality of the merger taking place.

The attorney is also known for his work in disseminating ideas related to legal practice. These undertakings date as far back as his time in law school where he was a staff editor of the law review. He also served as the President of Plead the 5th, his school’s official newspaper. His written work in his field has continued into the present, where he produces scholarly content for distribution in legal publications. In addition to writting articles, he also often speaks at public events to help inform others on issues related to mergers and executive compensation. In this capacity, he has spoken at ABA, ACI, PLI, and other legal conferences.

Importance of communication

One of the most important things to expect from an attorney is an open and clear line of communication. Just like any other type of relationship, communication is the basis for making the partnership a fruitful one and even the best of intentions can be for naught if there is a breakdown in this area. Though communication does not necessarily need to be immediate for it to satisfy the needs of a good working relationship, there should at least be enough of it to keep you abreast of developments in your legal matter. If you find that you are unclear about how things are progressing, and you’re unable to get a response from your attorney, then you may have a breakdown in communication that needs to be addressed.

In general, it is reasonable to expect regular updates from your attorney or someone in their office. You are also well within the bounds of a normal working relationship to expect to be clear on the overall strategy for your matter and where in the process you are at a given time. A timeline of events can be helpful in this regard and can be something you can request from your attorney to ensure you’re both on the same page. If you have questions related to that timeline or other aspects of your case, phone calls or other forms of communication should be responded to in a timely manner. Similarly, you should also be responsive to your attorney and provide feedback when asked.

Attorney competence

At present, there are well over one million attorneys licensed to practice law in the United States. While this means that you should have many options available if you should have a legal dispute that needs to be resolved, it also means that there is a wide range of skill levels amongst practicing attorneys. It is important to understand this and realize that just because an attorney is licensed to practice law, it doesn’t mean that they are exceptionally skilled in that regard.

In order to ensure that you select an attorney who is able to meet the demands of your case, it can be wise to look to third-party evaluations of their abilities. This will help you feel confident that your attorney is competent in the field in which they practice. To take an example from the career of Juan Monteverde, the attorney is ranked by numerous outside organizations, such as Martindale-Hubbell, as a top practitioner in his field. In fact, Super Lawyers has listed him as a New York Metro Rising Star in multiple different years, an award given to only the top 2.5% of attorneys in a given specialty.

Understanding fees

Another important issue to understand fully is the fees that will be associated with a particular legal action. There’s no overarching rule that can be used to determine how much it will cost to engage an attorney in services. Instead, this is an item that should be discussed between a client and their attorney directly. This issue is of sufficient importance that it should be discussed at the outset of a working relationship so as to prevent any misunderstandings down the road.

Examples of possible fee structures vary drastically depending on the attorney’s experience level, type of legal action, and other factors. Some attorneys will operate on a pro bono basis, meaning there is no charge for their services. This is sometimes done in the case of low-income clients. Other legal actions might be paid for with a percentage of a client’s awarded damages, in the case of some civil suits. Other attorneys may charge a flat hourly fee. Knowing an attorney’s fee structure from the outset is an important part of the full and honest communication that all clients should expect.

While many people may not have a full understanding of what to expect from a potential attorney, they need not be left in the dark for long. A good attorney-client relationship generally follows certain guidelines that can often be similar to other fruitful partnerships one may encounter in life. Communication and trust are key components in these matters. Looking to the above overview of insights and work by Juan Monteverde can provide a good first step in understanding what to look for if you find yourself in need of an attorney’s services.

7 Easy Ways to Lower Your Electricity Bill

7 Easy Ways to Lower Your Electricity Bill

If you’re trying to shore up your budget, it’s a good idea to reevaluate every line item. While things like groceries are, of course, necessary, there are always ways that you can reduce the amount you spend at the store. Such as changing behaviours at home, replacing high-consumption devices, and stick to suitable electricity providers. For instance, just by searching for Texas energy rates, you will find better plans, and this way, cut your bills by the end of the month dramatically. The same is true for utilities like gas and electricity. Read on if you’re looking for some simple ways to save on energy bills.

Buy energy-efficient light bulbs.

One of the most common components of any list of suggestions for how to save on your electric bill is to buy better lightbulbs. Using LED or energy-efficient light bulbs is a surefire way to reduce the amount of energy your bulbs consume each day. Best of all, some LED lightbulbs are designed to last for years, making it easier to save by decreasing the number of times you wind up buying bulbs.

Turn off your lights.

Another easy way to reduce your energy consumption is to turn off the lights when you don’t need them on. If you’ve just left a room, such as a bathroom or your kitchen, make sure to flip the lights off when you leave. You may also want to orient different aspects of your home around windows so that you can make the most of natural light.

Get better windows.

Heating and cooling during the summer and winter are huge culprits when it comes to energy spikes. If you feel like you’re constantly turning the air up in the summer or the heat up in the winter, it may be worth investing in new windows. If your windows are certified energy-efficient and create a better seal, your home will be better insulated, saving you money.

Keep an eye on your thermostat.

Going along with the previous suggestion, it’s a good idea to stay conscious of the temperature you keep your home at. Even adjusting the thermostat down a degree or two in the winter and putting on a pair of socks or a sweater can be effective when it comes to reducing how much money your energy plan charges you. Installing a smart thermostat is another way to help reduce your energy consumption without having to think twice about it.

Use a microwave when possible.

Do you own a microwave? Did you know that if you do, meals that can be prepared in the microwave instead of in an electric oven or stovetop can help you save money, too? Microwaves use a lot less electricity than other, bigger appliances, so when it comes to heating up that soup, maybe you should use the microwave instead of an electric burner.

Insulate your home.

Insulating your home goes beyond getting better windows. Having the proper kinds of insulation in your attic and walls can make a huge difference when it comes to getting a better deal. Especially if you have a higher rate due in the hot summer months and cold winters, it can be a great idea to have your insulation checked. If there are any leaks, or the material is subpar, it may be contributing to the need for your HVAC to work overtime.

Find a new energy provider.

Sometimes, even with the above tips and tricks in mind, you may find that your monthly bill is still a little high. If you’ve determined that your usage level is under control, looking into other energy companies could be the secret to finding a lower rate. Even with an early termination fee, it may be worth switching providers if it means you’ll be saving money by getting the cheapest electricity in any given month. Find cheap electricity plans with iSelect and start comparing your options to see if a new provider could help you save money by changing your rate plan.