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Getting the Best GPS Trackers and More, Tips to Help You Be a Better Hiker

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If you love to hike then you are certainly not alone, each year there are literally thousands of us who hit trails across the country exploring the fine nature of this beautiful nation of ours for their health and fitness. Every hiker is different, some like to go away for days on end, others prefer to head out for no more than half a day, one thing that we do have in common however is our love for getting our backpack on and hitting a trail. To help you become a better hiker, here are some tips for you which you may wish to incorporate on your next hike.

GPS Trackers

There seems to be a worrying trend amongst many younger hikers of taking their smartphone with them to use as a GPS device whilst they are on the trail. The big problem with this however is that smartphones are designed to do far greater things than simply act as a GPS tracker, which means that the battery can easily die, and signal will most certainly be lost. This is why some of the best GPS trackers have a function called SOS, which will send a message to one of your contacts should something go wrong.

Cook Books

Is your cooking pretty lame when you are on the trail? Do you generally eat whatever you can carry? If so then you should check out one of the wide range of wild camping and hiking cook books which you can find, that will help to take your cooking to the next level. A happy stomach makes for a happy heart, so why not learn a little and put a smile on your face during those cold nights under the stars!

Investing

There is a time to be frugal and there is a time to spend money and when it comes to camping gear and equipment, this is a time when you should be spending money. In most cases you really do get what you pay for so if you aren’t sure about whether or not you should spend that extra $100 on boots, the answer is likely to be a resounding yes. Getting the best equipment simply makes your life easier when you are on the trail, and you will be grateful that you did.

Challenging

Something which many people do is to find a trail that they like and then stick to it, if you are one of these people then it is time to change your ways. There is nothing wrong with hiking the same route more than once but don’t make it your only trail, make sure that you add some variety and mix up which trails you take. The idea of hiking is about exploration and discovery, so be sure to go on routes which you have no idea about, this will put the thrill back into this hobby for you.

 

Free Background Check – Why It Is Worth Doing

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If you are recruiting new staff for your business then it is very important that you carry out a background check on the possible candidates. Not only is this something which can greatly help your company and its reputation, a free background check can give you all kinds of supporting information which can help you in the recruitment process. All companies must carry out these checks on their people and if you have any hesitation at all in terms of doing these checks, here are just a few reasons why it is absolutely worthwhile.

The Cost

There are many services that offer you a free background check and it will not even cost you very much time to put it all together. given the abundance of information that you can find out about a persons history when you carry out a background check, it is really a no-brainer in terms of whether you should do it or not, especially when you save money on the process.

The Dangers

There are many dangers which a company must avoid when hiring its staff, dangers which can be easily avoided through a solid background check. Let’s say for example that you hire someone who has a criminal history of being violent, and that they have not declared this on their application form. Let’s also say that you then hire this person without a background check and they go on to attack someone in the workplace, when news comes out about their past, your company reputation can be highly damaged because you failed to perform a solid background check on the person.

Helping Find The Right People

Regardless of what business you are in you will of course wish to find the very best people for the job and a background check can greatly help with that. Let’s say for instance you are hiring for a job which entails driving, wouldn’t you want to know that this person is the best candidate for the job based on their driving history? In this example you can use the background check to find out the status of their license, any driving offenses which they have made, how many accidents that they have been involved in and whether or not they have any convictions for driving.

Background checks can also help you to find out the integrity of a person, imagine that they have lied about their education on their application form and you find out the truth via a background check. In this instance the lack of education may not be important but the very fact that they decided to lie most certainly is.

Whatever position you are trying to fill you must ensure that the people that you are bringing in to the company are those who are honest and who have a history that won’t come back to bite the company. A free background check therefore is the most sensible thing to do for every potential employee that you are considering.

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6 Lifestyle Tips

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If you’re looking for fun lifestyle tips which you’ll be able to use on a daily basis, continue reading to discover a wide variety of lifestyle tips which make your life a lot easier.

6 Lifestyle tips:

1. Consider sleeping in your workout gear

If you find it challenging to work out in the mornings, you’ll be far more motivated to work out in the mornings, if you start sleeping in your workout gear. Just make sure to pick workout gear that is comfortable to sleep in, such a tank top and loose fitting shorts or soft workout leggings.

2. Keep a bag of workout gear in your car

If you often wish that you had workout gear on hand in order to go for a quick run after work or to go for a walk with a friend who you often catch up with, it’s well worth pre-packing a bag of workout gear, which you can leave in the back of your car.

Alternatively, you may prefer to just leave a pair of workout socks and sneakers in your car, which you’ll be able to change into if you have an opportunity to be active when you’re out and about.

3. Switch the shoes which you wear on a frequent basis

In order to prevent your feet from developing painful blisters, it’s well worth switching the shoes which you wear on a daily basis. Instead of wearing the same pair of shoes on a daily basis.

If you find that your feet become tired after a long day if you change the shoes which you wearing, you should find that your feet feel refreshed and ready for an evening of more walking.

4. If you have trouble getting to sleep try drinking chamomile tea 30 minutes before you go to sleep

If you find it difficult to get to sleep, you can help your body relax by drinking chamomile tea, 30 minutes before you plan to go to sleep. As chamomile tea contains properties which work like a mild sedative. So if you have an important meeting or exam, it’s well worth drinking chamomile tea the night before. In order to give yourself the highest possible chance of getting a good night’s sleep.

5. Package your leftovers from dinner for your lunch the following day

If you don’t have time to make your lunch in the mornings, you may want to start preparing bigger dinners, so that you can place your leftover food in a container to take to work the next day.

As an added benefit if you take your lunch to work on a daily basis, you’ll save a significant amount of money, compared to eating out for lunch every day.

6. Create an online shopping list to order your groceries online

If you tend to purchase the same groceries on a weekly basis, it’s a great idea to create an online shopping list, which you’ll be able to use on a weekly basis.

So what are you waiting for? Simply choose the tip listed above which excites you the most and get started.

Health and Fitness Tips

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If you’re looking for health-related tips, which will help you meet your health-related goals, simply continue reading.

Health and fitness tips:

1. Use lemon to infuse your ice water with a bit of extra flavor

If you want to motivate yourself to increase your water intake, it’s well worth purchasing or growing fresh lemons which you’ll be able to use to squeeze fresh lemon juice into your bottled water or water jugs. Alternatively, you can try squeezing lemon juice into an ice cube tray with water, in order to place lemon infused ice cubes into your water, in the long hot summer months.

2. Don’t be afraid to change up your exercise regime on a regular basis

If you perform the same exercises every week, after a few weeks, your body will start to get used to the exercises which you perform and you’ll stop getting as much benefit from your workouts as when you first added them to your exercise regime.

That’s why it’s well worth alternating your weekly exercise regime from week to week so that your body won’t have time to reach a plateau.

3. Make sure to incorporate body resistance exercises into your workouts

If you thought that you have to lift heavy weights in order to tone your core and to build muscle strength, think again! If you’re looking for a sure fire way to sculpt your body slim and to build muscle, it’s well worth completing sets of body resistance exercises such as push ups, planks, sit-ups, and bear crawls.

4. Use a fitness tracker to track your work out statistics

In order to inspire yourself to work out on a daily basis, it’s worth investing in a reputable fitness tracker in order to track your work out statistics. So that you’ll be motivated to push yourself further in order to beat your personal bests. As an example, you may want to set yourself a goal of reaching your target heart rate for 10 minutes of your workout.

As an added benefit, if you wear a fitness tracker such as a fitness watch all day, you’ll also be able to track how many calories you burn each day as well as how many steps you take and how many flights of stairs you climb.

5. Watch free online workout videos if you don’t want to pay for the services of a personal trainer

If you can’t justify forking out to pay for a personal trainer but are interested in learning new work out routines, it’s well worth searching Youtube for free online workout videos. As examples, you’ll be able to find great Pilates workouts, yoga workouts, kickboxing workouts, and dance workouts.

6. Reward yourself if you meet your weekly fitness and diet-related goals

It’s well worth setting rewards for each of your fitness goals in order to help motivate you to succeed. As an example. if you stick to your diet for an entire week you may want to treat yourself to a little online shopping spree!

So if you’re determined to meet your health and fitness goals, you’ll have phenomenal success if you utilize the tips which are listed above!

Home Decor Tips

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If you enjoy decorating your home and ensuring that your home looks as stylish as it can, it’s well worth continuing reading to discover a few brand new home decor tips, that will help you decorate your home.

Home Decor Tips:

1. Use scented candles to add a touch of glamor to each room

Placing a few scented candles around your home will instantly add a touch of chic style to your home. To really dress up your home, also invest in decorative candle holders, that suit your home’s decor style. Better yet, when you entertain guests you’ll be able to light your candles so that they give off a pleasant fragrance.

2. Place mirrors in rooms which you’d like to appear larger

If you wish that one of your rooms such as a bedroom, office or lounge was a little more spacious, simply hang an oversized rectangle mirror up. Which will create the illusion that your room is a lot larger than it actually is.

3. Place a large decorative rug in the middle of your lounge or dining room

To make your home look as good as a show home, simply purchase a large decorative rug, which you’ll be able to place right in the middle of one of your family’s shared spaces such as your lounge or dining room.

Placing a large rug under your dining table is also a great idea as it will prevent your dining table’s legs from damaging your flooring. In much the same way you can also place large rugs underneath your sofa, in order to protect your lounge’s flooring.

4. Use gold, silver or rose gold accents to add style to your interior decor

When it comes time to purchasing new interior decor pieces, in order to successfully dress up your home, you may want to pick out gold, silver or rose gold pieces which instantly make your home look more glamorous. As examples, you may want to purchase a gold vase to display your flowers in or silver photo frames to hang up on your walls.

5. Hang your kids’ art pieces up in your hallway

Who says that you have to spend hundreds of dollars on artwork commissioned from professional artists in order to be able to great pieces of art in your home. Instead hang up your kids’ or grandkids’ artwork up on your wall, inside professional grade frames.

Better yet, just imagine the look on your kids’ faces when they first notice their artwork displayed on a wall, for everyone to see.

6. Print out your favorite photos in order to display in frames around your home

While in today’s day and age most individuals simply look at their favorite photos on their laptop, smartphone or tablet, it’s well worth taking a bit of time out of your schedule in order to print out a few photos to display around your home.

So if you’re looking to update the look and feel of your home, make sure to incorporate a few of the home decor tips listed above into your design plans for your home!

How to Save Money

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Everyone wants to save money. If you’re keen to save as much money as possible, simply continue reading to learn how to save money!

How to Save Money:

1. Collect grocery store coupons in order to save money off your weekly grocery bill

It’s well worth collecting physical coupons as well as online coupons as well as online coupons in order to save money off your weekly groceries.

2. Find activities which you enjoy which don’t cost money

If you normally spend money on activities and entertainment, it’s well worth finding new activities which don’t require cash, to entertain yourself. As examples, you may want to join a community running club or to spend time exploring attractions which may be free to visit such as local art galleries and museums.

In the long run, you may actually find that you have more fun making the most out of free activities rather than spending money on activities such as going to the movies.

3. Consider making your friends and family members gifts instead of purchasing expensive gifts

If you normally purchase gifts for friends or family members’ birthdays or special occasions each month, you may want to spend a small amount of money on making your friends and family members thoughtful gifts, instead of spending a small fortune on gifts.

As an example, if you’re a skilled baker you may want to bake birthday gifts for your loved ones such as birthday cakes or personalized chocolate-chip cookies.

4. Check your online bank statements on a daily basis

It’s well worth logging onto your online bank account each night so that you can see how your purchases have affected your bank accounts’ balances.

Getting into the habit of checking your online bank accounts on a daily basis, will help you curb any unnecessary spending as when you’re aware of the exact dollar amount which is in your primary bank account, you are likely to think twice before making each purchase, which you make.

5. Consider supplementing your income

Another way to ensure that your bank balance grows is to consider supplementing your income by working a second part-time job. As an example, you may want to consider creating websites for new businesses, who are in need of a professional, attractive website.

6. Experiment with using cash, instead of relying on debit or credit cards

If you have a tendency to thrash your debit and credit cards, you may want to consider setting yourself a weekly budget and getting out enough cash to pay for your in-store purchases each week. However, you’ll want to leave some money in your bank account each month in order to pay for your bills.

7. If your have kids encourage, limit the amount of pocket money which they are given

If your kids pressure you to purchase them expensive items such as new toys and clothes, simply set a limit on how much your kids can spend each month. By giving them a small allowance.

With the seven tips listed above, you should have no problem increasing the amount which you save each week.

The Best Foods Around the World

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If you’re a self-confessed foodie and enjoy traveling around the world and trying out local foods, simply continue reading to discover a handy list of some of the best foods around the world!

The Best Foods Around the World:

1. Churros – Central and South America

Churros are long stick-shaped donuts which are served hot and are extremely popular in Latin countries such as Mexico and Brazil and are often covered in sugar and served with hot chocolate sauce. If you’re interested some eateries even serve piping hot churros with vanilla ice cream.

2. Empanadas – Central and South America

Empanadas are another Latin American snack which are well worth trying. If you’ve never tried an empanada, they are a fried savory pastry that contains meat, cheese, beans or vegetables.

If you’re ever looking for a quick, tasty snack whilst you’re traveling through a Latin American country, you can’t go wrong ordering a freshly made empanada either from a sit-down cafe or a popular street stall. If you’re vegetarian don’t worry as vegetarian empanadas are usually readily available.

3. Samoas – India

Samoas are spicy Indian pastries which are usually filled with potatoes and mixed vegetables such as peas and corn. Some samoas also contain chicken. If you love eating spicy foods, it’s well worth trying a samosa for yourself.

If you’re keen on trying a samosa, try pairing your samosa with a chutney or relish or plain yogurt. As samosas as traditionally served with relish or yogurt and both condiments help neutralize the strong spices such as chili which is often found in samosas.

4. Poutine – Canada

Poutine features hot fries which are covered with gravy and cheese and is a national dish in Canada. Should you find yourself in Canada, you won’t have any trouble finding a cafe or restaurant which offers poutine on its menu.

5. Mee Goreng – Malayasia, Singapore and Indonesia

Mee Goreng is a popular type of noodles which is commonly served in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Typically Mee Goreng features thick fried noodles, spices, lime juice, tofu, chicken and egg. So if you enjoy noodle-based dishes it’s well worth trying your first bowl of Mee Goreng.

6. Ravioli – Italy

If you enjoy eating pasta but are sick of eating spaghetti and macaroni based dishes, it’s well worth ordering ravioli at an authentic Italian restaurant. Ravioli are small pasta parcels which are filled with delicious ingredients such as cheese, spinach, pumpkin, and chicken.

Most ravioli dishes are then topped off with a delicious tomato based sauce such as Pomodoro sauce. Which is incredibly popular in Italy.

7. Paella – Spain

Paella is a rice-based dish which is popular in Spain and contains seafood such as prawns, shrimps, and mussels. So if you love fresh seafood it’s well worth ordering paella for the first time.

So whether you’re looking to plan your next overseas adventure or you’re interested in finding new international meals to try in your own city, it’s well worth trying all seven of the international foods listed above.

Finance Tips Which Will Save You Considerable Money

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In order to finally get on top of your finances and to save yourself considerable money, it’s well worth making long-term financial changes in order to increase the amount of money which you’ll be able to save each month.

If you’re interested continue reading to discover a wide variety of useful finance tips, which are well worth utilizing!

Finance tips which will save you considerable money:

1. Limit the occasions which you spend with friends who coerce you into spending lots of money

Chances are that you have at least a few friends who coerce you into spending over a hundred dollars on socializing, every time that you agree to meet up. If so, make a concentrated effort to limit the number of occasions per month, which you spend with such friends, in order to keep on top of your monthly budget and finances.

Especially if the friends you’re thinking about make you feel as if you have to purchase expensive meals and alcoholic drinks in order to fit in and keep up with your social group. If you successfully limit the number of times which you spend with such friends, you should be able to save a few hundred dollars per month.

2. Consider making a simple spreadsheet in order to ensure that you follow your monthly or weekly budget

It’s also well worth utilizing a simple, easy to use a spreadsheet in order to track all of your weekly or monthly purchases. If you don’t have Microsoft Excel downloaded onto your PC, you can use Google’s free spreadsheet software instead.

One bonus of using Google’s spreadsheets is that you’ll be able to access your spreadsheets when you’re away from home, simply by using your smartphone, tablet or any PC in order to access your Google account.

3. Alternatively, consider downloading a free budgeting app onto your smartphone

Alternatively, you may be interested in downloading a free, easy to use budgeting app onto your smartphone in order to track every purchase which you make. Both instore and online! Better yet, some budgeting apps

4. Find out whether you can save any money by switching utility companies

One way to manage your finances and to save money from your monthly budget is to investigate whether switching your utility companies, may be able to save you money. As an example, you may find that you’re overpaying for your power or that your Broadband company doesn’t offer you a competitive deal.

5. Use a price comparison site to find the best possible deals on items which you wish to purchase

Instead of purchasing an item at the first store which you see it in, it’s well worth using a reliable price comparison site in order to find the cheapest possible deal on the item which you’d like to purchase. As pricing between stores varies greatly and you may save a significant amount of money if you purchase your item at the store which offers the cheapest price which is currently available.

If you use the 5 finance tips listed above, you should have no trouble keeping on top of your monthly finances.

Travel Tips for First Time Travelers and Seasoned Adventurers

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Whether you’re new to traveling or have spent your entire life exploring foreign locales, simply continue reading to discover a few travel tips which may make traveling from a to b a little easier.

Travel Tips for First Time Travelers and Seasoned Adventurers:

1. Make sure to carry a rechargeable battery pack on you, at all times

If you rely on your smartphone for storing your travel information such as your hotel bookings and plane tickets, it’s well worth making sure that you always have a pre-charged rechargeable battery pack with you, at all times. Thankfully rechargeable battery packs are fairly inexpensive to purchase.

2. If you enjoy camping, make sure to purchase a solar-powered rechargeable battery pack

If you enjoy camping when you travel or spend a lot of time taking part in exciting outdoor pursuits such as hiking, you may want to opt to purchase a solar-powered rechargeable battery pack which you’ll be able to clip on to your backpack or your tent.

3. Don’t bother packing a spare change of clothes in your carry on

While in the past travelers would often pack a spare outfit in their carry on luggage, the reality is that most airports offer inexpensive stores where you’ll be able to purchase a spare change of clothes in the rare event that your airline loses your checked in luggage!

As a bonus, you’ll find it far easier to keep your carry on bag organized, if you don’t have bulky items such as clothes taking up unnecessary safe in your carry on bag.

4. Remember to spend all your leftover coins before you leave a foreign country which you rarely visit

While you may choose to keep notes with a high denomination for a future trip or to exchange for your home currency, you’re probably best of spending all of your coins before you leave a foreign country.

As an example, you may want to purchase a few small souvenirs for your loved ones back home, when you’re passing through duty-free. Or you may want to use your coins to purchase a drink or a bite to eat at your terminal.

5. Always travel with a sleeping bag liner

If you find yourself staying at a hotel which has dirty sheets that you don’t want to lie on, you’ll find being able to sleep on a clean silk sleeping bag liner a lifesaver. Better yet sleeping bag liners are thin and take up little space in your suitcase.

6. Purchase water at airports to take on your long-haul flights

While most airlines offer free water, once you’ve drunk the free bottle of water which you’ll normally find on your chair, you’ll have to hail down a flight attendant in order to get a cup of water. Which can be difficult, especially when the lights are out and your fellow travelers are sleeping and flight attendants decrease the amount of time which they spend walking through your cabin, in an effort not to disturb passengers.

So next time you head off on an overseas adventure, make sure to refer back to this handy article for tips on how to ensure that your trip goes as smoothly as possible.

World News: Your Latest Update

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If you’re keen to keep up to date with the latest news stories from around the globe, simply continue reading.

The Latest World News:

1. A German circus wins its court case to keep its chimpanzee Robby

Circus Belly which is a circus which operates in Germany successfully appealed a 2015 court decision which would mean that the circus would have to give up its chimp named Robby. This week a supreme court overruled the decision citing that the 43-year-old chimp would be unlikely to survive in the wild, after being born in a zoo, in captivity and spending most of its life living with humans as part of a circus troupe.

2. Khashoggi’s body was dissolved in acid

Ex Saudi national and journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who made the news when he disappeared inside a Saudi embassy in Turkey and was later found to be murdered by a Saudi death squad was placed in acid by the Saudi death squad members who sought to dispose of his body.

Although the Saudi royal family initially denied any knowledge of Khashoggi’s death, it has since been proven that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia was well aware of the plans to kill Jamal Khashoggi. Furthermore, the Crown Prince may have actually ordered a hit on Khashoggi, who openly spoke out against the human rights atrocities that are commonplace in Saudi Arabia.

3. Mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, California

13 individuals lost their lives in a horrific mass shooting which took place in a nightclub in Thousand Oaks, California. One of the victims who lost their life was 54-year-old sheriff’s sergeant Ron Helus who arrived on the scene to try and lead as many individuals to safety as possible.

The gunman who walked into a California nightclub was eventually identified as being 28-year-old ex-marine Ian David Long. After shooting as many individuals as possible Long pointed his gun at himself and fired a lethal shot.

4. Sri Lankan President Sirisena attempts to dissolve the Sri Lankan parliament

In an unheralded move, Sri Lanka’s current President Maithripala Sirisena has attempted to dissolve the Sri Lankan parliament in order to illegally fire Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and his cabinet. A move which is likely to be challenged by Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court. However, if Sirisena’s actions are not challenged Sri Lanka will host a general election on the 5th of January in order to elect a new parliament.

Why did Sirisena attempt to get rid of Wickremesinghe, while the two politicians were once political allies, the two have since butted heads over a plan to lease one of Sri Lanka’s ports to India, which happens to be one of its neighbors.

5. Coca-Cola event in England criticized for being held on Remembrance Day

A Coca-Cola event which involves a large Christmas truck visiting the British city of Exeter on Remembrance Day has been critiqued for being in bad taste. As Remembrance Day, is a national holiday which commemorates all the lives which were lost in wars, particularly World War I.

Hopefully, after reading the news stories listed above, you now feel as if you’ve caught up on the latest developments around the world!