Category: Featured

Studying for the ASVAB Exam

Carmen NewmanFeatured

In order to achieve the best score possible on the ASVAB exam any serious candidate must take an ASVAB practice test. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery or “ASVAB” exam is an exam that must be taken before joining any branch of the United States military (i.e., Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines). The ASVAB examination is a timed test developed by the U.S. Department of Defense. It is administered in more than 14,000 Military Entrance Processing Stations or “MEPS” as well as other educational institutions all across the nation.

The ASVAB test is primarily designed to test a candidate’s knowledge in four specific areas. These areas are Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension and Mathematics Knowledge. A candidate’s scores in these areas are what make up the Armed Forces Qualifying Test score or “AFQT”. It is the AFQT score that will be used to determine whether a candidate possesses the proper qualifications to enlist in one of the branches of the Untied States military.

In addition to the four specific areas described above, there are other areas tested on the ASVAB as well. A candidate’s scores in these other areas will then be used to determine the degree of qualification in a number of specific military specialties. In essence, the higher a candidate scores on the ASVAB the better his or her chances are to attain the specialty or job of his or her choosing.

This is why it is vitally important to properly prepare for the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. One of the best ways to prepare for the ASVAB exam is to take an ASVAB practice test. Not only will the ASVAB practice exam inform a candidate about the format and content of the actual exam, but by taking the ASVAB practice test the candidate will also discover the areas in which he or she requires improvement. Armed with this knowledge the candidate will then be able to better prepare for the exam.

Wedding Venue Vistas

Carmen NewmanFeatured

The best wedding venues in Salt Lake City I have seen have beautiful areas in which to take pictures of the wedding party. Often times the best areas for photographs have compelling scenery in the background, like a waterfront or a golf course. Another excellent area for pictures of the wedding party might be a grand staircase. This type of scenery works well because it is beautiful but so compelling that it will distract a potential viewer of the photograph from the subject of the picture.

I have attended many weddings and wedding receptions. I have found that the best venues were the ones that were pleasing to the eye. One venue in particular that I recall was held in the lobby of an office building in Washington, D.C. This may sound like an odd place to hold a wedding reception and it was a little odd because I had recently worked a temp job in that same building a few months prior to the wedding. Anyway, this particular lobby had a wide open space large enough to accommodate many tables and a dance floor. I remember there was a large, white, marble fountain in the center of the lobby where the photographer chose to take the pictures of the wedding party. Finally, this building’s lobby was a convenient location because it was within walking distance of the church where the ceremony was held.

I think it would be a mistake to choose a wedding venue in Salt Lake City that did not have a beautiful area in which to take pictures of the wedding party. Of course the wedding party is the important part of the picture, but often the background in a photograph can provide a certain extra je ne sais quoi. Remember, years later these pictures will be all that remains of the important day and therefore are no small part of the event.

Wedding Train of Thought

Carmen NewmanFeatured

There are many options for wedding venues in Salt Lake City. When I think of wedding venues I am reminded of the wedding of my cousin and his now wife I attended last summer in St. Augustine, Florida. The venue was a banquet hall next to a marina. The couple was married by another cousin of mine who received a license to perform the marriage. The legal grant of authority was limited to that particular ceremony on that particular date. The ceremony took place outside on a patio by the water in the early evening just before sunset. Halfway through the ceremony a weather front swept through and my cousin performing the wedding suggested moving the festivities inside. Once everyone reassembled inside the storm arrived and a heavy, driving rain fell from the sky. We could see all this through the floor to ceiling glass windows behind the couple.

After the ceremony, dinner was served buffet style in the adjoining room. The wedding was a family reunion of sorts. My cousin’s father (my uncle) seemed cold and distant to me. I am not sure what I had done to offend him but it seems as if I had done something. I found the situation kind of annoying. I was never particularly close to this uncle so I did not care if he was angry with me on that level. But I have this character trait where it triggers me if I know another person is angry with me. I suppose that was passed down to me from my parents. I avoided him for the rest of the night. At one point we were sitting at the same table and he was recounting his recent trip to Turkey. Under normal circumstances I would have been interested as I have always wanted to visit Istanbul being a Roman History buff. But I got up and walked away.

Anyway, this is what I think about when trying to come up with an article on wedding venues in Salt Lake City.

5 Magic Ways To Make Winter Fun

Carmen NewmanFeatured

For some, winter is one of the most beautiful times of the year.  For others, it’s a dreaded time, filled with the family stuck indoors for too long, arguing ensuing and all around misery happening.  It certainly doesn’t have to be that way.  Whether you love the cold or hate it, here are 5 magic ways to make winter fun.

  1. Try to take advantage of the cold.  Even if you may not like the cold, often times having fun in the cold will take your mind off of the cold itself.  Taking the time to try sledding, skiing, ice skating or even building a snow fort can make the winter not only bearable but also very enjoyable.  This is especially true for children as they almost always love to have fun in the snow or on the ice.  Whether they’re getting to see the lake frozen over, or playing out an Avengers battle with their own forts and snowballs, kids need to be allowed to enjoy winter outdoors when possible.
  2. Don’t want to battle the cold?  Stay in for a family movie night.  Take the time to go out and get the candy, popcorn, and soda and rent a movie that you haven’t seen or just want to enjoy again.  Cuddle up in the living room with the family and enjoy a night in.  There’s nothing like the fresh smell of popcorn to help you enjoy the movie and make the cold weather outside into an adventure.
  3. Are you more of a baker?  How about having a little bake-a-thon with the kids.  Allow them to take part in mixing batter, rolling it out, and cutting out the cookies.  Really turn it into a great night of philanthropy by making cookies for others.  Pick out some great shapes, cookie flavors, or decorations and go to town making cookies both to have at your house and to take and give to someone else.  Make even better by doing it outside of the holiday when others are normally getting cookies.
  4. Kick back for an “old fashioned night” and just have a reading night.  Have everyone grab their favorite books and you can either take turns reading out of your book to everyone, so that all those gathered can benefit from what each other is reading, or center it on one book or story that you either read aloud or you pass around to be read.  Go a step further and give each person a role from the book that they can transform into and act out the story as it’s read.
  5. Do you still have too much energy running through the veins (especially with kiddos?).  Through on the music and have a dance party.  If it’s to chilly to burn of the energy outside, let the music play and everyone just let themselves go to enjoy the craziness that can be had by just letting your hair down.  Don’t worry about being professionals, just enjoy getting a little crazy together.  Take a step further by planning a routine together – whether it be silly or serious.  Take the time and come up with the routine, practice it, and then perform it.

With the 5 magical steps above, the winter blues can be evaded and held off. There’s no need to be afraid of winter with such fun ways to make it more enjoyable for everyone.  Looking for more activities?  Try https://www.pinterest.com/binspiredmama/winter–fun-for-kids/.