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Saturday, August 9, 2014

Ruths Hospitality Groups CEO Presents at DbAccess Consumer

ï»¿Ruths Hospitality Groups CEO Presents at DbAccess Consumer

Everyone, my name is Jason West, Im the restaurant analysts at Deutsche Bank, and were pleased to have Ruths Hospitality Group with us today. We have Michael ODonnell, Chairman and CEO; Arne Haak, the CFO. Just to give you a little background on the company, as you all know, Ruth Chris is a leader in the upscale dining space. Theyve got about 160 units, about 130 or so are on the Ruths side, sort of 50 50 franchise in company. And then 22 of the Mitchells brand, which is a little more of a seafood focus.

Ruth has had a really nice recovery last several years, entering fourth year positive comp this year, still running solid in the first quarter, which is not what most of the other restaurants are saying. Theyve seen a significant improvement in margins and the balance sheet since the recession in 08, 09. They are starting to dip their toe in the water a little bit on unit growth, again, so well touch on that a bit. And we did have Del Friscos also here as well, I just wanted to let you guys know they canceled the presentation because of the secondary.

But just kind of kick it off, Ill start with a couple of questions and then let the audience jump in if you guys have questions as well. But Mike and Arne, if you guys could talk a bit about just the overall consumer environment and I guess, from your perspective, its a little more on the upscale end. But 2 things, one, kind of where you think we are in the cycle now. I mean, weve had 4 year now were in the fourth year of a recovery, are things kind of back to normal or is there still a lot of your restaurants that are not at the levels that youd like to be or that you were, maybe, at the peak of the last cycle 05, 07? If you could talk about sort of that level and if you could also dive in a little bit more on the first quarter, why you think your business has kind of held up better than maybe what weve heard from some of the other chains out there?

Okay. I think a couple of things, Jason. One, we really look at our business from a segmentation standpoint, 3 sort of distinct customer bases and 1 is sort of business to business customer, basically, where somebody else is paying, sort of a traveling and entertainment kind of expense, thats roughly about 30% of our business. About 30% of our business is special occasion business, where we are really not selling steak as much as we are selling making memories on 500 degree sizzling plates, where we are celebrating birthdays and anniversaries and special occasions and then really, an aspirational sort of visit in many cases. And the third piece of the business, segmentation wise, is really the people that are just because they like what we do, its relatively expensive, but they can afford it and theyre at the higher end of the income chain. And what weve seen, really, across all of those segments had been really consistent growth and a consistent return to of that customer back to us on a frequency basis. The notion of, can we get back to where we were pre 2008, is really a question of the average unit volumes. Our average unit volumes at one point were up to $5.5 million. We reached a low watermark at $4 million, were back in the $4.9 million range. But that really has a different portfolio to it. So if you really adjusted that, Id say, and Arne and I were talking about this earlier, were probably 85% to 90% of the way back to what we think we can get to. Our strategy has really been one of being very price adverse; we have not been doing any discounting. Its all brand development over the last 4 years. We introduced our Ruths Classics in 08 and have continued to do that, and thats a prix fixe opportunity at either it started at $39.95 and $49.95, its now its moved up over the years to $42.95, $52.95, and were still seeing that represent about 20% of revenue. But all of those segments, our private dining business, our alcohol business, is improving. Were seeing a solid return in terms of spending habits that look like, and are starting to behave more like, it was back, say, in pre 08. But I dont Im not smart enough to know where the cycle is and then I say that because I keep thinking that we clearly have a correlation or trading effect between the consumer confidence in the stock market and our customers. And so you see something like the sequester come and you think thats going to be bad, the Dow hits an all time high, and our sales continue to be pretty good. And I keep waiting for something to say, Well, wait a minute, that shouldnt be. And fortunately, and you were kind enough to mention it, we worked hard in the last 4 years to put our economic position were in a great position, economically, our balance sheet is in great shape. Were in a position to return value to the shareholders as we have been for the share price, but equally, were in a position to weather whatever might come our way. And fortunately, so far, and I cant talk a whole lot about the first quarter other than what I said relative to when we announced our earnings, that we were still seeing things in the mid single digit range. And I dont I havent seen anything that would cause me to change that position. Now why others are not seeing that? If theyre in a segment thats at a lower price point than where we are, then I can kind of understand theres more sensitivity around payroll tax and things like that. But its the higher end, were not seeing as much of that as a challenge. Were still bullish.

And when you look at the business, you guys because youve got the biggest chain within the upscale space, youve got a more little geographic balance, but you also have more residential, probably, exposure than some of the other chains. Youve got the big California, Florida exposure on the company side, those were markets that were down, probably more severely, particularly, in some of the residential stores than the rest of your business. I mean, can you talk about are you even seeing those residential kind of up and coming places where you maybe got there at the wrong time, that have really come back and is that sort of leading the charge or still lagging?

Yes. I think I do yes, were seeing improvement. I mean, were doing well in California, were doing well in Florida and basically so, were doing well across the country. I mean, some pockets are a little stronger than others, but as the housing challenge seems to be solving itself and people are feeling like their net worth is either gaining or not as far down as it once was, I think were seeing some favorability to that. I think thats very true in Florida, which was really challenged early on. But I, we dont were not really seeing any one pocket of the country as being an outlier either way up or down, its fairly stable.

Anybody out there have questions?

indiscernible Could you talk a little bit about indiscernible.

Right. So the question is, would we talk about a little bit about some of the restaurants that we have, theyre a little older that we can relocate. And thats a great question, and we have actually, were in the middle of when youre 47 years old, which is how old we are, you have the chance to change a few neighborhoods. We had great success in relocating our restaurant in Portland, almost 2 years ago now, and revenue and making it. We really view it as building a new store because its we go through all the challenges of opening a new store. And revenues are running north of 40% higher than they were in the old restaurant. Obviously, thats one of the reasons why we moved, but it is now that restaurant exceeds our average unit volume and the profitability is fabulous. So were excited about that. And we have a restaurant in Houston that had gone through a less than desirable neighborhood. We have concluded the sale of that property, were actually leasing it back for a period of time while we build a relocation and were moving closer into Post Oak. And again, we are reviewing any restaurant that is coming up for lease renewal. One of the processes we go through, is there a preferred location or is there some place we would rather go. And we have a number of those that well see over the next couple of years.

So you have any specific indiscernible?

Well, of the ones that could get relocated, I think thats probably more thats probably a very small number. I can probably I wont name them because I dont want to get into a public discussion with the landlord about renegotiations, but there are some restaurants that are still theyre in the right neighborhood on the wrong street, so to speak. But its not a substantial amount. And to follow on your question, were very proud of the fact that over the last 8 quarters weve generated $65 million worth of free cash. And whats important for us is that, not only have we managed to put the balance sheet back in a great place, we have continued to invest substantially into the restaurants. And so we have done significant major and minor remodels, we average 10 or 12 of those a year. So I mean, when you start to look at that and you say that our base of restaurants, 65 restaurants, lets say, were upgrading those, redoing those restaurants almost every 4.5 years, and we continue to do that. So I dont want anybody to get the impression that were not spending money on the business, because we are and we are happy. If youve been in our restaurant in Manhattan, we spent $1 million in that restaurant last year. It took us a little while to get that done because we needed the landlord to give us the lease extension to be able to pay for it, but were excited about being able to reinvest back in the business.

Just on the industry overall, there was a period in there, I have to relate, where that was growth kind of shut down in the high end steak chains and probably a lot of that on the private side as well. Were starting to see folks like you guys and Del Friscos picking up the pace again on unit growth. Does that worry you at all that were going to get back in the cycle of people sort of fighting for real estate and maybe having to get a little more competitive from a pricing standpoint or were really not anywhere close to where we were on that issue?

A good question, Jason. Weve built, in the last 4 years, weve built or relocated 16 the last 2 years, 16 restaurants between the company and franchise stores. So weve been active. Theres this notion that we havent been doing anything, and its really not true. Do I I think that good real estate is good real estate, and therefore its expensive. And I dont think anybody I think the days of people taking a flyer on real estate and hoping are gone, I hope. I know that theyre not in our discussion. We dont feel I feel pressured to get a return to the shareholders, and I can do that in a lot of ways, one of which is building restaurants. But I also can destroy value by building bad restaurants. So our diligence around the real estate and the way we go about it and what were thinking about is about as tough as it gets. I dont know what our competitors are going to do. We are not running into situations and deals that were looking at where somebody is saying, Well, if you dont do it, these guys are going to. I mean, we did pass on a deal that Del Frisco took. Maybe if fits better for a Del Frisco Grille than it fit for a steak house, we just didnt see the fit. But it wasnt like we ended up in a bidding war for a piece of property, I mean, its I dont think thats going to happen. I think, were getting out of bed everyday as the largest private or its the largest public company focused on the steak business, on the upscale steak business. And we got out of bed everyday trying to figure out how to sell more steaks, and thats our sort of singular focus. Most of the other companies are talking about now, Del Friscos has a similar situation, but most of our competitors are parts of bigger organizations and it may not be their primary focus. I think that some of our competitors have challenges around other parts of their brands and their real estate and focus probably is more appropriately placed there. So were not seeing it, but I were fortunate, I think, that we can look at because we know our opportunity to return value to shareholders, we can build restaurants, which wed love to do if we can find the right real estate. We can buyback franchisees, if that opportunity presents itself in the right way and the franchisee has additional developments, so that kind of an acquisition, were certainly buying a business we understand and to the extent it can be accretive and then build restaurants, so thats clearly an opportunity for us. And we said publicly and we did it, last year, we bought back shares. When we took out the preferred, thats an opportunity to return value to shareholders. And ultimately, at our current debt level and the amount of cash flow that were generating, we will, at some point, be at a very low, if not 0 debt position. And then the question is, are we do we do something like pay a dividend? And weve talked about that before, theres not been anything definitive there. But what it says is that I dont have to go build a bunch of restaurants lever up to do something. I have other options to create value for the shareholders. And weve been around for 47 years and the idea is how well make sure were around for the next 47.

Yes. The question is about our marketing/advertising strategy for the second half of last year and what the impact was on the fourth quarter. That would have been our second year in a row of running what we ran with 70 we ran 7 weeks of television in advance of the holiday season. We can do that on a national our footprint is big enough, we can do it national, cable buy, and its efficient. Theres some inefficiencies to it because were advertising in Wichita, Kansas working out of the store, but the ability to do that, vis a vis network is highly efficient. We did it 2 years ago and it was very successful. The strategy was to do it in advance of our busiest time of the year so that we sort of have a buildup of 7 weeks and then we actually are off air through the end of November and Christmas when it would be most expensive anyway. And theres already people that are out using us, but we sort of prime the pump. And we did it again for the second year and realized the increase an incremental increase, a substantial incremental increase in sales over the first year, so were very pleased with the way that, that behaved. Advertising can be a dangerous drug. We recognize it, were an operating business not a marketing company. We think that we win the war because we operate better. We have fabulous people in the field that do great work for us, our franchisees do great work for us. And what we do is brand advertising. It is not discounting. Its not any sort of limited time offer called to action. It is brand positioning, talking about the quality of what we do. We clearly see that as an opportunity to look at and to continue to use that as a way to keep our brand top of mind. But the idea that we would do it again in the third year, I dont know that weve determined that we can use it in some other way. But its clearly an effective medium for us.

The question is how do we market to the people that we accumulate in terms of a database? So the e mail, social media, all of that. I mean, I think, its more than in todays world its much more than just whose name do we have on an e mail list. We have I would say that its a broad and comprehensive plan around a social media strategy that has to do with search, that has to do with search optimization, that has to do with identifying who we use, who our customers are, specifically, who are the tendency are for our customers to be, so that we have a very targeted approach from a social media standpoint, whether its e mail, whether its online or however that is, that actually is quite effective for us. And that, in combination with the television stuff that we do, the brand awareness stuff that weve done with Women In Business, things like that, that combination of things is very effective. Some of it is, frankly, proprietary to us, so we dont talk a whole lot about it. We like to think that its a bit of a competitive advantage. I can just tell you that we are deeply immersed in how all that works.

Im going to give Arne a chance to jump in here. Mike, you mentioned the balance sheet and sort of $45 million debt you have now, I think pretty low interest rate on that. Is the plan, because you guys are still generating a decent amount of free cash flow even with stepping up the growth a bit, is the plan to kind of take that $45 million down to 0, and then sort of go from there on the next step, whether its buybacks or dividends or franchise acquisitions. Or maybe thats not the right way to look at it, if you could talk about the thought on free cash flow?

Sure, Jason. We spent a fair amount of work in late 2011 and then 2012, first, renegotiating our bank credit facility, so thats our debt facility. Its a $100 million facility, its a LIBOR plus sort of around 3% money. And as Mike talked about all the accomplishments coming away from 2008 and kind of if I liken it to the bank group, we were put on a leverage diet and you go over here and time out and pay back your loan, get yourself in shape again. And weve kind of committed ourselves if you read through our SEC filings and look at it, weve kind of committed in our bank facilities that were 2.5x maximum levered. We have $100 million facility, we have $25 million accordion if we need more. Its priced very, I think, competitively. I still think it could go lower, but thats the ongoing sport of bank negotiations. But our first priority is really going to be, I think, organic growth is what we would like to do. But if you look at our facility and how weve approached it, weve created a lot of flexibility. We didnt have the ability to do buybacks before, we do today. We didnt have the ability to do dividends, we do today. We had very limited ability to do CapEx or we have limitations on what we can do with CapEx and acquisitions, those are much broader as well. And so if I had to summarize our strategy in whole, its to support Mike, give ourselves the flexibility that we need to grow the business organically and to return value to our shareholders in whatever form it may come at us. And I think, we are at a great point here today in terms of our flexibility of what we could do and thats how weve approached it.

I think, Jason, specifically, one of the questions you asked, and I think you asked this is, do we have to go to 0 to do something else? And the answer to that is no. If there were an attractive acquisition of a franchisee that would not preclude us from doing were going to for making our other investments. I mean, as you said and Arne has echoed, we generated a substantial amount of free cash and I dont see that changing. So we can be opportunistic in terms of that. But we really, were going to return value to shareholders. So what can we do that makes the most sense on a long term basis, thats really where our focus is.

Right. The question is, can we talk a little bit about Mitchells, and Ill be happy to. Mitchells was acquired in February 08, which precedes either Arne or myself in terms of that acquisition. I think the intent of the acquisition was a very good one. The notion was how much runway is there with Ruths Chris, and heres this concept that was in the Midwest that was showing very good volumes with really pretty good returns. Its a small number of restaurants. There was still a lot of development taking place at the t

Friday, July 4, 2014

How to Make a Copper Wire Link Bracelet

ï»¿How to Make a Copper Wire Link Bracelet Copper is very popular in jewelry making for many reasons. Many use copper wire as practice when designing jewelry, because it is very inexpensive compared to sterling silver or gold filled wire. Others use it for its beautiful color it makes me feel like Im holding a newly minted penny!, and others use it because it is extremely malleable, even at its thickest gauge. Im not entirely sold on claims that copper jewelry has health benefits in bones, joints, nervous system, as well as in the circulatory system, but Im one of those people who say if it wont kill me, and might help me, why not try it? Personally, I use copper for many reasons. I love its color, its malleability, and the fact that its so inexpensive. There are many places to buy copper wire, but I usually buy mine at Rings Things, and pay $6.25 for 20 125 feet of wire, depending on the gauge. I usually buy 16 or 18 gauge, which gives me 32 or 50 feet spools. Copper wire can also be purchased colored, and comes in black, gold, silver, blue, purple, red, etc. Prices range from $5.00 $7.30, depending on gauge and length of spool. One of my favorite projects for working with copper wire is wire wrapped beaded chain bracelets. They are easy to make, dont use too many supplies, and can be made in an hour or so. They are simple, but add extra flair to any outfit. Step 2: Using your flat nose pliers, make a bend about 90 degrees an inch from the end. Use the bent part, and make a wrapped loop. Make sure to attach the lobster clasp to the loop. Step 3: Add one 8mm or 10mm bead. Alternately, you can add a seed/spacer bead, an 8mm or 10mm bead, and another seed/spacer bead. Make another wrapped loop. Step 4: Pick up another piece of wire, and start to make another wrapped loop on one end. Instead of attaching one part of the clasp to the loop, attach the other link, and finish the wrapped loop. Then repeat step 3. Step 5: Repeat steps 3 and 4 until youve completed all the links. I used 7, but you may need 8 or 9. For the last link, which will be part of the clasp, make a wrapped loop link as you did before, just omitting the beads. Your links should be about one inch long, making your bracelet 8 9 inches long, depending on how many links you make. For an easier version, make the links separately, closing each loop as you go along. Use the jump rings to connect the links, which will make the bracelet a bit longer, in which case you may only need 6 7 beaded links. You can also use this same technique, but make 15 18 links for a necklace. Better yet, if you use the jump ring method, you can add or subtract links in a few minutes to make it longer or shorter, to go with any outfit. Moore Beads: Lima Beads Clasp: EE Beads Published by Paige Maxim I am a 27 year old life long Mainer, and I love designing jewelry, other crafts, and writing. I been selling my jewelry designs online on Etsy and Artfire since 2008, as well as at local craft shows. View profile

Sunday, June 29, 2014

How To Make a Beaded Wire Ring

ï»¿How To Make a Beaded Wire Ring Just when you thought beadworks are only possible in necklaces and bracelets, this set of instructions will teach you how to create your own beaded wire ring. This unique jewelry piece will also add variety to your bling collection. Wouldnt it be hip to match that pink beaded necklace with a green beaded ring? Truth be known, those who have started making beaded accessories have gotten hooked to beading and even earned from it. Aside from the fun you get from creating various pieces, you may even be even doing mother nature a favor. Leftover beads may be recycled into accessories instead of throwing them. You may not only be a budding fashion icon but also an environmentalist. How about that? So get all your beading materials and lets get this started. You will need small beads, preferably flat ones. You dont want to leave bead marks on your ring finger or wherever you prefer to wear the ring. Besides, you need to consider comfort in fashion as well. You should also pick an elastic nylon thread to slip the ring in your finger comfortably and keep the beads in place. Prepare other materials such as a pair of pliers, various designs of seed beads, and crimps. This part may be tricky, but you only need to concentrate just like how you focus when slipping a thread into a needle hole. Slip a small bead on both ends of the thread. You should now have a loop with three beads. Pull both nylon ends tightly to keep them in place. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until your beaded pattern is long enough to fit your ring finger or wherever you plan to wear the jewelry piece. Remember, however, to skip a small bead on your last loop set. You have to knot the tail ends without showing the tiny bunch. You do this by sliding the ends through the small bead you had slid step 2. Tie both ends, using an overhand knot. Finally, trim off the excess cord. You now have your own beaded ring! Be creative and let your imagination run wild in making accessories you have always wanted to wear or give as gifts. Create as many patterns as you like. This hobby could even open doors for business opportunities. You dont need much to start making money out of your skill. Remember that. Wouldnt it be nice to get paid and have fun at the same time? These fashion accessories can also save you money when you need to buy presents for your family and friends. They even add a personal touch to your gift giving ideas.

How To Make a Beaded Wire Ring

Saturday, June 28, 2014

How to Care for Your Jewelry

ï»¿How to Care for Your Jewelry Most good jewelry will last for many years if properly taken care of. Taking care of your jewelry includes several important steps. Storage Store jewelry in an organized container, with plenty of room so that different jewelry pieces do not touch each other. This serves a dual purpose. First, it prevents tangling of chains, a phenomenon with which most women are unfortunately familiar. Second, it prevents tarnishing. Often, if different metals such as gold and silver touch each other, there will be a chemical reaction and the color will turn. Of course, storing your jewelry in an organized fashion also prevents you from losing those tiny earrings and earring backs. In addition to a standard jewelry box, a great way to store earrings is on a special earring rack. Also, necklaces can be hung on mini hooks. Inexpensive jewelry displays can be purchased at accessory stores in the shopping mall, such as Claires Boutique. You can also make your own using pretty pieces of fabric and wall hooks. If you want your jewelry to last, it is imperative that you take it off when you bathe and go to sleep. This flies in the face of what many people do. Some people are stuck in the old tradition of never taking off a ring or necklace because of its sentimental value. But in reality, if you really love a piece of jewelry, you are only showing it care by removing it. Sleeping in chains causes them to weaken and eventually stretch or break. Leaving rings and earrings on all the time causes them to get filthy dirty with globs of lotion, soap, and who knows what else. Also, certain types of gemstones are simply not meant to be worn every day. For example, soft stones such as aquamarines or citrines will eventually get scratched and lose some of their shine if worn every day. It is best to wear them only occasionally, and remove them when you get home. Harder stones such as diamonds are much more durable, and can be worn daily, which is one of the reasons they are used for wedding and engagement rings. When you put your jewelry on in the morning, it should be the last part of your routine. That way, you will not get lotions and makeup on it. Be sure to spray perfume and let it dry before you adorn yourself with jewels. Pieces that you wear often should be cleaned about once a week. Gold and most gemstones can be placed in store bought gold jewelry cleaner. This comes in little jars for about $4. The jewelry should be placed in the basket inside the jar, and left to soak for a little while. It should then be scrubbed with a small brush and rinsed in water. Some cleaning products such as Mr. Clean can also be used in a pinch. While some people use toothpaste, this is not a good idea, as it is too abrasive and may scratch stones. Electric or sonic jewelry cleaning machines can also be purchased for about $25. As for silver jewelry, special silver cleaner should be used. Silver can also be polished with chemically treated silver cleaning cloths, available for purchase in many jewelry and department stores. When it comes to cleaning other types of jewelry, such as pearls or even wood or vintage plastics, the best thing to do is use a damp cloth and gently wipe the jewelry down and let it air dry.

How to Care for Your Jewelry

Friday, June 27, 2014

How To Buy Ballet Costumes

ï»¿How To Buy Ballet Costumes Buying a ballet costume may seem cut and dry, but there are far more styles than one can imagine. Different styles of ballet will often require different styles of costumes. For instance, a dancer who is doing classical ballet would not wear the same costume as a dancer performing a more contemporary ballet. It is not only important to decide the style of costume when deciding which one to buy, but also price of the costume and gender of the ballerina who will be wearing it. It is important to decide how you would like the costume to fit. Ask yourself if it would be better to go for a more flowing look or a more classic look. Take into consideration the type of dance and the moves involved, and always make sure the dancer has enough room to move freely without the costume getting in the way during a performance. When buying a ballet costume it is important that the dancer feels comfortable and not distracted by the outfit. Another thought to consider when deciding on a ballet costume is the gender of the dancer. While it is acceptable, and even common, for a female ballerina to wear a tutu or skirt of some sort, this isnt the case for male ballerinas. A more simplistic approach is ideal for a male ballet costume since anything too flashy might be distracting to audiences, ultimately taking away from the performance. A costume should add to the effect of the show, but it should never steal the spotlight. A typical male costume consists of a leotard, tights of some sort, and in some cases form fitting shorts. Price is a big thing to take into consideration when buying a ballet costume. It is always a smart idea to shop around before jumping into any purchase, not excluding ballet gear. Look at the fabric and the sewing. Decide if it seems well made and long lasting. You dont want to get stuck with a cheaply made ballet costume that could easily tear during a performance. If you are buying online be sure to look up customer satisfaction ratings before you make your purchase. Since ballerinas do a lot of moving and stretching, the ballet costume must be able to stretch and move with the dancer, no matter the moves. Once you find the perfect costume, you are free to dance the night away!

How To Buy Ballet Costumes

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Holiday Inn Express Suites INVERNESS

ï»¿Holiday Inn Express Suites INVERNESS New Inverness, Florida hotel offers premium amenities. Enjoy the comfort of our new Inverness/Lecanto Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites . This Inverness, Florida, hotel is located in beautiful Citrus County, a fantastic destination for both leisure and business travelers. Your family will love staying at our Inverness hotel, located just off Highway 44. We offer convenient access to several local attractions, including the Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park and world class golf courses. Other nearby activities include fishing charters, as well as manatee tours on the Crystal River. With advance notice, our front desk can make discounted reservations for guided manatee tours. Business travelers can enjoy the convenient location of our hotel in Inverness, FL. Situated between Inverness and Crystal River, we offer close proximity to local businesses such as Wal Mart, the Citrus Memorial Hospital, Citrus County Courthouse and the Progess Energy Nuclear Power Plant . In addition, we provide meeting space for up to 25 people with available audio/visual equipment and free high speed, wireless Internet. Our business services include faxing, copying, printing and available computer use. While staying at our Inverness, Florida hotel, enjoy amenities that include a heated outdoor pool, 24 hour fitness center and our free hot breakfast bar. Book your reservations now to take advantage of our great Lecanto hotel deals and rates Book online using the form above.

Holiday Inn Express Suites INVERNESS

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Greensboro Budget Fashion

ï»¿Greensboro Budget Fashion Across from the Lowes on Battleground Ave., there is a small building that used to house tires or an insurance agent. That same building now holds treasures, vintage and modern for the young and the old.Preen Vintage Jewelry is a splash of color for Battleground Avenue as well as for budget fashionistas. It offers women and jewelry collectors of all ages somewhere to explore the citys most undervalued and unique jewelry. Preens stock is constantly changing due to private sellers and the creativity of the staff. All of the bracelets, rings, necklaces, earrings, hairpieces, combs, tiaras and charms are either well preserved vintage pieces or reinterpreted, original items from broken vintage jewelry. Preen is green, recycling one womans trash into anothers treasure.The swirling tower of charms at the back of the store creates a dynamic metaphor for Preen constantly changing stock arranged in a visually appealing manner to best serve its customers. Colorful china cabinets open their doors onto the main floor, displaying luxurious fabrics embedded with sparkling gems and rhinestones while the center display surrounding the cash register boasts a large collection of original metal work jewelry.For all the brides to be in the Greensboro area, Preen has a specific section both in store and on their website dedicated to weddings. Check it out if youre getting ready to tie the knot!For those readers thinking Preen is too ritzy for their taste, think again. Preen holds regular sales and some of their regularly priced jewelry is as inexpensive as $10 $15. Customers also enjoy periodic trunk sales and promotional events hosted at Preen. Contact the store for the next event.

Greensboro Budget Fashion

Monday, June 23, 2014

Gem and Jewelry business in Hyderabad

ï»¿Gem and Jewelry business in Hyderabad Gems and Jewelry business: Hyderabad Nizam Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh is one of the fastest developing city in India. India itself has recorded amaging growth during past few years. Hyderabad is progressing in far more faster pace. Gems and Jewelery business is also flourishing here with the growth of twin cities. Nizams, the then rulers of Hyderabad accumulated enormous wealth and they converted much of that wealth into Gems and Jewelery. Gemstones and Jewelery collection of Nizam is renowned world over. They were close to moguls and working in Delhi. They started operating in Hyderabad as early as in 1729. The family groomed their gems and jewelery business under Royal patronage of the Nizams. Gem and Jewelery trade was keep flourishing even after independence of India and Hyderabad being merged into India. The oldest Jewelery market in Hyderabad was Charminar in the old city that is still catering large number of gemstone lovers. Gems and Jewelry hubsVardhaman Gems Centuries Old Tradition of Excellence in Gems and JewelryEmerald ring with emerald oval in the center and small emeralds in channel setting. Navaratna is a specific arrangement of nine gemstones used in Indian astrology. This is also a Tantra of India. Expensive. Emeralds are very fascinating gemstones. The lively luminosity of its colour makes the emerald a unique gemstone. Fine quality emeralds are some times costlier than diamonds. Interested in buying some Kundan/Meena/Jadau ornaments? Temptation for the same is really irresistible especially for a woman or a girl. There is an interface between Zodiac and Planets. So as between ASTROLOGY and PALMISTRY. Indian Astrology combines all. There are remedies through Navaratna. Read about nine gemstones and their substitutes used. nine planets. It was Abids. Many a showroom was opened there that mainly catered to the tourists. Later on Gun foundry and Basheerbagh added to the Jewelery district of Hyderabad. A market is also developed in the counterpart of the twin city, Secunderabad. In recent past, Panjagutta and Somajiguda have been developed as the main markets of the twin city of Hyderabad. There are Jewelery showrooms in rows both sides of the main road. Banzara and Jubilee hills have emerged as pause area, with the expansion of the city. Jewelers of Hyderabad eyed on to those areas. Many other areas are also feeding the customers. Hyderabad has a love for any thing big. Huge showrooms are selling gold, silver, pearl, diamond, colorstone, and Jadau Kundan Meena Jewellery. When China started producing pearls in huge quantity in nineteen seventies, Jewelers of Hyderabad city took the oppurtunity to process it. Chinese pearls are nicknamed as Hyderabadi pearls. Hyderabad processes and sells tons of pearls every year. The city is also very famous for its Ganga Jamuna style Jewelery.

Gem and Jewelry business in Hyderabad

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Fitchburg museum hosting holiday

ï»¿Fitchburg museum hosting holiday FITCHBURG The Fitchburg Art Museum The Fitchburg Art Museum is a regional art museum based in Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. Founded in 1925 through a bequest of artist, collector, and educator Eleanor Norcross, the museum has 14 galleries showcasing American and European paintings, prints, has a better idea for holiday In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. unique handmade gifts. Forget shopping at the mall or going from one end of town to the other. The museum is coordinating its first Holly Berry Crafts Faire next weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. each day. Local artists and artisans will be there with more than 25 tables of original craft items blown glass, textiles, paper crafts, ceramics, graphic art, jewelry, mens gifts, books and calendars for sale. Since the museum is beautifully decorated during the holiday season, we thought it would be a perfect venue for an event, said Janice Goodrow, director of public relations. Gardeners Cottage in Ashby decorates, as well as dedicated members who put up their own decorations throughout the museum, said Ms. Goodrow of the dozen Christmas trees decorated by local Girl Scouts, art teachers, museum docents and staff members. This is the first year we are doing Christmas decorations, said Brenda J. Donahue of Gardeners Cottage, who was decorating the alcove in the Eleanor Norcross Gallery with her sister and co owner Laurie A. Dick of the Ashby home furnishings andThe sisters are volunteers at the museum and have decorated the halls for the museums spring Art in Bloom The phrase Art In Bloom is often used as the title of various exhibits held annually, usually in spring, in art museums across the United States. The exhibit is composed of traditional visual art pieces and corresponding flower arrangements done by local garden clubs. event for the last fewGardeners Cottage Routes 31 and 119 is also geared up for

Fitchburg museum hosting holiday

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Externally threaded jewelry

ï»¿Externally threaded jewelry jump to contentmy subreddits limit my search to /r/Legitpiercinguse the following search parameters to narrow your results:see the search faq for details. Unfortunately, there is way too much outdated, misunderstood, or flat out incorrect information readily available online about body piercing, jewelry, aftercare, and healing. The moderators of /r/LegitPiercing are all professional piercers who care very strongly for safe, successful piercings, which means continued education, up to date information and techniques, quality and beautiful jewelry, and troubleshooting advice that won do more harm then help. Can I post here if I not a piercer? Totally! Piercers and clients / piercing enthusiasts are both welcome to post here. Please try to give credit to your piercer, and the brand of jewelry if possible! Can I ask for help finding a piercer in my area? Absolutely! You can either post a vague idea of your location zip code, for example, or if you are more comfortable, message any of the moderators here and we will try and put you in touch with a reputable piercer in your area. Can I ask for help with my piercing? Yes! When asking for help with a piercing where to find jewelry, troubleshooting, bumps etc, try to give us as much information as possible. Include things like jewelry brand, material, size, what you doing for aftercare, what the problem is in detail, etc. A clear photo also helps. Can I offer advice here if I not a piercer? Yes, however, to make sure only safe and effective advice is found here, we will be moderating the comments regularly. If you are unsure about your advice, or would just like to be careful as there is lots of bad info out there, we ask that you simply refrain from posting it. Anecdotal advice such as I used a travel pillow to sleep when I got my ear pierced! is great, advice such as Use Asprin Paste to get rid of that Keloid! is not.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Emerald Rice Recipe

ï»¿Emerald Rice Recipe I used 3 cups of leftover rice and 1/2 cup at least chopped cilantro. I added 3 tbsp butter and liberal amounts of salt and pepper, used lemon instead of lime zest. Microwaved for about 5 minutes, stirred in 1/2 cup parmesan cheese and baked in the oven at 400 for about 15 minutes, then turned on the broiler for about 5 minutes. Before serving I drizzled with a little extra virgin olive oil. Why other reviewers have such a problem with this recipe is beyond me. My whole family absolutely loved it with broiled tilapia and sauteed broccoli we have leftovers and will definitely be eating it again. I dont care who made it or what they wear or it they are from Mars it is one of the best leftover rice dishes I have ever had and I will definitely be making it again. Even thought I have been happily married for 12 years, if I had a date tomorrow night, I would make it. Thank you Ingrid you go girl! I whole heartedly agree with the reviewers who suggest making and eating before reviewing. I too hope that Ingrid will delve more deeply into Latin cooking but she helself says that her show is with a Latin Twist. That said I found her rice dish wonderful. Sure you can make it more complicated but that is what a series is about. Anyone complain about Bobby Flay making grilling to simple. this dish goes very well with the Brandied Shrimp. I agree that it holds up very well and improves in flavor depth wih age. Dont diss it, Try it.

Emerald Rice Recipe

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Diamonds and Their Cuts in Antique and Vintage Jewelry

ï»¿Diamonds and Their Cuts in Antique and Vintage Jewelry The Diamonds you see in a piece of antique or vintage jewelry may give you some hints as to the history of the item. On the other hand, they may lead you far astray from the true age of the item. This article will try to give you some information that helps sort out fact and fantasy. The Diamonds we discuss will include the forms normally seen in jewelry of the last 200 years. The Rose Cut: This cutting style may have originated in India, in the 1500s, and soon migrated to European cutting centers of the time, such as Venice. Used widely in Georgian jewelry, it is also seen in many item of jewelry from later eras. The stone has a flat back and may have as few as three individual faces on the upper surface of the stone. The Old Mine Cut : This cutting style has a square or cushion shape outline. The crown area is thicker than the Modern Round Brilliant cut. The total depth of the stone, in relation to the diameter of the stone, is greater than the Modern Round Brilliant. The culet, the large facet on the bottom of the stone, is often quite large compared to a Modern Round Brilliant. The Old European Cut: With the exception of the circular outline that it exhibits, this cutting style is similar in most characteristics to the Old European Cut. There are many transitional cut diamonds, mostly from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These stones will exhibit some characteristics of the Old European cut, but may include some more modern characteristics. Some ancestors of the Old Mine Cut, such as the Mazarin Cut and the Peruzzi Cut,, developed in the 1600s. The development of the triple cut diamond shapes, such as the Old Mine Cut, coincided with the discovery of diamonds in Brazil in the early 18th century. The shape was probably the most widely used shape for the next 150 years. The rounded outline of the Old European Cut became widely used only when modern Diamond fashioning methods, including mechanized bruting and sawing, became widespread, around 1870. This information may help you establish the earliest possible or probable date of an item. However, a number of complications arise when actually dating the stones, as all these cutting styles are still being produced or capable of being produced at any time since their development. When mounted in jewelry, it becomes more complex. A older stone may be reset into a new mounting, or a new stone may be placed into an older setting. There can be a number of reasons for this, including sentimental ones involving heirloom pieces. The next owner of the piece, may have no idea of this fact and honestly judge the age of the stone or the mounting incorrectly. Other cutting styles, such as the Asscher Cut and the more traditional Cushion Cut, were popular a century or more ago. With the recent revived popularity of some traditional style settings, newly cut stones in these older styles are appearing on the market. Some newer cutting styles for Diamonds are a clear indication of at least a newer diamond in a piece, no matter what the age of the actual piece. Princess Cut and Radiant Cut Diamonds are modified brilliant cuts with a square or rectangular shape, and the cuts were first marketed in the 1970s. They did not see widespread use until the 1990s. It is rare that one would be encountered in a piece of jewelry older than 20 years. There are also some anomalies, Diamonds that resemble the 20th century Modern Brilliant Cut, but which were cut in the 19th Century, and even in the 18th century. The English round Cut, or Jeffries Cut, dates from the mid 18th century and does resemble many aspects of the Modern Round Brilliant. An American cutter, Henry Morse, marketed round diamonds around the time of the Civil War that came very close in appearance to the Modern Round Brilliant, which was developed around the time of World War I. These stones are seldom encountered in estate jewelry. Some diamonds cut with more than the normal 58 facets are occasionally encountered in vintage and antique pieces, as well, but this is also infrequent. Occasionally, the term European Cut is used. There is no clear meaning to the term, which may be an incorrect reference to an Old European Cut. It may also mean the stones are cut in Europe, which may or may not reflect a fine quality of cutting. It may mean a stone that is cut to certain proportions used in some European grading systems , such as the Scandinavian Standard Brilliant Cut. If you ar buying a Diamond that is represented as a European Cut, ask the seller what they mean by the term. If you are selling a Diamond as a European Cut, know what you mean by the term. One of the great advantages of buying antique or vintage diamond jewelry is the potential for an excellent value. Intricate handworked mountings are very expensive to duplicate with modern labor. Control of the Diamond market by a single cartel is no longer the case. For years, one company and its subsidiaries, controlled the flow of at least 80% of the worlds diamonds. While their share of the market is still significant, perhaps 40 50%, the market for rough and newly cut diamonds does not offer any incredible bargains. Previously owned diamonds are not controlled nearly as much by those market forces. Diamonds that are already mounted in jewelry can not be graded as accurately as loose stones. Weights, color grades, and clarity grades are all approximate. While a large center stone is occasionally removed from an older piece for accurate grading, then remounted in the same piece, this does not occur with the majority of older Diamond jewelry pieces. Diamonds can become chipped or damaged over the years, in normal wear. This is particularly true of Old Mine Cuts and Old European Cuts. They will often exhibit chips at the girdle edge of the stone, the knife like rim that separates the lower portion of the stone, the pavilion, from the upper portion of the stone, the crown. Certain styles of setting do offer more protection to these stones than others. Any previously owned jewelry should be carefully inspected for damage to the stones or setting, and the stones should be checked to make sure they are secure in their settings, with all prongs intact. Post CommentNo HTML is allowed in comments, but URLs will be hyperlinked. Comments are not for promoting your Hubs or other sites.

Diamonds and Their Cuts in Antique and Vintage Jewelry

Friday, June 13, 2014

Cubavera Enters Market for Fashion Jewelry Through License Agreement

ï»¿Cubavera Enters Market for Fashion Jewelry Through License Agreement MIAMI Miami, cities, United States Miami m City 1990 pop. 358,548, seat of Dade co., SE Fla., on Biscayne Bay at the mouth of the Miami River; inc. 1896. Perry Ellis International Perry Ellis International is a leading international marketer of clothing, offering a diverse portfolio of brands through multiple distribution channels. Axis Axist Cubavera Dockers licensed Farah Girl Star Nasdaq:PERY announced today that it has entered into a license agreement with Phoenix F Jewelry Manufacturing for the manufacture and domestic distribution of mens and womens fashion jewelry for the CubaveraR brand. The jewelrys Latin inspiration and spirit are the perfect complement to the authentically styled apparel you will find from CubaveraR, said Rachel Barnett, president of licensing for Perry Ellis International. Phoenix F Jewelry is based in Miami where they are immersed in Hispanic styles and tastes. The CubaveraR brand is one of the hottest selling brands at retail, and we are delighted to partner with the brand, said Alisa Bendayan, vice president of Phoenix F Jewelry MFG MFG ManufacturingMFG Mit Freundlichen Gren German: With Best RegardsMFG Marithe Francois Girbaud French clothing company . The jewelry will be a stainless steel stainless steel: see steel. stainless steel Any of a family of alloy steels usually containing 10 chromium. The presence of chromium, together with low carbon content, gives remarkable resistance to corrosion and heat. based line carefully detailed to reflect the true Latin spirit. The mens collection will maintain a sharp, sophisticated look for todays fashion savvy man while the womens collection will keep the Latin influence and styling to accompany the apparel line. The first jewelry collection for men will be offered for first quarter selling, while the womens collection will be launched for third quarter delivery. CubaveraR is distributed in department stores This is a list of department stores. In the case of department store groups the location of the flagship store is given. This list does not include large specialist stores, which sometimes resemble department stores. throughout the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic 2005 est. pop. 295,734,000, 3,539,227 sq mi 9,166,598 sq km, North America. The United States is the worlds third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . For additional information on the CubaveraR jewelry lines or to make an appointment to preview the lines, please contact Alisa Bendayan at 305 477 2515. About Perry Ellis International Perry Ellis International Inc. is a leading designer, distributor and licensor of a broad line of high quality mens and womens apparel, accessories, and fragrances, including dress and casual shirts, golf sportswear, sweaters, dress and casual pants and shorts, jeans wear, active wear and mens and womens swimwear to all major levels of retail distribution. , owns a portfolio of highly recognized brands including Perry EllisR, JantzenR, CubaveraR, MunsingwearR, John HenryR, Original PenguinR, Grand SlamR, Natural IssueR, Penguin SportR, the Havanera Co.R, AxisR, and Tricots St. RaphaelR. The company also licenses trademarks from third parties including NikeR and Tommy HilfigerR for swimwear, PINGR and PGA TourR for golf apparel and Ocean PacificR for mens sportswear. About Phoenix F Phoenix F is an international jewelry corporation with manufacturing and distribution offices in Miami, New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean E, New Jersey and Pennsylvania S, Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , Shanghai, China and Pforzheim, Germany. Phoenix F manufactures and distributes branded and private label sterling silver and fashion jewelry at all levels of distribution.

Colored Bracelet

ï»¿Colored Bracelet A colored bracelet is a fun and easy way to add pizzazz to any outfit. Bracelets were out of favor for a while, but are now coming back strong. Many of us now have to wear security or identity badges in our workplace, so a colored bracelet can add the spark that a necklace or pin might have done before. Everyone knows that the smartest way to build a wardrobe is to choose classic pieces in a few neutral colors. So lets say you have a gray suit that fits perfectly and goes anywhere, but it does get boring. Suppose one day you wear it with a lavender silk shell and clasp a delicate silver and amethyst bracelet around your wrist? Another day you might combine the suit with a black T shirt and a wrist full of stacked beaded bracelets in rainbow colors. Or you could pair it with a crisp white shirt and a bold bangle of lapis lazuli or a red cloisonne cuff. I know of a family that had a lot of kids and an exceptionally patient and loving mother. As the children grew older, they wanted to give her something really special. Each child bought a bangle bracelet made of his or her birthstone. The mom ended up with a lovely collection of different colored bracelets that she could wear singly or in color combinations of her choice. Now shes getting birthstone bangles from her grandchildren to add to her collection. Not all colored bracelets need to be collectibles, though. Beads lend themselves to more playful designs, and can be made of less precious materials. If youre considering a lime green bracelet with that gray suit, but just arent sure, try a bracelet of big lime green beads. How about one strand of green and one strand of fuchsia? You can go as wild or as subtle as you want with colored bracelets.

Colored Bracelet

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Channel Your Inner Michelle Obama With Pearl Jewelry

ï»¿Channel Your Inner Michelle Obama With Pearl Jewelry No matter which political party you may belong to, we can all appreciate great style. Since the First Lady came onto the national stage, it seems the nation cannot get enough of her personal style. She has the amazing ability to pair assertive clothing with feminine touches and splashes of color. Her style is uniquely hers, yet is the style of every woman. One thing we do notice is that Michelle Obama loves to accessorize, and she does it very well. One of her favorite accessories is pearl jewelry. And why not?! Pearl jewelry is back in a big way. You can wear pearl jewelry virtually with anything from jeans and a white collar shirt to a sheath dress. Pearl jewelry is versatile and chic. The night President Obama secured the Democratic nomination for President, Michelle appeared in a simple, yet bold purple belted sheath dress that had everyone talking. First of all, for a mother of two, she is in great shape! This simple dress was accented really with 3 things earrings, watch, and a large white pearl necklace. However, it was really the dress and necklace that received the most attention. Everyone has a sheath dress in their closet. No matter what color it is, you can easily get this look by adding a simple white pearl necklace. Finding pearls of that size may be a little more expensive and harder to find. However, there are many South Sea pearls available that can help you achieve a very similar look. Look for South Sea pearl necklaces that run from 9 to 11mm. These are larger in size yet still run for a more affordable price. For more inexpensive choices, try Akoya pearls or Freshwater pearls. These are a tad smaller in size but can still help you achieve the same objective. Also be sure to find necklaces with shorter strands. You will want to keep your eyes out for pearl necklaces that run about 18 or shorter in length to fit comfortably around the neck. During the final debate of the presidential campaign in 2008, Michelle Obama once again rocked another simple sheath dress, this time with cap sleeves. However, now she chose to accent it with a much longer pearl necklace. She then added her own style to it by selecting a necklace that had another one of her favorite accessories broaches. Three flower broaches were placed throughout the necklace which turned it into a completely unique piece of jewelry. Long pearl necklaces are all the rage now. To achieve this same look, you will want to shop for pearl necklaces that are 36 or longer. Longer necklaces require additional pearls to be placed on the strand, so these will run a little higher in price. To fit within your pocket book, you will want to shop Freshwater or Akoya pearl necklaces because these tend to run a little lower in price for quality pearls. Once youve found your pearl necklace, pair it with three broaches or even hair pins that you can attach to the necklace. You can switch the broaches in and out with each other to get different looks. Really, you will never have to wear the same necklace twice! Multi Strand Gold and Chocolate Pearl Necklace During the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Michelle Obama attended a luncheon for Emilys List. There she appeared in a dazzling combination of chocolate and gold pearls that complimented her light sandy brown dress and cardigan perfectly. In this example, the First Lady really shows her unique style. While finding a necklace that has both golden and chocolate pearls on it may be difficult and very expensive, you can pair two different strands together for the same effect. True golden pearl jewelry is generally South Sea pearl jewelry. These are available in beautiful rich golden hues. You may be able to find other pearls that are golden, but chances are these may be dyed. For chocolate pearls, there are many Freshwater pearls available in chocolate tones for an affordable price. Take these two strands and wear them at the same time to get the same look as Michelle. Then, when you want to, you can wear each on their own. If you really would like a multi color pearl necklace, there are many strands that combine different colors as well as different types of pearls. White, Silver Multi Strand Pearl Necklace At the first White House State dinner, the First Lady wowed everyone with an amazing formal gown that sparkled and shined. She truly demonstrated her confidence to wear such a beautiful dress. She then added a gorgeous multi strand pearl necklace which included cream colored pearls and silver jewels. This necklace made a definite statement, again about her confidence and sense of fashion. For the silver portion of the necklace, there are many inexpensive choices to choose from in department stores. Layered necklaces are really big right now, so there shouldnt be too much of a problem finding a few sets of layered necklaces. Once you have found the necklaces, then you can pair it with a long cream colored pearl necklace. Choose a 36 necklace or longer so you can loop it around your neck once or twice. There are even some pearl necklaces that already come in double, or triple strands. Again, because the necklace has to be long, or is a pre made double strand, more pearls will be needed and the price may go up. So look for the lesser expensive Freshwater or Akoya pearls for affordable, quality alternatives. The simplicity of pearl jewelry allows you leniency in how bold you can go with it. Like Michelle Obama, you can take risks and really enjoy being fashionable with pearl jewelry. Or, like the First Lady, you can be simple and chic with a classic pearl necklace and a dress. Either way, pearl necklaces offer you versatility and style for whatever occasion youd like. Channel your inner Michelle and pick up a pearl necklace that you can use again and again to achieve great, timeless style.