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About Lisa Rusczyk

Lisa Rusczyk is the founder of Charlie The Cavalier (a blog about Charlie her dog, and her friends, family and home) and founder of 50ThingsToKnow. Lisa is a Doctoral student in Educational Leadership who happened to start writing her first book 50 Things to Know Before Having a Baby after her little girl was born. Her book sold over 1,000 copies in the first year on Amazon. Today, she has over 10 books and helps others self-publish. Further, she shares this information with the public via this blog, FacebookYouTubePinterestTwitter, and recently on a local television station. Lisa knows that like her there are a lot of people who would like concise information on a topic in one digital location. Lisa is known for her simple and effective tips.

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The World's Biggest Diamond Dealers: Get to know some of the world's top diamond suppliers

 Guest Post

When we talk of luxury, wealth and power, no other gemstone symbolises these greater than the diamond. Diamonds are the strongest, most valuable rocks on earth. Throughout history, countless have risked their lives in pursuit of diamonds, and governments have literally moved mountains and civilisations just to get to these precious prizes.
It’s no wonder that today, there are more than 30 active diamond mines throughout the world, each producing millions of carats of diamonds every year. Here we list down some of the largest of those diamond producers, and what makes them the supreme suppliers of these shining, sparkling stones.

Argyle Diamond Mine, Western Australia

Owned solely by the multinational mining corporation Rio Tinto Group, the Argyle Diamond Mine is said to be the largest producer of diamonds in the world. It produces roughly 20 per cent of the world’s natural diamonds, though only a small percentage can be considered gem-grade. Majority of the diamonds it produces are industrial grade diamonds which are used in various other applications such as cutting, polishing, and in different areas of construction.
Aside from being the largest diamond producer to date, what makes the Argyle Diamond Mine most distinctive is its production of rare pink diamonds. It currently contributes around 90 per cent of the world’s supply of pink diamonds, and is a significant producer of various other rare coloured diamonds as well. These include brown, red and purple toned diamonds, all of which warrant a very high demand and consequently high prices.
In recent years, the Rio Tinto Group has decided to expand the Argyle Diamond Mine. In partnership with major mining assets provider Tenix, Rio Tinto will soon turn the Argyle Diamond Mine into an underground mine from being an open-pit one, thereby extending the lifespan of the mine for at least 7 more years.

Orapa Diamond Mine & Jwaneng Diamond Mine, Botswana

The Orapa Diamond Mine may not be the largest producer of diamonds, but it is the largest diamond mine there is, spanning 118 square kilometres. It is one of the major contributors to Botswana’s success as the world’s largest diamond producing country, alongside its neighbouring mine and the most valuable mine in the world, the Jwaneng Diamond Mine.
The Jwaneng Diamond Mine is one of the newer mines in Botswana, having started operations in 1982, while Orapa is by far the oldest. Jwaneng earned the title as the richest mine in the world as it produces significant amounts of high grade ore at a high rate of extraction. Both Jwaneng and Orapa mines are owned by Debswana, a union of the government of Botswana and the largest well-known diamond supplier in the world, De Beers.

Venetia Diamond Mine, South Africa

The Venetia Diamond Mine is a major asset of South Africa as it produces the largest quantity of diamonds in the country. It currently supplies 40 per cent of the total number produced annually, and is one of six mines in South Africa owned by the diamond giant, De Beers.
Due to their limited period of productivity some of the world’s largest mines are no longer active, and eventually these big diamond basins will become inactive as well. But until then, they will continue to be the world’s major sources for the finest stone in nature.


Debra Wright blogs about a plethora of topics including heavy industrial, mining and other fields. Wright considers Tenix as one of the leaders in providing infrastructure solutions.

Enjoy our Guide to Buying an Engagement Ring post here.  



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4 Steps to a $100-a-Year Cell Phone Bill for Moms

My husband and I don't like monthly bills.  Well we don't like bills in general!  As  stay-at-home Mom a $50 cell phone bill was not a good thing.  I only really talk to my Mom on the phone most of the time.  So here is how I have $100 a year cell phone bill.  There are some annoying set up stuff and costs.  But after year one only $100 a year.

1. T Mobile $100 - 1,000 Minute prepaid plan with $30 cell phone

The first thing I did was get a T-Mobile $100 pay as you go plan.  The plan in 1,000 minutes for $100.  That is about 3 minutes a day.  That means when I am away from my house I can only use the phone for emergencies.  I use it to see where we might have lunch or in the car incase something happens.  Since I am a Mom I don't talk on my cell phone in the car because that is dangerous!  I ended up getting a phone similar to this one .  

2.  Hook Up Phone to Internet

Now I know you are thinking, I talk on the phone for more than 1,000 minutes.  I have people to talk to.  Since I am a stay at home Mom, I spend most of my time at home.  I have home phone hooked up to the internet with this device:  OBi100 VoIP Telephone Adapter and Voice Service Bridge.  I have to admit, my husband this part for me but it is rated very highly in the reviews on Amazon.   You will need to purchase a phone to attach if you do not already have one.  The quality is great and we never had an issue!  

3.  Get a Google Number

Will Google Voice you will give out one phone number to everyone.  With this number, both phones will ring when someone calls.  Your voice mail will be transcribed and delivered to your mail box.  You can make and receive free text messages from your computer.  

4. Cancel Your Other Phone Service

Fingers crossed you are done with your plan, but if not you may still have a cost savings to make the switch early.  I had a $100 cancelation free that still make the switch worth it. It has been 3 months and they still have not billed us the fee yet! 


Conclusion...

So as I said the initial setup for the first year was about $170 for personal phone service but next year will only be $100!  Last year I paid $50 a month or $600!  I have many other places I would like to use that extra cash like vacation!  

I have to admit you need to get into a pattern of using the new phones.  I only use the cell phone when I am out of the house for short periods of time.  If you save up extra minutes you can use it or buy more minutes.  The home phone is great and free!  Also I can check the answering machine from anywhere.  

There are a few issues.  I can not get text that people send while I am away from my house.  I have it set up so I don't because then I would have to pay for all texts I receive. I can send texts from my cell if needed for 1 minute a text.  The phone I have is not fancy but it is what I need.  

*Bonus:  If you have a cell phone that can connect to the internet, you can also have your google number ring that phone if you are around a wireless internet connection that you are currently connected   There are apps, for example talkatone, that lets you talk on the phone for free.  My parents did not like the quality and amount of time to connect so this did not work for me.  But in an emergency or if you wanted to chat at a coffee shop or mcDonalds for free you could.  






About Lisa Rusczyk

Lisa Rusczyk is the founder of Charlie The Cavalier (a blog about Charlie her dog, and her friends, family and home) and founder of 50ThingsToKnow. Lisa is a Doctoral student in Educational Leadership who happened to start writing her first book 50 Things to Know Before Having a Baby after her little girl was born. Her book sold over 1,000 copies in the first year on Amazon. Today, she has over 10 books and helps others self-publish. Further, she shares this information with the public via this blog, FacebookYouTubePinterestTwitter, and recently on a local television station. Lisa knows that like her there are a lot of people who would like concise information on a topic in one digital location. Lisa is known for her simple and effective tips.

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50 Things to Know To Live a Vegetarian Lifestyle


The journey to becoming a vegetarian can be a hard one but very rewarding. Knowing what to do is always a must when it comes to a lifestyle change. You can make small changes that can do wonders for your health. With any lifestyle change, there are times that it can be difficult but having and knowing some tips can help get you through the harder times. Here are some tips that helped me when I decided to have a lifestyle change to becoming vegetarian for health reasons.

1.  Be Vegetarian for the Right Reasons

Changing your lifestyle to being vegetarian can be a difficult task. One of the things that you have to remember is to do it for the right reasons. This will help you stay on track. Being vegetarian can become stressful and hard to do if your mind is under stress. You have to want it and love it so that it does not become like a chore.

2.  Do It at Your Own Pace

One of the mistakes that people make when switching to vegetarianism is that they do it all at once. This can cause problems for them because they get overwhelmed and feel like giving up. The best way is to move on your own pace. Make sure that you are transitioning at your own speed.   Do not pressure yourself too much.

3.  Learn About Food Your Body Needs

You have to keep in mind that your body needs different nutrients. Learning about the different food groups that your body needs will help you stay healthy. You will find that substituting different vegetarian foods for needed nutrients is easy and that the only thing needed is having knowledge of which ones are great substitutes for nutrients.

4.  Think About All of the Vegetables You Already Eat

You may already eat food that is loaded with vegetables. Vegetables are already a part of your diet and the only thing you need to do is to realize this and add more of it and slowly take away the meat.

5.  Learn About Substitutes for Meat

There are plenty of different substitutes for meats now. You can find them at stores around you. The only thing that you need to do is to know what they are and where they are located. There are vegetable substitutes like vegetarian burgers, sausages, and hotdogs. This will help you with not feeling like you are depriving yourself.

6.  Learning Different Vegetarian Recipes

Having different recipes to cook will spice things up. By having different recipes, you are making sure that you do not get tired of your lifestyle choice. Besides the normal vegetarian menu that you have decided on cooking for yourself, one trick that I have is to try a new recipe every week. This keeps things more interesting when it comes to eating. You will be able to add the good recipes that you find to your taste into your recipe collection.

7.  Use Different Spices

Using different spices can help you stay on course with your lifestyle change. Becoming vegetarian does not have to be bland or boring. Having and using different spices adds so much more excitement to your life as a vegetarian.

8.  Explore the Local Shops and Supermarkets

Exploring your local shops and supermarkets will help you discover new types of vegetarian foods that you can cook and eat.   Walk through the produce department and find a new fruit for vegetable that you would like to cook with. This will give you more choices for your diet and nutrients supplementation. The more choices that you have, the better it is for you so that you would not feel like you are eating the same exact things over and over again.

9.  Explore International Foods

You do not have to be stuck to eating the same type of food from one country. Every country has a different set of foods that are vegetarian friendly. This gives you more recipes to your collection.

10.  Do Not Get Put Off by Teasing

There are many people out there that voice out their opinions and comments about everything. This kind of thing is expected. Do not get put off by what others say though. Most of the time these people are the ones that do not know much about being a vegetarian.

11. Find a Friend

You do not have to go through this lifestyle change alone. There are other people that are choosing the same lifestyle. This may give you the support you need to get through your lifestyle choice.  Find a friend to join the journey and be healthy together.

12.  Read Food Labels

You may think that what you are eating is a vegetarian meal but sometimes there are things added that makes the meal not a vegetarian meal at all. Always check the labels of the foods you are going to eat. Some foods sneak in ingredients that are parts of animals. Check the ingredients of the food before making a purchase at the grocery store.

To read all 50 tips view 50 Things to Know To Live a Vegetarian Lifestyle eBook.  A great gift for a friend!   I ENCOURAGE YOU to borrow the book for free from the Kindle Lending Library for Amazon Prime Members.  If you would like to share these tips please email me at lbrennec@gmail.com.  





About Lisa Rusczyk
Lisa Rusczyk is the founder of Charlie The Cavalier (a blog about Charlie her dog, and her friends, family and home) and founder of 50ThingsToKnow.com. Lisa is a Doctoral student in Educational Leadership who happened to start writing her first book 50 Things to Know Before Having a Baby after her little girl was born. Her book sold over 1,000 copies in the first year. Today, she has over 10 books and helps others self-publish. Further, she shares this information with the public via this blog, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Twitter, and recently on a local television station. Lisa knows that like her, there are a lot of people who would like concise information on a topic in a digital location. She's known for her simple and effective tips.

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Wordless Wednesday- A Day At The Beach









About Lisa Rusczyk
Lisa Rusczyk is the founder of Charlie The Cavalier (a blog about Charlie her dog, and her friends, family and home) and founder of 50ThingsToKnow.com. Lisa is a Doctoral student in Educational Leadership who happened to start writing her first book 50 Things to Know Before Having a Baby after her little girl was born. Her book sold over 1,000 copies in the first year. Today, she has over 10 books and helps others self-publish. Further, she shares this information with the public via this blog, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Twitter, and recently on a local television station. Lisa knows that like her, there are a lot of people who would like concise information on a topic in a digital location. She's known for her simple and effective tips.

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