nice stocking legs

nice stocking legs

nice stocking legs

Where can I buy saucer doilies?


I am a teacher and I have seen a nice Easter card idea to make with my Nursery class. It's basically a black upside down hand print to be a spring lamb's head and legs, and then you stick a small doily on to be the woolly body. The only problem is I'm not sure where I would get doilies from!? I think they would have to be the type that you put on saucers, so that they're small enough to fit on the front of a card. Any idea of any UK shops that stock them? Preferably one that might be open late so that I can go after work as I want to get them started this week. I tried Asda tonight but they didn't have any.

Tesco, Wilkinson and lots of little corner shops, you know, the sort that sell almost everything no one else does! In the supermarkets they are usually by the cake making ingredients.

What to do with the Stock Market Rally

I wrote recently about the stock market and ETF’s. At the time of the first post (3/23) the S&P was around 750, and I recommended that the long term investor get back in the market. At the time of the second post (4/6) the market was at 820, having surged almost 10% in a matter of only two weeks. My comment on the market back then was: “At this level, I think the market is still relatively a good value”.

Now the market is up even more. Currently the S&P is at 870. That means it is up about 30% from its bear market low of 670 on March 9. Quite a rally and the question is:

 

Is this sustainable?

 

You can’t get a straight answer to this question from anyone. Some people will tell you to get out and others will tell you that we are in the early phases of a major bull run. What this illustrates is how hard it is for the average investor to “beat the market” and time when to get in and out of stocks.

 

Many active money managers will claim they have superior skills and magic crystal balls that tell them when to buy and sell. But the fact is most of these managers underperform the market in the long run. So as a general rule I recommend the average investor to stay away from active money managers and mutual funds which are expensive and provide little real value.

 

For those who like to study the market in a historical perspective, one of the most prominent valuation tools is the so-called 10-year Shiller P/E, named for Professor Robert Shiller at Yale. This measure smoothes out the earnings cycle over a 10-year period and this way avoids the bumps that the 12-month trailing or forward P/E has. The 10-year Shiller P/E is around 60 on S&P operating earnings.

 

So with the market at 870, you have a P/E of 14.5 That is a quite reasonable number; in fact it is slightly under the 200-year average of 16.

 

Historically, for those who invested at times when the Shiller P/E is below 16 the returns have been good. Professor Shiller ran the numbers and in this respect “good” means a 7-10% yearly return, which is what you can probably expect in the long run.

 

Make sure you have a Financial Plan!

 

Some investors sold out in a panic around the beginning of March as the market tanked. Those people are now sitting on heavy losses and on top of that have missed a 30% market rally. The lesson is age old and yet investors keep missing it: Do not let the market’s mood swings dictate your investment strategy!

 

The market is like an irrational drunk who stumbles along in the alley trying to get home from the pub. He will make wild swings back and forth but he will eventually get home. Keep that in mind as you grow your own investments!

 

For developing a sensible investing strategy make sure you check out our investing course.

 

If you put money in the market at regular intervals (so-called “dollar cost averaging”) and stay properly diversified (by using ETFs) and stay away from expensive active managers and mutual funds who promise to “beat the market” you are well on your way to a sensible investment strategy.

 

This brings us back to the initial question: What to do with the rally? I can tell you what I have done. Mostly, I have done nothing. I simply do not believe I have superior market timing skills so I am not going to bet my portfolio on that assumption.

 

As you know, I recommend the average investor (with a million or less in liquid assets) use low cost ETFs to diversify. For those who like to speculate in individual stocks I recommend you limit this to a very small part of your portfolio. I have a small portion set aside myself for individual trades and here I have sold a little bit.

 

I had one stock which I thought was getting thrown out with the bathwater during the mayhem in the beginning of March. Whether due to luck or skill (probably luck), this stock has now quintupled and I sold it all. But it only represents about 5% of my portfolio and that is the only trade I have made.

 

I sold the particular stock because it is a financial stock and I am still uncomfortable with the health of the US and European financial sector. I also think the housing market has another nasty leg down (more on that in my next article) and banks will suffer in that scenario. In the rest of my portfolio I stick to ETFs which are low cost, diversified and let me sleep at night.

 

Overall I keep buying a diversified basket of stocks in my 401(k). Every month I max out the contribution to get the tax deduction and employer contribution. This is money that I won’t touch the next 20-30 years and with the market at a current P/E of 14.5 I am confident it will provide a nice return. This is my way of staying disciplined and following the three rules:

 

  1. Use dollar cost averaging (add a fixed amount every month or so).
  2. Diversify by using low cost ETFs.
  3. If you look at valuations, use the Shiller 10-year P/E and buy when below trend

 

Anders Geertsen Ph. D

Contributing Writer

MyWealth

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New Balance Women's WW850 Toning Shoe
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Get this classic shoe that will captivate all that set cite on them.

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? Show your support for the cause in this pink-ribbon toning shoe ? Breathable mesh upper with supportive synthetic overlays ? Comfortable fabric lining ? ACTEVA® ULTRA LITE midsole for lightweight shock absorption ? Innovative rock & tone rocker bottom technology burns more calories and gets legs in shape ? Stabilizing WALKING STRIKE PATH® on rubber outsole ? Part of the Lace Up for the Cure® Collection

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The first biomechanically-correct toning shoe that allows your foot to move naturally featuring leather & mesh upper, negative heel engineering promotes muscle activation, lightweight construction & Archrocker - enhances the users rocking motion from heel to toe.

Did you ever think you could workout and tone without even trying? All you have to do is walk! This avi-motion sneaker from Avia has the technology that will work--a negative heel promotes muscle activation, forefoot grooves allow for natural dorsiflexion, and the Archrocker promote total bun-toning.

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New Balance Women's WW850 True Balance Toning Shoe
New Balance Women's WW850 True Balance Toning Shoe
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Women's New Balance, True Balance WW850

Get a workout with your every step in New Balance's True Balance Toning Walking Shoe. The TrueBalance system joins a C-CAP midsole with a 3/4-length TPU leaf spring system and a rounded blown sole to strengthen muscles and blast away calories. This lightweight design is great for everyday wear whether you have exercise in mind or not.

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Skechers Women's Shape Ups Breast Cancer Awareness Walking Shoe
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Women's SKECHERS® SHAPE-UPS AWARENESS: You already know Skechers® Shape-Ups are designed to maximize the health benefits of walking, but now they're also helping women with breast cancer. For every pair sold, Skechers® will donate $36 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Shoe features include a curved outsole that rolls forward with each step. You'll experience weight loss, toned calves, thighs, and core muscles, and improved posture.

Show your support of Breast Cancer Awareness while obtaining a better walking workout in this shoe from Skechers' Shape Ups line. The sporty upper features breathable mesh inlays and adjustable lacing, while the curved outsole and thick midsole are specially designed to activate muscles while you walk--allowing for a healthier stride. “For every pair sold, Skechers donates $10 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation”

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Reebok Women's EasyTone Reeinspire Walking Shoe
Reebok Women's EasyTone Reeinspire Walking Shoe
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Women's REEBOK® EASYTONE REEINSPIRE :: Take the gym with you wherever you go! Improve muscle tone in your calves, thighs, and butt just by walking in Reebok® EasyTone Reeinspire fitness walking shoes. EasyTone walking shoes use balance pods in the heel and forefoot filled with soft, cushioned air cells to emulate walking in sand. You'll encourage greater use of your leg and core muscles to get a better workout and look great. Reebok® EasyTone Reeinspire walking shoes feature a blend of durable synthetic leather and soft, breathable mesh uppers for pure comfort.

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Get a better butt and better legs with every step. With EasyTone Reeinspire, you can get firmer thanks to Reebok's patented sole technology, which simulates walking on sand.

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AVIA Women's A9995 Avi-Motion iShape Toning Shoe
AVIA Women's A9995 Avi-Motion iShape Toning Shoe
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The Avia Avi-Motion series is "toning in motion"; a shoe that helps tone your body while you walk. This lightweight shoe features negative heel engineering which promotes muscle activation while a forefoot flex grooves allow for natural Dorsiflexion. This shoe employs Archrocker which is a time tested and American Podiatric Medical Association approved design that enhances the users rocking motion from heel to toe in the gait cycle. Also utilized is a Shear Cantilever System. This system accelerates the heel area's ability to rebound to its natural state in time for the next heel strike.

Tone while you go with Avia's Avi-Motion walking shoe. It's specially designed--with negative heel engineering, forefoot flex grooves, an APMA-approved Archrocker® shape, and the Shear Cantilever® System--to help get your muscles working while also cushioning and protecting every footfall. Best of all, it's as lightweight as can be.

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