It starts with Jacksonville’s community. Jacksonville is the type of city where people exude powerful, tangible pride for their hometown. The people unite for their sports teams, delicious food options, fun family activities, military, and united love of country.

What’s interesting is that while those are important reasons that make Jacksonville special, there are even far more reasons that make Jacksonville a highly attractive place to which to move.

Here are the three key reasons you should move to Jacksonville right now!

Jacksonville’s Economy Is On The Rise

As with most cities and their growth, things typically boils down to a city’s job outlook. Luckily for Jacksonville, the city’s job outlook for 2017 looked fairly phenomenal. For one, the city was ranked the seventh best city for job seekers according to Indeed.com.

The 20 top cities were ranked by Indeed on the basis of the cities’ job market favorability, salary, work-life balance, and job security and advancement, culminating into an “Indeed City Score.” For reference, Jacksonville’s characteristics were broken out as follows:

• Job Market Favorability: 94%
• Salary Percentile: 35%
• Work-Life Balance Percentile: 63%
• Job Security & Advancement Percentile: 80%
• Indeed City Score: 76.5 %

In comparison, Miami landed an Indeed City Score of 89.2, scoring in the 100% percentile for both work-life balance and job security and advancement. Suffice to say that for Jacksonville to be ranked highly in a very competitive list, it rings true about this beautiful city’s value for people looking for a great place to move. It also helps that the unemployment rate dropped from 4.5 percent to 3.4 percent year over year in 2017.

Stellar Work-Life Balance

Let’s dig a little deeper into Jacksonville’s work-life balance. While it was only in the 63rd percentile in Indeed’s list of the top cities for job seekers, there really is a lot more to the story. First, the weather. Jacksonville is located in northern Florida, right above the subtropical line, so its climate entails mild changes. That’s a good thing, in the sense that you can enjoy Jacksonville’s beaches most of the year, but at least you won’t need to keep your AC on 24/7, 365 days a year. Imagine coming home from work and having the opportunity to visit Jacksonville’s 22-mile stretch of white-sandy beaches.

Aside from the amount of relaxation that these beaches bring to Jacksonville’s workforce, there are also loads of fun. That’s because the beaches are the perfect getaway with outdoor activities.

For instance, there are surfing activities, kayaking, paddleboarding, and open swimming areas, and not to mention plenty of room for diving, boating, fishing, and so much more.

It’s no surprise that so many people are moving to our great city, make real use of Jacksonville moving companies this year.

What better way to let off some steam than to get out in the water? The opportunities are truly endless!

Cost of Living

According to RealWealthNetwork.com, the median home price is about $153,400, which is approximately 23% less than the national average. What this means is, exactly, that the cost of living in Jacksonville is essentially lower than the rest of the country.

The US News also provides a great assessment of housing costs in Jacksonville in comparison to other cities in the nation. The data stipulates that Jacksonville offers a lower value index than similarly sized metro areas when comparing housing costs to median household income; on top of that, the housing costs amount to $184,508, compared to the median average of $222,408 of other cities in the US.

In conclusion, Jacksonville is clearly where the tide is shifting to in Florida. Surf your way over here and be a part of our community!

Mike Richards is a contributing writer for Suddath.com.

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Bad Moms is the about to hit the theaters, on July 29th 2016, and I cannot wait to watch it. Bade Moms is a new comedy from the grateful husbands and devoted fathers who wrote The Hangover. In the movie, Amy, played by Mila Kunis, has a seemingly perfect life – a great marriage, over-achieving kids, beautiful home and a career. However she’s over-worked, over-committed and exhausted to the point that she’s about to snap.

Watch the Official Trailer Here!

This movie calls for a girls night out! I am giving away 3 pairs of tickets to attend the special advance screening and VIP cocktail party of BAD MOMS! The cocktail party is taking place Thursday, July 21st @ Seven Bridges Grille & Brewery (6:30pm), followed by the advance screening at (7:30pm) @ Cinemark Tinseltown. To be entered to win, just leave a comment on this Facebook post with your favorite “bad” mom you’d love to bring with you! Bad Moms hits theaters July 29th. 

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What is Dance Trance?

Grab your leggings and your best work out shoes and great ready for some fun! Dance Trance is not like any dance aerobics, hip-hop, Jazzercize or  a Zumba class that you may have attended in the past. The routines paired with popular songs are a great way to  tone and shape, build your cardiovascular endurance ~ all while feeling as if you are the club with your girlfriends! Bonus: Skipping the heels and wearing comfortable clothing. Dance Trance is a great way for  the fitness enthusiast to shake up their current routine.  You will find that the classes are never boring, as new routines are introduced weekly.

Classes Offered

Dance Trance is typically divided into three levels; Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced.  The various levels allows students the opportunity to choose a class that accommodates their level of dance.

Dance Trance Programs:
Beginners Program (P.A.C.E., Prep Class, 101)
Intermediate Program (Break Down)
Advanced Program (Dance Trance)
Kids Programs (DT Kidz Street Dance)

P.A.C.E. Beginner’s Program – Beginner Level
P.A.C.E. stands for practice, attitude, confidence and enthusiasm.  This program is an optional adjunct to the regular DT classes. It is not required, but it does add an extra component for students that you might loose due to lack of confidence and/or dance ability. This course consists of basic dance movement, nutrition, music instruction, flexibility training and confidence building. We recommend offering P.A.C.E. as a three month program and guarantees that you will progress into the regular classes if you attend all of the sessions offered. It is perfect for the student that thinks he or she “just can’t dance!”

DT Prep Class – Beg -Inter
This is a great class for those wanting to start out at a slower pace, but unable to attend a three month PACE program. This class concentrates on one new routine every week. It is available as an eight week mini-course so that you come out with a great knowledge base of new material.

Break Down (DTBD) – Beg-Inter
DTBD is a workout class where each routine is reviewed and “broken down.” Typically there are 4-5 songs introduced, reviewed and repeated per class. This is one of our most successful programs because all students want to participate, learn, and grow.

Dance Trance (DT) – Inter-Adv
This is a high energy, great cardio workout that incorporates funk, house, rock, Latin, jazz, hip-hop, and other types of rhythmic movements to the beats of music from all genres. This your jam class and does not include any instruction on specific moves. You simply follow along with an instructor. Routines for this class are usually broken down in the intermediate or beginner’s class for students that do need instruction.

DT KIDZ Street Dance – All Levels Ages 7-11  (Separate program purchase)
Kids learn Dance Trance’s hip hop, funk, and music video choreography. Special songs are selected to current kids movies, etc. Add-on combinations and stretch start this unique experience, followed by instruction and specific DT KIDS routines. New routines are introduced on a regular basis to keep kids entertained and attentive. This is like one giant dance party. Great for kids that love to dance and want to stay fit! *Choreography for this program is a separate program purchase and is not the same as Dance Trance choreography.

Before starting dance trance, I  had not formally danced since primary school. Thus landing me in the beginners class when I initially started.  With in a few weeks I was able to work my way into breakdown classes and then Dance Trance. However, the boys sports schedules and the holidays knocked me off my routine.  Because of this I have committed to starting the PACE classes. Yesterday was my first class and it was wonderful to slow down and refresh my skills.  My muscles need to regain their memory and learn the routines that were introduced while I was off kilter. I can’t wait to see how my endurance improves by the end of the program.

Dance Trance has been the only  work out I have stuck with for over 6 months. I truly found the exercise routine that works for me.  With each class I attend, I enjoy myself immensely and find pleasure knowing that my body is getting stronger.   There are over 50 Dance Trance locations, more than likely a class rocking near you! Click here for locations and the opportunity to love dance as much as I do.

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Travel smart this holiday and enjoy Nights of Lights lodging deals, low-cost airfare options and specially priced tours.

From romantic Bed & Breakfast Inns, to familiar hotels, to beachside resorts, special offers and lodging deals are available during Nights of Lights atwww.floridashistoriccoast.com/lights and mid-week stays are another opportunity to save.

Low-fare non-stop flights to St. Augustine through the North Florida Regional Airport are available from Trenton, New Jersey on Frontier Airlines and from Charlotte, North Carolina, on Via Air. Book at www.FlyFrontier.com and www.FlyViaAir.com. By car, Florida’s Historic Coast is easily accessible from the north and south via I-95 and I-10 from the west.

Tours of the spectacular light display are best enjoyed by trolley, boat, walking or horse-drawn carriage. Take advantage of these free or low-cost tours and events during St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights.

Old Town Trolley Tours provide complimentary parking to anyone who takes the Holly Jolly Holiday Trolley. The trolley takes guests throughout                  the city to view Nights of Lights then provides free cider and cookies for a low-fare of $12 for adults and $5 for children. www.trolleytours.com

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum celebrates its 65th birthday with a free winter carnival. Friday and Saturday nights through December 19 enjoy free movies along with a visit from Santa and snow before you board the Red Train Nights of Lights Tour that is just $10 for adults and $5 for children.www.ripleys.com/RedTrains

A December to Remember event produced by the St. Augustine Amphitheatre include a free concert by Country music star Clint Black onDecember 5, a free drive-in movie at the adjacent Anastasia State Park onDecember 11, and a chili cook-off and free double feature movies onDecember 12. www.staugamphitheatre.com.

Get free admission to the Castillo de San Marcos December 12 to explore the 17th Century fort by candlelight. www.nps.gov/casa

Take an evening historic walking tour through the sparkling city with a licensed guide on Fridays and Saturday nights. Learn unique colonial folklore and holiday traditions as you enjoy historic sites brilliantly lit with white lights. Tickets are $18 per person. www.TourStAug.com

Grab your friends and enjoy a Nights of Lights Wine & Carriage Tour. Enjoy a glass of wine on this group tour aboard a horse-drawn carriage as you meander the brick-lined streets. The Tasting Tours nightly excursions are $49 per person and come with a souvenir wine glass. www.tastingtours.com

Take in the view of Nights of Lights from the sea aboard the Schooner Freedom on the ship’s Moonlight Sail. On Fridays and Saturdays set sail on this hour plus tour with complimentary soda, water, beer, wine and hot chocolate for $40 per person www.schoonerfreedom.com

For more information about St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights and the spectacular events taking place on Florida’s Historic Coast this holiday season, visit www.NightsofLights.com.

Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida’s Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. For more information on events, activities, holiday getaway and vacation opportunities in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches, go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at  www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com, become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/OfficialStAugustine) or call 1.800.653.2489.

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During the entire month of November children will receive FREE admission at some of Jacksonville’s finest attractions like the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, the Museum of Science and History and many more. Kids Free November runs from November 1-November 30, 2015. Several participating attractions will offer free admission for up to five children under the age of 12 with one general admission paying adult.

Kids Free November participating attractions:
•      Amelia River Cruises
•       Adventure Landing
•       Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary
•       Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens
•       Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
•       Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
•       Museum of Science and History (MOSH)
•       Ritz Theatre and Museum

Additionally, The Jacksonville Symphony, King & Bear Golf Course, Slammer & Squire Golf Course and Sweet Pete’s are offering different special family promotions during November.

Take a look at the calendar  and learn more about each of the of participating attractions and their offers at www.KidsFreeNovember.com.   Then make your plans to have a low budget and fun November with your family and friends.

For more events in Jacksonville that happen year round, go to www.VisitJacksonville.com to learn more.

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Dress code for formal dining events

Men have it a lot easier when it comes to attending formal events. Your choices are limited to: tuxedo. Whether you need to wear a black or white tie will be specified on the event invitation. For women, there is much more choice, which can be both liberating and stressful at the same time. You’ll want to wear a long dress or cocktail dress – something elegant.

Dining etiquette for formal events

The rules of the dinner table can seem scary, but they’re quite simple really. Start by learning the basics of formal dining, and you’ll never be confused by things such as which fork to use again.

At a formal dining event, plates are removed by a professional staff.  You will know that dinner is concluded when the host, lays her napkin on the table, rises from her chair and suggests that everyone go into another room for coffee and after-dinner drinks. When it’s time to leave, say thank you to your hosts – all of them. However, rather than detain them with a lengthy good-bye, make the departure brief and cordial. If the event is large and you must leave but your hosts are in the middle of entertaining other guests, you could slip out without saying goodbye directly – in these situations it is prudent to follow-up with a call or message explain why you departed without saying goodbye and thank them for the lovely formal dining event.

Final Tips for Formal Dining Events

• Relax and enjoy yourself. You may have a few drinks, however stay of sober mind and polite conversation.
• Leave the cell phone in the car. Enjoy the physical interaction with others. If you must carry it on you, place it on silent and only reference when receiving important phone calls.
• Smile and engage with everyone.  Be willing to introduce yourself to new people and talk to them! Engage with them to have a good conversation, ask them about themselves and their interests.  Meeting new people is a great way to network and learn about new things.
• Try new foods. Don’t be afraid to try foods that are new to you. If you have a food allergy of any kind, it is best to tell your hosts in advance. If you can’t eat something for health reasons, politely explain to your hosts why.
• If you aren’t sure what to do, watch what others are doing. Also feel free, to ask your host discreetly about what is appropriate. You aren’t expected to be Emily Post and know all the rules.

The dinner table is the center for the teaching and practicing not just of table manners but of conversation, consideration, tolerance, family feeling, and just about all the other accomplishments of polite society except the minuet. ~Judith Martin, aka Miss Manners

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