Tips For Getting Ready For A Special Date

Photo by Bence Boros on Unsplash

Going out on a date is exciting and nerve-wracking, and not knowing the person well, or even at all, is a good reason to be on edge. Instead of worrying about what could all go wrong on your big date, focus on all the positives that could be in your future.

It’s important to prepare if you want the meeting to go smoothly. Now’s not the best time to wing it. Talk to friends who’ve been through the same type of event, and ask them for input and advice. The most important aspect is that you remember to be yourself when meeting your new acquaintance. See these tips for getting ready for a special date. 

Start Shopping Early

It’ll make you feel more at ease if you figure out what you’re going to wear on your date. Dressing for the part will help your confidence and make you feel more like yourself. Try to find out what you’re doing or where you’re going ahead of time. This way you’ll be able to dress appropriately for the occasion. Bring a friend and go shopping to pick out the perfect attire for your important evening.

Pay Attention to Your Appearance

In addition to dressing nicely, this is also the right time to get your hair and nails done. You’ll feel great going into your date with a fresh look. Another idea is to purchase breast enhancement pills to naturally enhance and firm your bust. Join the thousands of satisfied women who’ve enjoyed fantastic and permanent results. Naturally increase the size and fullness of your bust without the need for invasive, painful and expensive surgery. Feeling good on the outside will inevitably make you feel great on the inside, and you’ll project confidence in your interaction.

 Get Sleep

Don’t stay up all night fretting over the next day. If you’re feeling anxious, participate in an activity that’s going to allow you to unwind. Stick to your normal routine and read a book or take a bath to calm your mind. You want to avoid showing up for your date with little sleep and a crabby attitude. One of the most important ways to prepare yourself is to get enough rest and have lots of energy to take into your date.

 Mentally Prepare

Another smart way to prepare for your date is make sure you’re mentally at your best. Think of questions and topics to talk about ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about experiencing any awkward silences. Write a journal entry about what you’re nervous about, and get your feelings off your chest ahead of time. Call a friend to talk about what’s going through your mind or head to the gym and sweat out all of your concerns.

Conclusion

Getting yourself ready for a big night out is both thrilling and scary. Try to bring your emotions and feelings to a happy medium so you can focus on preparing. These are tips for getting ready for a special date.

How to Easily Sell Your Home

Photo by Gleren Meneghin on Unsplash

Selling a home can be a long and tiring process. It, therefore, makes perfect sense that you might want to sell your home as quickly as possible, while eliminating stress. For this reason, we are providing informative advice on how to easily sell your home.

Boost Your Curb Appeal

Improve your home’s first impression by boosting your curb appeal, which could help you sell your home at a faster rate. You simply need to fix any exterior issues that could stop a prospective buyer falling in love with your property. Mow your lawn, remove any clutter and create a neat driveway and exterior walls. It could catch the eye of passers-by, who might want to pop inside to take a tour of their potential new home.

Identify Your Property’s USP

Why did you choose to buy your current home? Was it the friendly neighborhood, size of the property or close proximity to great schools for your children? Identify your home’s unique selling point, which you should advertise to prospective buyers. If you can’t identify a property’s unique selling point, speak to your estate agent who will have a good idea of its USP. It could boost the value of your property and make it a more appealing option to buyers.

Depersonalize Your Home

Potential buyers will want to imagine what life could be like inside a home. Unfortunately, they may not be able to envisage living in the property if you adorn your home with personal belongings, such as family photographs, keepsakes and decorative accessories. Also, try to create a blank canvas by painting the walls in neutral colors, such as white or beige, so a buyer can imagine how they would decorate the home.

Sell the Property for the Right Price

Homeowners wanting to sell at a quick rate should avoid overpricing their property. While you will want to receive as much money as possible for your home, you will not want to deter a prospective buyer. The price of your property will determine how fast you sell it, which is why you must set a reasonable price that reflects the value of the property. 

Initially setting your property too high could result in the property sitting on the market for a long time. As a result, a potential buyer might assume something is wrong with the property and look elsewhere.

Hire the Best Conveyancing Solicitor

Every property sale will require conveyancing, which is the transfer of a legal title of a property from the current owner to the buyer. To ensure you enjoy a smooth, hassle-free experience, it is essential to hire professional conveyancing solicitors in Hampshire at an affordable price. In fact, online conveyancing means you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your home to provide the appropriate documents, which can make the process a doddle.

Selling your property can be easier than you think. Simply follow the above top tips for a smooth, hassle-free experience, which will have people queuing at the door to make you an offer.

Working from home - the office space

Photo by Trent Erwin on Unsplash

I've worked from home for 10 years now and absolutely love it.

It's not for everyone, there are a few negatives, it can be lonely as there are no office colleagues to speak to, office space in your home is not always the most effective, etc,. For me, the pros out shine the cons. I love the flexibility it offers, I am always on hand if my children need me, I can attend school events without having to book a day off work, if the children are poorly I am here, the list goes on and on. 

Since the extension was built and the renovations are nearly complete, I find myself wanting to organize my office space. My frustration with my current work setup is, I simply don't have the organized office space I desire or need. My planned office room, in the end, turned out to be a playroom for the kids, and so I'm currently carrying out my work on my dining room table. I have a mass of paper on my table, and it's not the best setup. One thing I do need is office furniture advice and inspiration so I can create a dedicated area, which is a better solution than working on the dining room table. 

I believe establishing a comfortable but creative space that also gives the functionality needed to be more productive in the home office. It should be a separate area dedicated for work. Including, the need to require myself a desk, I will also need to find the right office storage solutions.

I'd like a corner desk with a simple desk chair, a comfortable one. I also need Office storage, i.e. filing cabinet and some shelves.  An organized office area/corner will make a positive impression and will prevent me from feeling mentally overwhelmed: clear space, clear mind.

And, so until the kids grow up and they don't need the play room anymore, I will 'office' in the corner of the dining room.  I will make the best out of what I have. But when they do grow up, and I can relocate into the playroom, I will turn it into my dream office (floor to ceiling bookcases with my large desk and large leather office chair). 

5 Reasons to Learn to Drive

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Are you thinking about learning to drive? Wondering what the benefits are of investing in a licence and a car? Getting behind the wheel can give you bring you all sorts of things, from freedom to making the journey to work a bit easier. Here are some reasons why you should book those driving lessons and get out on the road in your own set of wheels.

Freedom

While you should, of course, try to get some exercise on foot, or on a bike, being able to drive gives you a choice. It opens-up a whole world of new freedoms. No longer do you have to rely on friends, relatives or work colleagues to take you places in their ‘taxi service.’

With your own licence, and a car, you can jump behind the wheel and get to the places you want to go – and when you want to. You will feel liberated, especially when it comes to those long journeys, which you may currently be done by bus or train.

Having a licence and access to a car means that you have the option of a door-to-door service at your fingertips, giving you more time on your hands – and helping you get to places more easily and more reliably.

A new skill

By learning to drive, you are adding a new skill to your armoury. The idea of going out on the road with a driving instructor, and then going through a nerve-wracking test, may fill you with fear. However, you should relax. Learning to drive can actually be fun and also stimulating, as you pick up an invaluable skill that should stay with you into your older years. Check out driving lessons Wolverhampton.

Work on wheels

Having a driving licence can mean the difference between getting a job and being turned down for one. Some positions require you to be able to get around during the working hours. This could be to attend meetings, make deliveries or even to provide a transport service. So, if you’re looking for employment, and think that you may have to be mobile, then considering driving lessons should be high on your agenda!

Holidays by car

Just think of all of those places you could visit if you were able to drive. Having a licence means you can head away on your days off, at the weekend, for a trip to the countryside, maybe to the coast or another city. You could even visit those relatives, you know, those you haven’t seen in years!

You don’t have to have your own car to get the holiday benefits. If you’re flying into somewhere, you could always hire a vehicle at the airport –that’s all possible when you have a licence in your hands.

ID checks made easy

The added bonus of getting your driving licence is the fact that you’ll get a new piece of ID in your pocket! This can come in useful for all sorts of things, to prove you are who you say you are.

eBay collections

This past 6 weeks I've been selling on eBay. I am fully into the swing of selling things and enjoying it at the same time.  I'm slowly shifting clutter and making money at the same time - its a win win situation. I started off with simple items, ones that I could pack and post off myself, but now, I've slowly started to list bigger items, i.e. wardrobes, garden table.

These I've listed as 'Collection only', which at first I thought would limit the interest my items would get, i.e. only local people would look to bid - but this is not necessarily true and this is because I didn't realise that a buyer can organize and pay for a courier to collect the 'Collection only' item from the seller. 

Expensive for you as a buyer? well, this is not the case. Companies like Shiply, work to match you with couriers and/or a man with van type, who are willing to pick up the eBay item and deliver to you for a fraction of the normal cost as they are heading in the same direction. 

Have you ever watched Shipping Wars on TV? 

Shiply is really easy to use, you just put what you want to get delivered, dimensions and weight, pickup, and delivery locations and watch the quotes roll in.

As the couriers are bidding for your delivery in a Dutch style auction format, the quotes will be cheaper than standard couriers. When making a decision on what couriers to choose, you can read their previous feedback before deciding.

So, if a buyer falls in love with my single white wardrobe with glass handles, but they live 200 miles away, they can now liaise with me about collection. Where they can log into Shiply and get some quotes. The buyer can enter the eBay item number into the Shiply website and it will bring up the item picture so that couriers can see exactly what they're collecting. It's so easy!

Photo by Oscar Nilsson on Unsplash

4 Ways to Get Your Life Back After a Relationship

Photo by Steffen Trommer on Unsplash

I'm happily married and plan to grow old with hubby. However, in my younger days, pre-hubby, the transition from being in a relationship to not.. is something almost everyone at some point in their life expeirences.

If you are at that point in your life and have a recent breakup, here are a few tips I hope that will help:

Remember Who You Used to Be

What were you like before your partner? What did you look like? How did you dress? What music did you listen to? If it’s been a long time, it may even be tough to remember, but it’s important to know where the relationship you’re ending has taken you. It might be that you don’t want to get back into your old interests, but you should know what they were, even if it’s just to understand the person you are now.

It might be that, since the relationship began, your sense of humour changed, or that you stopped seeing the friends you used to have the biggest laugh with. You could get in touch with them now, or even re-explore some of your old interests. Is there a type of music that you used to listen to that your partner couldn’t stand? Find out who that person was, the past you, and why they chose that relationship.

What’s New to You?

This might be more difficult or painful for you, but you need to face up to why you’ve left this relationship. It might be that, though your music tastes changed, you don’t want to go back to listening to what you used to. Your ex doesn’t have a monopoly over your interests or your personality – so don’t worry about the fact that you’re a different person now.

If you can assimilate some of your relationship baggage healthily, then you’re also showing strength. Whatever new interests you’ve picked up, or revelations you’ve had about yourself – it isn’t necessarily all useless or negative. Allow yourself to be made stronger by your experiences by embracing some of them.

What’s Your Status?

It’s never straight forward to end a relationship, and it’s always worth bearing in mind what progress you’ve made already and what steps you still need to take.  There’s always one last milestone – it might be that you haven’t change your relationship status on Facebook from ‘It’s complicated’, or that you haven’t yet told your closest family members all the grim details about how it ended.

It’s important that you don’t let anything get in the way of building up a strong support network for yourself. These are difficult times, and it always helps to have people you can share some of your vulnerability with.

Remove the Excess from Your Life

To truly move on, you need to make it official – either make it official that you’re single now or make it so that they know it’s officially ended. If you’re still married, then it might be time to contact divorce solicitors. It might even be the right time to step lightly into a new relationship or to completely cut ties with your ex. Whatever change is right for you, make it permanent.

It’s been tough to get this far, but you’ve made it in one piece. There’s a time to mope around and feel sorry for yourself, and there’s also a time to rebuild yourself into a person that nobody feels sorry for, not even you. It’s time to become that person, and to show the world how strong you are.  

Tips for taking a baby outside on a windy day

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Autumn is only just around the corner now, meaning that the temperatures are going to drop soon and we are likely to encounter some very blustery days. When it comes to taking your newborn baby outside in these conditions, it’s important that you dress them up right so that they are comfortable for the entire trip. Here’s some aspects to consider:

Don’t believe that the wind causes ear infections

Let’s first get a common myth out of the way — having a baby out in the wind will not result in them getting an ear infection.

This is because the location of an ear infection is found behind the ear drum and way back in the inner ear. Therefore, external exposure like wind or even water will not affect this area.

Instead, the risk factors to bear in mind is their age (ear infections are prominent in children aged between six months and two years old), family history, exposure to smoke and to a small effect, the use of a dummy.

Remember that if you’re cold, your baby will be colder

Now that we have that myth out of the way, it’s time to cover some facts. First of all, it’s totally fine to head outside with your baby right away if you’d like to. However, many paediatricians advise that you keep newborns away from crowded places due to germs being prevalent in such locations. It’s best to delay that trip to a shopping centre, supermarket or a restaurant with your baby by a few months then!

Furthermore, Ed Glasser, M.D., F.A.A.P., clinical associate professor of paediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, has pointed out to Fit Pregnancy And Baby: “Infants lose about 50 per cent of their heat from their heads.”

Add to this the fact that babies will cool down a lot quicker than adults, as well as the point that it is more difficult for them to generate heat once they have lost it, and the need to protect them when it’s cold outside becomes very important.

Some general rules of thumb to bear in mind is to dress your baby in one more layer than you’re going to be wearing when venturing outside, ensure they are wearing both thermal and waterproof layers to protect them from the weather elements, and checking that their fingers, toes, ears, nose and chin are all covered but that they can still breathe easily.

It’s best to only plan on being outside for short periods of time with your baby when it’s cold and windy, as well as heading inside as soon as your newborn looks uncomfortable and you’re unable to shield them from the blustery conditions.

The effects of windy weather on a baby’s skin

Cold and dry air can cause issues to your baby’s tender skin, as the conditions run the risk of sapping precious moisture and leaving their rosy cheeks feeling leathery and wind-burned.

Hands and feet are particularly prime target areas when there’s a chill in the air, so protect their fingers with a snug pair of mittens and ensure their feet are nice and snug by enhancing your buggy, pram or pushchair with some Cosytoes.

A couple of top tips to consider is to change your infant’s mittens or socks if they get wet, with a fresh pair to avoid skin becoming irritated and applying some baby moisturising cream as soon as you spot any of your baby’s skin which looks or feels dry.

Tips for Choosing a Car for the Family

Photo by Cameron Offer on Unsplash

There comes a time when you realise that the two-door sports car that you love just won’t work for your growing family, or really, any family at all. You don’t have to sell your beloved car, but you do need to get one that can support your family. You want one that can take them to their sports games, their after-school activities, their friends, and you want one that can handle a family on a road trip.

There are many things you can do with your family when you have a family car. Here’s how to choose the best car for your family:

1.     The Size of Your Family

This consideration isn’t just for how big your family is now, but how big you plan for it to become. If you want a large family, you will want to buy a car that has ample seating space. If you plan to have a small family of one or two children, you can opt for a great car like the Hyundai i20 models. Regardless, always choose used, as it means you can get the car for you at a greatly discounted price. You’ll need that money later!  

2.     Where You Live

There are vehicles that are better suited for cities, and those better suited for rural areas. If you live in a rural area, for instance, mileage is going to be something that you will want to look in to.

3.     How Much Storage You Need

The bigger the family, the more storage you will need. There are, however, other things you should consider that will take up space. Does your child play a sport? Does that sport require a lot of equipment? How comfortable would a road trip be? Having ample space is important for anyone, but as a family not having enough space can mean cramped driving situations and possible arguments and complaints.

4.     Safety Qualifications

This is the single most important aspect of choosing a car for your family. More than anything, you want them to be safe. You want the car to not only protect you if you get into an accident, but you also want it to do everything that it can to prevent you from crashing in the first place. The newest cars have the best safety features. It is wise to know what these features are and learn how to make the best use of them.

Getting the best price for your family car is a great way to save money for the more important things in life. Whether those things are enrolling your kids in their after-school activities, or taking your partner out on a much-needed date night. Know what you want, and do your research. Knowing the true value of the car, which is either what similar cars are being sold for, is a great way to negotiate. Know your stuff, and get the deal that saves you more money upfront and in the long run, and enjoy the family time you’ll have in the car. 

Preventing Diabetes in Your Pooch

Like diabetes in the human population, canine diabetes is on the rise, with nearly an 80 percent increase in cases being reported in the last decade. This is a worrying statistic for dog owners who have the best intentions towards their pets, but the good news is that in the majority of cases, canine diabetes can be prevented, or in the cases where a diabetes diagnosis is inevitable, the symptoms can be managed so that they have a much less pronounced impact on your pooch.

Here are some simple things you can do to prevent or reduce the symptoms of diabetes in your pooch right now:

Book Regular Checkups

If you don’t take your dog to the vet’s office for regular health checkups, it might be a good idea to start. Having an annual checkup which includes blood tests will highlight the tell-tale signs that your dog is in danger of contracting diabetes so that you can implement some of the other suggestions in this post to stop the disease in its tracks.

Between checkups, if you notice that your dog is excessively thirsty, urinating a lot more often or generally behaving out of character, take him or her to the vet’s office to be assessed immediately.

Have Your Dog Spayed

If your dog is a female, having her spayed will reduce her odds of contracting canine diabetes because, when a dog gives birth or goes through a heat cycle, there is an increase in her progesterone levels, which could lead to diabetes.

Anyway, having a dog spayed is a good idea generally because it can cut the risk of various other illnesses, including Uterine infections, and pyometra, amongst other things. It will. Of course, also prevent any unwanted pregnancies, which might otherwise arise if your dog is left intact.

Ensure Your Dog is Active

Exercise is a great way to prevent human diabetes, and it’s the same for dogs, so ensure that you’re walking your dogs for at least an hour twice a day if your dog is young and energetic, and for as long as your dog can manage if it’s older.  If you can’t manage that, visit this site to find a dog walker in your area who can help you out, and make an effort to play more active games, like tug of war with your dog. Burning off as many calories as he can will help to keep your dog fit and it’ll do the same for you too!

Feed Him Quality Food

When it comes to feeding your dog, you should aim to give him the highest quality food you can afford to keep him healthy. Ideally, you should feed him a diet that is higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates it helps keep his blood sugar stable. You don’t need to spend a fortune, but read the labels and try to choose food that’s not packed with unhealthy fillers if you possibly can.

Avoid Overfeeding

A lot of owners use food to show their dogs affection and reward them for good behaviour. There is nothing inherently wrong with this, but you must be careful not to overfeed them in any way. So, read the serving size on their regular food and stick to it, and when it comes to buying treats, choose low-calories options like the ones at this site. Also, try to switch between food rewards and other treats like a favourite toy or game to ensure you aren’t overstuffing your pooch.

Go Grain-Free

If you really want to get serious about cleaning up your dog’s diet to prevent diabetes, you might consider going grain free. The jury is still out as to whether it’s a good idea, so you should always consult your vet first, but a lot of pet owners are finding that their dogs do better on grain free food that doesn’t spike the blood sugar or cause dogs to overeat when they’re allowed to. Removing corn and corn syrup from your dog’s diet, in particular, could be one of the best things you do to stop him from getting overweight or contracting diabetes, as it really is one of the worst things where blood sugar is concerned.

Don’t Share Your Food

It’s tempting to allow your beloved pooch to share some of your Sunday brunches with you or finish off your leftovers, but it isn’t really a good idea to let them do this, especially if what you’re eating is refined carbs like bagels, toast, and sweets. Giving him a few scraps of meat from time to time will probably be fine, as will the occasional fruit or vegetable treat, but anything else is likely to spike the blood sugar and increase his chances of being diagnosed with diabetes in the future.

Sprinkle Some Cinnamon

Various studies have shown that taking just half a teaspoon of cinnamon each day can help to keep blood sugar on an even keel and help the body to better regulate insulin. Cinnamon is perfectly safe for dog consumption in small quantities, so why not sprinkle a little on your pooch’s food each day?

Fill Up on Fruits and Vegetables

If your dog is used to getting lots of treats, replacing them with fruits and vegetables is a good way to keep them happy and get some good sugars, which won’t lead to diabetes, into the body. If your dog is fed on dry kibble, mixing in some lightly cooked veggies will help to boost their nutrient intake too. Just make sure that you check out this site, which lists the foods that could be harmful to dogs before feeding them anything new. It’s not worth the risk to do otherwise.

Before you make any changes to your dog’s diet or lifestyle, it’s important that you consult with your vet, who will be able to point out any potential problems with any changes you’re interested in making. Usually, there won’t be a problem with doing any of the above, and your vet will be happy to see you taking the initiative to increase your dog’s activity and clean up his diet, but it’s important to check nonetheless.

Garden To-Do Wish List

Photo by ORNELLA BINNI on Unsplash

With the extension and renovations we've recently had, our garden has taken a battering the past 12 months. After a good tidy and clear out, it looks a lot cleaner and tidier than it did a few months ago, but the garden is still looking neglected and a bit sorry for itself.  My aim is to give it a new lease of life in time for next spring. Somewhere where we will be proud to invite guests around, sit, entertain and spend time together as a family. So below I've put together my to do list / wish list on what I want for my garden.

In-ground trampoline

The trampoline looks ugly and big in our garden, we lost the net in the latest bad winds a couple of months ago and rather than buying a new trampoline, I will instead get an in-ground one. They not only look much tidier, but they are safer than the traditional trampoline. 

Hot tube

We're booked to go to Center Parcs later this year, we booked in one of the luxury lodges which has its very own hot tub. We stayed in one last year, and we love chilling in the hot tub.  But to buy one of your very own Hot tubs it can be expensive, so a great alternative would be the inflatable hot tube - easily put away once finished

Turf.

I've not made my mind up about this yet, I am umming and arring about it; with 2 beagles will it cause issues, like bad smells.  But then, I would love the convenience it would offer, perfect green lawn with little maintenance. I'm no gardener and avoid it, because of this, our lawn is rubbish - with lots of dried patches.

Rattan sofa 

My wooden parasol has snapped in half (good ole British coastal wind). And, our wooden table and chairs look old, faded and ugly.  Next year I definitely want to replace it with a nice new rattan sofa set. 

Built-in BBQ

I really like the idea of a built-in BBQ.  They look amazing, they are great for entertaining and it would last for years.  We often have BBQs whether that is just for us, or if we invite friends and family around.  But the metal BBQ tire over time and we are in need for a new one, ideally, I would like a nice brick built-in BBQ.

Do you have any wish lists for your garden? What would you like to change?

GEM Motoring Assist issues warning on dangers of fatigue

Photo by Maria Stiehler on Unsplash

GEM Motoring Assist issues warning on dangers of fatigue

Road safety and breakdown organisation GEM Motoring Assist is urging drivers to be wise to the dangers of fatigue on journeys this summer. Join Car Leasing Specialist Rosedale Leasing as they explore this issue!

The advice has been re-issued as thousands of families across the country embark on long road journeys to various holiday destinations.

GEM road safety officer Neil Worth said;

“It is widely accepted that fatigue is a major contributory factor in road crashes, particularly in the early hours of the morning. Many thousands of collisions occur because of a driver’s reduced ability to respond quickly and safely if a dangerous situation arises.

“If you’re making a long road journey, then it’s vital to be properly rested before you set off – and to ensure you build in time for breaks on the way.

“Statistics show that those most at risk from a fatigue-related collision include young male drivers, shift workers, truck drivers and company car drivers. Around 85% of drivers who cause fatigue-related crashes are male, and more than one third of these are aged under 302.”

Tips to reduce fatigue risk

The Highway Code offers specific advice to reduce the risk of being in a fatigue-related collision.

Tips include:

• proper journey planning
• the importance of taking a 15-minute break after every two hours or 100 miles of driving
• avoiding certain medications
• the times of day and night to avoid
• the importance of overnight stops on long road trips

Worth adds;

“It’s not only professional drivers at work who are at increased risk of a fatigue crash. If you’re making a long road journey to a holiday destination, or if you need to drive in the early hours of the morning to catch or return from a long-haul flight, then you are also at risk.

“Once again, planning is key to safety. Avoid alcohol if you know you need to drive, and consider stopping somewhere rather than risk a road journey if you have had very little sleep in the preceding 24 hours.”

Love To Cook? Ideas For Making More Of Your Passion!

Is cooking one of your passions? Have you always loved to experiment in the kitchen? If the answer is yes, perhaps you should think about doing more to make the most of your passion for cooking? Not everyone is lucky enough to have something that they love to do so much, which is why if you can cook well and love to cook, you should consider making more of your passion.

Bearing that in mind, the question is, how can you do that? Of course, the straightforward answer would be to become a chef or patisserie chef, but as a mama who is parenting little ones currently, this may not be an option for you right now, which is why finding an alternative way to make more of your passion for cooking is so important. 

Share your knowledge with your kids

Photo source: Pixabay

The chances are that you already cook with your kids, but are you sharing your knowledge with them? Do you tell them what to put where and what to do or are you teaching them how to cook independently and think for themselves in the kitchen? Far too many of today’s young adults can’t even cook a boiled egg. Don’t let your children end up being unable to cook, share your knowledge with them from a young age and ensure that when they leave home, they are masters of the kitchen. You never know, one of them may even go on to be a chef, and all because you shared your passion with them.

Host dinner parties

Do you love creating gastro-style meals at home in the kitchen? Then why not put your skills to good use and host dinner parties once a month for your friends or family? Get creative and come up with some unique and experimental recipes to use, and get planning. As part of a dinner party, you will want to glam up your dining table with a crisp white tablecloth and napkins - you can get professional standard ones from specialist suppliers like Richard Haworth. It’s also worth thinking about investing in some matching crockery if you don’t already have some. Dinner parties are a great way to make more of your passion for food, as you can cook up a storm and share your creations with your nearest and dearest.

Start a small home baking business

Picture link

Would a few extra pounds be helpful? Then perhaps starting a home baking business could be a great way to make some extra money and make more of your passion for food. Are you a skilled cake maker and decorator? If the answer is yes, then this could be the ideal option for you. All you would need to do is set up a business website, and social media channels for your business, including an Instagram page - Instagram is great for sharing images of your products - and that’s it. You could bake tray bakes, cupcakes and celebration cakes - think birthdays, weddings, retirement parties, etc. Think of the fun you would have in the kitchen!

If you love to cook, the ideas above could be ideal for making more of your passion. After all, they say if you’ve got it, flaunt it - so why not flaunt your love (and skill) for cooking?

How Can You Improve Your Child's Future Job Prospects?

With so much focus on exams and statistics, are schools sometimes neglecting other parts of a child’s development that are important in later life. When they go out into the world and start looking for jobs, they are going to be going up against hundreds of other applicants with exactly the same qualifications. They aren’t going to get the job because of their grades alone, it will be their personality and experiences that will help them set themselves apart from the crowd.

This is one of many reasons why it is vital that we teach our children life skills, and give them the experiences that they need to make them a well-rounded person before you send them out on their own. If you’re worried about the downfalls in their schooling, make sure that you do these things.

Teach Them Conflict Resolution

Being able to resolve conflict effectively is something that employers love in an applicant. Your first opportunities to teach them how to calmly resolve conflicts without escalating them will probably come when they first go to school. At some point, they’re going to have an argument with another child, and the way that you deal with it will shape their attitudes for life. You’ll need to get together with both children and the parents and talk it out. If you don’t control your emotions properly and you act aggressively towards the other parents, your child is going to think that this is the best way to deal with problems. If they do this in later life, in the workplace, they’re likely to find themselves in a lot of trouble. However, if they see you calmly discussing with the parents, admitting that both children were at fault, and coming to an amicable resolution, you’re setting a far better example.

Travel

Travel broadens the mind. It’s a bit of an old cliche, but it’s true. Traveling when they’re young will help them to gain a better understanding of the world and the ways that different cultures live. This is vital because it helps to build tolerance and understanding. That means that in later life, they’ll be better equipped to communicate with people from all walks of life which is a good skill to have in the workplace. If they come home with a letter asking about school trips, you’re probably going to be thinking, how much is this going to cost me? It’s a valid concern, but you should try to find the money any way that you can, the valuable experience that your children will get is worth the investment. Traveling also helps them to gain a bit of perspective about the world. If they visit countries where people are less fortunate than they are, they will understand how lucky they are to have all of the things that you provide them with.

Encourage Reading

Reading is a big part of the school curriculum but it isn’t always handled in the right way. Trying to get a bunch of fifteen year old’s to discuss the merits of Shakespeare can be pretty difficult, and it often turns them off reading. When they are forced to study books that they don’t particularly like, or relate to, it can put them off and there are increasing numbers of adults that never continue to read after they’ve left school. This is such a shame because there is so much to be learned from reading. Try to keep a good range of books in the house and encourage them to find something that they enjoy reading. Hopefully, they’ll carry on the habit into their adult life, so they’re always learning and improving their skills.

Let Them Be Themselves

One of the biggest worries that parents have is shy children. They have fears about their social skills in later life and worry that it will be a hurdle. While it is important to help them come out of their shell a bit, don’t push too hard. The truth is, some kids are just a bit shy, it’s their personality and you won’t be able to change it. If you push too hard, you’ll make them feel like their personality is wrong in some way, and that will make them far less confident. That’s going to be a lot more damaging than being a little shy sometimes. You should try to encourage them to engage in more social activities but if they don’t want to, don’t force them.

Promote Exercise

Just recently, the importance of exercise has been in the news again. Doctors all attest to the benefits but admit that they don’t push it enough. The same can be said of schools. There are compulsory sports at school but not every single day. The benefits of exercise are so massive that everybody should be getting some every day. Childhood obesity is a growing problem but it could be tackled if everybody encouraged good exercise habits in their children from a young age. Mental health problems in children is another big worry for parents at the minute. Research suggests that regular exercise is one of the most effective ways to combat low feelings that could lead to serious mental health problems. Beyond that, it gives them more energy and motivation and can fight off disease in the future. Exercising with your kids is also a great way to spend some time together, and encourage them to take up hobbies. Having a lot of interests outside work, including sports, is something that employers love to see on an application.

Don’t Shout

It can be difficult to keep calm when you’re faced with a stubborn teenager that just won’t listen to you. But shouting at them is only going to make things worse. Studies have shown it will only make them act out more. It also sets a bad example for them and teaches them that shouting is the best way to get your point across. If they carry this behaviour over into the workplace when they’re discussing things with co-workers, they won’t do well.  

Set your kids up with all of these skills and they’ll stand a much better chance of finding work when they get older.

End-Of-Summer Craft Ideas To Do With Your Kids

There is no such thing as a bad time of year to do some crafts with your children. However, there are always times when it becomes particularly important to spend time with your children. Parents are often struck by what a difference it can make to the family's mood when it comes to nearing the end of summer. If you have noticed this in your children, you might be keen for a way to cheer them up a bit. Fortunately, we have the solution here. In this post, we are going to look at some of the best end-of-summer craft ideas you can do with your children. These will help to put a smile on everyone’s face in no time.

Pic Credit

Summer Souvenir Bowl

Why not end the summer with something homemade specifically to celebrate it? Instead of mourning the end of summer, think about finding a way to give it a great send-off. A summer souvenir bowl could just be the perfect way to do that. What’s more, it’s pretty easy to do. All you will need is a circle punch and some favourite souvenir items from your summer experiences. These can be photographs, cutouts, tickets from places you visited - really anything so long as it provokes a happy memory. Then it’s just a matter of punching them out into circles and affixing them to coloured paper. After that, you can put it together into whatever bowl shape you fancy. You might find that the guns from Glue Guns Direct are a good way to put it all together - or you can even staple parts of it if you are having trouble. Done right, this is a great way to remember your summer with your family.

Upgraded Flip Flops

There’s still time yet to wear those summer shoes - and there is also plenty of time to upgrade them however you choose. When it comes to your favourite flip flops, there are a number of easy ways to turn them into whatever style you want - and your kids are bound to love these. All you need to do is to use fabric glue to affix the end of the strap to the sole, and you can use pretty much whatever pattern or design you like for this. Most of the overall look is actually achieved in any finishing touches you might want to add. This could be a summery flower or a bow - or pretty much anything you like. Then it’s just a case of getting the most out of them before the summer is gone for good.

Family Scrapbook

For a really great crafternoon which every family member can get in on, you might want to consider putting together a scrapbook of your summer adventures. It doesn’t matter how much or how little you have done as a family - this is a great way to ensure that those memories relaly do stick. The great thing about this is that you can do whatever you want, and use whatever design you like. And you can ensure that every family member has their say on how the whole thing is put together.

Weird And Wonderful Ways To Make Your Dog Happy

As a dog owner, it is your duty to make your dog happy. Most of the time, this is easy because all they want is food, water, and a long walk in the mornings and evenings. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t go out of your way to make the pooch even happier. After all, a cheery dog is a cheery owner. So, instead of doing the basics or the bare minimum, it’s time to go out of your comfort zone. Here are the weird and wonderful ways to make your pet happier than before.

Give Them A Present

Sure, dogs don’t view gifts the same way humans do when it is Christmas time. So, they won’t tear open the wrapping with unbridled anticipation and hug your afterward. They won’t even say thanks. However, all this doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy dog gifts as much as the next canine. Like humans, dogs get bored with toys because the novelty wears off. Therefore, a new toy from time to time will keep them interested and excited. Just make sure you don’t get one which will annoy you every time it squeaks!

Get A Paddling Pool

Dogs love water because they like to splash around and have fun. And, in the summer, they like to lie down in the cool dampness and chill out away from the sun. Quite simply, a paddling pool is a no-brainer as it will make them happier and safer at the same time. All you have to do is buy one which they can fit in easily, and keep an eye on so that they are not on their own. If a paddling pool doesn’t appeal to you, why not revamp the unused bathtub in the garden. A bath has plenty of room and is perfect for holding water.

Feed Them Treats

In this sense, a treat does not mean small snacks which they eat in between meals. No, it means to cook them a nice meal, one they don’t usually have. Because dogs are domesticated, they can eat almost any human food. So, cooking a little extra roast dinner and putting it on a plate is an excellent way to boost their morale every now and again. A word of warning: there are foods they can’t eat, such as chocolate and grapes. Before you give them a treat, make sure it isn’t going to do them any harm.

Let Them Tear The House To Shreds

There is nothing a dog likes more than to chew through the house. Normally, owners stop their pets from doing this because they don’t want shoes or furniture will holes. But, it is okay to indulge their natural habits from time to time. After all, there is nothing more frustrating than being told to stop doing something you love. A good compromise is to let them tear old belongings that you don’t need any longer. If you have old trainers, for example, they are fair game.

Sometimes, it is nice not to have to be on their case every minute of every day.

5 Tips to selecting a lawyer for your business needs

Everybody knows how hard it is to run a business. That is why you will need a lot of help from specialists in order to make the business run smoother and efficient. You will not only need managers that are experts in handling the day-to-day operations of the company, you will also need to employ the services of a good lawyer. Lawyers are experts in the matters concerning the law, and we all know that the law can easily close down your business if you commit a major crime. To elaborate the importance of a lawyer in a business, below are some of the business processes that need the guidance of a lawyer.

•    Set-up of business

•    Tax issues and compliance

•    Labor code compliance

•    Contract drafting and execution

•    Litigations

•    Employment law

•    Human resources management

•    Application of loans

•    Meetings in the top management

All of these mentioned above plays a vital role in the company’s future success or failure. Thus, with the guidance of a good lawyer, your company will more likely succeed. Which will then bring us to the next question, how can you find a good lawyer for your business?

Fortunately, with this article, you will be able to easily find a good business lawyer as we will provide you with 5 extremely helpful and important tips in your search.

1. Ask around for recommendation

Use your network of colleagues and take advantage of today’s advancement in technology. Ask your friends if they know a really good business lawyer. Make use of the internet, do quick searches on the business lawyers around your area.

2. Check the lawyer’s background

Qualification is a key factor in your selection. Where did the candidate get his law degree? How was his performance in school? The more detailed you get, the better chances of you finding the most suited lawyer candidate for your business.

3. Experience

Experience is also equally important in the selection of your business lawyer. A good lawyer must be familiar with the industry you are in. Of course, memorization and expertise in the law, especially with regards to the business, must be always prevalent in the candidate lawyer. Try to feel and gauge the lawyer’s experience.

4. Conduct many interviews

Never believe in first impressions. Always remember that the person you will be selecting will play a very important role in your company’s success. Thus, after conducting the initial interview, do not commit and readily offer the position. Schedule more subsequent meetings and interviews which will allow you to learn more about the lawyer, especially his or her character. It is only through constant meetings that you will be able to know more about the candidate lawyer.

5. Establish a friendly but professional relationship

It is very important that you establish a positive relationship with your lawyer. Try to make him or her be on the same page with you – works towards the top of the competition. Value their input and advice and in turn, they will surely work harder and help you make your company more productive and profitable.

If you want to know more on how lawyers can help your business, then you can check this site out, https://www.elliswhittam.com/

Epic Halloween Decorations Wish List

Halloween, second to Christmas, is one night of the year my kids (and us adults) love to celebrate. The kids have already been counting down the days and we still have three months to go. Why do we love Halloween so much?! It’s the one night of the year where it is perfectly acceptable and expected of people to dress up in the most scary and elaborate costumes, with some great face painting to match. It’s fun, scary fun, creative, and of course it always involves a lot of sweets.

The kids love trick or treating, but they love that we decorate the house too.  But,

last year was the first Halloween where we didn’t throw a Halloween party in a long time. It was due to the extension and house renovations that we were having – too much going on and too much upheaval to then throw a party on top. When we have our Halloween party, we go all out, we decorate the house inside and out, it takes us all day.  

This year, we are looking forward to getting back to throwing one and we are excited.  Over the years, we’ve built up a collection of some great decorations, and we add to it every year. We have a mix of items we’ve made, but mostly items we’ve bought over the years. We have smoke effect machines, giant air blown inflatables, caldrons and all sorts of scary decorations.

This year I want to go all out! Plain old bed sheet ghosts, will not do it for us, we are want something more eccentric – scarier.

To make this special night one to remember with decorations and costumes I’ve put together a wish list for this Halloween.  Epic Halloween decorations (but without scaring the little ones too much, I hope).

Source

Chicken Wire Ghosts

A DIY project for this one. You have to purchase chicken wire and then mold it into shape of a ghost, and finish with glow in the dark spray. These would be perfect to position them in the side garden, scaring the trick or treaters.
 

Blades

It would be fun and unique to hang a few swords (and maybe an axe) on a wall, positioning them so they are facing down, with lots of police tape around, making it look like a scary crime scene. Great effect for inside, setting a scary murderous scene. But, if you are using real blades, safety comes first, so make sure they are hung safely and out of reach from little hands.

I started researching places to purchase a sword from and I quickly realized that swords are gorgeous! They are not just pieces for Halloween costumes, or blades that you see in movies. They really are pieces of art, so I knew that I wanted to invest in one, instead of just picking any sword out there because it could serve as not only a decoration for Halloween, but also a piece of art for years to come! So, I researched and researched and finally came upon Swords of Northshire. Swords of Northshire sells Samurai Swords, Ninja Swords, Knives, Custom Swords and Accessories. They know the importance of creating historically accurate swords, so they hand forge each sword in Longquan, which is famed for its long history of swordmaking. On top of that, the blades are hand crafted by craftsman who have passed the art down from ancestors of the Japanese Samurai, so you know that your product will exceed your expectation! Swords of Northshire offers a 100% money-back guarantee, for up to 30 days after your purchase and also shops to many countries for free, which is a great bonus! Purchasing a sword from Swords of Northshire is a great way to make an investment on a piece of art that can also double as a Halloween decoration!

Witch hats

You have to have Witch hats for Halloween, they are the staple decoration of any Halloween. Hanging lots of witches hats dangling from the ceiling. Spooky Floating Witch Hats – simply magically. I have a few witch hats I’ve collected over the years, but to add to the effect I will be purchasing a few more, and I will create a room ceiling full of floating witch hats.

Head in a jar 

Another DIY project. For this scary decoration you place a horizontal head image of yourself, or maybe an image of the kids heads, and roll the image into the jar, fill it with water – tint the water to a green colour and you have a severed head in a jar – Please it in the window or as a centerpiece on the buffet table. Freaky!

Bloody walls

Every year we cover the house with the decorative cobweb (you can’t have enough cobwebs), but this year I want to go all out and decorate one of the rooms, I’m thinking the downstairs toilet, with some ‘bloody’ stickers. Stickers that look more like a bloodbath. Stickers for the walls, but you can also get stickers for the toilet.  

Writing this post gave me a mix of emotions, a bit freaked out (it’s scary looking through all the scary ideas for inspiration on Pinterest), and a excitement towards Halloween. I hope a few of these ideas helped. But, I’m always on the lookout for more. Do you decorate for Halloween? Do you have any unique Halloween Decoration ideas?

The effects that smoking has on your appearance

Photo by Антон Воробьев on Unsplash

The effects that smoking has on your appearance

From increasing the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to the fact that ingredients found in tobacco smoke can cause damage inside your body, we know there are various issues linked to smoking.

Many of these problems can take a while to develop to the point where they become a concern — some may never be seen at all, in fact. However, smoking also has detrimental effects on your appearance — issues that will be clear for you and others to see.

This guide details just some ways that smoking can affect your appearance, possibly leading you to consider kicking the habit and starting your stop smoking journey.

Effects around your eyes

You may know them as crow’s feet, but wrinkles around the outside of your eyes are unfortunately something that we will all develop at some point in our lives. However, they develop earlier and go deeper when you smoke due to the heat from lit cigarettes and also as a result of a smoker squinting in an attempt to keep smoke out of their eyes.

Bags under your eyes may occur much more often too, if research by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is anything to go by. This is because the study previously suggested that those who smoke cigarettes are four times more likely to report feeling unrested after a night’s sleep than non-smokers. The study, which involved the analysis of the sleep architecture of 40 smokers and a matched group of 40 nonsmokers who all undertook home polysomnography, also suggested that smokers spend less time in a deep sleep than non-smokers.

“It is possible that smoking has time-dependent effects across the sleep period,” pointed out Naresh M. Punjabi, MD, PhD, FCCP, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Smokers commonly experience difficulty falling asleep due to the stimulating effects of nicotine. As night evolves, withdrawal from nicotine may further contribute to sleep disturbance.”

Effects on your skin

Skin will age more quickly and have a dull and grey appearance, as a result of smoking reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrients that get to your skin. Premature aging of your skin by between 10 and 20 years will also occur from smoking.

Vasoconstriction is an effect of nicotine as well, with this condition resulting in blood vessels narrowing and thus the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the tiny vessels around your face and other parts of the body being limited. The problem of this condition will be seen if you suffer a wound, as vasoconstriction will take it longer to heal and result in scars appearing bigger and redder than those who aren’t affected by the condition.

Furthermore, the destruction of collagen and elastin in the body is also triggered by the 4,000+ chemicals found in tobacco smoke. These are fibres required to give skin its strength and elasticity — lose them and sagging skin and deeper wrinkles will be the consequence, which will be seen especially around the inner arms, breasts and face.

Have you heard of smoker’s pucker? It’s another effect that smoking causes around the face, as smokers use certain muscles around their lips which cause dynamic wrinkles to appear. Combined with a loss of elasticity to the skin, the result in regards to appearance will be deep lines around the lips.

Effects with your hair

This last sub-heading may be more accurate if it included the phrase ‘lack of hair’. This is because hair grows from sac-like structures found underneath the scalp called follicles. However, these need oxygen, essential nutrients and vitamins/minerals in order to function correctly and trigger natural hair growth but, as previously discussed, smoking reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients that get to your skin.

A disruption in the normal hair growth and loss cycle occurs when follicles aren’t able to function properly. This in turn causes hair thinning and eventually hair loss.

Sources:

• https://www.nhs.uk/smokefree/why-quit/smoking-health-problems
• http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20340112,00.html/view-all#scarring--0
• http://www.webmd.boots.com/smoking-cessation/ss/slideshow-ways-smoking-affects-looks
• https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204172250.htm
• http://www.medic8.com/healthguide/smoking/problems-smoking/smoking-your-hair.html

Colouring book benefits

Photo by Mari Pi on Unsplash

Coloring books are all the rage now, and I don't mean just for kids, but also for adults. It's a hobby that my kids love to do and I enjoy doing with them.

As a child I spent most of my spare time colouring-in and drawing, it is something I would do with my best friend and we would sit and colour for hours on end. My love for colouring meant I choose Art for a GCSE and wanted to be an artist - although, I found I was better at colouring-in than actually painting, but still I enjoyed the experience, apart from English it was my favourite lesson at school.

There is something special about colouring-in, it is peaceful, and therapeutic.

Coloring books has been growing in popularity over the past year or so, it's a hobby that takes you away from the pitfalls of busy, everyday life. It can be a stress-relieving technique, an enjoyable hobby that is relaxing. It's also a great thing to do with your kids, and enjoyed as quality time together. Family colouring books allow you to spend time with your kids colouring-in and being creative, at the same time keeping them away from screens.  There's also the connection and time spent when doing it with your kids.  Kid love colouring-in, so doing it together gives you some quality quiet time together. It also helps teach your children an array of benefits:

• to develop the skill of patience and learn to focus on details 
• it allows them to relax and be comfortable 
• learn to play/interact and share
• to be creative and enjoy being creative
• learn more about colours

What other benefits have you experienced from colouring?

How to Market Your Home

Photo by Redd Angelo on Unsplash

Moving is a big thing, especially if you are putting your home up for sale. The market can be a daunting experience. It's a time where it shifts from being your home, to being a house that is being presented to potential buyers.

So if you are in the process of moving home, below are some tips on where to start.

The Estate Agent

The most important step to selling your house is finding a good agent. Estate agents like Hatched, are still the place people want to go when they want to sell or buy a home. They have the necessary experience to market your property effectively, and secure a good price for you. Or if you are buying, they have the knowledge of what is on the market or coming to the market to match your needs.

Spring clean

Go through your home and spring-clean. Get the carpets cleaned and clean the windows, dust in every nook and cranny.

The garden

Don't forget the garden, Cut the grass, trim the bushes and make sure the garden is free from any rubbish, rubble and clutter. 

Use your Estate Agent

Your agent can help you with getting your home ready. They understand what buyers are looking for. Therefore, it makes sense to ask them for advice. For example, your local agent will be able to tell you whether you should be presenting your box room as a spare bedroom or as an office.

De-clutter

Clear away most of the clutter and this will brighten up your home, it will make it look cleaner and more calmer. It's a great way to get you started on packing early and the perfect excuse to throw some of that junk out. This will create more space and make your rooms look bigger.

Redecorate

You need to present your home in the best possible light, refresh the room with a bit of decorating. The idea is for a prospective buyer to walk into your home and be able to see themselves living there, use neutral colours to help with this.