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 you 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 with 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. 

Fun ways to explore your local area with the kids

We’re all aware that in this modern age, including the kids, we are more likely to sit behind screen, and as a result, our levels of activity are down. This summer holiday, I plan to keep my kids active and spend some fun time with them outdoors. With 4 kids to consider ranging in ages from 4 to 17 years old, I've listed some fun ways to cater for them all:

Segway boards - Easy and fun way to ride the streets, down the park, along the seawall and so much more. I first saw these when a family were riding one each in Center Parcs - I thought then 'what a great way to get around Center Parcs'. This one is for the older two. I wouldn't let the youngest two on one.

Scooters - The 2 youngest kids favourite - they love their fuzion scooters. Lightweight, portable and easy to take out. The kids can whizz around having loads of fun being active at the same time. They can take these down the street, park or even on the ramps at the skate park! Great fun for all the kids.

Heelys - These are great fun! They are shoes with removable wheels so the kids can walk, run or roll. Kids can have fun, and be exceptionally 'cool'. Hellys can be worn and enjoyed by all the family.

Brompton bikes - Something fun unique and practical like the Brompton Bike. Perfect to hop onto the train with and to go explore the city. The Brompton can be taken anywhere: on the bus/train, out to a restaurant, or down the beach. This folding bike allows the ultimate portability, allowing you to fit a bike ride into your busy day to day life. So the kids can be out on their scooters, and I can follow along on my Brompton.

These are some fun ideas to keep the kids active this summer holiday. An active kid = a happy kid and doing it outdoors is so much better, no matter the weather.

Finding a Tradesman

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The home renovations seem never ending at the moment. We started the big task last year and although we've achieved lots and it's starting to look great, we're still not finished - lots to do and more money needed.

Last week we completed the garage conversion, changing it into a playroom, and the next job we will be moving onto is to get the best out of our new utility room we had built a few months ago. It's currently being used as a temporary storage room, but now we have the extension and conversion done, we started clearing the utility room out. I'm looking forward to having some kitchen cupboard units put in, and we will also be moving our washing machine from the kitchen into the utility room - but, the utility room still has no access to water and waste pipe. 

This is where I need a plumber.

As much as I like the idea of saving money by doing jobs myself (aka get hubby to do it), this can sometimes be a bad idea. Especially when it comes to skill-set jobs like plumbing etc, - it's best and safer to call in the qualified tradesmen.

So how do you go about finding a tradesman for the jobs you can’t do yourself?

Hiring a tradesmen to complete jobs around the home can be quite daunting - where do you start, the local newspaper, google search, word of mouth, etc,. With www.myjobquote.co.uk you can search and find qualified and reviewed tradespeople in your local area. You post your job for free and then wait for selected tradespeople to contact you via RatedPeople.com to discuss the work and give you a quote. 

I've posted my request for a plumber and already received three plumbers looking to give me a quote.

Surprising Ways That You're Probably Wasting Space At Home

There isn't anyone out there who wouldn't like at least a little more space at home. After all, even people living in huge homes can end up feeling a little bit cramped at times. For a lot of people, the solution is just to move to a bigger home. This can cause problems for a couple of reasons. For one thing, that's definitely easier said than done! After all, if you're living in a particular sized home, it's probably because that's the home that you and your family can currently afford at the current moment. That's not to say that you won't be earning more in the future, but it's hardly a good idea to hold out until then to start feeling comfortable in your home. The other problem is that the square footage of your home might not actually be the real issue. In fact, there are plenty of ways that you might be wasting space in your home without even realising it. Luckily, many of these things can be fixed by simply being aware of them and taking a few simple steps to avoid them. With that in mind, here are some things that you might be doing to waste space in your home, and what you can do to avoid them.

Bad layouts

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One of the most common ways in which people end up wasting space in their homes is actually one of the toughest to spot as well. When you're arranging a room, you probably have a pretty clear idea of what the "obvious" solution is. Most of the time people tend to lay out a room in pretty obvious ways. The couch will be in the centre of the living room, and everything will be pointed at the TV, which will be in one corner of the room. Or perhaps you'll have your bed sticking out into the centre of your bedroom with a closet at the foot of it. Sure, these can be pretty useful and convenient ways of arranging a room, but just because they're the most immediately obvious doesn't mean that they're necessarily the best. Why not take another look at the rooms in your home and think about different ways of laying them out. Instead of having it in the centre of the room, why not keep the couch pushed up against a wall? That way you're going to be in a much better position to maximise the floor space when it's not so divided. Sure, you're going to be further away from the TV but who says that the TV needs to be the focal point of the living room all of the time? Why not point your chairs and couches at each other instead? That way you're not only using the space more interestingly, but you're encouraging people to talk to each other.

Poor storage solutions

There are few things that can encroach on a room's overall size like having stuff strewn all over the floor. Not only is your home simply going to be more untidy but you're going to have significantly less space to move around. If you want to improve the size of your rooms, get creative with your storage solutions. Instead of taking up valuable space with large bookcases, why not use things like floating bookshelves? These not only allow you to free up far more floor space than you might expect but they can also function as some really interesting decorations around the house. The same goes for things like toys in your kid's rooms. Plenty of shelving units and closets come with spaces for stacking toy chests. That way you can have things hidden away when they're not being used. Giving your child more room to play overall and making it much easier for them to keep their room tidy.

Having too much stuff

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Do you ever walk into a room in someone's home and it just feels cramped? You can't quite put your finger on why but, no matter how large the room is, it just feels like you don't have that much space to move around. The next time that you start feeling like that, look at just how much stuff they have. You'll likely find that their home is crowded and cluttered with more junk than any person could ever need. Then, take that idea and apply it to your own home. Look at the shelves and surfaces. How much space is there? While you might think that space in your home is inherently a waste, the reality is that it can be an incredibly positive force in your home. If you fill up every inch of space on every surface and shelf in your home, then you're not going to feel like you have any room to breathe. By keeping things just a bit more minimal, it's going to add a whole new dimension of space to any room. Keep your mementoes in a box in the attic, that way you can change them up from time to time, so you don't get bored.

Appliances

A lot of the time people think about the appliances in their home as a part of the general shape and floor space of the property. This is usually because they come with the house and are in pretty static positions. After all, you can't move your radiator or washing machine into different parts of a room. However, just because you can't move them around doesn't mean that you have to just put up with how much space they take up. 3 column radiators are a fantastic way to decrease the amount of space that they take up. Rather than having them take up horizontal space that you might want to use, have them take up vertical space that is just going to end up going to waste anyway. Not only that but it will help to turn something functional like a radiator into something more visually striking which can help to make a room feel more interesting overall.   

Furniture

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A lot of people treat furniture in the same way that they think about many of their other possessions. It's just something that you put into your house that exists somewhat separately from it. In reality, furniture occupies a slightly stranger space since it's sort of halfway between being a possession and a piece of the layout of your home as a whole. After all, furniture is often very large, so if it doesn't fit with your home as a whole, then it's going to cause problems. Sure, you might want a huge couch that can fit all of your friends and family at once, but if it's going to eat up half of the living room, it might not be the best idea.

Of course, even if you do fix all of these things, there's no guarantee that your home is going to suddenly feel like a mansion. In reality, the best thing that you can do is to start thinking about your home more creatively. Rather than just trying to maximise the space at every opportunity, think about ways in which you can try and use that space as effectively as possible. By looking at your home from that kind of different perspective, it can often become much easier to deal with things that might have once seemed unavoidable problems. Even the tiniest home can work for just about anyone as long as you understand how to use the space that you have, rather than constantly trying to get more and more space that you're just going to waste in the same way as before.

Outdoors

Don't forget your garden! We all flock to the outside when it's sunny but that's a small proportion of the year. For the rest of the time our gardens remain largely un-used. But fear not, if you have the funds then why not splash out and build a separate space for lounging, entertaining, studying or working out?

Since the Covid-19 pandemic the demand for garden rooms has sky-rocketed and today they're one of the most sought-after major home improvements. They're often less expensive than a conservatory or extension and generally don't require the usual permissions. Some go beyond the norm of building a single room and build an entire micro-home, referred to as a "granny annexe" to create a dedicated space for family and friends. 

Is It Worth The Investment?

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They say money makes the world go round, and it does. Just when you feel like you’ve got your income down and your expenses under control, another unexpected cost comes in. It’s never ending. But, that doesn’t mean you have to let money worries get you down. Instead, you should start to see your finances from a practical perspective. In life, there are so many different areas that warrant costs. Some you’ll be able to work out, but others will need paying. So how do you work it out?

At different points in life, you’re going to find yourself wondering is it really worth it? And that’s okay. Sometimes you’re going to want to save as hard as you can for the thing that you want, and then sometimes, you’re going to want to pass. Because you’ll soon realize that not everything warrants your money, or your time and attention. From your home life to the state of your finances themselves, money talks. So, it’s time to work out once and for all what’s worth the investment and what’s best left aside. If you’re not sure where you should be spending or saving your money in life, here are a few pointers to get you thinking.

Your Home

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At home, you could spend and spend and spend until you’re all out of money, but should you? Here’s how to work out where you’re money is best spent.

Home Improvements

When it comes to your home improvements, you’ve probably got a list as long as your arm. But, it’s not always easy to know where you should invest. If you’re thinking of selling your home, you’re going to want to focus on the areas that buyers care about most, like the kitchen or bathroom. So, do some research. Sites like Tap Warehouse are great for products, and Pinterest is also good for inspiration. If you’re not looking to sell, write a list of the jobs in order of importance or what matters the most to you and allocate funds that way.

Bills

When it comes to your bills, you may want to think about reducing them down as much as possible. To run your home, you don’t want to pay over the odds. So, speak to your utility suppliers to bag a better deal. Then be sure that you need all of the packages and subscriptions you have, and cancel things you can save money on.

Your Car

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Cars cost a lot of money to run, but they don’t have to zap up all of your funds if you don’t want them to. You just need to be smart with what, how, and when you drive.

Reducing Car Running Costs

Firstly, you should think about reducing your running costs. This one is a no-brainer. You shouldn’t pay over the odds just to drive. To cut down on your car costs, there are a few things you can do. Speak to your insurer to see if they can reduce your premium, or shop around when it's time to renew. But, you should also look at options for saving on your fuel too. You could also reduce fuel consumption by driving more carefully, or you could even car share to reduce costs.

Changing What You Drive

You could also think about buying a new car. Sometimes, it's the kind of car that is costing you the most. So, a cheaper option or a more efficient car could work out better. If you have a finance or leasing deal, you could get a cheaper monthly payment for switching to a different make or model.

Schooling

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You may not realise it, but school can cost. There are plenty of ways that you can save on that, but then you may want to think about the ways that you could invest in education as well.

Private School

When you want your kid to have the best possible education, you’re going to want to find the best school in your area. But don’t be put off if that is a private school. Sometimes, you may want to invest in your child’s education, but you may also be able to secure a place via a bursary. Depending on your other financial commitments and priorities, this could be one area to invest.

Everyday Fees

But even state schools can be costly. With uniform costs, trips and even food, the price seems to creep up year after year. So how can you control that? Well, you probably don’t want to scrimp in this area, but you could looking into making your uniforms last longer and being more efficient with food ideas for school.

The Garden

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You’re probably thinking, how can my garden be that expensive? But you’d be surprised by the ways that your outside space can take up a lot of your budget.

Landscaping

If you really need to get outside and create something (anything) out of your garden, you may want to do what you can on a budget. But there are tonnes of ideas for creating a gorgeous garden for next to nothing. You’re going to want to enjoy your garden, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay for expensive landscaping.

Maintenance

Then there’s also the maintenance to think about. When you want to give your garden some oomph, but you don’t think you can handle it yourself, it can be tempting to hire a local gardener to tend to it once or twice a month. Instead, why not learn to love gardening yourself? It’s surprising how easy and therapeutic planting, weeding, and pruning can be (and cheap too!).

A Holiday

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Every family loves to get away on a fantastic break as often as they can, but you’re going to want to work out what kind of budget you need. Should it be big or should you be frugal?

Cheap & Cheerful

Yes, you want a family holiday, but it doesn’t have to cost you thousands of pounds if you don’t want it too. You’ve always got the option of doing a staycation close by or staying in a family-friendly park home. Sometime in the UK, that’s close by can be super fun. You often find they’re the best kinds of holidays you can have.

A Special Treat

But sometimes, you do want to spend a bit more. When you have a special occasion coming up, or you’ve been working really hard, and you want to treat yourself and the family, why not go all out and book a fabulous holiday abroad? All inclusive too! If you’re cutting back in every other area too, there’s not reason not to.

Your Savings

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Then it comes to the actual savings that you’re going to put away. Whether it’s for a rainy day or something in particular, you’re going to want to work out where to put your money.

Savings Plan

One of the best ways to work out how to save and what you should save, is to start a savings plan. It may seem hard at first, but there are so many ways to sneak away a few more pounds here and there. Saving loose change, selling unwanted things, or even boosting your income, you’ll be able to make it happen. Just work out what monthly savings payments you can afford and go from there.

Investing

But you’ve always got the option to invest. If you want to take your savings seriously, it could be a viable option. And don’t worry about being a beginner, there is a lot to learn, but you can pick it up easily. Just be sure to be cautious, get your timing right, and do your research, and you’ll be sure to get the hang of it.

You Need To Spend More Time In Your Garden: Here's Why, How, And When

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You need to spend more time in your garden. Why do you ask? Surely the pursuit of a career, actually earning money to upgrade your living situation and get to the top of your field is more important that idly wasting time lounging around in your garden as your cat does?

Career considerations are important of course, and in that pursuit, it can be difficult to fully switch off your working brain. If this is you, your garden is calling out for you more than ever. Many people don’t spend enough alone time or time with their family in their garden. They see it as a beautiful fixture of the house, a nice place to decorate and maybe plant flowers once in awhile, but not a place to truly unwind and feel free within.

If you run a family, it’s not hard to imagine that any free time you do have is soaked up in the maintenance, socially and physically, of that family. Interestingly though, giving yourself time to reflect, even just a few minutes every day, can help you be more present in your daily life, and more available to your family members. This allows you to identify your relative's needs and wants much more clearly than when your head is filled with career or budgetary planning.

This is what nature can afford you:

Nature Relaxes

It’s scientifically valid. Nature can help reduce your levels of cortisol to a significant degree, and this has tremendous benefits on your overall health and positive cognitive functioning. This ability to natural rest in yourself and focus is only enhanced by having your own space to do it in, free from private eyes.

Here you can allow all of your weird and intricate personality quirks to show themselves in full light, and that is nothing but healthy. Consider adding a garden feature such as a water feature or pond complete with adequate hygienic pond filters, and you’ll have a beautiful and serene picture to lose yourself in during those extended periods of self-reflection. Speaking of reflection:

Nature Reflects

Being in your garden alone will give you the headspace necessary to assess how you’re doing so far in your life. Those little niggles that might have been eating away at you in the form of suppressed responsibilities or worries about the future can be observed and thought through in the bright light of day here. This is always healthy.

Nature Allows You To Appreciate

If you live in a relatively suburban area, it’s easy to get lost in the flow of daily modern life and the fast-paced culture we inhabit. As Ferris Bueller said “Life moves pretty fast. If You don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.”

This is why spending time in your garden space is so valuable. Nature moves at its own pace and doesn’t require you to allow it to do so. There are no scheduling or meeting arrangements required to allow your leaves to blow in the wind. This is why spending time here is so relaxing. It can free you from the crazy duties that you’ve piled upon yourself in the pursuit of a better life and only sit with your life where it is. This is why some form of water feature is important as well because you’ll have the audible sound of relaxing, lazy water to punctuate the slow, free moving of the life in your garden.

A garden might seem like a dead area, a place to be molded and shaped to your will. You will find, however, that the longer you stay there, the more alive your garden becomes. Before long you’ll be making your garden reflection time a highlight of your week, and will add many home improvements to keep increasing its beauty often.

Low Maintenance, Edible Plants You Can Grow

More and more people are embracing home grown food.

Anyone can do it, you don’t need to be a farmer in order to reap the benefits of home-grown food. If you have a garden and/or window and a bit of extra time on your hands, then you can grow your own food right at home. Growing food at home also ensures that you know exactly where your food comes from and how it was grown.

Growing your own fresh food can be hugely rewarding, but where do you start?! If you start with a few easy to grow vegetables that don't require daily care, you can be eating fresh straight out of your garden or home - you don't even have to have a garden. Most of these vegetables can be grown in containers and kept at hands reach.  

Powertray have put together this helpful great infographic to help get you started on your own home grown food:

3 Secret Selfie Tips That Will Change The Game

Taking the perfect selfie seems to be something that the Kardashians and similar public figures have mastered. However, it can take time for us mere mortals to get down. With the right tips, you can transform a mediocre selfie into something spectacular - maybe even something that gets hundreds of likes! Here are a few tips you need to know for this to happen:

Take It From A High Angle

The most flattering pictures are always taken from a high angle. This doesn’t need to be ridiculously high; just high enough to slim the face and flatter you. Practice taking from a higher angle and see how you like it.

Use A Selfie Light

Sometimes, it’s not you. It’s the lighting! Natural lighting and artificial lighting can change your selfie. Investing in a selfie light means you have a special light you can clip to your phone so that it’s perfect, wherever you may be. Perfect for night’s out and when you’re away from home, or even when you just want to up your game.

Choose Your Background Carefully

If your background is too distracting, you’re not going to take that ‘wow’ selfie that you really want to master. Choose your background carefully. It shouldn’t be too distracting, and should even enhance the picture if possible. You could take it against a block colour background, or even something with a subtle pattern.

If you love these selfie tips, you’re going to love all of the tips in the infographic below. You’ll never feel bad about a selfie you take ever again!

Credit to MyTrendyPhone

Tips for a (mostly) Stress Free Family Holiday

Organising anything with kids can quickly become a stressful and chaotic experience. However, a week overseas in the sunshine can really be a way for you, and your kids to have the time of your lives. Here are some tips on how to make the most of your holiday without any big hiccups along the way.

Choose the right destination and the best place to stay

The right destination can really make all the difference for your holiday. Depending on the local weather and the activities that you are interested in doing, take your time to research and choose your destination and accommodation accordingly. If you are looking for a beautiful and relaxing place with a lower cost of living than that in the UK, Italy is one of the many great options. You can stay at one of the many villas in Sicily let out by locals and provide your family with much more room than the average hotel or other accommodation option; sometimes there is even a private pool!

Pack only what you truly need

It is easy to keep packing “just one more thing”. But save yourself the trouble of hauling oversized pieces of luggage throughout your travels and pack only what you truly need. Water shoes and SPF, those are certainly good items to pack. The three extra shirt options, and a framed photo of your cat however, are not worth the hassle. 

Take time for yourself

Traveling with family is always exciting and a great opportunity for bonding, but remember to take time for yourself. Whether it be 20 minutes for meditation in the morning or time with a book and a beautiful view, it is important to remember that this is your time on vacation, as well. The more relaxed and content you are individually, the smoother the time spent with your family will go. Often there are kids clubs available to offer mum and dad a little respite from the day care.

Let kids eat when they want so they don’t get irritable

Let’s face it- kids with rumbling tummies are not happy campers. To help avoid any meltdowns and keep energy positive, let your kids eat when they want so they don’t get irritable, even if that means working against jet lag a bit. Snacks can save the day, even when you least expect it. Think of it as a holiday treat!

Organize photos and put together a memory book

Going through photos from your holiday and putting together a summer scrapbook is a great way to look back on all the wonderful memories you and your family have created. After you have finished your holiday, it is much more relaxing to have all photos from it organised. It is that final step. Years down the road, you will surely appreciate the time and effort it takes to put together.

As you travel with family, flexibility is key. It would be miraculous if every single plan works exactly as you’d hoped. Just remember you are in a new country, with the ones you love, most likely basking in sun and enjoying some amazing food. It’s not the end of the world if you didn’t manage to find time to visit every single site. Enjoy the little moments and take a deep breath even if things do not go exactly how you’d planned.

Substance Misuse Worker Opportunities in Criminal Justice

There are numerous employment opportunities available for substance misuse workers within the criminal justice framework in the UK. These specialists support both adults and young people who have significant issues with drugs, alcohol or other substances.

Substance misuse counselors work in a variety of settings, from prisons and residence-based rehabilitation to clinics; they also often serve on youth offending teams.

Hours are typically irregular and may include weekends and after hours work when you are on call. Unlike other criminal justice jobs there are no set qualifications necessary for substance misuse workers.

A good understanding of substance misuse issues gained through volunteer work or personal experience is extremely helpful though.

The substance misuse worker must be skilled in talking and working with people from very diverse backgrounds and life circumstances. They must carefully manage behavior and set reasonable limits, all the while encouraging connection and trust with the client.

Typical Duties of a Substance Misuse Worker

The assessment and trust building process is a critical component of substance misuse counseling. To find out what is going on with the client you should have the interpersonal skills to connect with them and offer an environment of compassion and trust. At the same time, you need the strength to set and enforce appropriate boundaries.

Once you have discovered what the client’s issues and situation are you can seek the best services for them and support them on their journey to recovery.

This may include referrals for housing and medical services and supporting them by going to appointments with them. Substance misuse workers will also typically work with families and the individual’s wider support system.

Substance misuse workers may work in drop-in centers, specialized clinics, rehabilitation units or in an outreach role. Outreach workers often accompany police on patrols in homeless areas or near pubs.

They can offer needle exchange if needed and provide for immediate needs such as housing or connecting a client with appropriate care. In addition, substance misuse workers typically provide extensive education and guidance as part of their individualized and broader outreach services.

Specialized Roles within the Criminal Justice System

If you are interested in a substance misuse worker job that focuses within the criminal justice system it’s helpful to be aware of different specialized opportunities that are available. For instance, police custody referral workers help offenders fully understand the ramifications of testing positive for drugs when they are arrested.

Substance misuse workers are also typically an integral part of prison drug teams and probation venues within a community. In both environments, there is a strong possibility that the specialist will experience uncooperative or even belligerent behavior.

Additionally, substance misuse workers may provide drug and alcohol testing as part of their duties.

If you would like to help people overcome their substance misuse issues and make a new start in their life, consider a specialized role within the criminal justice system. In this environment, you can truly make a difference at both the individual and societal levels.