Archives for December 2018

How to Transform Your Style for 2019

December 18, 2018 By Leave a Comment
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Everyone always says “new year, new me,” but why does it always seem like the new you never comes around to visit? Turn that motto into a genuine reality by overhauling and transforming your look. It’s far more than the clothes that make the woman, it’s her skin, her smile, and most importantly, her confidence, that bring life to her name. Before making another feeble New Year’s commitment to self-improvement, try these tips to transform your style in 2019!

Know your look

Having a complete and unwavering understanding of what your style is will make life infinitely easier when shopping for new threads. Are you more of a classic minimalist woman or a colorful flowery woman? Consider your lifestyle. Are you always on the go, or are you usually cooped up in an office? How do you usually spend your days, and what footwear best suits your regularly activities? Before shopping til you drop, know what look you’re aiming for, and stick to it!

Reinvent your wardrobe

Now that you know what vibe you’re looking to put out into the world, it’s time to take a trip to your closet and purge it of any items that don’t fit the bill. We get it, decluttering is stressful, especially since you know exactly how much every tee and pair of jeans cost. But no one said commitment was easy! Donate your old look to your local clothing donation center, someone else will make better use out of your tired denim!

Redo that hairdo

Admit it ladies, once we find a low-maintenance hairstyle that we like, we stick to it for years. Nothing says “new me” like a fresh haircut. Do a bit of searching on Instagram and Pinterest to pin down a look you’re willing to try, and find a salon that can deliver the results you’re looking for. A cold visit to a salon hairdresser can also help you come up with ideas best suited for your face, age, and frame. No one wants to end up with a ridiculous hairdo, so do your research first!

Refresh your footwear

When reinventing your look, don’t forget to sort through your collection of shoes. Though we’d like to believe that shoes can outlast clothing or that worn shoes have a fashionable aesthetic to them, we’re really just lying to ourselves. Toss the old sneakers, bag the busted heels, and trade them in for new kicks. From adorable pointed teacher flats to squeaky clean nude pumps, your wardrobe is not complete without a trusty band of shoes.

Maintain a regular skin routine

Any good skincare routine has at least three steps; cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing. Though you may think that simple washing your face everyday is enough to keep oil and dead skin away, more often than not, you’ll need to do a bit more. Before scouring the market for the best reviewed skin products, make sure you know your skin type down to a T. Depending on your skin’s oiliness, dryness, or sensitivity, your skincare essentials will probably look very different from Kim Kardashian’s skincare regimen. Few things in the world feel better than being comfortable in your own skin. No makeup, no problem, all 2019!

Reel in your makeup regimen

In the age of Youtube makeup tutorials reigning supreme in the beauty industry, most women love to pretend that their self-taught makeup look is the most flattering for their face. Yes, those colorful and deeply contoured looks are inspirational in more ways than one, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they translate well from face to face. Hone your makeup routine to a few essentials to accomplish the near no-makeup look, and grow from there. Leave your days of heavy smokey eyes and heavy bronzing in the past with a new and improved makeup method.

Spice it up

In 2019, there will be no room for “what if”’s. Stop wondering if you can rock those 5 inch blue heels. Stop thinking and just do it! Changing your style is not easy and takes a lot of guts to actually do, but it’s important to remember that only you can define you. Those shoes you’ve been wishing you could pull off? Buy them. That skirt that hugs your hips just right, get it! Have some fun while reinventing yourself, because as they say, new year, new you!

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Some Practical And Aesthetic Renovation Ideas For Your Home

December 17, 2018 By Leave a Comment
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When renovating home, you should consider both design and functionality. You might be focused on your amenities, but your level of comfort at home depends on its appearance too. So, if you want to renovate your household practically then you should think about the way it looks, in other words. You shouldn’t pick a chic leather couch if it’s uncomfortable to sit on, for example. That might sound obvious, but it’s hard to nail the balance. Let’s discuss some practical and aesthetic renovation ideas for your home. It might help you to reinvent your humble abode.

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Fix up your household.

This is a practical piece of advice to bear in mind on a continuous basis, but it’s particularly important at this time of year. During winter, pipes can freeze, water damage to your property’s exterior can be severe. When water freezes, it expands; fences and patio decking, for instance, could be damaged. You should do household maintenance throughout the year, but if there was ever a time to put it at the top of your priority list then it’s probably winter. Don your DIY hat and tend to those household chores you’ve been neglecting. With YouTube at your disposal, you have access to tutorials for all manner of home renovation projects; you could retile your bathroom, fix creaky floorboards, and even sort out that leaky faucet in the kitchen sink. Anyone can become a DIY expert with the internet.

Focus on small statement pieces.

A practical yet beautiful household should avoid a cluttered design. Yet, you don’t want your home to look boring. You want to make sure each room is vibrant and exciting in a visual sense. So, how do you achieve this? In some modern or simply smaller homes, a chandelier might look a little out of place or garish. But a focal point doesn’t need to be grand and overwhelming. It can be something small and captivating. You could place an exotic tropical plant in the corner of your lounge to add some color and natural design to your room. Or maybe you could check out Montgomery’s for some stylish blinds. Those would be practical and more aesthetically-pleasing than old-fashioned curtains.

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Realize the potential of your garden.

Last but certainly not least, you should realize the full potential of your garden. So few homeowners truly utilize their outdoor space, but that’s a real shame because your property’s exterior is just as important as its interior. Maybe you mow the lawn and water the plants regularly, but your backyard could be destined for so much more. We’re not just talking about keeping it neat and tidy on a practical level; we’re talking about giving it a vibrant and cozy aesthetic. You could create a patio area with an awning to keep you sheltered. You could have a dining table, relaxing loungers for sunny days, and even a fire pit for BBQs. Solar lights might help to light up this beautiful space and make it feel more homely at night too.

Filed Under: For The Home
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Small Issues That Can Cause Big Problems When You Have House Guests

December 13, 2018 By Leave a Comment
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Christmas is often a time when we invite friends and family into your home, to celebrate with us. However, unless you are appropriately prepared for this massive change in living conditions the experience of having house guests can start to stink after a while. Luckily, you can avoid any unpleasantness both for you and those that are staying with you if you following the advice on the issues below. Read on to find out more.

Space

One of the biggest issues that you can encounter when having guests stay in your home is that there are more people in the same old space that your family is used to. Of course, this can make things seem crowded and even oppressive after a while, especially if there is nowhere that you or your guests can go to get a break and some privacy.

To that end providing house guest with an actual room to stay in is essential, even if you have to move the rest of the family around for the duration. Otherwise, you can much more easily get on each other’s nerves, and this can lead to the creation of more significant problems like an argument and even fallings out!

Temperate control

Another major issue that hosts and guest can clash over is the temperature that they like the home to be. Especially if one party likes things to be warm and the other prefers out to be cool.

Luckily, there is a solution that can work for everyone, and it’s to ensure that the AC and heating pumps in each room of your home are working effectively. Then your guest will be able to have control over the temperate of the room you give them, and so be much more comfortable.

Of course, to guarantee that this can happen, its best to get an ac service from a professional company well ahead of the date that your guests are due. Then if there are any problems, you will have plenty of time to get them fixed.

Meals

Meals can be another seemly minor issue that can create big problems when your home if full of house guests. After all, even if you get all the dietary requirements right like gluten intolerance, low carb, vegetarianism, and allergies, there is still no guarantee that everyone will actually like and enjoy what is put in front of them!

Happily, you can solve this problem by getting organized ahead of time and checking what every food preferences are. You can then use this to write a schedule of meals, which can help you shop more efficiently and make sure that no one ends up feeling left out or ignored!

End dates

Finally, when it comes to house guests, we all know that the experience can start to stink after a few days. That is why it’s crucial that you have a definite end date to their visit.

To mark this do something special like have a party or go out for a meal, and remember to repeatedly talk about it as the ‘goodbye or last night celebration.’ This should then ensure everyone leaves on a positive note, and that no one outstays their welcome!

 

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5 Tips for a Family Holiday in Mykonos

December 12, 2018 By Leave a Comment
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Mykonos is known for its wild parties, vibrant beaches, and luxurious accommodation, but it isn’t an exclusive destination for party animals by any means either. Family trips to the island can be just as enjoyable and there are a few places which even the kids will enjoy. Nonetheless, whether you are going to attend a wedding in Mykonos or just planning to enjoy a relaxing holiday with the kids on the island, a few intelligent tips might go a long way towards ensuring that you have an awesome family holiday there.

Know Your Beaches

All beaches in Mykonos are gorgeous, but depending on the kind of crowd you are with or the type of experience that you are seeking, your preference should vary. If you are here with the entire family and there are kids with you, try out the child-friendly Agrari Beach. The water is pretty calm almost throughout the year and there is even a decent playground there for the children to keep themselves busy in, while the adults go for a drink in the café/bar! Agrari beach is neither too crowded or too empty, creating a sense of relaxation without sacrificing the security that comes naturally with being in a place with plenty of other families as well.

Another beach that you can check out is the long stretch of Panormos Beach, which lacks water sports options so you know it won’t be too busy in the sea. There is no restriction that forbids families to enjoy the Pinky Beach or Super Paradise Beach either, but due to the high ratio of partygoers, it’s best if you leave before 10 pm.

Stay in a Villa

The Mykonos experience is incomplete unless you stay in one of the multiple luxurious villas found throughout the island. Not only are these villas conveniently located in places that offer incredible views of the Aegean Sea, but they also have everything from personal infinity pools to baby baths for catering to the needs of families. A large majority of the couples who plan for a wedding in Mykonos usually consider accommodation from here at BlueVillas for their guests and the event itself. Even when you don’t have an occasion in mind, large families and groups invariably find the huge villas with a dozen or more (up to fifty) bedrooms much more convenient, luxurious and economic. Do remember to book your accommodation with BlueVillas early though, because the best villas always get booked months in advance every year.

Leaving Before 11 pm is a Good Idea if You Have Young Kids

Safety is not an issue in Mykonos under normal circumstances, even when it is late at night, but if you have young kids and would like to avoid the drunken crowd, leaving clubs before 10 pm is probably a good idea. If your kids are in their late teens though, you won’t have too much to worry about of course, as they probably like parties a lot more than you do!

Rent a Car

Before we get to why renting a car is recommended, let’s make it absolutely clear that Mykonos has quite a capable public transportation system in place. Buses come in every 20-30 minutes and stop at most of the attractions and locations, making sure that tourists and travellers are able to get anywhere that they need to. However, renting a car is still a better option when you have children with you because the buses can get crowded, which is a hassle when you have kids to monitor. Renting a car is not cheap, but the convenience is worth it and it is definitely cheaper than getting everywhere with cabs. ATVs are also quite popular in Mykonos and if you are in a small group, it might be more economical to rent an ATV than a car.

Keep the Weather in Mind

This one is a universal tip, but given that the island never really gets too hot or too cold to be advised against, the season is more of a concern when you have young children or seniors in your group. The ideal time to visit would be before July or even June when you are trying to avoid the heat completely. The two months of September and October are also quite pleasant, after which, the temperature dips quite a bit and the cold wind may chill you out after sunset if you are still in your beach clothes! In any case, coastal climates are unpredictable at times, so do check in with the weather forecasts before planning a day trip.

Now that you know how to make your family holiday to Mykonos the most enjoyable, all that is left to do is the planning required to make it happen!

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The College Degrees That Are Perfect For Moms

December 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment
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As a mom, there comes a time where you’ve served your tour of duty, so to speak. You’ve done your job as a parent, raising your child to become a fully functioning human being that can think and look after themselves. It’s a proud moment, but there’s a loneliness that comes when your child no longer demands your attention 24/7.

For many, a great way to fill the void is by going back to school and studying a degree. This allows you to get a well-paid job and live out some possible dreams you may have had. Keeping that in mind, here are a few degrees that are ideal for moms:

Finance

A degree in finance might sound boring, but you’ll be surprised at how suited you are to it as a parent. Needless to say, you will spend loads of time juggling the family’s finances and making budgets all year round. This sets you up for a job in the financial sector as an advisor for people!

To get a job as a financial advisor, you need to have a degree in finance or economics. These tend to be pretty straightforward, and you need to be good with numbers. To make things even better, these jobs are really well paid!

Nursing

A nursing degree is perfect for a mom as you’ve pretty much spent many years being a part-time nurse for your child! You look after them when they’re sick, take their temperature, ensure they take their medication, etc. A lot of the skills you develop as a mom will translate into nursing.

On the educational side of things, you usually have to study to become a Registered Nurse before you can get on a BSN course. But, don’t worry, there are plenty of online RN BSN courses out there that you can complete in your own time to get the degree. It’s a rewarding career as you’re helping people in need, and the financial side is pretty impressive too!

Teaching

Lastly, a teaching degree is brilliant as you’re basically a teacher to your kids anyway! Who taught them how to read and write? Who taught them how to count? It was all you, and it shows you have a knack for explaining things to kids. Not to mention all the homework you’ve helped them with over the years – you’ve literally been their home-teacher.

The brilliant thing about teaching degrees is that they’re in high demand right now. There’s something of a teaching crisis in that there are fewer teachers year by year. So, this is a great degree to study towards as the job outlook is more than positive.

Remember, college isn’t just for your kids – it’s for moms as well! There’s nothing wrong with going back to school to improve your education. In fact, if you get a degree, it can open the door to some amazing career opportunities. These three options are tailor made for mom’s as they call upon some of the key skills you’ve developed during your time as a parent.

Filed Under: Education
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4 Tips for Getting Set Up for Christmas Mayhem!

December 5, 2018 By Leave a Comment
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Getting ready to handle the utter mayhem that is Christmas with our kids is something we look forward to and somewhat dread in equal measure. Will the parents be able to handle the over exuberance and the overeating, or will we just wish the festive season to be over as soon as it began? We know your pain!

Here are four tips to help parents with kids running around cope with the festive season and survive through to the other side.

1.      Plan Activities to Do

The school holidays are long. Depending on how old and independent your children have grown up to become, they may or may not get bored easily. Even the preteens often welcome parental supervision or going out on small trips for shopping, to play in the park, skate at an ice-skating rink, or some other local activity.

With teenagers, they’re probably better left to their own devices other than when you need help with larger tasks, such as picking out and decorating a Christmas tree and helping carry the shopping. Getting them involved in some way helps keep their Christmas spirits up.

For the younger kids, make a list of some activities and games they could play. Some they can be shown how to play and then left to play alone, while others will require ongoing supervision. You can also have a look online for some Christmas craft activities that are bound to keep them busy for hours.  Just make sure you have plenty of craft materials to hand.

2.      Declutter & Clean Thoroughly

While you may think that you keep your home pretty clutter-free and clean, you might want to take a second look. With family paying a visit and other neighbours and friends no doubt coming over at some point, there will be plenty of people noticing the little details. It’s inevitable that if you don’t pay attention to it now, when you suddenly hear that they’re coming, it will see you scuttling around last-minute trying to clean up and declutter in a jiffy. We all know that doesn’t work very well!

Before Christmas is fully upon us, with Santa Claus soon to come down the chimney, inspect each room and the hallways too. Look at your home like a person seeing it for the first time. Any furniture should be moved to clean up debris, dust and everything else that’s hiding under there. Give everywhere a once-a-year deep cleaning until it shines or has some of its original lustre back.

Once the place is cleaner, look at the furniture in each room. What is needed, and what could be temporarily removed into the garage or a spare bedroom for the time being to create more floor space for guests to move around and the kids to play?

3.      Do You Need New Furniture?

When you’ve looked at what you have in your home, it’s possible that you discover a need for more chairs, a longer dining table or extra storage in the guest bedroom. All year, you have probably been too busy to notice, but now it’s obvious.

When you want to know how to get your home ready for Christmas, Fishpools have some excellent ideas. They are furniture and décor specialists that have excellent furnishing and decorating ideas to add some sparkle and newness to your home at this festive time of year. They have some lovely throw blankets to warm up your sofa and soft cushions to create a luxurious but festive look.

4.      Kitchen Preparations

Change the layout of your kitchen tops to remove many of the scattered appliances that are barely used and won’t be missed. What you want is a larger preparation area to organize little nibbles and substantial meals around the Christmas period without feeling cramped. Add more shelving if you think that will help too.

Check that you have enough plates, bowls, cutlery, drinking glasses and wine glasses. Count up how many guests are expected and see if you’ll have enough. And if the dishwasher has been playing up, make an appointment to get it fixed before it’s really needed.

When you’re organized ahead of time, Christmas tends to be a lot smoother. It’s the disorganized parent(s) that have the most difficulty. They end up rushing down to the shops on several occasions to buy whatever they have forgotten because they neglected to make a thorough shopping list before the holidays became hectic.

You will also want to pay attention to the little things, like knowing how to reset a fuse if the fuse box gets tripped, or having bills paid automatically so nothing important gets forgotten during the busy period. It all helps towards making the festive season run as smoothly as possible.

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