The Shaker of Salt

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Are you sat reading this post wrapped in scarves and blankets? Is your home cold, despite having the heat turned on high? Do you feel like you may be getting frostbite? If so, you need to figure out why. Your home should be a comfortable place to live in, and not an igloo (unless, of course, you actually live in an igloo).

Perhaps one of the following is the reason your house won’t warm up:

Your roof is in need of repair.

• We lose a lot of heat through the roof, so if you haven’t had your loft areas insulated yet, then you might consider the expense a worthy one. However, if your roof is damaged in any way, perhaps because your home has been affected by wind or storm damage, then you might want to contact the services of  residential roof replacement to fix any issues. This is something better left to the professionals then trying a diy fix.

Old Windows

• When it comes to areas letting the cold in, the windows in our homes are the usual culprits. Wooden frames can become worn, meaning there is a higher potential for drafts, and single-glazed panes are prone to losing a lot of heat. If you’re on a budget, you can fill in any gaps in the frame with caulk, and you can purchase insulating film for your glazing. However, if you can afford the expense, you might want to splash out on double or even triple-glazed windows to better keep the heat in.

There are other sources of drafts

• Other than your windows, those pesky drafhts can get into your home in other ways. Your letterbox is one example, so you might want to add a brush to alleviate the issue. Your keyhole, despite being small, can also let the cold air in, so you might want to purchase or craft a cover to go over it. Then there are your external doorways. You might want to replace the doors and frames if they are in any way damaged, but if they are in good condition, you can simply place a draft stop at the bottom, or fit them with draft excluding brushes for a more permanent option. Finally, consider your fireplace and chimney. You need to be careful when trying to block drafts as you don’t want to cause a fire hazard, but there are some tips here that you might find useful.

Your wooden floors

• Wooden floors can look attractive, and they are the preferred choice for anybody with pets and kids as they are easy to clean. However, wooden floors are cold to the feet, and heat can be lost through them if they’re not insulated. There are a number of options here. If you can afford it, you might want to add an underfloor heating system or replace the wooden flooring with carpets. Alternatively, if you are working to a budget, you might want to lay down some rugs in the rooms you use most often, and fill in any gaps in the floorboards where you feel drafts coming through.

So, if your home is a little on the chilly side, you might now know the reason why. Follow our suggestions, and you will be able to shed those extra clothes in no time.

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As we get older, it’s easy to put work before fun. We all have “adult responsibilities”, and that can often lead to a monotonous daily routine. But being responsible doesn’t mean that you have to let go of your party side. You and your friends still need to find the time to go out and have fun. And we’re talking about more than the occasional catch-up on social media. You need to meet up and do something exciting. These are some wild ideas for a great weekend with great friends.

Hit the open road.

A road trip can be the perfect way to connect with friends and enjoy a great weekend. It’s the opportunity to visit a sequence of fun destinations with your buddy over the course of one or two days, but it’s also the opportunity to chat, listen to nostalgic tunes, and eat delicious food. The journey itself is part of the appeal of a road trip. Taking a bus, a train, or a plane to your destination wouldn’t be quite the same. Plan a route, get in a car with your buddies, and have a fantastic weekend on the open road. Just make sure you have all the supplies you need; pack some water flasks, a first aid kit, a map, and a spare tire so that you’re prepared for all eventualities.

Go on a wild bar crawl.

Of course, you don’t necessarily have to hit the open road to have an adventure with your buddies. You could have a great time in your hometown by arranging a wild bar crawl. Or you could pick a decent location for everybody if you all live in different places. But the point is that a bar crawl is a simple and straightforward way to have a fun weekend. The setting doesn’t matter; getting drunk with your best pals is the thing that matters. Obviously, you might not be able to drink as much as you could when you were teenagers, but that doesn’t mean you have to endure a tame weekend. You could check out this Caesar drink mix for the next morning. That way, you won’t have to worry about hangovers because you’ll have a tonic for all the major symptoms. The point is that booze and best friends are the only two ingredients you need for a crazy weekend.

Start a band

This might seem like a strange weekend activity, especially if you’re not musically trained, but there’s no greater joy than jamming with your friends in a living room or a garage. And you don’t even need to spend a fortune on expensive instruments in order to achieve this dream. You can use all manner of objects as percussive instruments. And you can get cheap keyboards or acoustic guitars from plenty of charity stores. As for vocals, a karaoke machine is more than sufficient, or your singer could simply sing atop the other instruments (without damaging their voice). This could be a fun way for you and your buddies to unwind at the weekend.

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Fun is not superficial. It is not something that only children should care about. It is not something you should feel guilty about. In fact, fun can be used to learn, to de-stress, and to come back to the present. No matter how much of a workaholic you are, you can be sure that having fun is one of the most wonderful things you could ever experience, and it will never lose its luster even in old age.

But when was the last time you had real, hilarious fun? When was the last time you threw your head back in laughter with your friends, not the polite kind of laughter you might do when eating dinner with your in-laws, but the real, snorting, unattractive kind of real laughter that makes you feel like your soul has just been massaged?

Well sure, sometimes it can be hard to remember and pinpoint this exactly. But why try to sit there remembering the last time when you could create new times? Here’s some advice for doing just that below:

Comedy Clubs

Comedy clubs are unfortunately starting to lose the appeal they had in the 90’s . This is because many comedy clubs are starting to enforce odd laughs about what comedians are allowed to say in the modern day. This means less and less comedians are opting for offensive or button-pushing content. Of course, that never necessarily ensures that simply being offensive is ‘good,’ far from it. But a little danger and the willingness to be hilariously shocked at an opinion is something that we all find quite funny. But of course, this isn’t a dying art, because it’s human nature. Head to comedy clubs in your city, but avoid the mainstay names, and you’re likely going to get an open mic experience with professionals and trainees anew trying to make you laugh through a range of hilarious anecdotes.

Leave the Netflix comedy specials for now, and go to see some real comedy. A great sign of beautiful and hilarious shows to witness are those developed and put on by real comedians and not a business, such as consortium shows that travel. If one’s in town, go see it. You’ll likely see a real, hilarious distillation of what comedy can be. Just be sure to bring a friend who is willing to laugh along with you.

A Road Trip

A road trip can be a wonderful experience if you know how to do it right. You might decide to plan your route along with the indulgences you care for, such as eating plenty of food, or perhaps visiting a range of theaters from city to city. A road trip can help you enjoy travel, but also give you the option of laughing your way from place to place, with a lighthearted willingness to travel and enjoy that which is over the horizon.

Simply the experiences of driving from one place to another can be enjoyable when with a good friend or relative, but so can pushing yourself to do things that you might not have done otherwise. Why not separate the responsibility, such as having one person decide what to do in the day, only to switch up roles for the following day?

This not only reduces any conflict from both people wishing to do different things in the same day, but allows both of you to open up to new experiences. One might be interested in culture today, the other in abseiling tomorrow. A road trip can be a hilarious, extremely fun and completely focused endeavor, even better if someone brings a camera!

Hilarious, Awesome Purchases

Sometimes you need to return to that childhood sense of fun in order to enjoy yourself. Children seem to have fun so easily, but then as we get older, it takes more and more time and attention in order for our enjoyment to be reached as well. Hilarious, awesome purchases can help you in that direction, particularly if you also decide to invite your friends around with some wine to enjoy them. A board game night can certainly help the natural fun flow, or perhaps challenging people to a few rounds of Mario Kart in the evening. A bluetooth hoverboard can help you enjoy your street with hilarity in summer, or perhaps a new barbecue set can help you become the grill king or queen as your garden furniture becomes more and more appropriate for use.

A Night On The Town

An impromptu booking of a night’s festivities, such as a beer cellar dance, or perhaps an escape room, or perhaps an activity day at the local safari park can also work well. The best purchases are those that are spontaneous, for you to have fun with, not particularly only to celebrate a birthday or other event. All you need to do is keep your eyes out and ready for something that might fulfill this hilarious function.

Pranks

A good old prank is relatively harmless, but can be absolutely hilarious. Just make sure they’re not mean-spirited, nor will interfere with the public in any way. Head to your local practical joke shop. You might be surprised as to what things you can find there, and just what silly havoc you could have in your office or with your siblings. Just be sure that you play them appropriately, and don’t repeat their frequency to a questionable degree, because sometimes they can get a little tiring.

A Tasting

There’s nothing wrong with indulgence from time to time. Heading to a wine tasting learning how to taste like a expert can be a hilarious time with a friend, and the same goes for craft beer or whisky tasting if that’s more up your speed. For the non-drinkers, cheese fairs and German markets often show themselves, and with a friend by your side, sampling these delectable goods can both help you indulge and remain educated at the same time.

With these tips, you are absolutely sure to have real, hilarious fun, perhaps the fun you might have been longing for.

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Stylish parents do exist – and no, they aren’t just super rich celebrities in magazines! Although it might take a little work initially for a parent to put a stylish wardrobe together and ensure all of their looks are great, they are out there.

If you want to remain stylish even though your main priority right now is your kids, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’ll talk about how you can be a more stylish parent and offer useful tips and advice. Enjoy!

Don’t Blindly Follow Trends

The worst thing you can do is blindly follow trends. This will steer you away from who you really are in terms of fashion. It isn’t law to wear things that are ‘in season’, so instead, work on figuring out who you are and what you like to wear rather than what you think you should wear.

Great style is unique and personal, and not something you’d always see stepping off a catwalk!  

Experiment and have fun with clothes you like the look of without worrying about whether they are fashionable or not. Pay close attention to the items that make you feel the most ‘you’ and items that you don’t wear or only wear once. When you assess your choices like this, you can learn a lot about yourself.

Experiment With Black

Black is boring to some, but it can actually be a very stylish color when styled correctly. By incorporating more texture with black pieces, you can ensure that your outfit doesn’t fall flat.

The great thing about black is that it suits everybody and it doesn’t show up stains so well – making it perfect for days out with your kids and other occasions. You don’t have to wear black if it’s not your thing, but it can be a foolproof way to look chic and stylish without looking like a typical messy parent.

Pay Attention To How You Feel

How you feel is far more important than how you look, so pay attention to this whenever you get dressed. You might think your outfit looks great, but if you don’t actually feel good in it, it’s time to head back to your wardrobe and find something else. You’ll just look uncomfortable all day.

Pay Attention To How You Feel

How you feel is far more important than how you look, so pay attention to this whenever you get dressed. You might think your outfit looks great, but if you don’t actually feel good in it, it’s time to head back to your wardrobe and find something else. You’ll just look uncomfortable all day.

There Are No Rules

There are literally no rules when it comes to style. You can wear whatever you want and have fun. So, throw on some sneakers with a suit. Wear sneakers with a skirt. Try on some underwear with trousers for a night out. Mix and match different pieces and different styles to create a look you love that suits your lifestyle. You want to look stylish, but don’t you want to be comfortable too? Wearing heels or fancy shoes with your fancy clothes isn’t always the right thing to do. You’d be surprised at what you can get away with these days. Plus, parents often feel like they can get more done in a good pair of sneakers!

Find Ways To Customize Your Own Clothes

Want to get creative? Find ways to customize your own clothes. This can take a little time, but you might just end up with some pieces that are perfect for you. Plus, you’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction when you wear them because you sort of created them yourself! A sewing machine can do wonderful things, and you can turn something old into something that looks brand new. Then there are things like heat transfer vinyl that you can use to add more interest to your pieces – and even your kid’s pieces, if you want to ‘twin’ with them. Customizing your own clothes is a lot of fun, so try it if you’re getting bored of your wardrobe.  

Find Your Signature Style

The most stylish people have “uniforms”, and it makes it so much easier for them to get dressed every day. So, see if you can find your signature style. This doesn’t mean you have to copy Steve Jobs and his black turtle neck or Mark Zuckerberg and his plain t-shirt and jeans. Your signature style could be a well fitting pair of jeans and a nice sweatshirt. It could vary, but perhaps you could always throw something on of the same color, like red, and make it your signature color. Or maybe you could have a signature piece, like a hat. You can have a lot of fun with figuring out what your signature style could be.

Spend A Little More On Certain Pieces

It’s all about quality, not quantity. Don’t contribute to fast fashion and all of those shoddy clothes that end up on landfills. Instead, vow to spend a little more on pieces that you actually need. This way, you end up with better quality pieces that really last and look great for longer. You might spend more initially, but in the long run, you’ll save money.

Find Your Wash And Wear Hair

You’ll need a wash and wear style that you can do quickly, even when you’re half asleep. Your hair can make a big difference as to how stylish you look. Use dry shampoo to avoid washing it too regularly and experiment with styles.

Don’t Be Afraid To Treat Yourself

The little details count. A nice color on your nails can really amp up your look. Don’t be afraid to treat yourself to that pedicure – you might think you can save money by doing it at home, when in actual fact, your kids will probably slow you down and want your attention as soon as you sit down.

Simplify Your Makeup Bag

Get used to using the basics, such as a light BB cream, brow mascara, and lip gloss. They’ll help you to look a little more alive if you like to wear makeup.

Don’t Use Traditional Diaper Bags

There are some super pretty diaper bags around, so don’t think you have to go for traditional bags that will cramp your style!

These tricks can help you to get out of that ‘yoga pants rut’ as many moms call it!  

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Being a parent for the first time – particularly being a Mom for the first time – is one of the best feelings ever. Not only have you created this amazing human being that will soon be lying in your arms, but you will also get to see them grow up, with your help and support, to be the greatest that they can be. There really is nothing so rewarding, but giving birth is that… well, pretty painful thing that you have to do in order to be a Mother. Getting into a good frame of mind is key, and here are a few ideas to do just that.

Remember that it’s worth it

The most important thing to bear in mind here is that giving birth is not the most comfortable of tasks, but it will certainly be worth it when you first lay eyes on your child, who you have nourished and protected for the last nine months. For a day of pain you will have a lifetime of love between you and your child, and it will totally change the way that your entire life pans out. You will laugh together, care for each other, and you will have memories together that last a lifetime. One day, you’ll look back on the birth with fondness (believe it or not).

Trust your doctors

If you’re going to get yourself into a good headspace, you need to understand that some things are just out of your hands. The birth is not something that you have control over (to an extent) and your doctors will be the ones to ensure that it is a success. You can only do what you can, but you need to hand over the responsibility, and put your total trust in the professionals. Even if, Lord forbid, there are difficulties, those like Gray and White Law can help you, and you’ll never be alone when it comes to your childbirth. Realize what you can and can’t do, and accept that some things are just out of your control.

Believe in your strength

When you are doubting yourself, and you have anxieties about how the birth is going to go, you need to remind yourself about the fact that your body has carried your baby for nine months, and it was strong enough to cope with all that this entailed. You were strong enough to cope with all that this entailed. You’ve been through all of these things, and you sure as hell are not going to struggle greatly with this, as you have shown a great deal of strength already. Believe in yourself and accept that your birth is completely unique, and as such it can’t be defined by the past experiences of others, either.
So, if you’re giving birth for the first time, there are many ways that you can mentally prepare yourself. Remember that this experience will be totally worth it, that you have been so strong up until now and will continue to be so, and that many things are in your doctor’s hands, not yours. Good luck, and enjoy being a Mother for the first time!

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Wouldn’t it be nice if life was trouble free? No one likes to think that the security they treasure – a good job, a loving family, their own and their loved ones health – is all just an Illusion, but the truth is that sometimes bad things do happen, life throws us a curve ball, and we end up in the middle of a crisis, be it our health, personal finances, career or relationships. It’s sink or swim – and what you do next will determine how well you come out of it. The steps you take immediately following an unexpected misfortune can completely turn the situation around. So, what can you do if a crisis hits you?

Don’t Procrastinate

One thing for certain is that problems are not things which improve with time. If something terrible and unexpected happens, it can be very tempting to bury your head in the sand and pretend it isn’t happening. But that is the single most counter-productive thing you can do. Bad situations have a way of escalating if you leave them too long. So take a deep breath, and use some mindfulness techniques to calm your fears down, and face up to the reality of the situation. Make that appointment to go and see a doctor. Find that firm of compassionate car accident lawyers. Sign that severance agreement. When you accept the truth of a bad situation, you begin to reclaim control of the narrative. Perhaps you didn’t choose for this to happen to you – but you can choose how you deal with it.

Create a Plan B

When a problem crops up, you may feel like you have no idea how to handle it. It could well be the first time you’ve faced any real adversity and you just don’t know what to do. You need to think through alternatives and come up with a new plan. Learning to think logically in a crisis is a definite life skill. Look a few moves ahead and plan out a few different scenarios in your mind. If x happens, what will you do? How about y? Talking through your options with a trusted friend or even a professional counselor can be really helpful. Hope for the best but plan for the worst is a smart way to live.

Cultivate Your Emotional Resilience

We all need stores of strength, courage and self-discipline to make it through hard times and those are the qualities you should seek to develop when terrible situations occur. You need to have faith that every situation in life is temporary and that prospects will improve soon. Despair can be a downward cycle that can destroy your mental and physical health, so don’t give into it. Develop your powers of mental control by accepting that setbacks are a part of normal life, and often have far more to teach us than good fortune ever can.

Take Inspiration
When things seem pretty bad, sometimes looking to others and their struggles can be highly inspirational. Just taking a positive action to connect with others going through the same circumstances can be therapeutic. Who knows what joining that cancer survivors group or debt recovery support organization will do for you?

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The last thing you want going around on social media is news of your dinner party going awry. When your disgruntled guests get the word out, people are never going to want to attend one of your events ever again! However, it doesn’t have to be that way. In this article, we are going to list those things that are guaranteed to ruin your next dinner party, so if you want to throw the perfect dinner party and not the worst social event of the year, ensure you take heed of what we have to say.

Hungry guests

Don’t let your guests go hungry! Once their bellies start to grumble, their mouths are sure to follow. Ensure you start your preparation for the meal early in the day, and perhaps put the food in a slow cooker so it’s ready on time. And ensure you have plenty of nibbles to go around beforehand, so if your guests do get hungry, they will have something to fill their mouths before they start complaining!

Poor Drink Choices

That knocked over glass of wine may have been deliberate! Sure, you may be on a budget, but if you opt for something dirt cheap, your guests are not going to want to drink it. Instead, encourage your guests to bring a bottle themselves or order online from Wine on Sale, where you can get quality wine at discounted prices. Then remember to mix things up a little. Think about those guests who would prefer to drink something other than wine. An assortment of drinks wouldn’t go amiss, and neither would a few homemade cocktails to really tempt their palates. And remember those guests who are driving, or who are not partial to alcohol at all. Provide a variety of options, including these non-alcoholic party drinks that are sure to go down a storm with everybody.

Upset Stomachs

If there’s one thing worse than upset guests, it’s upset stomachs! We Know you are unlikely to poison your guests intentionally, even if they do complain on occasion. However, if you fail to take into account food allergies, then your guests may actually require medical attention! Even if they don’t, your carpets may need some special attention if those upset stomachs explode! So, ensure you check with your guests before arrival about any food allergies, and then take note of this article, which is designed to help you prepare something that nobody will be allergic to!

No entertainment

Those awkward silences can last forever! When conversation dries up, it can get painfully embarrassing if you don’t have anything prepared to fill the quietness. And if your guests get bored as the evening progresses, you can guarantee the excuses will start – “We need to get home to relieve the childminder,” or ” I think I left the oven on” – rather than the honest response of “Your party is dullsville!” So, to reduce the chances of bored and fleeing guests, have some entertainment up your sleeve, perhaps with a special guest, such as a musician or a magician, or plan some dinner party games to heighten the fun factor.

Finally

By adhering to the above, your dinner party should be a success. And once word gets around in the neighborhood and on social media about how wonderful it was, your next party may well become the social event of the season! Just don’t forget to send me an invite!!

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After a lay off from work, you had a lot of time to spend away from the office and a lot to spend around the house. Whether it’s because of little ones coming into your life, or whether you just felt you needed a break – or perhaps other reasons that enter your life. It’s not easy to get the wheels spinning again, so here are a few things to think about when returning to work life.  

Research

Before you make the moves, it might be wise to familiarize yourself with it all again. Look into what’s out there for you. You can find all sorts of offers and opportunities online. The internet is vast, but there’s also good old word of mouth – asking around for things hasn’t gone away just yet.

Work On Your Resume

While the skills on your resume would most likely stay, you may have picked up some more abilities during your time off. They could be people skills as you’ve spent more time around others, or maybe skills in care if you’ve become a parent.   

Get A Nanny?

If you’ve got toddlers and alike that are constantly parading around the house and needing perennial guardianship, you may want to look into hiring someone who can take that small burden off your hands for a short while. It can be a genuine professional or maybe somebody you know. As long as they’re wonderful at childcare and can put your mind at ease as you set sail into work!   

Are They At School?

Similarly to before, if you have youngsters that are running wild, perhaps it’s time to think about enrolling them into a class. Maybe getting them into a preschool or nursery can settle them as well as keeping you on track in the potential new job. You get what you want, and they can learn, meet new little friends and have a lot of fun!

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Work From Home

There are a lot of opportunities around nowadays that allow people to work from the comfort of their own home. So whether you have commitments at home or whether you’re struggling to get out, there could be a job for you here.

Part Time Work

It’s difficult to find what you’re looking for, and, after somewhat of a lay-off, it can also be a struggle to get that job if you’re in the running with others who have been consistently working while you’ve been away from it all. Part-time positions may feel less fulfilling, but there’s certainly no shame in them, and they would definitely propel you into further work!   

Get Into A Working Routine

Whatever option you choose to take on, it’s best to stick to get in a scheduled and patterned routine that can help you and everyone around you out to the fullest. After all, though getting back into the grind will do you a world of good, working life isn’t all sunshine and roses; you’ll need to be a grown-up!

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Arguably the best thing about building a home from scratch is that you get to create something that’s truly yours. It’s unique in the sense that you can make it look however you want, and it’s all focused on what you love and desire.

Sometimes, it can also work out a lot cheaper than buying a home – especially when you factor in that you won’t need to pay for any improvements when you move in. Plus, there are things you can do to save as much money as possible during the whole process!

Let your DIY skills run free

I was speaking to a family friend once that told me how much it cost to build their home. I was absolutely stunned because it was about ten times less than what most houses are up for on the market. How did they manage to build it so cheaply? Well, they did a lot of the basic work themselves. They laid down bricks to form a patio, painted the house from inside to out, wired the place, and even did some of the plumbing. All they paid for was the original design services and the actual construction of the property. Everything else they did themselves and save an absolute fortune. So, you can save money by doing some jobs yourself. You don’t have to do loads, just a few things here and there to avoid hiring anyone else.

Get value for money when hiring an architect

You’ll need an architect to help design your home and ensure it’s structurally sound. The secret to saving money here isn’t finding the ‘cheapest’ option. Often, cheap architects don’t offer that great of a service and they only really draw up designs. The best architectural practices offer amazing value with a high-end service and access to extra things like discounts on contractors, etc. It makes more sense to pay a bit extra for a company that can show you your new home design in 3D crystal clear technology because it lets you see if you like it or not. Some companies cut costs here and don’t use this level of technology, so you don’t get an accurate look. Compare different offerings and find someone who offers a great value package that means you don’t have to spend more money later on down the line.

Make Use Of Your Contacts

We all know someone who knows someone – so make use of this! There’s every chance you know a person who might be an architect or contractor. Or, they could have a family member that provides these services, etc. My point is, you should ask around as it might help you get some services for much cheaper than you expected. A cheeky little family & friends discount isn’t shown on websites, but you could easily get one if you know the right people. So, make use of your contacts and ask around to see if you can get special deals to ease the burden on your finances.

Try these three ideas, and you’ll definitely save a lot of money when building your home from scratch. Now, you have a stunning new house that’s built to your desires – and it didn’t cost you an arm and a leg!