Quick Cheats For Hosting A Party At Home

Throwing a party at home can be a lot of fun, but you don't always have a lot of time to prepare. Sometimes it's a last-minute decision to host a party, and sometimes life just gets in the way and you don't have time to do any complicated planning. Rushing to plan a party at the last second can be tough, but there are plenty of shortcuts that you can take to make sure it all works out ok. No one will notice if you don't plan things perfectly, and using a few quick cheats can allow you to concentrate on making sure everyone has fun.

Pick Up Some Prepared Food

Some parties are the right time to impress everyone with your cooking skills. If it's a dinner party or you're part of a supper club, you probably don't want to pull out some takeout. But for plenty of parties, it's completely acceptable to buy prepared food and serve it to your guests. Picking up some Asian appetizers from your favorite restaurant or getting dessert from the bakery down the street is fine. And it might also be better than something that you could put together at the last minute. 

Image Source: Pexels CC0 License

Let Everyone Help Themselves to Food and Drink

Part of being a good host at a party is ensuring your guests have enough to eat and drink. However, that doesn't mean that you need to wait on them hand and foot. They're capable of getting their own things to eat and drink, especially if it's a casual affair. You can set out a buffet for them and create a bar area where they can pour themselves drinks too. Let everyone know that they can help themselves whenever they want. You could even ask them all to bring a dish and turn it into a potluck.

Get the Party Started with a Cocktail

Kicking off the party in the right way can help to make sure it continues to be fun for everyone. To get the party started, consider offering everyone a cocktail. It's a bit more impressive than just a beer or a glass of wine, and you can pick a signature cocktail for your party. A mocktail can be available for those who aren't drinking. Of course, you can offer a variety of other drinks too, especially because not everyone will necessarily want a cocktail.

Take a Shortcut on Coffee

Ending the night with a round of coffee (or tea for those who prefer it) is a great way to wind down. But if you've got a big group, serving coffee for everyone can take a while. If you want to take a shortcut, there's no shame in using a good instant coffee. Offer some treats alongside your coffee too, whether it's biscotti or petit fours, so everyone gets something sweet to end the night with. It doesn't need to be too much because everyone will have probably had their fill of food by that point.

If you need to put together a party at the last minute, don't be afraid of using some quick cheats to save time.

SHARE:

Too Faced | Cinnamon Bun Melted Matte Lipstick Review & Swatches

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.

Not Sponsored: I said I wasn't going to buy anymore Too Faced makeup you guys, but I succumbed. So glad I did  >.<  because I am loving their NEW Too Faced Cinnamon Bun Melted Matte lipstick (also here). I love freshly baked and iced cinnamon buns, but hate how they go straight to my hips. So it's good I have a lipstick with the name instead. I'm a huge fan of Too Faced's Melted Matte Lipsticks. I seem to buy them every year. Let's step back in time a second. I loved Too Faced's Gingerbread Man and Girl, The Sweet Smell of Christmas Collection, On Point, and going wayyyy back Candy Cane. Too Faced's Melted Matte Lipsticks provide excellent color (great pigmentation) and they stay on your lips (you can eat, drink and be merry without worrying if the lipstick is all over your face). It also doesn't fade or crack on the lips (non-drying). It gives a nice shine without being too matte or glossy. I love this Cinnamon Bun shade, because it's a beautiful shade of brown. It's soft and perfect for Fall. As you can see it looks great with black. I'm going to wear it with my brown and beige clothing. I'm also into orange (here and here) and feel it will be complimentary to that color as well. That's why I love neutral shades! They go with everything. I love the cinnamon buns displayed on the applicator wand. Does this lipstick smell like cinnamon buns? I'm afraid not. It has a sweet scent like candy. So maybe, ICING? But it's very good. Too Faced also came out with an eye shadow palette called Cinnamon Swirl (and here), but I wasn't interested in the colors. Cute outside packaging, but I'm kind of over buying a palette just for the packaging.

Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet

supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff) 
  Too Faced Cinnamon Bun Melted Matte Lipstick is Supersweet

 

SHARE:

4 Effective Ways To Balance Your Busy Lifestyle To Avoid Stress

Whether you're a lone wolf entrepreneur or a busy parent, a fast-paced lifestyle is one of the easiest routes to lethargy, chronic stress, and even depression. Even worse, you might feel like there's no time to stop and wind down. One mistake that most people make is finding ways to cope instead of trying to destress. Stress relief is essential and even more crucial for busy people, as it keeps you from breaking down. So, do you feel like there's no time to take a break? Here are some stress management tips you can use.

1. Find some quick stress relievers

Image Source: Pixabay CC0 License

If you feel stress coming up your neck during a busy day, your tight schedule might make it impossible to do what relaxes you the most, regardless of what it is. However, you can take advantage of some quick stress relievers to feel better without taking hours of your busy schedule to rest. For example, you can practice various breathing exercises, take a quick break to walk, grab a few minutes of snooze time, stretch to soothe and relax your tense muscles, etc. You can also actively incorporate various anti-stress activities like meditation, yoga, aromatherapy, etc., into your daily life.

2. Make use of the weekend

If you have the weekends to yourself, make the most of it. It's easy to get caught up in other activities during the weekend, and before you know it, Monday is staring you in the face, and you're wondering where the weekend went. Make the most out of your weekends and holidays. Focus on activities that'll rejuvenate your mind and body. For example, you can go for a good spa treatment to soothe your body and look good. A perfect destination, in this case, will be a place like Mitchells Salon & Day Spa.

3. Eat healthily and exercise

If you have a busy lifestyle, the last thing you want to do is skip your meals, resort to junk food, rely on energy drinks, or ignore exercising. It's easy to grab an energy drink to keep you going. It's also tempting to skip meals because you're running out of time and order fast food instead. It's easy to want to rely on coffee to boost your energy.

While all the options above may be quick fixes, they will do your body more harm than good and leave you even more stressed. A better option is to eat healthily and exercise. Starting your day right with a nutritious meal will better equip you to handle the pressures of the day.
Plus, exercising is also one of the best ways to relieve stress.

4. Give yourself a head start

Image Source: Pixabay CC0 License

Try waking up at least an hour earlier than you usually do. This way, you can prepare yourself, have some time to yourself, organize your thoughts, exercise, or prepare your meals before the busy day begins. Waking up earlier than usual will also help you avoid the tedious morning rush, helping you start your day without any stress. Getting up early also means going to bed early and getting enough sleep.

SHARE:

Starting A Clothing Store On A Shoestring Budget

Image Source: Pexels CC0 License

Eager to start your own clothing store, but don’t have much money to invest? There are a few ways to save money when starting a clothing store. Below are a few different ways to save money.

Start as an online store

Running a physical shop is expensive. Commercial property rent is constantly going up. You’ve also got to factor in the cost of furnishing the store, staffing it, cleaning it, maintaining it and paying energy bills. Plus there are all kinds of other extra costs such as licenses and insurance.

An online store can cost a lot less to run - you can run it from home. The biggest cost is likely to be your inventory and web design - things that are necessary whether you run an online or physical store. It’s worth investing money into a professional web design service such as this one at WebX360.com. This will ensure that your site is high quality.

An online store could provide a springboard that could eventually lead to a physical store. In other words, don’t give up on your dreams of owning a brick-and-mortar store - an online store could simply allow you to grow your business first.

Rent a market stall

Another option is to rent a market stall. This allows you to still physically interact with customers without paying the high rates of a brick-and-mortar store.

Research local markets to see if they have any stalls you can hire. Compare fees to try and find the most affordable option.

You may be able to make a name for your stall and eventually open a local store. Try to set aside some of your profits from week to week.

Keep your inventory small

The more products you try to sell, the more you have to stock. When launching a business, it’s best to start with a relatively small inventory. This can reduce the upfront costs.

A small inventory can still be diverse. Ideally, you want a few low priced items that are easy to sell and a few higher priced items that may need more pushing but are likely to generate bigger returns. Try to include a few unique products that will make you stand out.

Do your own marketing

Another way to save money is to do your own marketing. Things like social media marketing, PPC ads and flyer distribution are easy to do yourself and won’t cost too much money. You don’t need to hire a marketing agency.

As mentioned already, you may still want to hire a professional to build your website. If you’re considering marketing strategies like SEO or video marketing, it’s also better to hire a professional than do it yourself (unless you have SEO or video marketing experience).

Look into financing options

Looking into financing options could allow you to spend more upfront. Many startups are funded using business loans. You can apply for these via a bank or a private lender.

Make sure to shop around for loans in order to find the best rates - check out site such as SmallBusiness.com to compare loans. Loans may not be a good option if you already have a lot of debt.

SHARE:

Making More Of A Visual Impact With Your Home

Image Source: Pexels CC0 License

When it comes to decorating our homes, we all have our own tastes and preferences regarding how to get started, and where we hope to end up. While there are universal rules that make interior decoration more sensible (just as we have them for getting dressed, to use a worthwhile comparison), often, the sensibilities of our creativity is the only limit we have.

However, it’s also true that certain priorities that surround the idea of home decoration can also define our choices. It might be that we love color, for instance, but we don’t wish for a small space to seem cluttered or oppressive, so we opt for a minimal approach instead.

Or, perhaps we love decorating with ornaments but know that having too many on the mantlepiece will only cause them to look overly busy and cluttered, which is never a good thing. Allowing a home to breathe by understanding that less is more is important, but what if this leads a room closer to feeling bland and uninteresting? In this post, we’ll discuss a few ways you can make a visual impact without losing out on good sense:

Beautiful Iron-Wrought Doors

Often, the most impressive and immediate elements are the best place to start. This page can show you how wrought iron doors bring so much to a home, from enhancing their security, to offering a beautiful and imposing door that serves to impress and showcase craftsmanship in decoration from the top down. One standout element here, just like a large table crafted from reclaimed wood, or large bay windows, can make a profound difference regarding the character of your property, and helps you stand out amongst your neighbors.

Feature Walls & Focal Decorations

A feature wall can help a home look absolutely beautiful in its own right, and if painted properly, can help you gain the visual addition of a nice, darker color without making the entire room look oppressive by being painted that way on each wall. A focal decoration too, such as a beautiful hanging piece of wall art, a large-frame television mounted to the wall, as well as a gorgeous wood-burning stove fireplace can add beautiful light to a space, and are worth your renovative efforts.

Bold Decisions Based On Practicality

It’s good to make bold decisions from time to time, but perhaps you can offset a little of your indulgence by making these decisions thoroughly practical, too. For instance, it might be that your bathroom feels too small based on the needs of your family, and the fact that your children are growing now. Tearing out your bathroom fixtures, then, like a bathtub and shower unit, and laying the space with sealed tiles, making it into a wet room with an overhead shower, could be a great new visual motif while also giving you more space to shower in. Efforts like that can make a tremendous difference going forward.

With this advice, we hope you can continue to make more of a visual impact with your home.

SHARE:

Worried About Retirement? Here's How To Boost Your Funds Now

Many people consider retirement to be a wonderful, blissful state of affairs. You have finally been granted time off to relax at home after decades of dedication and hard work on your part. There will be no more work. There will be no more tension. Simply having the freedom to stay at home and finally read all of those books that you have been meaning to read, or perhaps traveling the world and visiting all of the locations you have only seen on postcards but have never actually been, would be enough. The time has finally come to enjoy life to the fullest!

You have undoubtedly realized by now that retirement is not always as wonderful as it appears to be for some people. In fact, when the time comes to retire, it can be a source of increasing worry and financial anxiety. The most common cause for this is that the retiree does not believe they are sufficiently prepared to quit working. Most of the time, it comes down to financial concerns - the fear that you will not have enough money for retirement as much as you had anticipated.

Here are a handful of ideas for how you might contribute to raising additional funds for your retirement. More can be found on this link.

Image Source: Pexels CC0 License

Investing

Investing has always been a well-known method of generating income. That is, of course, assuming you can identify the most profitable return on your investment. A little market knowledge is required for this, but if you play your cards well, it has the potential to pay off in significant ways. Investing prior to retirement is the most effective method of accomplishing this. This will allow you to become familiar with the world of investing while also accumulating a portfolio and potentially making a profit for when the time comes. Nonetheless, is it too late to begin investing after reaching retirement age? In no way, shape, or form. The world of investing can appear to be very intimidating, but you must approach it with caution.

So, what are you going to put your money into?  Whatever you decide, start small and work your way up. Only utilize the money that you can deem redundant, and be sure to read up on investment tactics as much as you possibly can before you start!

Downsizing

This is less of a method of obtaining money and more of a method of conserving money. Nonetheless, many would consider this to be the same thing! The fact is that you could be sitting on a number of items that are costing you more money than you should be spending at the moment. Write down a complete inventory of all of your possessions, beginning with your home, of course. Make a list of how much money you are paying each month and to which institutions.

Once you have gathered all of this information, you may begin making decisions. Would you be able to make do with a smaller property? If you do not require as much room as you think you do, downsizing could save you a significant amount of money in the long run. If you discover that you require all of that room to accommodate your stuff, then you should consider how many of those belongings you actually require. It all boils down to being truthful with yourself about what you believe to be a luxury in your life. You might be surprised at how much money you can make by selling items that you do not actually require!

SHARE:

LUSH Cosmetics | Cookie Dough Lip Scrub Review

Not Sponsored: I had really good intentions you guys! I baked a dozen chocolate chip cookies for this post, but ended up eating them all. So a faux cookie ornament will just have to do! Hey, always have a Plan B right? When I purchased Lush's Trick or Treat Lip Scrub, I also purchased their Cookie Dough Lip Scrub. We're now in the midst of the holiday season and baked treats always seem more delicious around this time, so I thought this lip scrub would be a great choice. So how is Lush's Cookie Dough Lip Scrub? It's sweet you guys ... literally! This lip scrub has castor sugar, shea butter, cocoa powder and jojoba oil. It has a really sweet taste and tastes just like cookie dough. I wouldn't say chocolate chip cookie dough, but hey Lush didn't say that on the label. I'm thinking more sugar cookie dough. I've reviewed a number of Lush's lip scrubs and they provide excellent exfoliation. They do provide moisture, but (again) not as much as my favorite Sara Happ. What I do love, is that Lush always comes out with new lip scrubs every year, even if they are limited edition. I think its great to change things up. If you love something sweet, then you'll love this lip scrub. Its dessert for your lips, any time of day or night. Also, without the calories! On your lips ... not on your hips :)

Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet

supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff) 
  Lush's Cookie Dough Lip Scrub is Sweet

 

SHARE:

LUSH Cosmetic Lad Moisturizer Review

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I get commission for purchases or clicks made through links in this post.

Not Sponsored: I have dry, sensitive and reactive skin. I believe I have already found my holy grail moisturizer in Bobbi Brown's Vitamin Enriched Face Base (review here) and Hydrating Water Fresh Cream (review here), but I'm always open to trying new moisturizers. When I ordered Lush's Trick or Treat (review here) and Cookie Dough Lip Scrub (review here), I was sent a sample of Lush's Cosmetic Lad Moisturizer. What caught my eye, was that this moisturizer is ideal for all sensitive skin types. It also combats irritation and and redness. This moisturizer contains aloe vera gel (soothes), lavender honey water (hydrates), chamomile (soothes) and almond oil (moisturizes). This moisturizer has a creamy white consistency. I would say it's a medium weight. The scent is a blend of all the ingredients. I didn't have very good results using this moisturizer. I felt it sat atop my skin. My skin didn't feel moisturized after using it. I also began to break out, so I stopped. It received wonderful reviews on Lush's website, so maybe this just didn't work for me. There's something about the formula, my skin just doesn't like. So to be safe, I would suggest getting a sample before committing to a full size. I'm so happy many brands offer samples now. 

Sweet-Bittersweet-NotSweet

supersweet(run & buy it) sweet(really good,buy it) bittersweet(ok, issues)not sweet(not good,don't buy this stuff) 
  LUSH Cosmetic Lad Moisturizer is Bittersweet

 

SHARE:

Tips On Choosing An Extra Special Engagement Ring

Image Source: Unsplash

Choosing an engagement ring is a magical experience, the chance to find the perfect piece to symbolise your love and relationship. When you’re looking for a ring you’ll likely want to choose something extra special. These tips will help you to find the engagement ring of your dreams.

1. Personalise your ring

If you’re keen to choose a special engagement ring it’s a great idea to personalise your ring. For example, you might have your wedding bands engraved, you could choose a saying that means something to you, such as the date of your wedding, or your initials.

Designing your own engagement ring is the perfect way to express yourself and choose a unique ring. You can choose the preferred metal for the ring setting, and the gemstone that you prefer.

2. Take your time

Choosing a wedding ring is an exciting time, but it’s important not to rush the process. Taking your time will help you to make a mindful decision, and choose the ring that’s perfect for you. Spend time with your partner trying on different rings, and researching different brands and styles. It’s all about choosing a timeless ring that you’ll love wearing for years to come.

3. Think carefully about the style

There are many different types of engagement rings to choose from. If you’d like to choose something extra special, it’s well worth learning about the different styles, and figuring out which one you like best. Here are a few example styles:

Three Stone Engagement Ring

One of the most popular styles of engagement ring is the three-stone engagement ring. These are perfect if you’re looking for a classic style. Some prefer four or five gems in a row, for a slightly more elaborate look.

Solitaire Engagement Ring

This style of ring features one stone, the wedding band can be either plain or embellished. It’s the perfect style if you’re looking for one special gemstone that stands out.

4. Represent heritage

For some people, choosing a wedding ring is an opportunity to represent their heritage. For instance, if you have Irish heritage you might choose a traditional Irish ring, such as an engagement claddagh ring. Irish Claddadgh rings represent friendship, loyalty, and love. The symbol originated in Claddagh, an Irish fishing village that’s part of County Galway.

5. Trace the diamond

For some people, choosing the perfect diamond ring is about knowing where the diamond was sourced from, and tracing its history. You can ask your jewelers where the gemstone has come from. You’ll want to choose a gemstone that’s come from an ethical and responsible source. Learning about where the diamond has come from feels a little bit more special.

Focusing on these areas will help you to choose an extra special engagement ring that you love. Before you start the process it’s important to figure out your sizing and your budget. Preparing your wedding is all about personalisation, there are plenty of ways to customise your wedding, from the ring to the dress and the wedding theme.

SHARE:

Changes Your Business Should Make Immediately

Every business has its ups and downs, and finding ways for your business to grow again can be quite the challenge - especially if you’re a relatively new business owner. There are going to be investments you can make, strategies you can adjust, and services you can adapt that are going to help your business see the sales that it should be making. It will take patience and a lot of thought about what could actually change the way your business brings in its customers.

Image Source: Pixabay

Improving leadership

If you’re finding it hard to get your employees going, or get everyone on the same page, you might want to take a step back. Consider whether or not the problem is that your leadership might not be efficient and that your communication as a leader could be lacking. Not everyone has a vast amount of leadership experience, so it can be difficult to be a great leader from the get-go. Learning more and more about your team will help you to understand how you can properly communicate with them, and convey what you need from them daily.

A good leader can also do a better job at raising morale in the workplace. When you know what would make your employees more comfortable and happy while they work, you can contribute to their mood with small workplace changes. Happier employees mean more motivated employees.

Trends and promotions

Changing up your promotions and introducing new deals can help to impress and attract new potential customers. If you’re offering something in exchange for their patronage, your customers might feel more inclined to choose you over your competitors. You can check out these Rewards Network reviews, for example. It’s a great way to show your employees that you appreciate their business, while also working with another business.

If your competitors are offering promotions that you’re not, then you’re going to be losing customers to them. You want to make sure you can keep up and offer similar if not better services.

Customer feedback

Customer feedback is something that every business needs to take seriously at some point. If you’re just starting out, you might not be able to do something about every customer complaint that you get, but as you grow - you’re going to need a method of collecting customer feedback. Whether it’s on social media, a dedicated email address, or a physical form, customer feedback is important for growth. It can tell you what your overall consumer base thinks of you as a business, and what you could change to make your business more appealing to them and others within their demographic.

Marketing strategy

If you’re not encouraging many sales, the problem could be how you’re trying to sell your products or services. You could try changing up your marketing strategy to fit your target audience better. Sometimes businesses can be really off-the-mark with their marketing strategies, and it can cause them to lose sales. Taking advice from marketing experts can help drive your sales significantly.

SHARE:

5 Habits You Need To Give Up If You Ever Want To Be Truly Healthy

Image Source: Unsplash CC0 License

The wellness movement is sweeping the world right now. People are realizing that there are limits to what money can buy them. To feel truly fulfilled in life, it’s not enough to have a nice car and four vacations every year. They also have to feel good inside.

Many people, however, have bad habits - things that actively prevent them from being truly healthy, both mentally and physically.

In this post, we take a look at some of the bad habits that you’ll want to kick today to have a brighter tomorrow.

Believing That You Have To Be The Best

Comparison is the thief of joy and, yet, many of us find ourselves indulging in it more than we would like. We look at the lives of other people and then compare them to our own, wondering what the heck we did wrong. When we see the massive success of celebrities and then compare what they have to what we have, we feel depressed, apathetic and like we are losers.

Try taking a different approach. Don’t compare your life to other people’s. Instead, measure the success of your life by your own metrics.

Giving Into Food Marketing

Food companies are exceptionally good at marketing to people who are hungry. They know precisely which psychological buttons they need to press to get you to part with your cash. However, you should resist these if you can. Food marketing is exceptionally harmful and can lead to all sorts of health problems, including obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

To avoid food marketing, make sure that you keep your kitchen stocked with fresh ingredients. Always have emergency meals in the freezer that you can drum up quickly if you’re in a bind.

Put Out Your Cigarette

While smoking numbers are going down with each passing year, it’s still a habit that millions of people need to kick. If you’re struggling to let go, join a quit smoking program. These use advanced evidence-based techniques to help people stub out their cigarettes for good.

Being Angry About Your Past

Being angry about your past is a great way to wreck your life in the present and sabotage it in the future. When you’re angry about the past, you can get into the habit of believing that your life is bad now because of what happened before. You might blame your parents, for instance, about not being able to progress in your career.

Whatever it is that is holding you back, let it go. Clinging onto it won’t help you, and it could prevent you from having the life that you want.

Feeling Stressed

Image Source: Unsplash CC0 License

Most people think that stress is something that happens to them. But, in fact, it’s a choice. The level of stress that you feel is very much up to you. If you don’t want it in your life, you can banish it for good. All it takes is a choice.

If you feel like you really can’t avoid stress in certain life situations, avoid them. Quit a stressful job and choose something better (even if the pay is lower). Leave a stressful relationship and find something calmer.

SHARE:

Use Essential Oils: Improve Your Quality of Life!

Image Source: Pixabay

The pharmacies around Australia have never been so abundant with over-the-counter medications, beauty care and health product as they are now. And despite this, odd as it may sound, it’s never been so confusing to find the best items for promoting and maintaining optimal health and well-being.

All this vast assortment casts a shadow of doubt over the brands, ingredients, benefits and side-effects, so much so, we often forget that nature is the most trusted and potent pharmacy people have resorted to since antiquity to treat their ailments. Aromatherapy is a great example of nature’s gifts we can use to our advantage.

As a form of alternative medicine, it continues to grow in popularity due to the way it enhances the quality of life. Unlike standard medical practices, the use of essential oils happens to be non-invasive and therapeutic, ideal to address various health problems and concerns.

Image Source: Pexels

Thanks to the increasing interest, you won’t have to look internationally to be able to come across products of quality, such as certified pure organic aromatherapy oils Australia wellness stores carry. Easy to use and incorporate into your daily life, you won’t have too much trouble as a beginner in aromatherapy practice.

Feel the Power of Essential Oil Scents

When you first make essential oils part of your lifestyle, you might be looking for those easy-to-incorporate solutions that neither take up much time nor require much knowledge. This is certainly the case of inhalation, one of the most user-friendly ways of reaping the benefits aromatherapy has to offer.

The reason inhaling the scents is so useful for our well-being has to do with the fact they trigger our central nervous system, specifically the olfactory part related to smell, thus generating an incredible emotional response. In addition to assisting you with handling feelings of anxiety and stress, relieving tension, and boosting the mood, oils can be your first line of defence against respiratory infections and nasal congestion.

Image Source: Unsplash

There are also those that are most helpful with uplifting your spirit, productivity and energising you – exactly what you need for a day full of errands. Another aspect that would greatly benefit from this method is your sleep as something that mostly suffers from the toll of modern fast-paced lifestyles. As science has proved the connection between nice scents and quality of sleep, you have the green light to inhale essential oils for sleep to promote a restful night. If you aren’t up for this kind of inhalation, just refresh your bedding and room with the oils.

Make Essential Oils Part of Your Bathroom Relaxing Routine

Now that home décor trends have shifted towards creating a relaxing, stress-free oasis, that includes the bathroom, it’s only logical to want to improve your pampering routine with aromatherapy. Regardless of whether you have a luxe bathtub even celebs would envy, or a shower for quick refreshing washes, it’s possible to make way for oils either way.

For soothing therapeutic soaks that improve mental health, besides the physical, you can try adding a few drops in the water of your chosen certified aromatherapy oils Australia suppliers offer, along with Epsom salts. I don’t have to tell you how potent of a treatment this is for people with chronic or acute pain, sore muscles, menstrual cramps, headaches, joint and back pain, conditions like arthritis (both rheumatoid and osteo), and sprains.

Image Source: Pexels

The combination of magnesium from the salt, plus the potent substances of oils known for their pain-relieving properties, can work wonders for you. Oils you should welcome in your bathing are the mighty peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, ginger, lemongrass, clove, clary sage, frankincense, lavender, and Roman chamomile. In the shower, you can implement the power of evaporation by placing a cotton ball soaked with essential oils on the shower pan, avoiding direct water flow.

Another handy strategy is to add a few drops in your bathing essentials, be it the bodywash, the shampoo, or the conditioner. While I’m at hygiene and beauty care, you can significantly increase the dose of your pampering experience if you enhance skincare with a curated set of pure aromatherapy oils.

Needless to say, your skin would show off great improvements too, like flawless complexion, without the addition of any OTC products. What happens when you simply have no time to indulge in self-care rituals, you ask? Choose roll-on essential oils and blends can be your pick-me-up! Best of all is you can carry them with you wherever you are as they’re compact and lightweight. No more excuses that you can’t find the time for aromatherapy!

Revolutionise Your Home Cleaning with Essential Oils

Applying the oils topically, diffusing them, or adding them in your personal care products are all solutions you might be aware of, but did you know your home can benefit as well from the high-quality aromatherapy oils Australia shops provide? If you want to pave the path to a non-toxic home environment with a clean sweep, this is the way!

Image Source: Freepik

From everyday cleaning sprays, air fresheners, and deep clean scrubs, to leather furniture polish, mould and dishwasher cleaners, there are various recipes you can try out with your selection of oils. Some of the options famous for their anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-viral properties are of course the most beloved lavender, followed by citrus oils, like lemon, and wild orange.

Extra oils you can incorporate include peppermint, pine, oregano, rosemary, cinnamon, thyme, eucalyptus, and tea tree. Now, a word of caution is to avoid using your tap water when mixing up your oils for aromatherapy and creating the cleaning products. This is important for a non-toxic home, considering tap water can consist of many contaminants that would never even cross your mind.

Chlorine, lead, mercury, fluoride (yes, it is an endocrine disruptor!), herbicides, nitrates, MTBE, perchlorate, and even pharmaceuticals are just some of the nasties that can make their way through. To be on the safe side, you might want to stick to using distilled water – and if you haven’t done it by now, buy that water filter! If you don’t want these pollutants on the floor and furnishings, you won’t want them in your glass either.

SHARE:

Wrongfully Terminated? Here's What To Do

It may seem obvious what to do when you've been wrongfully terminated from your job. However, no one ever wants to be in this situation, so there are many things that can go wrong if those who were wronged don't fix the problem as soon as possible. This article will tell you how to proceed and resolve matters quickly and efficiently once you have been fired for an unjust reason.

 Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

Here Are Some Steps You Can Take

Stay Calm and Call Your Expert

The first step is to stay neutral and not overreact by getting into a heated argument or using profanity with your employer or anyone else involved because that will only prove that you lack self-control and exacerbate the current issue at hand of being terminated. Instead, contact your Wegman Partners attorney about what your options are for your wrongful termination.

Gather Information

Don't leave the office immediately. There may still be some hope if things have been done incorrectly by management or on legal grounds, so gather as much information as possible before leaving the office. For example, if the firing was unexpected and swift, sit down with your former co-workers and record exactly what happened from their perspective.

This will be useful later on when you need statements from those who have been witnesses of wrongful termination. Also, collect any and all relevant papers and emails that were sent between co-workers, as these records will be helpful later on. Having paper trails of evidence can make a big difference in court.

Do Not Explode!

This next step is important, so listen up - DO NOT go on a rampage, swearing off this employer forever and putting them on blast via social media or other means of communication with everybody else.

If an unbiased investigation is possible (i.e., there has been no collusion among the witnesses), an official report may lead to reinstatement and compensation (if applicable). However, do not ever underestimate how important it is to remain professional during this process—whether or not they believe you, your behavior will be documented, and it can and will be used in court if necessary.

Know Your Rights

It is also imperative to remember that you cannot be lawfully fired for reasons such as age, race, gender, or national origin; however, these laws often protect only the most blatant forms of discrimination.

Suppose you believe your employer is discriminating against you based on one of these reasons. In that case, it is advised that you do not discuss the situation with them and instead seek legal counsel immediately.

Suppose this issue is occurring within a state where there are no applicable laws protecting employees from wrongful termination due to discriminatory behavior. In that case, it may be time to contact a federal labor board (such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission).

Knowing your rights in this situation is incredibly important. While it may seem like there are no rules or regulations protecting employees, they exist for many reasons—including the employer's benefit (to ensure they keep quality employees).

Being fully aware of what to do when you find yourself in this type of situation will help make things go more smoothly. With any luck, your employer will realize that their decision was wrong and reinstate you; however, if not, then at least you tried everything within your power to right their wrong.

SHARE:

Some Tips For Becoming More Enthusiastic About Everyday Life

Image Source: Pixabay CC0 License

Having a high sense of enthusiasm in day-to-day life can be a wonderful thing, and can lead to a more positive, energetic, and dynamic experience of life as a whole – not to mention a greater capacity for achieving various sorts of goals.

Unfortunately, however, life can be very stressful and disheartening in lots of ways, and it may be the case that you've been involved in a setback such as an auto accident, that has required you to hire the services of a car crash lawyer, or something similar.

If anything, it's because life gets stressful that it's so important to find tips for becoming more enthusiastic about everyday life, on a regular basis.

Here are some suggestions.

Stop overthinking and introduce daily routines that give you a sense of growth and accomplishment

Chronic overthinking can really get in the way of your sense of enthusiasm for everyday life, and it can trick you into thinking and feeling as though you have to have to reason everything out perfectly in your mind before you can "get back on track."

Often, though, one of the best things for generating a sense of enthusiasm is simply introducing daily routines and habits that help to encourage feelings of growth and accomplishment on a regular basis.

If you can start up a daily exercise routine and stick with it consistently, for example, it will tend to significantly boost your sense of enthusiasm over a short span of time – and will have positive effects on your confidence too.

Have some projects or pastimes that you enjoy and that you can really invest yourself in

If the only thing that you have to look forward to each day is going to work and spending time on a job that you don't really like, and that you don't really find meaningful or motivating, it's hardly surprising if you find yourself feeling generally unenthusiastic about things.

Instead, make sure to always have at least some project or pastime that you are engaging in regularly, and that you enjoy and can really become invested in.

The more you can enjoy and engage in a hobby that you find meaningful, or work on a project such as a small business venture, the higher the likelihood that you'll feel excited and driven to jump out of bed each morning.

If there are things in life that really frustrate you, take steps to begin changing the situation

If there are certain things in your life that simply stress you out on a chronic basis, and that frustrate you, taking steps to begin changing the situation can be very effective at boosting your overall sense of enthusiasm.

This might mean having a tactful conversation with your partner about something they’ve been doing that you're not pleased with, or it might mean taking steps to declutter your home, or even beginning to search for a new job.

Everyone has to deal with certain irritations and frustrations throughout everyday life, but letting those frustrations get too numerous and overwhelming can be very detrimental for your sense of enthusiasm.

SHARE:

Most Common Family Heirlooms

Photo by Kjartan Einarsson on Unsplash

We all want to leave something behind for our families, whether a monetary item or something we want to keep in the family. So we often give different items as a way to preserve our memories and keep them going throughout the family.

Some people might give family heirlooms to show that they appreciate the importance or value of something. Others might be giving them because they want to pass on their culture through their possessions. Whatever the reason, there are many different types of family heirlooms out there that families share with each other. Here are some of the most common family heirlooms.

Furniture

Furniture isn’t only given for material reasons but for sentimental reasons too. Furniture can be seen as a significant part of a family’s history. It can be seen as where your family is from and what your family has been through. Furniture can be a way of telling your family’s history, especially if it’s been passed down from generation to generation.

A piece of furniture is often thought to have memories and is usually given in times of need.

Jewelry

Jewelry is one of the most popular forms of family treasures and is often passed down for monetary value and sentimental value. One of the most popular types of jewelry passed down from generation to generation is rings, which can be used as engagement or wedding rings.

In some cases, necklaces such as yellow diamonds are often given, like many other heirlooms it has both physical and sentimental value.

Watches

Much like jewelry, watches and other timepieces are often given as a way to the passes of time and are often durable. It means they are often by multiple generations. For many, a watch or timepiece is often seen as an excellent investment for their family. This is because some families will often have the piece engraved with a small message.

This makes the watch a deeply personal type of heirloom to be passed down.

Recipes

Knowledge is one of the most important things that be passed down from family to family. Recipes and other secrets are one of the oldest forms of heirlooms, being passed down from generation to generation in order to keep the knowledge of something going along in the family.

While items such as furniture, jewelry, and watches are often shared with one or two family members, heirlooms such as recipes can be shared with everyone in the family. This makes recipes and other types of knowledge-based heirlooms one of the most special sentimental treasures that can be passed down from generation to generation.

Bibles and Books

Bibles and books are some of the more treasured pieces of family treasures. In some cases, they often record a family’s history, such as a photo album or a scrapbook, with many seeing them as documents showing births, marriages, and sometimes deaths. Books and entire libraries are often passed down because they also hold sentimental value.

These are just a few of the most common family heirlooms. There are many more, such as collections, quilts, and other items, that are a great way to remember those who came before.

Challenge Coins

Challenge coins are a type of made to order coin often passed down from one generation to the next in families. They can be made from various materials, including metal, plastic, silver, gold, nickel, and many more. Most challenge coins feature unique designs that commemorate important events or people. Challenge coins have become popular among military personnel and law enforcement officers in recent years.

 When you inherit a coin, it is essential to take some time to learn about its history. Where did it come from? Who was it given to? What is the story behind the design? Challenge coins can be passed down for generations, so it is essential to know and understand their significance.

SHARE:

The Addams Family Marketing

Not Sponsored: I love The Addams Family! They are quintessential Halloween and I LOVE Halloween! I saw the Broadway Musical here in New Orleans, back in 2011. You can see my collection of Playbill, CD and Program below. In 2019, I went crazy ga-ga over the IHOP menu design promoting the movie. So much so, that I bought it off of eBay. It sits perched in my makeup room. I gawk at it everyday. So that brings us to 2021 and the new Addams Family 2 movie & marketing. Kellogg's has gotten in on The Addams Family action (Kellogg's Limited Edition, of course). Cousin IT, Wednesday Addams, Lurch, Morticia and Uncle Fester appear on various Kellogg cereal, Rice Krispies Treats, Pop Tarts Bites and Snax boxes. I had to make a Target run for a couple of more orange & black totes and AA batteries. My Halloween decor seems to keep growing. So I hopped upstairs to see if they had the collection. They did. It was fun seeing everything in person. People really bought out the Rice Krispies Treats with the various characters. I would've purchase a cereal box if Morticia was on it, but marketing seemed to miss the mark on that one. I love Morticia & Gomez. They oooze LOVE! I guess they felt mainly children eat these type of cereals (and they do), but they forget about collectors like me. For example, I purchased this Kellogg's Anya Hindmarch Fashion Flakes Cereal all the way from France years ago! I still have it today (minus the cereal that was inside)! It's in my makeup room. I SMILE at it everyday! Morticia on a cereal box would've been a nice addition to my Halloween collection. Oh well. I love marketing. If I had to go to college all over again, I think I would've gone into it and moved to New York. It's such a fun, imaginative and creative profession. I love details. I'm detail oriented. I look at all aspects of things. Someone had to create a character. Someone had to draw it. Someone had to animate it. There's a lot that goes on in the process of things. Think about it the next time you look at something. I just found these Kellog Cereal Puzzles! So cute! HaHaHa

Below is a 2019 Hershey's Miniature Candy Promotion

 

I loved The Addams Movie IHOP (2019) Campaign. There's something about purple & black!

I purchased the menu on eBay and have it displayed in my makeup room. 

I went to The Addams Family Broadway Musical in 2011. 

I've always loved the opening to the musical and still listen to the soundtrack.

When I went to see the James Bond 007 No Time To Die movie this past weekend, I saw this humongous Addams Family 2 Movie Theater prop on display. So cute. Love the license plate ... Talk 2 The Hand ... Purple car  >.<

SHARE: