Daily Archives: February 6, 2017

Making Your New House A Home Isn’t So Tough

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Buying a new property is by far the most exciting purchase you’ll make all year; heck, it’ll probably top your list for the decade! However, that’s not to say that it isn’t a process filled with fears. Arguably the biggest worry is whether the new house will ever truly feel like home. It will, but only if you take the necessary steps.

 

In truth, this is a transformation that can take months or even years. By following the right steps, though, you should see this happen far sooner. Here’s what you need to know.

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Don’t Forget Your Roots

 

Entering a new home is a chance to start a fresh and exciting chapter. However, it doesn’t mean you should simply forget everything from before. Replicating some of the old homely vibes into the new home can make the transition far smoother. Moreover, it’ll often be a far cheaper option too.

 

Using a moving firm is always advised when big items are concerned. Search for movers near me to get the job up and running in style, and your new home will start to reflect your personality straight away. You may well replace some of those ideas further down the line. For now, though, those rewards are huge.

 

Save Money For Upgrades

 

No property is going to be 100% to your taste. Therefore, if it’s possible to hold back some funds for future work, you should. Completing those jobs to make the home look as you desire, you’ll become far happier. Moreover, extensions and other building works can often increase the price of the property.

 

If those jobs can have a positive impact from an investment perspective, as well as your personal one, then you’re onto a winner. Besides, those early months are a stage of transition regardless. So you may as well do the work now before getting settled.

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Add Security

 

Your new home will never feel right until you are safe and secure. Even if it’s located in a nice area, improving your home surveillance could be one of the most important upgrades you’ll ever make. The truth is that you’ll probably never need it, but that security will work wonders for your emotional wellbeing.

 

Whether it’s remotely monitored CCTV or better alarms, every addition is a good one. In many cases, it will reduce the price of your insurance premiums too. Above all else, though, it will enhance the homely atmosphere for the entire family.

 

Know Your Surroundings

 

A home isn’t just about the building. It should be a base for the entire family, and appreciating those new surroundings is a vital aspect. Without being best friends, getting to know the neighbors can be highly beneficial. After all, those basic pleasantries can work wonders for your sense of belonging.

 

Meanwhile, you should take the time to appreciate any local attractions as well as anything else the new location has to offer. Even if you’ve only moved a few miles away, this can make the transition smoother than ever. The new place will feel like home in no time.

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Networking & The Hero’s Journey: Overcoming Your Fears

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Making connections and learning to network is a vital part of any self-development process. As part of the hero’s journey, it’s necessary to encounter other people who could play an essential role in your growth – which is where networking comes in. Whether you are trying to increase the number of clients you have, are pushing for a promotion at work, or even just looking to create stronger, better relationships with those that can help you, a little networking with the right people can go a long way.

 

The trouble is, not everyone is comfortable with the idea, and the prospect of standing in a roomful of strangers making small talk is a nightmare for many. There are some who love it, of course, and to whom networking is a natural act – and it’s these people who tend to get ahead in life, even if they are less well-equipped or skilled than their introverted rivals.

 

It’s one of those things in life that isn’t fair, but nothing is going to change soon. In short, you have to overcome your fear of networking and get out there and make a noise – so here are some ideas for you to get started.

 

Research attendees

 

It’s OK to do a little research on the attendees of a particular event to find out who they are and what they do. Take a look and see what you can find out about your prospective contacts, to ensure that there is a valid reason for attending, whether for business or self-development reasons. LinkedIn is the ideal place for this, and there are plenty of event sites that include listings of attendees and guest speakers. You might even find that setting up an event group can help you meet people online before you arrive.

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Sharpen up your small talk

 

Small talk doesn’t come naturally to most people, but it’s a learned skill – anyone can do it if they practice enough. It’s a good idea to catch up on some industry news before you go to a business event, and also some general stories from the newspaper. It’s advisable to keep politics, religion and other potentially awkward subjects off the table when you meet people for the first time, so look around for five or six other topics you can use as conversation starters.

 

The open-ended technique

 

OK, so you have built up enough confidence to start some conversations. But, all you ever get are blunt ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers, which leaves you feeling even more uncomfortable than you were before. So, practice asking open-ended rather than closed questions. Give people a chance to expand on answers, and you will find the conversation starts to flow naturally.

 

Target groups

 

It can be overwhelming for shy, nervous, or introverted people to enter a room full of people and get talking straight away. But it doesn’t take much to get involved in a discussion. Look for groups of people talking, rather than individuals – when you approach a group, one of them is more likely to offer their hand and welcome you to the discussion.

 

Start your own networking night

 

Starting a networking night yourself is a great way to put yourself front and centre in people’s minds. And it’s a lot easier to deal with your fears, too, as people will come to you to do the talking. Yes, you will be feeling a lot of pressure to arrange a great night, but not all networking events have to be full-on – perhaps you could design a gentler occasion that better suits your personality, and will attract others that feel similar?

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Hold a golf event or function

 

Golf and business go together hand in hand. Many a deal has been struck on the fairways, and having a focus for the event is a great way to take the pressure off you. The great thing about golf is that you get a lot of time to spend with particular individuals, and it’s a more intimate occasion than holding a huge party in a hotel function room. You can buy some golf trophies to add a little competitive spice, and even arrange a regular event which targets different types of attendee or client.

 

Be wary of alcohol

 

There is often alcohol at business events, and when you are feeling nervous, it can be tempting to go for some Dutch courage. Try to avoid overindulging, however, as it will backfire. A small drink at the beginning of the event will help you relax a little, but if you overdo it, people will notice – and it can be incredibly damaging to your personal brand.

 

Be nice

 

It’s easy for your nerves to get the better of you when you are attending a networking event. It’s why you see so many serious faces at these types of conferences – everyone is so desperate to make a professional impression that they end up looking cold, stern, and unfriendly. So, be nice – and smile. It will instantly mark you out from the other attendees, and more people will want to come and say hello and find out more about you and your business. Friendliness costs nothing, and there are plenty of people who actively seek out a winning smile at networking events.

 

Enthusiasm wins

 

One thing you must do at a networking event is to be enthusiastic about what you do and why you are there. This can be harder than you might think, especially if you don’t like praising yourself, or feel worried about discussing problems and issues you might be having. The trouble is, if you don’t wear your passion for what you do on your sleeve, no one else will believe you have it either – and they will instantly lose interest. If you are struggling with this tactic, concentrate on coming up with an enthusiastic one-line pitch which explains what you do and why you are there – and always say it with a smile on your face.

 

Have a goal

 

Finally, have a goal in mind before you go to a networking event – something like collecting as many names as possible, or talking to a particular individual whose work in self-development you admire. Doing something like this will force you to get out there and be chatty and communicative. If you set yourself targets in life, you are more likely to achieve them, and networking is no different to anything else. Good luck at your next networking event!

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Clever Methods For Raising Intelligent Kids

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All parents should want to raise the most intelligent kids possible. Failure to do that could mean they rely on you for money most of their lives. That is not ideal, and you’ll feel disappointed that you didn’t try harder. Thankfully, children are simple creatures, and it’s easy to encourage them to learn. You just have to find methods and techniques that inspire them. You can also use incentives to ensure they are focused and dedicated to achieving their goals. The ideas on this page are here to point you in the right direction. At the end of the day, you know your kids better than us. So, you just need to employ some common sense.

 

Teach them to design and build their toys

 

Thanks to 3D printing technology, it’s now easier than ever to design and build toys at home. Your kids are entering a digital world where they’ll need to become savvy if they want to earn a decent wage. So, it makes sense for you to get them started as soon as possible. You can show them how to create 3D toys using nothing more than their computer and a specialist device. Thankfully, 3D printers have come down in price considerably during the last twelve months. You can now get hold of a product for your home without breaking the bank. Teaching your kids how to use that technology is guaranteed to benefit them in the future. It’ll make them smarter too.

 

Take lots of educational trips

 

Lots of kids spend their free time playing on games consoles or listening to music. While that’s fine, a well-rounded individual also needs some culture. With that in mind, you should plan lots of educational trips when you take time off work. Maybe you could visit some historical sites where your kids can learn about the past? Perhaps there is a science museum in your state where they could learn about the universe? The possibilities are endless and only limited by your imagination. Just search Google for “the best things to do in wherever” and take a look at the results.

 

Reward your child for working hard

 

As we mentioned at the start of this post, incentives are vital for children. You need to let them know they always get rewards if they work hard. That will help to build them into active adults with a good work ethic. Just don’t make the mistake of paying them for their efforts. The last thing you want to do is create a child that’s money-mad. Instead, you should make their most-loved meal or treat them to a movie. You could even take them away on a special trip. If you do that, they are more likely to try to impress you in the future. They will also learn that they don’t get anything for free in this life, and they have to make an effort.

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You should have enough ideas now to improve your parenting technique. So, start creating some plans for 2017, and ensure you make the most of the summer. Spending time outdoors is also important for children because it helps to keep them grounded. Considering that, a camping trip during the school holidays might make sense. Whatever you decide to do, we wish you all the luck in the world.

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Stop & Stare: Wow New Clients With Your Property

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If you want your business to be a success and attract the right clients, you need to think about your business property. It doesn’t matter what type of business you are running, your property needs to tick off a few boxes. You should have no trouble using the property to meet all the requirements of your business including any services you offer customers. It should be in a location that is as accessible as it is desirable for customers. The business property should look fantastic and make your business feel fresh, exciting, or glamorous. Finally, you need to make sure that it is well maintained and never looks anything other than professional. How can you make sure you tick off all these boxes from day one?

 

Location, Location, Location

 

As with any area of planning in your business, you should always ask the advice of an expert before committing to a location. You can use a business property broker to find a place that is in and up and coming area and will gain you plenty of attention on the market. A consultant like this will also be able to make sure you get a killer property at a great price. This is never a guarantee when you are searching independently for a great business address.

 

Kit It, Fit It, Win It

 

Once you find the perfect property location, you are going to need to kit it out. When you style your business, again it’s important to get help from professionals. For instance, you might be setting up a medical practice. If that’s the case, you should use a medical clinic design service from an expert company. They will make sure you have everything you need to attract the patients to your clinic. The same can be true for any business office. A skilled designer can ensure it looks modern and a place where clients know their needs will be met. The look of your office is the starting point to winning a new business deal. If you can impress them as soon as they walk through the door, you’re already on the right track.

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Maintenance Is A Must

 

Maintenance is an essential part of making your business a professional place of work. If there is a sign on your company building that looks shoddy, replace it. If your office is starting to look a mess, hire a cleaner. You’d be surprised how quickly little details about your business property can turn off investors and customers alike. One look and they will quickly decide that you are not offering what they need.

 

Terrific Tech

 

Finally, if you’re looking to make your business seem modern, you need to invest in tech. It will ensure your business looks contemporary as well as successful. People often associate an abundance of tech with money which means that you’ll find wealth clients flocking to your door. Don’t forget technology isn’t about just making your business look good. It can also ensure your business operates effectively and efficiently on the market. That’s exactly what you need to succeed.

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Subtle Ways To Upgrade Your Bedroom

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We spend more time in our bedrooms than in any other room in the house. But our bedrooms don’t often get the attention they deserve. Is your bedroom boring? Could it do with a bit of a face life? Take a look at some of these subtle and charming ways to make your bedroom a more enjoyable space.

 

Add Art And Lighting From Another Room

 

Most people favour guest spaces when decorating their homes. After all, people want to put their best foot forward. The result of this, however, is that bedrooms end up looking shabby and neglected because all the attention is focused elsewhere.

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Here’s an idea. Instead of going out shopping for new paintings and furniture to put in your bedroom, go around the rest of your house and pinch stuff from other rooms that isn’t really adding much to the interior design or atmosphere. There’s bound to be something that’s superfluous or something hidden away in the closet that you can put to use in your bedroom. Accessorizing your bedroom with random items from your house helps to give it character and make it unique.

 

Spruce Up Your Wardrobe

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The insides of wardrobes can look tacky and cheap, especially if they are constructed from cheap MDF screwed together by ugly metal screws. A much stronger and beautiful option is to build a wardrobe that uses wood dowels instead. This will help to make your bedroom feel more authentic while also helping the furniture in your bedroom to last longer.

 

Grab A Box And Bin 10 Things You Haven’t Worn In A Year

 

When it comes to hanging on to old clothes, we’re all guilty. For whatever reason, many of us can’t bring ourselves to throw out items, even those that we haven’t worn for years. The problem is that these clothes take up space in our drawers and turn our bedrooms into a mess. Apartment Therapy recommends that people in these situations bit the bullet and take a metaphorical meat cleaver to their closets, banning 10 things they haven’t worn in the last year. You’ll be surprised how little you miss them.

 

Put Your Phone Charger Across The Room

 

Putting your phone charger across the room from your bed is one of the best ways to make sure that you get a good night’s sleep. At the moment, we’re living in something of a smartphone-induced insomnia epidemic. Scrolling right just before going to bed is a bad idea because the blue light emitted by your phone makes your body think that it is time to wake up. Problems don’t stop at night either: setting alarm clocks in the morning rips you out of deep sleep and puts you in a bad mood all day.

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There’s a solution, however. Putting your charger across the room helps you to avoid the temptation of using your phone late at night. And turning off your alarm, if you can, means you’ll wake up naturally.

 

Finally, it’s worth taking some time to see whether your window covering are actually blocking out all the light from the street. If they’re not, they could be the reason you aren’t sleeping very well.

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Super-licious Superfoods: What Are They And How Do They Boost Your Health?

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The idea of a superfood has been around for a long time now. These are foods that have been discovered to be so powerfully beneficial for the human body that they have gained special status. But many people don’t know which foods are superfoods and which foods aren’t, thanks to the diversity of food on supermarket shelves. Here’s a rundown of which foods actually are superfoods, and how they boost your health.

 

Sweet Potatoes

 

Regular potatoes aren’t superfoods, and despite the name, they aren’t actually related to sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are most closely related to spinach and were traditionally eaten in East Asia and in North America.

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Sweet potatoes were first theorized to be a superfood back in the 1990s when researchers suddenly discovered that people living on the Japanese island of Okinawa were living a heck of a lot longer than individuals in mainland Japan – or anywhere else for that matter.

 

They dug into the data and tried to find out what it was that was causing this fascinating longevity in the population, and why people aged 90 were still able to work in the fields as if they were forty years younger.

 

They soon found out that the locals got more than 70 percent of their calories from their main crop, the sweet potato, and so scientists wondered whether it was protecting them in some way. After a little bit of digging, they found out that sweet potatoes have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, making them the perfect food for humans wanting to live a long time.

 

Wheatgrass

 

What exactly is wheatgrass? Simply put, it’s the grassy shoots of the wheat seed, Triticum aestivum. Wheat grass is now considered a dietary supplement, but it didn’t enter the Western diet until the 1930s.

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Wheatgrass has been hailed by advocates as having numerous health properties, including the ability to get rid of gout, reduce constipation, prevent cancer, and quickly deal with colds, fevers and infections.

 

Usually, it can’t be bought fresh from the store, so it’s worthing finding out how to grow wheatgrass yourself.

 

Broccoli

 

Broccoli, as you probably already know, is packed with nutrients, including vitamins and minerals. But that’s probably not the star of the show when it comes to this flower-like vegetable.

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The most important constituent of broccoli, and the thing that makes it a superfood is all the sulforaphane that it contains. It turns out that this little compound is responsible for clearing out our livers and making our skin appear younger and most robust. People who eat broccoli on a regular basis – a couple of servings a week – usually have fewer health problems that those who don’t.

 

Almond Butter

 

Almonds and almond butter are all the rage right now, thanks to their mild, marzipan flavor. But there’s a reason to eat almonds besides the tastiness: they also happen to be extremely good for you.

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Like most nuts, almonds are great for weight loss. Even though they are calorie-dense, nuts are so filling they actually reduce the overall number of calories people eat in a day. Nuts have also been linked to longevity: vegans who eat nuts live seven years longer than those who don’t.

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