Growing Old In Style. It's The Modern Way.

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If the eighties, nineties and noughties were all about trying to defy your age, then the latest trend definitely breaks the rules because the modern thing is all about embracing your age. Instead of trying to lie to the world by failing to convince them you are still in your thirties, the modern thing is to have people know you are forty or fifty or sixty, but still look absolutely incredible. 

Of course, knowing this is what you want to do is one thing, but actually knowing how to embrace your transition through the ages is something else entirely. It is knowing how to age in style, and that is exactly what we hope to help with.

Read on for our top tips on ageing in style:

1. Classics Are Essential

If there is one rule you need to embrace it’s this: dressing young will not make you look young. Not at all. Now, this may sound simple, but you may find there are a few hurdles known as trends that obscure what’s appropriate and what’s not. To play it safe and stylish, our advice would be to dress classically. That’s has always been - and will always be - a timeless look. How do you do this? Invest in a few expensive but classic pieces. Trust us, have these in your closet and you’ll be a contender for best dressed in the room more often than not. 

2. Know Where To Shop

It is much easier to embrace a certain style when you can rely on a certain shop or store to always deliver sizes and styles that work for you. If you’re looking at a blank canvas on this front, then a great place to start is with fashion magazines aimed at the older woman, publications like Real Simple, Oprah and, yes, Sensationally Sexy & Over 60. All of these will point you to things like the Comptoir Des Cotonniers, Reiss and Ruby Rd clothing collections. Knowing where to shop is just as important as knowing how to shop, remember that. 

3. Shape Is Everything

There are certain things that embrace shape that will never-ever go out of style. Things like a shift dress that can be worn in so many different ways and a trouser suit that can be dressed up or down and kept modern with the simplest of adjustments on the accessory front. These are classic shapes and classics shapes are what you want in your closet. 

4. Set Your Heart On Shoes

Let’s get one thing cleared up nice and fast: you are never too old for a breath-taking pair of shoes. Never. 

5. The Definition Of Appropriate...

Is not showing too much skin. Anywhere. That means legs, arms and cleavage. That’s what appropriate means in this context - it’s as simple as that. Now, we’re not saying you need to hide yourself because you can still be sexy and not show skin. It’s just knowing that skirts should sit at the knee down, cleavage needs to be carefully considered and, whether you like it or not, our arms are not bottles of Burgundy wine -they don’t get better with age.

Is Your Garden A Tranquil Haven? It Could Be!

Everybody needs a place to relax in, and where better than in your very own garden. Unfortunately, it’s pretty hard to chill out if your outdoor space is full of weeds, unkempt shrubbery, and old bits of rubbish that are too big to fit in the trash and you haven't got around to getting rid of yet. Instead, you need an outdoor space that is a tranquil haven. Luckily, all you need to do is read on to find out how to get one.

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Balance

The thing about achieving a tranquil garden is that they need to be some sort of balance involved. That is the different elements need to work in harmony together, with neither the planting, shrubbery, seating area, or other space dominating. You even need to achieve a balance between the natural elements and the man-made structures such as furniture and ornaments. 

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To help you achieve this, it can be useful to plan out the garden first, ensuring that you assign enough space to each element. It can also be beneficial to use mirrored garden ornaments. This is because these are attractive and provide light, but also reflect the green around them so work very harmoniously in a garden space.

Planting 

When considering planting for your tranquil garden, you must prioritize things that give you a personal sense of calm. That means it can be quite a subjective process. However, do bear in mind that different shades and texture of green used side by side can work very well. In particular, things like grass, with shrubs like brachyglottis and then taller trees like conifer are a good choice.

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However, if you are looking to introduce some color to your tranquil garden space go for plants and trees in more subtle pastel shades. Orchid trees like the Hong Kong orchid and purple orchid can work well in this type of space, especially if they are complemented by lush green vegetation in the rest of the garden.

A space for relaxation 

Next, you will want to create a space in which you can enjoy all this harmony and balance from. To do this consider installing a sun lounger, or even a hammock in which you can recline and truly appreciate the tranquility of your yard.

You can buy these ready-made. Although you may wish to have a go at making one yourself by following the guidance you’ll find here.

Treat yourself to some relaxation in your tranquil garden
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Low maintenance 

Lastly, it can be very hard to relax in your garden if you go outside and all you can see are jobs that need doing. In fact, this can lead to you avoiding going outside at all, let alone spending extended and enjoyable amount of time there.

Consequently, it's important that the garden you create is one that is low maintenance. That is it only takes a little time each month to keep it in a neat and attractive condition. With this in mind, it can be helpful to pick plants that need little tending to, but still fit into your overall scheme such as sedum and hardy cyclamen.

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It is also a smart idea to invest in some garden tools that can help make the work a little easier to complete. Then you know you will be able to enjoy your tranquil garden haven with the minimum of effort possible. 

Finding Time To Take Care Of Yourself Whilst Balancing Work And Motherhood

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Adapting to your new bundle of joy and becoming a family doesn’t come without its challenges. Especially if you work from home, are self-employed, or have to return to work before the usual period of maternity leave, you’re not so much up the creek without a paddle, but up the creek without a paddle or a boat. Going back to work can leave you feeling so guilt-ridden that you spend as much time as possible with the baby - which is extremely common and something every mother does when having to leave their child at such a young age. However, it is important to also find some snippets of time just to check in with yourself, and make sure you’re taking care of you too, as well as the baby. Many new mums struggle to find time to eat, shower and keep up with daily care routines. Here are some tips on taking care of yourself whilst balancing your newborn and work.  

While Baby Naps

When you and your little one have finally settled into a routine, it is imperative that you use the time they are asleep to take care of yourself. Whether this is catching up on your own sleep (number one choice for many new mums), or having a quick shower, or eating lunch - make sure you are using the time wisely. Yes, it can be hard to tear yourself away from watching your precious one sleep - every mum has been there - but this will be the only time you have to ensure you are taking care of yourself. 

Mornings Are Baby Time, Evenings Are Mummy Time 

Even if you are not working, you will still be woken up at a bright and early time by your little one, no matter how many feeds you were woken by in the night. However, your little one will still drop off in the early evening, giving you a few hours before you have to go to bed to do a quick spot of housework, laundry, and all the things that fall to the wayside when your newborn arrives. This is slightly different to a nap, as baby will usually sleep for a few hours, so make sure your reserve any of the more time-consuming jobs to the evening, rather than when baby is down for a nap. 

Invest In A Baby Wrap

If you have very little time out of work, or have a lot on your plate and want to spend time with your baby, you could try a baby wrap. They allow you to carry the baby around with you whilst having both hands free. This is great for food shops, housework, and generally moving around the house doing jobs. Even if you are working from home and on your feet all day, this is a great tool that helps you to multi-task and not have to choose between work and spending time with your little one. Make sure you have The Right Hairstyles for when you swaddle if you have long hair - as you don’t want your hair to be constantly over baby’s face or in their eyes. 

There you have it, a few ways you can ensure you are still taking care of you whilst trying to balance time with your new bundle of joy. If you have just welcomed a new addition to the family, then congratulations, and hopefully these tips have helped you out a little bit. 

High Ho, Silver Lining

Sometimes, bad things happen. We could coat ourselves in cotton wool and lock ourselves away. Still, we would fall foul sometimes. That’s just the the cookie crumbles. In truth, it has to be that way. You would never be happy, after all, if you didn’t know how it felt to be sad. So, instead of hiding away, we should embrace the bad and the good by putting ourselves out there whenever we get the chance. 

Yet, it’s all too easy to forget that sentiment when we fall on hard times. In fact, it can be difficult to see a way through at all. In all honesty, though, there’s a silver lining for the majority of bad experiences. Sometimes it’s harder to see than others, but it’s always there in some form. And by considering these pointers, you’ll be able to find a path through most negative situations. 

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What have you learnt?

Whether an injury has turned your life upside down, or you’ve experienced a heartache, most negative situations have a lot to teach. In fact, when we look back at formative moments, they often begin with hardship. So, next time you fall on a rough patch, consider what you’re learning from the experience. Do you know something about yourself that you didn’t before? Are you learning to control your emotions? Are you realizing new belief patterns because of what’s happened to you? These and more are common in the aftermath of trauma. And, though it may not seem like it at the time, it’s things like these which make us who we are. So, yes, you’re going through a tough time. But, by accepting the situation and becoming more aware, you also stand to learn the most important lessons of your life.

Could you take positive action?

It’s also worth asking yourself whether you can take positive action. If you’ve been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, could you get legal help with personal damage claims? That way, you can at least make changes to your life with the compensation money. Or, perhaps you’ve stumbled on hard financial times. Could you use that as inspiration to finally start the business you’ve been dreaming of for years? Even if you’ve lost a loved one, you could make donations in their name, or even start charities to save other lives. These efforts won’t undo what’s happened, but they can at least ensure something positive comes from it.

How will this change your future?

It’s also worth considering how bad situations can change your future. It helps to think about both of the above points here, as these work together to alter this. But, the event in itself can also have an impact. It may be that you avoid making a mistake again, to ensure the same doesn’t happen. Or, it may be that the incident makes you look at your life and see where you’re unhappy. And, that can result in positive changes which have the power to alter everything.

Bring Some Hotel Luxuries Into Your Home Bathroom

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Ever dreamt of having your own luxury bathroom straight out of a five-star hotel? Why not splash out on some of these luxury features? They’ll make bath time feel like spa treatment and could help to increase the value of your home.

Invest in underfloor heating

Most bathrooms have cold tile floor surfaces that aren’t nice for walking on in winter. Underfloor heating can keep your feet cosy for when you get out of the shower. It can also help to keep the room dry – puddle of water can sometimes lead to mould growth in homes and underfloor heating can prevent this.

Install a heated towel rack

For keeping your towels dry, a heated towel rack is a great feature. This can double up as a radiator providing heat for the room. There are lots of contemporary and traditional designs available to suit all bathroom types.

Build a walk-in shower

If you hate having to clamber into a slippery bath to take a shower, it could be worth installing a separate walk-in shower. These can be incorporated stylishly into your home. You might be able to make use of a recess to put this in if you have an oddly shaped bathroom. When it comes to shower itself, consider having a combination of two showerheads – an overhead fixed one and a flexible handset showerhead.

Opt for a freestanding bathtub

A modern standalone tub can help to improve your bathing experience. You don’t have to worry about bumping your elbows against walls and can opt to have the taps located in the centre allowing you to rest your head back. Freestanding tubs do require you to have a fair amount of space in your bathroom. There are lots of different designs out there – one of the most popular is the slipper shape which curves up at the end.

Upgrade your taps

There are lots of funky tap designs out there that could also help to make your bathroom feel that extra little bit more sophisticated. Waterfall taps are a fantastic statement piece and can look great on a bathroom sink. Another option could be wall-mounted taps to help give a contemporary style.

Use some chromatherapy

Chromatherapy is a means of using mood lighting to help relax. In some very swanky hotel bathrooms you may find this type of low-level colourful lighting. You can buy tubs with in-built chromatherapy lights or you could fit them on the walls. It’s certain to give your bathroom the edge and impress guests and potential buyers if you plan to sell.

Introduce sweet fragrances

You can also bring some aromatherapy to your bathroom. This could include lighting some scented candles or growing some freshly scented flowers in the corner of the room. Of course, you can also experiment with bath bombs and soaps to make you feel that extra bit fresher. 

How Much Is My Car Worth?

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You find yourself ready for a new vehicle. You've found the car of your dreams. You've done your research thoroughly and your finances are in check. The only thing you have to do next is to find a good price value for your old car.

Before you put up your used car for sale, make sure you take some steps to bring your car up to shape. Thoroughly clean the interior and exterior of your vehicle. Check if there is a need minor repairs like windshield wiper replacements, brake fluid or engine oil change.   

Once your vehicle is picture perfect and mechanically sound, you now have to decide on a selling price. Then that question hits you - "How much is my car worth?"

Did you know that cars.com is the leader in online automotive classifieds where consumers like you are given access to resources and other information needed to make the best buying or selling decision? 

At cars.com, you can take advantage of a used car valuation tool that provides a fair resale value range for your vehicle. Simply fill in the details and click the "get estimate" button. You can now decide if you'd want to sell your vehicle privately, or to a dealer, or trade it in. 

So whether you're selling your car for cash or using it as a downpayment for a new vehicle, make sure you check out cars.com. You may be pleasantly surprised to find out what your car is really worth.

The Benefits of Being Financially Aware

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There are many reasons why you might want to write a financial plan. You might want to get a better grip on your own personal finances, or you might be thinking of starting a new business.Being on top of your finances will reduce stress, make you feel more confident and make you far less likely to unwittingly fall into debt.  With that in mind, here are the benefits of being financially aware.

Understanding Your Finances

The first thing that you are going to want to do is fully understand your finances. How much money is going in and how much is going out. What are you buying and what are you being paid for. A good thing to do is to start by making a list of how much you make and what you spend money on side by side. You don’t need to worry about how much each of these are at this stage, but doing so can save you time in the future. The idea here is to understand both sides of your finances and make sure that nothing is forgotten about. If you are running a business, then you should probably look up what net working capital is defined as, as this will helpful in the future. Understanding what you are spending money on will help you to see which purchases are unnecessary and which aren’t. You will see what is important and what isn’t. Make sure to do this step before jumping ahead.

Forecasting

Forecasting is planning out what you expect to make and what you expect to spend money on. It is often best done on an Excel spreadsheet, but it doesn’t have to be. What you want to do is put all of the spending and income that we mentioned above and work out the difference between them. You will want to do this for each month of the year. There are templates that you can find online that will help you to structure your forecast. Doing this will show you exactly how much money you have left after buying all the things you would normally buy in a month. It is always worth putting money into savings and having a space for this in your forecasting. Doing this will give you peace of mind that you are financially stable and let you plan for larger purchases such as saving money for a holiday or saving for a house. This will let you plan and let you know how much money you will have throughout the year. 

Budget Monitoring

Budget monitoring is like an extension of your forecasting. Instead of planning what you are going to make and spend, you are putting your actual income and purchases down on paper when they happen. If you make a food shop, then you mark that in the cost collum. If you do some extra work and get paid some more this month, then log that income. This way, you will be able to spot in advance if you are likely to go over budget for a month before it actually happens. If you follow all of these tips, then you can avoid debt and live a happier life.

Getting Rid Of Bad Smells In Your Home Is Easier Than You Think!

Do you often walk around your house or enter a particular room and get a face full of a bad smell? It happens to me from time to time, I smell things that just aren’t pleasant at all, and it ruins the overall way your home feels. 

No one wants to have a smelly home, but it’s hard to avoid certain scents from time to time. Places like the kitchen and bathroom are prone to smells that can stink up your house. Luckily, while you may be unable to prevent the smells, you can certainly cover them up effectively. 

Here are my top tips for getting rid of these smells and making your house smell a lot better: 

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Light Candles

Candles are one of my favorite ways to get rid of bad smells. This is because they’re very effective at covering up scents and filling a room with the smell of the candle. The fact they burn for a long time is a bonus too, so you can have hours of fragrance when the candle is lit. Plus, you kind of get the smell of the flame when it’s first lit too. There’s a slight smokiness that helps negate any other smells in the room and makes way for the lovely candle. 

Use An Aroma Diffuser

Some people like to use air freshener sprays to try and cover up different smells in their home. This may work a little bit, but these sprays are bad for the environment, and you have to manually use them. But, with home fragrance diffusers, you have a good alternative. These things can sit on a shelf or bookcase and automatically diffuse a nice scent into the air. There’s no aerosol cans involved or any harmful things; the fragrance comes from different oils. It’s a safe way to make your home smell nice, and it will provide constant fragrance at all times.  

Put An Odor Blocker In Your Fridge

This tip is specifically for the fridge in your kitchen. This is often the culprit when it comes to bad smells. People leave food in the fridge for days, and it begins to smell bad. Strong cheese smells are commonly found in the fridge, as are things like seasoned meats and curries. Regardless of what’s causing the smell, you can get rid of it with an odor blocker. These are little things you stick in your fridge, and they absorb the smells from all the different food. So, your fridge won’t stink, and your house won’t get any of the bad odors either!

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Leave Your Bathroom Door Open After Washing

One last tip for you; keep the door to your bathroom open after you’ve had a bath or shower. All this does is allow the lovely smell of your shower gel and shampoo to drift throughout your house. It’s a really clever way to fill your home with nice smells before guests come around. 

Say goodbye to all those gross smells that trouble your nostrils from time to time. With these tips, your home will constantly smell nice, and be more appealing as a result. I often find that improving the way your home smells is one of the cheapest, yet most effective, home improvements you can think of. 

How To Survive Being On Your Feet All Day

It’s a tough world out there, and sometimes you have to be tough to survive in it. If you’re a parent, then it’s doubly tough because of how much responsibility you have, and it can feel like you never get a break. If your job requires you to be on your feet all day it can feel like an absolute blessing when you get to come in from a hard day’s work and kick those shoes off. However, as a parent, your day doesn’t finish when you get in from work. You may still have errands to run, kids to pick up, jobs to do round the house. Your weekends are probably even busier than your working week. All this rushing around you do can start to take its toll on your body: Sore feet, aches and pains, lethargy, blisters, all will put a dampener on your day and leave you struggling to make it through the next one. Below are three fool-proof ways to make sure that having a busy lifestyle and being on your feet all day doesn’t leave you drained and dreading the morning anymore.

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Shoes

If you are on your feet all day, you are going to need to invest in quality footwear that is up to the task. You are also going to have to sacrifice some form in favour of function. Those stiletto heels may look great, but after an hour or two you’ll regret picking them out, and by the end of the day, you’ll be wishing you didn’t have feet. Pick something that is smart and stylish, but above all, comfortable. This may mean buying from somewhere that is more expensive than your usual shops, but when you can take your shoes off at the end of the day and feel fine, it’ll be worth the extra money. Invest in a good insole too. Companies like biopods.com offer sturdy insoles that will work with your shoes to provide comfort and support all day long.

Move around

If your job dictates that you are on your feet, but you are usually standing in one spot, like being a cashier or something similar, you need to move around once in a while to get the blood moving. Standing still for long periods of time not only makes your joints feel seized and sore, but it can cause the blood in your body to struggle to get around effectively and could lead to you fainting. Get your legs moving and your heart pumping every now and then to ensure that you don’t become fatigued by standing in one place all day.

Take breaks

Taking a break can be easier said than done sometimes, especially when you have so much to do. However, you can’t expect yourself to get through a whole day or work and activities without a break. Take some time every hour or two to sit down for five minutes just to relax and take the weight off your feet. Just a small break like this can help you to recuperate a little and help make the day all the more manageable.

Hopefully, these tips have helped to arm you in the struggle against tired feet and busy lives. Remember to take it easy on yourself and remember that you’re only human.

Bringing Natural Lushness To Your Home

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Decorating your home is a wonderful thing to do. It helps you express your personality completely in an area that is completely, totally and unequivocally yours. For many people, this is an exciting feeling that allows for some true freedom and utility in how they experience their home. Still, we should never think that we have all of the answers. Some of the best and most gorgeous home decorations that work for you might come through decors you haven’t tried applying just yet.

We’d argue that the most universal of these are the natural implements you house in your home. These furnishings offer a story, are authentic, and trump anything you can buy at a simple home comforts store.

But what implements should you bring into your home? Let us explain:

Amish Quilts

We all know that the Amish are against modern forms of manufacture to a degree. This affords them the integrity of making most of their clothing and fabrics by hand. For this reason, the amish quilts they make are some of the most incredible, soft and durable items you can use as a throw, or a blanket for your bed. These are heavy, mostly made of wool, and are thick yet breathable. Not only that, but they often come with a beautiful array of patterns. This can allow for a gorgeous and expressive piece in your home that you just know has had love poured into its crafting.

Himalayan Salt Lamps

If you’re looking for lighting with a twist, Himalayan salt lamps can provide this to you. These crystallized structures look gorgeous, are completely unique, and offer a warm and inviting spill of light. There is also talk that these can reduce the electrical static in a room, allowing for a much more relaxing presence within. Reading reviews of these products show that some find this immensely useful, while others believe it to be placebo. At any rate, the lamps are gorgeous, one of the most interesting and alternate features you can have in a room. If you’re looking for an excellent focal point, this could just be it.

Reclaimed Wood

Of course, no wood is artificial, but some ways of producing and varnishing furniture can certainly make it seem uniform and boring. If you’re looking for wood with a certain historical significance, then finding reclaimed wood can help you craft furniture of outstanding unique value. For example, using a thick and raw piece of wood to make a coffee table with will allow you to see the rings of age in the central component. Pointing to your companion and expressing that this ring in the coffee table is older than your house, and maybe older than your grandmother can certainly stimulate some interesting discussion.

These forms of furniture offer a rustic appeal, so there’s no argument as to why they are so popular. If you feel your home needs a new piece of furniture, why not make this one of the main staples? You might just craft something no one else has.

With these tips, your home is sure to be a wonderful place of natural furnishing implements.