Monday, February 24, 2020

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay 
If you’re worried about what you would do if you were to have a car accident then don’t worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Although the chances of getting into a car accident are low, you need to ensure you’re as prepared as you can be should the situation arise. Whilst it may be overwhelming and stressful, there are lots of things you can do to make the situation a little easier. From remaining calm to calling for help, the more you’re doing the better. With that in mind, here are 5 things to consider if you find yourself in a car accident:

Are You Remaining Calm?

One of the most important things you can do if you find yourself in an accident is to remain calm. Although the situation is incredibly stressful and overwhelming, staying calm will help to ensure you’re approaching the situation as rationally as you possibly can. If there are others in the car with you, you need to ensure you’re also helping them to stay calm. For tips and tricks when it comes to staying calm in an emergency situation, you can visit this site here.

Have You Called For Help? 

Once you have calmly assessed the situation, you need to call the right people for help. Whether that means calling your friends and family or calling the emergency services, getting help should be your main priority. If you don’t have your phone on your or you’re struggling to connect, you may need to attract someone’s attention in order to ask for their help. Chances are if you’ve been in an accident, there will be people who stop and offer to help regardless.

Are You Hurt Or Do You Need To Seek Medical Attention?

If you or anyone in your car is hurt, you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you’re seriously injured or someone needs attention right alway, calling an ambulance should be one of the first things you do. If you’re feeling sore as a result of your accident, you may be able to wait a couple of days before booking an appointment. At the end of the day, you need to do what’s right for you.

Do You Need A Replacement Car?

Another important thing to consider is whether or not you’re going to need a replacement car. Depending on the damage that you have done to your car, chances are you’re going to need to use a loan car for a couple of weeks. If you’re looking for a loan car you can use after your accident, you may want to consider contacting not my fault car hire.

Will You Be Claiming On Your Insurance? 

Finally, you may also want to consider if you’re going to be claiming on your car insurance. Although there are certain cases where you’re not going to be able to make a claim, it’s always worth contacting them to find out exactly what you’re entitled to. For a guide to claiming on your car insurance, you can visit this site here.

Are you worried about being in a car accident? What can you do following an accident to ensure you're approaching things as calmly as you possibly can? Did we miss anything off the list? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.



Saturday, February 22, 2020

Spring 2020 Makeup Trends You Should Know About

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Throughout the various seasons, you might see different makeup trends. But what you’d wear around Christmas might vary hugely to what you wear in spring. 

This spring, there is an array of fabulous makeup trends that you should know about. A new era of makeup, these bold looks will certainly stand out from the crowd:

1. The Bright Lip

This year, the bold lip is making a comeback. From bright reds to light pinks, there are plenty of vibrant shades out there for you to choose from. Whether you opt for a matte lipstick or a traditional satin finish, you’ll look and feel fabulous the moment that you step out of the house. 

With hundreds of different brands to choose from, you’ll be able to find a bold lipstick that fits your style and your price point. 

2. The Red Smokey Eye 

Ok, so everyone knows about the power of the grey or black smokey eye. So if you’re looking for something a little different this spring, opt for the red smokey eye. 

A trend that’s rapidly on the rise, it looks wonderful no matter what your eye colour. If red isn’t your favourite choice, you could alternatively opt for navy blue, a light brown or a forest green (for those who really want to push the boat out). 

3. The Floating Eyeliner

Another prominent makeup trend that’s sweeping the catwalks and Instagram is floating eyeliner. Many people might not be brave enough to do this look as it is quite extreme, but it’s very fashionable. 

A fun new thing to try, you could do it with black eyeliner or try out a bolder, neon colour. You could also do it in a more unique shape, like a cloud, angel wings or a dramatic cat-eye. There are plenty of sites with inspiration for this trend, including Pinterest.

4. Sheer/Natural Makeup

Why not take it back to basics with sheer or ‘barely there’ makeup. This spring many people are opting for this look, ditching the glam style of yesteryear. Choosing a light highlighter and other natural-looking products, it brings out your inner beauty and whos that less truly is more. 

A lot of celebrities swear by this look – from Jessica Biel to Blake Lively and Kendell Jenner.

5. Brightly-Coloured Mascara

Mascara doesn’t always have to be black. This year, why not give it a break with the traditional mascara and experiment with brightly coloured mascara for once? Think neon pink, blues, greens and other colours. A bold makeup statement, it’s something that you will want to pair with natural lipstick and eyeshadow so that it’s not too OTT. 

Final Thoughts

So, there you go! Those are 5 of the top 2020 makeup trends that you should be aware of this spring. What style you choose to replicate, of course, is up to you. Makeup is a very individual preference and something that everyone chooses to do differently. But whatever out of the above you go for, just know that you’ll look (and feel) fabulous! 



Thursday, February 20, 2020

Planning For The Future Of Your Family

It can be a difficult task to look after your family, juggling work, and social life. It can be tempting to get so wrapped up in the here and now instead of looking to the future. But at some point,  you will need to start planning for the future of your children, and here are some questions you will want to ask yourself:

I have assets and income, but can I live comfortably? 
When will I be able to afford to retire?
Have I enough to consider giving money to my children?
What impact would my death or serious illness have on my family and life plans?

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It is quite often a serious injury or illness that forces you out of work for a while that propels you to start asking these questions. However, you should be thinking about all of these things anyway, especially if you have children. Most jobs will typically have a period in which you are entitled to be sick and still get paid, and many people run out of money pretty fast when this period is up.

Before you do anything else or set up anything, sit down and take a close look through your finances. Write down your income for a month, and list any significant expenses, like your rent or mortgage, auto insurance, home insurance, and taxes that come out instantly. Whatever money you have left is what you have to spend on food, travel and anything else. Looking at this, do you have enough to maintain a comfortable lifestyle?

If not, there are things that you might need to think about.

First of all, you need to discuss whether you have plans in place to add to your family. While a blessing, children can add more financial pressure. If you know that this would make things difficult, a vasectomy will take away the worry. 

Can you downsize your home? If you have more rooms than you actually need, it may be worth selling up and buying something smaller. Not only will this be cheaper outright, but the running and maintenance costs are likely to be lower on a smaller property. 

Increasing your income stream may be another possibility. While that is easier said than done, if you have a bit of spare time and a good idea, you can make a fair amount of money around your regular job. Perhaps you are can play the piano and could offer piano lessons on the weekend, or maybe you are good with wood and can make items to be sold on Etsy? Think outside of the box and see where the opportunities lie!

Can you reduce your expenses? Shopping around for your utilities and insurance can save you money every month, as would cutting out unnecessary costs. Have you got into the habit of picking up a coffee on the way to work, or grabbing lunch in the office canteen? Cutting those out and taking them from home can save a considerable amount.

There are plenty of things that you can do now to improve your financial future and leave your family safe and secure. 


Saturday, February 15, 2020

Getting Rid Of Fat Can Be Easy

Many of us go through periods when we are feeling a little bulkier than usual. This is part of the normal cycle of things, but if you find that you have got to a point where your body weight is unhealthy, or you just want to look a little better in the mirror, then you might want to do something about it. Fortunately, getting rid of fat is much easier than you might think, and it is something that anybody can achieve if they set their mind to it. In this article, we will discuss some of the most effective methods that you might want to consider.

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Strength Training

A lot of people immediately look to cardio exercise when they are trying to get rid of fat. Cardio is hugely important, and as we will see it is another of the major things you need to be doing to burn fat. But it is not the only kind of exercise that helps to reduce fat - strength training also does. If you do enough strength training, your body will respond by burning more fat than usual, and converting more calories from your food into muscle, rather than fat. So start lifting weights today - even if you are not particularly looking to bulk up.


Nonsurgical Options

If you have a lot of fat that you would like to get rid of, you might well have considered surgery at some point or another. Of course, that is a drastic step to take, and it’s important to make sure that you don’t just go straight into it without thinking about your options deeply. Actually, there are many things you can do to make sure that you get rid of fat, including nonsurgical options. Learn more about nonsurgical fat removal if you want to look into these options.

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Eat More Protein

You need to think about the kind of diet you are eating too if you want to get rid of fat as much as possible. In particular, you might want to think about eating a high-protein diet, as that is one which is going to help convert more calories into muscle rather than fat. Just changing to a high-protein diet, and not even watching your calories, is going to really help you to get rid of so much more fat, so this is a powerful thing that you should bear in mind.


Get Your Good Fats

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to not eat any fat at all. You need fat, and you continue to need it even if you have a lot of fat on the body, as those reserves are not enough and don’t provide the right nutrients. In particular, make sure you are eating plenty of good, healthy fats, while avoiding the bad ones like saturated fats. If you don’t believe this works, just look at the keto diet: that is a high-fat, low-carb diet, and it is proven to help you lose weight incredibly fast. So get your fats if you want to lose fat.


Friday, February 14, 2020

Find Your Passion & Turn It Into A Business

Having a passion in life is so important, yet as an adult, we feel like it is a lost art. Think of the number of things you loved to do as a small child, or even as a young adult. You might have been into your sports, or you might have played an instrument, or you might have been into dancing. The point is, as children and young adults it’s sort of expected of us to have some sort of passion and hobby. You don’t realize how much it keeps you grounded until it’s gone. Because now all your life will be focused on is work and socializing, and perhaps even a family if you have started one. So, we want to inspire you to find your passion in life, and turn it into a business. Pretty much every passion in life can be turned into a business, you just have to put your business thinking cap on. So, if you keep on reading, we’ll show you some of the best passions to turn into a business.

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Helping People

If helping people is just in your nature, then there are so many careers that you can go into that would suit this passion. Naturally, most people think of a public service or healthcare role, but there are so many other ways of helping people. For example, if criminal law interests you and you want to defend the innocent, get your law degree. If Kim Kardashian can do it will all of the things that she has going on in her life, you can too! It’s so easy to get into as well once you have the qualification. A small-town law firm can have so much success, but only with good promotion. Using Elite Lawyer Management is just one of the ways that you can do so. We’ve probably made this a lot easier than it sounds, but it is one of the easier paths to follow in terms of a business idea because there’s always going to be someone who needs representing and can’t afford the costs of big lawyers.

Cars & Bikes

So many people have a passion for cars and bikes, and it’s not just men. Although the stereotype used to be that it was just men, we love that more women are now into their cars and bikes. So much so that people all around the world have the passion of buying old cars and doing them up, using them for a year or two and then selling them on. So, why not turn this into a lucrative business idea? There’s actually a big gap in the market for this idea, and you don’t even have to invest a ton of money because the likelihood of you making money from a classic car restoration is huge! Plus, you could do it all from the comfort of your drive, so you don’t even need to rent an garage space. It’s a really low investment business idea when looking at the money you will make back.


Taking the step to branch out and start your own business can be an exciting time. Knowing how you want to progress your career can take you to places you have been dreaming of and allow you to come out from the shadow of an employer and show the world what you have to offer. 

Image credit: Pexels CC0 License
Being prepared mentally, practically, financially is essential. You want to give yourself the best chance to succeed before you startup to help you grow your business. 

With over 50% of new businesses failing in the first 5 years, it makes sense that you would want to put foundations in place to help you avoid the common pitfalls many new businesses face. 

Create a Business Plan. 

Starting without a business plan is like building a home without a foundation. If you don't know what your goals are or how you are going to make the business a success you are setting yourself up for failure. This goes for any business regardless of the sector you are looking to start up in. 

Ask yourself questions such as the following to help you create your road map to force your new startup forward with the best chance of success. 

  • What are you offering? 
  • Do you have a unique selling point? If not, can you find one? 
  • Who is your ideal customer? 
  • What competition is there for your business? 
  • How are you going to attract your ideal customer? 
  • Will you have opportunities to grow and expand your company and/products and services? 
  • How long before you will realistically be able to turn a profit? 
  • What finance or backing will you need to get up and running? How will you get the right finance for you? 
  • Do you need staff? How will you train them up and what equipment do they need? 
Being as thorough as possible will help make sure you are starting off on the right foot.

Prepare Yourself. 

Are you ready to take the next step? Chances are you feel like it is time. But making sure you have prepared yourself is always a good idea. 

Get your finances in order before quitting your current employment. Make sure you are in a good position to be able to withstand an uneven income for at least the first few months of your company. Look to clear any debts and create a savings pot to help you pay your bills. This will cover you in the event of not turning a profit immediately. 

Expanding your knowledge and skills is also a great idea too. Consider taking mba online courses to help you brush up on your skills and knowledge. Delve into your sector more and your homework. 

Look for changes in your industry to help you accommodate this into your company and look for ways you can fill gaps in the market. Adapt what you are offering to meet demand and work out how you can effectively implement this before starting up. 

The more you can do before your company is up and running will give you a head start when you are ready to open up to customers. 


At this time of year, many of us are taking a long, hard look at our finances. The excesses of Christmas are long behind us, and many of us are starting to think about how to get back on track, and how we can trim down our expenses. However, it can be a lot easier said than done. If you are overstretched and need to evaluate your finances, here are a few areas in which you might be able to save a bit of cash.

Image Credit: Pixabay CC0 License
Debts

Sadly, many of us have a debt of some kind, and these need to be prioritized as they can get you into a real financial mess and affect your credit rating. It may be that you need to consider additional forms of income or seek professional financial advice if you are struggling.

You may also want to consider getting in touch with creditors to lower your repayments or come up with some sort of payment plan to help get them back under control while leaving you with enough money to live on.

Lower your expenses

First of all, take a look at your utility bills (gas, electricity, and water) and work out whether you are getting the best possible deal. It may be worth phoning up your supplier and seeing if they can offer you a better deal, and if not, switch suppliers.

This also applies to other expenses. For example, your auto insurance. It is something we all need, but if you do not drive many miles, it may be more money than it’s worth. You cannot avoid paying it, however, but there are insurers out there who will cover you on a mile by mile basis? A Metromile overview will give you more information about this sort of scheme if it sounds right for you.

Look at your spending habits.

The chances are you waste money. We all do! It might be that cheeky cafe au lait in the way into work, or that bagel at lunchtime. It might be that bottle of water you grab while you are out or that gym subscription that you never have time to use. Keep a record of all of your spending for a week and see what you can cut out. Take a flask of coffee, a packed lunch and a reusable bottle of water with you to work, and take up running or home workouts and cancel the gym sub.

Some of these habits might be harder than others to cut out - they are often well ingrained and you do not think a couple of dollars here and there makes a difference, but when you add them all up at the end of a week or a month, you may be surprised.

With a bit of planning and preparation, and being a bit stricter with yourself when it comes to spending, you can save yourself a fair amount of money for the more important things in life.


Wednesday, February 12, 2020

How To Hire a Nanny

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Once children come into the picture and it is time to get back to the office, it is always a difficult decision choosing between a parent staying home, touring day cares or hiring a nanny. If you may be interested in hiring a professional to come to your home and look after your kids, keep reading. Here are a few tips on how to bring a nanny into your household. 

Use a Nanny Resource

There are many perks to using a nanny staffing agency to hire a nanny, but there may also be Facebook groups available in your area, specifically put together to connect families with potential caregivers. If you have friends and family who have used similar services, it doesn't hurt to ask around for recommendations.

Conduct Many Interviews

It is always a good idea to bring in many applicants in for an interview to help find the right person for the job. From there, you can narrow down the list and invite a few options to come and meet your children. You can then base who you want to hire on how they interact with your family. Your intuition will likely be a huge deciding factor during this process.

Better To Be Safe Than Sorry  

Once you have your very own Mary Poppins, it is highly recommended to order a driving record background check. It is always better to be safe than sorry in a situation where your loved ones are involved. Another great reason to use a nanny agency is that all applicants sent from these services will be pre-screened. References are also a great way to get an idea of a candidate's relationship with previous families.

If everything is done the right way, bringing a nanny into your household can be a positive and beneficial experience. There is nothing wrong with taking your time to find the right person for the job. With the tips above, you will be well on your way to doing so.   


Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Fun Decor Ideas For An 18th Birthday Party

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For a big birthday like an 18th, it is sometimes difficult coming up with unique gift ideas to help make that person feel special. Printed balloons make a great birthday gift as they are fun and something you only receive on your birthday which adds to the excitement of the special day. 

Birthdays should not come without celebration, after all, birthdays are the best excuse to party throughout the year! When giving a balloon, you want to add a personal touch as it shows you have put thought and care into the gift. So whether you just want to wish someone a happy 18th year or you want to make them laugh with your gift, here are the top eight printed balloons for an 18th birthday. You can also incorporate some of these sayings and ideas into a scrapbook if you’re looking for something the recipient can cherish for many years to come. A scrapbooking coach will help you to ensure you create a great gift.

Ideas for printed balloons

1. Happy 18th Birthday “name”- This might seem simple but it is really effective. Personalizing the balloon just with a person’s name shows that the balloon was created just for them and makes them feel loved in four simple words. To make it even more personal, you could have their nickname printed as well.

2. Baby photo- Putting a baby photo of the birthday boy/girl on printed balloons will really surprise them and even raise a giggle. It helps celebrate how much this person has grown up and celebrates their life and the achievement of reaching such a milestone. You could also add a funny catchphrase such as “You are no longer a baby” to go with the photo.

3. I’d like to raise a toast, it’s your 18th birthday- This pokes fun at the fact that the recipient is now legally allowed to drink while also pointing out it’s a cause for celebration. Any drink-related printed balloons are bound to raise some banter between friends.

4. Welcome to credit cards, phone bills and voting!- This sarcastic printed balloon shows the 18 year old what life ahead will be like while remaining light hearted and jovial.

5. May all your dreams come true- Printed balloons like this serious and heartfelt one show that you care not just on their birthday but what happens throughout their life. An 18th birthday can be emotional as it marks the beginning of adult life so an 18-year-old might appreciate this as they begin their new chapter.

6. A picture of champagne glasses- Drinking alcohol will be a novelty to a new 18-year-old so capture that excitement with a simple picture of some champagne glasses to signify the celebration!

7. 18, the best reason ever to get the party started!- What more does an 18-year-old want than to have some drinks and just party hard with friends. Follow suit and give them a balloon that encourages them to celebrate in style!

8. Photo collage- You could create printed balloons with a photo collage printed. Gather a few photos which show the birthday boy/girl happy and having fun and put them together to be printed onto some balloons. They will love taking a walk down memory lane to commemorate their birthday and will be amazed at the gesture.


Making That Proposal As Perfect As Possible

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Most people have an idea of how they would like falling in love with someone, and how that might lead into finally settling down with the person of their dreams. But the reality, especially in the important moments, is rarely how we picture it. That shouldn’t be something to lament, because oftentimes it can be even better than you may have first imagined. It’s worth making that potential known, because it opens up many options, particularly if you’re the one who needs to generate them.

Making that proposal as perfect as possible can be a worthwhile place to start, and a measure of planning that grants you confidence and comfort knowing that you want this more than anything else in life. Note that we add the ‘as possible’ to show that no proposal can be truly perfect, because it’s hard to know by what measure to achieve that. However, we can make it as perfect as we can for you, and that means tailoring excellent timeless wisdom to your own ends.

We’d like to offer some of that wisdom below:

Additional Sentimental Value

Consider what additional sentimental value you can add to the proposal to make things special. For instance, you may ask the band of a local restaurant to play your favorite jazz track as you’re about to pop the question, something that most hospitable establishments will only be happy to adhere to provided you give them plenty of notice. Perhaps taking them to the first place you met or renting out an entire part of a stadium late at night for the best view can help you add something special to the event, something extra to remember it by.

Public vs. Private

Not everyone wishes to be proposed to in the middle of a baseball game while their response is broadcast on the large game monitor for everyone to see. Some people wish for a private affair, together after a long walk through the Parisian streets, or perhaps along a beautiful stretch of beach you have both been walking together. Some do wish for that spectacle, some would rather anything but. Be sure to understand what your potential spouse may like and cater accordingly, it can have a large effect on how successful you are.

The Perfect Ring

While finding the perfect ring can mean different things to different people, it’s no less important to find something that allows you both to feel proud and that will serve as a milestone in your relationship. This is where services such as Whiteflash https://www.whiteflash.com/engagement-rings/tacori/ are so important, because not only do they help you assess the best rings for your possible purchase, but they hope to secure your business through ensuring you know exactly what you’re buying, such as staying clear about the kind of gems you are purchasing, what the value of a certain item is, and how this investment could truly help you.

With this advice, we hope you can make that proposal as perfect as possible.