Some of the Things We Love About France

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Whether you've been lucky enough to have lived or traveled there, or you find yourself drawn to anything French, there are many things to love about France. From the French living room furniture to the cool French girl style, everybody has their favorite. Indulge your inner Francophile and compare the following list to your favorites.

Food

How can you say enough about the food? Rich, delicious and perfectly prepared dishes at restaurants. Fresh baguettes and creamy fromage make a tasty meal when paired with fruit and wine. Fois gras is a decadent indulgence and escargot, green with herbs is the stuff of dreams. 

Wine

If you are from the United States, chances are your love affair with wine started with the big, bold flavors of California Cabernets. While delicious, they can easily overpower a meal and leave you too full for the food. Try a Cote du Rhone for a lighter touch that is perfect when paired with food, or treat yourself to a Chateauneuf du Pape. If you are into white wines, you can't go wrong with a Chablis or a Sancerre.

Accent

Why does everything sound more exotic with a French accent? Maybe it's the allure of the subtle difference in sounds that don't exist in the English language. Whatever the reason, the French accent is lovely and melodic. 

Museums

There is no shortage of stunning museums in Paris alone. The iconic Louvre with its I.M.Pei designed glass pyramid hosts the Three Graces, Cupid and Psyche, and Napolean's apartments, among thousands of other antiquities. The Musee d'Orsay amazes visitors with the ornate ballroom. The Rodin Museum has art, architecture and sweeping landscaped gardens to soothe the soul. Sit under the trees on a bench or make a picnic by the fountains on a beautiful day.

The list could go on forever. However, these are just a sampling of all the wonderful French things to be enjoyed. Have fun finding your favorites. 

Tips for Protecting Your Septic System

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Your septic system is like a private sewage plant, carrying away the waste from your household. Those who don’t have access to a municipal sewer line rely on these systems that are out of sight and generally odorless. If you can smell your sewage, there is a problem with the system. With the proper maintenance, you shouldn’t have any issues with your septic system. However, it is recommended that you call the septic cleaning Danbury CT area professional for a cleanout every one to three years. In the meantime, you can follow these rules to reduce damage or malfunction.

Inspect and Record

Make sure you are inspecting your system several times a year. You can just do a visual inspection, documenting anything that looks out of place and how you resolved the issue.

Pump Out Regularly

The general rule of thumb is to pump out your septic tank at least once every three years. This helps to make certain that the solids in the tank are fully broken down and won’t clog the drain field. Having the system routinely pumped can extend the life of the system and prevent failure.

Conserve and Monitor

Watch how much water you use at one time, as an overload can cause a backup. Septic systems have sizes that correspond to the design of the house, and too much pressure on the system causes malfunction.

Avoid Excessive Chemicals

It is okay to use normal amounts of household cleaners and detergent, as conservative amounts don’t destroy the bacteria keeping the septic tank working. Dumping too many chemicals or thick liquids down the drain (such as oil, paint, cooking fats, or coffee grounds) can easily clog the systems and create a backup.

Many people know the dangers of flushing paper towels, diapers, and other non-decomposable materials into the septic tank. However, these other areas are less commonly recognized as harmful to a septic system.

Find Your Forever Home

Your forever home might seem like so far away for you at the minute. A forever home is a home that you feel you can settle down in for the rest of your life. But often people don't feel like they have found their forever home. Instead they're left battling through a home that they just can't vibe with. A home that doesn't exactly look how they want it to, and a home that never really feels stable. Talk about picking out faults every single day to be wound up about! Does this sound like your reality? Well, then it's time to think about finding your forever home. Life is going to be so much easier when you feel as though you've got a home that you can actually be happy with. One that at least meets nearly all of your expectations before you even start to make changes to it. So, we're going to show you how you can achieve just that. Keep on reading to find out more.

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Figuring Out Money

Money is definitely something that you need to be able to figure out. It can be so hard to figure out money when you already feel like you're spending so much. But, we have such a good solution for you that we think will work. You could remortgage your house and use the money for a deposit on another one. You could then rent your old home out and keep making money on it year after year. It's an easy way to get a quick deposit. You also need to consider making cut backs until the move is done. You can then have a little bit more in the way of savings until the move is done. If you're doing this with a combined income of that and your partner this will be a whole lot easier. 

Finding A Dream Location

Then it's on to think about the part of moving that dominates everyone's thoughts, the location and the house. We think location is truly everything. If you live near a really good town or city it makes the experience so much better. You're always surrounded by good things to do and the value of your house will go up and up as the years go on. People don't want to live in the city anymore they just want to live close by. Wyndham Ridge is just one example of a great development plan you could consider checking out. As long as your finances can handle it and you're in an area you love, you can then think about the features of the home that you want to consider. 

All Of The Features To Consider 

There are so many things to think about. Do you want an open plan kitchen or not? Do you want a garden facing the sun or not? How many bedrooms? How many bathrooms? The list could go on and we'd definitely recommend that you do write a list so you know everything that you're going to want and need. 

The Best Ways to Earn Some Extra Cash From Home

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There are all kinds of ways to earn money from home these days, but you have to be careful. Many ‘opportunities’ that present themselves are no more than scams, or use unsavoury methods to get you on board. In the case of things like network marketing, many people that start it up never actually earn a penny, meaning it’s a total waste of time. But don’t be put off, as there really are ways you can earn an extra income without leaving your home- here are some examples. 

Create content

Creating content is a fun way to spend your time, and once you’ve built up a following you’ll get plenty of opportunities for paid work. You could start a blog, a Youtube channel or an Instagram account and create visual or written content for others to enjoy. This isn’t a get rich quick scheme, it can take a lot of hard work and effort to reach the stage where advertisers want to work with you. But it makes a good hobby to begin with, and later down the line you can look into turning it into a reliable stream of income. 

Start your own home business

Do you have a passion in a certain area? Maybe it’s fashion, beauty or interior design. Perhaps you have a skill like baking or crafting that you can use to make products to sell. Starting a business from home can usually be done without a lot of money to get up and running, and because there’s no travel time to factor in it can be something you easily work around a full time job, parenting or other commitments. As it will be something based on your skills and interests, chances are it will be fun and rewarding to do, too. 

Become a freelancer

Freelancing is great as you don’t need lots of time and effort to build up a venture. You sign up to a freelancing site, take a short quiz to test your skills and can get right to work. You can bid on the projects you’d like to do, meaning it’s all within your control. Each piece will have a deadline, but you’re in control of how many pieces you take on. You could be writing articles, designing logos, building apps- whatever it is that suits your skill set. 

Get into trading

Finally, it can feel a little daunting to get into trading if you’re new to it, but there’s lots of help and support out there. Do some research, find out if you want to trade xrp or btc, if you’ll trade stock market shares or commodities like oil or gold. It’s all done online so you wont need to physically store anything. There’s software you can buy to ‘practice’ moving your money around, and if can be really fascinating to do. 

3 Things To Do With Your Best Friends

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Date nights with your partner or spouse are important, but don’t forget to make some time for your best friend. If it’s been too long since you’ve created a new memory together, why not take a trip or try something new? Here are three unique things you can try with your best friend.

Horseback Riding

If the two of you are animal lovers, horseback riding Roachdale IN is the perfect activity to share. There are plenty of farms with experienced instructors that are willing to teach you. Consider booking a trail ride through the woods or learning the different styles of riding.

Rock Climbing

Although rock climbing looks terrifying if you’ve never done it, there are plenty of safety measures in place. Grab your friend and sign up for a lesson to learn how to properly tie into a harness and belay each other, a technique in which one of you will climb and the other will feed the rope through a device attached to their own harness. This is a great hobby that will build trust and let you work together.

Circus Arts

If you’ve ever seen a Cirque du Soleil show and wondered if you have what it takes, then it’s time to talk your best friend into finding out with you. Search for aerial fitness or circus schools near you to find a beginners class. From silks to tightrope walking to pole dancing, there are dozens of possibilities. You and your friend will have lots of laughs and get some great pictures out of this occasion.

After you’ve tried something totally new together, relax with a few mimosas at the local brunch hangout. Why not make it a goal to try something new once a month? Making time for each other is important and will bring you closer. 

Preparing to Create Your Dream Garden

Are you wanting to give your garden an overhaul but don't know where to start? It can be tricky knowing exactly what you want when it comes to designing your own dream garden at home. Things such as space restrictions, budget or expertise in gardening can be overwhelming but when you break it down, it isn't really all that hard, if you know where to start.

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Know What You Want

Simple, you might think. you know how you want your garden to look. But do you know all the small details? Have you planned on all the features, small details, decorations, time scale and so on?

Look at other people's gardens, search online - Pinterest is ideal, read magazines etc. All of this will help you to decide on exactly what you want your garden to look like and what exactly what you need to achieve that look.

Do you want a garden brought to life by a plethora of plants and or even a vegetable patch or are you looking for a more minimalistic look? If you aren't very green-fingered there are many options you can choose that are low maintenance. 

Your dream garden may look full of life, decorated with an abundance of colours but if you can't manage the upkeep of a garden full of plants, you may need to re-evaluate your dream.

Measure Up

So now you know what you want your garden to look like, you can start to measure up the space you have to see how you can make it happen.

If you only have a smaller garden, you may need to rethink your plans, as the last thing you want is for your garden to be cluttered and lose the effect you were going for. This also applies to those with larger gardens, make sure you have accounted for all of the space you have to use to really make sure your garden creates the space you envisioned.

Keep pathways wide enough for people to walk on, pets to navigate or even prams and wheelchairs.

Do You Need Professional Help?

There are certain aspects of garden renovations you may feel like you need professional help with. Contacting professionals such as the Sydney Tree Company can help you when it comes to tree maintenance or paving experts to help you create an outdoor flooring area to really bring your garden to life.

You will need to consider this when looking at your budget and how you need to allocate it. Whilst learning to do it yourself is always a great approach - and cheaper - sometimes you need to bring in experts in certain areas to get you the look you dream of.

Once you have all the above figured out, then all you need to do is to make a start on creating your dream garden. The quicker you finalise plans, the quicker you can enjoy the benefits of your hard work.

How To Make Your Voice heard in Politics

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Being educated about and involved in politics is important. Everyone deserves to have a say in how they are represented in Washington DC, and corresponding with your representatives is one of the best ways to do so. So, here are two tips to effectively contact your representatives.

Online Resources

If you've ever thought, "How do I contact my DC representative?" the quickest and easiest way to do that is by email or another online resource. Most politicians have ways to contact them listed on their official websites, and you can send your exact thoughts in that way. However, there are official websites dedicated to making your voice heard on the issues you care about, such as eVoiceAmerica, which is linked above. If you care about the issues the American people face and you have ideas, don't be afraid to contact your representatives through email.

Know Who Represents You

Every city has its own set of representatives at varying levels, whether at the local, state, or federal level, so it can sometimes be confusing to decide who you're supposed to contact for what reason. The person who most directly represents you at the highest level is the person who represents your district in the federal government. There are online resources where you can input your zip code, and it will tell you who your representative is. This is the person you will want to contact for most of the big, important issues people tend to care about the most. For local representatives, visit your city or county's official website.

Making your voice heard in politics is the duty of a civilian. For your representative to be able to represent your beliefs properly, he or she needs to know what beliefs you hold. The more eloquent and articulate you are about your position, the more likely they are to understand you and represent you properly.

Is Nutrisystem A Good Diet?

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Nutrisystem aims to make weight-loss easier. You don’t need to determine whether or not meals will match your diet plan. You don’t need to count calories or carbohydrates. You don’t need to obsess over appropriate portion sizes. However, needless to say, you also cannot consume whatever you wish to. 

So, why is it so simple? This is because you purchase many of your meals from Nutrisystem. The company sends it to your door. Every day, you consume a Nutrisystem breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. You may also order side products such as fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as snacks.

The downside: You are not advised to eat out, and alcohol is to be avoided on the plan too.

The program is not for women that are pregnant, individuals with long-term kidney illness, or anyone with specific allergies. It’s not for kids under the age of 14, although Nutrisystem does provide packages for teenagers aged 14 to 17.

THE THINGS YOU CAN CONSUME AND THE THINGS YOU CAN'T 

Nutrisystem is a 28-day regime that provides pre-packaged food.

Morning meal options consist of oatmeal, granola, muffins, and pancakes.

Lunches and dinners consist of options like tacos, chicken and pasta, soup, stew, and chili, as well as pizza. You can find a great crockpot bean soup recipe here if you would like to make your own meals rather than purchasing them readymade.

For desserts and snacks, you may have cookies, cake, or brownies. 

The regime offers a lengthy list of vegetables, fruits, nuts, dairy, and fresh meat, as well as other foods that you can eat together with your Nutrisystem foods.

In general, the foods and diet plans concentrate on:

• A range of nutrients: About 50% of your energy comes from carbs, 25% from proteins, and 25% from fats.
• "Smart" carbohydrates: These types of carbs do not increase your blood sugar levels as much as other meals. On the regime, you’ll have to reduce or even stay away from high-GI (high-Glycerin Index) foods (including white rice, white bread, and also certain fruits).
• Restricted calories: The energy count was designed to enable you to shed a pound or two weekly on this eating plan.
• Restricted sodium: As outlined by the company, the packages offer around 2,000 milligrams of sodium per day. The food you purchase by yourself might add to the overall.

LEVEL OF EFFORT: MEDIUM 

Purchasing a month’s worth of what you need to eat is easy, and the items are made for you. However, you won’t enjoy your normal level of control over what food you consume. And, you receive get less energy than you are accustomed to.

Limitations: You choose your meals from the options Nutrisystem provides. 

Cooking and shopping: You can purchase a 28-day delivery of foods that the company chooses, or you can select each item yourself.

You barely have to cook, given that the majority of Nutrisystem meals are ready to be eaten or only require warming. However, a few things that you purchase from the food store, like veggies and fish, might involve more preparation.

Exercise: Nutrisystem recommends you have at least around half an hour of physical exercise daily.

5 Tips For Hosting A Successful Dinner Party

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Dinner parties have always been a great way to entertain family and friends, providing the perfect environment to get together, enjoy good food and have a great conversation. But for many people, dinner parties are also quite stressful, with a lot of pressure put on the host to ensure that evening runs smoothly for all attendees. So how can you be sure to throw a successful dinner party? Here are our top five tips. 

1. Plan Plan Plan 

Dinner parties can end up quite complex, especially when you start to increase the number of guests you are catering to. Try to plan dinner parties as far in advance as you can to give everyone plenty of time to book childcare at home and to sort out their own diaries, while you plan the menu and your own home preparations. 

2. Do discuss dietary requirements

There’s nothing worse than pulling together a fantastic menu only to be put on the spot when someone reveals their intolerance to a key ingredient. Regardless of who you’ve invited be sure to ask them if they have any dietary requirements or serious dislikes to any foods so that you can plan a menu that you know your guests will love. 

3. Think outside the box

The food is a big focal point at dinner parties, so give everyone something to talk about by thinking outside of the box and preparing a menu with some exotic flavors that your guests may never have tried before. Why not head to South India with this sambar recipe or take a trip to Morocco with a slow-cooked tagine? Don’t be afraid of bold, new flavors, just find a reputable recipe, and follow it. 

4. Choose a menu that can be prepared in advance

Your guests want you to be present at your own dinner party, so try to avoid recipes that will have you slaving over the stove all evening when you really want to be socializing with your guests. The key to spending minimal time in the kitchen is in creating a menu that can be largely prepared in advance and requires less overall effort. For starters, opt for something cold that you can plate up ahead of time, for main courses consider things such as curries, stews, and tagines that can be slow-cooked during the day and that don’t require any elaborate plating, and for dessert go for something that can easily be reheated or that have already been left to set in the fridge. 

5. Make it as self-serve as possible

Finally, to reduce your workload one further, try to ensure that as many aspects of your dinner party are self-service. For example, set up a drinks table with all the things your guests could need to make themselves their own drinks and when it comes to food, choose big sharing platters and allow people to serve themselves at the table. This more communal and relaxed style of dinner party takes a huge amount of stress off your own plate while giving guests the freedom they want to be able to get a drink when they like and to put as much as they do or don’t want on their own plates.

Simple Ways to Save Your Business Money

Without being able to balance the books and keep your business in the black, your business is likely to fail. Of course, getting more customers and boosting your business in that way is going to be the main aim of the business. However, there are still plenty of things that you can do to cut costs and curb your spending, which can be more immediate and quicker than building up more sales. So as they say, when a penny is saved, a penny is earned. So here are some of the things that you can do to save money in business. 

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➤ Set an example: one of the things that can help to save money is for you to be on top of your spending, and setting an example to others when it comes to things like expenses. When you do something and show others what you’re doing, the rest of the team are much more likely as well. 

➤ Hold less meetings: meetings can be something that can hinder productivity for a business, as well as take up a lot of money. How many times have you had a meeting with a client and you buy lunch or put on a spread of food and drinks? How many times have you had to travel to a meeting, all of which have associated costs that add up? Have less people attend meetings, and really limit face-to-face meetings in order to save some money.

➤ Move away from traditional marketing: running things like magazine ads and TV adverts are expensive, and really, you can’t measure the impact that those things will have. But in comparison, more modern ways to market your business can cost less, and can be more effective. So think about how you market your business, and look for the most cost-effective methods.

➤ Change small daily costs: there are a lot of small costs that can occur daily that can be a problem as they do add up to be quite a lot. Think about the credit card payment processing that you currently use, for example. Something that sounds like it is a small fee can add up and actually lead to be quite a lot, especially over time. So something as simple and changing provider can make a difference. You could also think about costs to things like coffee machines and disposable cups in an office; these costs can add up, but aren’t necessary.

➤ Consider remote working: one of the biggest costs that a workforce will experience is the cost of rent on an office space. So think about remote working, if you are in a position to do so. A small team, all working from home, meeting up from time to time, could be what you need to do if you are in a financial bind. 

➤ Buy supplies in bulk: As a rule, things are going to be cheaper when you buy them in bulk. It can be hard to buy in bulk as a cash-strapped startup, but if you are in a position to pay for more things up-front, then it can make a big difference to your cash flow long term.