11 Ways To Become A More Confident Driver

If you want to become a more confident driver, it’s important to realize that this isn't something that will happen overnight. It takes time to become a good, confident driver. Be prepared to work at this consistently. 

Below, you’ll find 11 ways you can become a more confident driver. Start working on these things now and you’ll have unshakable confidence on the road before you know it:

1. Take Extra Courses And Lessons

If you know you need to improve your confidence and fast, then taking extra courses and lessons could be the way to do it. Just because you’ve passed your driving test doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take extra workshops and courses if you feel like it will help you. You may be able to learn extra skills, tips, and tricks on these courses that will help you to become an overall better driver. You may even be able to find courses that enable you to spot hazards and avoid them by driving defensively. 

2. Get A Car That Suits You 

You must get a car that suits you - you shouldn’t get a car that’s too big or fast for you to handle, or you’ll likely make mistakes. Once you have a car you’re confident driving, make sure you’re as familiar with your car as can be before going out. You need to know what all of the symbols mean, as well as where your lights and other features are. This will enable you to drive as safely as possible. 

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3. Practice As Much As Possible

Practice makes perfect. You can’t expect to be a great, uber confident driver if you’ve only been out on the road a handful of times. Making short journeys to begin with will help you to get the hang of driving, and you can gradually build your way up to longer journeys. If you’re scared to drive, the longer you spend away from driving and the road will likely stop you from trying. You have to keep practicing to build on your skills and develop that confidence. 

4. Have A Good Idea Of Where You’re Going

Make sure you have a good idea of where you’re going so that you are sure nothing will trip you up on your way. You can download sat nav apps on your phone that are really useful, providing you have somewhere secure to place your phone as you drive. You shouldn’t need to touch it as you drive, or you could get distracted and get into an accident. Even if you don’t get distracted, you could get in big trouble for messing with your phone while you drive. 

5. Be Aware Of Any Diversions Or Accidents

Research the route before you set off, even if you have a sat nav. This way, nothing can throw you off as you make your way to your destination. You want to make sure you’re aware of any diversions or accidents ahead of time so you don’t panic when you’re in the car. 

6. Take The Weather Into Account 

The weather will affect how long it takes you to get to your destination, as well as how you drive. You need to take a wider berth around bikers and horses, and you should also make sure you leave at least a few seconds in between you and the car in front. Wet roads make stopping times longer, so you need to account for this. 

If the weather is particularly severe, you should avoid driving altogether. For example, icy roads can cause accidents, and snow can be very difficult to navigate. If you have no choice but to drive, make sure you take your time and that you have things in the car that will help you in an emergency. This includes a phone, phone charger, first aid kit, torch, and so on. 

7. Avoid Driving With Friends

Driving with friends while you’re trying to build your confidence could have an adverse effect. If there is too much talking around you, you might find yourself more distracted and focused on them rather than the road ahead. You may find yourself needing to contact a car accident lawyer, rather than enjoying the trip. Limit the amount of friends you have in the car while you’re trying to build your confidence, and make it abundantly clear to them that you can’t have them talking and laughing loudly. Don’t try to show off either, or have your music too loud. Drive sensibly, just as you would if you were on your own. 

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8. Don’t Focus On What Other Drivers Are Doing

One of the worst things you can do is focus on what other drivers are doing. If they are driving closely behind you, for example, don’t feel under pressure to speed up. Continue driving safely and to the speed limit. They can overtake you if they have to. You can’t let other drivers intimidate you. Focus on what you’re doing. 

9. Don’t Hesitate To Take A Break

Stop somewhere appropriate if you need to take a breather - the services are ideal, or a car park if you know that one is close by. You shouldn’t really stop on the hard shoulder or somewhere that could cause an accident. However, it’s always safer you stop and take a breather, especially if you feel a panic attack or something coming on. It might seem silly, but deep breathing can be a huge help. 

10. Put On Some P Plates

Let other drivers know you’re not that experienced by putting P plates on your car. This way, they should give you a wider birth and understand that you may not be the most experienced road user. 

11. Be Kind To Yourself 

You may make a mistake or feel terrified of the road, but you must be kind to yourself. If you beat yourself up, you’re going to feel worse and you’ll create a vicious cycle that is hard to get out of. In general, your mindset will set the tone for the drive ahead. Try to remain relaxed and positive, even if you’re not 100% confident. 

The Three Stages Of A Child’s Oral Health

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It’s easy to forget all of the growing you did when you were a child, especially once you’ve long since halted this process. Your body changes an awful lot when you are growing up, from your body getting hairier to your bones getting larger, and all of this development has to be taken seriously. Oral health is a massive part of this, though a lot of parents struggle to make sure that their little ones enjoy the best dental health. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring the three stages that they will go through in this process, giving you the chance to tackle each one as they come.

As A Baby

Babies tend to be born without any teeth, and have to stick to a liquid diet until they have some coming in. This process isn’t without pain, though, with a lot of babies going through agony to get their new teeth in place. This is known as teething, and is something which a lot of parents struggle with, especially when it’s their first child. Giving them things to chew on can help with this, though the best comfort they can get will always come from their parents. You should work hard to give them the time they need during this process, and should be taking them to see a dentist on a regular basis.

Losing Their Teeth

It won’t take long until a child is ready to start losing the first set of teeth they grow, ready for their permanent nashers to find their place. This can start quite early for some kids, though others may still be losing some teeth as they enter their teenage years. While this doesn’t usually hurt, it’s worth making sure that your child is aware of this process, as it can be quite scary to find a loose tooth when you’re not expecting it. As their new teeth start to come in, you should be taking them to the dentist even more often than before, as this time is crucial to their development.

The Teenage Years

As they enter their teenage years, most kids will have all of their adult teeth. This means that they will have to live with any of the issues they encounter with them, and you should be working hard to keep their mouths healthy. A lot of teenagers need braces, and you should be figuring out what to expect at an Invisalign consultation long before this time comes. Products like this are far better than traditional options, as they won’t make your child look any different, and this is helpful when they are at a point in their lives when appearance will be crucial to them.

Wisdom teeth extraction is a surgical procedure done to remove one or more wisdom teeth. Most oral surgeons recommend removing wisdom teeth when the third molars have developed roots but haven’t broken through the gums. Kids go through a lot of development through their teen years.  Wisdom teeth usually start to grow between the ages of 17 and 21, and for some teens, the teeth fail to erupt through the gum and cause problems. For many teenagers, wisdom teeth removal will be the first oral surgery they will undergo and their first time dealing with post-operative curing and uneasiness.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of managing your child’s oral health. A lot of parents struggle with this, finding it hard to know what they need to do when their little ones are developing. Of course, though, there are plenty of professionals out there who can help you, and it’s always worth taking their support when you can get it.

3 Ways To Improve Your Magnetism

There are lots of reasons why you might want to improve your personal magnetism. Not least amongst them is that with a greater sense of magnetism, you will find yourself attracting more people into your life who you are going to enjoy having around you. But there’s more to it than that - an increase in personal magnetism will also have a way of making you feel more fully yourself, more confident, and more able to approach or attack anything that you might need to focus on. Clearly, that is all very useful indeed. In this post, we will look at just three of the most effective ways to improve your personal magnetism in a short space of time, so that you can enjoy all of these benefits and more.

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Looking Good

A big part of this is about how you appear to others, so it is going to be necessary to work on that as best as you can first of all. There are plenty of things that you might feel you want to improve here, but as long as you are working on one or two of them you should find that you can easily make this work out pretty well. Focus on all those things that people tend to notice easily and early on. That means getting your hair done how you like it, focusing on improving your skincare, and getting whatever dental implants you might need. With an improved smile, skin and hair, you will already be attracting much more attention to yourself. So that is absolutely something you can start with.

Being Active

It is hard to be personally magnetic if you are not really moving around very much and sitting in the corner all the time. If you want to attract more attention to yourself, you should focus on being as active as possible. That will mean that people see you, for a start, and they will also start to wonder whether you are someone they want to get to know. This process of being more active is difficult for many people, but it is probably essential if you really do want to be more magnetic, so be sure not to overlook it. It is easy to do, and it could mean that you are going to improve your magnetism much more than just doing nothing.

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Sharing

It’s no use creating all of this energy in yourself and then keeping it inside. If you want to be personally magnetic, and if you want to do something with it, then you are going to need to think about sharing your energy with those around you. That is something that people tend to find very catching, and it will often mean that you are going to discover a new way of being which really opens you up to other people more. That in itself is a hugely important part of the process, and something which you can and should work on as well as you can at all times from here on out.

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Wedding Venue Ideas For The Kookier Couple

It doesn’t matter whether you are in the early stages of planning your wedding or whether you are more of a last minute organizer, the chances are that the venue is a key aspect of your big day. Getting hitched somewhere that is picturesque, atmospheric, photogenic and means something to you as a couple is important. This should be the best day of your life so you want it to be memorable for all of the right reasons. Just because your mum and dad are expecting you to get hitched in a church doesn't mean that you have to go down this route. It’s vital that you are a little bit selfish on your big day and you choose the elements of your wedding based on what you want.

Church weddings are great, but if you aren’t religious or your dream wedding is far from a vicar and pews, you need to think about the sort of place where you do want to say your vows. Nowadays, there are plenty of options for your special day. Read on to discover the sorts of venues you might want to consider for your wedding.

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Cinema

If you are a couple that adore their movies, you had your first date in a cinema or you are keen for a big screen and red carpet backdrop, you could do much worse than choosing an art house cinema. Forget about the massive out of town chains, and consider those kooky little art house cinemas that originate from the 1920s. The decor of these places is authentic with art deco lettering, architecture and seating making it a stunning venue for your wedding.

You could choose a big screen with a ready-made aisle for you to walk down. The Dolby surround sound can be an ideal platform from which to play your personalized music choices and the big screen is perfect to show off a slideshow of you as a couple. You might want to choose a montage of images detailing your relationship from when you first met up until your wedding day.

Cinemas are atmospheric and ooze class. You could even continue the theme with other aspects of your day. You could opt for some art deco inspired Pure invitation wedding invites, you might want to impose a 1920s dress code, and your music choices could be inspired by the flapper girls of the early twentieth century. 

Beach

If you love nothing more than being on the beach and you have fond memories of your holidays abroad as a couple, then it makes sense to look at a coastal wedding. You could choose to get hitched on the beaches of Bournemouth in good old Blighty, or you might fancy heading overseas for a more tropical affair. Consider the cost of each of these options. A wedding abroad will be infinitely more costly than one at home. This will have an impact on the guests that you will have attending your big day.

Being on a sun kissed beach and saying your vows to your partner is idyllic. If you want waves lapping at your feet, a gentle breeze cooling down the midday sun and awesome photos for memories, then a beach wedding can be perfect.

As well as your ceremony, you could hire a private section of beach to whip up a marquee and enjoy a spot of al fresco dining for your wedding breakfast. Being so coastal, you could carry on the beach theme by opting for a menu with a seafood flavor. How about scallops to start, a stunning fish platter for your main and a light dessert to finish? There are plenty of options from a formal sit down affair to a more casual beach barbecue for your guests to enjoy.

Hotel

While a little mundane compared to a beach or cinema wedding, getting married in a hotel can be the more economical choice. At this venue, your wedding ceremony, reception and evening party are held in one all encompassing space. This can leave less room for any hiccups throughout the day. Having a blank canvas in which to create your own themed wedding can also be more exciting. You could visit a range of hotels and choose the one that suits you most as a couple. Large chain hotels are brilliant for people who want a large space to decorate themselves. Alternatively, you could select a modern boutique hotel for a more exclusive vibe. Or maybe, a more traditional or historic building is more your style.

Some hotels and accommodation settings are stunning such as castles or yurts. You could stage your own knights of the round table theme, or perhaps you want a simple color coded theme. A black tie affair can be simple yet classic and ooze class and sophistication.

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Gardens

There are many classic gardens in the UK that host wedding ceremonies. All you will need to do is locate a registrar as the English country garden will be in full bloom for an excellent backdrop to your vows. It doesn’t matter whether you get hitched in the blossom filled spring, the flora laden summer or a snowy winter, the gardens will look beautiful and scenic. 

Getting married in the great outdoors can be freeing, and it is an ever more popular setting in which to say ‘I do.’ With some white chairs, a self made aisle and some simple flora and fauna, you can enjoy a simple pared back ceremony.

While a church or registry office based ceremony is still the most popular venue for weddings in the UK, they are being given a run for their money as millennials who are now getting wed, are keen to explore kookier options. Don't feel limited in your choices and investigate every single option. Home based ceremonies are not unheard of. Or perhaps you fancy getting hitched underwater, in the Arctic, at the zoo or at a waterpark.  Ensure that you utilize this guide to inspire your venue choice for your special day.

Why Choose Plastic Pipes For Your Home

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Irrespective of what type of pipework system you require, whether it be for clean water or chemicals, you need to choose the material of the pipes with a great deal of care. In general, you have two options at your disposal. For many years metal was the favoured choice, however, nowadays more and more people are opting for plastic pipes instead. There are many different reasons why this is the case. Thus, keep on reading to discover the key reasons why plastic pipes are better than metal pipework systems…

Firstly, one of the main reasons why plastic is the preferred choice for pipes and tanks from the likes of Tank Direct is because it is much more flexible. This type of material can be used with a whole host of applications. From chemical systems to agricultural irrigation systems – the list is endless. Whilst you can use metal in these circumstances, it is often not as effective. This is because metal has a tendency to corrode. In chemical systems especially, you will find that the metal weakens over time because of corrosion and rust. This can easily lead to leaks, which consequently leads to expensive repairs, not to mention a lot of hassle as well. It is also worth considering how detrimental this would be in a pipework system for drinking water. Traces of the metal can end up in the water, and this can lead to that awful metallic taste. Nonetheless, if you opt for a plastic pipework system you will not experience any of these issues. Plastic is not a material that corrodes, nor does it rust. Therefore, aside from flexibility and a much higher degree of quality, you should also factor in the longevity of this type of system. If you invest in plastic pipes you will get a lot more years out of them than you would with metal pipes, and thus value for money is assured. 

This leads onto the next point perfectly – the cost savings associated with plastic pipes for your home. As mentioned, you are less likely to require a repair if you opt for a plastic system. Moreover, your pipes will last for more years when compared with metal pipes. Nonetheless, these are not the only savings you will benefit from. Plastic is actually a lot cheaper to produce, and thus plastic pipes will cost less, to begin with. In addition to this, they are also much lighter and therefore they are easier to transport. Not only does this further indicate that they are flexible, yet it also showcases how you can save money on transport costs. 

The final factor you should consider, which a lot of people have a tendency to overlook, is the environmental benefits that are associated with plastic. When compared with metal, this is the more eco-friendly option to go for. This is important because the need to look after our planet is evident and businesses all have a responsibility to play their part. So, why is plastic the more environmentally friendly option? Generally, they reduce the user’s need to use as much energy. This is because they have low thermal conductivity, and thus they do not conduct heat as easily. Nevertheless, they are also a great insulator, meaning you lose less heat in hot water supplies. Again, this represents cost savings, yet you can also be safe in the knowledge that you are doing your bit to reduce the damage being done to our planet. 

Why You Should Have Regular Blood Tests

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Blood tests are a reliable part of your health and wellness, and they determine how well your body is working as well as diagnose diseases that might not have apparent symptoms. When it comes to your overall health, it can be confusing to know what is best. So, fortunately, your blood can provide data on your health and wellness. Here are some other reasons why it's essential to have regular blood tests.

Diagnose Disease

Prevention and early detection are two of the best ways to deal with diseases such as cancer. While they may not be perfect ways to find all diseases, many diseases can be found via blood tests, and early diagnosis can make a difference in your treatment. An excellent example of a condition that people rarely discover they have because of symptoms is Leukemia, as there is no standard screening process that exists for detecting early-stage Leukemia. Doctors often recognize chronic Leukemia during routine blood count checks done as part of a regular health check or for other reasons, such as those conducted when a person seeks employment, joins the military, is pregnant, or is about to undergo an operation. But many leukemias are not found until a person goes to the doctor because of the symptoms they are having.

Check Your Metabolism 

Diabetes is a significant health problem facing society today, and according to Dr Richard Maurer, author of The Blood Code, "your blood tests are a window into your metabolism—the chemical processes of your body." Specific blood tests can help you understand if you are diabetic, pre-diabetic, or have a healthy metabolism. 

Checking Your Liver

Your liver's job is to break down different toxins, drugs, and hormone products like a detoxification system, so it's an essential part of your body. Luckily, any problems in your liver, such as build-up, and abnormal levels of protein, iron, and cholesterol, among others, can be seen in your blood tests and could indicate potential problems with your liver.

Checking Your Kidneys

Your kidneys regulate blood pressure, pH level, mineral concentration, and water composition of the blood, they are responsible for filtering and removing waste from your blood, which, in turn, gets eliminated with water as urine. By checking your blood, you can improve the health of your kidneys and anything causing you issues.  

Blood Sugar

Having a blood sugar test measures the levels of glucose in your blood. High blood sugar levels can mean that you have diabetes or prediabetes and may need to make significant lifestyle changes to prevent you from progressing to full-blown diabetes. Eating a healthy diet, losing some weight, and getting regular exercise each week can reduce your risk of getting type 2 diabetes in half.

Vitamin D Levels

A blood test can also measure the levels of vitamin D in your blood, which is essential for bone strength. Older women are more likely to suffer from a vitamin D deficiency, because their skin doesn't produce this vitamin as efficiently from sun exposure as they age, and because they spend less time outdoors. If your levels are low, then eat more foods containing vitamin D, such as dairy and fortified orange juice or take a Vitamin D supplement. 

How To Take Care Of Your Aging Relatives

There comes a point when your parents start to move from active seniors into the group that needs extra care. And actually, as children, it is your opportunity to give back some of the care that you soaked up while you were little. Of course, the situation can be trickier from time to time. 

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It helps if you have conversations in advance about things like care homes, home care, and even more serious things like ‘end of life care’. It can be difficult to have these conversations, but it is easier than trying to make them on the spot at a later date. 

Needs

There will be times while you are caring for your parents you see that you are getting overwhelmed, or the rate at which they need extra care is increasing. It pays to take a step back and asses the situation. Here are some areas that you can consider:

• Medical needs
• Personal Hygiene
• Meal Preparations
• Social Interaction
• Home Safety 
• Cognitive health - for example, what is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s? It is time to find out. 

Your Ability

While we like to think we are all as strong we need for as long as we need, the truth is from time to time, we will need help. If you are going over to your parents to care for them a few times a day, how will you fit in your own life and your job? Consider your situation too.

• How is your health?
• Do you have the time?
• Do you live close enough?

Control

It is very important that until they can no longer make decisions that you allow them to make as many for themselves as they can. And, you must know that you might not like what they decide. Like stopping a medication, or trying alternative therapies. In this scenario - you are the person who supports their decisions and helps them maximize what that means. 

Finance

It shouldn’t be a factor, but the sad reality is that it is. The cost of care stacks steeply and quickly. Nurses, medications, fitting specialist items like stair-lifts or moving to an assisted living home. All costs money and that is without the standard bills like food, electricity and heating. 

You might be able to apply for a range of financial help, but you’ll need to explore these with your parents in advance too. So that you know their situation and know what applies and what doesn’t.

Home Safety

There will come a time, that the chair that has always been in the hallway is a trip hazard rather than an antique. The beautiful bedroom rug causes an accident. The safety of the home will change. It is better that you take care of these earlier on. Adding grab bars to the bath, and outside any doors with steps. Give the rooms extra light too. And keep everything within easy reach. 

Caring for your parents or an ageing relative can be emotionally and physically demanding, so you have to make sure that you take care of yourself too.

Should You Relocate For A Job?

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You’ve been offered a job - but it requires you to move to another city or state. Should you take the job or not? There’s no easy answer to this question and it can depend a lot on the job in question and your current circumstances. Here are just a few of the biggest considerations that could help you to decide whether you should relocate for a job.

Make sure it’s definitely the perfect job

Firstly, you need to consider the job itself. Is it really worth uprooting your life for? Or are you not really that passionate about it? If the latter is true, you may not want to relocate across the country for a job that may not be for you.

The salary is a big factor to consider. Ideally, you want to be earning the same amount of money or more than you are now in order to justify relocating. A drop in income could mean a drop in quality of living (although,cost of living is an important factor to consider – which is covered later).

You also need to be excited about the role and the duties that it will hold. You may have a few nerves if some of the duties seem unfamiliar, but ultimately you should be raring for the challenge.

Finally, you should research into the company, the team and the workplace. If you can, talk to people there and take a guided tour (you could travel there in person or you could organize a virtual tour). Read reviews online left by former employees to check that it’s a good company to work for. It’s possible you may be moving to a branch within the same company, but even so the running of this branch could be very different and is worth delving into.

Research into the location

Next, you need to consider the location you will be moving to. Make sure that there are neighbourhoods local to your workplace that are suitable for you and your family to live.

There should be enough things to do in the area and a good range of local facilities such as stores and transport links. It’s important that there are also schools in the area that are suitable for your kids – this is something you’ll likely want to do a lot of research into and it could involve touring schools in person.

The local people also need to be friendly. Factors such as the crime rate are worth looking into. Also try checking out community social media pages and local news websites to see what’s going on. You could even try visiting the area and talking to locals in person.

The climate and terrain could also be an important factor. What are the temperatures like in summer and winter? Are there any threats of natural disasters such as floods, forest fires, hurricanes, earthquakes or sinkholes? Is there any natural beauty on your doorstep that could be worth moving for such as the sea, lakes or mountains? All of this could be worth looking into.

Compare living costs

The cost of living is another important factor to consider. While your new job may come with a bigger salary, this could all be for nothing if the local cost of living is much higher.

Property prices are the most important cost worth comparing. Many major cities are renowned for having very expensive property prices – both to buy and rent. Make sure that you’re earning enough to cover these costs.

Groceries and other day-to-day items could also be cheaper or more expensive depending on the area. For instance, a pint of milk can cost twice as much in New York as it does in Texas.

There could also be driving costs to consider. Auto insurance can sometimes be higher if you live in a certain area due to a greater rate of accidents of theft. You may even need to use your car more in a certain location, which could mean more money in fuel or even more money spent in road tolls. Alternatively, some locations may not require you to drive as much, saving you money.

View some of the local properties

It’s worth looking at the types of properties that are available in the area that you plan to move to. What you get for your money in your current hometown could be very different in another city or state – there could be less space and no backyard. You need to be sure that this is suitable for you and your family.

When it comes to viewings of properties, you can either view these properties in person or plan a virtual viewing with a local realtor via video call. Try to view a selection so that you can get a more thorough idea what homes are like in your new location.

Talk to your family

If you’re planning on taking your family with you, you’ll need to certain that it’s what they want too. Uprooting your family could have lots of consequences – your kids will have to find a new school, your partner may have to get a new job and everyone will have to make new friends. Your family may not want to make all these changes and it could interfere with their own individual goals.

If you haven’t already discussed relocating in the past, you could find that family members are firmly reluctant to move. Try to convince them to do some research with you so that they can thoroughly consider the possibility of relocating before coming to a decision. View properties together, look up facts about the location and talk about the move. List all the pros and cons and when you feel you have an idea of the full picture, cast a vote. Ideally, it should be a unanimous decision by you and all your family members to relocate.

Young kids are usually able to adjust to relocating quite easily and many not need to be consulted on what they want. However, kids over the age of 7 are likely to be impacted by the change and should be involved when deciding whether to move. When it comes to teenagers, you should be particularly careful of uprooting them without their full backing and you should also consider the impact it could have on their education.

Work out how you will move

Relocating to a new area takes a bit more planning than simply moving a few blocks down. You may have to hire a long distance moving company to help handle the move. There may even be specialized moving services required for vehicle transport or for fragile items. This will all cost you extra money that you will need to find the funds for.

Moving could get particularly complex and expensive if you to ship or fly over possessions (for instance, if you’re moving to Hawaii). Planning to buy items like furniture when you reach your new home could be more sensible in some cases.  

Remember, you can turn back

Uprooting your entire life doesn’t have to be a permanent decision. If it turns out that you and your family aren’t enjoying yourself, you may be able to quit your job and move back.

Of course, you may find that you settle comfortably into your new life and don’t ever want to return. Sometimes you never know unless you take the plunge.  

What's Missing From Your Garden?

When you look out over your garden, what do you see? All the fruits of your labor, from the time and effort you put into growing and cultivating lots of yummy vegetables and colorful flowers? Maybe you notice a few things that seem out of place here and there? If you do, there might be a couple of reasons for that!

Your garden might have quite a few things missing. The leaves of the plants you do grow might be trying to tell you that! And before you try to do anything else out there in your own backyard, it’s time to pay attention to what they’re saying. So, here are some of the most common signs that your garden needs a little more love and care. 

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A Proper Light Source

Light is one of the most important things a garden needs. If your plants don’t receive enough sunlight on a daily basis, they’re not going to grow right, and there’s a good chance they won’t grow at all. And there’s one surefire way you can tell whether or not your plants are feeling healthy enough to photosynthesis: if they’re tilting to the side, via their stems and leaves, they’re in desperate chase of the sun. That means they need more light on a regular basis! 

Thankfully, you can provide this for them. An easy investment in something like a plant grow light would work wonders here, especially if you’re using an indoor planting arrangement, such as a greenhouse or a windowsill. 

Enough Water to Go Round

There’s a good chance you’re not watering your plants enough - very few gardeners actually do, simply because they want to be cautious with the amount of water they use. However, it’s key to understand what’s under watering and what’s being conservative with the watering can, and your plants can tell you how you’re doing. 

If your plant leaves are brown, and crunch when you grip or touch them, they’re in desperate need of more water! If you haven’t seen any new leaves in quite a while, you need to give your plant more water on a daily basis - if there are no new growths, your plant doesn’t feel supported enough to keep on living! And if they’re wilting a little, they might need a top up. 

A Healthy Balance of Green and Color!

Of course, there needs to be a balance to your garden. And if there are only pale or light green plants in your backyard, there’s a chance your soil could do with a little more fertilizer. These are signs of hungry plants, after all, and you might need to spread a bit more growing material over the ground for the roots to soak up. A lack of iron is what tends to turn leaves pale and yellowed at times, but this deficiency is easily fixed. 

Your garden might be missing a few things, but you can easily remedy these mistakes. Be sure to do so soon! 

What To Look For In A New Family Car

If you look down your driveway to see an old banger staring back at you, you would be right in thinking that it’s time for a new car. The choice of vehicle stock in the twenty first century can be mind blowing. However, for the family market, there are newer SUVs, greener cars and safety features to consider. The most important thing for most families when choosing a new car is budget and working out whether to go brand new off a forecourt or whether to opt for a reliable used car from a dealership. Take a look at this guide to help you navigate the family car market. 

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Used Or New

There is always a temptation to go for a brand new car. However, with a new car comes a larger price tag. This is a cost that will depreciate the moment you drive your new set of wheels away from the forecourt. You could cushion the blow of a new car by opting for a sell car for cash sort of scheme, where you can trade in your old banger for some readies to put towards your new vehicle.

Alternatively, you could seek out the used car route. Used cars are becoming more and more reliable as manufacturers lengthen warranties. Choosing a used car can save you cash upfront initially and you will have more choice, helping you pick a vehicle that belongs to a lower insurance group.

Running Costs

If you aren’t sure what to look for when selecting a new family car, take a look at running costs. You need a car that will do many miles to the gallon so look at fuel economy. Ensure that you consider greener cars. Electric and hybrid vehicles are becoming more popular as they require a recharge rather than more expensive fuel. They are also better for the environment, belong to lower insurance groups and cost less in maintenance. They may cost more to buy initially, but these sorts of cars are great for the long term. 

Don’t forget to look under the hood of any car that you are looking to buy. If you have no idea about the mechanics of vehicles, take someone who can spot a blown head gasket or a poorly conditioned engine. You don’t want to be stuck with a lemon on your driveway.

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Safety Features

On any journey, you want to make sure that your brood is protected. While you may be a safe and defensive driver, other road users may be aggressive and fast, with very little hazard perception. Accidents can happen, and you want to make sure that the motor that you have protects your passengers. Take a look at the Euro NCAP website which rates all family cars out of five for safety features. Consider looking at cars with more advanced braking systems, blind spot detectors and hazard perception. More advanced automated safety features are becoming standard in twenty first century vehicles.

Choosing a new car can be a pleasure for some, but a chore for many. Follow this guide and ensure that you find your perfect family car.

Why It’s Important That Your Kids Learn Important Life Skills Early On

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If you have kids, then you’ll know that they can be pretty naïve a lot of the time. There’s nothing wrong with their naivety and borderline stupidity, of course – it’s actually very amusing a lot of the time. Their brains are still so very raw, and they’re taking in new information all the time – they’re bound to make mistakes and say silly things pretty often. As a parent, it’s your job to teach them how to do stuff, and it’s up to you to cut the naivety out of their everyday life. Yes, they have school every weekday, but they’ll only really get their heads filled with academic information; the other parts of life aren’t really covered.

If your child hits teenage years and still has that air of silliness about them, then that’s not too bad, but you should really start to get their backsides into gear. You don’t want a grown man or woman in your house one day that can’t do the basics in life – it sounds a little crazy, but it’s quite a common thing in many households. You’re in the position you’re in now because you were taught how to get through things. You have to now do the same for your kids. Here are a few reasons why teaching your kids all kinds of things and making them do tasks is such an important part of parenthood. 

They’ll Become More Disciplined

Discipline is a massive part of being human. It’s obviously something that you should instill in your child, but it’s something we all need in life. If you’re setting tasks for your kid, then they’re going to have lots of different jobs to get through. They’ll understand the importance of getting things done around the house and elsewhere. They may be a little stubborn, to begin with, but they’ll onboard sooner or later once they get a different perspective on life.

Their Confidence Overall Will Rise

Confidence is absolutely vital in life, and it comes from knowing what you’re doing. Sure, some kids (and adults) have a natural-born lack of anxiety, and they are able to do stuff without caring. The majority of us gain confidence from our own actions, however. If your child grows up knowing how to do stuff, then they’ll be able to handle themselves when important events come up. For instance, they’ll be able to do their own shopping with ease, book appointments at an urgent care clinic, and travel independently with minimal fuss. 

They’ll Have That Much-Needed Common Sense

Common sense is often thought of as something a person is born with. That’s not the case at all. A person because smarter and more aware of ‘normal’ everyday aspects after they’re taught about them. They become even more knowledgeable after weeks, months, and years of experience. If you see a poised and competent person going through life with relative ease, just know it’s because they learned a fair bit as a youngster. Make sure yours can become that kind of individual when they’re older.

Making Your Car Last Longer

We used to think that our cars would start to face more serious issues when they got to around ten years old, or when they had driven over 100000 miles. We’d begin to expect breakdowns, more expensive repairs and MOT fails once our cars reached this point. But, with newer, more efficient vehicles, with modern advancements and care, many get closer to 200000 miles before serious problems start. This means that as someone that drives a moderate amount, a car could last well over ten years before it starts to cost you that much money that it’s more cost-effective to replace it. 

But, only if you take care of it. Like home appliances and other significant expenses, your car is bound to last longer if you look after it, take sensible precautions, and put a little time and effort into your vehicle. Here are some of the things that you can do to make your car last for longer. 

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Get it Serviced

You should have a full service every year if you drive a lot, or at least every 10000 miles if you drive less often or for shorter journeys. A service won’t automatically flag up issues, but it will take care of things like changing your oil and air conditioning filters, refilling fluids, checking tire pressure and oiling hinges, and other openings. It might also give the mechanic a chance to spot what could be a big problem before repairs become costly. 

Different garages offer different services, so make sure you know what’s included in the price before you book. 

Drive Carefully

Better drivers find that their cars last longer. This is partly because they are less likely to be involved in a severe accident, but it’s also because their cars are treated more kindly. They are used gently, and so are less likely to show serious signs of wear and tear. Drive to the speed limit, brake slowly and in plenty of time, or even better, control your speed well so that you barely need to brake at all. Corner gently, give yourself plenty of space, and try to avoid bad driving habits creeping it. 

Keep it Clean

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Clean cars can also last longer. Vehicles that are cleaned often are less likely to rust, and the engines won’t become clogged with dirt, pollution, or leaves. Make sure you get your car cleaned frequently, and try to keep it in a secure, covered location when possible. 

Prepare for Long Trips

Before a long trip, you should also perform basic car safety checks and make any adjustments needed. This will keep you and your family safe on the road, but it will also protect your car. 

Be Careful with Replacements

It’s thought that around a third of us have at some point bought fake car parts instead of branded parts when our cars need replacements. While this can be a great way to make money, fake car parts generally don’t last as long and may not be as safe. 

Don’t Ignore Warnings

Most of us are guilty of ignoring warning lights on our dash, hoping that they’ll just go away on their own. Chances are, however, that the problem will get worse, perhaps causing more damage to your vehicle and becoming more costly to fix. 

How To Beat Menopause Fatigue & Gain More Energy!

Most women who are dealing with aging gracefully must go through menopause at some point or another. Many of the women who go through the menopausal period deal with some bothersome symptoms. Anything from bloating, weight gain, hormone changes and hair loss come up, but one of the most common is a total drain in energy. Menopause fatigue is a big deal, and it’s just not talked about enough. Fatigue is a common complaint with menopause and this is primarily because the body is adjusting to a whole new chemistry. The hormones that have gone through your body throughout your life start to adjust themselves, and this takes some getting used to!

Of course, low energy can be caused by a number of other things in your body, but unless you are suffering from things like anemia, diabetes or issues with your thyroid, you can mostly place the blame of your fatigue on menopause itself. Menopause symptoms like weight gain and exhaustion can be helped, so speaking to the Simple Online Doctor should be able to help you out. If you are feeling fatigued and it’s starting to impact your everyday life, you need that medical guidance to ensure that your get up and go hasn’t got up and gone!

Most of the time, women don’t require any treatment for the symptoms of menopause. They don't last more than a couple of years and by then, the body has got used to its new chemistry and can work just the way it always has. However, there are things that can be done to relieve symptoms - especially of menopause fatigue - and gain a little more energy. 

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Why Do Menopausal Women Get Fatigued?

Before we can understand how to gain more energy, we need to understand why the fatigue happens in the first place, so let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons that women deal with fatigue during menopause.

• Hormones. Those pesky little things! Hormones are adjusting and transitioning in your body and brain, and these rushing around your body can drain you of all of your energy. You could be calm on the exterior, and be a bouncing bunny on the inside trying to keep up. It’s difficult, and it’s hard work.
• Ignoring Fatigue. Women are superheroes, we all know that. We deal with everything while keeping calm and carrying on. When it comes to feeling tired, we brush it aside and keep on keeping on regardless of the fatigue that we are feeling. When you ignore the exhaustion, you further it, so don’t ignore it.
• Reverse Puberty. Women go through hormonal shifts during puberty as we transition into being women who can procreate. Now, it goes backwards again. When you were a teenager, it’s likely you slept as much as you physically could - which is what your body wants to do all over again. Bodies are clever old things, and even if you’re not in the mood for a nap, you’ll be napping because it knows exactly what you need.

If you find that you are dealing with fatigue, it’s important to have a moment of self-reflection and work out whether you’ve been unintentionally ignoring it for some time. When you realize that you have been putting your own exhaustion to one side and squashing it down, it’s time to embrace it enough to realize what’s causing it. So, with that in mind, you need to consider how you want to boost those flagging energy levels, and start feeling much more like yourself again. 

Let’s explore eight simple hacks to let you do just that.

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Embrace Exercise

Take half an hour at the least out of your day, and workout. Go for a class, a swim, a brisk walk - whatever exercise you fancy, get it done. You may not even want to do it in that moment, but routine is key and you need to incorporate it into your routine if you want your energy boost. Exercise keeps your heart healthy, your energy levels up and your body feeling good with all the feel-great hormones buzzing around it. Start early in the day not long after waking, and you will be energized for the day.

Calm Down The Coffee

You may love your morning Starbucks, but really you should be curbing it a little. You’re feeling exhausted and the hit of caffeine is nice and all, but it’s a temporary boost to a long-term problem. So, capping the consumption can help you to detox from it, so that you can get your energy levels up naturally. Water, for example, is an excellent tool for upping your energy levels. The more hydrated your brain, the better your body feels. Don’t allow yourself to crash after a coffee any more!

Eat Little And Often

If you want your energy levels to be up and consistently so, think about what you’re eating and how often you’re eating it. Being overweight during menopause is common, and it’s much harder to lose the weight during that period of your life. Still, you can maintain healthy eating behavior and exercise where you can. Keep a good balance through all food groups and try not to be too heavy on the restriction: you want calories little and often to remain energized.

Relax

Okay so, while we’re talking about being more energized, it does mean that you have to mind how much you are relaxing and actually embrace it while it’s happening. Sit down a while and read a book. Go and sit on the beach and watch the waves. Whatever relaxes you will help you to be more energized when you do get up to do something.

Sleep Well

You may think you’re getting eight good hours of sleep a night, but if you’re dealing with night sweats and menopausal insomnia, you’re getting sleep that isn’t consistent. You need restful sleep more than you need “sleep”, so make sure that you’re sleeping in a comfortable space where you aren’t dealing with your body clock going haywire. Sun lamps, cool sheets and comfortable bedding can really help you to improve your sleep.

Hydrate

We mentioned how good water is for the brain, but you also need to fuel your body. A hydrated body doesn't work as hard to do anything, and dehydration also leads to sluggishness and dry skin - neither of which you want to have to deal with! Where possible, choose water as your drink and make it fun with any of these recipes if necessary. Water is going to keep your energy at a high, which is exactly what you need during menopause.

Learn To Say No

It may feel hard to say no to people sometimes, but you mustn't overbook yourself if possible. If you do that, all you’re going to be doing is stressing yourself out and trying to do too much. Say no a little more often and spread out your social calendar so you’re not doing too much at once. If you find that you are exhausted, you’re probably too busy, too!

Herbal Remedies Could Help

Some people swear by herbal teas to help them with their exhaustion. Valerian root is excellent for enabling you to sleep, while black cohosh can help to curb anxiety you may be feeling. Speak to your doctor before starting any herbal remedies, and keep yourself in the right lane for your health. If any herbal remedies don't agree with you, simply stop using them!