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Family Matters: Ways To Care For Older Family Members

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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When you’re young, it seems impossible to imagine your parents or any other older relatives reaching the stage where they’re not able to do everything for themselves. Which means that when that time does come, it can be incredibly upsetting to come to terms with. However, just because it’s upsetting doesn’t mean that it’s something that you should ignore. The truth is that when your older relatives start to struggle with day-to-day tasks, their need for support is likely to fall onto you. Most people are more than happy to be there for older relatives when they need them, but they aren’t sure what they can actually do to help. With that in mind, here are some ways that you can more effectively care for your parents or any other older family members.

 

Set time aside for them

 

One of the hardest things for older people is the feeling that they no longer matter to those around them. As though, now that they’re older, they’re no longer as important as they might have been once upon a time. However, that’s obviously not true, and a great way to support them is to let them know how important they are to you by spending time with them. Sure, most of us have pretty busy lives, but the fact of the matter is, no one is too busy to take a little time out of their week to spend with someone important to them.

 

Get them professional help

 

Of course, the help that your older relative needs might be a little more specialised than just a sympathetic ear. If they need some kind of specialised care, then a service like Spectrum healthcare might just be perfect. Organisations like Spectrum offer some of the best home health care available meaning that they can get all of the help they need without having to go into a home and leave the place where they’re most comfortable.

 

Help them keep their independence

 

If there’s one thing that a lot of people say is harder than anything else when it comes to getting older, it’s the fact that they begin to feel as though they have no independence. If you’re looking after an older relative, then make sure that you’re not smothering or patronising them. Make sure that you can help them in ways that won’t make them feel useless or lacking in independence. If they can do things by themselves, don’t hover over them. Just because they need a little extra help doesn’t mean that they’ve suddenly turned into children who can’t do anything.

 

Of course, it’s important to remember that you shouldn’t put your life on hold in order to look after your relatives. Sure, you may be willing to make changes and sacrifices in order to help, but if you’re giving everything up, then you’re just going to end up missing out on time that you could spend on your own life. If you can’t take care of yourself, then you’re never going to be able to take care of anyone else.

 

 

Festive After The Festivities: Why You Need A Friendmas

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Christmas is a time for family. We travel back to our home towns, see our parents, swap gossip with old acquaintances. This is all absolutely lovely, but it does mean that — year after year — we don’t see our friends on Christmas Day itself.

 

Thankfully, there’s a perfect solution: Friendmas, which can be to Christmas what Friendsgiving is to Thanksgiving. Get together with your friends before New Year and recreate the magic of Christmas Day in five easy steps.

 

Step One: Cook something everyone likes

 

Ham, turkey, or vegetarian options; find a big ‘roast’ style meal that you can all help to prepare, and can be served while seated around a standard dining table. This really does create a Christmassy feel, and you’ll be guaranteed great food too.

 

Step Two: Swap gifts

 

Sure it’s nice to be able to open your friend’s gifts on Christmas Day when you’re with your families, but it’s even nicer to be able to open them together on your own special Friendmas.

 

Step Three: Play a board or card game

 

If you want to recreate the true Christmas Day experience, then a board or card game is an absolute must, and a round of charades is a great idea as well. This helps to bring a real sense of authenticity to the day itself, and it’s a lot of fun for all involved.

 

Step Four: Movies and conversation

 

Finish off the evening in front of a Christmas movie you’ve all seen a thousand times before, idly chatting about what your dream Christmas movies would be. What would your choice be? Sunny have come up with the idea below and it’s a cracker, don’t you think?

 


Infographic Design By Sunny

Why The Centrepiece Should Steal The Show

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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When you are planning any wedding, it can be hard to know what should really take up your attention – and the attention of the guests. It goes without saying that the bride and groom should be the most important factors in the whole day, but the truth is that you also want to make sure you are giving other elements some air to breathe as well. A good example is the centerpiece, and actually this is a part of the wedding which people often think of too late and end up having to rush, to the point where the centrepiece does not have the full effect it should have. In this post, we are going to look at what a centrepiece should actually do in order to be successful.

Originality

Most of all, you want it to be original, in a way which means that nobody has ever seen anything quite like it before. If you can achieve that, then you will find that it really does make a difference to how well it is received, and it will mean that you are much more likely to enjoy it yourselves as well. Originality is of course one of the hader things to get down, so it is worth asking any creative or artistic friends you might have if they can provide a design or even the centrepieces themselves. With a touch of originality, the whole thing will be much more successful, and enjoyable for everyone to look at too.

Linked To Favors

If you really want to make it memorable, you need to find a way to link the centerpieces thematically to the favors on the same table. Your favors should really be considered a part of your centrepiece, and they themselves need a lot of thought and effort put into them in order to be quite right. If you are unsure of what you should give as favors, you should try to think of something that your guests will appreciate and yet is likely to be a fairly safe gift option. This means you could consider something along the lines of getting some Giftsin24 stationery personalized for each place at each table, or anything else of equal value. This is bound to go down well and will make the centrepiece all the more memorable as well. 

Thematic

Your centrepiece, above all, should be linked in some way to your theme for the day. If it is not, then it might well not go down so well, and it is something which you might want to make sure you have got right from the start. Thetroublewith trying to make your centrepiece thematic is that it is almost impossible to get it perfect – but with the right approach there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to end up with a centrepiece which you can be proud of, and which everyone will love. Do this, and the whole day will also seem much more successful on the whoel too.

Cash For Creatives: Making Money With Your Passion

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

As a creative, it can be surprisingly difficult to make money with your craft. There you are with an incredible skill that sets you apart from the rest, but turning this into a career can be tricky. As a writer, artist or musician for example you might feel like unless you get a big break you’re likely to be working your day job forever and having your passion as something that’s simply a hobby. However with the accessibility of the internet, there are increasing opportunities where you can use your skills to pay the bills. Here are a few ideas!

 

Musicians

If you have a love and passion for music, you don’t have to wait to get snapped up by a recording artist and become a star to do well. You could create tracks, one of which could be picked up by a producer to be used in film, tv or advertising. If you’re a bit of an audiophile (check out the explanation for this to see if you match up!) chances are you’re big on sound quality and details so your music will already be of an excellent quality. You could sell your music downloads, you could even play live gigs if you’re good and this is your kind of scene. Venues are always in need of bands for live music and you could be paid well for this. Another option would be to teach or tutor. You could offer singing lessons or instrument lessons to children or adults. Have a professional website created and turn it into an exciting business.

Photo sourced from here

 

Photographers

Gone are the days when you have to hope one of your masterpiece photos sell and earn you a decent amount of money. You don’t even need to shoot weddings or portraits either, there are other options. Thanks to sites like Shutterstock you can make great, regular income from your photos as a photographer. You can upload your photos and you get a small amount of money every time someone downloads one, which means once the pictures are on the site you can continue earning from them with no additional work. You do need to know what kind of things people are after, for example flowers and landscapes are ten a penny. But pictures featuring people in different scenarios do very well, be aware anyone featuring will need to sign a model release form.

 

Artists

Again, no need to focus on one huge masterpiece and hope that it sells. There are plenty of smaller projects you can take on as an artist which can all combine to earn good money. You could upload things like illustrations and sketches as clip art on sites like Etsy. Every time someone downloads it you get some money so again once the work is done you can continue earning. You could use your drawings to make things like art prints and posters, greetings cards and more and sell these online or open up a shop or stall.

 

Tech Gifts for the Whole Family

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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Do you have a family full of tech addicts? Are you not sure what gift to get them to bring joy to their faces come Christmas morning? Check out this great guide to tech gifts for the whole family:

 

An iPhone X for Mom

 

Does your mom love keeping tabs on the rest of the family? Does she love being able to keep in touch with all of you at the touch of a button? How about embarrassing you on Facebook? If so, then you can bet she’d love to receive a brand new iPhone X, which will allow here to do that and a whole lot more in style.

 

A Segway for the Teenage Boy

 

When it comes to teenage boys, there are a whole lot of options, from games consoles to iPads that are sure to impress., but if you want to really blow them away on Christmas morn’, then go for the less obvious – give them the gift of a Segway. You might be thinking at this point that Segways are for tourists only and they aren’t exactly cool, but if you get more info on them here, you’ll see that Segways are the new hoverboards. They’re cool, unique and great for lazy young lads!

 

The Fuji Instax for Your Teenage Girl

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If the teenage girl in your life loves taking selfies or artful pictures of the world around here, giver her a taste of old-school photography by purchasing her there Fuji Instax, which as well as being a fun little camera, also comes in pretty pastel colors. She’ll love it.

 

A Drone for Dad

 

He Might be all grown up, but if you know at heart, your dad is just a big kid, if he enjoys watching airplane documentaries and if he’s into gadgets, you can’t go wrong with one of the newer drones on the market, which will awaken his inner kid and ensure he has fun on Christmas Day.

 

The LeapPad3 for the Little One

 

The LeapPad3, which you can learn more about here is a great little gadget for little ones who are already showing an interest in tech. It’s a device that is totally safe for them to use and which gives them access to over 1200 games, ebooks and apps to keep them happy for the foreseeable future. Plus, you won’t have to keep handing over your own iPad for them to play with!

 

An iPad for the Grandparents

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If your grandparents aren’t already online, then it’s time to change that by gifting them an iPad or whichever tablet you prefer, so that they can learn how to surf the web, enrich their lives and yes, facetime with you and the rest of the family. It’s becoming increasingly important to be able to access the internet effectively, so do this for them now. Even better, buy them an iPad and spend the time showing them how to use it and letting them now all of the functions it can perform.

 

It’s going to be an amazing Christmas with these gifts in your family’s stockings!

 

 

The 2017 Christmas Gaming Gift Guide

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

(Image Source)

 

For those with loved ones who are interested in gaming, Christmas is almost always a hard time of year. With an industry like this, it can be impossible to know what’s best when you don’t have any experience, and this leaves a lot of parents stuck in a rut. To help you out with this, this post is going to be exploring some of the most popular gaming options out there, along with a rundown of their features and benefits over their competitors. With this in mind, your job should be a lot easier this Christmas.

 

  • The Xbox One X

 

Since the release of the Xbox One, there have been two revisions to make the console a lot better. Now, this has left the world with the Xbox One X; a console which is claimed to be 40% more powerful than any other on the market. Using this power, the One X is able to handle 4K rendering, along with incredibly high-quality textures in the games you play.

 

The Xbox One X may be the most powerful out there, but it is also the most expensive, and this will be a serious turn off for a lot of people. Along with this, games aren’t transferrable, and future updates could come with steep costs. It is always worth being aware of changes like this, as they could impact your experience in the future.

 

  • The PlayStation 4 Pro

 

Like the Xbox, the PlayStation 4 Pro is the most powerful console Sony has ever made. Boasting 4K performance, this little console has loads of performance under the hood, and a lot of games work extremely well with it. The Pro’s GPU is significantly more powerful than the older model, and this is where all of the new juice comes from.

 

This console is a little cheaper than the Xbox but doesn’t have quite the same level of performance. Along with this, games will be equally as locked down, and a lot of people will struggle to have fun with the restrictions they have. This can make it impossible for a child to get their hands on the games they’d like to pay.

 

  • The Nintendo Switch

 

Nintendo has had a long history of taking the gaming industry by storm with a weird and unique concept. The Switch is no exception to this, and is one of their oddest designs to date. Offering the chance to have a handheld or desktop console, this option is great for those on the go, especially when kids are involved. A lot of people are very excited about the lineup for this product. Of course, though, you’ll need to make sure you’re getting what the kids want.

 

Somehow, over the years, Nintendo’s prices have barely moved. Instead, as they have made improvements, their prices have stayed the same, and this makes some of their goods incredibly good value. The Switch falls into this category, even though the games will all be locked to a single device. Thankfully, the portability of the device makes not being able to share games much more forgivable.

 

  • A Simple Phone

 

Nowadays, almost everyone has an extremely powerful phone in their pocket, and this is a market which a lot of parents or gift-givers won’t consider. Games, like Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire, have been designed to run perfectly on these devices, and don’t lack the excitement regular video games provide. This sort of option is great for parents who don’t want to invest in a television alongside their console.

 

  • The Mighty Computer

 

Finally, as the last option to consider, a lot of people don’t see a computer as a gaming device, nowadays. In reality, though, this sort of machine is perfect for gaming, and will often outperform all of the consoles on this list. With new processors and GPUs coming out all the time, there is good reason to think about this sort of option. For a child, this sort of experience could be too intense, and a console would be much better. But, for adults, games like CoD and Battlefront will be much better on PC.

(Image Credit)

 

Hopefully, this post will give you everything you need to start your Christmas console shopping for this year. A lot of people find themselves struggling for ideas when their friends or family members are gamers. With this list in mind, though, it should be nice and easy to start making the right choices in this area. Of course, they will probably give you some idea, anyway.

The Key To Helping Others: Taking Care Of Yourself First

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Everyone knows that they need to be taking care of themselves, but sometimes, that’s much easier said than done. If you’re one of those people who is always looking after other people, then you might find that your own needs aren’t being met. And while that would be just fine for a while, if it carries on unchecked then, sooner or later, you will find that it’s something you should have corrected much earlier. Here are a few ideas to ensure all your needs are met.

Source: Pexels.com

The Essential Ingredients

While it’s nice to daydream of going on a long travel trip, or taking a couple of months just to do whatever you want to do, sometimes simply just taking care of the essentials in life is enough to give us a solid platform on which to be our best. Before you’ve even begun thinking about the needs of others, make sure you’re eating well, getting enough sleep and exercise, and that your health is in check. You’ll find it much easier to be there for others if you’ve been there for yourself first.

Getting Help From Others

It might sometimes feel like that, but you’re really not in this all on your own. You will have people who are willing to help you, and if you don’t – or they’re not available – then there will be professional options. If you’re overworking yourself trying to take care of an elderly relative who needs support, then look at getting some respite care in the home. It’ll give you a break, during which you can refresh and re-energise. For things like children, then you’ll have siblings, parents, and other friends with their own children to give you a break for the evening.

Indulging

If you’re a person who always thinks of the needs of others first, then you probably can’t even remember the last time that you treated yourself to something nice. Moving forward, make a promise to yourself to do something that’s only for your benefit will help ease the burden of looking after others.

It could be buying a new dress, taking a day to do something that you love doing, catching up with your new favorite reality game show like Biggest Liar in Ghana, or simply spending the evening with relaxing music and a good book.

Be Wary of Overdoing It

Some people don’t know how to say no. Whenever something is asked of them, they’ll volunteer their time and move it straight to the top of the priority list. While this may, on the face of it, look like a good characteristic, it can only be considered as such if it’s not negatively impacting the person’s life. If you find yourself overwhelmed with tasks, then learn to say no. It might just help people understand that you’re doing a lot for them without asking anything in return.

Learn to Laugh

Finally, remember that our attitude is everything. If we’re positive, then the battle has already been half-won. Learn to laugh at life, and you’ll prevent too much stress from building up. Positivity will take you a long way!

New Year Party Planning Perfection

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Why is it that New Year’s Eve has the reputation of being the biggest anticlimactic celebration of the entire year? Most people are feeling groggy and tired after overindulging at Christmas time, so partying the night away doesn’t often seem too appealing. Let’s ditch the old notion that New Year is boring and overrated and attempt to celebrate in style. There are a number of different ways you can party the night away, so let’s explore a few key things that you can tick off your to-do list right away.

Food For Thought

Planning a New Year’s Eve party has to involve delicious food. It’s your job to supply enough sustenance for the people who might be enjoying a tipple or two, Getting hungry at a party it’s the worst feeling in the world. Everybody would be miserable if they were trying to dance the night away with empty bellies. However, don’t forget that people will have been eating leftover turkey for the past week in an attempt to finish off the festive leftovers. Keep the food light and fresh and avoid the heavy, stodgy food that you’ve already eaten. Light fish, salads, hummus and dips are the perfect dish for a glamorous do. Celebrating is thirsty work, so read up on some classic cocktail recipes. Brush up on your cocktail making skills and try out some new fruity favourites, which are sure to be a hit!

Image By: Burst

 

Dress to Impress

If you’re hosting a big party you obviously want to look your best. Try out a new style or choose a quirky dress-code. Parties are much more fun when there is a theme. Everybody always has a meltdown before a big occasion and insists that they don’t have anything to wear. Make it easy for them and dish out some inspiration with your invitations, you’ll be everybody’s best friend if you make all the difficult decisions for them.

Vivacious Venues

Whether it’s an intimate dinner party or a big blow-out, you need to find the perfect venue. If you fancy getting away from your house (and avoiding the mammoth next-morning clean up!) then consider places like http://coralgablescountryclub.com. Many companies offer great deals on special occasions like New Year so it’s worth having a browse around to see what they can offer you. Ask them if you can bring your own food and drink and save on some of the costs!

 

If you fancy keeping it simple, there’s nothing wrong with a homely, cosy gathering to make merry. You can go minimal with decorations and ask everybody to bring one of their favourite foods. If you’re on a budget this would be the perfect idea. A ready-made buffet sounds like perfection!

 

Resounding Resolutions

It wouldn’t be New Year without setting some achievable resolutions for next year. Have a think about what your passions are in life and use new start as an excuse to get to where you want to be. You can start small and then build upon each goal every month. One of the best ways to accomplish your goals is to take small steps. You’ll be strolling your way to success and happiness in no time!

 

Your Pledge In Pictures

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

(Image Source)

 

Photographs can be incredible things. With the ability to store a moment in time, this sort of tool has had a massive impact on the way that people choose to live. At an important event, like your wedding, they become even more invaluable, and this is when it call gets really interesting. To help you to arrange the photos for your big day, this post will be exploring exactly how to get the best ones. So, now, you just have to sit back, relax, and enjoy your marriage.

 

Why Get Photos? When on holiday or at smaller family events, a lot of people refuse to take pictures, worried it would take away from the event itself if they are set behind a camera for it. Of course, though, at your wedding, you won’t be taking them yourself; you’ll pay someone else. Companies like Casa Loma have all of the resources you could need to create a great shoot when you tie the knot. Having photos of your event will make it a lot easier to remember going into the future.

 

A Touch Of Video: When you’re choosing to use a professional company, you open the doors to options which you may have never considered. Video is a lot better than photos when you’re trying to keep memories alive. There are loads of businesses out there which can record, edit, and publish the videos you’d like from your wedding. As an additional feature, this will often cost some money, but it will be worth it once you’re able to choose to relive your special day. This is a very modern approach.

 

Doing Something Different: Of course, using video isn’t the only way to make your wedding memories interesting, and photos can often give you everything you need. Having a shared Instagram hashtag, for example, would enable all of your guests to submit their own photos of the big day. This sort of option is great if you’d like to avoid having a professional. But, even if you do, it can still be worth grabbing one or two snaps yourself.

 

Finding A Company: Choosing the business which will be entrusted with your wedding photography will take some work. Reviews on websites like Google will be a great start, but it could also be worth doing some of your own comparisons. Along with this, you should be working hard to find all of the portfolios you can, as this sort of evidence is some of the best you’ll find for this sort of professional.

 

Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start looking for the right photographer for your wedding. This sort of job is a lot easier than you might think. But, of course, the approach you take will make all the difference in the end. It’s never worth trying to take the pictures for your own wedding. This will make the day stressful, and you won’t be able to focus on the right things. Instead, you need someone to do it for you, and there are loads of great candidates out there.

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