Landscapes Make Any Building Look Beautiful

December 14, 2018 by Leave a Comment

It’s always great to have a gorgeous home, but the difference between a mediocre house and a beautiful home can often owe more to the landscapes than to the building itself. Not only can a high-quality landscape make any property look so much better, but it will also add significant value to any property. Landscaped yards aren’t just the concept of 18th-century European nobility. They can fit any space and even be made to adhere to a relatively limited budget, too. If you work from home and would like to spend more time outside, a landscaped yard, designed with this in mind, could be the ideal solution. Indeed, many commercial office spaces also incorporate landscapes gardens for the benefit of their employees.

Landscaped yards aren’t just for homes but work very well in an office setting. Many businesses are starting to realize the benefits of having a landscape garden for their employees. Different businesses are trying different things, and corporate landscape gardens aren’t always just places for employees to relax and spend a bit of time amongst greenery (although they are definitely good for this too). Some are taking initiatives to grow fruits and vegetables for their company cafeterias, while there are also some companies which even introduce apiaries and have employees help care for them. Any sort of corporate garden can break the monotony of office life and will help employees to feel more relaxed.

If you’re considering getting your yard landscaped, it’s probably a good idea to hire a landscape architect in order to help you design something suitable for your space and your budget, as well as the surrounding climate. A landscape architect has years of training in their trade, and this includes intimate knowledge of both landscaping and architecture. This means that landscape architects are familiar with construction techniques and materials, as well as which plants and features will work in a given landscape. A landscape architect can help you come up with a coherent design, rather than one that simply looks like a hodgepodge of various things thrown together.

In addition to this, a landscape architect can help come up with a budget, which is important because many people have no clue how much landscaping work can cost. Just because you set a budget and have contractors working with you doesn’t mean that something won’t come up. A landscape architect will have the knowledge and experience to deal with these sorts of situations as well. They can serve as a liaison between you and those actually constructing your project, which definitely will prove useful for all involved.

It’s entirely possible to speak over the phone with a client about previous work as a landscape architect, but it would be great to create a portfolio to point potential clients to previous work so that they can actually see it for themselves. After all, landscape architecture is very much a visual thing, and thus an image is so much better for demonstrating how projects actually turn out. It might be a cliché that a picture is worth a thousand words, but the fact remains that words alone won’t give clients a clear idea about how a particular example of landscaping architecture actually appears. When you have a number of previous examples to your credit, it becomes imperative to come up with a proper portfolio or prepare yourself to do a lot of descriptive writing. It’s always great to create a portfolio of your previous work that can be posted on your website or sent electronically to clients upon request. Fortunately, there are plenty of online tools to do just that.

Whether you’re a landscape architect who wants to reach clients or a client looking for a landscape architect for a project that you have in mind, portfolios are a vital part of understanding one’s landscaping work. For potential clients, they offer a better chance of seeing if you really want to work with a given landscape architect, rather than simply talking about previous work.

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The Most Important Fundamentals For Your Home

December 14, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Running a beautiful home isn’t an accident. It’s something that happens with effort, aimed towards the result you most hope to enjoy. A family home is also a dynamic process, something you have to maintain, but also something you can repeatedly enjoy. As a family lives there over the years, the character of the place changes with it. Perhaps one of the saddest things a prospective buyer can see is a home that’s been neglected over the years, filled with potential but simply no one with the financial backing or willingness to make a real change there.

 

Of course, you’re likely in no danger of having this happen to your familial home. It’s also unlikely that you need a guide to tell you how to love your home, because you do that passively all by yourself. However, sometimes when moving into a new place for the first time and adapting to the homemaker’s mindset, a little forethought and understanding of fundamental services to use can help you in a large manner.

 

The most important fundamentals of your home are essential to take care of, and luckily they are listed as below:

 

Plumbing

 

Plumbing is among one of the most important resources any person needs to get right. This is because a shoddy job can sometimes cost expensive or irreparable damage, and that’s likely something you are absolutely hoping to avoid. Good plumbing also gives you a greater degree of freedom in how rooms are designed, and where you place certain implements. A good plumbing job can reduce the long-term designs of new difficulties by a large margin, and that can truly make all the difference in the long-term. Be sure to vet your plumbing hires well, or use a tried and tested offering such as ABC Plumbing Services for a reliable job each and every time. This often makes the biggest difference in the quality and nature of the work conducted.

 

Hygiene Maintenance

 

All homes have their own hygiene pitfalls. It might be that your home has a tendency for rot due to the setup of a wet room, the moisture of ventilation, and perhaps how hard certain weather conditions hit it. It might be you have smaller crawlspaces that often foster an outside accessway for pests, and must be thoroughly maintained and controlled. It could be that the beams in your roof are starting to rot and desperately need replacement, or that your shingles are covered in moss and might need a deep clean. Hygiene maintenance is not only important to keep on top of, but identify in the first place. With a diligent outlook, you can achieve this.

 

Repairs

Home repairs are important to ensure completion of immediately. It could be that one of your steps on the staircase is slightly weak, and could perhaps harm someone who forgets to avoid that step in the meantime. Your garden path might be uneven and promote a difficult sense of traversal, heightening the chance of falls. Repairs are important to take care of, so always keep an operational budget to fix them no matter what.

 

With these tips, you’re sure to apply the most important fundamentals for your home first and foremost.

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Top 10 Tips for Driving in Winter Weather

December 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment

As temperatures drop and roads get slippery with ice and snow, even the most experienced of drivers can face challenges. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are over 1.2 million weather-related vehicle crashes across the U.S. each year, with 18% of them occurring due to adverse winter conditions. This year, Rand McNally’s road trip experts have compiled a list of tips to help keep drivers safe and road-ready.

1. Know the meaning of different winter weather alerts issued by the National Weather Service (NWS). Make sure you know the difference among the various alerts before you hit the road:

a. Winter Storm Warning: This warning is issued when a significant winter weather event occurs, including snow, ice, sleet or blowing snow. The NWS advises against traveling; if you must drive, bring a winter survival kit (see point No. 5) in your vehicle.
b. Winter Storm Watch: This alert means that severe winter conditions may be in effect and could make travel treacherous. You can expect heavy sleet, heavy snow, ice, blowing snow, and poor visibility.
c. Winter Weather Advisory: The advisory is announced when wintry conditions are expected, but conditions are not as hazardous as the warnings or watches. Be alert and careful on the road at all times.

2. Slow down and proceed with caution. If the roads are icy, it can take longer to brake, so make sure you are going at a speed that allows you to maintain traction and avoid skidding. Also, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to stop at intersections. Allow for three to twelve times more stopping distance than in normal dry conditions, depending upon the size of your vehicle.

3. Pull over if it’s too difficult to safely drive, such as in whiteout conditions, or if you’ve had an accident. If you unexpectedly find yourself unable to drive, try to pull over and park your car out of harm’s way. Do not leave your vehicle, sit tight, and wait for help or until the dangerous conditions have passed. You can safely run the heat in your car for 10 minutes every hour to help warm up and keep the battery charged, but ensure that your exhaust pipe is free of snow to avoid any harmful carbon monoxide incidents.

4. Before heading out, be sure to tell a friend or family member your travel schedule and route. This is especially important if you are driving in rural areas or on lightly-traveled roads.

5. Make sure your car is stocked with the proper gear to handle winter driving-related tasks, as well as emergency supplies. The National Safety Council recommends that you have certain items on hand, such as a small shovel; jumper cables; a bag of kitty litter to create traction if you happen to get stuck; a flashlight; a small tool kit; an ice scraper; a first aid kit; matches; blankets; non-perishable, high-energy foods like dried fruits, and water.

6. Regularly check your windshield to ensure that the washer reservoir is full – and stash an extra bottle of fluid in your trunk. Be sure to buy fluid with extra alcohol or de-icer, to ensure that it works at lower temperatures.

7. Keep your gas tank full. Cold temperatures can cause condensation to form on the walls of a low fuel tank; the water may then find its way into the fuel lines, freezing and blocking the flow of fuel to the engine. If this happens, you could find yourself stuck and racking up some pricey repair costs.

8. Check your tire pressure before you leave. When outdoor temperatures drop, so does inflation pressure. Lower pressure can close up the tread and decrease traction, which can increase the likelihood of skidding on snow and ice and getting into an accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends checking your tires at least once a month and before long road trips – it only takes a few minutes and you’ll be glad you did. Many cars provide low tire pressure warnings; if you receive such a warning, stop as soon as possible to check your tire pressure.

9. Remember, safety first. Always wear your seatbelt, and make sure that all other passengers in the car are buckled up in the appropriate way based on their age and size. According to the NHTSA, car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13 – so make sure that kids are in the right car seat and that it’s installed correctly.

10. Keep your cell phone charged and keep a spare charger in the car. If something happens, you’ll want to make sure that you have a way to reach someone, including emergency responders if cell service is available.

Severe weather can be challenging for drivers, but it’s manageable if you prepare in advance. That way, you’ll be ready for anything that Mother Nature throws your way.

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Giveaway – BioMed For Pain Relief #HealthyLiving #painrelief #GIVEAWAY

December 10, 2018 by 67 Comments

Looking for relief from pain? I’ve recently discovered a new company, BioMed. They have a bunch of new products that will help you gain relief from pains that you are experiencing.  There are quite a few products you can choose from.

PAIN RELIEF

Sunny Bay’s versatile heating pad pillow will quickly become your go-to solution for neck and shoulder muscle pain, soreness, and tension caused by intense training or accidental tweaks that can happen during daily activities. Simply pop it in the microwave or freezer for the best hot or cold therapy for your aching body. It has been useful for me, and I’ve often used it when I am working on the computer or on the couch or even driving.

pain relief pads
THERAPEUTIC

Once your neck brace is safely heated in the microwave, place it on your neck for pain relief. Each pack holds in heat for 30 minute intervals, maximizing your relief for fast and efficient recovery. Stow your pad in your day bag or luggage for daily relief during travels near and far.  They are also easy to use, wear, and are fairly comfortable.
Each pack is filled with fresh flax seeds to efficiently hold in heat and ensure a flexible fit around your neck, arm, or knee. Whether you’re standing up or moving around in your office chair, the neck brace stays put. It can touch more skin areas than wraps made of other materials. It’s anti-pill fleece cover retains warmth and is designed to protect your skin from the long-lasting heat stored inside. It is very comforting.

HOT-COLD USE

Forget gel packs or ice cubes melting through towels-. Our heat pillows handle hot and cold treatment with ease. You place it in the microwave for quick heating, or place it in the freezer to chill for fast soothing. It’s perfect for muscle aches and pains from your neck and shoulders.

REUSABLE

No matter how many times you use it, our heat pack is ready for more. From the filling to the cover, we designed every detail to stand up to heavy, repeated use to provide you with consistent muscle pain relief on demand.

OR, DISPOSABLE

You can also get disposable Pain Relief Heat Pads that you place directly on your skin. They heat up upon contact, and they work for around 30 minutes at a go. They work well on your lower back for menstrual cramps, as well.

menstrual cramps

One of you can win a gift set from BioMed to try out for yourself. Feel free to use the RC form below to enter to win. Good luck, ends Jan 5, 2019.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Filed Under: giveaway, health, review Tagged With: , ,

Last Minute Toy Shopping Under $20 #GiftGuide

December 10, 2018 by Leave a Comment

 

Adorable plush Rescue Runts and Cinco Linko game are under $20 and available in-store at thousands of Walmart stores across the country. You can shop local and not worry about products shipping in time. These toys are family-friendly, encourage creativity and offer year-round fun!

Cinco Linko (Big Potato)

Cinco Linko is a super-simple five-in-a-row tile game that you can clip to your bag and play on the go, no matter where you’re headed. With no game board required, any flat surface can be your playing field – whether it’s the coffee table at home, the tray table on an airplane or even the sand on the beach.

Learning is easy. Just choose a color, grab your stack and take turns laying down tiles side-by-side until someone manages to get five-in-a-row of their color, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Sounds simple, but when there’s players blocking you at every turn and a board without any boundaries, winning can go from simple to tricky in a flash. Run out of tiles? Well, that just means you’ll have to pick up the ones you’ve already placed and reposition them one by one until you manage to sneak your line of five past the other players.

Cinco Linko comes with 60 tiles (15 pink, 15 yellow, 15 green, 15 orange). The tiles stack easily onto four included racks that clip together with a connector to keep everything together on the go. Just use the included carabiner clip to hook Cinco Linko to your bag and you’re ready to play anyone, anywhere. Value: $9.99, 2-4 Players, Ages 8+, Available in Walmart Stores.

Rescue Runts (KD Kids)

Rescue Runts need a home to call their own! The super soft plush puppies and Limited Edition Rescue Runts Unicorn arrive in their crate packaging with matted fur full of fleas, dirty paws, bruises and bumps, tears in their eyes and downturned ears. Care for your Rescue Runt using the included grooming kit to pick out the fleas, remove the cast, clean the dirt from their paws, wipe away their tears and brush their messy fur. Perk up their ears to complete the transformation from ragged runt to perfect pet! Choose a name and write it on the collar to make the adoption official.

Just like any pet, Rescue Runts will need regular grooming, love and care so kids can engage in repeated animal rescue play. Rescue Runts’ fur will become messy again over time, so brunch them each day to keep them well-groomed. Dirt will reappear on their paws, so clean them up again and again! Rewrap the cast to care for their injuries. Place the fleas in their fur and tweeze them out. Flip their ears up or down to go from happy to sad.  Rescue Runts include one pet, a brush, collar, tweezers and towel.  MSRP $19.99, Ages 3+, Available at Walmart

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Tips To Consider When Visiting China

December 10, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Are you considering visiting China? Well, you should and it’s a great thing to do and an experience to have. Here are some top tips to do so.

 

  1. Eat Well

Outside of China’s borders, impressions of their food are often defined by the balanced, sweet flavors of Cantonese food. While dim sum and most Cantonese dishes are delightful, there are so many regional cuisines to be discovered like the sour funkiness and freshness of food from Yunnan and Guizhou and the fiery spice of Hunan and Sichuan cuisine.

 

And don’t forget the light, refined seafood, and dumplings from Shanghai and Hangzhou, and Xinjiang’s hand-pulled noodles and hearty quasi Turkish kebabs. While you could travel around to try some of these dishes, the great thing is that major Chinese cities host restaurants that offer cuisine from different parts of the country.

 

  1. Go online

 

Google Maps, Youtube, Facebook and a majority of Western email providers won’t be easy to access in China, so you might want to down a VPN or Virtual Private Network to help you get past China’s “Great Firewall.”

 

However, in China, you can still find some handy apps like WeChat, which can be considered to a Chinese WhatsApp but is, in reality, a combination of the app, Paypal, Facebook, a food delivery platform and so much more. Some of its features are hard to navigate even with limited Chinese; however, you will still need the app to make new friends and follow restaurants, museums, magazines and other establishments on the app to stay updated about exclusive deals and events. So, experience China by booking flights and getting your passport and visa ready to go – you can order here.

 

  1. Learn Some Chinese

 

While Chinese languages can be intimidating, attempting to learn some Mandarin, which is the most widely spoken language in China, will be useful. If you are in China for a short stay, consider signing up for a short language course to learn the basics of the language.

 

The most basic Mandarin will prove handy when it comes to moving around, and locals will be happy to see that you are making an effort. Printing out or writing down addresses in Chinese or using Chinese characters will certainly ease things for you.

 

  1. Take the Train

In most countries, this option would imply enjoying the romance of seeing the countryside roll by as you head to your destination. However, that is not the case in China. Their high speed rail network is renowned for its convenience. With railway stations much closer to cities than airports, a journey between two major cities is faster, more comfortable and much cheaper than domestic flights.

 

The five hours it takes to travel between Shanghai and Beijing compare quite favorably to flight times, but with lesser stress. Furthermore, the bustle in China’s modern stations will allow you to see the direction the nation is taking.

 

  1. Avoid the Coast

 

As tempting as it is, consider traveling away from major cities that sit near coastlines. Provinces and cities further inland have more distinct cuisines and cultures, and often have stronger ties with tradition.

 

In Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar and Laos, China takes a Southeast Asian flavor. On the other hand, Chengdu, which is in Sichuan province, has a relaxed pace and is a gateway to the wilderness that sits along the edge of the Himalayas. Chongqing, which is not that far off, is a surreal mega city with skyscrapers that hug hills on Yangtze River’s banks.

 

  1. Shop A Bit

 

Well, China is home to some of the best fake goods in the world. However, there is so much the country has to offer. So, when visiting, why not buy yourself some quality pu’er tea or oolong? In the alleys, known as hutongs, around Beijing’s Guloudongdajie, boutiques stock nostalgic socialist chic homeware and attire from local designers. Stores like Shanghai-based Closing Ceremony offer a variety of Chinese art magazines and photo books.

 

  1. Catch a Show

 

China’s contemporary art has firmly established itself internationally, so consider checking out some art exhibits right at the source. Some of the most prominent galleries in China include Shanghai’s Power Station of Art, Beijing’s Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, and Shenzhen’s OCT Contemporary Art Terminal.

 

If you love music, then Beijing bars like School carry on the city’s decades-long tradition of gritty rock. Furthermore, the electronic music scene in Shanghai is one of the best in Asia.

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Digital Nomad Lifestyle: What to have in your Survival Kit?

December 10, 2018 by Leave a Comment

When we hear the term digital nomad, the first thing that comes to mind is freedom, fun, and quick money! We believe it’s an easygoing lifestyle, working from the beaches of Bali today and traveling to Bangkok tomorrow. But to successfully live the digital nomad lifestyle, it takes a great amount of commitment, discipline, and most importantly, a resourceful set of tools to keep work flowing regularly.

Being productive with exotic beaches or historical landmarks nearby isn’t easy but technology has made remote work possible and so with some restraint from your side, you would be able to lead this lifestyle the best way possible.

What to have in your Survival Kit?   

This lifestyle isn’t all fun and games, in order to keep it in effect, you need to get work done and be productive so I put together a survival kit with all the essential tools you’ll need to happily live as a digital nomad and get work done.

Your Basic Tools:  

  • Your laptop/ tablet: This is the number one item you should never travel without. Whichever device you choose, all your work and tasks will get done through it so having a good operating laptop with you is key to this lifestyle.

 

  • Laptop Accessories:  These are the small items but necessities that come with your laptop like your portable mouse, touchpad, USB, or anything else that you might need while working in a café or workspace.

 

  • Chargers: The worst thing that could happen is having your phone battery or laptop battery die and forgetting your charger at home or losing it altogether. This will not only slow your progress but can possibly ruin your whole day. Keeping your charges nearby is very important, in fact, look into buying a portable charger for your phone so it’ll always be fully charged.

 

  • Internet Connection: It’s no surprise that having internet is the main core behind all your tools and apps working and since you are, after all, a “digital nomad” all your work is online so no internet can definitely be a problem.

 

  • Headphones: This may seem unimportant to you now but when you’re stuck in a noisy airport or jammed café, you’re going to wish you had your headphones! Listening to music, a radio station, or your favorite podcast will eliminate any distracting noises around you while working and will help you stay focused.

 

Essential Work Tools:  

 

  • Communication: When you start traveling internationally, staying connected isn’t easy, whether it’s with your team, clients, or friends and family. But thank God for the internet! You can use a popular app like Skype to do phone or video calls or something like Telegram for more secure messaging or sharing files with your team. And lastly, we have Google Hangouts, one of Google’s many cool apps to do phone and video calls or chat.

 

 

 

  • Project Management: Getting sidetracked when surrounded by the new culture and fun things to do is likely to happen. With a project management tool, you can easily keep track of your tasks, follow-up on pending tasks, delegate tasks to your team, and create separate projects. The most well-known app, Trello gets the job done. You can also check out a simpler app like Buckets where you can track tasks in color-coded boxes or Asana.

 

 

 

  • Scheduling: If you have an important meeting or an event to attend, you’re most likely need a reminder. Every nomad should have an organized calendar of upcoming tasks and events so nothing will slip through your busy days. This is where Google Calendar comes in handy; however, Google Calendar isn’t the nicest scheduling app out there. Calendly took things a step further and checks your availability and sets your meetings for you!

 

 

 

  • Virtual Mailbox: Being a digital nomad means you’re away from home for long periods but that doesn’t mean your postal mail will just disappear. You need to be sure all your postal mail is addressed and taken care of and that’s where PostScan Mail comes in! Offering an online mailbox, you’ll be able to view and control all your postal mail online. With just a few clicks you can scan, shred, forward, or archive any mail piece. It’ll be just like handling your email.

 

 

 

  • Data Sharing: For better collaboration with your team, you need to be able to share documents and sheets with them and nothing does this better and safer than Google Drive. However, for more storage space, 18 GB, you can look into Dropbox with a starter package at $12.50.

 

Conclusion:

The road to freedom isn’t too far away! By using the right tools and having a strong internet connection, achieving location independence and working according to your schedule is doable. Check out WorkHardAnywhere to find the best workspaces and cafes near you, in whichever country you’re in with great Wi-Fi speed, availability, and parking.

 

Photo by samer daboul from Pexels

Filed Under: traveling Tagged With: ,

5 Stain Removal Tips

December 6, 2018 by Leave a Comment

We’ve all had that sinking feeling when something splashes onto your favorite item of clothing – you can’t walk into a room with the same level of confidence once your outfit for the day is stained.

Fortunately it doesn’t mean the end of your garment. You can get rid of virtually any stain; all you need is the right approach.

Tip 1 – Assess The Stain

The first thing you need to do when dealing with a stain is figure out what it is. You may know if it has just happened or it is your clothing. But, you may not be aware of when it happened or, it might not be your clothing.

You’ll need to look at the stain to decide if it is food based or something else. This will help you to decide how to treat it.

Tip 2 – Brush

It’s a good idea to lightly brush your stain. This should remove any excess of the contaminant. Of course you need to do this gently to ensure you are not going to damage the fabric.

Scraping of the excess will also help you to deal with the actual stain and not waste detergent and effort on excess contaminants that can be easily removed.

It’s also important to note the material of the garment.  For example, you can be much tougher with cotton or denim garments than you can with something made of wool or polyester.

Tip 3 – Soak

The next thing to do is to soak the item in a bowl or tub of water with some specially formulated stain solution or laundry detergent. The container will have instructions regarding whether to agitate the stain or not.

Tip 4 – Choose The Right Method

If the soak approach does not work, then you may need to try something different. Your approach will depend on what substance created the stain.

For example, adhesive tape can be removed easily by applying ice to the stain for a few minutes and then scraping it with a knife. This also works for chewing gum or rubber cement.

There’s a whole range of options you’ll need to familiarize yourself with depending on the type of stain.

Tip 5 – Repeat

It’s easy to become disappointed or downhearted when you’ve tried to remove a stain and it hasn’t worked. However, this doesn’t mean you should give up.

You may have got the stain type wrong or may have more success with a different type of product or approach. It’s important to try again but to always read the label of your item. This will tell you what approaches you should try.

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