Why Choose Velux Roof Windows

September 11, 2020 by Leave a Comment

A properly installed roof window tends to bring light and air into the darkest and most dismal of loft conversions, kitchen and anywhere else you decide to install a roof window. The key feature of a roof window is that it is on the roof, so the room it is going in, needs to have the roof above the ceiling or next to a wall. 

With over 70 years of glazing experience, Velux Roof Windows are a brand to trust. Velux Roof Windows come with a ten-year manufacturer’s guarantee. For general maintenance and wear and tear, there’s 25 years of availability on spare parts. Most of the parts are so simple to replace, you won’t need to hire someone to come out. 

Sunlight

Natural light is needed in the home. Sunlight is needed to maintain health, both in the body and the home. 

A dark and dismal room with poor ventilation isn’t just oppressive, it is damp and can lead to mold. Extractor fans are noisy and don’t brighten the space, like a roof window. 

The human body requires sunlight. The amount of sunlight impacts mood and increases the production of the happy hormone, serotonin. Even before hormone production kicks in, walking from a room that is dark and dismal into a space that is lit by sunlight has an immediate impact that isn’t experienced with artificial light. 

Roof windows may be the only way to get natural sunlight in a room. They work in oddly shaped rooms without much wall space. 

Window Combinations

Velux pitched windows can be combined with vertical windows to create glass walls straight out of a magazine. A glass wall creates the illusion of space, making a room appear much bigger than it actually is. 

A glass wall in a loft conversion is possible with pitched windows or the combination of pitched and vertical windows. If the loft is mainly being used as a bedroom, you can watch the stars lying in bed. Don’t forget the tinting for privacy. 

Glass walls aren’t just for bedrooms. They work in dining rooms and even kitchens. Glass walls offer excellent views and can aide in relaxation, turning a space from somewhere oppressive to somewhere pleasant to spend time. 

Sound Insulation

Velux offer soundproofing as a glazing option. With all their years of experience, they can reduce noise by up to 50 per cent. It even works for those directly under a flight path. Being woken by planes or other outside noise on a Saturday morning isn’t pleasant, so be sure to have this option if you live anywhere noisy. 

Safety

Roof windows can look like a giant cat flap to burglars. Velux uses toughened glass, reinforcements and extra locks. The burglar will be in for a nasty surprise if they try messing with a Velux window. 

Built-in Smoke Ventilation

With smoke ventilation accessible either by the press of a button or automatic sensor, no one will know you burnt the bake sale cookies and replaced them with store-bought.

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Begin A Magical Tradition Around Birthdays With Happy The Birthday Bird @Happy_TheBird

September 10, 2020 by 16 Comments

happy bird

Move over Tooth Fairy and that elf lying on some shelf. Happy The Birthday Bird ($39.99) has landed! Happy is here to create an annual tradition for the one 24-hour holiday that every kid celebrates no matter where they live, how they pray, or family income. Incredibly, the toy industry has not come up with a Happy Birthday-centric toy until mompreneur Monica Goodson walked around the American International Toy Fair earlier this year. She just knew she had something special to share with children everywhere.In fact, it was one of those ideas that retailers and parents say in retrospect, why didn’t I think of that? Jersey Shore shoppers in Ocean City, NJ are the first to see Happy The Birthday Bird at retailer Salty Treasurers. Online and in-store orders are “flying” off the shelves.

About The Creators

“Happy The Birthday Bird is a plush toy and book set inspired by my son Mylen for his 8th birthday,” explains Goodson. “Happy’s story creates a family ritual and countdown to every child’s birthday. Start a week or so before their special day to make this birthday the most memorable one yet!”

Happy The Birthday Bird • Ages 3+ • $39.99

Kids love the magic of Happy flying back to TuYu each night leading up to their birthdays, carrying wishes and memories back and forth. This beautiful gift set contains all you need to build a new tradition and make birthdays even more memorable! The set includes: 15-inch plush bird wearing metallic sneakers and a backpack with clip; 4-inch plushie balloon; 36-page full-color beautifully illustrated hardcover book, includes six memory pages and one pocket for storing extra photos and cards. Best of all, Happy arrives in a sturdy reusable box with a handle for safe storage year after year.

Beyond the hold-in-your hand gift set, Happy The Birthday Bird features creative multimedia extensions, such as two original birthday songs and a dance, fun animations, digital versions of the memory pages and online downloads such as party invitations.

Here are our thoughts on Happy The Birthday Bird;

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To Write Love on Her Arms Announces Shares World Suicide Prevention Day Video #WorthLivingFor #WSPD20 @TWLOHA

September 10, 2020 by Leave a Comment
The mental health non-profit To Write Love on Her Arms has shared an inspiring new video as part of its “ Worth Living For Campaign” to honor World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10) and National Suicide Prevention Week (September 6 – September 12). The video features appearances from US Women’s National Team star Ashlyn Harris, artist Morgan Harper Nichols, actor Chris Sullivan (This Is Us), Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Dustin Kensrue (Thrice), Mark Vollelunga (Nothing More), surfer Caroline Marks, producer Moore Kismet, Levi The Poet, and more. To watch the video, please visit: youtu.be/cXSLMF3GdYE.
 
On the video, TWLOHA founder Jamie Tworkowski shares: “This video is a collection of faces and voices from around the world, friends of the organization and folks we’re yet to meet, all sharing what they’re living for. We hope it inspires others to consider and share their reasons to stay alive. Ultimately, that’s the goal-inspiring people to fight for healing and recovery. We believe there’s so much worth living for.“
 
Additionally, TWLOHA will be simulcasting on   Twitch,  Youtube, and Facebook today at 2pm ET to revisit highlights from the “Worth Living For” campaign and share points of continued engagement. Beginning at 3pm, viewers can also tune in to Instagram as Tworkowski is joined by Twinnie, Selema Masekela, Hunter Hayes, Tonya Ingram, and Jon Foreman for a series of conversations.
 
This year marks TWLOHA’s 9th annual campaign to honor WSPD and NSPW.The campaign statement was inspired by words written and performed by artist Levi The Poet. When asked what the statement represents and what the organization hopes to achieve through the global campaign, Co-Executive Director Lindsay Kolsch shared:
 
“This year has been hard for so many people – disruption and disconnection, uncertainty and changes – have become a part of our everyday lives. We know that people need other people and that connection is important not to us just as humans, but to our mental health as well. We want this year’s campaign to focus on the things that bring us hope, the things that are worth living for – collectively and personally. We believe that having this conversation and connecting those struggling to  mental health resources can be life-saving.“
 
People can participate by purchasing the organization’s World Suicide Prevention Day pack, joining the conversation online using #WorthLivingFor and #WSPD20, and tagging @TWLOHA, and by donating to the campaign. TWLOHA will directly invest every dollar from the campaign into sponsoring 3,500 counseling sessions and supporting 45,000 searches for free or affordable mental health care using their FIND HELP Tool.
 
To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. Since its start in 2006, TWLOHA has donated over $2.6 million directly into treatment and recovery and answered over 210,000 emails from over 100 countries.
 
To get involved, go to www.worthlivingfor.com.
 
For more information on To Write Love on Her Arms, please visit: www.twloha.com.
 
Follow TWLOHA online at:
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Emergency Light Testing and Its Features

September 8, 2020 by Leave a Comment

Emergency lights are an essential safety feature in all commercial buildings. Everyone would have seen an emergency light system at one point or another. They’re mandatory in all non-domestic buildings. There isn’t much point in having an emergency light system unless it is running efficiently. The only way to know if it is working and can get people out of a building safely is through emergency light testing. 

Expert

Although it is perfectly acceptable to have a named person carry out daily visual checks of the signs and order any repairs, it is better to leave the monthly checks to a professional. The yearly inspections need to be carried out by a professional. 

Features of an Emergency Light System

The most visible part of an emergency light system is the signs on or above an emergency door. There’s also the signs pointing to the doors because they need to be clearly marked and easy to find. These are the parts a named person should be checking every day. Another noticeable part is the luminescent strips on steps. Some people also notice the fire fighting equipment hanging on the wall. 

What people don’t see or think of is the equipment that needs to be shut down in an emergency. This varies from building-to-building dependent upon usage. There should be a clear emergency plan with adequate emergency lights, accessible to everyone using the building. 

The public uses a lot of buildings, such as cinemas, shopping centres and restaurants. It is impossible to verbally inform everyone using the building of the emergency exit system or even provide written rules. That’s when the signs and exits need to be very obvious. Plunged into darkness, even the most familiar building becomes disorientating. 

Most people aren’t so familiar with the shopping centre to be able to find their way out in the dark, even if they’ve worked there every day for 12 years. People in smaller buildings experience the small disorientation than larger buildings when plunged into darkness. That is why it is crucial to have a working emergency light system in place. 

Testing

Daily visible checks need to be carried out. The named person needs to be aware of their duties. It is no good to tell people to check the exit signs without knowing who exactly is meant to do that and what they should be looking out for. 

On a monthly basis, the mains need to be switched off to make sure the emergency lights glow. 

Once per year, the emergency lights need to be tested for an extended amount of time, typically about three hours. That means the mains need to be off for this amount of time, and each thing that should be bright needs to remain bright. 

If during any of these inspections, it is discovered that something isn’t working or part of the emergency exit plan isn’t safe, it needs to be rectified immediately. The annual test can be carried out after business hours.

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How can we make our older parents feel happy?

September 3, 2020 by 1 Comment

Old age can be the worst part of anyone’s life if they have no one to take care of them. If someone wants his parents to live longer, he must stay devoted to his parents’ mental health. Many times, teenagers and adults find it difficult to please their parents, but entertaining your parent is not hard. You only need to engage them in some productive activities. 

Mothers are easy to please, but fathers are a bit different. Especially those who have just retired from their job. It is not unnatural or strange; if anyone is asked to stay home after a long period, it will irritate him.

Do not forget to call them.

People feel insecure once they get old, to make them feel empowered, just like they did to make you strong; you should call them regularly. Especially if you have a mother, do not skip a day; even a 10-minute call can make her day. Staying away and unconcerned can break their heart, as no parent expects such an aloof behavior from their beloved child.

Empathize with them 

Think like a friend; you are now a grown-up. Being an adult, you can easily understand the problems and issues your parents must be facing. Do not try to force them to stay happy and positive; aging is a series of several losses, so negativity is a natural phenomenon.  

Plan the parties for them

Just like your kid, your parents also need to feel special once in a while. You can plan a retirement party and send the retirement party invites to your parents’ house to give them a surprise or plan your father’s 60th birthday. 

The same goes for the birthday, design a wonderful birthday invitation with a photograph of your parent when he was young, or you can simply pick up from the trending 60th birthday invites . Whatever you do, make sure that the invitation must go like a surprise; surprises can make them happy.   

Show them the world 

Do not let them feel as if they are useless and cannot understand the new world. Take them with you when you are out to explore some new things. Do not forget that they were the ones who taught you everything. 

Say, if your parents are not aware of social media, you must tell them what it is and how they can engage with it and politely teach them so that they may not feel left out. It will create a sense of reliability and self-confidence in them.

Help them find their potential 

Ask your parents what they wanted to become, say if someone’s parents wanted to become a swimmer, then you must admit them to a swimming school. Tell them that it is never too late. They can still explore their potentials, and it is the right time to fulfill their dreams. Always think that they left their ambitions only because they wanted you to succeed in life, and their old age is the time to repay.  

Let them join clubs 

Ask them to stay social and active, not be a bossy or authoritarian person; instead, tell them the benefits of joining certain groups. Show them some impressive examples and let them understand the effects. 

Plan the get-togethers

Most parents tend to leave their friends because they are unable to find time for the social circle. Now, when you are settled, and your parents are free, it is the perfect time to reconnect with their friends. You can organize meetings and surprise parties for your parents and invite all their friends. This way, they will meet the old people who will ultimately make them feel young at heart.

Do not discuss petty matters.

If you want your parents to stay healthy, do not share things that can stress them out. Only share those incidents that are serious, and you need their guidance to sort out the matter.

Help them deal with any pain

Older parents are prone to all sorts of chronically painful issues throughout the body. Typically, they suffer from arthritis – particularly in joints like the shoulders and hips. So, you can make them feel a lot happier if you help them deal and cope with these pains. Try to find out what is the best treatment for arthritis in the shoulder, hips, wrists, neck – wherever the pain may be! If you can come to them with solutions or ideas to ease the pain, it will make their lives so much better. They can do more things, feel more independent, and might become more active.

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Know the benefits offered by small group tour packages

September 2, 2020 by Leave a Comment

When you want to travel around the world with comfort, convenience and enjoyment then you should consider opting for small group tour packages. This is the most popular option among travelers who are looking for an extremely intimate experience with the local lifestyles and cultures. You will be able to visit the iconic landmarks, authentic restaurants and get to see everything related to the locals for a memorable traveling experience. As there are fewer people, about 20-25 people in this small group tour, you will be able to socialize with the other people easily and comfortably. Interacting with the local people will also become easier as you will have informal communication with the fellow travelers so that you will get to explore the local traditions, crafts and authentic settings of the place. Additionally, small groups have more access to the different places, restaurants and transportation which might not be possible with independent travel. Smaller groups will have less environmental impact during their trip because the resources will be used with careful consideration while offering many benefits to each traveler in the group.

There are many benefits offered by small group tour packages and the most important benefit is that you will be able to indulge in every adventure that you have dreamt of and see things that you always wanted, which you don’t be able to do when you travel solo. Large groups are also not feasible because you might not get the desired level of freedom and benefits that you are looking for. But with smaller groups, you can be rest assured that the itineraries’ will be designed for offering you the best and most memorable experience of your life. These trips can also be customized according to your tastes and preferences so that you will love traveling according to your expectations. The trip that is planned by the travel agents will help you get ongoing discounts and attractive offers so that you get the most enjoyable trip. When you are traveling in a group, the overall cost of traveling will be reduced considerably so that you will have to pay a lesser amount of money for your travel needs. You will also be able to visit all the attractions of the place of your visit so that you will have an amazing experience when you are traveling with a small number of people. You will also be able to access to the special packages, inclusions and other attractive benefits that are only offered to the travel agents with small groups of travelers.

Interacting with the tour guide will also become very convenient when you are traveling in small groups so that you will have a more comfortable and intimate experience. The guide will also give you more information about the local customs, flavors, foods, culture and even the smallest information about the place of your visit. Even when you want to visit the overcrowded or unusual destination, a small group will have access first as compared to the large groups so that you will have an enjoyable trip. You will also enjoy the best quality services along with affordable cost so that you will love the trip with the small group tour.

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Best Remote Vacations That Are Fun For The Whole Family

September 2, 2020 by 1 Comment

travel with whole family

Sometimes you need to get away from your screens. It is time to go into the outdoors and leave your phones, laptops, tablets, watches, FitBits and everything else like that at home. Unplugging every so often is important for your mental health. If you have a family you may be thinking it is unrealistic to find a remote vacation that is safe and fun for the entire family. Luckily for you, we have whipped up at least five of the best remote resorts, vacations and more With this list, you can start planning that much-needed trip right now.

Head West

The western part of the country is absolutely breathtaking. Here are some of the best places to visit out west if you are looking for somewhere to reconnect with nature.

Rogue River

This river is in the middle of Southern Oregon and it is 84 miles rich of the wild. Near this river, you will not find roads, power lines or even cell phone service. The most recommended activity to do at Rogue River is to go rafting. This is an activity the whole family can partake in.

Oregon State Park

Oregon is a state with many natural sceneries. You and the whole family can camp in a yurt in the Oregon State Park along the coast. With a budget-friendly $40 a night, your family can sleep under the stars and reconnect with each other.

San Juan Islands

San Juan Island in Washington is an adventurous place to visit with the family. There is an endless supply of activities to do on this island. You can go kayaking to any of the outlying islands in the area and stumble upon a trail. Of course, there are camping options.

Treehouse Treesort

What an innovative way to spend time outdoors. If you are looking for a glamping opportunity, but do not want to spend the money, consider staying at a treehouse treesort. It can be fun for the whole family. Do a quick Google search and find the nearest treehouse treesort in your vacation destination, or you can plan a vacation around where the treesort is. Either way, your kids will love this.

Jefferson Park Wilderness

This is the best place to go backpacking with the family. This wilderness is in Central Oregon and you can get to it through the Pacific Crest Trail. You and the entire family will see some of the best sceneries of Oregon.

Stay On A Farm

Your kids will love this. Also, located in Oregon, your family can visit the Leaping Lamb Farm. Cabin stays with the opportunities to try your hand at farm chores at the start of your day is a memory that your children will remember for a long time. There is so much to do in a place like this, you will never hear your kids tell you how bored they are while on this vacation. At this farm, you can hike, tend to the farm animals or read your favorite magazine on the porch. This is the perfect spot to unplug while still spending quality time with the family.

Reverse Backpacking In Yosemite

This is the perfect option if you do not want to experience crowds but you still want to visit Yosemite in the summer. Believe it or not, reverse backpacking is a real thing that people do. All you have to do is start at the top of Tuolumne Meadows and backpack your way down to the valley floor where you will be met with crowds. Just make sure that you snag yourself a Yosemite Backcountry Permit for you and your family.

Live On The Sea

Well, maybe you will not live on the sea, but spending your vacation in the sea is a great way to unplug and has proven to be really remote but still safe for the family. If you are in the western part of the United States, consider staying in a houseboat on Lake Powell. You will not have any cell phone service which means it will be super easy for you to truly unplug.

Trail The Mountain States

The mountain states offer plenty of natural scenery that looks straight out of a movie. Here are some interesting things to do if you are near the mountain states.

Colorado Mountains

Colorado is known for many things, the beautiful Rocky Mountains being one of them. Many people flock to the mountains all year round with some finding fun ways to camp there. There are many ways you can camp while exploring the mountains, one of which would be luxury cabin rentals in Colorado. For those looking for the ultimate work from anywhere experience this is the way to go. For those looking for the most rugged then consider renting a tent and hiking to a campsite in the woods.

Grand Teton National Park

The most recommended activity in this park is kayaking Jackson Lake. You and your family could easily spend three days here and never think about life in the outside world. This national park has many stunning beauties. The best part is that no matter when you go, your chances of running into another human being are scarce, even if you are in the middle of their summer season.

Lower Salmon River

This river can be found in Idaho and it is breathtaking. The Lower Salmon River is great for rafting if you are up for it. There are plenty of sandy campsites and good food to hold you down while you spend the week detaching from your creature comforts in the most pleasant way.

Visit Three Bars Ranch

Another great remote vacation option is for the whole family to take a trip to a dude ranch. Three Bars Ranch is past the Montana border with the Canadian Rockies as the perfect backdrop. Keep in mind that you truly will not have any cell phone service unless you intentionally seek it out. Your kids can also play with the horses while at this ranch. What a better way to entertain them than with a live horse!

Vista Verde Dude Ranch

The great thing about this Colorado dude ranch is open year-round. If you are looking for a true unplugged vacation, you can definitely find it here. There is no access to wifi, so your children will be forced to get off social media and find other ways to have fun. They can go horseback riding in the summer. In the winter your children can do skiing. The possibilities are endless.

The Midwest

The midwest is not just full of fly-over states. The midwest is often overlooked when it comes to discovering the natural beauty of the United States.

Bike To Mount Rushmore And The Badlands

This is a very adventurous activity that is great for the whole family. You can bike trip through South Dakota on the Mickelson Trail, past the Crazy Horse, the Badlands and the Black Hills. You will not find service here. It is the perfect day getaway.

Boundary Waters

This is a great place to go canoeing. Starting in Ely, Minnesota, you and your family will be geared up for a guided trip. Boundary Waters and the area near are relatively remote wilderness areas. There is no cell phone service or wifi here, so there will be plenty of opportunities for you to bond more with your family.

Head East

The East Coast can also be overlooked when thinking about remote places to vacation the whole family. With so many options like a pond camp or a plethora of national parks, you can be sure to find something everyone in the family will love.

Spencer Pond Camps

If you are looking for a place completely off-the-grid, consider staying at a mountain cabin in Maine. Spencer Pond is the perfect place. You can fish, hike, hunt and paddle. All of these things are fun for the whole family. You may even see a moose. You never know when traveling to Spencer Pond Camps.

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Tips for Balancing Remote Work and Full-Time Parenting During COVID-19

August 27, 2020 by Leave a Comment

The following is a guest post. All opinions are those of the author and not necessarily those of us here at HSWT. Thank you!

By: Sheyla Scaffo, People Experience Associate & Executive Business Administrator at Bunny Studio

Many parents are currently navigating an entirely new normal: Working from home while taking care of their kids full-time. As school picks back up and many kids remain at home for remote learning, figuring out how to balance their schedule and a full-time job sometimes feels totally unmanageable.

Most parents have had experience working remotely in one-off, unplanned situations. However, working at home day in and day out for the foreseeable future while also caring for (and in some cases, teaching) kids at home proves to be a major struggle without careful planning where needed and flexibility when possible.

Read on to learn how to create better routines and habits that can help parents maintain a healthy work-life integration:

1. When possible, keep things flexible
This is often easier said than done. However, when you do have the ability, consider getting creative with your work schedule to base your hours around your kids’ schedules. Giving yourself the flexibility to work differently during this time is crucial to maintaining work-life balance.

This can work in a variety of ways. For example, if you’re an early morning person or a night owl, or you are used to commuting a long way, consider working on projects during these times when kids are usually sleeping. Of course, there will always be vital tasks and meetings that require collaboration with your colleagues during regular work hours, but finding ways to give yourself time for small breaks during the day will help you and your kids stay on track.

2. Establish a kid-free zone
There will be times when you need to hunker down and complete work items free from distractions, which is why it is important to establish an area of the house where you can separate yourself from your family.

Not only is it important for this space to be free from other people, but it also needs to be free from other distractions such as dirty laundry and other messes. Keeping the area clean and organized will keep you from wanting to disengage from work to complete other tasks.

3. Clearly communicate with your family
If you have a partner who is also working from home and sharing kid duties with you, it is crucial to communicate the times you can and cannot help out during the day. Setting these expectations will allow for a much smoother daily routine.

It is also important to communicate with your children if they are old enough. Set expectations for when there will be breaks in your day that you can check-in, whether it be a quick snack break, lunch, or even hourly check-ins.

4. Utilize special toys and screen time during work hours
Set aside designated toys and other gadgets, as well as movies or TV shows, to be used when you need to focus-in during the day. This will give your kids something to look forward to and will allow for some distraction-free work time.
 
5. Don’t overwork
During this time, it can be easy to feel like we need to push ourselves to work extra hours, but the reality is that taking the time to unplug and reset each day is critical to success as a parent and an employee.

With schools and offices closed, parents are likely finding themselves faced with a to-do list that has only grown. Although many of us have now had a few months to settle into fully-remote work, that does not mean keeping up with distance-learning while figuring out the best way to accomplish your work has gotten any easier. Designing a schedule that fits your needs is easier said than done, but following the above tips should help ensure you are on the right track.

Should you find yourself out of work during this time, consider that there are other work options out there, such as freelance and contract work, that may help you meet your scheduling and finance needs. Freelancing is also a great source of supplemental income for people while they look for new full-time employment.

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