The Ultimate Guide to Creating Your Dream Living Room

large windows

Your living room is one of the most used spaces in your home. It’s where you relax after a long day, watch TV, and spend time with family and friends. So it’s essential to ensure that your living room is designed to reflect your style and meet your needs. In this guide, we will show you how to create a living room that is perfect for you.

Have A Style In Mind

The first step to creating your dream living room is to have a style in mind. Do you want a modern look? Or maybe something more traditional? Once you know what style you want, choosing furniture and decor becomes much easier.

If you’re going for a modern look, focus on finding sleek and simple furniture. Italian furniture is well-made and stylish, so it’s a great choice if you want your living room to look chic and put together. Look for pieces in neutral colors like black, white, or gray, and don’t be afraid to mix and match different textures and materials.

If you’re going for a more traditional look, you’ll want to focus on finding classic and timeless pieces. Look for furniture in rich wood tones, and consider adding a few antique pieces to give your living room a luxurious feel. Again, mix and match different textures and materials to create interest and depth.

Plan The Layout

Planning the layout is one of the first steps to creating your dream living room. First, you need to consider the room size, the furniture you already have, and what you want to use the space for. Once you have a plan, you can start shopping for furniture and decor that will fit into your new layout.

Functionality is essential in any room, but it is necessary for the living room. This is where you will entertain guests, so you want to ensure that it is comfortable and inviting. Consider your needs when planning the layout of your living room. For example, if you have a large family, you may want to create a seating area that can accommodate everyone. If you entertain often, you may want to consider a floor plan that allows for easy conversation.

Set Up A Budget

Setting up a budget is essential to creating your dream living room. This will help you determine how much money you have to work with and what kind of furniture and decor you can afford. Once you have a budget, it will be easier to start planning your dream space.

Make Sure You Have Enough Storage

If you’re going to be spending any amount of time in your living room, you’re going to need enough storage for all of your belongings. This means finding a place for everything and ensuring everything has its place. Otherwise, your living room will quickly become cluttered and unusable.

One way to add storage to your living room is to invest in stylish storage baskets. These can be used to store anything from throws and blankets to books and magazines. Not only do they look great, but they’re also practical and will help to keep your living room looking tidy.

If you follow these tips, you should be well on creating the living room of your dreams. Remember to have fun with it, and don’t be afraid to experiment. After all, it’s your space, and you should make it work.

 

How Can Traveling Improve Your Mental Wellbeing?

travel for your wellbeing

Travel is much more than making new connections and interacting with different people and cultures. Fortunately, a vacation is also an efficient way to improve your mental well-being and overall health. Exploring a new location and stepping outside your comfort zone can benefit your emotional health, so keep this in mind. Here are six ways traveling improves your mental well-being and growth. 

  • Better imagination and cognitive functioning

New thoughts and ideas can flow within the brain by exposing oneself to various cultures and new experiences. Traveling can facilitate deep thought and mental flexibility. People who travel frequently may reflect on their distinctive experiences and have a different perspective on the world. You can learn to enjoy and admire new settings and places by learning about new cultures, meeting friends, learning new languages, and experiencing different kinds of food and music. As a tip, you can explore the local areas and communicate with the residents to improve your experiences, so feel free to consider this. 

  • Increases confidence and sense of self 

When you travel solo, you are likelier to encounter strangers. These experiences can help you discover your true self and boost your confidence. You may be uncomfortable traveling, especially when exploring a new city or country. You can conquer anxieties or gain new skills by navigating challenging or unfamiliar situations, and you’ll feel much more accomplished once you’ve done so. As a result, your confidence and self-esteem will increase, so keep this in mind. Your ability to succeed in various aspects of your life, from landing a new business contract to accomplishing a personal goal, may be enhanced by having higher self-esteem.

  • You can achieve a balanced state of mind and body

It is widely known that physical activity enhances mental health, reiterating the undeniable connection between the state of our minds and body physiology. Traveling provides many opportunities to work out, boosting the mind in the process. Getting to know a new place by embracing the great outdoors can increase energy levels and improve your mood, whether you prefer hiking, swimming in the sea, or scaling mountain summits. You’ll find it helpful to incorporate a little ecotherapy into your travels for the best results. Being immersed in and connected to nature is another important way to reduce the physical symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, so keep this in mind.

  • Improved relationships

Traveling is a great opportunity to connect with people, whether you go with your family, friends, or solo. Moreover, you can easily build stronger ties with loved ones or new acquaintances through fresh experiences, which are beneficial for mental well-being. A vacation provides the chance to forge new connections with friends and make experiences that will last for years. Therefore, you can consider traveling with loved ones if you desire to form closer bonds. 

  • Reconfiguring your viewpoints 

Travel may be excellent for your thoughts and body, as it can alter your worldview. You become more aware, tolerant, and open-minded due to socializing with new people and learning about other cultures. Additionally, you develop greater empathy as you learn about the circumstances in which other people live, so keep this in mind. 

  • Increased vitamin D intake

While travel may not be the direct cause, the vitamin D produced while out and about can promote good homeostasis. Our bodies do not produce enough vitamin D naturally. However, When you travel, you spend more time outdoors, and the extra exposure to the sun helps produce the Vitamin D you need. This vitamin can also be beneficial for soothing sensitive skin, so keep this in mind. So hopefully while traveling, you will have enough time outside in the sun to develop radiant skin and a sound mind.

  • Increases relaxation and sleep 

It’s essential to take time off to rest and recharge if your schedule is constantly jam-packed with work, social, and family commitments or if your job is demanding. Burnout can occur if you don’t give yourself enough time to care for your health and wellbeing. Going on vacation gives you entire mental and physical space away from your typical work and home surroundings, making it the ideal method to unwind from the hectic aspect of daily life thoroughly. This enables your mind to unwind, recharge, and calm, allowing you to eventually return feeling entirely renewed, so keep this in mind.

Indeed, traveling has many benefits worth considering, and mental wellness is only a part of it. Hopefully, you’ll consider how traveling helps your mind and plan a trip shortly. 

How To Create The Best Bedroom Possible

bedroom

Creating the perfect bedroom can be a daunting task. After all, this is the room in which you will be spending a lot of time. The following blog will discuss some tips and tricks that will help you create the best bedroom possible. So whether you’re looking for ideas on how to decorate your room or you just want some advice on how to make it more comfortable, read on.

1) What Kind Of Atmosphere Do You Want To Create

The first step in creating the perfect bedroom is deciding what kind of atmosphere you want to make. Do you want a cozy and inviting space? Or a more modern and sleek look? Once you know what vibe you’re going for, it will be much easier to start planning the rest of your room.

If you’re not sure what atmosphere you want to create, take some time to browse through magazines or Pinterest for inspiration. There are endless ideas out there, so it’s just a matter of finding something that speaks to you. Once you have an idea of what you want, it’s time to start planning.

Some things to consider when deciding on the atmosphere of your room:

– What colors do you want to use?

– What kind of furniture do you want?

– How much light do you want in the room?

– What kind of art or décor do you want to use?

These are just a few questions to get you started, but once you have a good idea of the atmosphere you’re going for, it will be much easier to start putting your room together.

2) Get A New Firm Mattress

If you’re not sleeping well, it’s time for a new mattress. A good mattress is essential for a comfortable bedroom, so make sure you invest in a quality one. It’s worth it to spend a little extra money on a mattress that will last you years and help you get the best night’s sleep possible.

There are all sorts of mattresses out there, so do your research on https://thesleepshopinc.com/best-extra-firm-mattress/ to find one that will work best for you. Consider things like firmness, size, and price when making your decision. Once you have your new mattress, it’s time to start thinking about the other elements of your perfect bedroom.

3) Consider Your Lighting

Most bedrooms have a ceiling light, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best option. If your room is on the small side or doesn’t have a lot of natural light, you might want to consider adding lamps to your nightstands. This will give you the ability to control the amount of light in your room and make it feel cozier. And if you love reading in bed, make sure your lighting is bright enough, so you don’t strain your eyes.

In conclusion, getting the best bedroom starts with you. Consider what atmosphere you want to create and go from there. Make sure you have a comfortable mattress and the right lighting for your needs. And finally, don’t forget the little details that will make your room feel like home.

How To Help Your Kids Enjoy a Brand-new Hobby or Interest

Have your kids ever been absolutely possessed by a new interest or hobby? Have they suddenly started asking you for gifts or advice about something new that they were never interested in before? Children are curious types and they just love to explore new things. That’s why it can feel like they jump from one interest to the next without delay. But with that said, children aren’t exactly really wealthy or well-informed. If they develop a new interest in something, then they’re going to need your help to fully enjoy it.

So without further ado, here are a couple of tips to help your children embrace and enjoy something brand new.

playing outside

Consider getting them some gifts related to their brand-new hobby or interest

Picking up a new hobby can be fairly expensive. Even if they are children, their interests might involve a small financial investment that they obviously can’t pay for themselves. As such, getting gifts for children is one of the best ways to introduce them to something new. If your children are interested in arts and crafts, then why not get them a drawing set with lots of pencils and pens. If they tell you that they want to try a new sport, then you could sign them up for a club or sports group and also get them some training equipment to practice at home.

But before you buy anything that your kids recommend, make sure you do a bit of research yourself as well. It’s completely understandable that your kids might be influenced by YouTube videos or their friends at school, but it doesn’t always mean that they’re going to be buying the right things to explore their new interests. So if you’re going to buy them gifts and invest in their new interests and hobbies, consider doing some research so that you know what’s worth the money.

Look for stores that specialize in their new interests and hobbies

While we’ve been talking about hobbies, not every new interest is something that involves “doing” things. For example, they could be obsessed with unicorns, or they might have taken a liking to Japanese cartoons. There are so many different fun and interesting things to learn about in the world that it’s completely understandable if your kids suddenly develop an interest in something new.

So to help you out here, it’s a good idea to look for a store (either on the internet or a retail shop) that specializes in the types of products and goods that your kids enjoy. For instance, Unicorn Wonderland is a great online resource for all kinds of unique unicorn toys, games, and decor. It’s a fantastic place to start learning about all the different kinds of goods you can buy and you can even browse them with your kids. However, there’s probably a good chance that your kids already have some kind of product or toys in mind, so consider what they want as well before you buy something.

Could you get involved with your kids?

Another great way to ease your kids into a new interest or hobby is to get involved with them. This is usually easier when the interest involves some kind of group activity. For instance, painting and drawing are things that you can do with your children, and so are new sports and other physical activities. This can turn their interests into a unique bonding experience that’ll help you learn more about your children, and it’ll be a great memory for them as well.

But what if it’s a solo activity? Or what if it’s something that you can’t really get involved with? For instance, maybe your kids have picked up an interest in a new comic series. While you can probably read it with them and talk about the story, it’s likely going to be something that they want to enjoy on their own. So if this is the case, you might want to just support them by helping them find the books and products they’re looking for and to be enthusiastic about it. Even if your kids do consider it a personal hobby that they don’t really want to share, there’s a chance they might open up and let you in on their interests.

It’s always a good sign if your kids want to pick up a new kind of interest or hobby. It means they’re expanding their curiosities which is never bad, so make sure you do what you can to support them in their endeavors.

You Can Run Your Business As A Remote Business Owner

remote work

A lot of people would argue that you can’t run your business as a remote business owner. The thing about this is that it is completely untrue, and you absolutely can while seeing great amounts of success. It’s also true that in the beginning you should dedicate a little more time to being there, but that’s just to get things done. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you can do to run your business as a remote business owner, so keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.

Have The Right Software

The first thing that we are going to need to look at is having the right software. You’re never going to be able to run a business efficiently and effectively if you are not using the correct tools available here. We know that it can feel like a lot to try and find the perfect piece of software to do the things that you need, but we promise you that it is out there. For example, you may want to look into Employee & Shift Scheduling Software For Business Of All Sizes | Sling on a recommendation of someone that you know who also owns a business. 

When you’re traveling, remaining organized at all times is the key. You just need to do your best to ensure that you are properly up to date with everything and that you are not falling behind because you’re not making the most of the super useful tech that’s around.

Weekly Team Meetings

Have you got weekly team meetings scheduled on the calendar? If not, make sure that you do this as soon as possible. It might not sound like it will make much of a difference, but we can assure you that it will. Having weekly team meetings will keep you up to date on everything that is going on in your business, it gives people an opportunity to share what they have been working on, and thanks to things like Zoom, you can do this from anywhere in the world.

Ensure that you are checking the time differences before you set the meeting, as the last thing that you need is to set a meeting for 4am in your home country simply because it’s the middle of the day in the place you are vacationing.

Take Your Tasks Seriously

Just because you’re not in the office, does not mean that you don’t need to take your tasks as a business owner seriously. You can’t just slack off because you have decided that you want to head off and see the world. You still need to be putting 110% in when it comes to your business, and that is something you need to decide whether you can do or not. Some people won’t be able to give their business their all if they are not in the office and motivated by people around them, and if this sounds like you then remotely running a business simply isn’t right for you.

Available For Emergencies

The final thing that we are going to say is that you should always be available for emergencies. As the owner of the business, when disaster strikes, you are the one who has got to be there sorting everything out. While it might not be something that you are particularly excited about, it’s essential.

So, what we recommend is that you do not go anywhere without your phone so that you can always be contacted. If for any reason you are not going to be able to take calls or receive messages, you need to direct your team to get in touch with your second in command and give them the heads up that this is what is going on. It’s a temporary solution and you need to get back to your phone ASAP, just to be on the safe side. 

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do in order to make a successful go of running your business as a remote business owner. At the end of the day, this way of running a business is not for everyone, and it doesn’t have to be. If it’s something that you want to try though, give it a go and see how it goes. At the very worst, you can stop traveling and head back to the office.

Beneficial Products for the Great Outdoors

Looking for some products that will make your next outdoor excursion a little easier or better? Check these out.
environmentally friendly sunscreen
Price: $5.99 +
When adventuring outside, number one thing is to have sunscreen on. Rubber Ducky, whose motto is “just like water off of a duck’s back” has been cruelty-free since 1984 and chemical-free since 2013. The sunscreen, which is formulated and made in the USA, is eight hours water resistant—you can actually see the water bead up and not soak in. However, please be careful, as some of it is tinted- I have never used a tinted sunblock, I don’t use makeup, and I didn’t know there was any such thing. The one that says “for faces” is tinted, and is REALLY tinted. It will turn your face, neck, hands, and anything else you touch a bizarre pinkish-brownish color, and it gets all over anything you touch for the rest of the day. Your clothes, bra, bathing suit, car seats- it’s a literal hot mess if you aren’t expecting it. Which I wasn’t. We all went to put it on our faces- and we then spent the rest of the day trying to get it off ourselves. The clothes did come clean after several treatments and washes in the machine, so at least there is that! I am going to read the labels much more carefully from now on- I always look for SPF, sustainability, reef safety, and to make sure it hasn’t been tested on animals- now I will add to read to make sure it ISN’T tinted, LOL. That’s a mistake I hope to only make once! If you like tinted sunblock, there you go. If you don’t, learn from my stupidity, haha- what a disaster.
pirani cup
Price: $24.95
Nothing beats kicking back in the sunshine and enjoying your favorite beverage and Pirani’s insulated reusable tumblers are the perfect vessel to drink out of.  The only reusable cup you’ll need, Pirani is perfect for hot or cold drinks, Pirani is:
Easily Stackable – perfect for storing or packing on the go
Skinny Walled Triple Insulation – Keeps your drinks at a perfect temperature without a sweaty mess!
Leak-proof and indestructible lid (no sand in your drink), premium quality 18/8 stainless steel, powder-coated finish and lifetime warranty
Dishwasher safe and unbreakable. The “dishwasher safe” part is really great- so many of these types of reusable cups can’t go into the dishwasher, which is pretty inconvenient. Small problems overall, but they keep the item from being used as much as you might otherwise because it’s just not as easy as the rest.
Pirani Life strives to maintain this momentum of sustainability moving forward and pledges to design products that will help reduce single-use plastic. Reducing single use anything is so important.
pre packaged vegan food
Price: $3.99 per pouch
Cooking outdoors? Make it easy with BeanVIVO’s ready-to-eat organic beans in convenient pouches. Pre-cooked, you can heat them up on the campfire stove (or if you’re glamping, microwave) and in no time you can have scrumptious black beans, coconut curry chickpeas, three bean vegan chili, or refried pinto beans. High in protein, these beans are rich in healthy macro and micronutrients. They are chock full of fiber, which helps you feel satisfied while you are on-the-go. My husband really loves these- we all liked them, but he loved them and ordered more already.

Focus Focus! Vitamin by KalaVita

I take vitamins and supplements for quite a few different purposes, including one for my hair, skin, and nails (combination vitamin for me). As I get older, and after having kids, your skin and hair and nails can become thin, brittle, easy to damage and hard to heal. Dull. Prone to breaks (hair and nails) and wrinkles, dry and/or oily patches, and just thinner skin in general (which is a main reason why your skin wrinkles).

I just tried these new chews (think gummies) that are also said to improve brain function, as well as improve energy levels. They taste nice- like a gummy bear without the over the top sweetness. I take them as the last supplement, since they can get rid of that weird aftertaste some vitamins leave in your mouth. Sort of like a palate cleanser in a way.

Focus Focus! by KalaVita; delicious vegan gummies powered by nature, with no artificial flavors, sugar-free and gluten-free.

hair skin and nails vitamins

Focus Focus! Promotes focus & concentration, with ingredients like L-Theanine, an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves, it keeps you calm, regulated, and clear for lift-off, and Neumentix, a clinically proven ingredient from patented spearmint lines to support focus during the day without disrupting sleep at night.

We know that you wouldn’t recommend to your audience something that you haven’t tried or thoroughly researched before. That’s why we’d love to send you some Focus Focus! samples, to you for trying them and include them in one of your future listicles, or stories. We want to connect you and your audience with KalaVita’s value of optimizing their daily health and wellness with innovation, simplicity, and delight.

More Information, via the website

  • Help improve concentration, memory, and cognitive function, without the caffeine jitters or 3 PM slump
  • Formulated with Neumentix™ to improve focus, memory, and cognitive functions; Guarana extract and L-Theanine to sharpen concentration and boost energy level
  • Best 0-sugar caffeine alternative

Try it out and see what you think of it- you might find something you’d like to add to your health and beauty arsenal.

Photo A Day – Company on Broadway

company broadway show

My friend and I went together to go see The revival of the play “Company” recently. I was very “meh” on it. As talented as everyone was, I was not excited by the story or the characters. Sometimes, no matter how good the cast is, it can’t carry a boring plot. I thought it was odd, meandering, and it jumped about in a way that wasn’t fun or interesting but was (for me) disjointed and just unnecessary. There were a few good songs, but overall I didn’t find the score to be “wow”. I didn’t love the first rendition of the play, which I am too young to have seen when it was out originally, but have heard the songs numerous times. “Company” did all sorts of new and “first” things when it was first produced, but that was 50 years ago in the 70’s. I thought it was weird and stale.

My friend chose this one, and she was really pleased by it. She and I are from different generations, so that might have something to do with it- she had seen the first/original play play, done with a male lead. I liked the performers, I just wasn’t caught up with the story, the characters, or the music. They can’t all be winners- and that’s in addition to they can’t all please everyone. This one just wasn’t my cup of tea. Seeing Patti LuPone live is always exciting and a pleasure and worth going for in itself- the play is still running, but won’t be for long.

 

Info on the play via Wikipedia

Company is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth. The original 1970 production was nominated for a record-setting 14 Tony Awards, winning six. Company lacks a linear plot, depicting instead a story occurring in the mind of the central character, a concept musical composed of short vignettes, presented in no particular chronological order, linked by a 35th birthday.

Company was among the first book musicals to deal with contemporary dating, marriage, and divorce.

Info on the new version via it’s website

Tony Award® and Grammy Award® winner Katrina Lenk and two-time Tony Award and two-time Grammy Award winner Patti LuPone join forces in Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s groundbreaking musical comedy.

It’s Bobbie’s 35th birthday party, and all her friends keep asking, Why isn’t she married? Why can’t she find the right man and isn’t it time to settle down and start a family? As Bobbie searches for answers, she discovers why being single, being married, and being alive in 21st-Century New York could drive a person crazy.

Two-time Tony Award-winning director Marianne Elliott (War Horse, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Angels in America) helms this revelatory new production, at once boldly sophisticated, deeply insightful, and downright hilarious. COMPANY features Stephen Sondheim’s award-winning songs You Could Drive a Person Crazy, The Ladies Who Lunch, Side by Side by Side and the iconic Being Alive.

It will be closing soon- if you want to see it, you’ll need to hurry. https://companymusical.com