4 Relationship Issues You Can Overcome

by on July 25, 2021, 0 comments
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No matter how much you adore your partner, no relationship will be sunshine and rainbows forever. However, rather than give up when the going gets tough, two people who love and care about one another will do everything they can to maintain their relationship and come out the other side stronger than ever before. But what are the most common relationship issues you might face? 

A Lost Connection

Couples that have been together for years will sometimes find that the spark is gone. Somewhere along the way, the magic petered out, and the passion just isn’t what it used to be.

This needn’t be a cause for concern, at least not yet, and it’s something that happens to most couples. If you are concerned about a lost connection, there are ideas to consider to rekindle the magic. 

Treating each other as a new partner is a great place to start. You can think of ways to make date night special instead of doing the same thing and going to the same place every month. Couples can also work hard to spend more time together, and get back to speaking because being friends is just as important as being in love. 

Money Troubles

Everyone will encounter money troubles in their relationship, but it’s how you deal with these troubles that can set the tone for you and your partner.

There are many expenses you’ll need to account for, including a wedding, saving for a house, and kids. This is why budgeting as a couple is so important. A couples’ budget is not the same as your personal budget, and if there are any wage differences, you’ll need to take this into account. 

Long-Distance Drama

No one enjoys a long-distance relationship. You would much rather be right there with your partner. However, long-distance relationships are sometimes unavoidable. 

Despite this, there are options you can consider to make the situation more manageable. Regular phone calls or video chats are a good place the start. But, this won’t work forever. If you want to put an end to long-distance for good, moving closer to one another or researching a UK fiance visa can put an end to your drama and reunite you. 

No Alone Time

As much as you love your partner, spending all of your time together is not suitable for any relationship. Couples must allow each other to decompress and recharge after a stressful day at work. Everyone needs their alone time, and this can stop you from becoming exhausted with one another. 

Don’t look at this as one trying to avoid the other. Instead, consider it a demonstration of independence. Being able to do what you want to do sometimes without your partner will help make your relationship stronger. 

Overcome

Overcoming a range of relationship issues that are often out of your control will help you and your partner become a unified force that is certain to stand the test of time. While some people just aren’t compatible and perhaps shouldn’t be together, most will find that working together to overcome relationship issues is the best way to succeed as a couple.

What Can Derail a Relationship?

by on July 21, 2021, 0 comments

There are many difficult aspects of life. But there’s arguably nothing more difficult than relationships. With friends, family, and partners, it’s one of those things that require work and effort. Even though things might start off from a positive position, you never know what could come along and make things more difficult. This is true of all relationships but especially romantic ones. The good news is that if you’re aware of the factors that can derail a relationship, you can take steps to avoid them. In this blog, we’ll run through some of the most common issues and offer advice.

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Out of Sync Expectations

When you first meet a person, you’ll want nothing from them — you’ll just be happy to get to know them. But at some point, that’ll begin to change. You’ll have expectations regarding where the relationship is going, how much time they should dedicate to you, and so on. This can be fine, but if the expectations of both people are out of sync, then it’ll require some management. It’s when one or both of the parties begin to suffer in silence that problems can arise. It’s always good to lay out what you want/expect from other people!

Logistical Issues

Sometimes, the issues that arise have nothing to do with the internal mechanics of the relationships but from external factors. Logistical issues can put an undue burden on romantic involvements. For example, if you’re in a long distance relationship. At that point, just seeing each other can be difficult. However, it’s important to remember that where there’s a will, there’s a way. If you want them to join you where you live, then you could look at the indefinite leave to remain uk spouse visa, for instance. Moving to the same place can take some time, but so long as you know it’s coming, you should be able to weather the difficult moments.

Sinking Into Comfort

If there’s one thing that can signal the beginning of the end of a relationship, it’s sinking into complacency. People tend to put a lot of effort in during the early stages of the romance, but once they feel too comfortable, they stop. The best way to do this is to be on guard against complacency. Just because you’ve “got” your partner, that doesn’t mean that you can stop making an effort. There’s always room for a surprise getaway, gifts, or just a romantic night at home.

Personal Issues

Life is difficult for everybody. One of the things that put a strain on relationships is when one of the two people are going through a tough time or just otherwise unhappy within themselves. At that point, many people turn to their partners for answers. But this is often the wrong approach. It’s better if both people are happy within themselves first and then look to the partnership. The other person can provide emotional support, but they can’t carry the whole weight. The relationship will only buckle under the weight of the strain.

How To Balance Business and Parenthood

by on July 20, 2021, 0 comments

Working parents understand how difficult it is to juggle a career with child care. Parents who own their own businesses, on the other hand, face an additional layer of difficulty. To an extent, business-owning parents are trying to juggle two kinds of infants: the children they are trying to raise and the business they are trying to build. To be successful, both require nurturing and attention, especially in their early phases, and business-owning parents must learn to meticulously plan and prioritise their time to make sure that each receives the care they necessitate and expect.

Here we look at some tips to help you to balance parenthood and business.

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Delegate, outsource and learn to say no

As a business-owning parent, balancing your venture and family time can be tricky, as both require a significant lot of time and resources. The sooner you realise you can’t be in two places at the same time, the better. Prioritize the moments with your children that require your full attention, and make sure you have someone to stand in for you during those times. Outsourcing is a popular strategy for many small business owners, for example, paying a digital marketing agency to handle your online marketing or an SEO specialist to get your ranking up. This frees up valuable time for you to spend with your family.

Prioritize your health and wellbeing

Use mindfulness or relaxation techniques. Set your well-being as a top priority. When life becomes an unending demand on your time, the first thing to go is your self-care. However, with 40% of firms not having a succession plan in place, taking care of yourself is critical to the future of your business – as well as ensuring you are the best parent that you can be.

Create clear boundaries between home and work – and stick to them

Establish firm time limits. Define when you are and are not available, and stick to those boundaries. This is a good lesson for your kids to learn. When you are not available, you are not available – unless it is an emergency, of course. However, when it is time to be with your family, you leave work behind and be entirely present with them. Create home/work boundaries and stick to them.

Don’t expect perfect balance every day

If we believe that we can remain balanced every day, it is easy to fall into the trap of believing we are pushing extra hard or disregarding our business. Reassure yourself that your children benefit from seeing you work hard at times and that spending quality time with your children benefits your governance

Be in charge of your own calendar

One of the benefits of being your own boss is that you can control your own calendar and be in charge of your schedule. Arrange meetings with clients when the children are at school, switch off completely when they come home from school, and do your admin work when they are in bed, for example. Find a routine that works for you and your family.

Tips For Helping Your Children Learn About Money

by on July 20, 2021, 0 comments

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One of the best things about being a child is that you don’t have the responsibilities of an adult – including the financial ones. Yet while it is nice to leave our little ones in the ignorance of bliss, it can also be a real blessing to them in later life if you teach them about responsibilities as soon as you can. If you are good with money, then you will have a lot more control over your life, more freedom to do what you want to do with your life, and also the flexibility and fewer constraints with your choices in life. You will be able to go on more holidays or have the luxury to quit your job if you don’t like it and live off your savings while you search for a new one. The benefits from having financial stability really are innumerable.

This is why it is a good idea to teach your children about money and how to save from a young age. They should grow up with a better understanding of finances and be on a more solid foot in their adult life. You can teach them about everything from how to save, what a mortgage is, and about Safety Net Credit should they need it (perhaps this is also something that you have experience with, so can impart this wisdom too.) Here we have put together some top tips for helping your children to learn about money.

Give them a budget and see how they spend it

It is a good idea to give your child some pocket money each week or month and then see how they spend it. Take them out shopping and let them purchase things that they think are important or that they need and see what they spend their funds on. Remind them that once that money they have is gone, they will have to wait another week or money before they get any more. If they ask for extra, don’t just give it to them. Instead, see if they can earn it through doing jobs around the home. This teaches them that in order to get more money they will have to work for it – it doesn’t just magically appear in front of them when they need it.

Teach them about the value of things

As a child, it can be hard to learn the different values of things and this can be a skill that when taken into adult life, leads to people getting into large amounts of debt. To avoid this, teach your child about the value of things. Explain how the same item (such as TV, cars, or even fruits and vegetables in a supermarket) can vary greatly in price. Explain why this is and the differences between them. This should help them to learn the value of items. You could also play a game where they have to guess the prices of items before you show it to them. They might be a bit surprised at some of the answers – and you might be a bit shocked at some of their guesses! If you play this game each time you go shopping, see how they improve and soon have a better indication of the value of things.

Let them earn money by doing household chores

As an adult, the way that you will earn your money is through doing work. Teach your child when they are young this lesson by giving them jobs to do around the house in exchange for money. You could set different tasks at different prices, for example, they get money for washing up, for hoovering, for tidying their bedroom or for washing the car. By showing them this is the best way to earn, they will learn that the harder they work, the more money they can potentially earn and it will also be a good way to teach them responsibilities too. 

Lead by a good example

Children pick up habits from their parents – both the good and the bad ones. This is why it is so important that you lead by a good example. Try not to take them fun shopping all the time and show them that there are just as many other fun pastimes. Try not to be super frivolous with your cash, purchasing items such as fast fashion pieces that you wear a few times and then either breaks or you get rid of as you don’t like it anymore. If your child asks you questions, be as honest as possible with your answers and explain about credit, debts, and overdrafts so they know about these.

Have your child come with you to open up a bank account

A bank account is something that your child will have right from when they are a little child up through their adult life. This is why you should take them to open up their own account when you can. There are a host of accounts out there that are tailored for children, where you can put in a budget each week or month and it is restricted with what they can use it on. They also can’t have things such as an overdraft. If you put money into their account and teach them how to use their bank card, they will learn the value of money digitally. They can even have an app that shows them what they have spent – something that you could go through with them each week, showing them further the value of money and what their spending habits are. 

These are just a few ways that you can help your children to learn more about money and become spending savvy. It is very important that your child is as financially secure in the future as they can be and by following these top tips you know that you are setting them up for as much success as possible. What are some top tips you do to ensure that your children are as financially savvy as possible? Let us know in the comments below!

The Day I Became a PROPER Adult

by on July 19, 2021, 1 comment

The Day I Became a PROPER AdultThe other day, I rang my Mum and said the following words:

“Mum. It’s official. I am a PROPER adult.”

One could argue that having two kids, a Husband, a job and various pets were a fairly good sign that I’ve been an adult for a while, or the fact that I’ve spent many a leisurely hour randomly browsing Rightmove or researching leak free shower cabins,  but the event that propelled me into proper adulthood was dealing with my very first flying ant bloom.

When I was a kid, I remember “flying ant day” happening once a year at my grandparents house. Every year, sometime at the end of July, a massive swarm of ants and flying ants would emerge from behind their gas fire in their 1960’s terraced council house and all hell would break loose. Nan would be vaccuming them up and throwing ant powder down with a speed to rival someone from Krypton, while Grandad would be swatting any escapees with a slipper in a manner that made me wonder why he wasn’t competing at Wimbledon. It was as horrifying as it was hilarious, seeing my ageing grandparents dealing with the infestation and it’s something I’d never had to deal with myself…until now.

According to The National History Museum ” This annual swarming event usually occurs in July or August and coincides with a period of hot and humid weather. Winged ants appear at different times around the country and local weather conditions are critical for the coordination of swarming activity. Ants tend to fly earlier in urban areas than rural areas, probably because temperatures are generally warmer in urban environments, known as the urban heat island effect.”

There are a number of options for dealing with flying ant blooms which don’t involve using noxious chemicals which can be dangerous to pets and other wildlife. Here are a few of them:

Pour boiling water into the ant hill

Once you have located the ant hill, pour boiling water over it. This should kill most of the ants and detract other ones from coming back.

Attack ants with an artificial sweetener

Certain types of sweeteners are very toxic for ants. For example, if you mix in the sweetener with apple juice, it forms a viscous paste that the ants will carry back to the colony. Once consumed there, it will kill off a portion of their population.

Spray with dishwashing soap

One household item can tackle flying ants and that is dishwashing soap. The soap attaches to the bodies of the ants and dehydrates them. You can use a spray bottle and fill it with water and two to three squirts of dish soap, and then spray it at any flying ants you see.

Use sticky tape to catch them

If you place some food on the ground to attract the flying pests, you can place some sticky tape down with the sticky side up. Put the tape as close as possible to the food, and the ants will land on it. This will then trap the ants in place and stop them from flying anywhere else.

Obviously, if the ants are outside and aren’t bothering you, you can just leave them in peace, as I would much rather have done, but having ants crawling up my legs while I’m trying to work is just too much to bear!

Do you have any tips for dealing with becoming an adult or dealing flying ants?

What 3 Elements Will Make Your Wedding Perfect For You?

by on July 7, 2021, 0 comments

When it comes to your wedding day, you need to feel fabulous. It is going to be the best day of your life, or at the very least, one of the best days of your life. As such, you need to do everything in your power to ensure that you are making it perfect when it comes to planning. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at three of the elements that are going to make your wedding perfect for you. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.

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The Dress

The first thing that you are going to need is a dress. Your dress should make you feel like the princess you are and nothing less. If you find that you’re not getting this feeling from any of the dresses you are trying on and it is starting to make you feel frustrated, then you simply haven’t found the right one yet. Just keep going because the dress of your dreams is out there. The thing that you need to remember is that while you are only going to wear this dress once in your life, it is ‘the’ dress and you need to go all out for it.

Think about the kind of styles and designs that you like, but also make sure to try on different things. Sometimes, the ideas that we go into things with are so quickly shattered and replaced by something new, helping you to find the perfect thing for you.

The Location

Another thing that you are going to need to consider is your wedding location. Your wedding location should be wherever you want it to be. If you want to go abroad for your wedding, we think that this is a fantastic idea. If a tropical paradise is what you want, then find a place you adore and look into how to get married there. Sometimes it can be a little complicated to try and work everything out yourself for your wedding, and you need some help. For example, you might want to look into someone like katrina otter weddings award winning luxury wedding planner. A professional like this will be able to help you plan the wedding of your dreams, no matter where it is.

The Guest List

The final element that will make your wedding perfect is the guest list. You don’t want people at your wedding celebrating your special day with you that you don’t even like. Never let anyone pressure you to invite someone to your wedding that you don’t want there, as it will only ruin your day and have you on edge the entire time. This is something that you need to be extremely firm with, no matter what anyone has to say about it.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see three elements that will make your wedding perfect for you. Of course, it depends on your personal preference as to what extras will make the day the most amazing of your life, but these are some of the main ones. We wish you the very best of luck.

Five Easy Ways to Brighten Up a Kitchen

by on June 30, 2021, 0 comments

Something we’re currently dealing with in our house is a pretty dingy kitchen. It’s a long, narrow room with windows at one end, which means that you need to have the lights on in there no matter what time of day it is to be able to adequately see. I’ve been brainstorming some ideas recently of how we can brighten the room up, seeing as adding another window isn’t an option, and this is what I came up with:

Lighter Kitchen Units

white kitchen unitsOur current kitchen units are a beech colour, which is fairly light, but I think that white units would make a huge difference to how bright the room looked, especially if they were the type with a high gloss finish, which are pretty trendy right now. I’ve seen some kitchen units for sale but that;s obviously quite a big investment, so I’ll have to save up if I decide to take the plunge!

Mirrors in the Kitchen

Kitchen mirror wallSomething which is cheaper and easier to add to the room right now is mirrors. Mirrors reflect light and give an appearance of space, and there are mirror tiles which are really cheap and easy to fit which would make a huge difference. I also like the fact that you can use mirrors in frames of different styles, hung at different heights which gives a really ecclectic, designer look to a space.

Add Lights

Clamp Lights in the Kitchen

Adding additional lights to your kitchen doesn’t have to be difficult, and there are plenty of options which mean you don’t even need to wire them up to the mains. Strip lights can be added under counters, under eye-level cupboard units, along kick-boards under your cupboards and anywhere you think they’d help. You can also get some great-looking clamp-lights which are versatile and give your kitchen that vintage industrial look.

Brighter Bulbs

This one may seem like a massive no-brainer, but a lot of people persevere with bulbs which aren’t bright enough for their space and it never occurs to them to change them! Kitchens can benefit from bulbs which have a white tone, as its bright and allows you to see more detail, and if they’re 60 watts or below, they’re not bright enough. Experts recommend at least 80 to 100 watts in your kitchen.

Glass and Wire Lampshades

If your kitchen has pendant or celing style lighting, then the type of lampshade you use will make a HUGE difference to how much light you get from them. Anything which is too opaque will cast light downwards, but will prevent the light from bouncing off of a white ceiling, which can really affect how your lighting is amplified. Opt for a glass or wire lampshade and this will give your bulbs the maximum reach to hit and reflect off of every available surface.

Do you have any tips or tricks that cn help to brighten up a dingy kitchen? Have you been through all of this and found an amazing solution? Please leave me a comment below – I’d love to hear your secrets!

Everything You Need To Know About Respite Care

by on June 28, 2021, 0 comments

You are a wonderful soul if you have taken up the responsibility of taking care of an eldery person at your home. But if you have a job to work on and a house to manage, then it might start taking a toll on your mental and physical health both. This is why caregivers are an essential part of each society. They are the best helping hand for people who are unable to manage and multi-task between their house and job chores and proper medical care for an adult. This is where respite care also comes into consideration. You might be confused as to what it is? Well, let’s find out.

What is Respite Care?

Respite care is a “temporary” service that is provided to caregivers so that they can take a break from their hectic schedules. It allows them to step back and pay attention to their wellbeing for a little while. A private caregiver is appointed to you, according to the medical condition of your loved one. Respite cares ensure that the healthcare provider, appointed to you, is of the appropriate level that you require and is capable of giving you the right personal and medical assistance. 

Can I get Respite Care at Home?

Yes, you can and this is the key difference between a respite care facility and a retirement home. Respite care longs for 63 days at most. You can decide whether you want the healthcare provider at your place or you want to shift your loved one to a residential place where they are taken care of, for a specific time period. This is only temporary and the respite care ends after 63 days, by all means. 

Thus, it is quite different from a retirement home. A retirement home is a permanent residence for old people and they consider it as their new home. Their loved ones can take them home for some days or go and meet them for a few hours every now and then. However, in respite care, it is similar to hiring a private caregiver for your grandparents or a loved one.

How does Respite Care Help?

So how is respite care helpful? Well, it is one of the best services you can get at home, for your loved ones without having to send them away. Even if you do send them to a respite care home, it is only temporarily and not permanently. This type of care giving service is best for parents or grandparents who are ill for a short time period or have been through an accident or a mishap. 

No matter how great you are at multitasking, there are days when you are worn out and tired. To get a break from the burn out, the option of a respite care is certainly one of the best ones to avail. 

How much does it cost?

A respite care costs vary accordingly. Every respite care authority will state a different price. You can always look out for 2-3 options and then choose the one that suits you the best and is easy on your budget too. Also, insurance does not cover your respite care mostly. Thus, it is always best to check in with your insurance provider, if you are confused about it. 

CONCLUSION:

Respite care workers can be found online. You can research for many and find the ones that suit your needs. Make sure to inquire about their services in detail before hiring a caregiver from them.

Things to Look for in a Childcare Centre

by on June 8, 2021, 1 comment

If you decide to put your child in a childcare center, you surely know how important it is to choose the right childcare center. Hopefully, this is where your child will spend the next few years – you certainly don’t want to confuse them by moving them to a new childcare too regularly. This is where they’ll make friends, learn skills, and start to develop their personalities. But how do you know when you’ve found the right childcare center? What should you look for? Keep reading as we discuss just this.

Location

It’s no help finding the perfect childcare center if it’s a few hours away. You need to find a childcare center close to where you live and work. Firstly, because it will save you many hours in traffic. Secondly, and most importantly, because it will allow you to reach the school quickly if there’s an emergency. Finally, this will allow you and your child to get used to the area and get to know people who live there. You should look at centers closest to you before searching for ones further out. For example, if you live in Sydney, start by looking at centers in Sydney.

Safety

Most parents agree that safety is the most important aspect of a childcare center. You might be wondering how exactly to know if a center is safe. Start by looking at the physical aspects: is there decent fencing? Are the playgrounds and classrooms child-proof? Then look at things like how they monitor who enters – do parents get keycards, or can anyone just walk in? Finally, if you know any parents whose kids are in that childcare center, talk to them about their experience. This is likely to get you the most accurate information.

Resources

Look, a childcare center doesn’t need a bunch of fancy, high-tech equipment and toys in order to teach your child. That being said, they should have a variety of methods of teaching, as children learn in different ways, and they require various methods of mental and physical stimulation. You can also ask them about field trips and what a normal daily schedule would look like so that you can ensure that your child is getting a well-rounded education. Also be sure to ask about what meals they serve each day – if possible, you should choose a center that offers nutritional meals.

The Teachers

Your child will spend a lot of time at their childcare center, meaning they will spend a lot of time with their teachers. It is therefore important to make sure that you trust them. Feel free to ask about their qualifications or experience. You can also ask them what they would do in a specific situation. The last thing you want is to reprimand your child for something, only to have them say, “But my teacher says it’s okay!”. A good teacher can make a huge, positive difference in your child’s life. Similarly, a bad teacher can have a severe negative impact.

Updating My Custom Doll House

by on June 4, 2021, 0 comments

Updating My Custom Doll HouseThis is a picture of the house halfway through being built.

You may remember that I posted some years ago now about the doll house that my Nan and Grandad built for me when I was a child, and how I planned to renovate it. Well, life well and truly got in the way and it has, unfortunately, lived in my mother-in-law’s loft since then. However, with the summer holidays getting close, I’ll have a lot more time on my hands and I’ve decided to make it a priority. Here are some of the things I plan to do:

Wallpaper

When I first started planning the renovation, I had thought about going to my local DIY superstore and getting sme wallpaper samples to use. However, it turns out that dolls house wallpaper is actually a thing! It can be bought by the sheet and is self-adhesive, with much smaller print which looks better on the little walls.

Floor Coverings

Most of the rooms are carpeted and in great condition, but on the surfaces which aren’t carpeted, I plan to use some really funky checkerboard floor tiles that I’ve seen. They’re perfect for a small floor and will give the whole house a nice updated look and I can’t wait to see what the finished effect will look like.

Roof Repairs

As I said in my old post, the roof tiles are individually cut out of a teracotta colours lino to look like the real thing. I don’t want to retile the while roof as that would be an enormous job, so I plan to find something which is as close to the original material as possible and patch the roof up where it needs it. I’m hoping to get it looking back to its original glory, but I’m nowhere near as skilled as my lovely Grandad, so I just hope I can do him justice.

Me with my doll houseYes, that is tiny me!

Curtains

The curtains that my Nan made for the doll house are still pretty good, but the fabric is a little dated and could do with some modernisation. Thankfully, I’m fairly decent with a sewing machine and I can do a good job of updating all of the curtains and soft fabrics in the house. I’ll probably choose a fabric which co-oridinates with the new wallpaper so that it all goes well together.

Furniture

This is the one area where I may choose to outsource and buy replacements for the furniture, instead of attempting to make my own. Aside from having nowhere near the skill of my grandparents in this area, I don’t have the tools OR the space to do this type of work, so I’ll hit eBay, Facebook and maybe Freecycle to see if I can source a whole house worth of new furniture that way.