Author: Relationships & Family

With the summer holidays almost over I am almost out of ideas what to do with the kids. We have already been to the ZOO several times, the local beaches have been visited by us more than once, and we have been to every single playground ion the area. And there are still around ten days left before the boys go back to school. What can I do? I would like to know the answer to this questions because I am seriously running out of ideas here.

One idea that has popped up in a conversation quite recently is the idea of Glow Sticks. Find me a kid who wouldn’t like such sticks and I would be really interested to have a talk with them. All kids love glow sticks, there is no doubt about that. They glow in the dark, they come in all shapes and colours, they can glow for several hours in a row, in a nutshell they are a perfect tool for nighttime adventures both in the garden as well as in the forest or on the beach.

If you ever wondered how come we have such wonderful tools as glow sticks, I would like you to know that they originally were invented for military use. Since then they have been used by everybody who might want to participate in a bonfire night, go fishing, during search and rescue operations, various festivals, and more. I can think of more and more situations when such glow sticks can come in handy and they aren’t perfect for children only. Many adults also find their colourful glow to be soothing and helpful in many everyday activities.

Probably the best way to buy glow sticks is to buy them in bulk. This way you can have enough foir each one of your family member, friends, or party members. Yes, and I forgot to mention that glow sticks can be successfully used during a birthday party as they entertain the kids the way nothing else does. You might want to check it out for yourself if you don’t believe me and then you will see that I am absolutely right when it comes to that.

As a person who has been working from home for several years now I know all about the daily struggles related to work-life balance in my family. My kids have definitely benefited from having more of me in their lives as opposed to being with childminders or in nurseries all day and I am very thankful for that unique opportunity I was given to be able to work from home. Below you will find a few tips you might want to find useful if you want to maintain the right work-life balance that will serve your family well:

1. Remember that when at home you are both a worker and a parent at the same time. This means in practice that you have two roles to fulfill. There will be times when you will have peace and quiet, but there will also be times when you will be required to spend time with your children. This is when you need to take breaks. Make sure that you don’t try to work when your children need you and you should be fine.
2. Have the right type of furniture in your home office. A good look at furniture-work.co.uk/office_desks should quickly solve all of the questions you might have regarding the planning of your office space. Only because you work from home does not have to mean that you don’t deserve that quality furniture that all of your ex-co workers have in their busy offices.
3. Do not over stress yourself, but rather have time to enjoy the little things that make working at home so enjoyable. At last, you have a chance to witness how your youngest one plays, or you might be the first time to see him walk. When you feel like you want to grab some fresh air, go outdoors and enjoy the nature for as long as you can before you are ready to go back to work provided that your boss allows you to do so.
4. If possible, befriend somebody who is also a work from home parent. There were many times in my life when I needed to take a break from my kids and deliver a bigger order fast. My friend Jess has always been a huge blessing. She doesn’t live that far from me, and those few times when I needed her urgently she was there to take care of my kids when I was busier than usual.

For every homeowner, there’s a moment of truth when the out-of-fashion bathroom appliance colors, cracked tiles and chipped wall paint at home become just too hard to ignore. That’s the moment when a homeowner faces down that very tough question, “is it time to remodel?” It’s a question that doesn’t have the same answer for every person, but it’s one that definitely should be asked.

A Solid Argument in Favor of Renovation

Things age and breakdown, that’s one of the realities of physics, and of course it is a reality that every homeowner must face. Most homeowners decide to renovate their homes if they keep them for a number of years, as a well done renovation
can add to the value of a home and to its enjoyment. A good renovation is sure to bring a higher price to a home at resale time, so whether an owner is staying in a home or intending to sell, a renovation is always a good idea.

Making The Numbers Work

Is it worth it to finance a renovation? As we said above, there’s a solid argument in favor of renovating a home in order to keep its value. While hiring from a selection of general contractors, buying materials and workers to do the job does cost money, a job well done will enhance the value of a home. If there is equity in the home that can be used for financing, and a low interest home loan can be acquired, the numbers do make sense. It’s wise to work closely with an experienced contractor in order to keep the entire project on track and on budget.

Planning The Remodel With a Contractor

Though in the past it might have been difficult to find a high quality, experienced contractor to oversee a home remodel, today there are some great online resources for finding talent. There are websites dedicated to offering listings of talented local contractors with their contact information and resumes. Homeowners can study these listings easily and then contact the person who seems a right fit for the job, and then schedule a free consultation call. After a discussion of the project, the homeowner can get recommendations from the contractor and decide whether or not they want to hire them. From there, it’s time to start planning that incredible home redo!

So 2017 has brought us quite a few different new ideas for making our homes more beautiful.  In the homeware and fashion game, we need to look forward into the future to these 5 big trends that will be BIG in 2018!

 

1 /Tropical leaf prints are going to be big in 2018!

‘Inject a touch of the tropics to your home with leaf prints such as palm and swiss cheese plant (monstera deliciosa),’ says Twelo’s interior style advisor Suzie Enley. ‘Use modern tropical wallpaper to generate a ‘wow factor’ look or use more simplistic leaf prints to keep it more subdued and natural.’

 

 

This is another example based on the tropical leaf theme. The colours of the jungle! Can really bring a rom alive and do not have to be mega expensive. With some creativity you can put together a stunning feature room based on a tropical theme for a very reasonable amount of money!

 

2/ The vintage look.

Vintage sheik is making a strong comeback and will continue to grow in 2018. It does of course depend to some degree on the age and style of your property as to the style of home you create.  Having said that a mixture of modern and classic furniture and décor can tie a house together beautifully if done well as this guide aptly shows http://www.twelo.com/blog/traditional-furniture-mix-match-modern-ultimate-mega-guide/

 

The image below is a great example of modern and vintage combined seamlessly in a modern/period bathroom

Or this bathroom which actually looks victorian but is actually using repro vintage bathroom suite items and ‘new’ old tiles.

Lastly, this amazing 60’s style kitchen just oozes style and class!!

 

3/ Amazing fish tanks

This is one of our favourites but it does come with a disclaimer!! Tropical fish take serious effort to care for and also knowledge, so scaling down aspirations from the grandiose installations shown here may be wise so you can find your feet in the fish keeping world!

 

 

This type of installation takes planning, possible structural works (for example bricks may need to be supported with an RSJ), planning for how a tank will be cleaned and fish will be added and removed etc

Regardless of the tricky logistics it undoubtedly makes a stunning centrepiece for any design focused home.

 

4/ Techno Furniture!

 

This is undoubtedly going to become more prevalent as we move into 2018 and onwards. Technology is only going to be more involved in our daily lives and integrating it into furniture is going to become more and more commonplace. For example iphone chargers built into bedside cabinets and tables, RJ45 network sockets integrated into tables with concealed cable routings and lots more

 

 

5/ Wood effect ceramics

 

Growing in popularity all the time is wood effect ceramics. Ceramics offer a number of benefits over real wood but also come with potential drawbacks. For flooring tiles are infinitely more durable if laid correctly and are also water resistant if the correct grout is used. This combined with the amazing ceramic designs and shapes now available means you can create a stunning centrepiece for a home with almost unlimited choices available in designs!

 

 

One thing to consider with wood effect ceramics, particularly for flooring is that by nature it is a cold surface, where as wood is a warm characterful material. So for many applications underfloor heating is a must unless you want a cold feeling room! This can be using electric heat mat or the more involved piped underfloor heating. Either way, floor temperature needs to be factored in before doing a huge wood effect tiled floor!

 

Without any doubt, we are a nation of very eager DIYers. When you look at the websites such as slatergordon.co.uk you can easily realise how true it is. But with many DIY projects come #DIYDisasters that can lead to many personal injuries. So how healthy is your DIY project? Do you really know what you are putting yourself at the risk of? Let’s find out.

One problem with DIY projects is that while they usually seem like a cheaper option compared to hiring somebody for the job the truth is that most of us are not even close to being qualified for the job. We all tend to overestimate our abilities thinking that we have what it takes to repair our electric circuit or paint our walls. Of course, there are some easier and less risky projects at home and most of us would be willing to paint the walls in our home ourselves, but even this can turn to be truly risky if you don’t know what you are doing. Even simple tasks such as removing the wallpaper in your home or drilling into your walls can be life threatening if you happen to have asbestos in your home and you are unaware of it. Lead pipes are another hazard with many of them that can be found in the houses that were built before the 1970s.

While conducting even the simplest of DIY projects might seem risky, there are some steps to undertake in order to avoid the hazards related to them. Being aware of possible asbestos, lead pipes, mould, and MDF can mean the difference between health problems and a healthy life. If you are aware of something that is in your home you are a lot more likely to be able to deal with the problems before they even appear.

If you suspect that you have been affected by any of the described-above substances, seek out medical help immediately. Another step to take is to seek out legal advice if applicable. There are many situations in your life when you might not be the one to blame for all the bad things that happened to you.

From time to time I like to take a day off (whenever it is possible) and head to the nearby Bath. After taking care of the marketing needs of my small company in the form of address lookup I am really lucky to live close to such a great tourist destination. Even when I don’t feel like driving I can always take the Air Decker that stops just around the corner connecting Bristol Airport with the great city of Bath that so many people just like me choose to visit often.

If you know me you know that I have true #PostcodePride as I take a lot of pride in where I live. I might not live exactly in Bath, but the fact that I live so close and can get there so easily makes me really happy.

I am really glad that the summer is in full swing because this is what I am going to do soon: I am going to travel to Bath and buy a ticket to Roman Baths that stay open until 10pm. I absolutely love the way the baths look in the flickering flames of the torches as there is something absolutely magical about them at night. I never seem to have enough of that sort of experience and I always keep coming back for more usually with my family, but sometimes even alone. The warm waters of the Baths relax me so much that I always end up sleeping very well after a day out like this.

When I am not soaking my body in the relaxing and refreshing waters of the Roman Baths I like to wander around Alexandra Park that has some stunning views on the city. You can see from up here that the Romans built some parts of the city and you can see lots of history from up here. The Roman influences on the architecture of Bath are prevalent and there is no way to deny it.

One of the most famous residents of the city of Bath was Jane Austen. She wasn’t born there, but moved there at the age of 25. I guess when you move to such a beautiful place it is for sure going to affect your work and it did influence Austen’s writings. I have been to her museum many times, but every time I visit it again and again I find something new about her, something I had no idea about.

If you are proud about where you live, don’t hesitate to tell me about it. I know that it might be hard to beat beautiful cities such as Baths when it comes to what they have to offer, but I know that there are more places in the UK that offer a lot to visitors.

It’s fair to say most people go abroad for their honeymoon. But have you ever considered it for your wedding? Getting married in another country is becoming increasingly popular – and with good reason too. It can make the wedding more unique, enjoyable and memorable for everyone involved. But you need to get the destination right. Read on for our pick of the best wedding destinations abroad.

1. Caribbean

The Caribbean is one of the most popular wedding destinations in the world. It’s no wonder, with stretching white beaches, endless blue seas and all the palm trees a bride and groom could wish for. The likes of Barbados, Antigua and Jamaica are the perfect setting for an idyllic beach wedding, with the delightful temperatures to match. Famous as the home of rum and jerk chicken, the islands also offer some great options for the wedding breakfast and toasts.

2. Italy

Italy is in its own league when it comes to weddings abroad. The European gem is full of scenic destinations like the Amalfi coast, Venice and of course the beautiful Italian lakes. Italian cuisine speaks for itself, with some of the best wine in the world too. And in the Spring and Summer months, you can usually count on some great weather.

3. USA

As with most things, the States have their own unique offering for tying the knot. Weddings in Vegas, New York and Orlando swap quaint and subtle for bold and eye-catching. Sure, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. But if you want to go big on your ‘big day’, you should definitely venture across the pond.

4. Iceland

Not everybody wants sun, sea and sand on their wedding day. For those looking for a wedding abroad that’s a bit different, you can’t beat Iceland. The Nordic island has stunning views at every corner, with natural spas, fjords and – if you’re lucky – a glimpse of the unbelievable northern lights. It’s perfect for truly unique wedding photos, but make sure you don’t forget your coat.

5. Cyprus

Home to the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, Cyprus has it all. Beautiful scenery, gorgeous weather – the so-called ‘island of love’ even has plenty of great nightlife for stag and hen parties should you choose to take the pre-wedding festivities abroad too. Unlike some of the other wedding destinations, Cyprus also offers great value for money. Whether it’s a world heritage site or a simple hotel wedding, Cyprus weddings provide boundless beauty without the massive budget.

Where to go?

As well as being great for weddings, Cyprus is amongst the best destinations to visit this year. Located on the western coast, the city of Paphos has been chosen as European Capital of Culture for 2017. It’s just one of many great places though. Check out which other destinations made the list on our infographic Travelling in 2017: Top 10 Destinations in the World.

I am sure that you would agree with me that it is never too late to have fun. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, fun is something that can keep you going and motivated to work the next day.

When was the last time you went to a wedding for example? I go to weddings all the time because many of my friends have been getting married lately, and I have to admit that weddings are probably my favourite way to spend a weekend. Most of the weddings I attend are packed with fun activities thanks to the very creative wedding planners who usually organise them.

Whenever you are about to plan a wedding, make sure that you pack it with fun funfair games such as Hoopla. You think that your guests are too old for this type of fun? Not really. You would be surprised how fit your auntie can be when she participates in a game like that, and you might not be able to recall her ever have fun like that. You need to get the right ideas to keep your guests entertained, or they will get bored and leave your wedding earlier than planned. I am talking here about games such as hoopla, coconut shy, high striker/ strongman game, and similar ones, in other words funfair games for hire. The list here goes on and on. Most of such funfair games have been around for over 150 years, and their popularity is on the rise despite the fact that some of them were invented some time ago.

If you have some memorable funfair games experiences, feel free to share them with me. I am always willing to listen to them as I always want to have some ideas up my sleeve in case I need to organise an event for somebody. Such events don’t have to be limited to weddings only, as many other occasions are great for such games. I am thinking here about fundraisers, various school events, family reunions, etc. Such events deserve to have a very fun element in them, and this is where funfair games come in with everything they have to offer to those who wish to take part in them.

If you are considering eloping in Las Vegas, this may be one of the best decisions of your life. Many wedding couples have made this choice and reported their happiness making this decision.

Everyone knows weddings can be one of the most stressful times to endure. One of the reasons they choose to elope is to reduce the stress of the occasion.

Just the process of packing your bags and preparing for the experience can be stressful.  Many people don’t want to add stress by having to accommodate and plan the experience for their wedding guests and relatives as well.

When you reserve this time to focus on your spouse it can be a refreshing and memorable stress free experience.

Most family members understand it when you decide to elope. That is the beauty of eloping.  Many couples don’t even tell people they are getting married. Let’s face it, some family members and even friends get offended when they are not invited and they feel left out of the process of planning your wedding.

However, if you have close family members you don’t want to leave out bring them along. It is still considered eloping if you bring a few people close friends or family along. If it really matters to you, do what you feel is best. It’s your experience, make it a great one.

After you make your choice to elope, there are still things you need to know about Vegas which will make your experience better. These tips should help you plan and know what is essential when planning your wedding in Vegas.

Selecting the date

The beauty of eloping is your ability to choose your wedding date on whatever date you find best suits you both. You don’t have to cater to family members and their schedules. Since Las Vegas is a 24 hour town it opens up opportunities in many ways.

Nonetheless, there are things you need to take into consideration when choosing your date.

Some holidays in Vegas are especially busy and not the best to choose.  If you do choose them, you will need to research what to expect.

Some of the extra busy holidays are Valentine’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, and New Year’s Eve to name a few.  Holidays bring more traffic and longer wait times at the Courthouse when you go to get your marriage license. For instance, on New Year’s Eve the Vegas Strip closes down for a period of time and costs for wedding facilities will increase.

Booking your hotel and wedding ceremony in the off season will help guarantee some of the lowest rates of the year.

Conventions may make it difficult:

Finding a place to stay during a convention will be more difficult. Hotel resorts often increase their pricing during large conventions.  It’s a matter of supply and demand.  Hotels have even been known to kick out people if other customers are willing to pay more, even if the reservation has already been made. Be careful and visit the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors authority to check ahead of time what conventions are in town before you book your wedding date.

Consider what you want

Think carefully about what you want.  What kind of experience do you want to have?   Do you want a simple wedding for your elopement? How simple do you want it to be?  What is your budget?  Your budget will determine what options are available. These are just a couple of the questions you need to ask yourself before deciding on a wedding venue.

Affordable elopement options you may not know about:

1. Choose mobile Vegas wedding vendors that offer affordable wedding packages
2. Getting married in Vegas with Las Vegas Wedding Photo Tours

Choose your Wedding Attire:

You can still wear elegant wedding attire when you elope. If you choose to get married simply you may still capture your memories and experience with a wedding photographer. This is an essential thing to decide.

Your choices:

1. Will you get all dressed up and choose to rent a dress and tux for your occasion?
2. Keep it simple and wear a dinner dress or semi-formal attire.
3. Go entirely casual with street clothes

Determine if you will still get all dressed up or if you will simply show up in whatever you are wearing that day. Many couples find something in the middle of formal and casual, after all, it is your wedding day.  But then again, the beauty of Vegas is you can do whatever you like for your wedding and no one will judge you.
Choosing mobile vendors keeps it simple: The beauty of eloping with a private vendor that is not a corporation with strict rules is going casual if you desire to. You may choose many mobile vendors or vendors that offer wedding packages.

• Mobile renting of tux and gowns
• Mobile Vegas wedding officiant
• Mobile Las Vegas wedding photographers
• Mobile Makeup and Hair vendors

These vendors can come to your room and marry you on your wedding day. They also offer you choices for enjoying wedding packages on the strip or in local parks, if you want to keep it simple and yet enjoy the excitement of the city.

Select your accommodations with this in mind

Finding accommodations during certain times of the year can be a challenge. For instance, New Year’s Eve is a very busy time of year and the price for hotels will rise.  If you are eloping during a holiday, you may want to consider staying off of the Las Vegas strip at one of the local hotel resorts.

The low season in Las Vegas are June to August primarily due to the heat of the season.  Even though it’s hot many tourists still come to Vegas in droves because they take vacation then.  There are many time shares, for instance, or rental homes that would offer you a great alternative to staying on the strip.  But if you do choose to elope you may want to consider choosing a resort that will accommodate both your ceremony and accommodations.  Serving both functions will save you money and offer you a private venue without the stress of traveling and feeling pressured by a chapel’s strict rotating assembly line of weddings.

Great Vegas Resorts for Elopement Ceremonies

The Four Seasons Hotel may be a great option for your wedding because it does not have gambling. It’s a luxurious choice and offers beautiful rooms and suites which can double as ceremony sites. If you want to be pampered in luxury this is a great choice.

Next door to the Four Seasons is Mandalay Bay Resort. This resort has excellent rooms and a great pool with a beach and wave machine.  The Mandalay Bay has a fountain area that is spectacular with waterfalls and lush scenery to take in.  It’s terrific for photo shoots.

The MGM Grand Signature Suites are terrific to have a private ceremony, even with a few guests.  The balconies offer a great view of the strips City Center.
The Venetian hotel is a romantic option offering a venue with the old world charm of Italy. Its venue boasts frescoed ceilings. Its rooms offer excellent options for weddings that may be held in the sunken living rooms. It also has the romantic Venetian canal and gondolas you may ride in after the ceremony.
City Center offers hotels like The Cosmopolitan and The Mandarin Oriental and Aria hotel, among the popular choices

The Cosmopolitan Hotel offers wrap around suites with balconies overlooking the Vegas Strips’ famous Bellagio Fountain. This make it a popular choice for a wedding elopement.

These are just a handful of popular resorts on the Vegas Strip but there are many more to choose from. You may hold the ceremony in these rooms and enjoy the privacy and pampering by having your hair and makeup done in the room before the wedding.

Whatever decisions you do make, have a peace of mind that you chose to get married your own way with low stress and memories of happiness to last a lifetime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone wants their wedding to be a unique and amazing experience, but few people want to break their budget on a single day. While extravagant and outlandish weddings were popular for years, recently it has become more popular to save money on the wedding and hold a less outrageous and expensive party. This way, the newlyweds will have more money available to pay for either their honeymoon or for building their future together. However, you don’t need to sacrifice quality and excitement to stay on budget. Here are four tips for holding a once-in-a-lifetime wedding without spending a ton of money.

Look for Affordable Packages

If you’ve got your heart set on a destination wedding, it’s important that you do your research. You can organize an amazing and affordable wedding in an interesting location without going broke. For example, search online for destination wedding packages from an established provider like Florida Destination Weddings. In many cases, participants and guests in destination weddings can save money and still have a great time.

Shop Around for Dresses

While most brides go dress shopping without thinking about the price, a smart bride can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by shopping around. If you’re looking for something specific, you can also hire a seamstress or tailor to modify a more affordable dress. Second-hand stores often have remarkable bargains on dresses, and you can shop with confidence, knowing that these dresses have only been worn once before. Tuxedos can be rented for a reasonable price, too, so you don’t have to buy them.

Look for Local Caterers

Instead of hiring a pricey chef or catering company, look into more affordable and practical options for feeding your guests. One of the most affordable choices is to ask about catering at your favorite restaurant. Many smaller restaurants and food providers will provide affordable options, especially if they are trying to branch out into catering services. Don’t be afraid to ask at your local restaurant, and make sure you also ask about bargain options.

Ask for Help from Friends

Sometimes the best way to save money on your wedding is by making it a family affair. Hire your talented cousin to do the wedding photography at a lower cost. Find a talented relative to help with your hair and makeup. You’ll appreciate the savings later.