Tag Archives: fyi

Jun25

Five Ways To Learn When On The Go

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Five Ways To Learn When On The Go

Knowledge is power, as they say, yet judging by how people spend their time, you wouldn’t necessarily know it. We spend the best part of our first two decades on earth getting educated, and then, we simply stop. On the one hand, it’s understandable: we’ve learned the essentials during our formal schooling, and now it’s time to enjoy other things in life. But on the other, education is always worth pursuing. There’s much to know that they would never have taught you in school! But we know time is in short supply. That’s why we’ve put together some ways to learn while you’re on the move. On the commute, when you’re jogging – there’s always time to learn something new.

Put the Phone Down:

You’re sitting on the bus. You’re at a cafe, or the bar, waiting for your friend to arrive. Wherever you are, the temptation these days is to pull out your smartphone and start scrolling. But what are you missing out on when your mind is in a digital space? Education about the real world! There’s much to learn just by keeping our phones in our pocket and looking around every once and awhile. It’s a good chance to think big.

The Best Minds:

You might be a smart person, but you don’t know everything. As such, there’s much you can learn by listening to talks from some of the world’s best minds, past and present. There are plenty of inspirational talks on YouTube, which you can then convert to MP3 by using Convert Video. The next time you’re traveling from A to B, you’ll be able to fire up some inspiring words of wisdom and learn something new just as you’re going about your business.

Tune into the Radio:

It’s a good idea to learn about things which interest you, but it’s also good to learn about new things, too, things that you’ve never heard of before. Practically everything is interesting if you go deep into it enough! When you’re in your car, look at firing up talk radio, such as NPR. They usually talk about issues that you won’t hear about anywhere else, or things that you’ve never heard about before. In the process, you’ll be broadening your knowledge base, and may just pick up a new passion. Nice!

Carry a Book Around:

Are you always carrying a backpack or handbag around? Then keep a book in there. You’ll be surprised by just how many minutes of downtime you have during the day. These minutes present you with the chance to get your book out, get to reading, and learn something new. You’ll also significantly increase the number of books you read each year, too.

Strike up a Conversation:

Everyone’s smart in their own way. Next time you’re by yourself and have some downtime (or you’re on a plane), strike up a conversation with a stranger. They will always tell you something that you didn’t know before, and you can tell them something new, too. Plus, they might become a friend!

Continuing your education after school can be about street smarts, too. So try and learn something new the next time you’re on the move!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jun18

Signs You Might Struggle To Get Pregnant

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Signs You Might Struggle To Get Pregnant

So, you’ve started to get broody for a baby. You’ve been trying for a while now and you still haven’t gotten the result that you long for. It could be that it’s just taking a while for things to get going, but since around 10 percent of the female population struggle to conceive, it could be something more.

To find out for sure whether you might struggle to get pregnant, you need to see a fertility doctor as soon as possible but, in the meantime, here are some signs that you could find it hard to conceive:

You’re Over 35:

These days, more of us are waiting way longer to get pregnant, with many women not even trying until their mid to late 30s. Most of the time, this will not cause too many problems, but it is worth noting that once you’re over 35 its could take you longer to conceive, with the average being six months. If you haven’t been able to conceive after a year of regular sex, it could indicate a fertility problem and you will need to get yourself checked out.

There’s No Sign of a Baby Despite Regular Timed Sex:

If you use ovulation kits to calculate when you’re most fertile, you have sex during those times, and there are no signs of a pregnancy after a few months, it’s probably a good idea to have yourself evaluated by the professionals. Click this link to find out more about fertility treatments, and remember that men and women should be tested because 30 percent of cases are down to the male factor. It could be that things are just taking a bit longer to happen for you, but it’s worth finding out so you don’t waste any more time, especially if you are over 35.

You’re Overweight:

If you’re overweight, then it could be impacting your fertility. Not only does excess weight make it harder, but it can be dangerous for mother and baby if you are successful with things like gestational diabetes being more likely to occur. If you’re worried about this, seeing your gyno is a good idea, as is eating a clean diet and hitting the gym a few times a week if you want to boost your chances. It might take some hard work, but it will definitely be worth it in the end.

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Pixabay Image

Previous Miscarriages:

Miscarriages are more common than you might think, but if you’ve had more than three losses, you should think about seeing an infertility specialist to check that there is nothing medically wrong that could prevent you from seeing a pregnancy through. Many women are scared to do this because they don’t want their hopes to be taken away, but in many cases, there are medical interventions that will help, and if that isn’t possible, you can always click here to find out more about the possibility of surrogacy. There are more options available to you than you might think, but you need to know where you stand before you can make any decisions about them.

You Have a Feeling:

Yes, sometimes feelings can be way off the mark, but if you have an inner-voice that’s telling you that you may possibly have some fertility problems that are preventing you from getting pregnant, and you simply cannot shake those feelings no matter how hard you try, it could be that there is something in it. Us women are highly connected to our bodies and even if we don’t realize it on an intellectual level, intuitively we often know when something is wrong. So, if you feel like something is wrong, see a fertility specialist and don’t feel bad about doing so. If your instincts are correct, your specialist can begin recommending options like prp treatment for fertility, IVF, or ovulation induction.

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Feelings usually have some truth to them.

If you’re connected with your body, you know what it takes to conceive and you live a healthy lifestyle, chances are it will happen for you eventually, but it’s always worth ruling out illnesses and issues that could be preventing you from getting pregnant just in case.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jun15

Saving Your Vehicle From The Elements This Summer

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Saving Your Vehicle From The Elements This Summer

Enjoying a long drive during the summer and being pampered by the warm weather is a great experience. But, there is something that one must keep in mind – that such weather poses a major hazard to a car’s exterior. To escape the negative effects of the elements altogether, a lot of precautions need to be taken. There are several tasks which one can do to help reduce the impairment done to a car’s paint due to weather conditions. Even though these are fairly simple steps to follow, completing them at all times can be a tricky task, as most people are forgetful and they tend to make silly errors in judgment. Here are some great tips to save your vehicle from the elements:

Parking in the shade:

Unless a car owner finds him or herself in a situation where there is no time to park at all, avoiding parking directly under the sun is possibly one of the biggest favors a car can get. There are essentially two benefits of parking a car under the shade. First, it helps in keeping the car cool. Secondly, it makes sure that the paint does not fade away so easily. These jobs may not seem so important, but these little incidents cause damage that adds up to cause a big problem in the future. So, rule number one is – never roast a car under the sunlight.

Using a car cover:

If the car owner regularly fails to find shaded locations to park the car, keeping a car cover in the trunk always is a must. These car covers can come in handy in many occasions, and will always provide your car with your own personally brought protection.

Another excellent way to keep your car’s exterior looking its best is to invest in wraps for your car to further protect it from the elements. This is definitely worthwhile if you want to keep your car looking brand new no matter its age. It may be worth researching local paint protection film experts in your area, to see if there is anyone who can provide you with this service. A skilled technician will be able to assist with reducing the risk of chips and scratches to your paintwork.

Washing the car on a regular basis:

Washing cars on a consistent basis ensures that the exterior of the car is fresh for a long period of time. Such benefits only come to play when the car owner washes the car properly. After parking the car under shade, rinsing off all forms of accumulated dirt and grime is the first step. If getting the grime off after washing is proving to be too much trouble, using a clay bar to clean the sticky spots before rinsing the car for a second time is highly recommended. For convertibles, using a convertible top protectant is the ideal solution.

Once the car has been cleaned, with the use of a microfiber cloth, the car must be dried off completely, without missing any spots so that there are no water spots on the exterior.

Waxing:

Similar to washing, waxing a car regularly can help in reducing any type of damage done to the car paint. If a car is waxed regularly, the prevention of dirt and debris sticking to the vehicle becomes easier.

Saving a vehicle from the elements might be an annoying task but it is definitely achievable, and will keep your car looking better for longer.

Jun13

The Popular Piano

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The Popular Piano

The piano is a popular instrument. It is estimated that in the United States alone, that at least 21 million people play the piano. When the piano was first invented, it is unlikely that its creators understood how popular the instrument would become. Throughout the centuries, the piano has gone through some changes. However, the basics of what the piano is has stayed the same.

When the piano first came on the scene, there was no piano store Boston residents could go to to simply pick up a piano. Pianos were handmade. It took a large amount of effort to create one. However, toward the end of the 19th century, it was possible to mass-produce pianos. As a result, pianos became less expensive, and more people were able to have access to this instrument in their home.

The importance of the piano is seen in the way that being able to play it affected one’s perceived social standing. For example, back in the 18th century, it was believed that a woman was marriage material if she could play the piano. Ooh la la!

The popularity of the piano continues to this day, because it is an easy instrument to play. A person can begin playing the instrument immediately. Regardless of the age of the student, they can press a key and make a sound. Other instruments like the guitar, flute, or saxophone require complicated fingering or controlled breathing patterns in order to make a noise. And, since the piano is relatively easy to play, students can learn the fundamentals of the instrument more quickly.

One of the neat things about a piano is that it allows the player to play the melody and the rhythm at the same time. Beginning students marvel at their ability to play multiple notes simultaneously. The fundamentals of music that are laid out on sheet music for a piano are easy to understand. Concepts that can seem abstract, like half notes or scales, become clearer when you see them laid out on the piano, and beautiful noise is sure to follow!

Jun10

Birthday Freebies

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Birthday Freebies

Hi everyone! As you all know, Lil Red balls on a budget and that means embracing rewards programs at my favorites stores and eateries like it’s my job. So, it’s no surprise that when my birthday month comes around, I get bombarded with all of the deals and freebies like nobody’s business. If you sign up for the different apps and rewards programs listed below, you can get in on the freebies, too!

  • Small popcorn at Regal movie theaters
  • One burrito from Moe’s
  • Free dessert from the Olive Garden
  • Small smoothie from Robek’s
  • Drink of choice from Starbucks
  • Makeup product from Sephora
  • Makeup product from Ulta
  • Bread sticks from Pizza Hut
  • Medium pizza from Hungry Howie’s

Obviously, I have been eating REALLY good lately and the price has always been right when you don’t pay a cent for it! Happy birthday to me, INDEED! 😀

What other stores and restaurants offer birthday rewards? Which rewards programs are you registered to? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun8

Unique Differences In U.S. Military Weddings

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Unique Differences In U.S. Military Weddings

Each of us is dreaming and planning of how to make our special day stand out and worth remembering for everyone. But, sometimes, it’s easier said than done. However, if you are serving in the military, you are an ex-Army officer, or you’re a cadet in the Academy, you are entitled to have a wedding ceremony in a military fashion. Military weddings in the States are different than the typical civil weddings in many ways.

Although they proved to be very hard to organize and plan due to the uncertainty and dynamics of living the military life, there is a big chance that everyone present at the wedding will remember it for all of those little things that are applicable only to these types of weddings. In this article, we’ll give you a number of brief examples of all of the traditions related to military-themed weddings:

Dress Code:

If you’re in the military and you decide to marry your beloved, you will be expected to wear your unit’s uniform, along with all of the medals or ribbons that you might have. And, as there will probably be lots of other military members (most commonly, the best man), they are also expected to wear their Army suits.

In cases when the bride is the one serving her country, there is a tradition that calls for a bride wearing military boots under her beautiful wedding dress. Apart from that, when attending a military-themed wedding, all attendees should wear formal attire if they’re not members of the military.

Arch From the Drawn Swords:

The feeling of walking down the aisle and saying that fateful ‘’yes’’ is even better when you know that there will be a memorable moment after that where you and your beloved will march down the arch made of drawn swords and sabres. Truly a sight to behold and relatable only to military weddings.

Army Insignia:

To spice things up even more and make everyone feel like part of the Army tradition, couples can also opt for engraving custom insignia on challenge coins and presenting a coin to each guest. Professional yet affordable coins can be made by Embleholics on your big day.

It’s also worth noting here that military couples do enjoy some benefits in the form of numerous discounts when it comes to finding a professional makeup artist for the wedding or acquiring pearl wedding rings.

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Unsplash Image

Getting Married on Base:

Military bases of operation usually provide everything for the wedding ceremony and the reception that comes after that. You won’t have a chance of attending a wedding ceremony on base if you are invited to a civilian wedding!

There are many other things that we didn’t mention in this article, but we will leave the rest for you to imagine (although we are pretty sure that you already know of many things that should be added to our little list here). The bottom line, is that military weddings are truly different than other weddings. They never fail to create unforgettable memories and experiences for everyone.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Jun6

How To Organize Your Photography Portfolio

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How To Organize Your Photography Portfolio

Whether you are a professional photographer or an amateur snapper with ambition, it is sensible to have a portfolio of work that you can show clients, friends, and anyone else who shows an interest. These days, photography is mainly digital, so an online portfolio is the way to go, but even if you still develop your photographs the old-fashioned way, the same tips apply:

Quality Control:

The best thing about digital photography, is that you can take hundreds of photos in a very short time. The bad thing is, that you end up with thousands. Be honest: most of your photos are not worthy of a place in a portfolio. This is not to say that they are no good, but the whole point of creating a portfolio is that you are highlighting your very best work.

The first step in creating a portfolio is to curate your work. Go through your best shots and select the ones that you think are worthy of a place in your portfolio. Don’t just rely on your own judgment, as it will almost certainly be biased. Instead, ask a selection of people to choose their favorite shots based on artistic qualities and technical ability. The photos that make the grade should tick the right boxes for everyone.

Quality control isn’t just about your pictures itself but employing best practices at every shoot so you can continue to grow your portfolio. Come prepared to smile, be engaging, and have fun. Don’t forget backup equipment because nothing halts a photo shoot like technical problems. However, if you forget a spare film camera battery, it’s worth noting that many film cameras can still function, allowing you to take pictures even without a working light meter. Your clients have the potential to review you via word of mouth and online so you always want to put your best, most professional face forward.

Professional Portfolios:

If you are a professional photographer, or you have aspirations to become one, you need to organize your photos to fit your business model. For example, a Suffolk Wedding Photographer wouldn’t include images of edgy urban scenes, as clients are not going to be interested. Instead, he/she would make sure that there were plenty of wedding themed photos in the portfolio so potential clients know exactly what they are getting when they book the photographer.

Organize into Themes and Galleries:

Check out Virtualphotographystudio.Com to see how to organize your work into galleries. Themed galleries are very important, as they help clients and viewers find the images that they want to see.

Using our example of a wedding photographer, we might have separate galleries for couples’ shots, family portraits, and perhaps miscellaneous photos of kids, animals, and even wedding cakes. If you have several existing clients, you might choose to organize your work by the client rather than subject matter. This would be applicable to a fashion photographer. You could also organize by creative theme. For example, if you have a series of images of Tuscan villas or Canadian landscapes, add them in separate folders.

A portfolio needs to be easy to navigate. Use a main menu and sub-menus. The harder it is to find images, the more likely you are to lose a viewer.

Caption Images:

Images should be captioned with key details such as title, the year it was taken, etc. If you have an online portfolio, images also need an image tag so that search engines can identify what they are and include them in search results.

Choose the right portfolio design. There are many themes to choose from if you decide to create an online portfolio, so select the best one for your business model and impress the socks off of potential clients!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jun4

You Don’t Have To Be A Suck Up To Get That Promotion

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You Don’t Have To Be A Suck Up To Get That Promotion

No one like that one person in the office that is always laughing way too hard at the boss’s joke or begging for extra work! Luckily, you don’t have to be that gal or guy to get where you need to be in your career. You can excel without being a suck up, just read the post below to find out how:

Actions speak louder than words:

One way to prove yourself worthy of a promotion and a position of responsibility is to let your actions speak for you. What this means is that you don’t waste your time handing out hollow compliments to people or playing the political game but, instead, keeping your head down and focusing on the work.

Then, you can demonstrate your focus, dedication, and commitment without having to do anything else. These are all qualities which any manager worth their salt will recognize as being top of the list when considering you for a promotion.

Educate:

Next, you certainly don’t have to suck up to get a promotion if you can prove that you have the necessary education and experience. One way to achieve this is to complete a specialized course like this electrical engineering degree online in your own time. Then, you can fit your studies around your current work commitments and get qualified for the promotion that you want. Studying in your field puts you in a great position for a promotion.

promote

Hit the books!

Of course, it’s also possible to enroll in courses that provide on the job training, that will set you up nicely for the role that you want. Yes, these may pay a little less in the short term, a consideration that is important if you have a family to support or bills to pay. However, such courses do have the advantage of providing practical experience as well as just book learning. Something that is often perceived as incredibly valuable by potential employers and those in a position to offer a promotion.

Lastly, do not forget the power of volunteering in your chosen field in your own time. This shows your dedication to the area and can provide you with the relevant experience that you need to climb the ladder.

Be your own person:

The temptation in a work environment is to become a yes person or join a group or clique for safety and security. However, sometimes being a part of a larger group can do more damage than good when it comes to landing that promotion that you are looking for.

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Pexels Image

Those in power may associate you with the group first and not judge you on your own individual merit. In fact, they can also be concerned that because of your loyalty and friendships within the company that you will provide favorable treatment to those that you are close to; that could compromise the running of the business.

To that end, it’s always best to be your own person as much as possible while at work, and don’t be afraid to speak out if you think something is a bad idea. Although, do remember to do this constructively with valid reasons. Otherwise, you risk being labeled as a complainer, and that certainly won’t be too good for your promotion prospects, either.

Being up for a promotion is a big deal, and following the above steps can help you land the spot that you’ve always dreamed of!

May30

Are You An Anxious Night Owl?

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Are You An Anxious Night Owl?

In recent years, awareness of anxiety has come to the forefront. Aside from making you nervous, a full-blown case of anxiety can leave you on edge and unable to calm down. It feels as though you’re about to face something frightening every second of the day, and it can leave you on the brink of breaking.

If this sounds familiar, you should speak to your doctor and seek treatment which helps you to get on top of this. But, we aren’t focusing on treatment today. Instead, we’re going to address something few anxiety sufferers speak about: the fact that symptoms often get worse in the evenings.

In many ways, this seems strange. Surely anxiety should abate when you get home and let loose? But, often, the situation worsens once you get home. In many ways, this could be because you’re no longer distracted by work. As such, you’ll feel the full effects of the condition. But, this is also, in part, down to how we spend our evenings – so we’re going to look at a few every day habits which can make matters worse:

The Television Trap:

While television usage has dropped in recent years, many of us still put the box on the moment that we get home. It’s a comfort, and it helps a lot of us to relax. But, what you might not realize is that television can also boost anxiety in some ways. Even if you avoid anxiety-inducing programs, advertisements fill us with worries about what we don’t have. They also lead to comparisons with those on screen. On top of which, television eats time like nothing else. It could leave you feeling as though your evening’s over before it’s begun.

So, for at least a few hours, turn the TV off. Rely, instead, on board games like Scrabble. These still take complete concentration but without comparison. You can even avoid disputes by using tools like this word.tips word finder to check anything you’re unsure of. If that doesn’t appeal, you could always turn to hobbies like reading or coloring to see you through. The chances are, that you’ll feel much better after an evening of doing these.

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There’s nothing better than a good book!

You’re Too Hung Up On The Day:

Many of us also make the mistake of overthinking our days once we get home. And, we still wonder why we have anxiety-induced headaches by the end of the night. In truth, you should avoid thinking about work during your evenings. Draw a line under the day with a quick walk around the block or even a meditation session to ease your mind. Then, turn your attention to something else every time work crosses your mind. Getting this distance could work wonders for helping you to relax. Bear in mind that it may take longer to adjust to than you expect. After all, you’ve spent years thinking about work all evening, every evening. But, if you focus your attention here, you could soon find that your mind is much calmer when you need it to be.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

May17

Is A Change Of Career In The Cards?

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Is A Change Of Career In The Cards?

Many of us go about in our working lives in careers that aren’t exactly suited to us. It could be because you were unaware of the options ahead of you, maybe you missed out on getting the qualifications you needed, or due to things like the recession. You simply might have had to take whatever work you could get your hands on at the time. Whatever the situation, it’s never too late to reconsider your options. While changing careers is a huge deal, it’s something that could dramatically change your life for the better.

Your career is a huge part of your life, when you spend eight plus hours a day at your workplace (and have a wage you rely on) a change isn’t something to take lightly. So, before you go ahead, make sure you really do want to make a change. Work out what your reasons are, and be sure that you won’t end up wanting to change again after building yourself up in your new job. In some cases, a complete switch of careers might be what’s needed, but in other cases progressing in your current role could be the way to go.

For example, if you’re already a nurse, studying something like an dnp nnp online will open you up to new and exciting job opportunities. If you think you have a flair for a different type of job, such as PR or Marketing, then you will need the help of a good recruitment agency. They can help you identify any transferable skills from your past job and to brush up your CV to make it more relevant to the work that you want to do. A good agency will also have loads of contacts ready and waiting for new recruits.

It goes without saying that you may have to take a knock to your salary at first. It is vital that you know the minimum amount you can earn without getting yourself into debt or becoming all work, no play because you cannot afford a social life. Work on a good budget and research the expected salaries in your chosen field and within your area. If you can’t make the two work, then you may need to reconsider your options. Don’t let it stop you, though. Be direct and honest with your salary expectations. Tell your agency, if you are using, the lowest you can go and then talk to any potential employers to see if they can accommodate you.

A simpler way of swapping careers could be to cut down your hours at work and take on a part time job. This could give you a boost on your CV and help you balance the finances during a full time change. Even taking a Saturday job in your new field in a volunteer capacity will be useful in changing paths and will show new employers that you are serious and committed.

Finally, don’t let age worry you. While there are lots of bright young things out there as competition, you actually have the edge on them when it comes to proven ability. Even if not through the same industry. You will have references and a more complex CV. Employers know what they’re looking for and they realize potential when presented with it. So be confident and show yourself in the best possible light!

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