tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78009494106029421022021-06-19T06:07:40.168-04:00Our Whiskey LullabyKatherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comBlogger1682125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-64107954698118193872021-06-17T17:17:00.005-04:002021-06-17T17:17:20.185-04:00Home Maintenance to Prevent a House Fire<p>&nbsp;</p>If you want to minimize your personal risk of having a house fire (and who doesn’t?) there are a few basic home maintenance practices that you should add to your regular schedule of chores, including the following:&nbsp;<div><br /></div><div><b>Checking your smoke alarms&nbsp;</b></div><div><br /></div><div>You should check your smoke detectors’ batteries at least once a month. Most have a button you can press, and if they are working they will make a sound. This is a really simple thing you can do to help keep your family safe.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Get rid of lint&nbsp;</b></div><div><br /></div><div>When your dryer is stuffed with lint, it can catch fire, which is the last thing you need, so be sure to remove the lint from the drawer after every use.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Clean the stove&nbsp;</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Stoves that are dirty and greasy are far more likely to catch fire, so be sure to clean yours at least once a month - more often if you can fit it in.&nbsp;</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Maintain your appliances&nbsp;</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Appliances like air conditioners and eclectic heaters can easily catch fire if they become faulty, which is why maintaining them and scheduling regular services is so important.&nbsp;</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Trim candles wicks&nbsp;</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Keeping candles wicks short is a good way to help prevent candles firs, as well as using proper holders, and keeping them away from curtains, of course, so do it regularly.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Get insurance&nbsp;</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Hopefully, these maintenance tips will help you avoid a fire, but if that doesn’t happen, you’ll need to have the right house insurance to ensure you can replace everything in your home. If you want to ensure that you are well-covered in case of fire, this infographic is really useful: <a href="https://www.propertyguru.com.sg/property-guides/hdb-fire-insurance-home-difference-13246"><img src="https://cdn-cms.pgimgs.com/static/2019/04/hdb-fire-home-insurance-infographic-singapore.jpg" style="width: 100%;" /></a></div><div>Infographic designed by: <a href="https://www.propertyguru.com.sg/">PropertyGuru Singapore</a></div>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-39076029946483391852021-06-16T10:05:00.004-04:002021-06-16T10:05:54.490-04:00Considering Getting a Cat? Here's What You Need to Know<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 416px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img height="416" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/lVQtvveQac1YJki_D3gu4VsNortuJIBTqb-qHYQRIGMEooMgMWx5sU9dtFciNV017yfkbrUIVTLhCmaTltUMj1oSsyBZHiVVFFGiZK3YDu2fqumkNIHGzxS2b3ebrLOCUwuQIhnA" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></span></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1494fa5c-7fff-0584-fb50-600de5461d24" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Considering getting a cat? These are popular pets and you’ll find them in many households across the world. A cat is generally a relatively independent pet who can entertain his or herself but will still prove a great companion. You do, however, have to take a lot of factors into consideration when it comes to choosing a cat. At the end of the day, they are living, sentient creatures with needs and feelings, so you’re going to have to invest a whole lot of time, effort, money and love into them. Here are some things to think about before you go ahead and get a cat of your own.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Indoor vs. Outdoor Cats</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There will forever be ongoing debate surrounding the subject of whether cats should be allowed to roam outdoors, or whether they should be </span><a href="https://www.cats.org.uk/media/1023/eg12_indoor_and_outdoor_cats.pdf" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">kept indoors as house pets</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. You may have your own opinions on this already, but the general consensus from both vets and wildlife societies are that you should seriously consider keeping your cat indoors. Here are some reasons why:</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Traffic - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cats who roam the streets have an increased risk of being hit by a car, bike or other form of vehicle. These incidents can often prove fatal.</span></span></p></li></ul><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fleas - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cats who roam outdoors are significantly more likely to come into contact with cats and other animals who may be carrying fleas, which can pose a serious threat to your cat. Not only do their bites cause allergic reactions (causing your kitty discomfort) but they can cause anaemia, a condition where your cat is losing blood faster than they can produce new blood to replace it. Bites can also trigger dermatitis and you may even find that the fleas are carrying tapeworm</span></span></p></li></ul><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ticks -&nbsp; </span><a href="https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ticks-in-cats" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ticks</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> can carry a host of feline diseases, such as Lyme disease, haemobartonellosis, tularemia, and cytauxzoonosis. You may initially be unaware that your cat has these parasites living on them. However, they do need to be dealt with and can be completely avoided by keeping your cat indoors.</span></span></p></li></ul><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wildlife - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">indoor cats are much better for the local environment too. Cats are highly skilled hunters and it’s in their nature to catch birds, mice, bats and other animals. Seeing as they are hunting for play as opposed to food, this is a waste of natural life.</span></span></p></li></ul><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Different Breeds</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Many people don’t tend to be aware of this, but cats have breeds, just in the same way that dogs do. The type of breed that will best suit you and your lifestyle will depend entirely on factors like your work, your home, your free time and more. Different breeds of cats don’t just have different physical traits - they have different needs, personality traits and more. A Sphinx will be a completely different cat to a Siamese or a Norwegian Forest Cat. So, do your research before choosing. There’s plenty of information available online that will help you to make the right decision for your needs and circumstances. If possible, do try to adopt rather than buying from a breeder. There are countless cats out there who need a loving home that you could provide them with. Try visiting a shelter and take a look around. One cat is bound to catch your eye and steal your heart.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Healthcare</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Whether you decide to keep your cat indoors or let them roam, you’re going to have to invest in veterinary care for them. This includes routine veterinary care, as well as veterinary care for illness or injury that they may experience. Some basic and routine appointments will include:</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Vaccinations</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Microchipping</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Neutering</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Annual health checks</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Dental checks</span></span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Further treatment for conditions and injuries</span></span></p></li></ul><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s highly recommended that you take out </span><a href="https://www.money.co.uk/pet-insurance/cat-insurance.htm" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pet insurance</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for your cat. This will help to cover the costs of any veterinary treatment or medication your pet requires. This also ensures that you don’t end up in difficult situations where you may be unable to afford the treatment for your pet.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Essential Investments</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">All cats will need certain items bought for them too. These are essentials and will allow you to provide them with a comfortable lifestyle and the basics they require.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">A Bed</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">All cats need somewhere to sleep. Some will choose their own space, but it’s always good to get your new cat a bed that they can call their own. There are countless options available on the market, so have a browse and read some reviews.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Food</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Cats need a well rounded diet. Your vet will be able to make specific suggestions for your cat in particular if you do get one. However, generally speaking, cat food is widely available and it is a competitive market, which helps to keep prices low. One thing that you should take into consideration is that some cats do end up having allergies or require specific diets. Foods for these diets can often prove a little more expensive.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Toys</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most cats enjoy toys. They're not all quite as serious as they look. There are a variety out there and different cats enjoy different types. So, try a few to find what they really enjoy. You could even look into some </span><a href="https://www.kittybingo.com/community/blog/easy-diy-toys-to-make-for-your-cat/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DIY cat toys</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Just be careful to make sure that they are solid and don’t pose any potential choking hazards.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">A Carrier</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A </span><a href="https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-cat-carriers-on-amazon.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cat carrier</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is going to prove essential when it comes to getting your cat from A to B. Sure, you may not use it on a regular basis, but you will need it to get your cat to the vets, to pet sitters and anywhere else. When choosing a cat carrier, consider the following points:</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ventilation - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">your cat needs to be able to breathe freely when inside their carrier. A good cat carried should have openings on at least two of its sides</span></span></p></li></ul><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Opening - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">getting your cat in and out of the carrier can be difficult. Many people opt for a carrier that opens at the top, so they can drop the cat in and close it, rather than trying to coerce the cat through a door or flap</span></span></p></li></ul><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Size - </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cats differ in size and so do cat carriers. Make sure to check the dimensions before ordering to ensure it can fit an adult cat inside</span></span></p></li></ul><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">A Toothbrush</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So many people fail to realise that they are meant to clean their cat’s teeth. Many pet owners neglect to do it, but it is important. After all, if you don’t </span><a href="https://www.rspcapetinsurance.org.au/pet-care/cat-care/guide-to-cat-dental-care" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">clean your cat’s teeth</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, who will? It’s an important step in maintaining their dental health and can help to prevent issues that could result in tooth removal. Investing in a cat toothbrush and cat toothpaste is a genuinely good idea if you do get a feline friend.&nbsp; Given the average cat’s life expectancy is up to 16 years, you need to do your utmost to ensure that their teeth last their entire lifetime without causing them any pain or discomfort. While cats </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">can</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> survive without teeth, it’s much more preferable to have them. Like our own teeth, cats’ teeth can build up plaque, which can ultimately lead to tooth decay and gum disease. A vet will be able to give you a demonstration on how to best brush your cat’s teeth. Often, people find it easier to ease their cat into the process by offering them a little flavoured toothpaste on your finger as a treat, then slowly moving into brushing.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Of course, there are countless other things you should take into consideration when getting a cat. But these are just a few examples of things you will have to do and buy on a regular basis once you have a kitten or cat of your own. Put some real thought into the decision and make sure that you will definitely be able to give a cat everything it needs before going ahead!</span></span></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-3820916227520420162021-06-04T15:52:00.008-04:002021-06-10T17:59:14.604-04:005 Ways You Can Make a Minimalist Garden<p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjCWe3uC0UI/YLqEgr9zMfI/AAAAAAAAbeU/fuGHc3ocBfQ2h0JgdHdXJwR-Kxto0MZ5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/flowers-3571119_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FjCWe3uC0UI/YLqEgr9zMfI/AAAAAAAAbeU/fuGHc3ocBfQ2h0JgdHdXJwR-Kxto0MZ5QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/flowers-3571119_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><br />&nbsp;</span><p></p><p></p><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Just like with home décor, garden tastes can usually be split into minimalist and simple, or bold, busy, and bright. If you’re leaning towards a minimalist garden for your home, there are many benefits for doing so </span><span lang="en-US">—</span><span lang="en-US">as well as many ways you can achieve this style. </span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;">What are the Benefits of a Minimalist Garden?</span></p><ul> <li><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span lang="en-US"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;">Less to tend and care for</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span lang="en-US"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;">It’s a cheaper option</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;">Can make your garden more manageable and less time-consuming </span></p> </li><li><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span lang="en-US"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;">You will have more space</span></span></p> </li><li><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">A </span><span><u><a href="https://www.thespruce.com/conquer-the-clutter-in-your-yard-4082137"><span lang="en-US">clutter-free garden</span></a></u></span><span lang="en-US"> </span> </span></p></li></ul><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #444444;">5 Ways You Can Make a Minimalist Garden</span></span></p><ol> <li><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span><span lang="en-US">Choose Feature Pieces Instead of Several Items </span></span> </span></p></li></ol><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">This can apply to anything you might want in your garden, whether it’s plants, furniture, or accessories. For example, instead of having a crowded plant or flowerbed, think about one large plant that will draw the eye. For furniture, you might want one large focal lounge chair instead of a cluttered table. </span></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">If there’s anything you want to include in your garden, think about one large, eye-catching piece rather than several smaller pieces. </span></span></p><ol start="2"> <li><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US" style="color: #444444;">Focus on Clear, Uncluttered Space</span></span></p></li></ol><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">To have that perfect minimalist look, your garden will need extensive open space free of clutter and maintained in a clean and tidy way. This could be a square of clear lawn, a large square of decking free of any items, or any other hard materials like brick or gravel, depending on your style. </span></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">To make sure these ground spaces are clear and tended to, make sure to invest in maintenance tools like </span><span><u><a href="https://www.cubcadet.com/en_US/riding-lawn-mowers/zero-turn-mowers"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);">zero turn mowers</span></span></a></u></span><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);">for grass, decking, or paving cleaner and tools that will help you arrange gravel. </span></span></span></span></p><ol start="3"> <li><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #444444;">Go for Plain Colors</span></span></span></span></p></li></ol><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span><span lang="en-US"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Whether it’s with flowers or seating fabrics, lots of bold colors and patterns will make your garden feel busier. However, embrace plain, neutral colors like greens, whites, and beiges for the ideal minimalist look. Make this consistent throughout your whole garden, and if you do want to use patterns, try to choose only one or two key pieces rather than over-furnishing with lots of patterns. </span></span></span></span></p><ol start="4"> <li><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span><span lang="en-US">Define Clear Zones </span></span> </span></p></li></ol><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">A minimalist garden doesn’t have to mean bare of anything, but what can help is separating every area into tidy zones, rather than using one large open space for everything (which can look busier and more cluttered). </span></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">You can easily use bordering, hedging, and fencing to create your desired zones in your garden, depending on your interests. </span></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">You might want a small separate zone for flowers and plants only or a square zone as the perfect spot </span><span><u><a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a19895411/outdoor-yoga/"><span lang="en-US">to do yoga</span></a></u></span><span lang="en-US">or meditate. Carefully constructed zones will have everything working together cohesively without feeling overcrowded.</span></span></p><ol start="5"> <li><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span><span lang="en-US">Choose Only a Few Low-Maintenance Plants </span></span> </span></p></li></ol><p class="western" lang="en-GB" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">A minimalist garden is not just about how you choose to style it </span><span lang="en-US">—</span><span lang="en-US">it’s also about how much effort it takes to maintain it. To have the simplest garden routine possible, choose a few key plants or flowers that thrive without much attention. Hardy outdoor plants mean that you don’t need to worry about constantly tending to them, helping to create a stress-free space.</span></span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><br /> </span></p><br /><p></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-1969196119355311772021-06-01T21:42:00.002-04:002021-06-01T21:42:41.528-04:00Is a Rabbit the Right Pet to Suit Your Lifestyle?<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R7-9Os6eyjU/YLbh_qIW5bI/AAAAAAAAbeI/4kT9U5fouTISiSjWvUzCiUgLX8a_o_8CACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/cute-2500929_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R7-9Os6eyjU/YLbh_qIW5bI/AAAAAAAAbeI/4kT9U5fouTISiSjWvUzCiUgLX8a_o_8CACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/cute-2500929_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times;">Bunny rabbits are the most underrated, misunderstood, and underestimated pet animal across the United States and beyond. Even though small animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters, are the third most popular group of pets in the country, so many people irresponsibly keep them caged in a small pen, which frankly is tantamount to animal cruelty.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Rabbits are curious, mischievous, adventurous, intelligent, and incredibly loving if you take the time and have the patience to create an emotional bond and a strong connection. Additionally, because even though they can make sounds, they choose not to as they are a prey animal, they are incredibly calming, and studies done in the States have even shown that a rabbit can help improve a person’s mental health and wellbeing. </span></span></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Dispelling the Myth</b></span></span></h2><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times;">There are a number of false truths surrounding the ownership of a pet rabbit. One of the fundamental ones is the completely false notion that bunny rabbits are ‘the perfect first pet for a child’. In actual fact, nothing could be further from <a href="https://www.livingsafe.com.au/why-rabbits-are-not-suitable-pets-for-very-young-children/">the truth</a> for a variety of solid reasons.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times;">Firstly, as they are prey animals, rabbits make little to no noise and are extremely sensitive to loud noises as well as being perpetually frightened of being picked up, both not ideal for being around children. They have fragile bones in their back, and if they have to be held, it has to be in a secure and special manner, again making it inappropriate for them to be around children.</span></span></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Fascinating Facts</b></span></span></h2><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">A domesticated house rabbit has a life expectancy of over ten years, and during this time, they will develop a stronger and stronger bond with their owner over the years. Rabbits are complex animals and need special care and attention as well as a rabbit-specialized veterinary practice. Vets such as easyvet.com can advise you on the specific things you need to watch out for with rabbits, as well as provide regular top to tail checks as often as you feel necessary. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Rabbits produce two types of poop: round, hard, hay-colored pellets and softer cecotropes which they eat directly from their rear end. Ideally, you will never see the rabbit eat the cecotropes, as it is a speedy and private process for them. </span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><br /> </span></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Dos and Don’ts of Daily Care</b></span></span></h2><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Bunny rabbits have an incredibly strong sense of smell and are, by their nature, particularly clean animals, so it is vital to clean out their litter trays daily. All toys and playthings should be kept clean and fresh, and their living area should also be kept as neat and tidy as possible. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Do make sure you line the litterboxes with newspapers and hay or just the latter as rabbits like to munch on hay at the same time as doing their business. Stay away from wooden shavings as your bunny can ingest them, and ensure there is good quality hay in both the litterboxes and in their hay rack. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times;">As they are prey animals, most rabbits find it a frightening and disturbing experience any time their four paws are not firmly planted on the floor. However, with gentle patience, as a rabbit gets older and the trusted bond and connection between you gets stronger and deeper, it may well be that your rabbit will one day trust you enough to be <a href="https://www.therabbithouse.com/">comfortable being held</a> and maybe even begin to enjoy it.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">As unpredictable as ever, some rabbits actually enjoy being cuddled and picked up, and as every rabbit is as entirely individual and different from the next, it is essentially the luck of the draw which type of rabbit you end up with. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">It may surprise some to learn that rabbits can really and truly hold a grudge against their owner, and this grudge can last anywhere between an hour and three days, depending on how much they feel you have wronged them. Rabbits show their displeasure to their owner and, for that matter, other rabbits by flicking their back feet out at you as they run away. In the wild, rabbits have a very strict hierarchy, and they apologize to each other by resting their head upon the other; it may help you get back into your grumpy rabbit’s good books by approaching your rabbit in the same way. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Never feed your rabbit any processed or human food of any kind. While there are several notable exceptions to this rule, rabbits have overly sensitive stomachs yet are unable to vomit. This means that whatever they consume, their bodies have to deal with internally rather than simply throwing it back up again. </span></span></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"><b>Adopt Don’t Shop!</b></span></span></h2><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Across the United States, as in most of the western world, rabbits and other small furry animals are the third most owned pet animal and, conversely and tragically, the third most abandoned pet in animal shelters, especially around Easter time (for obvious reasons). </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times;">The most important thing an animal lover and a potential pet owner can do is to adopt from one of the numerous <a href="https://www.spca.org/">local animal shelters</a> or charities in their neighborhood. Such places are crying out for foster parents and people wanting to provide their furry residents with a new forever home. Rescue animals have even more love to give than animals that have come safely from their mother from a competent and ethical breeder, as they have seen hardship and quite often abuse, they just want to feel safe, happy, and, above all, loved and to love in return.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">One of the most crucial things a responsible rabbit owner must do is to research extensively to find a professional rabbit-savvy veterinary practice in their local neighborhood. Vets such as <a href="https://www.easyvet.com/">easyvet.com</a>can advise you on the best ways to protect your new rabbit, vaccinations, medical treatments, and even breeding advice if that is what you are interested in. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Bunny rabbits are the most adorable, mischievous (and often downright naughty) animals who will quickly rule the house with their bossy, inquisitive and cheeky ways. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><br /> </span></p><h2 class="western"><br /> </h2><br /><p></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-69518895549801259282021-06-01T21:35:00.006-04:002021-06-01T21:35:52.876-04:00Top Tips to Help You Plan Your Dream Vacation<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-220ec93f-7fff-45db-014d-15ad5468e745" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 416px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="416" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p8CqulKIBsthSmNPw2qjaYCS_71TOr3rmpYwik8zrtgWhfxMmNDQVyv1Qr0zZD0HgAxOXPbKfC5uX5fznwFtKEbY6MOM2qyPqnmlW8cS_QJaEWIFWShYZSbvctg_hgM3r0WMLTiS" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Are you longing for a time out away from the daily hustle and bustle? Have you been saving all year long to find the perfect destination for your family? Then this is a suitable write-up for you.&nbsp;</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Planning for a vacation, especially for a large family, can be a daunting task. It would be best to have the right spot in mind that can appeal to your&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.ourwhiskeylullaby.com/2021/02/tips-for-traveling-with-toddler-in-tow.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #4a6ee0; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">toddlers</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;and offer them the peace of mind they deserve.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">The world is full of vacation spots that will help you create a memorable time with your family. However, narrowing down on the ideal place is essential for maximum value for your money.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">These top tips will help you make your selection on your next getaway destination:</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 2pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Set a Budget</span></span></h2><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">You definitely wouldn’t want to return home with empty pockets after a lavish and exciting vacation. Planning your trip around your budget is highly recommended to avoid running out of cash as you embark on your journey back home. There are excellent cheap deals on the internet that can still provide you the ideal vacation you envision.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One way of saving money is traveling to destinations where the exchange rate will be </span><a href="https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2016-03-31/6-places-where-the-us-dollar-is-strong-right-now" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0563c1; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">favorable</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for you.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 2pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Use a Travel Agent</span></span></h2><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">A travel agent could end up significantly saving you money. Most agents are well connected to popular resorts, and they can get you a luxurious vacation experience at less cost. More so, travel agents are pretty knowledgeable on the ideal vacation hotspots that would best suit your family.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Travel agents can also help you plan on activities for your vacation. For instance, if you’re traveling to South Carolina, your agent can prepare a </span><a href="https://www.vacationsmadeeasy.com/MyrtleBeachSC/activity/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0563c1; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Myrtle Beach things to do</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> travel pack for you.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 2pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Avoid the Peak Season</span></span></h2><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the ongoing pandemic, it is advisable to avoid crowded areas that would be flooded with tourists. The best way to do this is to avoid traveling during high seasons or the festive season. During the </span><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaredranahan/2021/02/28/five-us-destinations-to-visit-in-the-off-season/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0563c1; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">off-season</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, prices also tend to be lower.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 2pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Reviews and Feedback</span></span></h2><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Quite the necessity, people’s feedback and reviews of various destination sites can help you decide where to go. Resorts may fall short of delivering what they promise on their website, and the best way to ascertain this is through customer feedback.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Use third-party websites to learn more about the service and any additional items that you would get from your preferred vacation destination.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 2pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Pack Early and Smart</span></span></h2><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">The earlier you pack, the more ready you are for your travel date. Avoid the last-minute rush of searching for essential items that you need for your trip. It is advisable also to pack light. Carrying heavy luggage increases the chances of you losing things while on transit.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">You can check on the weather forecast for your intended destination and pack accordingly. Avoid packing disposable items that you can easily purchase along the way.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 2pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Create a Checklist</span></span></h2><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you’re traveling as a large family with a toddler, it is advisable to prepare a checklist of the items you need for your trip. A list will help you make sure you have every essential in hand before you embark on your journey.</span></span></p><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">The best way for you to enjoy your vacation is through adequate preparation. Be sure to get the most out of your vacation by knowing beforehand what to expect to avoid unpleasant surprises.</span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0e101a; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-47435205190063069432021-05-27T04:49:00.006-04:002021-05-27T04:49:49.259-04:00Sparkling Bits of Writing Book 2 from Creative Word Studio Review<p>&nbsp;</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g5087t8P7vc/YK9ctvmCq1I/AAAAAAAAbdo/yFl_euy9XVQStSnht2Yy6-ywfhjnhisSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g5087t8P7vc/YK9ctvmCq1I/AAAAAAAAbdo/yFl_euy9XVQStSnht2Yy6-ywfhjnhisSwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/thumbnail.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">One of Mary's favorite subjects in school is Creative Writing. She loves to write stories but mostly she is a poet. She started writing poetry a while back and she really has a knack for it. Her daddy used to write a lot of poems when he was younger so I think she got it from him. So far this year she has won 3 poetry contests that were nationwide! So when we had the chance to review the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.creativewordstudio.com/product-page/sparkling-bits-of-writing-book-2" rel="nofollow">Sparkling Bits of Writing Book 2</a> from <a href="https://www.creativewordstudio.com/" rel="nofollow">Creative Word Studio</a> we knew she would love it.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P0XS98bc-Tc/YK9c4hVnO8I/AAAAAAAAbds/pPuOQNoBS0wqqVkO6aWbTke02VJgnpSvACLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/thumbnail%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P0XS98bc-Tc/YK9c4hVnO8I/AAAAAAAAbds/pPuOQNoBS0wqqVkO6aWbTke02VJgnpSvACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/thumbnail%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.creativewordstudio.com/product-page/sparkling-bits-of-writing-book-2" rel="nofollow">Sparkling Bits of Writing Book 2</a>&nbsp;is intended for 7th and 8th grade so I knew it would be perfect for Mary. The lessons are very independent and require very little from me as the teacher too. I do love that you don't need a manual for this workbook and that it has a Christian worldview as well.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_aSWLhGL01o/YK9c_Xz5bbI/AAAAAAAAbd0/HazRhaAlehoJACXidAvrm_yA35WG_RV0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/thumbnail%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_aSWLhGL01o/YK9c_Xz5bbI/AAAAAAAAbd0/HazRhaAlehoJACXidAvrm_yA35WG_RV0ACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/thumbnail%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the book, there are 3 types of lessons. Free Writing which is intended for you to write non stop about anything for 8-10 minutes, Reading Responses which uses wholesome writings from books and you analyze them, and Mini Writing Lessons which make you think outside the box. There are also "Gold Pieces" and "Friends Lessons". We don't need Friends Lessons because it requires another student as the friend, but Gold Pieces are the ones you do your best work on and it has a grading scale for it.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wp-qHeQ6sfM/YK9dFX5Xb8I/AAAAAAAAbd4/iAz-A27g9poy5QF3Dce9NVtvZPzuRDtsQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1080/thumbnail%2B%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="810" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wp-qHeQ6sfM/YK9dFX5Xb8I/AAAAAAAAbd4/iAz-A27g9poy5QF3Dce9NVtvZPzuRDtsQCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/thumbnail%2B%25285%2529.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For Mary, she needs very little motivation to do any kind of creative writing. I can give her the notebook and she will be writing until I tell her to stop. Two times a month she also takes a live Creative Writing course through University of Florida too. So this is a subject dear to her heart. This workbook is one of her favorites and I will keep using it through 8th grade too. These are fun exercises that really do help kids learn to love writing. And the best part is that they are fun!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>If you want to see other Homeschool Review Crew reviews, check out the picture below!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/creative-word-studio-reviews/" target="_blank"><img alt="Creative Word Studio Reviews" src="https://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2-Click-Here-to-Read-More-Reviews-2016.jpg" /></a></div>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-7166975481577445272021-05-25T21:52:00.000-04:002021-05-25T21:52:01.831-04:00The Benefits of Using Glass Furniture in Your Rooms<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Many people believe that glass furniture is a bad investment to make. After all, it’s much easier to break and it can create a huge mess if it does crack. You also need to pay more attention to how you protect it, such as using coasters for drinks or a mousepad if you plan to use a computer on it. With so many things to consider, it can make buying a piece of glass furniture seems like a horrible idea.</span></span></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-f9c5bc19-7fff-8974-e66b-1025706d3ea7" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">But that’s really not the case!</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">In fact, we’ve prepared a small list of benefits that come with adding glass furniture to your home.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 416px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img height="416" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3hjN-j4UppK5o7gKL01DE79L2WkNiL3CkdaRcgpdvjvGhC85NEYc3o3_ZFpzdnXSiW8zVDoSk6lnZy1v3sjZsX2rdzAtRrMkB7tUGCARWmG1Mr_HxPB1gx2KAhx1noV_6AvTIFfd" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Source: </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/4iknJXlUCjo" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://unsplash.com/photos/4iknJXlUCjo</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (CC0)</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">It looks stunning when used correctly</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perhaps one of the biggest reasons why people like to use glass furniture is because it can completely </span><a href="http://www.ourwhiskeylullaby.com/2019/06/how-to-transform-look-of-just-one-room.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">transform the look of your rooms</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Glass furniture generally fits with any kind of decor style because it’s transparent and doesn’t really have an innate colour. At most, you’ll be deciding on the colour of other components of your glass furniture such as table legs and other supports. Thankfully, most glass furniture does come with neutral-coloured supports, making it very easy to fit into almost any kind of room.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">It creates an illusion of space in your room</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another great reason to invest in glass furniture is that it can create the illusion of space. For example, you can purchase a </span><a href="https://www.choicefurnituresuperstore.co.uk/All-Products/By-Rooms/Living/Hall-Table/Glass-Hall-Table-630.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">glass console table</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> that essentially allows you to see through it to the wall behind it. This makes it look like there’s almost nothing there, especially if you keep it relatively empty. Something bigger like a glass dining table can also contribute to the illusion of space, making it a worthwhile investment regardless of how big or small your rooms are.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">It’s relatively affordable</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">People often look at glass furniture and think that it’s an expensive investment. They’d be right in most cases, especially since it’s usually designer brands that make heavy use of glass in their furniture. However, glass furniture can be extremely affordable even on the lower end, and we also can’t forget that it’s a durable piece of furniture that will last a long time. Sure, if it breaks then there’s really no recovering from it. It’s not like a piece of wood that survives chips and cracks. However, glass furniture encourages you to look after it properly, meaning you’ll have a much easier time maintaining it and ensuring that it lasts a long time.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">It’s not that difficult to maintain</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The idea of </span><a href="https://www.homeanddecor.com.sg/design/home-tips/tempered-glass-maintaining-glass-furniture-care-tips/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">maintaining glass furniture</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> might put some people off, but it’s actually relatively easy if you’re willing to put a bit of work into the process. For example, try and ensure that you’re wiping it down on a regular basis with a glass cleaner and you’ll be surprised at how pristine it looks after just a minute of cleaning. In addition, you’ll typically be protecting it with different kinds of coasters and mats, meaning you’re not likely to get it dirty in the first place.</span></span></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-57334687684172867492021-05-21T03:01:00.005-04:002021-05-21T03:03:34.943-04:00Top 4 British Things You Must Try<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NO2TuKvxUAA/YKdaqZ8UgjI/AAAAAAAAbdU/yvLOcwH66iYXYQIab0RADYdLfbYSVPhOQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/pexels-david-jakab-1128558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NO2TuKvxUAA/YKdaqZ8UgjI/AAAAAAAAbdU/yvLOcwH66iYXYQIab0RADYdLfbYSVPhOQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/pexels-david-jakab-1128558.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="western" lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times;">When visiting Britain, there are plenty of places to tick off your bucket list. This could include Big Ben in London and the scenic lakes at the Lake District. While taking in the sights, don’t forget to try out the local cuisine. Britain is a feast for the eyes and for the stomach too. Here are four British things you must try during your visit to the UK.</span></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Indulge in a Full English Breakfast</span></h2><p class="western" lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times;">English writer W. Somerset Maugham said, “to eat well in England, you should have breakfast three times a day.” Clearly, the Brits have got something going for them when it comes to starting the day right—although you can fully indulge in this meal all day long. Colloquially known as a fry up, it generally consists of fried sausages, bacon, eggs, beans, and toasted bread. As tradition goes, this hearty meal should be washed down with a cup of English tea. The full English breakfast is a <a href="https://englishbreakfastsociety.com/full-english-breakfast.html">century-old tradition</a> that began in the 1300s. From posh hotels serving minute portions of beans to local pubs where you can get a hefty meal at a fraction of the price, the full English can be found all over England.</span></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Chilled Out Weekend Brunch</span></h2><p class="western" lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times;">If a full English Breakfast is too much to handle, then opt for brunch instead. Brunch is a portmanteau of breakfast and lunch, and although it is popular in the United States, it actually originated from England in the late 19th century. Today, brunch can consist of anything from pancakes and waffles to poached eggs and avocado on toast. Brunch is simply an in-between meal that you can partake in between breakfast and lunch. If you find yourself in London and looking for brunch and <a href="https://www.cafe-luca.co.uk/">coffee near Liverpool Street</a>, try Cafe Luca. They offer a Saturday brunch with a Mediterranean influence.</span></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Sample an Afternoon Tea</span></h2><p class="western" lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times;">Another British invention is afternoon tea. Introduced by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, afternoon tea was traditionally served late in the afternoon before the evening meal. Today, it typically consists of a selection of savory sandwiches, an array of cakes, and warm scones. A glass of champagne can be added if you want to go the extra mile. However, a pot of tea is a must. England is synonymous with tea. In fact, it is the most popular beverage in Britain, with <a href="https://www.tea.co.uk/about-tea#:~:text=Tea%20-%20the%20world's%20favourite%20drink,single%20day%20of%20the%20year.">over 100,000,000 cups of tea</a> being consumed every day in the UK. A cup of tea can be enjoyed throughout the day, and tea is the perfect accompaniment to an indulgent afternoon tea.</span></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Eat Fish and Chips at the Seaside</span></h2><p class="western" lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times;">There is nothing more British than fish and chips. In Britain, this fried meal can be found in chip shops, cafes, and even in some restaurants. The fish is usually cod or haddock, and it is coated in a batter and then fried until golden. Chips are basically the UK equivalent to fries. The main difference is that they are larger in size, and they are usually twice, or thrice, deep-fried. Although it can be found anywhere in Britain, the best place to enjoy a portion of fish and chips is at the seaside. If you are taking a trip to a seaside resort, or a coastal town such as Whitby or Brighton, then try out this hearty meal while taking in the seaside scenery.</span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US"><br /><br /><br /> </p><br /><p></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-87303529130706086722021-05-21T02:51:00.002-04:002021-05-21T03:03:48.149-04:00Is Your Family Ready For A Dog?<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EBJi5yhScG0/YKdYfcU73DI/AAAAAAAAbdM/cwGdgqCrSyIci0FyVLAU8sAQ3WiOT5megCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/pexels-zuriel-trejo-3351190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EBJi5yhScG0/YKdYfcU73DI/AAAAAAAAbdM/cwGdgqCrSyIci0FyVLAU8sAQ3WiOT5megCLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/pexels-zuriel-trejo-3351190.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;">Getting a dog is a big decision. There are so many things you must think about when getting a puppy or dog. There is one important thing to consider, though. Is your family ready for a dog? Bringing a new dog into your home and successfully integrating it can be challenging, and it can take months for both your family and your new addition to become used to one another. A new dog will require time and patience, and if you are a super busy family on the go, or if you have small children around who are demanding attention as well, you must think carefully about whether you are truly ready for a dog. There are lots of dreams that are crushed when the reality of owning a dog hits home, so do not rush your decision and ask yourself the following questions:</span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Do You Have Time For A Dog?</b></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;">Toilet training your dog, playtime, walking, feeding, cleaning, exercising, and behavior training all take time. If you do not have the time to dedicate to these activities several times a day, then you should <a href="https://www.rover.com/blog/enough-time-care-new-dog/">seriously question if you will have time for a dog</a>. As a dog gets older and their needs and requirements change, so too will their reliance on you increase. Therefore, you need to think about how much free time you have now, is it enough to keep a dog happy and well cared for?</span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Is Your Home Ready For A Dog?</b></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;">The type of property you live in is important. For example, if you live in a top-floor apartment, then you must think about getting your dog out to the toilet in time and regularly. Living in an apartment or flat is not the most practical when keeping a dog as they need access to outside areas and space. Similarly, if you live in a new build home or even a home that has recently been remodeled, then are you ready to share this space with a new (potentially destructive) dog or puppy. If the thought of hair or drool scares you, then you are probably not ready for a dog just yet.</span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Can You Afford Vets Bills And Care?</b></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;">You must be honest about dogs, they do cost money, and every vet’s visit will cost you, so be realistic from the start. Of course, dogs are worth the cost, and when you can find a veterinary practice that care such as <a href="https://kellycrossinganimalhospital.com/">Kelly Crossing Animal Hospital</a><span style="color: #00000a;"><span style="text-decoration: none;">do then you will soak up the costs as part of dog ownership, but, nevertheless, you still have to ensure you can afford regular care as well as one-off costs for accidents and emergencies.</span></span></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Realities Of Dog Ownership</b></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;">Dogs take up time, they often eat things you do not want them to, and they can be difficult to toilet train, but <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-10-health-benefits-of-dogs-and-one-health-risk_n_57dad1b8e4b04a1497b2f5a0">the negatives to owning a dog are outweighed by the positives</a>. The hours of joy spent playing with your dog and the memories made within your family unit make owning a dog worthwhile and enjoyable.</span></p><br /><p></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-20026740770782168162021-05-18T14:36:00.007-04:002021-05-21T03:03:56.857-04:00Why Making Art is Beneficial to Your Children<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 401px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img height="401" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/lmB0OwuSLxs7Jgg3hhKQmLN4EB9esF58QYpKA-nU8pYMYet22CRwvqUlty_paDsnHMdITg4BptVmAuPMyj4gzs3ydUioC1xFiATvQiwkC9fPt54xSAQuCrPP5VPBa6lxPOZzRMyx" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></span></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-3f082ed4-7fff-8468-7658-975bd6a3522b" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">A lot of parents who homeschool tend to focus on subjects like Math, English, and Science believing them to be the most important areas of education for their children to have, and although it is true that those three subjects are really important, they are not the only ones. </span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">It is my firm belief that art, and making art in particular, is a really important thing for kids, homeschooled or not, to do regularly, and this is something they should be doing from preschool age or earlier. Why? Here are just some of the benefits kids will get from making art on a regular basis…</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Increased creativity</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This one is a no-brainer, but if kids are given the time and space to make art, they are naturally going to become more </span><a href="http://www.ourwhiskeylullaby.com/2020/09/9-ways-to-encourage-your-childs.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">creative</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> than children who do not engage in artistic endeavors. Creativity can help children to solve problems, have more fun, and develop in the proper way physically, mentally, and emotionally, so this is a really important point that should not be understated.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Develop motor skills</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One reason why art is so often a big focus for </span><a href="http://childrensparadise.com/south-vista-preschool/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">preschool</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> children everywhere is the fact that it can help to develop fine motor skills in young children. Whether they’re scribbling a family portrait with crayon, fingerpainting, or creating a collage, they will be using their hands to hold their implements, operate their scissors… and well you get the idea. The skills they learn during art time will, then, help them to tie their shoelaces, use their knives and forks, and so much more besides.&nbsp;</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 401px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img height="401" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/SDacS1FRvttLm3ynulVZW6BEfjpN0fm5Pnko8nSgJ4Y09bohqA9aGAqPGGnUzNNTnazcrJ8LNpr4UTAK7D20ccYMH5Tx6BQVQG551XdmyEPQkWPTDjLmPDA91bIvp2Qtj1tylS-_" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Boost self-esteem</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Creating art is a very subjective thing, which means there is no right and wrong way to do it and no right or wrong result at the end of the practice. This means, allowing your children to create art can be a really good way to boost their self-esteem. They’ll learn new skills, create pieces that are meaningful to them, even if they don’t look like much to you, and feel proud of the art they achieve, which is always going to be great for their self-confidence.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Self-expression</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Of course, allowing your children to practice making art is also a good way to help them express themselves in any way they feel necessary. Their feelings will naturally spill out into the art they produce for one thing, and for another, when they think about what they want their art to be, they will be thinking about the kind of person they are, what appeals to them, and all of that good stuff.&nbsp;</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Boost memory and visual processing</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://easydrawingguides.com/how-to-teach-your-child-to-draw-in-10-easy-steps/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Drawing</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, painting, throwing pottery; they can all help to develop and improve spatial skills in young children by forcing them to get analytical about the things they see and to use that visual information for a purpose.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Not only that but creating art can help to improve the brain’s executive function, which can boost memory and you know that will be useful when you’re trying to teach them driver subjects like Math!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Making art is so good for kids that you should build it into your daily schedule.</span></span></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-69436323088908892442021-04-20T14:15:00.005-04:002021-04-20T14:15:43.980-04:00Single Changes That Could Transform Any Room<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Decorating your home can be a long and expensive process. That’s why many people take it step by step to transform their homes. But sometimes, you don’t need a huge transformation to make a big difference to your home - a single change could have a huge impact and completely refresh your space.</span></span></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-e0ded5d7-7fff-b647-215a-9bf1b54307aa" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">If you’re looking for some simple ideas to transform your home, you’ve come to the right place. Take a look at these single changes that could transform any room.</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 740px; overflow: hidden; width: 493px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><img height="740" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/urWdeE6AHRLK8CLeJv2b9YhqJEzavfCzliT3tlsHpHrSZfKvUydEGk52HjpEG_CYd5D70UrIG-qYrt5TUIEknlPNFrkz0R4fcsY9t12sEDhlWyVydegeRaJeFTrYEfkx3T-sVoGB" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="493" /></span></span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">A new lick of paint</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A new paint color can make a big difference to your room, especially if you go for something completely different to what you had before. But how do you choose the right paint color? You can take a look at </span><a href="https://www.homesandgardens.com/news/paint-trends-206929" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the latest paint trends</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to give you some inspiration, or think about what colors would complement your existing decor. Painting is a job you can do yourself, and could give your room an entirely new look in just a couple of hours!</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Statement lighting</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your lighting can also make a big difference to the look and feel of your room. If you have a space that allows for it, </span><a href="https://www.sognidicristallo.com/en/murano-glass-chandeliers/murano-chandeliers.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Murano chandeliers</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> can really make a style statement. Changing your lighting can be a decorative choice, but it can also help transform the light in your room, making it brighter or creating some mood lighting. You could even add a dimmer or some smart lighting to help you change the lighting scheme according to your mood!</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Wall paneling to add some detail</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wall paneling is very popular at the moment, and it’s easy to see why! It can transform the plainest of walls, and even give your home some character. </span><a href="https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/g2624/wood-paneling-makeovers/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wall paneling</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is very easy to do, but the pay-off can be incredible. Why not start with one room and see how you like it, adding panel details to other rooms once you get the hang of it?</span></span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Fresh flooring</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Flooring can be a bit more of an investment, but it’s a single change that can make a big difference to your space. Your flooring can be stylish while also being practical, and can be ideal for tying the rest of your decor together. Does your home have its original floors? They could be there waiting to be discovered and transformed! Restoring wooden floorboards is a DIY task you can do yourself and could make your home look even more incredible than it already does. Other affordable options include carpet and tiles, giving you some great options for a single change that will refresh the look of your home.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You don’t need a big budget or a lot of DIY knowledge to make some impressive changes to your home. Whether you want to make </span><a href="http://www.ourwhiskeylullaby.com/2020/10/simple-tips-to-make-your-kitchen-look.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">simple changes to your kitchen</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or you want to make more of an impression with your living space, it’s those little things that can make a big difference. A change of color or the addition of some detail is all it takes to make a transformation that could change the look and feel of your home. What single change would you make to transform your space?&nbsp;</span></span></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-76052857321148718002021-04-14T02:49:00.003-04:002021-04-14T02:49:41.970-04:00 Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division from Math-U-See Review<div style="text-align: center;"><i>I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew.</i></div><p>&nbsp;</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Math-U-See-Logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="76" data-original-width="504" height="97" src="https://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/Math-U-See-Logo.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Does your child really struggle with multiplication tables? Mary has struggled ever since we started trying to teach her when she was in the 3rd grade. No matter what we have tried or what programs we have used, she really does have a hard time remembering them. But it's not just multiplication tables. She needs a calculator to do a lot of basic math like me. We weren't really sure what the problem was as the years went by and she still struggled but after we found out she has Asperger's like me, it became a lot more clear. Mary is also a very visual learner so trying to teach her math from a book is pretty much useless. So that's why we started using <a href="https://store.demmelearning.com/accelerated-individualized-mastery-aim-for-multiplication.html" rel="nofollow">Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division</a> from Math-U-See.&nbsp;</p><p><br /></p><p>Math-U-See is a great program because it really is a visual way to learn math with flashcards and bricks. This is an instructor guided program that is designed for ages 10+ who are struggling with their multiplication facts. What is neat about Math-U-See is that they use a 3 step way to teach kids math:&nbsp;</p><p>The Accelerated step helps students move quickly through a skill they haven't mastered yet.</p><p>The Individualized step recognizes that all students learn differently and helps kids learn at their own pace.</p><p>The Mastery step is when the student can remember their math facts with little difficulty.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cSXy6X68a4A/YHaPcxaKVoI/AAAAAAAAbbA/wq_XpQzjiek4MDT9mBd0U8QxY2ih7Lw_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210414_023922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cSXy6X68a4A/YHaPcxaKVoI/AAAAAAAAbbA/wq_XpQzjiek4MDT9mBd0U8QxY2ih7Lw_ACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/20210414_023922.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Not being able to remember your times tables from a young age will definitely put you behind as math progresses. For some problems in later math, you can use a calculator, but for others, you just need to know it from memory. When you can't memorize times tables at a young age, it will put your further behind and then it becomes a gradual slope. Personally I did well in math in school up until around 5th grade. During that time, something just stopped clicking and even though I was confused, the class still moved on. From then on, I was never able to catch up, even with extra tutoring because I couldn't understand the basics everything else would be founded on.</p><p>So what did we think of&nbsp;<a href="https://store.demmelearning.com/accelerated-individualized-mastery-aim-for-multiplication.html" rel="nofollow">Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division</a>? Since Mary is so visual and she loves color coded things, it was a perfect fit. You don't really use it for more than 15 minutes each day since you integrate it with your normal math. But after you start using the manipulatives, you will see a difference. I highly suggest checking them out if you have a child that is struggling with multiplication facts. Watching the videos and doing the worksheets from the digital kit really does help you understand how to use everything too. Eventually you won't need the blocks at all and will be able to remember everything you have practiced.</p><p>If you want to read more Crew Reviews, then make sure to click the picture below!&nbsp;</p><p><br /></p><a href="http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/math-u-see-accelerated-individualized-mastery-aim-for-multiplication-with-a-bridge-to-division-reviews" target="_blank"><img alt="Math-U-See Accelerated Individualized Mastery (AIM) for Multiplication with a Bridge to Division Reviews" src="https://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2-Click-Here-to-Read-More-Reviews-2016.jpg" /></a>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-56987793244027395402021-04-13T18:22:00.002-04:002021-04-13T18:22:06.482-04:00Five Ways To Truly Relax On Vacation<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Getting away from your daily routine, work, and the general business of everyday life should be a period of relaxation, that is, unless you’re going on an adventure trip. For most of us, relaxing is not as simple as a change of scenery. It can take a considerable amount of time and effort to unwind genuinely, but these tips will help you on your way to finding peace and tranquillity.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 419px; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img height="419" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/gRgLeTVWDt8QDN3Gv8oHLStPPx2Zhw5rxIUcslF371A1lSm8cpudz-78AmC8bMvbBTB8GSgiEmqtS22l8ogF4jWUysjlM_AJ51dTwY1m_oOutjFTlVF7COxwLCVIuo-zA1LukAVq" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Plan a relaxing trip</span></span></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-b91f4eb8-7fff-1d14-8979-9d916fb4d839" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first and perhaps most obvious step is to organise a getaway where you will be able to put your feet up. Preparation is key. Plan your transport, accommodation and budget to avoid worrying about the little details once you are there. As well as scheduling sightseeing trips or activities, make sure to plan some free time where you can just do nothing. These </span><a href="https://coupletraveltheworld.com/hotels-with-jacuzzi-in-room-in-va/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a6ee0; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">whirlpool suites VA</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> are the perfect example of a place where you can simply do nothing.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Unplug from work</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next and perhaps most crucial step is to leave your work at home. Work includes your laptop, work phone, and work brain! If you feel there are loose ends at work to tie up before your vacation, explain to your boss the situation and suggest a colleague take over while you are away, or offer to finish the job when you return. Whatever solution you come to, definitely don’t be taking business calls or sending emails poolside – it will prevent you from switching off. Besides, taking a dip in a</span><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/new-york/articles/best-new-york-hotels-with-pools/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a6ee0; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> pool in these New York hotels </span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">will be plenty of distraction.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Let yourself live</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Try to break from usual routines and listen to your body. If you are used to getting up at 6 am for a morning workout, see what it feels like to rest in bed for a couple more hours. If sleep isn’t an option, you could use that time for reading or watching a favourite film. Likewise, any strict diets or prepped meals should be foregone on vacation. If there is a cuisine you are desperate to try, or you fancy splashing out on a </span><a href="https://www.eater.com/best-american-restaurants-review/2018/11/13/18071890/best-restaurants-america-2018" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a6ee0; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">fancy restaurant</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, treat yourself. For example, it may be home to health gurus, but </span><a href="https://www.lamag.com/digestblog/best-street-food-los-angeles/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a6ee0; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LA has countless delicious street food vendors</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for you to experiment with your taste buds.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Try something new</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Suppose you are someone that has a reasonably consistent lifestyle—stretching out of your comfort zone while on vacation can be an excellent way to boost your confidence and show your inner-critic who’s boss. The world offers endless opportunities if you are willing to explore it, like seeing the </span><a href="https://www.canyontours.com/grand-canyon-boat-tours/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a6ee0; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grand Canyon from a boat tour</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Ease yourself back into everyday life</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Avoid planning a trip to end on the weekend, as the Sunday scaries will be 10x worse. Instead, schedule your return so that you have a couple of days back at work before the weekend. When the weekend comes, you could spend time organising </span><a href="https://wonderfuldiy.com/travel-scrapbooking-ideas/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4a6ee0; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">vacation photos in a scrapbook</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to savour the memories of your trip and decide on your highlights; this will help you compartmentalise your time away, too.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-74744881862688571742021-03-29T22:07:00.003-04:002021-05-11T23:29:11.226-04:00Useful Tips for an Easy Garden<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uFsDzbBJuNo/YGKHrpgpTkI/AAAAAAAAbag/NXVMYa9Sdy05gfDw9ZSJQoy53euReW5iACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/pexels-adrianna-calvo-17666.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uFsDzbBJuNo/YGKHrpgpTkI/AAAAAAAAbag/NXVMYa9Sdy05gfDw9ZSJQoy53euReW5iACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/pexels-adrianna-calvo-17666.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US"><a href="https://summerhouse24.co.uk/modern-garden-rooms"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">A garden can be a thing of beauty</span></a>, especially when properly cared for. Sadly, not everyone has the time, resources or even inclination to keep their gardens well kempt. This means that, what could be a beautiful and colorful backdrop to your home, is instead a wild and unruly mess that causes naught but issues. However, there is hope! A number of products exist to help reduce the work required to maintain a gorgeous garden and this article is here to suggest some of the best potential options to remove the work.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></p><h2 class="western"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">The Automatic Watering Oya</span></span></h2><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">An incessant and often irksome requirement of maintaining a luscious garden lies in proper watering practices for your plants, especially if you live somewhere like California where the sun is hot, and the rain is rare. This usually means that you have to spend a good portion of your days trekking across your garden, delivering water to your plants and checking them to make sure they seem properly hydrated. However, there is an alternative in the form of a ceramic watering </span><span style="color: #0563c1;"><u><a href="https://growoya.com/">device called an Oya</a></u></span>. </span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">These pots are simply buried deep in the soil near plants that need consistent watering, with the neck of the Oya sticking out. The Oya can then be filled with water which it will slowly release into the soil around the plants, watering them far more effectively than surface watering is capable of. This could even help to keep more sensitive plants well-watered.</span></span></span></span></p><h2 class="western"><span lang="pt-PT"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Artificial Turf</span></span></h2><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">Like watering, one of the biggest and most consistent hassles of keeping a garden looking good is the seemingly constant need to mow the grass. This problem only increases the larger your garden is and is one of the most time-consuming and least satisfying aspects of gardening. Fortunately, companies such as </span><span style="color: #0563c1;"><u><a href="https://usturfsandiego.com/"><span lang="de-DE">US Turf</span></a></u></span><span lang="en-US"> offer artificial turf installation services that allow you to keep ideal looking grass year-round with no need for constant maintenance. This kind of service helps to cut down the busy work of gardening and allows you to spend the little time saved on the projects that interest you.</span></span></span></span></p><h2 class="western"><span lang="de-DE"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Online Garden Planner</span></span></h2><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">If you want to enjoy the looks of a garden bursting with life but you don</span>’<span lang="en-US">t want to have to sink hours getting into the nitty-gritty technical gardening knowledge, then an </span><span style="color: #0563c1;"><u><a href="https://www.gardeners.com/kitchen-garden-planner/preplanned-gardens">online gardening planner</a></u></span><span lang="en-US"> might be useful to you. These sites allow you to plan out your garden in advance, and one of their more useful functions is that they often have preplanned gardens for all kinds of conditions, meaning you can simply pick out a garden plan that you like the look of and get planting.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">Alternatively, they offer a variety of options for planning out your garden in detail so that you can get it right the first time. You don</span>’<span lang="en-US">t have to spend nearly as much time in trial-and-error situations with your plants and you can get your garden looking the way that you want it to. There, you’ve just grown a set of green fingers!</span></span></span></span></p><br /><p></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-87023875714738372732021-03-28T18:32:00.008-04:002021-03-28T18:32:59.359-04:003 Tips For Becoming More Integrated In Your Local Community<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 404px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="404" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/iIejrPgkbeTlhRsf1QDo93MBtjPS4bqyohoVaM4Imldmp0zcO-Yaxzuwq3PVX8MrugrSY0kHWRuL-o77hEuq4FsP1NrBG_1cM9Z9K09QFyJiw7xyfk19PZmRmJbCsLqJ5ASq_DMJ" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></span></span></span></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-25690c24-7fff-fb09-2459-5e6489e804fd" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Community life can feel wonderful to be part of, especially if it relates to your particular neighborhood or area of interest. When you move into a new house, many of us can feel somewhat isolated until we meet the neighbors, and it’s true that in the last year, meeting the neighbors hasn’t been that good of an idea.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So - how can we become more integrated in our local community as the world slowly returns to normal? Asking questions such as these can help us more readily feel connected and collaborative in our neighborhoods, and this goes even if you live in a large apartment block, or if you live in a rural area where the houses are quite far apart from one another.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furthermore, it’s worth considering why you wish to become more integrated. Are you looking for a social life, or to support a cause more appropriate to your needs? Do you wish to feel safer on your street? Or, are you just taking part in it because you </span><a href="http://www.ourwhiskeylullaby.com/2021/03/the-best-learning-games-for-whole-family.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">enjoy doing so</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? All of this is totally valid - let’s see how it’s achievable.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Consider Community Programs</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Community programs that help bind a community together can be really helpful, even if that means supporting local charity initiatives to help you raise money for a local cause. It may also be that promoting </span><a href="https://www.choosesolar.com/community-solar-guide/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">choosesolar.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to your local council meeting, or to push forward neighborhood watch efforts, can truly help you not only connect with your community but help you all live at a higher, better and more ethical standard. A cause like this can certainly bring people together and help you become prouder of where you live.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Contribute To Local Events</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/blog/asset/build-community-event/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Local events</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> may look quite humble and sometimes ineffectual, but they really do bring people together and the more people attend, the more people will come. This may simply mean heading to local celebrations in your community, volunteering for fundraising events, or spending some time helping out a local charity store or small business events. This can not only help your area seem more appealing on the surface for newcomers, but it adds to the fellow feeling and production capacity of those running such affairs.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Knock &amp; Meets</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">When the world returns to normal, simply introducing yourself to your neighbors can be helpful. At the very least, speaking to those either side of your house, or saying hi to those you usually see in the parking lot can all be a helpful idea. At the very least, this way you can see who is friendly and who would rather just be avoided or waved to, but nothing more. This may help you in a time of difficulty, or it may allow you to report issues or protect people if necessary (such as by spotting suspicious behavior outside of their household).&nbsp; Being integrated in your community often means having even a simple awareness of those who live their lives near you. It can’t hurt to try.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">With this advice, we hope you can become more integrated in your local community. We’re sure they’re lucky to have you.</span></span></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-75476801957282591692021-03-15T17:17:00.002-04:002021-03-15T17:17:27.559-04:00The Best Learning Games For the Whole Family<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_4lHTe9pHE/YE_O02RgVVI/AAAAAAAAbZ4/fzKozX3aaJc1j_QjPLGo44qEHD8V2S6FwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/pexels-cottonbro-4691567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_4lHTe9pHE/YE_O02RgVVI/AAAAAAAAbZ4/fzKozX3aaJc1j_QjPLGo44qEHD8V2S6FwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/pexels-cottonbro-4691567.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Playing games as a family is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to bond while having fun together. However, as a parent, you might sometimes want to include more learning-based games. Learning-based games are a great way to encourage your children to develop their skills in a fun and relaxed environment. The list below offers a range of fun learning games the whole family can enjoy. </span></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>1. Scrabble </b></span></span></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">It’s an old-timer, but scrabble is an iconic family game for a reason. One of the reasons the game continues to be enjoyed by so many people is because it challenges players of all ages. The competitive nature of Scrabble encourages children to learn spelling and word skills. Scrabble also helps children to build and broaden their vocabulary. A great way of helping your children learn more words and develop the skills that are used in scrabble is to use a <a href="https://wordfinderx.com/word-unscrambler/">word tool</a>. This tool can also prove very useful when it comes to settling any scrabble disputes. </span></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>2. Mario Typing </b></span></span></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Are your children constantly asking to play video games? If the answer is yes, then <a href="https://archive.org/details/msdos_Mario_Teaches_Typing_1992">Mario Typing</a> might be your ideal solution. This learning video game allows your children to play a game that features their favorite characters from the Mario Bros. franchise. As the name suggests, this is a video game that is played on the computer and helps your children learn how to touch type. The gameplay consists of a letter being featured on the screen, and players then have to type in the correct letters to move Mario, Peach or Luigi across the screen. Best of all, this game is completely free to play. </span></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US"><b>3. Jeopardy!</b></span></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">If you love watching Jeopardy! as a family, then why not take things up a level and play the video game together? The game functions across a wide range of consoles, such as Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox. What is particularly fun about this game is that it is challenging for all the family. It is a great way to help your children learn more general knowledge and develop their problem-solving skills. </span></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span><span lang="en-US"><b>4. Top Trumps </b></span></span></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Top Trumps is a fun card game that can help children <a href="https://toptrumps.com/schools/">learn more</a> about a specific topic. There are so many different varieties of Top Trumps to choose from, making it a fun way for your child to play a game while learning about their favorite topic. To win a game of Top Trumps, a player needs to win the most cards. Cards are won when the data of one player’s card is higher than any other card selected for that round. Each pack of cards has a theme, such as books, dinosaurs, movie characters, or cars. </span></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US"><b>5. Articulate!</b></span></span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p class="western" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Articulate! is a board game the whole family can enjoy. Players are split into teams of two, and the players take turns being the guesser and the explainer. The team with the most correctly guessed cards wins the round. Aside from the time pressure, the challenge of Articulate! is explaining what is on your card without using any language written on your card. There are six different categories: object, nature, random, person, action, and world. The game is great for helping develop language and <a href="https://eric.ed.gov/?q=source%3A%22Human+Development+Institute%22&amp;id=ED574738">communication skills</a>. </span></span></p><br /><p></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-50433846699965207692021-03-09T23:01:00.004-05:002021-03-09T23:06:19.676-05:006 Helpful Tools and Alternatives When Breastfeeding Isnt Easy<p>&nbsp;</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0DzdpP2lzQ/YEhFqXJktrI/AAAAAAAAbZs/jpO1VKJnnVQqtzlRo4Fv5_ER-n9kYhkawCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/baby-bottle-feeding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0DzdpP2lzQ/YEhFqXJktrI/AAAAAAAAbZs/jpO1VKJnnVQqtzlRo4Fv5_ER-n9kYhkawCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h428/baby-bottle-feeding.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times;">Did you know most new moms try to breastfeed their baby, yet only thirteen percent manage to breastfeed the entire recommended six-month period successfully?</span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Given this fact, if you’re looking for </span><a href="https://mamanatal.com/breastfeeding-vs-alternatives-feeding-baby/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span lang="en-US"><u>breastfeeding help or alternatives</u></span></span></a><span lang="en-US"> - you’re not alone. In fact, you’re part of the majority! </span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Below, we’ll take a look at six useful tools and alternatives to breastfeeding so you can be sure to find the right feeding solution for you and your baby. </span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><a name="_e7bqtg21gxpk"></a><span lang="en-US">Most New Moms Need Help with Breastfeeding </span></span></h2><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">A </span><a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/09/23/225349120/to-succeed-at-breast-feeding-most-new-moms-could-use-help"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span lang="en-US"><u>survey conducted by UC Davis Medical Center</u></span></span></a><span lang="en-US">in 2013 found that ninety-two percent of new moms experienced breastfeeding difficulties within the first week, with many reporting problems within the first three days. Fifty percent struggled with latching and related issues (such as nipple confusion), forty-four percent found it too painful, and forty percent worried they weren’t producing enough milk. Unfortunately, these common issues became the chief reasons why most of the surveyed mothers ceased breastfeeding, along with a lack of breastfeeding support. </span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Thankfully, with the help of a few simple tools and tips, you can overcome these potential hurdles with ease. </span></span></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><a name="_u74n7823n1bp"></a><span lang="en-US">1. Seek the Help of a Lactation Specialist </span></span></h2><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Researchers involved in the aforementioned study stressed that one of the main reasons so many women struggle with breastfeeding is because they don’t have a breastfeeding expert on-hand during the first week (or few weeks) of breastfeeding. </span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Seeking the advice of an in-home lactation consultant or looking at online lactation counseling doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Rather, it ensures your breastfeeding journey will be much easier </span><span lang="en-US"><i>and</i></span><span lang="en-US">healthier for you and your baby. </span></span></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><a name="_e06h4g1po6zj"></a><span lang="en-US">2. Nurse Frequently to Avoid Breast Engorgement </span></span></h2><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Particularly during the first few weeks of breastfeeding, it’s normal for your breasts to feel full and heavy. However, if they’re also extremely uncomfortable or painful, you may be suffering from engorgement. This tends to indicate that not enough milk is being removed from your breasts when your child nurses. </span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">To overcome this, nurse your baby frequently - around 8 to 12 times each day (including through the night) is recommended. Be sure to not omit any feedings, and you can make sure your baby is getting enough of your milk by learning the </span><a href="https://wicbreastfeeding.fns.usda.gov/steps-and-signs-good-latch"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span lang="en-US"><u>right latching techniques</u></span></span></a><span lang="en-US">. This can also help you avoid other common breastfeeding difficulties like cracked and/or sore nipples.</span></span></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><a name="_ra1g8u66qd0w"></a><span lang="en-US">3. Find the Time and Right Equipment to Pump </span></span></h2><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times;">One of the most common reasons why women stop breastfeeding is lack of time due to other commitments, e.g. work or other children. By creating a pumping routine, you can not only get into the habit of producing enough pumped milk for your baby, but may also be able to build up a good milk supply in your freezer!</span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Again, your lactation consultant can offer great breast pumping tips and will be able to advise which pump is best suited for your situation (i.e. a hands-free option that allows you to multitask while you’re expressing). </span></span></p><p align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><a name="_mkxs9p6dmtg"></a><span lang="en-US">4. Avoid Nipple Confusion by Establishing a Nursing Routine Before Introducing Bottles</span></span></h2><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Breastfeeding by bottle is a great way to share feeding responsibilities with your partner and to gain some freedom; however, try not to introduce bottle feeding until you’ve established a nursing routine first. This should help avoid nipple confusion where your baby doesn’t latch properly or rejects your breast. In turn, this should help prevent engorgement because you’re fully emptying your breasts while nursing. </span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Allow around three to four weeks for your baby to get used to breastfeeding, and be sure to check your baby’s diapers regularly to ensure they’re getting enough to eat. </span></span></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><a name="_asl8z5araia4"></a><span lang="en-US">5. Consider Using Breastfeeding Alternatives like a Donor Milk Bank</span></span></h2><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times;">The benefits of breast milk are proven and frequently quoted but, sometimes, breastfeeding might not be right or comfortable for you. In these cases, there’s an alternative to formula milk -- donor milk.</span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Often available from local hospitals or donor banks, </span><a href="https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/breastfeeding/donor-milk-15376/"><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span lang="en-US"><u>donated milk</u></span></span></a><span lang="en-US"> comes from moms who produce more milk than their babies can consume. Each mom is rigorously tested before they donate to ensure their milk is safe for consumption.</span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times;">What are the benefits of donor milk vs. formula?</span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">Donor breast milk provides the same plethora of benefits as your own milk. It helps prevent infections, builds up a strong immune system in your baby, and gives them much-needed nutrition to help them grow and develop successfully. It also gives you peace of mind that your baby is getting the absolute best start in life, while taking any unnecessary pressure off you to breastfeed. </span></span></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><a name="_uxttyi7zblt2"></a><span lang="en-US">6. Try Switching from Breastfeeding to Formula</span></span></h2><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">If you’ve tried some of the above or are finding breastfeeding impossible, it’s time to consider switching to formula. Remember, any amount of breastfeeding has proven vital to your baby’s health. So, while at least six months of breast milk is recommended, you shouldn’t feel like a failure or under pressure to meet this goal. </span></span></p><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-family: times;">Look for a recommended formula that’s closest to breast milk and chat through your options with your lactation consultant. Feeling happy and healthy in your choices is ultimately the best solution for you and your baby!</span></span></p><h2 class="western"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><a name="_2yly4shhzfoj"></a><span lang="en-US">Breastfeeding is Unique to Every Mom and Baby</span></span></h2><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span lang="en-US">It’s important to remember that what may work for one mom may not work for you. Try a few of these alternatives to breastfeeding, seek advice, and do what feels right for you. </span></span></p><br /><p></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-77010477214156585292021-02-18T00:12:00.006-05:002021-03-09T23:04:55.775-05:00Top 5 Pet Friendly Flooring Types<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 291px; overflow: hidden; width: 470px;"><span style="font-family: times;"><img height="358" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/3cHbFsHd3zxVRxnfK0TPk0i2JlfxYqZYLjNTm3uoIb4GIttaoyj7D_sf5kzvfMAS1kHv4Ad-J9pbDIKxMwNDe9xqMcUmbmaa9znNiOosohGeHRVcDcioIbM62ivkzwsTLnSf1mXA=w640-h358" style="margin-left: -17.493859495403484px; margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">There are plenty of qualities you need to look for in flooring if you have pets. It needs to be stylish yet functional, durable, and easy to clean and maintain. Dogs and cats don’t like certain types of flooring such as laminate because it’s slippery. They may like other types like carpet too much and chew or scratch it. It’s essential to find the flooring that will last a long time but create a comfortable environment for your pet. Fortunately, there are many types of flooring that are perfectly pet-friendly. Here are the top five examples.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Vinyl flooring</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want to </span><a href="http://www.ourwhiskeylullaby.com/2020/09/mans-best-friend-taking-great-care-of.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">take great care of your dog</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, then vinyl is a popular choice. It’s less slippery than laminate and dogs and cats are comfortable walking on it. As well as providing decent grip, it will maintain its temperature making it a cool place to lay on in the summer. It’s not as cold as other floorings such as stone or ceramics, however. Vinyl is good for pet owners as well as it’s easy to clean, cheap, durable, and pretty much scratch-proof.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Sustainable woods</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For an </span><a href="https://www.mymove.com/home-inspiration/flooring/most-popular-eco-friendly-floor-solutions/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">eco-friendly flooring solution</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, you could try sustainable woods like bamboo or cork. These are actually very durable materials, not to mention uniquely attractive. They’re also easy to clean and they won’t get damaged if your pet has an accident. These types of woods are microbial which means they’re less likely to develop mold or harmful allergens.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Stone flooring</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For a luxury finish, there’s nothing like </span><a href="https://sebringdesignbuild.com/how-to-choose-the-best-flooring-for-pets/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=d885355834dc9e4bd404ab08355f642d17aaef23-1613584169-0-AQxJdvcPQoqEx3br7FiigHnQO6RVJ-Ug6_cbd3_wYra5F-l2yxreL_G3_GjJHL9CbcnMYcnyk-UzXv-KCQr5ZTF4eLMXt73LS58Tvv3TP7Fh8K1SLb4TPpXf-_sQ4NUrT175KWIWmT7Pflb6tdJ3-xFac-YR1ip_aHvVvVrL5nZrWOBnhf7iwHMMEvZnOVYIxDGsY9a0bHGiFSIh2R9LjFBO81TkL2YeVuw-plK_t21oiyu-_R-DEPBY_xPFPHL3JsVcr8x_eSHU0tVy2dnSun5v4dJydDxG587NUQYwCZqEUhij5xuES1nftU1Ru6VdN12YFrWsa1lwkHUz5GYcfQOxyDG8uievQVRAmLUsxdij" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">stone tile flooring</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It’s stunning to look at and very durable. The only downside is that it can get a bit cold, but that’s what dog beds are for. To walk over it’s very comfortable and has plenty of grip. Stone will be totally resistant to even the sharpest claws and it’s a type of flooring for life. If you’re looking to the long term, it might be worth investing in.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Ceramic tile</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ceramic is actually one of the most </span><a href="https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/decorating/types-of-tiles" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">common types of tile in the home</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It’s perfect for statement walls or flooring areas as it can be very decorative. Ceramic is water-resistant, durable, and muddy paw prints will wipe away in seconds. The only issue is that it can be a bit slippery like laminate. Older dogs may need stepping stones of other types of flooring or rugs to help them.</span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times;">Comfy rugs</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you opt for a slick type of flooring, there’s always a solution. Comfy rugs will prevent your pets from slipping. They’ll protect you and your family from having an accident as well and enlisting the help of a </span><a href="https://www.thefllawfirm.com/personal-injury.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">personal injury lawyer</span></a><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. It’s better to err on the side of caution when choosing your flooring. Rugs can be decorative as well as functional so avoid skids by investing in a couple for common areas. If you get one with dark patterns pet prints will barely be visible. Choose the right flooring design for you and create a safer, more comfortable home for your pets.</span></span></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-76203157505587297762021-02-14T21:35:00.000-05:002021-02-14T21:35:48.386-05:00The Moonlight School by Suzanne Woods Fisher<p>&nbsp;</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLEk7Vy0ne0/YCncTKBon-I/AAAAAAAAbY0/pbG765Cwz8447tv2cMMszShG3hGpLMBNACLcBGAsYHQ/s601/school.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="595" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rLEk7Vy0ne0/YCncTKBon-I/AAAAAAAAbY0/pbG765Cwz8447tv2cMMszShG3hGpLMBNACLcBGAsYHQ/w634-h640/school.png" width="634" /></a></div><br /><p>Normally when I think of Suzanne Woods Fisher, I think of amish novels. But her newest book, The Moonlight School, is a great historical novel based on true events.&nbsp;</p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Haunted by her sister's mysterious disappearance, Lucy Wilson arrives in Rowan County, Kentucky, in the spring of 1911 to work for Cora Wilson Stewart, superintendent of education. When Cora sends Lucy into the hills to act as scribe for the mountain people, she is repelled by the primitive conditions and intellectual poverty she encounters. Few adults can read and write.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Born in those hills, Cora knows the plague of illiteracy. So does Brother Wyatt, a singing schoolmaster who travels through the hills. Involving Lucy and Wyatt, Cora hatches a plan to open the schoolhouses to adults on moonlit nights. The best way to combat poverty, she believes, is to eliminate illiteracy. But will the people come?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">As Lucy emerges from a life in the shadows, she finds purpose; or maybe purpose finds her. With purpose comes answers to her questions, and something else she hadn't expected: love.</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626;">I wanted to read this book because the cover itself intrigued me but I also have found a lot of myself in Lucy. When I was a teenager, my family moved from the city in Florida to pretty much the back country of North Georgia. I found myself looking down on people who didn't have my education and who didn't speak like me. But I wasn't looking deep within then either. Seeing them for real people who had dreams like me.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #262626;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #262626;">Now almost 15 years later I know how to look at someone's heart.&nbsp;And it was sweet to see how Lucy was able to change. I think the only thing I didn't like about the novel was how it ended with Angie and Lucy. I&nbsp; really expected something more to be done about the situation so I was disappointed there.</span></span></p><p>Overall it was a great standalone book and since it was based on true events, I enjoyed it even more.</p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-34974437229804769102021-02-14T10:00:00.003-05:002021-02-14T10:00:05.706-05:00The Midwifes Heart by Brenda Ray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Midwifes-heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="800" height="237" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Midwifes-heart.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p center=""><br /></p><h1><span underline="">About the Book</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/midwifes-heart-mockup-3-188x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="188" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/midwifes-heart-mockup-3-188x300.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><strong>Book:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong>The Midwife’s Heart</p><p><strong>Author:&nbsp;</strong>Brenda Ray</p><p><b>Genre: </b>Historical</p><p>As Abraham’s descendants prepare to cross into the Promised Land, led by Moses, Hannah, a disillusioned midwife will be tested in ways she cannot imagine. She wanted love, a home, and children, but gave up on that dream long ago.&nbsp; One heartbreak and humiliation was enough.</p><p>Ze-ev is a commander in the army, protecting his people. Busy doing what must be done, finding a wife is not his priority. Besides, when his childhood sweetheart marries another, he lost interest in securing a match to be his bride.</p><p>When he meets Hannah, they are both tested. Will either of them let down their guard long enough to trust again?</p><p>Set on the Plains of Moab, amidst attacks on the camp, spies, plague, and the unprecedented request of Zelophehad’s daughters, Ze-ev and Hannah must navigate the thorny path of the heart.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><pre>Click <a href="”https://amzn.to/370GUU3″">here</a> to get your copy!</pre><p><br /></p><h1><span underline="">Review</span></h1><p>As a lover of biblical fiction, I was interested in finding out more about this story. When I first looked at the title though, I automatically assumed that it was about Puah, the midwife in Egypt. But it was actually about Puah's great granddaughter, Hannah when the 40 years in the wilderness is almost up. I don't believe the Bible mentioned the names of Puah's family members so this part of the story I believe is just author allowance. But the ones I did notice that are in the Bible are the daughters of Zelophehad which I haven't seen in any stories except for the ones by Barbara Britton! So it was exciting to see them in a new light.&nbsp;</p><p>I do have to say that this story did have romance in it and some of the kisses were quite passionate so I wouldn't recommend it for young teens. But the story line was good with characters that possessed qualities that fit for the time period.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h1><span underline="">About the Author</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Florence-Dinner-222x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="222" src="https://www.celebratelitteam.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Florence-Dinner-222x300.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>RWA award-winning author, <strong>Brenda Ray</strong>, grew up along the Emerald Coast of Northwest Florida.&nbsp; A University of Florida trained nurse-midwife, she traveled as a military wife and raised three remarkable sons. She is now retired and writing full time in Vero Beach, FL.&nbsp; A graduate of the University of Florida, as well, she is always confused during football season, but she is never confused about loving feedback from her readers.&nbsp; You may contact her at:&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="”https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wildwolfwomanwriter.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1603218263224000&amp;usg=AFQjCNE3x2F8IX-FKwwkItXCLd3gWjDezQ”" href="”http://www.wildwolfwomanwriter.com/”" rel="”noopener”" target="”_blank”">www.wildwolfwomanwriter.com</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h1><span underline="">More from Brenda</span></h1><p>I didn’t set out to be a writer.&nbsp; In 1997, I was a practicing nurse-midwife, blessed to have delivered hundreds of babies.&nbsp; In one day, latex allergy abruptly ended my career, ended my job, and took my health. Seven years of college felt like a waste. At times the grief felt bottomless.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>My strong faith in God got me through that dark time.&nbsp; My daily meditation and clinging to God’s Word were by lifelines.&nbsp; One morning, while reading the second chapter of Exodus, (which I had read many times before) the story of Puah and Shiphrah struck me in a new way.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I began asking myself how that came to be.&nbsp; Why would a pharaoh order his future workforce murdered?&nbsp; Did <em>all</em> the babies arrive before the midwives could arrive or did the midwives lie? With much research and study and my own experiences as a midwife, the answers to those questions became <em>The Midwife’s Song: A Story of Moses’ Birth</em>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The book started a flood of writing that continues today.&nbsp; Writing is a creative process and as the Holy Scripture teach, “In the beginning, God <em>created….”&nbsp; </em>We are told we are made in God’s image.&nbsp; Thus, we ourselves are destines to create.&nbsp; For me, it has been quilting, sewing, cooking, and writing.&nbsp; I also write under the pen name of B. K. Ricotta. <em>Two of a Kind</em> is my first book under that name. A sweet novella will be released soon by Wild Rose Press entitled <em>A Love So Sweet</em> by B. K. Ricotta.&nbsp; Finally, the finishing touches are being done on a historical romance set in Northwest Florida when it was a new state.</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Blog Stops</span></h1><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debbieloseanything.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:4224,&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Debbie's Dusty Deliberations&quot;}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations</span></a>, February 5</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://litteraegaudium.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:4224,&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;arial&quot;}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;For the Love of Literature&quot;}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For the Love of Literature</span></a>, February 6 (Author Interview)</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ashleyscleanbookreviews.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:4224,&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews&quot;}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews</span></a>, February 6</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;">Artistic Nobody</a>, February 7 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://deana0326.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:4224,&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Texas Book-aholic&quot;}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Texas Book-aholic</span></a>, February 8</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.forhimandmyfamily.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:4224,&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;For Him and My Family&quot;}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">For Him and My Family</span></a>, February 9</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sarajanejacobs.com/blog" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:4224,&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Sara Jane Jacobs&quot;}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Sara Jane Jacobs</span></a>, February 10</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://abbasprayerwarriorprincess.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:513,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;12&quot;:0}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess&quot;}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess</span></a>, February 11</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://connie-oldersmarter.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:513,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;12&quot;:0}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Older &amp; Smarter?&quot;}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Older &amp; Smarter?</span></a>, February 12</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amandanicolle.blogspot.com/?m=1" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:4224,&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Inklings and notions&quot;}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Inklings and notions</span></a>, February 13</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://tabithabouldinauthor.home.blog/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:4224,&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;arial&quot;}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Through the Fire Blogs&quot;}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Through the Fire Blogs</span></a>, February 14 (Author Interview)</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ourwhiskeylullaby.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:513,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;12&quot;:0}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Our Whiskey Lullaby&quot;}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Our Whiskey Lullaby</span></a>, February 14</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://connieshistoryclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:4737,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Connie's History Classroom&quot;}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Connie’s History Classroom</span></a>, February 15</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://debs-bookreview.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:4224,&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;deb's Book Review&quot;}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">deb’s Book Review</span></a>, February 16</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amybooksy.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:4224,&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Locks, Hooks and Books&quot;}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Locks, Hooks and Books</span></a>, February 17</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.75em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com/" style="background-color: transparent; box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #007acc; text-decoration-line: none;"><span data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:513,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;12&quot;:0}" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy&quot;}" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy</span></a>, February 18</p><h1 center=""><span underline="">Giveaway</span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promosimple.com/uploads/images/6da7b43f-86de-4c78-a777-666166f2f274" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="475" height="200" src="https://promosimple.com/uploads/images/6da7b43f-86de-4c78-a777-666166f2f274" width="200" /></a></div><br /><p center=""><br /></p><p center="">To celebrate her tour, Brenda is giving away&nbsp;the grand prize package of an autographed copy of “The Midwife’s Song: A Story of Moses’ Birth (1st edition) and a few rainy day comfort items!!</p><p center="">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.</p><p center=""><a href="”https://promosimple.com/ps/1073f/the-midwife-s-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway”">https://promosimple.com/ps/1073f/the-midwife-s-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway</a></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-91085818140288293292021-02-12T15:46:00.001-05:002021-02-12T15:46:05.247-05:007 Common Signs of Illness in Cats<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1iQb6Jt25Xc/YCbo83X1-HI/AAAAAAAAbYo/uPPys1-3yEY8-Nm9064SwJhS5ikOrPfFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/cat-1046544_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="951" data-original-width="1280" height="475" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1iQb6Jt25Xc/YCbo83X1-HI/AAAAAAAAbYo/uPPys1-3yEY8-Nm9064SwJhS5ikOrPfFwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h475/cat-1046544_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;">We all love our pet cats and want them to be as healthy and happy as possible, but they do not always make being a cat-parent easy. Cats are notorious for hiding illness or possibly taking themselves to a quiet hiding place where we cannot find them. Unfortunately, this can mean that we do not notice they are suffering until their illness has advanced to the point where they can no longer hide it. However, if we are able to get cats the treatment they need in the early stages, most cats will make a full recovery. Here are seven common signs to look out for which might mean that your cat is unwell:</span></p><ol> <li><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span style="font-family: times;"><b>Changes in their behavior</b></span></p></li></ol><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;">When a cat is unwell, they tend to sit in a hunched position in a dark and quiet place. They often stop grooming themselves, or if they are in pain, they might avoid sitting or sleeping in certain positions that they used to find comfortable. If a cat presses its head into a wall or piece of furniture for a long period of time, has seizures, or appears confused, it may have developed neurological issues. Cats can also <a href="https://www.wired.com/2015/05/why-do-cats-purr/">purr when they are stressed</a> or in pain as it is a way of soothing themselves. </span></p><ol start="2"> <li><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span style="font-family: times;"><b>Eating or drinking less or more</b></span></p></li></ol><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;">You know your cat better than anyone and will know what is ‘normal’ for them in terms of appetite. If a usually fussy cat is suddenly devouring everything they can get hold of, or a healthy eater is off their food, it is a good sign that something is wrong. By monitoring both their intake of food and drink and their litter box, you can get a sense of their health. If cats are not able to urinate, they are in pain while urinating, or have to urinate suddenly and in small amounts, call your vet.</span></p><ol start="3"> <li><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span style="font-family: times;"><b>Regular vomiting</b></span></p></li></ol><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;">When a cat vomits their food quickly after they have eaten, they may have eaten too quickly, or they could have an issue in their digestive system. If it only happens once or twice, there is probably nothing to worry about, but repeated vomiting over more than a few hours should be looked at by a vet. You can visit <a href="https://exceptionalpets.com/locations/cave-creek/veterinarian">exceptionalpets.com</a>for advice if you are concerned about any aspect of your cat’s health. </span></p><ol start="4"> <li><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span style="font-family: times;"><b>Constipation or diarrhea</b></span></p></li></ol><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;">Occasional constipation or diarrhea is not usually anything to worry about, but in some cases, it can be a sign of infection, poisoning, parasites, or illness. If your cat is struggling to defecate and appears to be in pain, or their stool is particularly watery or contains blood, contact a veterinarian. </span></p><ol start="5"> <li><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span style="font-family: times;"><b>Coughing or wheezing</b></span></p></li></ol><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;">Sometimes cats will develop hairballs in their throat, but they usually manage to sort them out on their own. However, persistent coughing or wheezing could indicate more serious blockages, allergies, lung disease, tumors, or other serious conditions. When a cat is coughing for more than 24 hours, contact a vet. This is particularly urgent if you believe your cat is struggling to breathe or has blue gums. </span></p><ol start="6"> <li><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span style="font-family: times;"><b>Low or high temperature</b></span></p></li></ol><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;">Your cat’s temperature should be between 100-103 degrees, and readings above or below this range could be a sign of illness. To take their temperature, you could insert a rectal thermometer that has been lubricated into their rectum and leave it there for up to a minute. If you do not have a rectal thermometer, <a href="https://www.cuteness.com/article/check-cats-temperature-thermometer">click here</a>. If you are concerned about your cat’s temperature, call your veterinarian. </span></p><ol start="7"> <li><p lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"> <span style="font-family: times;"><b>Discolored gums</b></span></p></li></ol><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;">A cat’s gums should be dark pink in color. When you press the gum with your finger, it will turn white but turn back to pink quickly after you stop pressing. If the gums take a long time to return to pink, or they are very pale regardless of pressure, it could be a sign of several illnesses. If the gums and/or tongue are blue, yellow, or red in places, you should take the cat to the vet urgently. </span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /><br /> </span></p><p class="western" lang="en-US" style="line-height: 108%; margin-bottom: 0.11in;"><br /><br /> </p><br /><p></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-4058300797090878022021-02-09T00:50:00.000-05:002021-02-09T00:50:47.727-05:00A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel<p>&nbsp;</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITKkA2sfj3Q/YCIfatFOdJI/AAAAAAAAbYc/UMjrGoVhEj8rC9OZPg9KyIjRmjupqsK8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s597/dance.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="597" height="636" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITKkA2sfj3Q/YCIfatFOdJI/AAAAAAAAbYc/UMjrGoVhEj8rC9OZPg9KyIjRmjupqsK8ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h636/dance.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Have you ever been drawn to a book just from the cover alone? When I first saw A Dance in Donegal, I knew I had to read it. The cover intrigued me to say the least and since I have red hair and an Irish husband, I knew it would be a keeper. And I wasn't wrong!</p><p>A Dance in Donegal starts off with Moira Doherty, a young woman who decides to fulfill her mother's dying wish to return back to her hometown in Ireland. While there, she becomes the new schoolteacher but she is faced with a lot of problems; a family scandal among one of them.</p><p>This debut novel was amazing to say the least. I loved how it captivated me and kept my attention. Plus I never knew where the story was going to end up! I love all the twists and turns in the plot and learning the secrets behind people. If you love the rolling hills of Ireland, the 1920's, and sweet romances, then this one is for you!</p><p><br /></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-26629002398956390202021-02-07T12:47:00.003-05:002021-02-07T12:47:24.791-05:00Dreaming of Adlington Hall<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.adlingtonhall.com/wp-content/uploads/DSC4333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="800" height="604" src="https://www.adlingtonhall.com/wp-content/uploads/DSC4333.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: times;">Spring is starting to show it's face, with the first of the spring flowers blooming in the 2000-acre Adlington Hall gardens. The picturesque country house based in Cheshire is an architect's, art-lover's, or a floral-enthusiasts' perfect day out. Here's more the grand building and why it's such as special gem within the English county of Cheshire.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A Little History </b></span></span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><u><a href="https://www.adlingtonhall.com/"><span style="color: #0070c0;">Adlington Hall</span></a></u> and it's Great Hall was built by Thomas Legh between 1480 and 1505 with the rest of the house following suit. Since then, the beautiful country house is still owned by the Legh family where it is currently owned by the 25th generation of Legh, Camilla. </span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><b>The Great Hall</b></span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span>The Great Hall itself is utterly breathtaking. From the unique hammer-beam roof; to the walls which are supported by the original Saxon hunting lodge the country house was built on; the unusually tall windows that stand at nearly sixteen feet tall; and the stunning canopy, which is said to be the finest in England, with each of the sixty panels painted with the sixty chief Cheshire families of the time, this fine building has plenty to see. </span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span>Situated in the Great Hall is the appropriately named, Great Organ. It's one of England's most important 17th Century musical instruments, and is rumored to have been made by a respected German organ maker, Bernard Smith. </span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><b>Not What It Seems</b></span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span>There is more to the country house estate than meets the eye. It hosts tours of the house, which gives guests a peek at the oak-paneled dining room, the chapel, the Minstrel's Gallery, the Chinese room and the Number 10 bedroom. You can take a leisurely stroll around the Gardens, which gives seasonal floral delights, or make your way to the tea room for a spot of Afternoon Tea. </span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span>It's a romantic's dream setting for a wedding. With the bare beam-country house aesthetic, it's an ideal location for a countryside wedding in all seasons. Get cozy around the glorious fire and soak in the decor of the designs. Or picture a blooming spring or summer wedding - celebrating in the courtyard with the photogenic Tudor backdrop. </span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><b>Lights… Camera… Action</b></span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span>Being located only 30 minutes from the Northern media epicentre, Manchester, it's an easily accessible location for film, TV, or photoshoot crews to get to. The location has worked with infamous production companies such as BBC or ITV. </span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><b>Award Winning</b></span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span>Adlington Hall has won an abundance of awards, including: Best Wedding Venue from <u><a href="http://ukheritageawards.co.uk/"><span style="color: #0070c0;">UK Heritage Awards</span></a></u> and shortlisted for awards such as Excellence in Customer Service from the Marketing Cheshire Annual Awards and <u><a href="https://greatermanchesterawards.co.uk/"><span style="color: #0070c0;">Greater Manchester Business Awards</span></a></u>. </span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span>Alongside the impressive awards, the country house is a member of Cheshire's Gardens of Distinction and Historic Houses. </span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /> </span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><b>All In All</b></span></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span>Visiting Adlington Hall offers such a variety of culture to be seen, learned, and heard. Take a private group tour with the helpful tour guides, visit the wedding fairs, stroll in the gardens or taste the delicious afternoon tea. You and your group may even have to revisit to get to see all it has to offer. </span></span></span></p><br /><p></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-7505635701198405672021-02-01T13:43:00.002-05:002021-02-02T14:31:52.282-05:00Hobbies to Try Out For the Future<p><span style="font-family: times;">&nbsp;</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2Lfa4B95Yw/YBhLnz6LGLI/AAAAAAAAbYI/wdGTJZmq8U8CFgg_qbR9BkqaTBuEdi5gACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/art-2578353_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2Lfa4B95Yw/YBhLnz6LGLI/AAAAAAAAbYI/wdGTJZmq8U8CFgg_qbR9BkqaTBuEdi5gACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/art-2578353_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span><p></p><p></p><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">There are countless ways to keep yourself entertained throughout your daily life, although it may not seem that way at the moment. Having to spend more time inside than ever before can often lead to feelings of intense lethargy and boredom. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">If you were thinking about what to do with your spare time, then considering a new hobby for the future might be what you need. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">Hobbies not only keep you occupied, but contribute greatly to your self-development as a whole. Here are some ideas you may want to try out when you next get a chance. </span></span></span></span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Become a Baking Extraordinaire </span></span></h4><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">Whether you are a baking prodigy, or you have the ability to burn even pasta, practicing baking can be a fantastic outlet for your creativity. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">You may want to take some inspiration from the </span><span style="color: #0563c1;"><u><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46846771">hugely popular Great British Baking Show</a></u></span><span lang="en-US">and create your very own showstopper to impress all your friends.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">Another great factor is that you can do it from the comfort of your own home, with the heating up and the music blaring. </span></span></span></span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Learn an Instrument </span></span></h4><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">Speaking of music, you may want to consider spending some of your free time learning a new instrument in order to nurture your intellectual dexterity using your creative side. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">Nobody starts out as an expert, except for </span><span style="color: #0563c1;"><u><a href="https://www.vulture.com/2016/04/prince-genius.html">maybe Prince</a></u></span><span lang="en-US">, so it is important to remember that practice makes perfect. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">You might want to try and start by learning one of your favorite songs, in order to get the ball rolling in the right direction. </span></span></span></span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">Start Writing </span></span></h4><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">Writing is a wonderful hobby in that it allows you to put your thoughts to paper in order to craft all kinds of narratives from the deeply personal to the whimsical. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">It can also help you to better understand any challenging emotions you might be facing, as you can externalize them in a way that helps explain them to yourself. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">This does not mean you have to write an entire novel from start to finish however, you may want to start by keeping a diary of the day</span>’<span lang="en-US">s events, or even write down any ideas that you think you can transform into a story in the future. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">Blogging is also a good outlet for those of you who feel like you want to share your ideas with the digital world, while nurturing a useful professional skill. </span></span></span></span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US">A Completely New Direction </span></span></h4><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">Why not think about taking things in a completely new direction? If you want to get fit and healthy while having fun, the great coaching services offered up by </span><span style="color: #0563c1;"><u><a href="https://soccer-to-football.com/">Soccer to Football</a></u></span><span lang="en-US"> can help you develop your soccer skills the European way. </span></span></span></span></span></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small;">Crafting</span></h4><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="color: black;"><span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">By learning how to craft you can recycle your unwanted materials such as bottles and clothes, to spruce up the interior of your home. </span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span lang="en-US">By learning how to make some stylish and rustic home d</span><span lang="fr-FR">é</span><span lang="en-US">cor accessories you can save money while at the same time, giving yourself an exciting new design hobby. This has the potential to cover so many bases, perhaps leading to a rewarding new adventure.</span></span></span></span></p><p align="left" style="break-after: auto; break-before: auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; page-break-after: auto; page-break-before: auto; widows: 2;"><br /> </p><br /><p></p>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7800949410602942102.post-75018536983774979172021-01-18T15:05:00.010-05:002021-01-27T10:37:06.069-05:006 Ways to Get Fit Including Dancing and Life<p>&nbsp;</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lc6jjCiro6A/V7ElHD7G5MI/AAAAAAAAYik/ebKUmRj6MHA4Ys1gnPqmG4JB23D70H84QCLcB/s1600/pexels-photo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lc6jjCiro6A/V7ElHD7G5MI/AAAAAAAAYik/ebKUmRj6MHA4Ys1gnPqmG4JB23D70H84QCLcB/s640/pexels-photo.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><p><br /><b>1. Exercise Everywhere</b><br />There are so many small opportunities to burn calories in a day if you do it right. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk the dog. Park at the far end of the parking lot. Walk around as you chat on the phone. Sit on an exercise ball instead of a chair. Do bicep curls while you watch TV. Do a few squats when you get up for coffee. The list is endless! Use your time and resources to your advantage and the extra exercise won't seem like exercise at all.<br /><br /><br /><b>2. Recruit a Friend</b><br />Having your friend or partner at the gym with you is a great way to hold yourself accountable. You'll form a stronger bond with the person and will have something new in common to talk about. Next time you want to schedule a sedentary date or get-together, skip the coffee shop or bar and go for a walk or out dancing! This is an especially great tip for competitive people.<br /><b><br /></b><b>3. Download an App</b><br />The market is flooded with fitness apps these days, so it should be easy to find one that works for you. Some give you full workout and diet plans. Some connect you with a personal trainer who learns about your body and lifestyle and trains you from afar. Others are fitness trackers that log everything from number of steps to heart rate to calories burned.<br /><b><br /></b><b>4. Find the Activity You Love</b><br />Exercise shouldn't be something you dread doing. If you find yourself unhappy at the thought of going to the gym, try doing different activities until you find one you actually enjoy. It could be rock climbing, soccer, kickboxing, yoga, or anything else, as long as you are moving and challenging yourself. Don't be afraid to try something you have never done before; it could be your new favorite activity that motivates you to exercise with a smile on your face!</p><div><br /></div><div>If you're feeling stressed, then check out&nbsp;<a href="https://dancingandlife.com?afmc=30">Dancing and Life</a>&nbsp;which provides free and premium training to help overcome your crisis by the power of movement and dance. Healing is essential to our continuing happiness. Even after a terrible year, it’s important to learn to move on and take care of yourself. When you take care of yourself, you can get closer to keeping your intentions.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I challenge you to participate in the 30 day program and when you start to feel empowered and see success, please leave a comment on this post to let me know!<br /><b><br /></b><b>5. Eat Healthy</b><br />&nbsp;It seems obvious, but you can't get fit from exercise alone. Plus, burning off more calories than you eat is way harder than you think. Whether you want to count calories or follow a certain diet, be sure to start small. Your body and brain will rebel if you go from tons of junk food to all veggies, so begin with little changes like drinking less soda, choosing a side salad instead of fries, or cooking more meals at home.<br /><br /><b>6. Write It Down</b><br />You wouldn't flake out on a doctor's appointment, meeting, or other commitment, so write your workouts into your planner and treat them like they are mandatory! Set phone alarms, pencil them onto your calendar, or whatever else you have to do to ensure you'll stick to your new healthy habits every day. Similarly, write down specific health goals. It can be anything from a certain number of pounds lost to fitting into an old pair of pants. The more places you write them down, the more likely you are to hold yourself to these goals.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UPDATE #1 - 1/20/21</b> - With inauguration day already finishing up, if you're feeling stressed out like so many others in this country, check out <a href="https://dancingandlife.com?afmc=30">Dancing and Life</a> to help learn how to dance the stress away.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UPDATE #2 - 1/24/21</b> - Sometimes I feel blue just like anyone else. When you get moving around, it helps endorphins bring better feelings to you. Dancing is a great way to de-stress when you're upset. Check out&nbsp;<a href="https://dancingandlife.com?afmc=30">Dancing and Life</a>&nbsp;to help learn how to dance the stress away.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><b>UPDATE #3 - 1/27/21</b> - When I was on the Keto diet years ago, I used to dance for my exercise. It was the best and most fun way for me to lose weight. Plus it made me feel good! If you want to dance for fun, check out&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://dancingandlife.com?afmc=30">Dancing and Life</a>.</div>Katherine Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837832904016600343noreply@blogger.com