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Finding Your Kitchen’s Calling: Themes to Try Out

 

The kitchen space is mostly underrated when it comes to interior design. Since it’s mostly connected to the dining area, it’s commonly absorbed into the theme of that space. However, you can separate your dining and kitchen area by introducing various items that can reinforce a different yet complementary theme to the overall look of your home. If you’re someone who’s at a loss when it comes to figuring out how to pair which furniture with what flooring, here are some kitchen theme ideas that you can keep in mind the next time you refurbish your home.

Rustic kitchens

These kitchens require little more than just a few items to complete. There are multiple ways to add the rustic effect to a room, from installing gothic design windows to buying sets of tables and chairs that fit the wooden aesthetic. You can also add wooden utensils into the mix to highlight the antique feel in the room. Furniture comparison will give you a clear idea of prices, materials and their purpose for your new kitchen. It will give you a better notion of how much more you need to add to your kitchen.

Minimalist kitchens

If we’re talking about functionality over design, then minimalist kitchens have that in abundance. The design theme for minimalist kitchens includes making small yet subtle accents for design such as a backlighting effect for lamps or maximising the use of painted lines to increase depth in your otherwise compact room. A pale or pastel colour choice for your walls and furniture options will work great with utensils and silverware that are stylistically plain, which can make your room feel spacious and comfortable.

Metallic kitchens

If you’ve ever had the dream of being a professional chef, then you can keep on dreaming by having the same setup in your kitchen. You can mostly see this theme in five-star restaurants with stainless steel worktops paired up with metallic cabinets. To keep your theme consistent, have your silverware frequently polished to keep it in line with your room’s design. Plain white plates are common choices for these kitchens, but you can also use the reverse in terms of colour by matching it to your worktops or your flooring, depending on which shade you wish to pop out in the room.

Organic kitchens

With the mix of blending both modern and natural designs, organic kitchens look a lot like a blend of rustic and metallic design schemes. The look itself is convenient to recreate by installing the same flat kitchen cabinets similar to the metallic theme while having accents of nature here and there. These can be attached in multiple ways, from hanging garden pots to attaching a trellis on the wall for vine plants, to keeping small succulents to add a fresh aroma and presence of organic shapes to blend in with the sleek forms of utensils and furniture.

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How to Save Money on House Renovations

 

House renovations have a reputation of burning a hole through your life’s savings. If you want to stay away from going into debt, here are a few reminders for homemakers to take note of to not splurge too much on their home improvement projects.

Keep a tight schedule

An extended home renovation project is the worst fear of any homemaker. Besides prolonging the ‘under construction’ look of your home, you won’t be able to do other activities such as safely inviting people over or simply taking time to yourself with all the buzzing and hammering that’s ringing throughout the entire house.

If you want to avoid having an extended renovation period, then it’s best that you keep a short list of the essential parts of the home that you need to be fixed paired with a timetable. The limited time for construction will enable you to keep your labor costs at a minimum when hiring outside help for the heavy lifting that you can’t do on your own such as plumbing and electric wiring.

Choosing the best materials

Shopping around for the ‘best’ materials doesn’t always have to mean that they’re the most expensive items in Home Depot. What you should always consider first and foremost is if the material you’re purchasing is the best to use depending on its application. For constructing greenhouses, is it the best choice for you to buy glass panels or install polycarbonate panels instead? For dealing with fencing, is it cheaper to install cement fences or metal grills?

Finding the right solution for the purpose that you’ll use it can make a big difference when it comes to maintenance and application. For example, luxury vinyl flooring is the best and cheapest option to use in contrast to buying genuine wood or marble. Since it’s made of composite materials, it’ll last considerably longer with an added benefit of being scratch and stain-proof. In the long term, you’ll be spending less on maintaining it than you would in purchasing the most expensive floorboards in the store.

Selling old items for extra income

Garage sales and house renovations should always go hand-in-hand. Looking for valuables that you no longer have a use for or finding old appliances that are in relatively good condition can earn you a few dollar bills all while you’re executing your home improvement plan. While selling unused items in your home generates a passive income, you get to have the extra space inside the house to be used for renovation purposes.

Shopping for bargains

Just because you’re running your garage sale doesn’t mean that you can’t go shopping on your own. Instead of looking at mall catalogs of furniture, you should make it a habit to know where the best secondhand stores are. These establishments are excellent places to find rare finds as they’re bound to sell furniture that might not be in top form but can be the perfect fit for your home’s theme. Older pieces of furniture are usually more durable compared to modern pieces that are sold in the market.

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Having Post-Vacation Blues? Try These Useful Tips

 

Post-vacation blues is a mood that affects most people occasionally. This happens especially after a long holiday. Post-vacation blues wear off with time but can last for weeks in some cases. This affects our daily activities and work programmes.

Dealing with post-vacation blues requires effort and dedication. Here are some tips that are helpful in getting over the mood.

Eat healthy

During vacation, you are free to enjoy different meals. However, you should resume your planned diet after vacation. During the first few days of work, a nice dinner and light breakfast is encouraged. The dinner helps you adjust to the normal routine while the breakfast gets you ready for work. A fruit bowl at work increases your productivity too.

Adjust your sleep schedule

Your sleeping hours may have not been regulated during vacation. This contributes to the reluctance in resuming normal activities. Once you are back from vacation, focus on readjusting to your sleep schedule. Try sleeping some hours earlier for the first few days. Slowly work your way back to your normal sleep schedule.

Make time for relaxation

Relaxation boosts your mood and makes you more productive. A hot bath in the evening and short breaks at work are some tricks to help you relax. Brief hangouts in the evening help to wean off post-vacation blues too. Taking lunch breaks also helps to overcome post-vacation blues at work.

Put the trip behind you

Post-vacation blues are harder to overcome if the trip was a pleasant one. The memories linger in our mind and we are driven to dwell on that. You stand a better chance to overcome the mood if you put the trip behind you. Find something engaging and keep busy. Work on old tasks you couldn’t finish before embarking on the vacation. Discussing the trip with co-workers also helps.

Prioritize your tasks using a to-do list

Post-vacation blues makes you lazy when you have a lot to do. For increased productivity, do not rush to finish all your tasks. Create a to-do list and arrange the tasks in order of importance. Start with the important tasks and work at your own pace. When you focus on that, you get more tasks done without being overworked. You also pick up the pace and slowly adjust to your normal routine.

Try Some Natural Light Therapy

Natural Light therapy helps to ease off jet lag and post-vacation blues. It is recommended especially if you saw limited amounts of sunlight during vacation. When your body adjusts to natural light, your spirits are lifted. A prescribed medication like melatonin can be taken too to enhance sleep at night. A good night’s sleep improves your mood and the effects of natural light therapy.

Conclusion

It is normal to feel moody after a vacation. Post-vacation blues reduces our productivity and makes us irritable. However, the mood wears off within days or a few weeks. Embrace it, focus on overcoming it, and give it time. Talk to your therapist if it lingers for more than a month.

How to Land Your First Business Contract

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As a new business, your first business contract is memorable. Its successful execution and completion are what puts you in the limelight and send a message to other potential clients so that they know you can deliver. That is why for small businesses, attracting and keeping clients is the game changer.

But for any type of SME, the competition is usually stiff. There are usually too many businesses chasing few contract opportunities and it can be rather difficult attracting the leads you need. So, what can you do to increase your chances of landing your first contract?

Create a network list –

Competing successfully with hundreds of other small businesses and landing that business contract will be difficult, if not impossible unless you have an ace up your sleeve.

For some people, that ace is the people they know who can help them get one foot through the door. But if you don’t have the advantage of a network, you should create one.

To get started, create a list of company prospects you will like to target, then map out a strategy that would create an opportunity for you to interact with the people that matter. Before you run through your list, persistence will pay off.

Focus within your sphere of influence –

One of the easiest people to sell to are people you know, or those that know about the skills you possess. The plan is to land the first business contract that will open the door for others, and not necessarily a multi-million pound engagement deal.

It is a lot easier to key face-to-face meetings with decision-makers in companies you worked for when employed, or those located within the same city as you. In fact, one study showed that corporate decision makes tend to favour vendors located close-by when making business decisions. Therefore, take a good look within, before going out.

Emphasize your brand –

When it comes to impressing corporate decision makers, your brand needs a loud voice. For this reason, one of your most important responsibilities as a small business is building your brand to the point where it becomes synonymous with the identity you are trying to achieve.

There are a number of cost-effective methods of brand building, such as being active on social media, running regular promotions, sponsoring local events and content writing. The more you portray yourself as an industry in your field, the easier it will be to attract your first contract from a corporate client.

Show you know what you are talking about –

One thing about persistence is that it usually pays off. Therefore, chances are that after a while of cold calling, social media posts and local events sponsorships, you will eventually clinch a meeting with the decision maker of a corporate client. But all your effort will be for naught if you are unable to show that you know what you are talking about.

While you are doing the needed publicity, ensure that you keep up with what is happening in your industry so that when you get to the meeting, you can prove that your business is the best for the job.

There are other handy tips in this guide that would help land your first business contract in the public sector, but hopefully, this short article has provided some needed insight.

Remember, luck is simply opportunity meeting preparation.

Make Your Bosses Believe in Your Marketing Plans

 

It is not easy being young in the corporate world where seniority matters. You need to prove yourself if no one is taking you seriously. It is even worse if you are in the marketing department. If you present something to those who have been around for years, they will think that your ideas are trash. You are yet to come up with a successful campaign, so it is not easy for you to convince them that you have something useful to offer. Using these tips, you can satisfy your bosses that your ideas are worth trying.

Research thoroughly

You need to present your ideas first if you want to receive approval to pursue the project. Your bosses will ask questions to see if you understand what you want to happen. You can prepare by researching thoroughly. You need to respond with facts and data. You cannot expect them to believe your arguments if you have nothing to back them up. You need to show that you understand your target audience, and what you present is something they will buy.

Test your ideas first

Before you go to your boss to pitch your thoughts, you need to test them first with other people. You can ask your fellow employees to listen to your pitch and tell you what they think about it. They cannot hold back in expressing their thoughts because you want to hear the comments from them first. If you receive the same criticism the next time, it will not stun you anymore.

Focus on the cost

Your bosses have nothing in mind apart from money. Marketing is the department that takes up a considerable chunk of the company’s budget. You need to prove that your next campaign is affordable and reasonable. No one would dare spend money on something that could eventually fail. In your pitch, you need to prove that what you want to happen is realistic and your ad is something that will not cost a lot. For instance, if you decide to use pop up banners, you need to prove that they are going to entice your target audience. You can argue that you want to attract old people, and it is not enough to rely only on online marketing.

Go crazy, but not too crazy

You received the opportunity to work in the marketing department because you have something unique to offer. You are fresh blood, and your novel ideas could work. Therefore, you cannot hold back when you have great ideas in mind that are worth trying. Your old bosses did not think about these ideas because they are out of touch. However, you need to limit any crazy aspect of your ideas since you might lose your bosses in the process.

Try these tips first and check if you can convince your bosses to believe in your ideas. They might work if you prove that you can get results. You need to work hard after receiving approval so that you will earn a promotion or gain their trust again for the next project.

Advantages That You Can Gain from Playing Computer Games

 

Contrary to what many people are saying – that playing computer games can be addicting and destructive to your mind – this particular hobby also has its own set of advantages that can help us with our day to day activities such as solving a problem and making decisions. Some people are expecting that many people will disagree with this thought, especially parents and the elderly. So here are some of the known advantages of playing video games that you can take note of.

Playing video games gives you better coordination

When you play video games, it is not enough that you put your focus in front of the computer screen. It would help if you stimulated your mind to be more observant and alert in observing your opponent and other factors that may affect your gaming. If you want to challenge yourself to be better with games, you should give Omescape VR Games a try one of these days.

You become better at solving different types of problems

If you think that your problem-solving skills need some help, then you should try playing video games for at least one to two hours a day to train your mind to make instant decisions while under pressure. In playing games, you need to think of different techniques to beat your opponent. Being good in gaming is something that is self-taught and is achievable through constant practice and keen observation of more experienced players.

Video games create a sharper memory

Having trouble remembering simple things or memorising lessons at school? Then you need to exercise your brain cells and stimulate your mind to enhance both your eyes, hands and your ears all at the same time. If you decide to join a group game, people are expecting that you should know all the rules by heart.

Being a gamer helps your focus

To become a good video game player, you must spend time mastering your craft. It would be best if you spend hours playing a specific game, and you must give 100% focus on what you are doing.

It is an excellent way to release stress and promote relaxation

Whether you are tired of your regular job or stressed too much by schoolwork, playing computer games can help you relax after a long day. Try playing for at least an hour each day after work, and you will notice the significant change in your mood and attitude. You will be calmer and laid back when it comes to dealing with other problems that come your way.

Promotes creative thinking

If your brain is having a hard time providing suggestions on different matters then maybe it is time for you to work on enhancing your natural creative juices. Playing video games stimulates your brain to think about different ways of winning which can result in better ideas and increased output.

Remember that playing video games is not bad for your health as long as you do things in moderation. It would help if you also had the right amount of self-control and discipline to avoid getting hooked on playing non-stop video games.

Everything You Need To Know About AVI File Format

AVI or audio video interleaved is one of the most common type of file formats that is used by people. This is a file format which is used to store both audio and video information digitally. It is mainly used for playback purposes. This type of file platform is known to have an in-built support in all the Windows Platform. Apart from the Windows platform, the file format is also supported by other major platforms as well. An AVI file format is known to come with an extension .avi. In case you didn’t know but you can also combine two AVI files into one.Having said that, now let’s look into some of the important things that you should know about AVI file format.

Things To Know

Since, AVI file format is a popular file format, it will be better for you to know a few important things about it. In case, you are looking forward convert your AVI file you can make use of a video editor or converter like Movavi.

  1. AVI file format is based on the RIFF file format. RIFF stands for Resource Interchange File Format. This type of file format is known to allocate the information in a particular file into chunks or blocks. Each of these blocks can be tagged as AVI.
  2. An AVI file is known to have a very simple structure. These type of files mainly consists of two parts, the header which is followed by blocks of information. Sometimes AVI files may also come with a third component which is an optional one. The third optional part consists of offsets and has an idx1 tag.
  3. You can achieve the desired compression ratio of an AVI audio format by making use of various codecs that are currently available out there.
  4. One of the biggest advantages of using AVI file format is that it comes with an excellent quality audio fidelity.
  5. AVI file format is used in the making of playable disks and DVD. This allows the disk to store important audio and video information.
  6. In case, you didn’t know but an AVI file format can also run without the aid of particular software or a hardware device.
  7. AVI file format is a widely used video format for short movies, advertisements and promos. This is mainly because of it’s high compression capabilities. Not just that, but even people finds it quite comfortable to work with these type of files.
  8. Since the quality of AVI files are exceptionally good, they are considered to be great for master files. With the help of these master files you can also create files in other types of formats as well.

If you wish to convert your AVI file you can make use of a video converter like Movavi.

After going through the mentioned points, hopefully now you have a basic idea about AVI files. AVI files are one of the most popular types of file format used out there.

Why Should You Consider Travelling While You Are Still Young

 

Many people would love to travel and see different places that they only see on television and in books and magazines. Most people focus on their career until they get older and choose to delay their plans instead. Guess what; you do not have to wait until you retire before travelling. You can start saving money for your travels while you still can and here are some valid points as to why travelling is best while you are still young and able.

Get rid of boredom

Many of us hold an 8-5 office job and to be honest things can be a little bit tedious and tiresome. Has anyone asked you how your week is going or how things are in the office? You might have replied by saying “I am fine”. In reality, nobody wants to hear about how bad your boss and your colleagues treated you and other work-related problems. If you are having a difficult time at the office then maybe it is time for you to take a break or a much-needed vacation. When you travel, you get the opportunity to experience exciting stuff all the time. Some things may scare you, but it can never be boring. There are certain things that you can still enjoy doing while you are still young, so do not miss the opportunity to explore different places around the world.

It changes your point of view about different things

Travelling the world gives you so much opportunity to know things that you do not learn inside the classroom. Do not limit yourself when experiencing different cultures that are not in the guide books – Vietnam is a great example of a rich and diverse country full of exciting things to see and do, because you might end up not appreciating and respecting other peoples’ beliefs and way of life if you never actually travel anywhere new. Constant travelling will open your eyes to the different things that the world has to offer. Do not limit yourself and start being more adventurous by getting out of your comfort zone.

Meet different people and make new friends

Not everyone is willing to leave their comfort zone and their security blanket in exchange for experiencing notable things in life. One of the advantages when travelling is you get to meet many people who have the same mindset as you. You meet new friends that are willing to share extraordinary life stories with you.

Enjoy while you can

Travelling is a lot more fun when you are single and have limited responsibilities. Let us not hide the fact that travelling will be more challenging once you decide to get married and settle down. Having kids and starting your own family is a wonderful decision but it also means that your priorities are going to be different from before. With more bills to pay and more significant financial obligations to keep in mind your opportunity to travel might be limited unlike before.

Take the chance to see the world and learn more about life through travelling to places that you have never been to. You have to start living your life to the fullest while you are still young and energetic to appreciate the beautiful things that surround you.

Money Saving Tips for Every Traveller Out There

 

Planning to go on a holiday with family and friends but you are worried about your budget? Generally speaking, travelling is fun and exciting, but it can get costly especially if you fail to plan for your trip in advance. If you have no idea how to organise things, there is no need for you to worry because we have prepared some practical budget-friendly travel tips that will help make the most of your experience.

Schedule your visit

Most tourists prefer to travel during peak seasons because of the local festivals and other events that most people also look forward to attending. However, the problem is that the prices are almost twice as high compared to standard rates. Travelling during off-peak months will save you money on airfares and accommodation. Better check out your destination and check out their off-peak months before booking anything online.

Take the local transport

It is fun to explore new places by commuting just like any normal local person would do. You may also opt to take a train or cab instead of renting a car which will cost you more money. Another option is to walk if the distance is not that far to your destination. You won’t mind the additional exercise especially if you are having fun with your surroundings.

Download local applications to your smartphone

Load up on data credits and download helpful apps for your trip. Search for the nearest tourist destination, book a taxi ride or look for a favourite restaurant using your smartphone. You can also download local maps instead of buying them. Maximise the use of your gadgets, and you will be surprised by how much money you will be able to save by the end of your holiday.

Buy some groceries

Eating out all the time can affect your holiday budget. Since you won’t be staying for a long time, you can buy some groceries and easy to prepare food that you can eat at your hotel. Choose foods that can last you for a few days without spoiling such as loaves of bread, spreads, crackers and fruits. You should also bring some snacks and bottled water for roaming around instead of eating at pricey food joints.

Choose affordable accommodation

One of the most significant expenses for your vacation is your hotel rooms. Aside from booking during off-peak seasons, you can also consider sharing your room with your friends. There are also a lot of cheaper hotels like aparthotels in Glasgow that cater to budget-friendly travellers and backpackers in the area. All you need to do is spend more time researching cheap deals and promotions, and you will get your money’s worth.

Travelling to different places should be treated as a free investment. You should visit and explore while you are still young and capable of doing many things in life. You do not need much money to travel the world. Your creativity and ability to make things happen can take you to many places.

Building Good HR: Why It Matters

 

Developing a stable and consistent Human Resources department in your business is indicative of a growing enterprise. Every type of work ranging from the medical industry to academic institutions requires a proper HR department in handling issues concerning employee-employer relations.

HR isn’t just about making your employees feel that they are noticed and appreciated at work; it also works to keep you away from potential disasters brought about by improper team management and disastrous employee-employer conflicts.

A much-needed department for both start-ups and conglomerates

Start-ups are usually developed either from previous employees or first-timers in the field. Since their main concern is promoting their brand of business in entering the industry, they might not have the best training and expertise when it comes to handling employee relations.

Many enterprises, even big-name companies abroad, are guided by experts such as London HR Services which offers high-quality advice and support. With the massive number of entrepreneurs and start-ups springing up left and right, the issue of appropriate business practices is a lesson for learning that every aspiring company owner should learn.

HR and PR

PR is a more familiar face to most as it’s the department directly involved in dealing with clients, being aptly named Public Relations. HR functions as a complement to this department in the sense that it deals with handling the organisational model of your company with regards to your employees. HR is involved not just in mobilising your staff when it comes to the recruitment of staff and interns, but it also handles how they are treated and protected while under your business’ care.

HR leads to proper strategising

HR can seem to be a dismissible aspect of a growing business, but it can prove not just to be an integral part of your enterprise but also a proper path to follow for your business operations. A business isn’t merely a method of developing your product or service; it’s also a second home that allows individuals to contribute to society by being a part of something bigger than themselves.

Proper handling of your employees involves making sure that they aren’t in any danger of hurting themselves in the workplace. The first thought a business owner might have when hearing the term ‘workplace accidents’ are incidents resulting in sprains and broken ankles, but it’s also apparent that both mental and sexual abuse are experienced in the workplace.

Having a department that works to help your employees in dealing with issues of overwork due to stress or a toxic and dangerous work environment because of their peers can improve your business’ figures and prevent it from going downhill. As the owner of a company, you are responsible for keeping your team in check, even if they are a danger to each other and, especially, if the problem is you.

HR allows you to learn from your team’s inadequacies and helps you to execute proper strategies in handling different issues by going through due process and conditioning a space that won’t tolerate the same event in the future.