All Posts By

Mamma Fairy

Fairy Travels

A couple of hours in London with kids

For the last two years as part of our Lapland adventure we had to transit via Gatwick airport in London and due to the exceptionally early flight we end up staying in an airport hotel the night before. However following our incredible 2019 Lapland adventure we have decided we want to go back again in 2020. However this time we would like to spend a couple of hours in London as part of our 2020 trip.

london ferris wheel

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Ever since I was a kid London holds a sense of magic for me. We had been before kids, actually to celebrate my 21st many moons ago, but haven’t been with them so hopefully we will change that in 2020. Given the vastness of the city and so much to do. I decided to reach out to my fellow bloggers for some tips and highlights to make our limited hours as productive as possible.  However I must say at the very top of my list is a visit to The Apollo Theatre London I know my kids would go wild to see Horrible Histories there. I think most of us have heard of The Apollo so would love so much to see a show there.

So what do my fellow parenting bloggers recommend for a few short hours in London?

The boys are ages 7 and almost 5 so these recommendations do reflect the ages of the kids so do bear that in mind!

  • First up Typicalmummy.co.uk suggests the Harry Potter studios and I must admit while I know my oldest will really love this, I would too.  Ella refers to it as one of the best family days out they have had which is quite the review.
  • Next The Incidental Parent gives us a great insight in Kidzania. This is actually already on my pairs radar having see it on a YouTube video some time ago. I can really see the appeal of this for kids as its set up like real life simulated play areas
  • Laura from Threelittlezees.co.uk gives us a whistle stop tour of a day out in the London Bridge area, one of their highlights was the Shrek Adventure which looks very cool.
  • If off the beaten track is your preference then deepinmummymatters.com has you covered with her top picks for families that aren’t the typical London attractions. London being the tourist hotspot that it is this could be a fantastic list if you want a more chilled look at London.

Whatever you decide to do on a London trip one this for sure is try to catch on show. There are many family friendly shows available on best-tickets.co.uk.

If you do have any further tips for London in December drop them in the comments below.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Home & Interiors, Mamma Musings

Top Tips for renovating your bathroom

You will have seen lots of our renovation ramblings on the blog over the last couple of years. Have finally (almost) come out the far side I though I share so tips on what worked and what didn’t! We ended up doing 2 bathroom projects. A total renovation and a new one. It’s funny a lot of people I have spoken too have said that one of the most neglected room in their homes was the bathroom which is ironic considering its such a frequently used room!

So here are my top ten tips for renovating your bathroom.  Hopefully this will be useful and do leave comments below if you have any others:

  1. Plan, plan, plan – by this I mean discuss your plans with the relevant trades well in advance and especially before you start buying anything. For example you may want to move a radiator or bath but this may not be possible logistically so talk to the plumber, the electrician etc well before you commence. Also worth considering here is the relevant regulations affecting your refit. Your plumber should be well versed on these and be able to assist and provide advice and guidance. One of the things I love to do is reseach, anybody that knows me knows how much research I like do to when I take on any project.  See fro examples resources like bath remodel Houston can really help.
  2. Features – bathroom tend to be one of the smallest rooms in the house so use what you have a feature. For example you could go for electric radiators which are not only functional but can serve a nice and also very useful feature.
  3.  Storage – if like me you have a strange habit of accumulating all sorts of lotions and potions consider your storage needs up front! From mirrors with shelves to proper shaving cabinets that have all the storage nooks and crannies you need!
  4. Lighting – consider your lighting needs well before you start any tiling and don’t go over board! (im looking at you Dada Fairy!!)
  5. Showers head/ brassware – these parts particularly the shower head maybe used multiple times a day so buy the best you can afford. Have a look at quality places like Insignia Shower Outlet  Somebody once told me when renovating the bathroom buying the best your budget can stretch to is critical.  These rooms get a huge amount of use so do look for quality. Its so worth it.
  6. Layout – really consider the flow of the room at the outset particularly given the space may be small.
  7. Tiling – Shop around there can be huge variances in prices and quality so take time to visit plenty showrooms and even take them home to get a sense of how they will look in your own space.
  8. Colours – As tempting as it is to go for the latest fad or popular colour, id suggest keep the sanitary ware neutral and jazz it up with the coloured accessories as they can be changed far more easily and cheaply. At the moment im loving Moroccan styled bathrooms. Its the beautiful use of different textures that I have fallen for. Timeless and elegant.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Features

How Adopting The Latest Technology Can Improve Your Business

Whether you like technology or loathe it, there is no escape from it in the modern world. For businesses, technology has provided many significant benefits. Organisations have been able to improve their efficiency, productivity has grown, and communication has been enhanced. However, some companies may be reluctant to embrace these advances in technology, preferring to stick with familiar methods of running their business. The reasons for reluctance to adopt new technology vary between companies, but a fear of the unknown, or being unsure of the value that it will add can be a major part of the reason. Ensuring that your employees have thorough training on how to use the new systems that you introduce will make the integration seamless. If staff feel that they are well-informed and can see the advantages offered by new systems, they are more likely to adopt and engage with them positively.

For some businesses, failing to keep up with the ever-changing technology available can put them at a disadvantage. Take for example digital marketing, it is imperative you keep to the forefront n this or risk falling behind your competitors, https://www.whitehat-seo.co.uk/hubspot-onboarding  is an example of one such firm who can help in this regard.  It is clear that if your competitors are seizing the opportunity to capitalise on technology, your business may struggle to keep up. To stay competitive in your industry, you will need to make the most of all the tools at your disposal, which includes technology.

From software applications to social media, there is a vast array of ways that businesses can implement technology and use it to their advantage. Here are just some of the many tools that you can use to enhance your business operation:

Collaborative Working

computer moniter

Pic Credit: Pixabay

and Cloud Technology

The cloud may not be entirely new, but it has evolved in recent times and emerged as an even more useful tool for businesses. Cloud storage has reduced the need for businesses to house and maintain large servers onsite to handle their data, which is a significant advantage for many companies.

The cloud also offers the opportunity for employees to work collaboratively in ways that were never possible in the past. Employees can create documents that are visible to colleagues and work collaboratively on them in real-time, whether they are in the same office, or on opposite sides of the world.

Enhanced Communication

Meaningful communication is at the centre of all successful businesses, and now the technology exists to enhance communication on every level. On a visual level, data can be presented in a whole new way thanks to the introduction of systems such as Microsoft Power BI; this enables teams to extract meaningful data from their figures and quickly identify trends. Power BI is a particularly useful tool for grabbing attention and presenting information in an engaging way.

The increased use of customer relationship management software (CRM) has also brought significant benefits. CRM enables employees to have all the customer information that they need at their fingertips to provide the very best customer service possible. CRM software also enhances productivity, by ensuring everyone is up to date with all the information that they need whether they are dealing with a customer complaint, or collaborating on a project.

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Musings

Six Top Goals To Aim For In Life

Every single person in the world has a goal. Whether it’s a big goal or a small one, a goal is a goal. Something to aim for, to feel inspired by, and to spend life trying to achieve is what we need to find our purpose. You should always feel as if your goals matter, and whether you are writing your goals on a bucket list or you are merely noting them down for later in life, you should consider how your goals are going to pan out.

The key is knowing what your personal goals are. Your dreams and ideas are going to be so different from the dreams of others, and you need to be able to own those dreams on for example a dream board and feel like you will be able to achieve something amazing because of them. If you want to be able to move forward in life, keeping an open mind is vital. So, with that in mind, we’ve put together a list of six of the top goals that you could have in life.

croatia

Pic Credit: Pexels

Mo’ Money, Fewer Problems

Most people put wealth as a goal, and why not? For some, the addition of a boosted income is one that allows them to live marginally more comfortably than they do right now. You may not want to be a multi-millionaire, but to have enough cash to buy that luxury house for sale or a new car can really make a difference. For some people, more money equals fewer problems because they can finally make ends meet. If money is your goal, you need a plan to build your wealth.

An Exciting New Career

Have you considered that a goal in your life should be to further your career? If you are currently working a job that you hate, you have the power to change that. Not only is a new career going to help you to unlock your wealth goals, but it can help you to move freely around the world and meet new people.

Plenty Of Love

Lastly, your life goals should be topped off with as much love as possible. Whether through family, friendships, or a lifelong partner, having strong, supportive relationships brings joy and fulfilment. For couples in committed relationships, love often means building a future together, which can involve important decisions like where to live and grow as a family. In some cases, this journey involves overcoming legal hurdles to stay in the same country. Well, Marriage Based Green Cards provide a solution, allowing couples to live together legally while pursuing their dreams without immigration barriers in the way.

The Best Education

Some so many people go back to school in later life, and if this is a goal that means something to you, then grab it with two hands. An education is a key to so many new things, and you deserve the very best. Don’t let things stand in your way.

A New House

Property ownership – at home or abroad – is a life goal for most people. The chance to stop spending dead money on rent and move into a house that they’ve worked for is a goal that should be put at the top of the list!

The Chance To Explore

Travel, adventures, exploration. How can there be a vast world out there and no desire to see it? There is so much to see and do – make a second list of all the countries and cities that appeal to you the most!

 

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Musings

7 Productivity Tips for Mothers Working from Home

To work or not to work? This question is not a question anymore for most of the young mothers worldwide. An unstable economic situation and the modern set of values push women with young children to work almost as much as family men do. 

Data provided by the Office for National Statistics in Britain showed that the number of working mothers has been growing steadily. Over the last 20 years it has reached 71,1% in 2019. In the U.S., the majority of children grow up in families where both parents are employed, either full-time or part-time.

The answer to maintaining a satisfactory work-life balance for a stay-at-home mother can be a “home office”. Many women use it to the full extent. But how can you keep your efficiency on a maximum level, when there are so many distractions around?  

As a mom, you also can worry about writing process of your children so you can appeal to ib extended essay writing service and hire a writer that can help your children write a paper for them.

We’ll tell you! Read on to find helpful productivity tips for the most popular remote occupations.

mother kids ipad

Pic Credit: Unsplash

1. Find the Right Job 

There are three different types of jobs that you may do from home: full-time, part-time and freelance. 

If you have a toddler or a newborn, it’s better to choose freelance. Even if you have outside help, your child under 3 years old will hardly understand that mama needs to work. Children at that age are constantly craving your attention. 

However, if your child is of kindergarten age or you have a babysitter and a separate nursery, you may try to find a job with fixed hours.

2. Use the Education and Skills You Already Have

You heard a lot of inspiring stories about women who managed to change their occupation or start a business during their maternity leave, right? Be careful: such things happen, but not often. If you have a good education and reliable experience, the best thing you can do is to try and adapt this experience to work-at-home mode. 

Let’s take academic writers as an example. These are highly educated women with MA’s and PhDs who can easily use their skills and deep knowledge to work remotely on a flexible schedule. You can most probably find them here – https://essaypro.com/term-paper.html. You can get a high-class help with your term paper from them, either for yourself or your child. 

3. Choose the Most Popular Remote Professions 

We’ve already mentioned academic writing as a good remote profession. There are several other jobs that are more adaptable to remote job mode than others. The following ones are just the top of the iceberg.

  • Freelance journalist/editor;
  • Translator;
  • Tutor;
  • SMM/Content Manager; 
  • Sales Manager;
  • Programmer/Developer;
  • Data scientist;
  • Recruiter;
  • Project manager. 

    calculator

    Pic Credit: Pixabay

This list can go on, as more and more companies allow their employees to work from a home office. 

What does it have to do with productivity? It’s simple: the better the job you have, the more you get paid for it. Then, your motivation gets higher – and motivation is key to being efficient!

4. Plan Your Schedule Carefully  

This is the most obvious piece of advice, right? But planning your schedule doesn’t mean writing down everything that you WANT to do. It’s about planning only what you HAVE TO do. 

  • Reserve time for things like visits to the doctor and to children’s educational activities, then insert the working hours. If you have fixed hours, do vise versa. 
  • Find time for relaxation and recreational activities. Include them in your schedule. 
  • All these plans should be have to be written down. You can use a calendar, an online planner like Trello or a simple paper daily planner. 

5. Delegate 

Be realistic: doing everything on your own is a dream that is unlikely to come true. Don’t try to be a superwoman and delegate.

  • Start with setting your priorities. If you value your time with the child most of all but don’t like cooking too much, use pre-made food or find someone to help you in the kitchen. If you love cooking, but hate cleaning, find a cleaner, and so on. 
  • As for finding the money for all the personnel – find a balance. Hire as much help as you can afford – and work as many hours as you really have. 
  • There’s also an option to find volunteer help – a father can do more housework than usual sometimes, and grandparents can take their grandchildren for a walk, for example.
  • Kindergarten is also a great option for older children.

Don’t worry, everything will be fine. Whereas if you try to be a genius of multitasking, it surely won’t. Multitasking is bad for your brain, remember that. 

6. Use Your Natural Productivity Peaks 

laptop

Pic Credit: Pixabay

We all have our productivity peaks during the 24-hour cycle. Ignoring this fact is a bad idea.  Though there’s a lot of advice on starting your day early to reach maximum efficiency, it’s not suitable for everyone. Don’t try to break your natural cycles for fashion. It can result in burnout and health problems.  And if you have no choice but to adapt to your baby’s sleeping schedule, consider postponing work for better times or hiring a sitter. 

7. Forget About Perfectionism 

Last, but not least. And it doesn’t mean that you can do your job with less precision or forget to feed the baby. Just don’t worry too much about not being on schedule to wash the floor or dust the shelves. Set the priorities and do some things really well. All that’s less important can be done less than perfect.

To Sum Up 

Productivity for a mother working at home starts from setting the priorities and making the right choices. Careful planning is a job half done. Remember to be realistic and not try to carry the world upon your shoulders or reinvent yourself during maternity leave. Take only as much work as you can handle.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Musings

To Thine Own Self: Dressing To Be Who YOU Want To Be

Learning to be comfortable in your own skin is a lengthy practice. We can incorporate numerous components into our lives like being healthy and ensuring that we are as happy as we can be, but when we look at ourselves in the mirror, sometimes we don’t like the person staring back at us. We’ve all got issues, especially with our own looks, but we’ve got to remember that we have control over our style and our image. Sometimes we can feel that we have to dress in a certain way, but the key is really about dressing to be the person that you want to be. So what are the ways to do this?

Statement Pieces

It’s something to consider that as you evolve your style that one beautiful statement piece can completely elevate your dress sense. It doesn’t have to be anything complex; it can be a great pair of sneakers or sunglasses to completely change a basic and underwhelming outfit into something that distinguishes you from everybody else. When you are choosing statement pieces, think about items that can change with your style. It’s so easy to go for the trendy items, but when you start to invest in statement pieces that are inherently you, this can dress up any bog-standard outfit.

Be Confident

When you are expanding or downsizing your wardrobe, you must remember that it’s supposed to be a reflection of who you are. It can make you or break you. And as easy as it is to follow the trends and what the fashionistas say you’ve got to think about what a specific outfit says to you. Becoming more like you can be about staying away from the norms. You don’t have to follow the herd, and when you are trying to be courageous with your outfits, it’s about taking that leap. Try something; you might like it!

Be Simple

Simplicity is vital. When fashion dictates that everybody should be wearing leather or suede not only is it expensive to follow these trends, but it’s exhausting! You’ve got to dress for the person that you want to be and live the life that you want. This means that we shouldn’t overthink it but also get into the habit of decluttering. Decluttering your wardrobe is the perfect way of decluttering your life. Going back to basics with neutral coloured clothing and a handful of shoes gives you a far better foundation to build upon.

Plain short-sleeve T-shirts, simple slip-on shoes, classic denim jeans, and solid pieces that can work with multiple outfits are the way forward. A statement piece, such as a denim jacket, a scarf, or sunglasses, can instantly make a simple outfit more stylish.

Get Inspired

Who inspires you? Or maybe there isn’t anybody out there that you take inspiration from. Sometimes we could do with going back to the drawing board to get a few ideas. When you are looking for a way to become unique sometimes, you’ve got to go to the various fashion accounts on Pinterest just to give you a starting point. Getting inspired by other people can give you a new direction to go in, or you may just want to emulate that style but when you are dressing to be who you want to be you’ve got to make sure that you are being true to yourself.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post

 

Fairy Travels

A weekend in Luxembourg with kids

cobbled street

Pic Credit: Mamma Fairy Blog

No surprises here – another Ryanair bargain flight and we were off to Luxembourg at the end of January.  Having got good flight deals on Gothenburg  and Eindhoven I was very excited to add another country to our travel list. I booked the flights end of November for January at €9.99 each. It was a very short pleasant flight around an hour and half long which was perfect for a weekend break.  We landed in Luxembourg around 7pm to really dense fog, I literally could not see the bus stop when we stepped out of the airport!!

The first thing you will notice is how clean everywhere is. The airport was immaculate. We jumped on the bus number 29 which departs outside the airport main door straight to the city every 15 minutes and takes about 20 minutes.  Again so efficient. We were very lucky as the bus stopped quite literally outside our hotel door.  We couldn’t wait to get a visual of the city but the dense fog and pitch dark meant that would have to wait until the morning.

Where we stayed

cobbled street

Pic Credit: Mamma Fairy Blog

We stayed at the Novotel Luxembourg Centre which claims to be a family friendly hotel and hand on heart it was one of the most family friendly hotels we have ever stayed in.  It is evident from the moment you check in.  There have a fussball table in reception and my kids were hyper about the next bit… a kids corner with an xbox. It was just perfect for us. I would be very remiss of me not to say a special thank you to Caroline on reception. The kindness and professionalism show to us was some of the best we have had in all the hotels we have stayed. She had endless patience with the kids and their questions and xbox requests and so much knowledge on things to do locally.  I hope Novotel realise what a gem they have with Caroline.

The room we had comprised  a double and sofa bed  – again ideal for our needs. The breakfast was really and I mean really good. The kids were borderline obsessed with the pancake maker and pretty much hogged it the entire breakfast each morning! I find a good breakfast when you are travelling really sets us up for the day of exploring. Thanks to the Novotel for the lovely personalised welcome to our room, absolutely made our day.

Temperatures hovered around zero and it was quite damp so kids were glad to have their Reima  which was kindly gifted to us for our Lapland trip.

What we did

Luxembourg is a stunningly beautiful city, the old buildings and walls and narrow winding streets. The fog was still pretty bad making visibility quite poor so we decided to head walking to get our bearings. Interestingly the old fortification walls of the city are designated UNESCO  sites. Its not hard to be wowed by the contrasting architecture. The old walls are just stunning.  The city also very uniquely have over 17km of underground tunnels (Bock Casemates)  which unfortunately were closed during our stay but can be accessed at two points in the city. The kids are begging to go back just to see the tunnels.

Continue Reading

Features

How to Rebuild Your Credit with Bad Credit Payday Loans

It’s perfectly normal to make financial missteps occasionally, but make them too often and it may negatively impact your credit score.  With the ongoing cost of living crisis and increasing inflation, many are dealing with financial difficulties leading to a poor credit score. However, while you cannot hope to rebuild your credit history overnight, the good news is that it’s possible to improve it gradually. 

By taking certain measures and building a reliable strategy,  improving your credit can become so much easier.  One such measure is leveraging payday loans from bad credit direct lenders in the UK. I know what you’re thinking, “how can a “payday loan” from “bad credit lenders” help me?”

Well, let us preface this by saying, you don’t need to take this loan, especially for improving your credit score. However, when you do find yourself in a financial emergency and are struggling to get help from traditional lenders, these payday loans can not only offer relief but also help rebuild your credit score.

How? you ask. That’s what we’re here to discuss. In this guide, we will demonstrate how bad credit payday loans can help you improve your credit score and rebuild your creditworthiness.

What does ‘Bad Credit’ mean?

Bad credit doesn’t sound very positive and much like its name suggests, it is not.  To identify someone with a poor credit history or score, you say they have bad credit. This label is given to someone who is of high risk to a lender during the borrowing process.  The term “Bad credit” comes from the credit score system, a system used by many lenders to determine how much risk is involved in any loan.

Here, your credit score is calculated based on your credit history. As such, it accounts for all the debt-related transactions you have made in the past. If you have repeatedly failed to make payments or defaulted on loans, you will have bad credit or a bad credit score. Your bad credit then acts as a roadblock when applying for loans and credit cards.

What is a Bad Credit Payday Loan?

Bad credit payday loans are for people who have had problems regarding their finances and struggle with bad credit histories. 

They are temporary loans that are to be taken out if sudden financial emergencies arise. As a result, these loans are a big relief and provide quick money to people denied credit by traditional lenders.  When compared to normal loans, bad credit payday loans offer smaller amounts for relatively shorter periods. Often, until your upcoming payday, proving very helpful in a time-sensitive financial crisis.

How Taking Out a Bad Credit Payday Loan Can Rebuild Your Credit History

If used correctly, you will be able to take advantage of bad payday loans to rebuild your credit score. Moreover, they also help get your finances under control.

Bad credit payday loans provide you with quick cash to take care of unexpected expenditures. For example, car repairs or sudden home improvements. As a result, they help solve liquidity problems.

You could use bad credit payday loans to pay off any previous debts and consolidate them. If you already have debts with high interest, use payday loans to make the repayment easier. They significantly reduce the cost of debt, allowing you to begin rebuilding your credit history.

Furthermore, given that this is a type of debt that will be recorded in your credit report, repaying it can lead to a positive effect on your score.

Can a bad credit payday loan impact my credit score?

Yes, it definitely can. You might not be aware of this, but taking out a bad credit payday loan does impact your credit score. By ensuring you make all your monthly loan repayments regularly and on time, you show that you’re a reliable borrower and can handle credit responsibly. As a result, this in turn will have a positive effect on your credit score in the long term.

3 Tips To Build Up Your Credit Score

Your credit score is a vital part of your financial background. It is possible to get approved for a loan with a bad credit score, but you still have to try to improve it to be able to access other forms of credit.

There are many ways to improve your credit score and transform your credit history, such as:

1) Paying your bills on time

If you make late payments on loans, it negatively impacts your credit score. As such, you have to ensure your monthly loan repayments go through on time to improve your score.

2) Paying off your outstanding debts

Getting rid of any outstanding debts can positively impact your credit score. As such, try starting with smaller loans to close loans more quickly.

3) Analysing your credit report

It’s vital to assess and evaluate your credit report regularly. Sometimes there may be errors in the report. These errors may harm your credit score without any fault on your end. 

To Wrap Up

Payday loans are not an instant solution for improving your credit score, but they are helpful. If you can make repayments as per schedule, you will be able to significantly boost your credit score. 

Bad credit payday loans are quite easy to acquire irrespective of your credit score. Yet, your credit score still matters.  With bad credit payday loans, ensure that you’re taking only what is needed. More importantly, make sure you repay the loan on time to preserve your credit score.  With our help, we hope that you take action towards fixing your credit score and improve your credit moving forward.

Note: This is a collaborative post 

Mamma Musings

Is Buying Gold Nuggets a Good Investment for Your Family’s Future

Gold nuggets are widely considered to be excellent investments for the future, so the short and simple answer to the question as to whether they are a good investment for your family would be yes.  Investing is a minefield and unless its an area you are very familiar while the potential for returns is high so is the potential for huge losses. If you do need the help of an expert there are many of them out there however my advice is if you are investing your hard earned money and don’t personally have the expertise yourself, financial consultants like Jason Vanclef are the way to go.

It is too risky to try to do this without some expert input.  A Financial Consultant is an experienced, trained professional who can help you either personally with investment decision or in the corporate world they can be the ones advising on for example mergers and acquisitions or improving the overall return for a companies shareholders.

Back to gold – which I find totally fascinating….I have pulled together the following at a basic level to help with initial decisions.

How Do You Know What You Are Buying is Original?

gold nugget

Pic Credit: Pixabay

There is only one way to be absolutely sure if a gold nugget you are buying is really genuine and not some man-made, artificial lookalike, and that is that there is a requirement for the nugget/nuggets to have a Certificate of Authenticity from Orocal accompanying them.   Just in case you are not aware, Orocal is the premier name in the natural gold industry, which is why its certificates of authenticity hold the highest value in the business.

As all gold Nuggets by Grant come with the Orocal Certificate of Authenticity, buying from them directly would definitely be a way to make sure that whatever you are buying is genuine and will have actual investment value down the line.

Nuggets By Grant is able to source its gold directly from mines in Alaska, Canada and Australia, mainly due to the close connection Grant has with Orocal, which is another reason why the company has managed to maintain an excellent reputation in the business.

Nuggets By Grant has a very dependable and friendly customer support team, so talk with them first to know what size and kind would be right for you, before investing.

The Grades to Avoid

When you are investing in gold nuggets, it is important that you pay attention to the grade. Common grade and melt grade nuggets are the ones to avoid, even though they are certainly not duplicates.

The problem is that whether the gold price is appreciating or depreciating, the common grade and melt grade nuggets do not fare nearly as well as jewellery-grade or investment grade gold nuggets.

What are Collectible Grade Gold Nuggets?

Aside from the common, melt and jewelry/investment grades, gold nuggets also come in collectable grades, which is an inbetweener grade with variable value.  Collectable grade gold nuggets have slight mineralization from the host rock, which gives it an aesthetic appearance. While they are not as high-value in terms of pure gold price, they do have excellent collectors’ value, setting them only next to jewelry grade nuggets in terms of price.

When you see a gold nugget which is so beautiful, big and rare that it looks like something that should belong to a museum, it probably already is in a museum! If by any chance it’s not a fake, and you can afford one, rest assured that you have landed on a gold mine, in more ways than one.

Museum grade nuggets appreciate both with the value of gold, as well as in their potential collectors’ value, as long as they are authentic of course. Have the nugget lab tested if you are making a significant investment in one though, just to be sure.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Musings

Benefits of Sleep to Students

“I should be studying, not asleep…” This is probably what I’m thinking as a student trying to gauge the momentary necessity of sleep versus studying. After getting involved in daily student activities, including co-curricular and socializing, the last thing I want to do is study. However, with a test coming up, I can’t risk a failure. I know how hard my parents worked to get me into that school, especially after getting the school catchment areas explained to me. It was so much sacrifice, how could I let them down?

Facing such a state is typical for students, and many times I will trade the sleep for an extra hour of study when I feel like failure is not an option. Although this is an unlikely piece of advice to students, we need our sleep to be in the right mind to pass exams. This leads us to the question of the day, how is sleep beneficial for students?

1. It Boosts Memory

My brain needs to process all the facts I collect in the day and arrange them accordingly. If I keep taking in information without enough time to process it, a lot is lost. Since this processing happens best at night, I need my sleep to ensure my memory retains important data and sets away irrelevant information.

2. For Better Grades

One of the most significant misconceptions we have is that we need to study hard through the night to get good grades. However, being a top scorer is more about studying smart than studying hard. Many pieces of research now reveal that sleep deprivation affects students significantly, even those with irregular sleep cycles.

As already explained above, good sleep boosts my memory, which leads to better grades. In any case, not everyone understands best when studying at night.

3. It Boosts My Immunity

During sleep, the body releases cytokines, a protein used to fight infections and regulate stress. Cytokine is an immune booster, and if I lack sleep chronically, I reduce its production significantly. This could expose my body to viruses and also increase my stress levels. Being in distress is a lead cause of illnesses today, which adds to the risk of infections I expose myself to.

4. It’s a Mood Booster

sleep

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Other than reducing stress, enough sleep improves my general well-being. People who barely sleep will often be highly irritable, sad, or sluggish during the day. This is no shape to study in, and not catering for it early could lead to other mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Ever realized that sometimes we do not feel like doing anything, but after a nap, we are back to our best mood? Yes, sometimes, all we need is a sound sleep to cure a bad day.

5. Better Behavior Patterns

We need to be in our right minds to make sober decisions. If I am not well-rested, I probably feel too tired to think critically about anything. All I’m thinking about is when I get to rest. College students are not always the best in judgment, and a significant cause of this is their overwhelmed mental space.

By sleeping adequately, I ensure my mind is clear to start a new day. I can comfortably decide when to wake up, get to class and attend to other matters during the day. My mind is clear enough to make mature decisions, leading to better decision patterns.

6. Reduces the Risk of Obesity

A healthy student needs a right mind and a healthy body. Lack of enough sleep is a common cause of obesity, among other factors that expose one to other health risks. Proper sleep provides enough time for food processing at night and good metabolism to keep the body’s fats regulated.

Quality Sleep for Quality Grades

Life forces us to make sacrifices, and the more we grow into adults, the more we come across tough decisions. However, when it comes to sleep and study, learning to balance the two healthily will do students a lot of good. As I commit to improve my sleeping hours, I should also think about my sleep quality. This involves sleep latency, how deep I sleep, and how often I wake up in the middle of the night. All these counts for quality sleep, which leads to quality grades and a happier lifestyle.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post