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Mamma Fairy

Mamma Musings

10 Home Security Tips: Are Surveillance Cameras Enough?

Homeowners take home security seriously, and it’s critical for them to review all aspects of home security. It isn’t just about the security surveillance system, but it is vital to have a system. The system must be compliant with relevant regulations as well as being functional and meeting your needs in terms of security. Of course, it can be hard to know where to start when securing your house, but you can click here for more information on CCTV cameras, which are always a good place to start.

There are other aspects that are just as important as the security system, and the property owner must evaluate them.

For example, the homeowner’s daily habits could present a would-be intruder with details about when to break into the property. Minor changes in their routine could prevent a break-in and leave criminals guessing. A review of 10 home security tips helps property owners keep their homes more secure.

  1. Change the Locks Regularly

As a homeowner, it is important to prevent anyone from getting the keys to the home. Parents give their kids keys to their home, and if they lose the keys, there’s no telling who could find the keys. A great practice to keeping the home more secure is to have the locks changed at least every six months.

If anyone who lives with them losing a house key, the homeowner should get the locks changed and give everyone a new key. Homeowners can learn more about getting their locks changed by visiting Action Lock Doc right now.

  1. Become More Aware of Your Entry Points

Whenever the person moves into a new home, the first thing they should do is to become aware of all their entry points. It is recommended that they count the total number of doors and windows. It is these entry points that the owner must secure.

For example, they will need to add sensors to windows and their doors whenever they set up a security system. However, if the homeowner lives alone, they could position furniture nearby these entry points that prevent outsiders from getting into the home without their knowledge. If you live in an apartment or another type of shared living arrangement you may wish to look at a system specifically designed for apartment access control.

  1. Using a Security Surveillance System Appropriately

Security surveillance systems are a necessary part of keeping the home safer, but it is vital for the homeowner to set up the cameras correctly to avoid blind spots. A common problem with the designs is that they don’t have enough cameras for larger properties. The homeowner must review the display as the cameras are set up and adjust the cameras according to possible blindspots.

  1. Replace Any Damaged Windows

By replacing damaged windows, the property owner restores home security and prevents a break-in. Compromised areas of the windows present an entry point for intruders and pests.

By replacing these windows, the property owner can choose safety glass that won’t shatter and give intruders an access point through the windows. Adding sensors to the new windows stops anyone from opening the windows without engaging the alarm.

  1. Use Smart Home Features

Smart home features improve home security, too, and the homeowner can control their lights, electronic locks, and HVAC through a remote connection. If they forget to lock a door, the owner can check it through the smart home systems.

They can lock windows, too. The connection allows them to check in on their home or their family at any time via the security system. Some smart home features allow the homeowner to use an intercom to speak to people that come to their front door when they aren’t at home. This is a great way to deter an intruder.

  1. Close Your Curtains and Blinds

When the homeowner doesn’t need natural light, it’s a great idea to shut their curtains and prevent outsiders from looking into their home. Curtain and binds increase the homeowner’s privacy, and limited visibility prevents a potential intruder from identifying the exact layout of the home. If the intruder cannot see inside the home, they won’t have a chance to plan a home invasion.

  1. Get Security Doors for Main Entry Points

Security doors can reinforce the security of the property, and the doors prevent outsiders from getting to the entry doors. Security doors have a variety of designs, and some require a key to lock and unlock them. If the intruders cannot get past the security doors, this decreases the potential for them to get into the home.

To get the most out of the installation, the homeowner can install the security doors in front of all entry doors. It is a great way to decrease the potential for a home invasion, and the property owner may get discounts on their homeowner’s insurance premiums.

  1. Use a Safe That Doesn’t Look Like a Safe and Use Decoys

A great strategy for protecting their valuables is to get a safe that doesn’t look like a safe, and they can use a decoy to draw the attention of an intruder away from their real safe. Today’s safes do not look like a traditional safe, and it is far easier to conceal them in the home. A great decay is a smaller jewelry box places on a dresser that is filled with costume jewelry.

  1. Install Better Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting is necessary to keep the home secure, and the position of the lighting determines how well the homeowner sees around their home at night. Motion lights are a great choice for areas that are not used often, and the homeowner will be alerted whenever someone is outside their home.

  1. Install a Door Brace for Primary Entry Points

By installing a door brace for the primary entry points, the property owner can reinforce the security of their entry doors. They can slide the door brace into place before they go to sleep at night, and no one is getting the door open.

Homeowners must review home security strategies more thoroughly, and they will find aspects that they didn’t consider. By addressing overlooked aspects of home security, the property owner keeps themselves and their family safer. They must start with entry points, especially their entry doors.

By adding extra features such as smart home installations, the property owner designs their own security concept for their property and cuts down on risks. A complete risk assessment of the property is telling, and the property owner becomes more aware of all entry points and how to secure them properly.

Home & Interiors

Our sitting room makeover with DFS

Over the last number of years on the blog you will have seen references and posts about our renovation project. We are so very close to completion. The final piece of this mammoth undertaking was the sitting room. We decided that this would be the last room completed. Its the first room you meet when you come in the front door and what we really wanted was a calm, relaxing, clutter free place to chill out together as a family or to entertain family and friends when they called over.  We deliberately took our time on this as we wanted it to be perfect.

Generally my house is like any home to young kids full of toys, food stains. I had the kids well warned in advance that the new sitting room would be a food free zone!  There are plenty other places to eat in the house, the sitting room just wont be one of them.  Life in the Mamma Fairy is hectic, from full time work, to school work, to kids sports/ activities and day to day living therefore quality downtime is paramount, that’s time to chat, converse and enjoy each others company. I suppose in reality the sitting room is the heart of our home. If I was on Home of the Year I would be putting the red circle here as my favourite spot.

Here a little pic of the before, there wasn’t anything wrong with it as such but it didn’t invite or encourage that vibe that I wanted to create.  The wallpaper  had got to the stage I pretty much couldn’t look at it any longer, I was so sick on my second wee man that I spent days on end staring at that while on bed rest.  The mere sight of it brings back those emotions.

The Dada Fairy is in the construction business so he is mega fussy and incredible safety conscious about all work that goes on in the house and products we buy. Quality products are of paramount importance and he knows quality when he sees it 🙂

The products

A little drumroll please……………………and here is the finished product. I love love love it, its exactly the vibe I wanted to encapsulate, calming, welcoming, soft natural tones.

Panelling

The panelling was completed by Customised Creations by John O’Shea.  We paid for this ourselves, not sponsored or gifted in anyway, we are just extremely satisfied customers. The carpenters who were on site with us were professional, discrete, and so tidy in terms of cleaning up after their days work. The spent some very long days and nights here to get finished up in time for Christmas and we are very grateful for that.  Honestly, would have no hesitation in recommending them. We have had them back since to do built in wardrobes which I will also be sharing on the blog when completed.

Sofas

I’m not sure many purchases generate as much argument debate than the purchase of the sofas in a house.  I really thought I wanted leather, thinking about the kids and cleaning the inevitable spills etc, however a visit to DFS provide a wealth of valuable information.  You can get the fabric sofas coated with a stain proof prior to delivery to overcome this very obstacle.  We fell head over heals for the Zinc collection, fitted my brief perfectly, natural tones, relaxed yet stylish.

However one of the lesser known facts about DFS sofas are that have been awarded the BSI Kitemark indicating they reach the highest possible standards and are guaranteed for 15 years.  That to me shows a dept of confidence in their brand. 15 years of bottoms on seats, of kids jumping around and they are willing to stand over their product for 15 years?? To my mind that shows trust in the quality of their brand.

DFS has was the first and only UK and Ireland furniture retailer to be certified to the BSI Kitemark™ for upholstered furniture.  The BSI Kitemark is one of the most established and  recognized symbols of quality and safety throughout the world thus giving consumers an independently verified quality seal of approval.  Interestingly as a result DFS factories will now receive annual audits to ensure this consistent high standard is met.

 

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Features

Growing your Instagram some tips and tricks from the experts

When I started out on this blogging journey back in 2015, I had no clue about any of the technology side of blogging, hosting, SEO, domain name were all foreign concepts to me. However knowing I loved to write but wanted an audience to read my writing I made a concentrated effort to further my own knowledge. There is a wealth of information available on line to help upskill in this area. For examples sites like myemma.com provide invaluable sources of information on everything from SEO, to trends in marketing and social media. You could spend days perusing the wealth of information. However key is knowing how to put it into practice.

One of the social media platforms which I admit im still very much behind the curve on is Instagram. I love it to look at and enjoy other peoples content, I do however find working on Instagram growth of my own page hard work.  Blogging is a hobby for me and I don’t want it to become a chore. One article from myemma.com which stood out for me was about Instagram and making it work. Did you know there are 500 million users on Instagram a day!!! That is a pretty mind blowing statistic and in equal measure its a captive audience waiting to be reached. I have been very kindly given permission to reproduce the article in question below however to see it in its home place, please see here.

A Sink or Swim look at Instagram

(credit: myemma.com)

Social media advertising has steadily grown in popularity ever since the opportunity to display promotional material on these platforms became available. It’s been a once you pop, the fun don’t stop type of trend.  But creating these targeted advertisements might be unfamiliar for many digital marketers. There are a number of complexities involved in these platforms, and it can be hard to have insight into your return on investment. That being said, the benefits to advertising on social far outweigh the negatives (as we’re sure you know). And Instagram is no exception to that rule.

500 million users log into Instagram every day. Yes—every day.

This visually-heavy platform is an immediate attention-grabber. And it’s an easy platform for consumers and brands alike to browse through thanks to its aesthetic appeal. These factors alone make it a great platform for advertising—again, not to mention the 500 million daily users. While growing your following organically is the most important step sometimes you do need to enlist the help of experts in this area for example  an organic Instagram growth service  can equip you with the tools needed to grow you audience and following to help you capitalise on the platforms appeal.

With so many users out there is a shame not to grab a slice of that opportunity to showcase your product or services. Sometimes we may need some assistance from third party provides which could assist to help us get more out of Instagram with Nitreo for example.

Instagram advertising is booming, and it’s time to jump on board.

How Instagram marketing works

Instagram launched in 2010, and by 2013, the popular social media platform was acquired by Facebook. Any good social media advertiser understands the staggering benefits of Facebook ads. And that success easily transfers over to this image-focused platform.   From traditional posts to sponsored content, IG Stories and more, there are copious opportunities for marketers to take their brands to the next level through visually stunning advertisements.

And with 200 million users visiting at least one business profile every day, your brand has very tangible potential to make an impact on consumers by promoting products and services through images, videos and even long-form content.

And yes—it sells.

In fact, Instagram mobile ad revenue hit almost 7 billion in 2018. Those numbers will grow through 2019 and beyond.   Much like its parent company Facebook, marketers can create a variety of content and target it accordingly. But there’s one thing that differentiates Instagram from Facebook and other platforms—its sorting algorithm.

How does the Instagram algorithm come into play?

Instagram feeds aren’t the chronologically ordered feeds of social media past. Instead, there’s an algorithm in place that sorts and sifts through posts and accounts. This algorithm is customized to each user, putting content from real people before content from brands.

There are three key indicators that dictate how Instagram organizes a user’s feed:

  • content quality

  • personalization

  • post engagement

Let’s dive a little deeper into each so your marketing team knows what to do when setting out to create Instagram ads.

1. Focus on content quality.

Just like Google and its Facebook counterpart, the Instagram algorithm focuses heavily on content value. It won’t just promote your post because your brand posted it. Instead, the content needs to make an impact. It needs to tell a story. And it needs to drive action.

Your posts have to say something and tell a story in order for Instagram to promote it on a user’s feed.

Some users follow thousands of accounts, with hundreds of businesses included in those numbers. They don’t actually want to see all of that promotional content. Likewise, your brand shouldn’t be posting ads that are too promotional either.

Focus on answering questions or starting conversations. This gets more people—potential customers—involved, and gives your brand a better chance of scoring a top spot.

2. Personalize your Instagram ads to your audience.

This is where Instagram’s nifty native ad functionalities come in. With these Instagram advertising options, you can personalize your content to your specific audience.  And that’s important, considering consumers want more personalization when it comes to their interaction with brands. Only 22% of consumers are happy with the level of personalization they experience from brands.

Be better and give your audience what they want in the form of innovative and personalized messaging, targeting, and imagery.

3. Get your audience engaged.

The last, big-ticket factor in the Instagram marketing and advertising algorithm centers around engagement. The more people engage with your posts organically, the higher they’ll rank on a user’s feed. I know some creators do buy likes to get a head start on the algorithm, just in case you didn’t know this could be done, there are lots of articles online regarding how to buy Instagram likes.

Similarly, if you post an ad with high engagement, it’ll be promoted to more people and shared in a way that gets more views, drawing more eyes to your products and offers. Whether you’re using Instagram in the traditional social media marketing way, or you’re using it for paid advertisements, keep these factors in mind when it comes to content creation.

That being said, here are some more tips to develop an Instagram advertising strategy that drives results.

3 tips to boost your Instagram advertising strategy

1. Up your visual design skills.

80% of users follow at least one business account on Instagram. What’s better? 75% of users visit a website to learn more about a product or service they saw on the social media platform.  That means that your brand is already in front of your target audience. Consumers want to follow brands on social media platforms—especially Instagram.  But they’ll continue to follow you to see what visual assets you can bring to the table.

Yes, Instagram is all about the aesthetics. So you need to make sure that while your audience is there and ready to absorb your content, they’ll actually stick around to interact with it. This means you may need to invest heavily in your visual designs, or at least your design skills. Whether you’re promoting images, videos, photography, or graphics, they need to be eye-catching and engaging. There needs to be a very clear design plan in place for your designers, animators, and producers to follow. For example if food is your niche improving your Instagram food photography skills will be critical

It’s your visuals that’ll stop people in their tracks. If your ad is on a user’s feed that knows nothing about your brand, you need to grab their attention with eye-catching images and video. Yet as foundational as that sounds, this takes time, patience, and creativity.

Your first step in creating an Instagram ad is finding the right visual medium to get people interested. One brand doing a great job using eye-catching imagery in their ads—and in their Instagram strategy as a whole—is ONYGO.

The German fashion brand uses high-quality photography, enthusiastic videos, and a clear color palette to entice viewers and lead them on a fantastical journey that takes them to their website. This visual mastery immediately grabs attention and aligns the brand as a fun, flirty, and vivacious leader in millennial fashion.

ONYG) visual mastery
Image Source: Instagram

2. Make use of hashtags.

Hashtags are a very low-maintenance way to instantly boost results: Instagram posts with at least one hashtag see a 12.6% increase in engagement.

Hashtags are a vital tool in the Instagram advertiser’s arsenal. Hashtags target specific groups, conversations, and audiences. There are people who are spending their time searching for these hashtags, or that follow an individual hashtag in their main feed.

Similarly, advertisers can target these hashtags through their ads and posts. Make sure your team is utilizing hashtags in all posts. There’s a sweet spot for every brand, but it’s important that you research and come up with hashtags that makes an impact on your audience.

Another effective way to make a splash with hashtags in your Instagram ads is by creating a branded hashtag. Think about your brand, its name, and its core values. Use this research to come up with a hashtag that can accompany all of your posts and compel audiences to use it in their own posts as well.

This opens up the possibility for conversation, which brings us to the last tip to break through for Instagram advertisers.

3. Start and jump in on conversations.

Fact: 72% of users have bought a product they saw on Instagram. So if you can get your product in front of your audience, there’s almost a 75% chance that they’ll take this information and run with it. They’ll Google your brand or visit your website, and this will lead them to learn more, and then ultimately to purchase.

I’m sure you can attest to this—almost certainly you’ve seen products on Instagram and immediately wanted to buy them.

But in order to sell products, you have to have the right messaging. And in most cases, that messaging involves asking questions, starting conversations, and giving your audience something to talk and think about.

This falls in line with the part of the Instagram algorithm that focuses on engagement. Instagram wants to facilitate relationships and conversations, so use your ads to get inside the heads of your audience and get them interacting. Some people at the outset often invest in Instagram growth services like Growthoid using it effectively like a kickstart to get their messages and page out there.

MeUndies effectively started a conversation with its Instagram ads. This underwear brand used its Instagram presence to eliminate stigma around underwear and make people more open to talking about it—and shopping for it online.

MeUndies instagram ads

Image Source: Instagram

Wrap up 

Whether you’re using Instagram to market more traditionally, or you’re using it for paid advertisements, you need to be aware of the complex algorithm that sorts your content. More than awareness, use our explanations and tips to use it to your advantage!

From here, focus on your visual imagery—whether that’s a photo, an animation, an illustration, or a video. Make sure to use hashtags to engage with more audience and demonstrate that you’re an approachable brand.

Then it’s time to have fun! Engage in conversations, start discussions, and use your content to create a dialogue between you and your audience. This establishes trust and lets your audience know that you’re more than just a corporate entity.

 

There is some really fantastic tips in the article above and certainly lots of food for thought, perhaps 2019 will be the year I double my Instagram following, let hope so.

Fairy Travels

Amsterdam calling in 2019

Amsterdam at night

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Back in 2015 we touched down in Amsterdam to hear the very sad new my wonderful granda had passed away. I was distraught. We departed on the next flight back to Dublin. For a long time I had a mental block about Amsterdam, about going back there. The association was tough.  However a press release popped in my inbox this week and made me think. You know something perhaps a return visit is just what I need, a closure of sorts.

I see that KLM has reached an agreement between themselves and Dublin headquartered Stobart Air which will see Stobart provide an E195 jet on an ACMI contract (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) for the purpose of operating up to eight flights per day from Amsterdam, including Dublin to Amsterdam. I was intrigued to read that Stobart employ over 500 people.  You might not realise that Stobart are the airline that operates the Dublin-Donegal and Dublin-Kerry Public Service Obligation (PSO) routes, on behalf of the Irish Government, under the Aer Lingus Regional brand. 

I use the Donegal – Dublin route very frequently and its incredibly convenient, for work reason we are split between Dublin and Donegal and this makes it a lot easier. Another huge plus is the view from Carrickfinn runway on departure. The runway literally disappears before your eyes! If I recall correctly it was voted the Worlds most scenic runway in 2018. That is quite the accolade.

Back to Amsterdam! I did so much research before my trip and had it all planned out, Heineken Factory, canal boat cruise, copious coffees along the canals. My youngest was only young at the time we went in 2015 so Nana very kindly offered to take him while we took my oldest, who was 3 at the time. Being the ultimate hoarder I no doubt still have all my notes.

Perhaps 2019 will be the year we pay another visit to this intriguing city. Time will tell.

 

Mamma Musings

Do Valentine’s Online This Year

heart shape

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Christmas may be well and truly in the rear-view mirror, and we can all breathe a sigh of relief that it’s completely over for another full year. However, there are still holidays and birthday throughout the year that we need to prepare for.  For those of you in relationships, the time to relax and unwind on the gift-giving front doesn’t last that long. Because, before you know it, Valentine’s Day will spring right up on you.

That’s right, the one day of the year where you have to show your significant other just how much you love them is almost here, which is why it’s time to get prepared. Obviously, there’s a certain etiquette to have depending on how long you’ve been dating, but that doesn’t mean you should start looking at the latest possible time. This year especially in the current environment online sites such as Naturally Dating are helping more people find love during these tough times. 

Not only for dating but, buying Valentine’s gifts online is the ideal way to get ahead of the game this year, and this is why.

More Time to Prepare

Firstly it means you have more time to prepare as you’ll be able to shop around and see what’s out there. This means you’ll not only be able to find gift ideas you hadn’t thought of for example  good quality statement scarves, but find things you’ve been looking for at a much better price. Also, if you order your gifts earlier, you won’t have that panic of them not arriving in time.

Much More Personal

Another good thing about buying cards and gifts online is that you can personalise them. This eliminates the need to spend hours sifting through card shops for that perfect message as you can type up your own, add a few nice images, and there you go. This applies to gifts as well, as you can get pretty much everything personalised, from mugs and scarves to plates, teddy bears and everything in between.

Skip the Queues

One of the biggest advantages of shopping online is that you don’t have to queue. After all, there’s nothing worse than spending hours standing in line at the card shop or gift store on a weekend, or even your lunch break. You simply just have to load up the computer, or even your phone, and get searching and then it comes straight to your door – job done.

Obviously, there are many more reasons why shopping online will help you out when it comes to buying Valentine’s gifts. But these three are key, so make sure you’re not running around looking for gifts and standing in queues this year, and get it all done early and online.

Note: This is a collaborative post
Home & Interiors

Keep your Home Warm with Stylish Heaters

keeping warm

Pic Credit: Pixabay

The last thing we want when we’re lounging around at home is to be cold, and although we can wrap up with a blanket or jumper, it’s just not the same as being wrapped up in the heat of the house.  Although we may have timed the heating to come on when we get in from work, and we’ve even popped the fire on, sometimes getting warm can be hard – especially given the harshness of the UK’s winter weather. But what about heaters?

Although you may have an image of big and bulky electric heaters that just spoil the room, you can get a wide selection of stylish heaters these days from places like Coopers of Stortford. Let us talk you through your modern-day portable heating options.

Style and Substance

Of course, the last thing you want is something hideous in your living, dining or bedroom. But today’s heaters are a long way from the historic ones you can remember. Now you’ll find them in sleek, slimline designs that resemble something of an Apple product, which sit wonderfully in the corner of your rooms just waiting to be switched on to give you that extra blast of heat.

Old School Charm

Of course, maybe your décor theme isn’t modern, which would make an Apple style sleekly designed product a bit of a no go. However, even if you’ve gone for an older style of décor in your home, you can still find a wonderful electric heater that’ll add a little bit of décor magic to your home, while also bringing that extra bit heat. You’ll discover this in stove style designs that look like old fashion fireplaces, but are on hand for that added warmth when needed.

Hidden Away

Perhaps you prefer a more minimalistic style in your home, in which case the sight of a portable heater, regardless of how sleek and slimline, is just going to stick out like a sore thumb. But that doesn’t mean you have to accept that little chill every now and then. Instead, you can opt for mini heaters that can be easily hidden away. But how you may ask, well that’s easy. These mini heaters can be plugged into the wall like an electronic air freshener, meaning it can be hidden away at all times, depending on where you’ve chosen to plug it in.

And there you have it, three quick and easy ways to add extra warmth to your rooms at all times, without affecting the look of your home.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Features

10 Tips on How to Cope With News of Terminal Illness

When a health condition advances, doctors might declare it a terminal illness. It is not easy to predict how much time anyone has before death occurs. It could be a few months or weeks, and the upsetting news can negatively affect you and your loved ones. How do you cope with this sad reality?

It is Okay to React

You cannot predict how you would react if the doctor says the disease is too hard to cure. Everyone reacts differently. The shocking news is almost unbearable, and that’s why some people go silent. You will most likely not believe what you’ve heard. It is okay to cry. Whether you feel scared, agitated, or numb, know that the feelings are normal. Take time to admit the reality even if you want to be alone.If your loved ones suggest Hospice Care, know that they are doing it out of love. As tough as it may be, don’t try to suppress the emotions. You can still express and manage them no matter how hard it seems.

Decide How You Want to Die

You have all the rights to choose where you wish to die. Your priorities, treatment method, and extent of the illness will determine your decision on planning a good death. It can take time to plan how you will die at home. Depending on your health condition, you might need a dedicated caregiver apart from the family members.Many who die in hospitals are subject to infections due to over-medication or unwanted contacts. End-of-life care tends to differ according to socioeconomic status. The good news is that there are nursing homes for all levels of income earners.A report compiled by KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) indicates that Medicare beneficiaries dying annually (2 million) represent 80% of total deaths in the USA. Only half of them die at hospice facilities, meaning that the other half spends their end of life days at home. Do not overlook the quality of treatment from a good nursing home, hospital, or hospice. Once you set your priorities right, communicate with the family and doctors to see if you have chosen a viable option.

hospice

Pic Credit: Pixabay


Be Kind to Yourself

As mentioned, it is normal to experience a range of emotions. How you react to those feelings is what matters as you approach death. Since not everything has or will go well, it is high time to forgive yourself. Some days, you will not handle matters as you would wish. Love and accept yourself.

Make Every Day Count

The most exciting moments are not found in big events or exotic vacations. You can make wonderful memories by seizing the day. Take time to reward yourself for living a worthy life. Spending time with a partner or child can be therapeutic. Whether you are listening to music or birds chirping, the idea is to find moments of joy. Get the most out of the little time that is left.

Process That Paperwork

The family needs to know where your vital papers are. Update them if need be. Have a health care directive planned and state your desires in writing. It is this document that spells out who will make your medical decisions if you are unable to. Remember to write down your living will and indicate the kind of treatments you prefer towards the end of life. You might also want to draft a Do Not Resuscitate order. Your doctor should also sign the paperwork. If possible, you can choose to donate organs to help others. Put detailed instructions in the health care directive.

Note: This is a collaborative post
Features

Spring Fashion – What’s Going to Be Big This Season?

lady on boat

Pic Credit: Pixabay

As the snow and ice grips the country, what better time to look ahead to the warmer, lighter months of spring? It may feel like a long way off, but spring fashion is just around the corner. If you’re hoping to get on trend and rock the latest spring 2019 fashion trends, below you’ll discover what’s set to be big this season.

Celebrate the season with neon colours

There’s a lot of colour trends kicking off the spring 2019 fashion, but neon is one of the major players. This bold trend has been kickstarted by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian in 2018 and it’s set to carry on throughout this year too. Just some of the catwalks neon has been showcased recently include Henry Holland, Naeem Khan and Christian Siriano. Basically, anything which comes in a bright, bold neon colour is what you’ll want to aim for.

This trend is also set to continue throughout the summer too so start stocking up on your neon clothing now to get ahead of the trend.

Leopard prints

Worried you might end up looking like a highlighter pen following the neon trend? Another colour scheme taking over this season is animal prints, or more specifically, leopard prints.

crochet jumper

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Animal print clothing appears to be a hit year after year and the trend shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, since 2018, it’s actually increased in popularity by a staggering 50%. All of the leading brands are joining in such as Burberry, Calvin Klein and Gucci. So, you shouldn’t have a problem stocking up your spring leopard print wardrobe.

Crotchet clothing

Now we’ve covered a couple of the colour schemes to focus on, what about the type of clothing you should be investing in? Well, crotchet style clothing is one of the biggest Spring 2019 trends to pay attention to. Creating a soft, chic beach look, crotchet style tops are especially all the rage this season. You could team crotchet clothing with a pair of spring sandals from a company such as DAMART.

Skirts

There is something about skirts that have led them to withstand the test of time.  You can dress them up or down depending on your preference.  A trend that’s really making waves this year is the Lolita Skirt  a real eye catching statement piece.

Shirts

I suspect as a result of Megan Markles love of the shirt and jeans combo this look will remain a top trend.  For me for many years my all time favourite shirt either for work or more casual wear is Ralph Lauren, there is just something about a crisp white shirt, navy jeans and heels, timeless.

So, there you have it – some of the key spring 2019 fashion trends you’ll want to keep an eye on. Whatever your usual style, you’ll easily find something to match it in the season’s latest fashions. Or, why not try something totally different and go with one of the more unique fashion trends, such as neon?

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Home & Interiors

Upgrading sash windows to keep the kids safe

Single glazed sash windows look beautiful, they are extremely elegant, and fit perfectly into a period property but they do come with a few drawbacks. These include being noisy, could, draughty, but most importantly if you have young children, extremely unsafe. In this article we will take a look at why single glazed sash windows are unsafe for children and what can be done to improve them to give you peace of mind.

Single glazed sash windows are unsafe and what to do about it

  • Thin glass is dangerous – One of the main reasons single glazed sash windows are unsafe is because of the slender glazing.
    red sash window

    Old Style Sash windows Pic Credit: Pixabay

    Originally sash windows were made with just 2.5-3mm single one glass. This was partially down to cost but just as much technology. Glass this thin breaks far too easily, if you have an original sash window with this thickness of glass it can literally be broken with a sturdy tap from any heavy object. This doesn’t have to be a hammer, something as soft as a tennis ball would be enough to break the pane easily. This normally occurs on Georgian sash windows more that are broken into several panes. The smaller panes gave rise to thinner glass which was viable. A large sheet of 2.5mm thick glass would break far too easily. For larger panes the thickness normally starts at 3mm which is still very vulnerable because of the surface area in total. If a child leant into a pane of 3mm glass firmly it would be a serious problem. So much so, it’s a legal requirement to have a minimum of 4mm glass installed into your sash.

 

  • What to do about thin glass in your sash windows – Luckily you have glazing have two obvious solutions. The first is safety laminate glass. This breaks in the same way as the windscreen on your car. So if an object strikes with enough force it will not break into many pieces, instead the sticky film in-between both panes of glass will hold everything together. Not only is this much safer because it eliminates the risk of your child cutting and seriously injuring themselves on the glazing, it also means that if they were playing a bit rough they wouldn’t be able to fall through the glass as it’s much safer.The other option is toughened glass. This process is exactly the same as the side and rear windows on your car. If struck hard enough, it will shatter into thousands of small pieces. This is a very good solution for your home, to date I haven’t seen an example of toughened glass break in a home and there are many sash windows companies installing this type of glazing that come with an excellent reputation.  To protect kids and adults alike any glazing below 800mm in height, be it sash windows or door need to be toughened or safety glass. This is a legal requirement.

 

  • Single glazed sash windows can open fully – when a catch is undone a sash window can open fully. Normally the lower sash in most standard properties is at a height that would allow children or toddlers to climb out. This is a serious risk and it makes most parents screw sash windows shut or lock them and never open them. Since the meeting rail where the sash meet and the catch holds things closed is up high enough, that seems to be the average solution but doesn’t solve being able to safely use your window.

 

  • What you can do to remedy a sash window opening fully – There are sash windows companies that sell security restrictors that are installed just four inches above the lower sash. This means that you can lift your sash four inches but never need to worry about the gap increasing. This makes security restrictors the ideal solution for sash windows and this upgrade isn’t all that costly either, normally in the range of £12-£18 per set. You’ll need an 8mm drill bit and a hexagonal key to install them.

 

In summary traditional sash windows are dangerous but with modern technology there’s no reason you can’t keep your windows as they do look very lovely in a period property.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Mamma Reviews

Jayhawk Advisors help understand financial goals

When you’re wanting to buy your dream house, finance that dream holiday or simply improve  your credit rating, this isn’t always easy and probably not as easy as it sounds for most of us. However you can actually get some excellent benefits by using the services of a financial advisor. In this guide, we’re going to help you do this with some tips from Jayhawk Advisors who can help prioritise what clients need by offering a single monthly payment with low interest rates.

Why use a Financial Advisor 

Less Paperwork for You

boxes moving house

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Take for example buying your own home, or funding kids college or what about that dream holiday.  You need to review your financial position and consider if one payment would be more beneficial from a planning point of view than managing multiple outgoings a month, for example credit card, home loan, car loan, overdraft.  If you go a financial advisor with a pretty decent record, then you’ll be able to find who can recommend and assist you obtain  a one payment loan that fits your needs, and it will save you the time and the paperwork of having to find all of the lenders yourself, let alone, shopping around, dealing with queries etc.  Paper work can often be very stressful with multiple pages of information to be filled out and back up to be obtained.

Lower interest rate

Often it can be more beneficial when your financial position becomes clear is to consider the high interest loans such as credit cards, overdrafts and consolidate that into one payment for example via a personal loan where in variably the rate will be cheaper.  According to Wikipedia the interest rate is the interest due per period, as a proportion of the amount lent, deposited or borrowed.  Getting your head around the jargon can be challenging itself. Try not to get bogged down  in the jargon as your advisor will be able to help you get to grips with these terms.

Less Stress

One of the things a financial advisor can do is assist in arranging a one time monthly payment which will make it easier to forecast, plan and meet your obligations.  Another major plus is that meeting the one payment may mean that you are less likely to fall behind thus adversely affecting your credit rating. Something none of us want to happen. 

One thing to bear in mind that because the term may be longer you will need to factor that into your own planning, particularly if you are near retirement age.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for the best possible advisor – do your homework. Ask around, get recommendations and most importantly meet them in person.  Just make sure that you always do your homework, and if there is anything that looks extremely bad, you’ll want to make sure you get some sort of verification involved, check their credentials. Also worth shopping around at potential fees they might charge. Don’t ever give your pertinent information to just anyone. Ask around and make sure they’re a legit financial advisor.

Note: This is a collaborative post