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Shopping For A Special Someone:

by Trish



When you have a special lady in your life one of the first things that you learn is the importance of flowers in the relationship. Many guys will send flowers to their wives or girlfriends only on special occasions, or when they want to apologize for something. This tactic is not a good one to use because that special someone believes they are only getting flowers out of some sense of obligation., meanwhile, flowers that come out of the blue will make that special someone feel more loved than ever. No matter what the reason for the purchase, there are some things that you need to keep in mind when you buy flowers for the woman in your life.


Location

You want to make sure that you are using a florist that is either located close to the person you are sending flowers to, or they have a delivery agreement with a local company. Flowers that have to travel in the back of a delivery van will got hot and wilt before they should, and that special someone in your life will get very little enjoyment form her flowers. The best thing that you can do is use a local vendor, preferably someone who can delivery flowers on the same day that you ordered them. This means the person getting the flowers will get the freshest flowers possible.

Display

Another thing that you need to keep in mind is how the flowers will be displayed. If you are sending a large bouquet to the home, then this is not a real problem, as your lady should have something to hold the flowers readily available. On the other hand, if you are delivering the flowers to her job, she may not have anything to hold the flowers. The longer they sit without water the shorter the lifespan of the flowers will be. You can avoid this problem by having the flowers delivered in a vase of some kind, that way, no matter where she is when she gets them, your lady will have something to hold her flowers. The flowers should also for a cohesive statement, where the flowers all match each other and the arrangement makes sense; you do not want to send flowers that look like they were just jammed together into a vase because they happened to be handy.

Quality

Finally, you want to make sure that your lady is getting flowers of high quality. You do not want to send her flowers that have bent stems or torn petals, because the message that you are sending her is that she is not worth all that much to you. The flowers should be strong, vibrant and smell fresh. Your special lady should feel how much you care about her the second that she sees the flowers, and this only happens when the arrangement makes an impression. Though price may be a consideration, sometimes it is better to splurge a little bit on the woman that you love, instead of counting pennies.

Flowers are one of the oldest ways that men have shown women that they are important, and they continue to be a mainstay of male-female relationships to this day. A flower arrangement, when done correctly, will make your lady feel like she is worth the world to you, and they are a terrific way to express affection.

I am Sammie Shields, woman and relationship counselor. I wrote this article because so many of the couples that I talk to have trouble communicating unless they are fighting. A man that surprises the woman that he loves with flowers will make a stronger statement about how he feels about her than he could in an awkward conversation. In Canada flowers are the way to a woman’s heart, and men need to know how to choose a good florist. For my clients I recommend http://www.allflowersandgifts.com  because of their ease to use website and huge selection of flowers for all occasions.

Filed Under: Featured, Home and family, Shopping Tagged With: display, flowers, location, quality, Shopping, Special Someone

Tips On Moving House With Pets

by Trish

As much as we adore our beloved pets, moving house with them can be stressful. Many people worry about the confusion experienced by pets during the relocation process. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be as difficult as we might anticipate. There are plenty of ways to make moving house with pets easier, leaving you to focus on packing boxes and communicating with the removalists!

prision break

It is important that your pet is not only micro chipped, but also carries an identification tag, clearly labelled with your new address. Most animals are likely to stay by their owner’s side. However, if a pet does become lost, it is essential that whoever finds him/her is able to contact you easily. While we’re on the subject, don’t forget to change the contact details linked to your pet’s microchip!

Obtain a copy of your pet’s medical record from your current vet, and check that all immunisations are up-to-date. This is especially important in the case of an international relocation, as is checking quarantine laws.

That’s the paper work pretty much taken care of. Now we come to the emotional issues. Some pets might display anxiety as the movers start to visit your home and the relocation date draws near. Animals might not be able to talk with us, but their instincts are well developed when it comes to sensing change. Keep a close eye on your pet’s behaviour. Consider putting him/her in a separate room, where he/she won’t be close to all the hustle and bustle of packing and the lifting and lugging of removalists. Constant reassurance, both verbal and physical, can help to reduce stress.

Try to maintain your pet’s regular routine, particularly in terms of eating and exercise. That might be difficult, considering that your own life will feel as though it is very much out of order, but keeping up expected behaviours can assist in instilling a sense of normality.

When it comes to relocation day, try the following tips:

• Sedatives are useful if your pet is extremely stressed, if the journey is long, and/or if your pet is travelling with the removalist.

• Use comfortable, secure caging and cover it if necessary.

• If relocating by plane, book the most direct route possible, and check on housing and identification requirements for animals.

• If relocating by car, stop as often as possible, to provide your pet with fresh air, exercise, food, water and affection. Don’t let him/her stray too far, though, as he/she might become confused and go for a wander. If you have to stop overnight, ring ahead to find accommodation where pets are accepted and don’t forget to carry a leash.

• Have your pet travel with you, rather than the removalist. If this isn’t an option, book removalists that you trust implicitly, to assure peace of mind.

Once you’ve reached your destination, give your pets a couple of weeks to develop self-confidence. Don’t be too concerned if they’re fretful – that’s to be expected after moving house. Do what you can to reassure them, by providing affection, re-establishing routines, and keeping up food and water schedules. It won’t be long before the movers are gone and you and your pets are starting to feel at home again.

Sam Nathan is a freelance writer. His interests include finance, sports, travel and health.

photo by:

Filed Under: Featured, Pets Tagged With: comfortable, identification tag, immunisations, medical record, micro chipped, Moving House, pet’s behaviour, pets, regular routine, relocation, Sedatives, tips

4 Smart Tips For An Organized And Stress-Free Move

by Trish

There is no question about it, moving can be a very stressful and frustrating challenge. If you and your family have recently decided to move out of your current residence and into a new house, you will need to pack your whole life and bring it into your new home. Every routine, habit, and every piece of memorabilia will be tossed into a huge, cluttered moving van and will have to be reassembled and re-organized at the other end. Just thinking about it can cause headaches. Thankfully, you can get organized and reduce stress when moving day comes.

There are plenty of ways to make your move easier and more efficient. Read on if you want to learn a few smart tips for an organized and stress-free move.

Make A List

Before you start packing your entire life into boxes and containers, you need to write everything down. You need to create a simple record keeping system. In doing so, you will know what you need to pack and where things should go. As a tip, you can create a printed list of numbers with spaces where you can write down the contents of each box, then place a number on each box you pack. You will also need a notebook where you will list down the contents of each container.

Keeping a list or an inventory of your belongings will help you sort out and organize your things. This will also make it easier for you to find what you are looking for without digging through boxes. In addition, it helps you keep track of what you have packed and ensure that everything is still in place when you unpack.

Sort Out Your Belongings

While you prepare your list, you must also sort out your belongings. You must consider which items you can throw out, donate, or store. If you have valuables and possessions which you cannot part with but they will only add clutter to your new home, you can store them in a secured storage facility.

There are reputable companies offering storage units at reasonable rates. These storage units have different features which includes security, temperature control, and resistance to certain elements. It is best to avail the services offered by storage facilities if you have items which you need to store safely and securely.

Get The Necessary Supplies

You will also need supplies, such as boxes, marking pens, bubble wraps, plain newsprints, and packing tape. When it comes to purchasing boxes, you need to get different sizes for different item categories. You can buy boxes from a moving company or you can get them for free from your local grocery. As a tip, you need to have 10 extra boxes which you can use for last minute items, such as bedding and clothes. You will also need to buy strong packing tape to secure the boxes. Use plain newsprints or bubble wrap to protect fragile and breakable items.

Pack Your Belongings Wisely

Once you have your supplies ready, take your time to pack. Packing wisely will help reduce the risks of breaking things, and bringing items that should be thrown out or donated. Here are a few packing tips you need to remember:

  • Use the right box size: You need to know that bigger boxes are for light items, such as pillows, linens, and clothes. Smaller boxes are for heavy and fragile items, such as books, plates, and glasses. Placing heavier items in smaller boxes will make them easier to move around and have a lower risk of breaking.
  • Pack the boxes until it is full: Do not leave any empty spaces inside the box. It is best to fill the spaces with clothing, towels, or newsprints if necessary. If the box is loosely packed or is unbalanced, it will only be vulnerable to breaking or damage.
  • Place lighter items on top while heavy items go at the bottom: If you are loading your boxes onto the moving van or if you are placing the boxes in a storage unit, you need to place heavier boxes first and place them toward the front of the truck.
  • Pack by category: When packing, it is best to keep similar items together. For instance, kitchen utensils and cooking equipments must be packed together, while bedding, linens, and pillows must also be packed in another box. As a tip, avoid mixing items from various rooms in the same box. In doing so, you will have an easier time packing and finding items.
  • Label each container: You must label each boxes with its room designation. You must also put a description of what’s inside. As a tip, you can color-code the boxes and when it is time to move, mark each room with a designated color. In doing so, the movers can bring the boxes into the room with the same color label.
  • Secure the boxes with durable packing tape: You need to use durable and sturdy packing tape to secure the boxes. You can tape the bottom and top seams, then make a couple of wraps around the top and bottom edges of the boxes. Concentrate in areas where there is more stress.
Citations:
  • Jason Tester Guerrilla Futures.”Life 3.0 begins”. June 3, 2009. Online Image. Flickr. July 22, 2013
Featured images:
  •  License: Creative Commons image source

This guest post is written by Kris Bennette. She is a blogger for home improvement websites where she offers packing and moving tips for her readers. She advises her readers to visit https://www.usstoragecenters.com/self-storage/california/la-crescenta/zip-9 if they are interested in getting a storage unit.

Filed Under: Featured, Home and family Tagged With: Belongings, boxes, container, Label, list, Pack, packing tape, Sort, supplies

Reasons We Love To Dress Up Our Dogs

by Trish

Something that was once reserved for cold wintery days and perhaps Christmas-time is now a huge trend seen around the world every day – dressing up your pets.

catcher

Whether it’s a reindeer, a fairy or Katy Perry, there is bound to be a variety of obscene outfits out there for your pooch.

Dogs already come with their own fur coats, so why do we feel the need to dress them up in all sorts of get-ups?

Weather

Winter coats for dogs are completely necessary when the temperatures outside drops extremely low. Although dogs have a layer of fat that adds insulation that is usually sufficient, sometimes they may need that extra bit of help. Each dog’s coat will vary depending on their breed, and it will shed or develop throughout the year.

Dogs that live in sub-zero temperatures, like sledge dogs and huskies, can deal with cold weather because their paws and coats have evolved to deal with it. However, the standard domestic dog cannot withstand very low temperatures, which is why there are coats and jumpers designed to help them.

There’s such a variety out there, including waterproof, knitted, down-filled jackets and actual raincoats.

However, it seems that the functional has now been replaced with the fashionable and the downright comedic at times.

Fashion

Since Paris Hilton was seen carrying her Chihuahua in her tote handbag, small dogs have been one of the must-have fashion accessories. And when the dressing up trend exploded, small dogs were the first ones to get put on the canine catwalk.

Dressing your pooch up in tiaras and jewels, as a cupcake or a cheerleader and having them by your side is the latest in haute couture and the cutest accessory that you’ll love forever.

Comedy

Initially, the odd Santa Claus outfit at Christmas was as funny as it got in terms of doggy dress-up. However, as the trend became more popular, the outfits got funnier and wackier.

You can now dress your dog up as a hamburger, an oompa loompa or a leprechaun to take along to your next fancy dress party with you – and let’s face it, they’ll probably outshine you and be the hit of the party.

Most dog costumes are made ensuring that the dog’s comfort is paramount. However, if you do sense that your dog is uncomfortable in any way, then do take it off them as you do not want an unhappy hound!

Becky loves dressing up her Chihuahua in cute costumes – she also spoils her with luxury dog beds from www.thestylishdogcompany.com

photo by:

Filed Under: Featured, Pets Tagged With: Comedy, dog costumes, doggy dress-up, dogs, dress up, fashion accessories

How To Avoid Letting Your Wedding Drive You Apart

by Trish

The whole point of a wedding is union. The entire reason that you have spent all this money, done all this work, and put all this time in in the build up to your big day, is so that you can be bonded together permanently and never have to be apart.

That’s the idea anyway, but as we all know it doesn’t always turn out that way. What’s really surprising and unfortunate though, is when you don’t even make it that far and when you end up breaking up before you’ve even gotten the chance to stand before the congregation. The problem is, that while weddings are all about joining two people together – they sure do give you a lot of reasons to consider parting.

Here we will look at how you can ensure that doesn’t happen, and how you can avoid arguments with your partner.

Be Reasonable

The first thing to ensure if you’re going to avoid arguments is that you’re being fair and reasonable. When you’ve waited your whole life to get married, you of course want it to go your way – but remember that the most important aspect of that is that you get married to someone who still loves you. Ask yourself whether you’re giving them as many decisions as you’re taking for yourself, and whether you’d be happy if the roles were reverse. If you’re winning every dispute, then make sure that you give them something to compensate.

Promote Calmness

If you want to have a stress and argument free wedding, then you should plan it that way as much as possible right from the start. In other words, try to keep the costs down, make sure that there are lots of moments where everyone can just enjoy themselves rather than being rushed from one thing to the next. The more manageable your day is, the more chance there will be of it all going well.

Delegate

Here’s a quick way to make the planning less stressful – just don’t do all of it yourself. By hiring wedding planners, florists and other professionals, you can take a bit of the pressure off of yourself and you can introduce an objective third party to help make decisions and settle disputes. This makes a big difference, so don’t try to skip it in order to save money.

Divide Jobs

For the remaining small tasks, splitting up the things you have to do and having areas that you can work autonomously in can also help to avoid arguments. Give your partner invitations to send then for instance, and then just make sure that you aren’t always chipping in.

Find Things You Can Both Get Really Excited About

You might find a lot of things that you disagree on when you’re planning your big day, but of course there will always be those things that you’re both super excited about too. Try to focus on those things, and try to find more like them. That might mean riding in a wedding limousine, or it might be booking your amazing honeymoon. This is a wedding after all – there’s an awful lot to be excited about.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Creative Commons image source
  •  License: Creative Commons image source

This guest post is authored by Vanessa faith. She is a passionate blogger and her favourite topics are fashion and weddings. She is a fun loving person who likes to attend social gatherings and meet new people.

Filed Under: Married Life Tagged With: apart, Delegate, Divide Jobs, drive, Promote Calmness, Reasonable, union, Wedding

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