Steve Volk's Blog, page 14

Your furniture shopping guide – essential purchase considerations

 

Making a change in your home’s interior design, sometimes requires you to purchase a few other furniture elements. The way you have furnished your house can influence both the aesthetics and the comfort of your interior. If you have been thinking about shopping for several new items, but are not quite sure what to choose, receiving a few pointers on the subject, might actually help you out. The most essential purchase considerations to have in mind when you are interested in buying furniture are the following:

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Choose an adequate style – take a look at your interior design

Before actually starting to search for various elements, take a look around your house and try to establish what type of décor you currently have. It’s important of the new elements to blend in with the rest of the design perfectly. If your home is decorated in a classic manner, your newly purchased furniture items should have the same style, the same goes for modern or conventional decorated homes. Perhaps for your current home aesthetics, leather large corner sofas would make better choices than sofas with a floral print, for example.

Don’t overlook quality

Even if you might want to shop on a budget, quality is not something that you should neglect. Furniture items should be seen as an investment, and ones that are of poor quality not only will affect the aesthetics of your décor, but the likelihood of getting damaged or broken much easier is higher. Before you decide on actually spending money on a dining table, a sofa, an armchair and so on, carefully inspect its quality. If you make the right choices in this department, your investment will be a long term one.

Buying online

If you are like the majority of buyers nowadays, you probably want to make your purchase online. Online shops stand your disposal with a far wider variety of offers, giving you much more versatility. Besides the possibility to access numerous more furniture styles, you can also come across more affordable prices, while not having to compromise on quality. However, when you are shopping online, it’s important to research a few things in advance. Start to check for reviews written by other buyers, to see if they have any complaints regarding the shops’ policies. Also, read carefully everything they state about shipping and returns – because you might not actually like the items you have purchased when seeing it in person, it’s best to have the possibility to get a refund or a replacement, so check their return policy.

Furniture shopping can be both fun and challenging, and if you want to make the right choices in this department, having some considerations in mind will be necessary. These guidelines should be taken into account when making such a purchase, if you desire to spend your money wisely and refurbish your home in a modern and chic way. Today’s market offers you many styles and designs, so finding something that suits your taste and your décor will not be at all difficult.  

Filling for divorce: how will it affect your kids?

 

It does not matter the age of your child; a divorce has the same negative effects on a nine year old or a thirteen year old. Whether one of the parents decides to leave the marriage or they both agree upon separating, kids are the ones who become victims of this unfortunate event because it announces a massive change that will not necessarily benefit them. The can only see divorce as a bad thing because it separates their mom from their dad, thus destroying the happiness of the family. They cannot understand that filling for divorce might help both of their parents by giving them much-needed freedom and independency without affecting their feelings for them. They start blaming at least one of the parents because they believe that he abandoned them willingly. Calming a child’s mind in such a situation seems difficult, but it is not impossible.

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How divorce affects kids on the short term

When going through divorce, apart from the legal things and finding the best Las Vegas divorce attorney you should also pay attention to your child because you will notice changes in his attitude towards you and your ex spouse and these represent hints  that he needs your presence the most. This article has the purpose to reveal the impact divorce can have on your children both on the short and on the long term. Read it carefully so you can read the signs when necessary. Starting with the short-term negative effects, right after you kid realizes the separation he might become nervous and tense. This applies particularly to those with the age of eight or nine because they are more vulnerable and dependent on you. He might encounter difficulties concentrating or lose interest in different activities. Apart from these signs, he might also experience negative feelings including sadness, distress and irritability. If you do not engage in a conversation with your child letting him know that you still love him and that nothing will separate you from him, sadness might transform into depression, which represents a long-term effect of divorce so we will continue thins in the following paragraph.

How divorce affects kids on the long term

Even though you might not realize it then, after experiencing the short-term effects mentioned above, your kid will become prone to depression, poor education and relationships, behavioral problems, substance abuse and a low socio-economic position. Divorce should include only two people, namely the parents, but it actually takes a toll on their children. Once depression takes control over your kid, he will begin to spend more and more time alone, withdrawing from society. According to researchers, divorce can even lead to bipolar disorder in kids. Unfortunately, your child will not remain in his room far away from everything because he wants to focus on studying. In fact, you will notice a significant change in his grades and school performance. He might even hurt his classmates or friends. If you want a bright future for your kid, keep him away of all the chaos caused by a divorce.

You may be doing your laundry wrong and this is why

 

Doing laundry may be the most predictive and inevitable thing that you have to do. That, and taxes. But as inevitable doing laundry may be, and no matter how many times until now you already did it, you may be doing it wrong. We know, it’s shocking. But chances are, many of us are too tired, too forgetful or too disinterested to pay real attention to the way in which we’re doing this chore. Simply throw dirty laundry in your washer, some detergent and that’s it. Well, that’s not it, if we listen to the experts in the industry. Below are some ways in which you may be doing your laundry wrong.

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Most probably, you’re sorting your laundry wrong

Separating the laundry goes beyond separating the darks from the whites, but most people are unaware of this. For instance, you should never wash together synthetics with towels, because they are more likely to change form this way. Also, fleece clothing should never be washed with anything else than fleece. Pilling is very likely to occur and you will end up with unusable clothing or blankets.

You don’t keep your washing machine clean

You must probably think that washing your washing machine is, well, useless. But, only think of all the residues that accumulate in that washer. Avoid that residue build-up by running an empty hot cycle with a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice or vinegar. If this doesn’t seem to work, an empty hot cycle with bleach will do the trick. Scrub any potential residue left behind this cycle and your washing machine will be as good as new. You should also make sure to replace the washers fixing your washing machine more frequently than you already do, as the experts at http://www.superiorwasher.com claim.

You’re washing your clothes way too often

Unless you don’t use deodorant, washing a clothing item after each use is unnecessary. Until now you should know that over washing will tear your clothing more easily and you’ll end up spending on it more than you should. Also, you must invest in a clothing refreshing spray, which will help you with less frequent washes. A DIY one will also work wonderfully. Mix some essential oils at your preference in some distilled water, put the mixture into a spray bottle and apply it when you think that this is necessary. Also, not mixing your clean with your worn clothing will help with the smell. Separate the two on two different racks. Moreover, the experts advise people to consider public laundry places as an option and do their laundry only once a week. This is a far better option than doing it at home every two to three days.

You are probably using too much detergent

Like most of us, you are probably overindulging with that detergent. While you might be tempted to think that more detergent will leave your laundry squeaky clean, it will make those dirtier. Detergent build-up accumulates in your laundry when you use larger quantities than recommended.

These are some ways in which people fail to do their laundry properly. Keep in mind these mistakes and apply those next time when doing your laundry.

Is trying reiki healing worth it?

 

If you didn’t hear about this concept by now, reiki is a Japanese technique that’s used especially for stress relief and relaxation. Reiki is also a great way to heal yourself through the energies that flow through your body. This technique is entirely based on this energy and its goal is to teach you how to use it for your own purposes. In case you are still questioning the power of reiki in one’s life, then you can attend some reiki classes and see if any results show up. Remember that when your energies are low, you are more likely to get sick or feel stressed – this is the more appropriate moment to try reiki and see if you notice any improvements. Here are some more reasons that will make you believe reiki is worth a try:

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What to expect from a reiki class?

The first question that will pop into your head is probably related to how the reiki class is going to take place. Well, you may want to know that reiki is a type of treatment entirely based on energies. You can practice reiki on yourself or you can trust a practitioner to do the techniques on your body. Reiki involves various hand positions over specific areas of the body, allowing the energy to flow wherever it is necessary. The only thing you may feel during the reiki session is a warm/tingling sensation. In reiki classes, you’ll learn the basics, the procedure that sits at the base of reiki. After the class, you will feel refreshed and more balanced than before. In addition, you might like reiki so much that you can become a practitioner or a teacher yourself. It all depends on how many courses you decide to take and how good you are at reiki. After that, your friends and family can benefit from your amazing skills.

What benefits does reiki have?

There is a multitude of benefits that reiki can bring into one’s life. Starting with the fact that you will instantly feel much more relaxed and continue with the whole list will surely make you at least a little bit curious about what is it like to practice reiki. The benefits of practicing reiki include promoting natural self-healing instead of expensive medicine or supplements.

Remember that if you suffer from serious affections that do require medical treatment is not advised to give up treatment at any cost. Check with your doctor before making any important decisions. Reiki is here just as a support for your overall health. Reiki is a flexible technique, meaning that it adapts to the natural needs of the person who’s practicing it. This technique is great for selecting a positive lifestyle. Reiki is not invasive in any way – it is gentle, harmless and truly effective for people who know how to handle it. Balancing the energy in your body is a must if you feel overwhelmed or you have trouble with handling your emotions. Gladly, reiki has answers to all these problems and it’s not so difficult to master it.

How to cope with a child from the autism spectrum at home

 

A child diagnosed with a condition from the autism spectrum certainly changes the way in which their family members interact with them. Also, caring for a child from the spectrum can prove quite of a financial burden for those families that can’t afford it, and it is psychologically challenging at the same time. But nonetheless, these gifted children are a real treasure and if you succeed to make their life easier you will certainly be rewarded. Below are some small adjustments that will help you care for your child better.

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What to do when you have a child with autism

Maybe the most important thing to do when you discover that your child has a disorder from the autism spectrum is starting medical treatment. Traditional therapies work, but recent evidence has shown amazing results of alternative therapies, so you might want to look into those as well. The official diagnosis is truly important, but if you suspect that your child may have such a disorder, you must start therapy right away. This way, your child won’t show development delays, as it happens in most of the cases. Besides, you must make sure that you:

Learn more about disorders from the autism spectrum . This may be equally important, because it will allow you to approach your child’s issue appropriately. Make sure to educate yourself and other members of your family in terms of treatment options, challenges and make sure to participate in all decisions that concern your child’s development.
Get to know your child better . What triggers your child, what bothers them, what brings them joy and comfort, these all must be familiar to you and your family members. Learn what leads to their disruptive behavior and what can you do to avoid such outbursts. Learning all these small details will help you have a better grip on your child.
Learn to accept everything about your child . Instead of focusing on how your child is different from other children and what things are they “missing”, it would be better if you’d learn to accept all their quirks and enjoy their small accomplishments and successes. This will make both your lives easier.
Don’t give up too soon . It may be easy to jump to conclusions, but autism treatment and care do evolve beautifully and so might your child. Learn what their rhythm is and accept it.

Create a personalised treatment and care plan

As previously mentioned, it is highly important to pick a suitable treatment for your child from the very beginning. Nonetheless, with so many alternatives available, it’s difficult to make the right decision. However, you must make sure that you:

Build your child’s interests and develop those;
Create a daily routine;
Split up tasks into multiple simple steps for them;
Make sure to engage your child in daily, structured activities;
Involve all family members in their schedule.

These are only some simple tips and tricks that will help parents and family members of children with development issue have a better approach and cope better with their child’s disorder.

How to give your lounge area a comfy touch

 

In order for a house to actually feel like a home, your interior should always have a cozy ambiance. If you have decided that it is time to change a few things around your lounge area, in order to give the space that comfy, appealing touch you desire, receiving a few guidelines on the subject will probably help you out. There are a few things you can do, and a few elements you can incorporate in order to achieve that goal. The ideas mentioned below will work great in increasing the appeal and level of comfort of your lounge area, so try to take them into consideration:

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Buy a recliner chair

If you have ever walked into someone’s living room and noticed a recliner chair placed in a corner, you have probably instantly been drawn to that area, and have chosen it as your sitting spot. Recliner chairs are the perfect elements for a lounge space that focuses on comfort and on a homey interior style. By adding one to your home, you can instantly improve the aesthetics of the space. The market provides you with many great models that can easily be incorporated in various decors. Whether you place it next to a tall potted plant, next to the fireplace if you have one, or in front of a coffee table, the results will certainly meet your expectations.

Over accessorize your sofa will decorative pillows

Blankets and pillows have the role of making any area feel cozy and warm. If you have a sufficiently large sofa at your disposal, you can simply choose to accessorize it with some decorative pillows. Go for light tone colors, and floral or simple patterns. If you have some basic DIY skills, you can even create cushion covers yourself by repurposing old sweaters. To go even one step further, get yourself a large knitted blanket, and place it on one of the sofa’s armrests. This is a cheap and effective trick.

Install a wood burning stove

If you can afford spending a bit more in order to refresh your lounge area, investing in a wood burning stove is a great idea. If you don’t have a fireplace, and building one is far too complicated, this type of item will work as a great alternative. The element will completely change the feel of the room, and will increase its style considerably. There are various models available, and considering that this type of purchase can also help you save money on energy costs, the investment is one worth making.

If you feel like your living room does not have that homey feeling to it, and you want to make a change in its design in order to create a more pleasant ambiance, there are a few things you can do in this department. The tips mentioned above will allow you to improve your décor and obtain that cozy touch you have been wanting, so give these ideas a try, and the chances are you will be impressed with the results.  

Turn your garden into a tropical paradise with these simple tricks

We all dream of a tropical getaway to unwind, but if flight ticket and accommodation prices put you off, we have an idea that will help you get the closest thing to an exotic vacation: turn your garden into a tropical paradise. You don’t need to have a large garden for this project; in fact, just a couple of acres of land are enough. All it takes is imagination and a couple of tools that you can find in your local hardware store, such as exterior lighting, building tools and flowers.

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Step 1: Plant tropical flowers

No matter how many decorations you add, you will not be able to achieve a genuine tropical paradise environment without actual tropical flowers. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to live in Hawaii or Punta Cana to plant exotic plants; some of them thrive in American and European and can survive all year round if you buy special compost. For example, you can find and plant hibiscus, jasmine or mandevilla. Don’t forget about arrangements either. A tropical paradise has to be playful, colorful and flamboyant, so make sure you choose large pots and add as much grass as possible. Tropical plants thrive in a humid environment, so don’t forget to water them frequently.

Step 2: Exterior lighting

One of the biggest perks of having a tropical paradise in your garden is being able to use it at night for barbecues and relaxing moments, so outdoor lighting plays an important role. Designer lighting is the best idea, because it lasts for a longer time and you can find unique designs that conventional hardware stores do not have. If you want the garden to be well lit even at night, invest in large standing lamps. If you prefer a more romantic atmosphere, choose small wall lights or incorporate small solar-powered LED lamps into the deck

Step 3: Revamp your deck

The deck is a major component in any garden remodeling project and if you want to turn your garden into an exotic paradise you need to consider extensive redwood decking. If possible, add stairs and let them be covered by grass and plants for a more natural look. If you already have a gazebo, add some leaves or make a thatched roof for an authentic Tiki feel. With a larger budget, you can achieve something even bigger: your very own tropical bar, where you can make cocktails and hang out with friends.

Step 4: Decorations

Decorations are the finishing touches that will transform a plain garden into a tropical paradise. They’re the easiest to find, since the tropical theme is very popular. For starters, buy a large beach umbrella, some lounging chairs and, if you have trees, a hammock. Other subtle tropical touches include statues, hanging lights, illuminated bar signs, vases and tropical themed glasses and jars. Keep in mind that the tropical look is not very polished and the decorations have to be simple and handmade.

Choosing a car to suit your lifestyle

 

When deciding that is time to shop for a new car, finding the perfect buy can take some time. The car you end up purchasing should first of all suit your needs and personal lifestyle, and to make an ideal decision, analyzing the followings aspects is of high importance:

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Car size

Do you have a big family? are you planning to have kids anytime soon? Or will you be using this vehicle only for yourself? These are relevant questions to ask yourself, in order to actually select appropriate car dimensions. For families a more roomy vehicle, with more cargo space will be needed, while for sole drivers, compact alternatives being more practical. Being aware of all your current driving needs, and the ones that might arise in the near future can make a big difference. Edmunds thinks the Alfa Romeo Giulia 2018 is a great choice for solo drivers, but perhaps not that practical for families, for example.

New or used

Budgeting this purchase from the start is also relevant. Knowing how much money you can afford spending on this purchase will help you narrow your choices down and make your decision a bit easier. However, if your budget is limited, you should not compromise on important things, such as safety features, or perhaps engine power, but think about the possibility of buying second hand. A used vehicle will be much more affordable, and this possibility will allow you to shop within a more qualitative class.

Future costs

Thinking about the money that you will need to spend with regularity, both on gas and potential repairs is also relevant. Perhaps your monthly income does not allow you to spend a fortune on fuel, but at the same time, you will need to drive the vehicle quite often, so seeking a model that excels in the fuel economy department is recommended. Also, if you are buying the car second hand, and you cannot benefit from a warranty, thinking about potential repair costs is also advised. For some brands, car parts are far more expensive than for others, so think ahead and choose wisely.

As you can see, it is important to pay attention to a few things, in order to end up purchasing a vehicle that will cover all your needs. Because you can easily get distracted by an aesthetically appealing model, and you can neglect other more relevant aspects, having in mind some relevant purchase considerations will certainly help you out.

Shopping guide for your next car

 

If you plan to shop for a new car in the near future, there are some simple tips that you should follow. Knowing what to search for will make the entire process a lot easier, while you will have the certainty that you make a great choice for your necessities. Below we have some great tips and tricks, starting with how to identify a reliable review platform.

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Start your documentation on profile websites

Identify a reliable review platform, and read various reviews on the vehicles that interest you. You can start by researching for how long the platform is active, how they rate various vehicles. If a platform has great ratings for all vehicle, you can suspect that it has a collaboration with various manufacturers or retailers, thus they are not worth your attention. For instance, you can see what Edmunds thinks about Chevrolet Colorado and you can compare other ratings for various vehicles. Doing your research will help you on the long run, because you will make an informed decision, without compromising any aspect that you care about in a new vehicle.

Search for both new and used cars

While many claim that they would never invest their money in a used vehicle, you know better than this. Certain used vehicle retailers select the vehicles with care, which makes all of those to have an incredible quality. Of course, there are many unreliable used car sellers on the market, but do your best and try to identify the reliable ones on the market. Repeat the process you did when you tried to identify a reliable review platform and you will certainly find some great used vehicles for sale. Usually, these vehicles have the same quality as new ones do, but they come at a fraction of the price.

Never make an impulse purchase

If you want to avoid throwing money out the window, never make an impulse purchase. And once again, in order to prevent this, you must do some research before singing anything. Besides using the already-mentioned online review directories, you can also schedule some dive tests for the vehicles which you have in your mind. By seeing how they are actually behaving on the road, you will be able to make a decision easier.

This is a small car-buying guide that will help you in the future. These are pieces of advice that could work for anything, if you adapt them carefully.

Spice up your Christmas party with festive food and drinks

 

Are you planning on throwing a Christmas party? If so, then you already know that you need to come up with some interesting ideas for festive food and drinks. So why not impress your party guests with some Christmassy recipes? All you need to do is spend a little more time in the kitchen, but in the end, it will all be worth it.

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Christmas Cocktails

What about some Christmas cocktails that are easy to make? Actually, these are classic cocktails but when they are combined with holiday flavors such as apple pie, cranberry, and candy canes, they can turn into the perfect Christmas Cocktails. So depending on your guests’ liking, you can choose between cocktails such as Bloody Mary, Espresso Martini, Blackberry Punch and the list can go on. Moreover, most of the recipes require not so many ingredients and some of them can be made in no time.

·        Bloody Mary

Bloody Mary is a best-selling cocktail all over the world, and now you can use it as a Christmas cocktail. In order to make this drink, you will need Absolut Vodka, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, some lemon juice and 2 dashes of hot sauce. You will also need 1 teaspoon of horseradish, 1 pinch of ground black pepper, 1 pinch of salt and finally, 1 stick of celery. After gathering the ingredients, you just need to stir them all together in a mixing glass.

·        Holiday Mule

This Christmas cocktail requires Absolut Vodka, cider, ginger beer, some lemon, 1 wedge of apple and 1 cinnamon stick. Put some ice cubes in a glass, and then add all the ingredients. Finally, garnish the cocktail with apple and cinnamon.

·        White Cosmopolitan

All that you will need for this cocktail is lime juice, white cranberry juice, Absolut Citron and some Triple Sec. Take the shaker and put some ice cubes, then add the rest of the ingredients.

·        Absolut Mistletoe

For this last Christmas cocktail, you will need cranberry juice, lime juice, lemon-lime soda, red currant, mint leaf, and of course Absolut Vodka. Firstly, put some ice cubes in a glass and then add Absolut Vodka, lime juice, and cranberry juice. You can top up this cocktail with lemon-lime soda, red currant, and mint leaf.

Christmas Food

From main dishes to desserts – there are endless recipes from which you can choose. You just have to try a few of them and see which one tastes and looks better. For example, you can choose to cook recipes such as Persian Squash and Pistachio Roast, or Gluten-Free Spinach and Ricotta Roulade. Moreover, if some of your friends are vegan, meaning that they do not eat animal-derived foods, you can easily surprise them with recipes such as Whole Roasted Cauliflower, Vegan M’Hanncha, Grilled Cauliflower with Winter Pesto, and so on. Finally, do not forget about dessert! A party without dessert is not a party at all. There are a lot of recipes for all your sweet tooth friends out there, but one of the most appropriate to make is Mince Pie. Also, Christmas Pudding, Yule Log, Baked Alaska or Trifle are great options too.