Oct5

Adding Fall Colors to Your Home

Posted on by
Adding Fall Colors to Your Home

Fall is quickly approaching and with it, the weather is starting to turn a little chilly in the mornings.  As soon as the leaves start to change each year, I want to change things up in how my home is decorated.  Fall is about keeping my house cozy and welcoming with lots of warm colors and Pumpkin scented candles.  Each September, I transform my little North Carolina nest into a tribute to all things Fall.  Here is how I do it.

First, I start by adding lots of decorative pillows.  Changing pillows on the couches, arm chairs, and beds can instantly transform the way my house looks and even feels.  For Fall, I choose warm colors like burnt oranges, soft tans, and deep browns.  I add a few hints of burgundy and dark green and I love adding punches of bright yellow.  My color choices reflect the colors of changing leaves and they make my home feel warm and cozy during this time of the year.

Second, I change out the rug in my living room.  It’s impossible to change your flooring with each season and it would be a lot of work!  So instead, I have several different area rugs that I rotate throughout the year.  When fall rolls around, I roll up the ocean blue summer rug and put down a cozy dark brown rug that is extra plush and soft for cold toes in the morning.

Last, I add a few accessories to my space.  I love adding pumpkins for Fall.  I set them on top of candle holders, stack them in a basket by the fireplace, and even line my flower beds with small ones.  This year, I’m trying something new by painting pumpkins a beautiful shade of antique white and then adding our monogram with black paint in a fancy script.  This will look gorgeous in my dining room and it will add the perfect Fall touch.

Sep1

Adding Color in Kitchen Design

Posted on by
Adding Color in Kitchen Design

When decorating your home, it might be tempting to overlook one of the most important spaces.  Your kitchen might not seem like a prime space for adding decor and changing color palates, but truthfully, the kitchen is indeed the heart of your home.  When people come over for dinner, where do they gather?  Usually it is in the kitchen.  You can transform your kitchen into a beautiful living space by attacking a few important areas with a designing eye.  Let’s take a look at how to get started.

First, consider your appliances.  How would your kitchen look different if you updated them?  Sometimes adding matching appliances can really transform the way a kitchen flows and feels aesthetically.  If you can’t afford new appliances, consider making a fun change by painting the ones you have.  Many body shops will paint appliances in the same way they paint cars.  The results are sleek and amazing and you can add a fun punch of playfulness by choosing a spirited color like sunshine yellow or robin’s egg blue.

Next, take a look at your countertops and cabinets.  Could they stand a makeover?  You can add new countertops without adding a huge expense if you get creative.  Granite might be expensive, but you can mimic the look of it with granite tiles which cost much less.  Another option is butcher block which transforms the countertops into an instant cutting board.

Consider adding color in the kitchen by painting the cabinets.  This is a quick and easy job and it can have a big visual impact.  Whether you go with white or a bright color like red or orange, it can instantly change the look of the kitchen.

Jul18

Tips for Choosing the Perfect Paint Color

Posted on by
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Paint Color

When you are painting your home, it can be difficult to know which colors to choose.  If you visit your average home improvement store, you will be met with no less than 1,000 options and then they will offer to mix a custom color just for you if you don’t like any of the options they have waiting.  When you are searching for the perfect color to paint your walls, here are a few things to keep in mind.

First, think about what colors you are instantly drawn to.  Do you naturally gravitate towards blues or browns?  When you go shopping, what color scheme do you most often like the purchase?  A lot of times, those colors are the ones that will make you feel most comfortable and those are the colors that you should use when painting your home’s interior.

Second, think about how colors make you feel.  Studies have shown that people connect to colors emotionally.  Yellow can cause you to feel happy and cheerful.  It would be a nice color for a kitchen or breakfast nook.  Red ignites a passionate response which makes it perfect for a bedroom.  Blues and light green colors are calming and would be perfect for a living room area.  Orange is invigorating and energizing.  You could use orange in your workout area or in your office, where you need to stay energized to get your work done.

Third, you can find an object that you love and have a color mixed to match it.  If you have a decorative pillow that has the perfect shade of blue in it, take it with you to the paint store and ask them to mix a color to match it.  This will give you a full room of color that makes you happy each time you walk through.

Jan28

Managing Absence in the Workplace

Posted on by
Managing Absence in the Workplace

Absenteeism costs businesses a lot of money every year and working to manage absences is a good way to help a company reduce expenses.  If the HR department is able to keep track of these absences then they can work on taking steps to help reduce them.  A good record of the reason behind absences allows the HR department to evaluate if it is necessary for some human intervention in order to solve ongoing problems with absences.  More often these days, HR departments are facing reduced staffing and this can often mean that absenteeism is not tracked as well as it should be.

An absentee management system can allow the HR department to keep track of employee absences without taking to much time away from more important administrative duties.  Most software can be customized so policies are in harmony with the company’s existing attendance policies, allowing the HR department to flag employees who exceed a certain amount of absences.  Voice-based absentee management systems allow employees to call in and verify if they are going to be absent and the period of time they are going to be absent for.  This can eliminate much of the confusion that can result from an unexpected absence.

Accessing the software via a web browser means that it is available almost anywhere and HR managers can keep track of records on the fly.  Reports that track trends in absences can also be very useful when scheduling meetings with employees.  In order to fix the absentee problems, this must be addressed by a well-prepared HR department.  The right absentee management software can provide this information.

Mar4

Living on a Budget

Posted on by
Living on a Budget

I am often asked how our family is able to make it on the small salary that two teachers in the state of North Carolina bring home each month. So here are some tips that hopefully will help you stay on budget and make the most of your income. I know in this day and age some of these tips won’t be popular, so feel free to take what works for you.

First, the biggest place any of us can save money is in the od department. We think we have to eat lots of high dollar meat because we are Americans, and that’s what we do. In reality incorporating a couple meatless nights into your family’s routine can save you big at the end of the month. Beans are a great substitute for meat, and they are good for you to boot. Cutting out snacks and junk food will not only trim your waistline, it will also help you save money on your monthly grocery bill. Buy whole foods like whole carrots rather than pre-cut. It might take a little more time to prep the lunchboxes in the mornings, but the little savings add up.

Saving on utilities can really add up too. About once every six months I call my cable provider and have them give me whatever promotion is going on at the time. If they don’t have a promotion and can’t lower my bill, that’s the time when I start talking about the incentives from their competitors. The tune tends to change quickly. Turning the hot water heater down a couple of degrees helps. Drying clothes on a clothesline also cuts our energy bill. These are just a few simple solutions to making ends meet in this slow economy.

Jun28

Teaching Kids About Famous Artists

Posted on by
Teaching Kids About Famous Artists

Art comes natural to a child. A child will light up when given a paintbrush and blank sheet of paper, even with just a simple crayon and coloring sheet. Art is a way to see how the world around them appears to them. Art is an outlet for a child to say what can’t be said in words.

It is important to encourage this creativity. Show them that art is all around them, not just on canvas but also in sculptures, pottery, architecture. Art is everywhere. It’s a great idea to teach them about art and amazing artists.

Showing your child that art is everywhere, allow them to look and talk about what surrounds them. Take them to area art galleries and museums; they are not always for adults. Most have a wing or area dedicated to children’s art and maybe even some hands on activities. Take note of pieces that your child seems interested in. These are the artist’s that your child finds amazing. Talk about pieces, what do they see, what they like about it. Keep a pad to write the artist’s name down.

Take the information you have and research the artists. Tell your child about the artist, about the piece. The thought behind it and give them paper, paint, markers, pencils, whatever, and have them to recreate what they see.

Through the Internet you can find great teaching aids about famous artists. Scholastic website has a CyberHunt crossword all about Masterpieces. They will learn about famous artists and key terms. Through the hunt your child will learn about the Mona Lisa, Salvador Dali along with so much more.

There are so many ways to teach your child about art and artists, more than a just book.

Apr12

Exploring the Metropolitan Museum Of Art

Posted on by
Exploring the Metropolitan Museum Of Art

One of New York City’s most famous attractions, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, has a rich history that dates back over 200 years. It is a cultural center that was created to bring art to the American people and brings in thousands of visitors each and every year to it’s two locations, the main museum, and the Cloisters Museum and Gardens.

Back in 1886, a group of citizens, led by lawyer John Jay, started the process of creating the museum, and by 1870, the Metropolitan Museum of Art was formed. Late in 1870, the museum had it’s first piece, a sarcophagus of Roman origin. The Museum opened it’s doors to the public on March 30, 1880, at the location where it still resides today – 5th Avenue and 82nd Street in New York City.

Several new exhibits and collections have come to the museum over the years, including works by Renior and Matisse, and large collections of Greek and Roman pieces, too. There are also armor collections, Mediterranean art pieces, and a large section devoted just to American artists and works. As the collection grew, so did the museum. Several additions and renovations have been added over the years to accommodate new pieces and collections that were on display.

It remains a popular tourist destination, as well as a favorite to locals, because of the broad range of pieces that it offers, and activities and events that are designed to draw in the community to expose them to the arts. They also have traveling exhibits, fellowships and exchanges that keep the collection fresh. It is a treasure to New York City and to the United States.

Jan27

Choosing Paint Colors for Your Room

Posted on by
Choosing Paint Colors for Your Room

Everyone wants their home to be their style and a place of relaxation and rest. Many people love to paint and make their rooms in their home come alive with personality and fun. Choosing paint colors can be hard and needs to be something that is planned out. One important thing to do is go from room to room and decide what you want that room to be about. Once you do that, you can decide a color scheme by the furniture and accessories.

Some people want all neutral colors throughout their home. Other people may want bright, vibrant colors to give their home an excitement and fun flare. There are also people who leave everything white and just create the style by the furniture and accessories. Choosing paint colors can be a fun thing to do and can make your home everything you want it to be.

Many people see the paint colors as part of their home and what makes their home what it is. If they choose cool colors, they desire to have a very calm and relaxed feel. Choosing warm colors can make a house seem inviting and full of love. Choosing paint colors can be time consuming and may take some time to find the right colors for you home and even your family. People can choose the right paint colors for their home by understanding what they like and the style that fits them and their family. Paint can bring a room to life or create a story within the walls. Paint colors are important and make a house a home.

Mar15

How to Win at Bingo

Posted on by
How to Win at Bingo

Games of chance are the most fun, yet the most challenging ones to play.  In theory no one would be more likely to win at bingo than anyone else.  Yet, if you play long enough, it may seem like the same people are winning over and over again while you are getting nothing.  How is that?  No matter where you play or what site online bingo sites you play on, it seems as if everyone is winning but you.

There is no way to ascertain that you are going to win at bingo.  As a game of chance and odds, you simply will not win every time.   It is theoretically impossible.  There are, however, ways to help push the odds ever so slightly into your favor making it much more likely that you will win.

First of all, you are going to want to play often.  Visit many different online bingo sites.  Tasty bingo, foxy bingo and Posh bingo are all well known reputable sites that also offer games where you can play free bingo.  By utilizing this, you will be able to see how to navigate the site, how the games are run and when are the most and least crowded times to play. You can also get to know your fellow players and begin to glean wisdom from some of the old timers as you build relationships and friendships with them.

Secondly, maximize your investments.  Make the most use out of the initial promos that are offered.  You can double, triple and sometimes quadruple the money that you put down as an initial deposit.  By making the most of this essentially free money, you are setting yourself up for success.  Also make sure that you are playing all the cards you can handle at each game.  Obviously you have a better chance of winning if you are playing three cards rather than one, right?  That common sense thinking will go a long way to improving your odds.

Finally, don’t always go for the gold.  The huge jackpots are certainly appealing, but remember that most of the players are going to flock there to try to win the big one.  By playing for smaller prizes in lesser crowded rooms you are increasing your odds considerably.  It certainly doesn’t matter whether you win your money in one huge chunk or over a period of time, just as long as you are winning.  By choosing to hold back and just try to win steadily instead of winning the big jackpot, you are much more likely to have higher earnings over time.  That is what really matters anyway, besides your love of the game.

There is no way to guarantee a win in any game and online bingo is no different. The odds don’t always fall in your favor, and lady luck certainly doesn’t always smile on you, but by helping yourself just to have even a little edge, it will go a long way in your overall success at a game of Bingo.