Archive - March 2018

When the heat and humidity become too much to bear, beach serves as an ideal vacation spot in summers. After all, what better way than this to beat the heat and that too with your girl gang? Sounds pretty cool and tempting, no? We bet you are drooling over the idea.

As soothing and fun the word beach alone sounds, a trip there can turn out to be a full fledge disaster if preparation isn’t done right. No matter how many days you intend to spend there, planning ahead of the day of departure is always a good idea to have the best trip possible.

Keeping in mind the ‘beachy’ needs, we have compiled for you a comprehensive guide, which can be used as a checklist. This way, you can make your trip a massive hit and yeah, thank us later.

Let’s do it, girls!

Clothing Items:

If you plan your clothing ahead of the time, we guarantee that you won’t miss out on any essential item as well as won’t end over packing.

Let’s start from the top. The first item that must go in your bag is a hat.

This piece is a must-have. It is an all-rounder and here’s why. You intend to be makeup free on your trip? No worries, just pop this on along with sunglasses. This is enough to make you appear as fully decked up!

Secondly, just crop it up, ladies! If there is one place where your crop top will look hit, it is the beach. They won’t take much space in your bag and combined with shorts, it will make a super stylish and comfortable combo.

Thirdly, make sure you have packed some cutesy dresses and off-shoulder ensembles. They make great for those breezy photo shoots and naturally, would give off a graceful appeal when worn with correct statement jewelry and footwear.

Also, you can pack some comfortable, breezy tank tops. They are pretty cute and cool to sport on a beach. You can always wear some jewelry, such as long necklaces or feather earrings to add a little sparkle and a pop of color in your look. You can pair them with high-waisted shorts for a more attractive look.

Footwear:-

No outfit is complete without footwear. In fact, your shoes play a big part in making your outfit a hit or a miss. When it is a beach, flip-flops are your ride. This is by far the most practical footwear to take on a beach. If flip-flops don’t appeal to you, you can pack slip-ons.

They look cool and uber chic! Not only this, but thong flats and gladiator sandals also work just fine. Colorful, trendy and glamorous, this is what they are about and makes them perfect for the beach.  They can easily make your dresses and maxis stand out. These are your ultimate key to look effortlessly elegant.

Sunscreen and Lip Balm:-

Enjoy while being careful. Don’t forget your skin. In fact, pay it extra attention when you hit the beach. You don’t want it to get too tanned or get sunburned. Hence, pack sunscreen and slather it over your face and body to keep the sunburns at bay. Put some lip balm to keep your lips protected and soft. Sun can be cruel, lovelies! Once this is on, you can sweat it out on the beach like YOLO!

Beach Towel:

Since we are talking about skin, it is important to note that not every fabric works well for the skin. Therefore, we recommend you to go for pure cotton Turkish towels to take on the beach. They are looped with knotted tassels which makes them super functional. You can rock it as a sarong, too! Moreover, it comes in a variety of colors and designs to choose from.

Portable Chargers:

Expect the worst when you are on a trip. The battery of your cell phone can die any moment. It might not even occur to you amidst all the fun that you are running out of it and when it suddenly gets off, all the hell breaks loose! So, it is always wise to take a power bank with you.  In addition to this, a work-related emergency might come anytime, so it’s good to have a back-up should a need to charge your laptop arises.

Through a portable charger, charge your gadgets anywhere, anytime like a queen!
Speaking of gadgets and chargers, make sure they are water-proof or cover them up with specially designed protective covers.

Beach Umbrella:

To help reduce your skin’s exposure to the sun, consider carrying a beach umbrella along with you. It will keep you cool and as fresh as a flower. Typically, an umbrella with a diameter of 5-8 feet is used to cater for 1-2 people. When you purchase one, check whether or not the pole and fabric are well connected.

 A Big Tote Bag:

Last but not the least; you need a big fat tote bag to just chuck everything in. A tote bag does all the talking! It is the most versatile item that a girl could ever own in her cupboard. Durable and super spacious, you can stuff the most used things in it for you to quickly access them. Your go-to makeup, the sunscreen, the sunglasses, magazines or books to read on the beach; a tote bag such as Street Level leather Tote has enough space to store everything!

So, are you sure about the seashore now? Well, let’s start packing. And here’s a friendly reminder. If you need to stock up on crop tops, tanks, shorts or swimwear, head over to Sophie and Trey and grab your most wanted items at unbeatable prices.

Most of us dream of our wedding for years. We ready the bridal magazines and search the internet, and we see weddings of celebrities that look flawless. We know that a celebrity spares no expense to have their photo-worthy weddings, but we have a budget. The fact is, you can have a wedding that is elegant, chic, and charming while staying within your budget.

When you get past the glitz and glamour of the celebrity wedding, what you see is the same things you are planning. Maybe without the special lighting and the media attention. You have a lovely venue, a dress made especially for you. Elegant table settings and great music. So let’s look at the what we can do to have it all, for less money. Sites like Movablemark may help you in regards lifestyle.

The Wedding Gown

The main attraction and the moment everyone is waiting for at a celebrity wedding is seeing the bride enter in her wedding gown. Photos snap endlessly to capture every angle of how she looks in a gown custom made for her.

This is easily attainable for you. Bridal industry leader, Azazie has a wide selection of trending and lovely wedding gowns. But, if you want to design your own gown, for a one of a kind look, they can accommodate you. Their prices are within your budget.

The colors

The bridesmaid’s dresses are high on the priority list because they are the build-up to the main event. Celebrities rarely go with anything less than elegant dresses. That means a stylish cut in a color that is regarded as ultra-chic.

Fortunately, there is a large selection of colors that fit that requirement. Basic colors include:

• Black
• Navy
• Champagne
• Deep gray
• Dark red
• Cream or Ivory

Keep in mind that colors such as Ink Blue, Emerald Green, and royal purple are also acceptable if the cut of the gown is understated. The bridesmaids gowns are usually, simply accessorized.

The Venue

This is the one area where you can easily blow your budget if you are not careful. You want a picture perfect wedding setting. Perhaps you want the finery of a resort, overlooking the ocean. Maybe you picture yourself descending the stairs of a Victorian mansion, or arriving by carriage to a cathedral. There are two things you need to make this happen.

The wedding planner

No celebrity (and no other bride who wants a flawless wedding) would even consider having a wedding without a wedding planner. It is not the big things with your venue that will ruin your day; it is the details. The wedding planner should be the first call you make when you are ready to begin preparing for the wedding.

Wedding Venue Packages

When you use a venue package at a resort hotel or other specialty venues, ask for a package deal. This can include your wedding chapel or hall, the decorations, the elegant table settings, caterers, the bar and bartender, and more. In some cases, you can have them arrange the music and provide a dance floor area, and a photographer.

They may have a caterer and they will give you prearranged menus to select from.

Securing these things individually would cost you a lot more.

By following these simple plans, you can have your perfect wedding at a price you can afford.

Psychologist Carol Dweck developed the concept of the growth mindset. In recent years, the schools and colleges have started teaching their students about this mindset.

According to this theory, people make self-perceptions or self-theory about themselves. Dweck has given a brief distinction between ‘fixed’ and ‘growth’ mindsets.

In a fixed mindset, people believe their essential qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are only fixed traits. They spend their time documenting intelligence or talent instead of developing them.

But, in a growth mindset, people believe that their abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work; they love learning, and they learn quickly. They love to adopt new opportunities and face all the obstacles on their way. Fixed mindset drives motivation and achievement. Growth mindset also leads to winning mindset which can not only boost efficiency and productivity but helps you cope the stress and stay happy even in most difficult circumstances.

8 Ways to Develop Growth Mindset

Use these tactics to foster a growth mindset in your students, helping them cultivate their talents and abilities in and out of the classroom. You should see a positive attitude building new skills and taking different challenges.

Keep the moral high

Always teach students to have one alternate or backup plan ready for them, and try to create new ideas every time. This can push them towards developing a growth mindset.

New teaching strategies

Make a new strategy for the students so that they learn something new out of it. Try to give projects in a group or a pair. Use videos, audio, presentations, documentary, etc. in lessons. Keep a track on every student and take a test or cross-examine them to understand their mindset. By expanding your teaching tactics, students sharpen their skills to face obstacles.

Use ‘yet’ more often

The word ‘yet’ can change a depressing or negative sentence into a positive one, promoting growth. The word works well with the sentences that include ‘can’t or won’t’ because it reverses the negative meaning. Share this trick with students to keep them motivated about their work.

Replace the word ‘failing’ with the word ‘opportunity.’

The word ‘fail or failure’ is in itself a negative or devastating. Teach your students to replace it with the word opportunity or challenge. When someone makes a mistake, they haven’t failed but has learned something new. So teach them to learn something new everytime they think they haven’t reached their goal.

Celebrate growth

Teach your students to celebrate growth and progress with others. It gives happiness and positive vibes.

Learn from others

It’s not always wise to compare yourself to others, but it is important to realize that humans share the same weaknesses.

Make a new goal

Never stop learning, once you are over with your exams doesn’t mean you stop being interested in that subject. Growth-minded people know how to create new goals and keep themselves stimulated constantly.

Effort

Praising effort is shown to have a long-lasting effect. Try to give in your best without thinking about the result. The effort pays in the end. If still, you get failure take it as a challenge to think something new and brings out a new strategy to get a positive result. Putting in effort and learning thoroughly is what people with the growth mindset do.

Bottom Line

You may not include all of the above at one point in time. Therefore, it is best to prioritize the ideas and start implementing the most important strategies. Gradually, you can include more ideas and inculcate growth mindset as a habit in your students.

Choosing the best quality wood furniture can give you some difficulty. For sure, many pieces in the market will deceive you by their appearance alone, only to prove that they are not of superior quality when you start to use them.

Pieces of furniture made of superior materials and done with solid construction can last longer, even decades and centuries. Thus, you need to judge better if it is an excellent piece you are buying. The question is: how to tell the difference between shoddy and high-quality wood furniture?

Here are some tips on how to tell the difference between the what is low-quality and superior wood furniture to have the best buy for your budget.

Know What Kind of Wood is the Material

Wood furniture comes from different wood materials classified as soft, hard, and engineered. Knowing what kind of wood material of your furniture is crucial because this is one of the factors that tell how your furniture will last and how it will fare as time advances.

Those furniture pieces that usually last longer is known as hardwood, but they can a bit expensive. Hardwood comes from deciduous trees like maple, mahogany, oak, walnut, teak, birch, and cherry. It is usually denser and has a more muffled sound when you tap them than other kinds of wood material.

It is also common to find furniture pieces made from engineered wood. It may not be as sturdy and durable as hardwood, but you should not dismiss it as low-quality because it still provides strength and prevents warping and breaking. Engineered wood can be sturdy and highly-attractive when applied with veneers.

Determine How It is Made

Of course, to determine whether a piece of furniture is superior or not is to know the whole process that the material goes through. Most furniture pieces nowadays are assembled using veneer.

A veneer is a flimsy wood with ⅛ inch thickness layered to the surface of the furniture piece. You can get veneer by either peeling the tree trunk or by slicing rectangular blocks of flitches.

High-quality furniture pieces have at least 1-inch thick of veneer applied on it. Of course, this will make the furniture piece lasts much longer.

Check the Furniture Construction

The Construction of a furniture piece will define the piece’s aesthetic, how long it will serve you, and how it will function. Check on those essential attributes of a high-quality of furniture for you to have the best buy.

In general, an excellent way to tell the quality of construction is to look for the joinery of the furniture piece. Good furniture pieces have screwed joints. But the best furniture pieces have dovetailed joints, or linked with a mortise and tenon. They also have a reinforcement block attached at an angle on every corner.

Low-quality furniture pieces, on the other hand, is simpler to determine. Poor quality furniture pieces have joints that are stapled, nailed, or glued. The problem with poor quality pieces is that they easily come apart and might endanger the safety of the user. You can find an excellently constructed wooden furniture in furniture sites like Black Mango.

Superior Wood Furniture Has Good Finishing Touches

The finishing on a wood furniture can make or break the overall quality of the piece. The finishing process should include three things: the sanding, staining, and the final finishing.

An excellent furniture piece should be resistant to scratch because if it is vulnerable to scrape and scratch it will not be good to display in your home. You can test the furniture piece if it easily dents on the surface by running your fingernails over the surface. Also, check the furniture piece at different angles for blotch and scratches.

Modern wood furniture finishes range from high-gloss to matte. A superior wood finish is satiny smooth and does not have rough patches, bubbles, and dust specks. Check for the depth and richness of the wood finish, which comes from great coats of finish between sanding.

Check for Warranty

When you buy something, it is essential to check if you get a warranty for it, especially when it comes to buying furniture. Even though the furniture piece you buy is a strong and durable one, a sale warranty will help you on maintenance in case of future damage. So be sure to check for a warranty.

Takeaway

A wood furniture is an excellent material for a home furnishing because of its several advantages. Wooden furniture pieces will suit almost any room due to its warmth, richness, comfort, and finesse. Before you buy one, however, it is essential to tell the difference between low-quality and superior wood furniture.