Archives for 2019

The possibility of purchasing a new home is one that can be exciting and have you eager to get started. However, it’s important to slow down, take your time and determine what your next step should be in the lengthy process. 

Finding a local Realtor is paramount to your home-buying success. Let’s say you want to move to Santa Barbara. Your first task should be finding one of the many reputable Santa Barbara Realtors to help guide you through the process of finding your dream home. In this post, you’ll find a few tips for buying a new home that everyone should know before they start pounding the streets to find one. 

Have Your Down Payment in Hand 

When you’re ready to buy your home, you’re going to need to have saved up for the down payment necessary to get approved for a home mortgage ahead of time. It’s important to note that the bigger your down payment, the less of a risk you are for the mortgage company, which means you have more of a chance of getting approved for the amount you ask for. Also, the larger your down payment is, the less your monthly payments will be. 

Get Pre-Approved 

Put simply, getting pre-approved for your home loan can mean the difference between having a seller accept your bid and going with another buyer instead. It’s also super helpful when it comes to finding a house. For example, if you are pre-approved for $200,000 before you go out to hunt for a house, you won’t be tempted to look for a home in the $400,000 range. It’s also a good idea to look for homes under the amount you have been pre-approved for so that you don’t spend all of the money on the home. 

Create a Budget 

While you’re looking for your dream home, and you should get what you want, it’s important to create a budget that you don’t go over. Remember, you will have house payments, but you’ll also have other expenses as well. Nine times out of ten, you’re going to want new appliances and new furniture for your home and you don’t want to overextend yourself and end up eating noodles every month. Creating a budget will guide you through the process and keep you from spending too much. 

Keep Your Money Where It’s At 

Your credit and bank accounts are going to mean everything when it comes to being approved to buy a new home, so it’s unwise to make any large purchases or move your money around for at least three to six months prior to your loan application. This is because you don’t your credit profile to change, as this is what lenders will look at to see if you’re reliable enough to be approved for a mortgage. Remember, your credit score is extremely important and you want it to be the best it can be. Also, don’t make any major changes after you sign your contract. Lenders often do one final check just before funding to make sure nothing has changed.

Always Have the Home Inspected 

While you might be in love with the home you’ve found, you need to look beyond the cosmetic portion of the house. Always hire a licensed home inspector to inspect the home from top to bottom. The inspection will cost you around $200, but it’s worth every penny to avoid the thousands of dollars in repair bills and other costs you could get stuck with if you don’t. 

These are just a few of the tips you should follow when searching for your dream home. Buying a new home can be super-exciting, but not taking your time can end in disaster, not only for your wallet but for the house you choose as well.  

When you’re planning a city vacation, you’ll find a plethora of amazing ones to visit. Of course, large cities, like New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Orlando tend to top people’s lists. But plenty of other locations have a lot to offer as well. Check out these top cities to visit on your next vacation.

San Diego, California

San Diego is known for having wonderful weather year-round, so there’s little chance your trip will be ruined by Mother Nature. But the city has a lot more than a nice climate to offer. It’s home to miles and miles of white-sand beaches, the world-famous San Diego Zoo, Seaworld San Diego, and LEGOLAND California. You’ll also find several San Diego tours available, which make it easier for first-time visitors to explore the city and frequent travelers to see the city in a new light. You can even take a historic tour of San Diego’s Old Town that’s hosted by a costumed tour guide.

Denver, Colorado

Denver, one of the largest cities between the Great Plains and the Pacific Coast, is definitely worth a visit. It’s known as the “Mile High City” because when you climb up to the state capital, you’re exactly 5,280 feet — one mile — above sea level. You’ll find plenty of outdoor activities to explore here. You can take a hiking tour of the Rocky Mountains, drive up Pikes Peak, or go rock climbing. If you want to spend time outdoors, but prefer a more laid-back activity, consider touring the city on a scooter. In the downtown area, you’ll find several restaurants and breweries, trending shops in Larimer Square, and the historic Denver Union Station. You can also tour the home of Molly Brown, the famous Titanic survivor.

Charleston, South Carolina

History and southern charm collide in Charleston, South Carolina. It’s a place with contradictions around every turn — you’ll find old, historic buildings sitting next to their new, modern counterparts and feel the vibe of a glamorous city while keeping the beautiful Great Outdoors close by. While you’re there, you should consider taking at least one historic city tour. You’ll find historic harbor tours, carriage tours, and walking tours available. Also, don’t forget to take a photo in front of the houses along Rainbow Row — it’s Instagram worthy.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Often overshadowed by neighboring Miami, Fort Lauderdale has a thriving art scene and over 20 miles of beaches. FATVillage houses the city’s art district, where you can browse the galleries and shops run by local artists, and the city hosts an ArtWalk once a month. If art isn’t your thing, you can take a cruise on the Jungle Queen Riverboat or grab a bite to eat at Rhythm + Vine, an outdoor cafe that hosts local food trucks — when you aren’t at the beach, of course. You’ll find the city’s best shopping along Las Olas Boulevard, and history buffs can tour the Fort Lauderdale Antique Car Museum, the Stranahan House, and the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico ranked number two on Travel + Leisure’s “15 Best Cities in the United States” list, right behind Charleston, South Carolina. You’ll find summer activities for everyone in your family here. Take a curated Canyon Road art tour or spend the day hiking exploring the area’s hiking trails for amazing views of the city and the nature surrounding it. You can also go horseback riding, stroll through the Santa Fe botanical gardens, or visit the Georgia O’Keeffe museum.

Whether you’re taking a family vacation or a quick trip, these cities are great destinations. They all have plenty of activities for people of all ages, breathtaking views of the surrounding area, and fun, interesting sites to explore.

If you are in the throes of planning your wedding, then you are probably also thinking about how you want to look on your big day. For a lot of people, getting married is a good motivator to improve their fitness and start hitting the gym, so that they can look their absolute best in their wedding outfit for their new spouse and, of course, for the photos!

There are lots of ways to get in shape, from trying to stick to a program of your own to working with a personal trainer but choosing the right one can be important when you have a fixed date you want to meet your goals by. Here, we look at what the benefits of going for a personal trainer are over trying to get fit on your own when your big day is coming up.

You’ve Got A Lot Going On

With the best will in the world, it is easy for our own plans to fall by the wayside, especially when it is a busy and stressful time, like planning a wedding. While setting yourself a strict program of 4 AM runs and daily Pilates sessions may look great on paper, it only gets you results if you can actually manage to do it. When you have appointments with a trainer to make and someone holding you accountable, it is a lot easier to treat your fitness as a priority.

A Tailored Plan to Meet Your Goals

When you are hitting the weights or pounding the pavement for a specific goal, in this case looking good on your wedding day, you may find it hard to know exactly what sort of training you should be doing and how often to get the exact results you want. If you want to lose body fat then the workouts you should be focusing on would be completely different to if you want to tone up your arms to look good in a sleeveless dress. Having an expert that you can talk to about what exactly you want to achieve can ensure that all the effort you are putting in when you are working out is applied efficiently and effectively. They can also help you keep stock of what is actually achievable in the time frame that you have, and help you make the best of your training with the help of personal training client tracking software.

One Less Thing to Control

It can feel when you are planning a wedding as though everything is down to you, and you have to keep control over lots of different things all at once. Look for a personal trainer with suitable qualifications, such as those provided with courses like this RQF personal training in Belfast. A specialist can devise your exercise and nutrition plan as part of the run-up to the wedding where you can let someone else do all the organising and planning, and you can just follow orders. This can take some of the pressure off!

Hiring a personal trainer can be beneficial at any time, but when you are a busy bride-to-be with time constrained body improvement goals, it can be a huge boon.

Entrepreneurs, big or small, need to keep up with the fierce competitive standards of the corporate world by including brand awareness strategies, including trade show exhibits and fairs. Successful companies can attest to the fact that trade show or exhibition is one of the best methods to build their brand.

How to boost your trade show experience

Have a face-to-face interaction with your target audience

Generally, exhibitions attract a diverse range of audiences and create a perfect environment to market products or services. Your target audience might not be aware of which trade you are involved in. Exhibitions present the chance to engage with your customers face-to-face, where you can discuss the history of the company, licensing, and how they will gain from your products or services.

Customize your brand

Building your brand is a perfect way to express your uniqueness. The size of the booth might not play a significant role in defining your branding strategies. An excellent presentation will not only generate sales and new distributors but will also make you stand out as a competitive player in your niche. You may want to invest in business table covers to promote and draw attention to your company.

Consistency is vital for all portable trade show displays you are planning to use. Fortunately for you, Expomarketing will provide the perfect fixtures and materials that will expose you as a reliable provider of the goods and services you offer.

Be precise about your company’s objectives

It is erroneous to assume that people already know the products or services you provide just because you have optimized it on search engines. Some people may be hearing about it for the first time. Be ready to introduce your company’s objectives to any person visiting your booth.

Stand out of the crowd

There will be various companies at the trade fair, which will be trying to capture potential clients’ attention. Your primary focus is to maintain uniqueness using bold colors. Create a scenario where your clients can move around the booth to see your work.

Create a lasting impression

Using a world-class trade show displays will create a lasting impression that will stay in the minds of your target audience even after the trade show comes to a close. Use an all-round booth with eye-catching displays, contest opportunities, and use the most appropriate promotional items that will draw and keep their attention.

Why use Expomarketing?

Expomarketing is an award-winning trade show company that has helped many companies to market their brand. Besides providing you with a range of equipment, they will also assign a team of experts who will ensure you get everything you need to make the day successful.

Provides a 20by20 display

Expomarketing will ensure it customizes your trade show display to build a lasting impression. The team will tailor the right booth size to ensure people move around comfortably in your space and enjoy the entire marketing experience.

A 20by20 trade show booth allows you to display your products up 12-20 feet in height. The height advantage promotes better visibility and presence. You will have a better chance of putting a hanging sign and create more space for other demos and meetings.

Team of experts working on site

The Expomarketing team will provide expert opinion on the type of materials you need to use and set up space for you. From the logistics to the installation, our team will support your project and ensure your company stands out of the crowd.

A new study by Onepoll reveals that 73% of Americans prefer road trips because they find them more enjoyable than air travel. Traveling on the road allows you to stop multiple times, enjoy scenic views, and opt for the most convenient attractions for your family: things you cannot do when flying. While summer road trips can be fun, you should be aware of some safety precautions such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, especially when traveling with young children and the elderly. Taking extra care is essential to make sure everyone enjoys a memorable trip regardless of the summer heat.

Settle on a Destination and Choose a Route

Driving off down the road without a plan or worries is enjoyable, but only for adults. When traveling with kids, it is critical to choose a destination and ideal routes you will take during the tour. Make use of Google Maps or trip planning tools like Roadtrippers to map your journey. No matter what location you choose to go, you will need to drive via different courses to get there. Once you have identified your destination and specific routes, the next step is to choose a reliable car that is perfect for family road trips. An SUV with reliable towing power to tow a trailer if you have one or a spacious van with lots of space for everyone would be perfect.

Pack Smart for Everyone

While packing for the whole family can be stressful, it should not stop you from enjoying an unforgettable summer road trip. Since you will be traveling closer to home, you can pack more than you would when flying. Nonetheless, you should not carry excess luggage that you might not need. Always write down a packing checklist, months before your travel date. This step will help you stick to carrying essentials, like clothing, toiletries, first aid kits, tech gear and entertainment, snacks, and beverages. Other items worth packing include travel guides, printed maps, cameras, binoculars, blankets, neck pillows, and a survival kit in case anything unexpected happens along the way. You should always be prepared for anything, so plan well ahead. You can acquire first aid skills from C2C First Aid in Toronto which will be useful in case of emergencies.  And buy 4 person survival kit for sale, when you are travelling with family.

Take Breaks and Play Games

As much as tech devices keep children entertained, try to introduce other activities that promote creativity and conversations along the way. If you are looking for ways to unplug from technology to connect with the kids, going on a road trip is an excellent idea. You will have ample time to discuss critical family issues and engage in different fun activities such as alphabet games, bingo, counting, and drawing games, 20 questions, roadside attractions, and tacky tourist traps. Whether you are going for short or long trips, plan to take breaks frequently, stop by tourist attractions, and stop at any viewpoints to make the journey enjoyable.

Going for road trips has advantages: family members unwind from the usual home routine and connect while enjoying scenic sights. Despite the high gas prices, road trips are more economical compared to air transport. Planning is what makes a summer road trip worthwhile. So, plan, and allow the children to share ideas of where to go and what to do throughout the expedition.

You make it look easy but raising children and working a full-time job is no joke. It requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and plenty of sacrifices. Though challenging, you take on these responsibilities daily to ensure a happy and healthy life for your children. Yet, what about mom? When is the last time you remember taking a break that lasted more than a few hours? Feeling as if treating yourself would be selfish, most women don’t dedicate much time to relaxing and feeding their own desires. 

This type of lifestyle, however, can turn out negatively. You end up resenting your family for all the sacrifices you’ve made. Not to mention you become overworked, overwhelmed, and burned out. Working this hard with no breaks in between, however, doesn’t help you or your family. Simply put, when mom isn’t happy, well-rested, and healthy, she can’t continue to do her job as efficiently. That’s why it is important on occasion to take a long break. 

What is a Retreat?

In basic terms, a retreat is simply a vacation that allows you to withdraw or take a step back for a moment. Most retreats are designed to help enrich your life in some way. Whether it’s learning how to adopt healthier habits on something like this detox retreat in the Caribbean, tap into their spirituality, or reducing stress, going on a vacation such as this can be eye-opening and beneficial for both mom and the family.

Top Retreats to Consider

Thinking that a retreat is exactly what you need? Below is a look at the types of retreats you can travel to:

Meditation Retreats

Meditation has long been regarded as a method for helping individuals to relieve stress. Through these practices, participants learn how to use eliminate the clutter in their minds. It teaches methods of mindfulness or learning how to focus on the present (not the past or future which cannot be controlled). With all the thoughts running around in the minds of working moms, going on a meditation retreat can do wonders. You’ll learn how to relieve stress and cope with many of life’s circumstances in a more positive manner. For women looking to spread the love, there are also mindfulness teacher training retreats you can attend to learn how to educate other women on how to better manage their thoughts and enrich their well-being. 

Spa Retreats

If you love getting a massage on occasion then you’ll love the possibilities that come from going on a spa retreat. Designed to help individuals find inner peace and hormonal balance as well as rest and relaxation, spa retreats are very popular for working moms. During these excursions, you can indulge in activities including meditation, massages, acupuncture, yoga, and more. Using practices from cultures including India, China, and Thailand, participants are taught various methods that help them to recenter while replenishing their minds and bodies. 

Nature Retreat

With the exception of hopping in the car to go to school, work, or the grocery store, spending time outdoors is something working moms don’t get enough of. Be that as it may, being outside with nature is beneficial to your physical and mental well-being. Regular sun exposure helps to improve vitamin D levels, reduce stress, and improve your mood. So, why not go on a retreat where you get to spend time in the great outdoors. Go hiking, camping, boating or swimming in a new environment for a break you’ve never experienced before. 

Health and Nutrition Retreat

Though all the above retreat options help to enhance your health there are some moms who could use a little more assistance when it comes to the health and nutrition department. When you live a hectic lifestyle, doing things like exercising, eating right, and getting enough sleep are sometimes challenging. A health and nutrition retreat, however, allows you the opportunity to learn how to fit health and wellness into your lifestyle. You learn about everything from the right foods to eat and how to prep meals to new exercises and ways to accomplish your fitness goals. 

Your role as a mother and a business professional are of extreme importance. Yet, you can’t continue to do either of those jobs well if you’re not in your best health. So, do yourself, your family, and your career a favor and treat yourself to a nice, long, retreat. When you return you’ll find yourself so at ease and filled with helpful information that you’re able to be the best for those you love most. 

The decision to go back to school puts you in a great position to aim for that promotion or even start a new career. Yet trying to manage going to school with your other responsibilities can get hectic. After all, your kids need attention, and you may also have a current job that requires you to put in long hours. 

This guide will help you to prepare to head back to school so that you hit your educational goals:

Pick Courses That Fit Into Your Schedule

Students today have more options than ever for working an education into their already busy schedule. For example, aspiring architects can now enroll in IPAL programs as an alternative pathway to achieving their dreams. For others, evening courses are still a popular option that allows you to go to school at night, and some schools even have late night or weekend courses that you can take without interfering with family time. Online classes are also an excellent option for working moms who may need an extra flexible schedule. Many online classes let you choose when to listen to lectures and take your tests, which is perfect when you are strapped for time.

Establish a Designated Study Time and Place

When you are going back to get your graduate degree, there may have been a gap since you were last in school. This means that you may need to incorporate strategies that help you maintain good study habits. For example, establishing a specific study time helps you to remember to crack open the textbook. You will also find that setting up a study area with a desk and some supplies will allow you to instantly get in the mindset for doing your homework.

Make Studying a Family Event

There is nothing worse than feeling that sense of mom guilt when you need to study and your kids are begging for your attention. When this moment comes, be prepared by having your kids study alongside you. Older kids and teens can do their schoolwork, and younger kids will love pretending to study just like you with a coloring pad or some preschool-friendly worksheets. You’ll teach your children the value of an education while also engaging with each other in an enjoyable new way.

Work Out a Plan With Your Employer

Most employers are happy to hear that their employees are going back to school. In fact, your employer may be able to help with things such as tuition reimbursement if the company policies allow it. Your employer may also be willing to work out a plan that makes it easier to juggle work and school. For instance, flex time might be an option that allows you to work shorter hours on school days in exchange for working longer hours on the days that you only have to work.

Get Creative With Household Tasks

Your busy schedule also requires you to rethink how you manage your household routine. Consider using time-saving measures such as prepping your meals on one day of the week so that it is easier to cook on the other weeknights. You can also ask for support. Your older kids may be ready to help sweep the floor after dinner or give you a hand with the dishes. When everyone works together, you’ll feel a tighter family bond and have time left over to manage your studies.

While you know it won’t be easy, you also understand that furthering your education gives you more opportunities in your chosen career. Now you know how to handle the most common challenges that moms face with school, you can start picking out your courses with confidence that you will get the chance to celebrate your graduation.