by patterned

Yellow décor works well in the kitchen because it adds some instant sunshine to the room, whatever the weather is like outside. Warm creams and buttery tones are perfect with many designs of fitted kitchens and will be equally as successful in a traditional farmhouse setting or a high-gloss contemporary one. The light within the space is important too: warmth from yellowy artificial lighting can add to the sunny mood and good access to natural light brings any interior to life.

Yellow is also a key colour for the season so you will be bang on trend if you decide to include it in your plans. If all-over yellow on the walls or even the kitchen units themselves doesn’t appeal to you then how about a bright canary yellow as an accent colour in a stylish white and silver kitchen. www.wrenkitchens.com have a fantastic range of styles to choose from and can advise you on what colours and models go well together so if you need some help, don’t hesitate to speak to the experts.

Your kitchen will often be the central hub of the home so make sure you are delighted with how it looks and not driven mad by the layout, the decorating or any of the other features. A happy kitchen equals a happy home!

by rcvnl

Some children may suffer hair loss as a result of treatment they are receiving for illness, such as chemotherapy for example. Other children may go through a traumatic period in their lives, brought on by bereavement, family problems and so on.

Whatever the reason for a child suffering hair loss, it can understandably be extremely difficult for them to deal with, but there are ways you can try and make the situation a little bit easier for them.

If they are very self conscious about losing their hair, it might help your child if you were to help them shop for a quality wig. There is a lot of variety available these days and many look so realistic you would be hard pushed not to think they were in fact real hair. Head scarves and bandanas are also an option if your child has suffered hair loss; help them find something stylish that they feel comfortable and confident in.

It can also help your child to deal with hair loss if they try out some hair loss products that encourage re-growth, such as http://www.viviscal.co.uk hair loss treatment. There are of course many hair loss products out there, so it’s simply a case of giving them a go and seeing which work best for your child.

Finally, and most importantly, make sure your child continues to feel loved, beautiful and confident when they are suffering from hair loss. Instil in them a sense of self worth and pride as much as you can and they will find the hair loss much easier to deal with.

Photo: Thomas Hawk

There are numerous sites offering a variety of tips for losing weight. One has to decide which is the most suitable and plausible one to follow depending on his lifestyle and health.  One should plan out an exercise regimen which gives some time for the body to adjust to it. Increasing the exercise duration gradually also suits the body which prefers slow changes. This also helps to maintain continuity in your exercise schedule.

When one exercises the body uses energy which is derived from food. Any excess food that you take is stored in the body as fat. And this also leads to weight gain. So the best way is to burn the excess fat stored by way of exercise or any physical activities. The other option is to reduce the amount of calories that one consumes.

Just like exercises slow changes in the pattern of eating also helps you to stick to it for a longer time and then the positive results can be seen. A small change like substituting full fat milk to that of skimmed milk brings about positive results in the long run. The aim should be to bring about a change in lifestyle which brings about a good impact on one’s health. Sometimes someone who increases the amount they exercise, but maintains the same diet and calorie intake, will see some good results in terms of weight loss.

There are numerous ways in which one can increase the amount of physical activity in daily life. Partaking in any sports activity, aerobics, running, walking, swimming, and cycling help in improving the fitness level to a great extent. Some more changes that one can easily follow are using stairs instead of elevators and escalators, walk instead of driving and using weekends for sports activities one enjoys with friends and family. Click here to get some more weight loss tips.

Apart from this it is very important to reduce one’s calorie intake and keep a check on Body Mass Index or BMI which is standard way used by doctors to calculate whether one is overweight. If one falls in the overweight category one has to bring some changes in the diet or include exercise in your lifestyle to correct it. Studies show that overweight women who lose between 10lb and 20lb have their risk of developing diabetes. For men, the risk of heart problems reduces considerably. Thus by keeping one’s weight in the healthy range, one is less likely to be facing these health problems in later years.  One can follow weight loss tips that are most suitable but the most important thing is to adhere to them.

Photo: Micah Camara

Like any great party, the most successful baby showers are preceded by careful, thorough and thoughtful planning. 7 of the most important areas to consider are:

#1:  Menu for the baby shower 

Food will of course be an important part of every baby shower and there are no hard and fast rules as to the types of food that should be served. At some baby showers, a full sit-down meal is served, while finger foods and/or only cake and coffee/tea is served at others.

No matter what you decide to serve, plan ahead so that you do not feel flustered by catering requirements immediately before or on the day of the party and remember that often, simple, fresh and uncomplicated food proves the biggest hit!

#2:  Baby shower invitations

Of course, a guest list, date and location are needed, but when you have compiled these details, the next step is to send out invitations inviting people to the party. Many gorgeous baby shower invitations can be arranged and purchased online at very reasonable prices. By using existing templates and adding in the details of your particular occasion, you can create a beautiful invitation that includes all of the key party and RSVP details.

#3:  Theme or no theme?

As with other party themes, some people like to have or host a themed baby shower. Sometimes, having a theme can make planning and purchases for the baby shower a little bit easier, because you may choose party supplies and party decorations that reflect a chosen theme. Although it is certainly not essential to have a themed party, some people choose to do so because it can create a more cohesive and streamlined effect.

#4:  Party decorations

Decorations are definitely important features of a baby shower, but it is not always necessary to spend exorbitant sums of money. Balloons and streamers can set the party mood, as can arrangements of beautiful flowers and attractive table centrepieces.

#5:  Games

Although some people show resistance to baby shower games, they can serve a good purpose at your baby shower or one that you host – as some of the guests will only know the mother-to-be, baby shower games can help guests to get to know each other. It is also important to note that many creative and fun games can be played and enjoyed and extensive lists of these can be accessed online. You do not need to have too many games and the prizes that are awarded do not need to be expensive or elaborate.

#6:  Present opening

One of the traditional and ‘expected’ features of a baby shower is the mother-to-be opening her presents. Depending on the number of guests, this can go on for some time and one of the most useful things that the host of the party or another helper can do, is to record the presents received and who they are from for the guest of honour. This task make the process of preparing and sending out thank you cards all the more easy for the mother-to-be.

#7:  Small gifts for guests

Although it is not essential, it seems a growing custom for the mother-to-be to give her guests a small thank you present for attending the baby shower and giving a present. You may like to consider this as a possibility for your own baby shower or one that you host for a friend or family member.

Baby showers can be fun and very special occasions. By noting these essentials, you are sure to host and/or arrange a great occasion for the expectant mother and all of her guests.

Unfortunately there are only so many options when it comes to the things we can limit, and cutting back on expenses, such as eating out, extras, and even trying to cut back on energy costs, all have their limits. When all of these things have been done, families are often left with only one of two choices. Either find someone who can move in with you to help cut down on costs, or move in with someone else. When this happens, space quickly becomes a big issue.

In order to best handle the constraints and stress that this can inflict, organization and consolidation are paramount. One of the most effective ways that some people have found to tackle this is by using useful items such as metal bunk beds.

Although there are many who will only associate this amazing bed with boot camp, summer experiences, and childhood, these beds have actually come a very long way. Not only does a bunk bed now come with the ability to be highly functional, they are also very comfortable. There are a variety of mattress options and support systems and you may be surprised as to the sizes they are now offered in as well.

In addition to the level of comfort, the bunk bed is very useful. There are many available options now ranging from adding on an accessory desk to attachments that give you drawer and shelving space. Not only this, but should you need to suddenly be required to have separate sleeping areas for people, the bunk bed is designed to come apart and form two independent beds.

The bunk bed is a relatively inexpensive alternative to the standard bed that will give you a comfortable place to have multiple people sleep, and it can also help you to better organize your space by eliminating the need to occupy an additional large area. They typically also offer the ability to be reassembled in unique ways so as to give you the most in flexibility.

Bunk beds may not be the first thing that you think of when you consider buying a bed, particularly for an adult, but the options that they can give you make them an ideal choice.

Exercise shouldn’t be about work. Throwaway phrases like “no pain, no gain” are fundamentally flawed and do nothing to help our cause. The whole approach speaks of “work”; something you don’t want to do, but really feel that you “should” for the sake of what? Your health or vanity maybe?

Either way, it’s completely wrong. Instead, what we should all be focusing on is finding physical activities that we truly enjoy. If you can find something you’d rather do than not on a quiet day when you could choose anything – then you’ve truly found the key to successfully exercising for life. This will be different for every woman.

For me, the “exercise” I choose (and I don’t really like to even use the word exercise as this is much more about fun) is climbing. I also love walking and skiing – mountains being the common theme here!

Given half a chance, I will don my climbing shoes and crampons and off I go. And the beauty of serious walking is that you can do it almost anywhere. Even urban environments have their charm.

And each February, I pack up my skis, salopettes and ski jacket and book in two weeks’ skiing, trying somewhere different each year. Anyone who has been skiing will know how firm your legs feel after a couple of days of this. It’s the same with climbing and walking.

But the health and beauty benefits are merely a sideshow. I’m doing it because I love it; and that’s the whole point.

By length

Most necklaces are identified by length. They vary from shortest (chokers) to longest (lariat). Here’s a bit about each:

Collar: Collars are the shortest necklaces, and are named so because they look like dog collars. They are usually between 12 and 14 inches and fit closely and high on the neck, usually near the chin or in the middle.

Choker: Chokers are the second shortest necklaces, between 14 and 16 inches. They fit closely and high on the neck, but usually fit just above the collarbone. They are slightly longer than collars but still look like they are “choking” the wearer.

Princess: Princess necklaces are the most popular and common necklaces. They are between 17 and 19 inches and sit just under the collarbone. They are the best length to show off pendants.

Matinee: A matinee necklace is a tad longer than the princess, usually 20 to 24 inches. They go down to the breast bone and are a great versatile choice between casual and business wear. They can look dressy depending on the materials.

Opera: The opera necklace is between 28 and 34 inches and is usually the first type you can loop twice around the neck, giving it a look of two princess necklaces together. Worn in a single loop, it has a very dramatic effect.

Rope: The rope necklace can be knotted, like a rope, to give it style, or worn in multiple loops around the neck. It is between 35 and 45 inches long.

Lariat: Anything that’s longer than 45 inches is considered a lariat necklace. It is worn in multiple knots or loops around the neck, often both at the same time.

By material

There isn’t a definite terminology for materials, but necklaces can be made of precious metals like gold or silver, contain precious stones and gems like diamonds, rubies and sapphires or be made of bone, leather, coral or seashells

Designers and jewelers put all these materials together to make truly original pieces. You can also find cheaper imitations made of steel or tin and zircon or imitation gems.

By meaning

Necklaces aren’t only fashion accessories: they can have religious, ceremonial or spiritual functions, like a crucifix.

Of course, no gift necklace is complete without pretty flowers to accompany it. It’s an original gift that changes from the traditional rings and still gives the wearer a sense of pride and attachment to the person who gifted it.

Photo: Vermin Inc

Watch for Tell-tale Signs

For the first six to eight weeks, your baby will most likely get tired after about two hours of being awake. If you wait too long to put your baby down, she or he may get overtired, making it more difficult to fall asleep. This is why it’s important to watch for the signs that your child is tired such as when they rubs their eyes, pull their ears or become more fussy than normal. If you spot these signs, try to put your baby down to sleep. Soon you will intuitively understand the signals your baby is giving you, and you will know when your baby is ready for a nap.

Favourite Bed Time Items

Having special bed time toys, clothes and other items will help your child learn when it’s time for bed. Having special night time baby blankets, stuffed toys and special baby clothes such as pyjamas will help your child understand that is it time to sleep when they see these items. Remember, this only works if you keep sleeping items separate from the daytime items that your baby uses so that the routine can be established.

Teach the Difference Between Day and Night

Some babies start out as night owls, and there won’t be much you can do about it. After the first two weeks, however, you can start teaching your baby to recognise the difference between day and night. Keep your baby alert and engaged throughout the day. Don’t minimise the amount of daylight coming in or the amount of noise coming from the telephone, washing machine or kitchen activities. Also, try to keep your baby awake during daytime feedings. At night, don’t play with your baby if he or she wakes up. Instead, be as quiet as possible, talk as little as possible and keep the lights out. In time, your child will understand that the day is for being active, and the night is for sleeping.

Establish a Bed Time Routine

It’s never too early to start a bedtime routine with your baby. Try to make getting ready for bed as consistent as possible from night to night: start with bath time and teeth cleaning followed by changing your baby into his or her night time clothes, and finish off with a story and a lullaby. Soon enough your baby will begin to recognise the cues you are giving them throughout the routine, and will begin to understand that everything is in preparation for them to sleep.

1.      A bouquet can brighten an evening.

A romantic evening requires certain accompaniments. One of those is flowers. Roses are a wonderful way to encourage romance. The gift of a single red rose declares passion. It is the perfect introduction for a special night.

A floral bouquet is also a generous gesture for a first date. A sweet smelling bunch of lilies or carnations is a wonderful introduction. The bouquet breaks the ice in the awkward first moments of the date and they are a pleasant gift for the girl or boy of your dreams. They also linger as a sweet smelling reminder of the giver.

2. Sweets for the sweet.

Chocolate is a perfect gift for romance. There is nothing more romantic than sitting at home sharing a box of chocolates. Another choice is to travel to a special site and feed each other the sweets. Chocolates are a tasty, inexpensive present for a first date. They are not as overtly romantic as flowers, but they still convey a feeling of caring and thoughtfulness.

3. A romantic dinner date.

A candlelit supper at an expensive restaurant is the perfect way to say I love you. It is also a romantic gesture for a first date. Eating together is an intimate activity that encourages conversation and long meaningful stares across a softly glowing table. A good meal relaxes both parties and in practical terms provides a subject for conversation. This can lead to more loving and interesting after dinner activities.

4. A horse and carriage ride.

In the movies, lovers often take a night time horse and carriage ride through the streets of their city. This provides an opportunity for a close embrace under the stars. A beautiful night and a soft carriage ride through the city streets is a romantic way to express love.

5. A soft toy.

Buying somebody a soft toy is a cute and cuddly way to express romance. The toy becomes a reminder of a romantic night. It can also be a gesture of love. Sending a soft toy to a friend can transform the friendship to love overnight. Soft toys are also a wonderful Valentine’s Day present. They express love, friendship and thoughtfulness. Their charm is that they can be kept to remind the loved one of the giver every day.

Romance is not dead, a simple gesture such as a bouquet can reignite love. A soft toy can be a cuddly reminder of a partner and chocolates are an inexpensive way to express care. A thoughtful, simple gesture is often more romantic than purchasing an expensive gift. The giver should always think of the recipient’s personality and a gift that shows this thoughtfulness will be a precious memento of love and passion.

• Teddies and hand puppets

In the first few months, baby won’t be able to hold anything, but you can stimulate their sense of touch and their desire to hold things by using soft teddies and hand puppets. All you need to do is put the toy in your baby’s line of sight; your baby will try to touch and grab those it likes. Choose simple but colourful shapes and make sure that the toys are soft and washable, as your baby will want to put it in its mouth at the first occasion. Start telling stories to your child early with these toys!

• Musical toys

To stimulate babies’ sense of hearing, musical and sound toys are perfect. As soon as they can sit up, get them a floor piano so they can start exploring the world of music. Music boxes playing soft tunes are also great to soothe an anxious baby or simply to keep them occupied with some noise. Whatever you choose, make sure that the sounds are soft (nothing too loud or noisy) and that you can adjust the volume to protect baby’s sensitive ears.

• Newborn books

Remember those soft, squishy books you could take in the bath with you as a child? Yep, they still exist. Soft books with bright, bold colors and simple illustrations are perfect for telling baby his or her first stories. They won’t be able to read, but they will watch you turn the pages and will quickly get the gist. Soon enough they’ll be turning the pages on their own and pretending to read! And since these books are soft and non-toxic, they can survive the mouth abuse of a newborn or toddler.

• Mirrors

It seems simple, but mirrors are actually quite fun for babies. At first, they don’t understand that they are seeing themselves, but soon enough they catch on and can look at their own reflection for hours, smiling at it and seeing it smile in return. Many mirrors can be fastened to the side of the crib for early visual stimulation.

• Mobiles

Mobiles are old but they are still the best newborn toys. They stimulate the visual and hearing senses of baby by giving them something to look at and listen to while they’re lying on their back. Choose bold, high-contrast colors for more interest and fasten it to the right side, as 80% of babies look to the right while lying down.

Some of these toys are quite cheap, so they are perfect for expectant mom gift baskets.  Just make sure that everything is non-toxic, lead-free and safe for newborns; beware of cheap toys made overseas.