Stay Well Together This Winter With Purell

'It's 21 degree right now, it is freezing!  I am so glad it is the weekend.  I was able to get  the house cleaning done yesterday and did the pile of laundry too, yay!  It's funny because I told myself last night that I would sleep in today but I woke up rather early, I was up since 5:30!  This week was a very busy   week for me. The school had the Secret Santa Shop and I was there from Monday till Thursday helping the other Moms facilitating the shopping for the kids.  It was fun seeing the kids  shopped. 

Since it is  almost Winter times, keeping the house clean is very important  to help  avoid sickness.  I think the kids are tired of hearing me always telling them to always wash their hands and all that kind of stuff.  As a mother, we always want our children to be safe and free from sickness so we do whatever  we can to make  sure that they are healthy.  What we do with our kids at our home does not always help to avoid sickness when they go out side  but it is always  good to try our best right?  

I am so glad that I have received this Gojo  bundle of disinfectant from   Shoplet.  We  can always stay well together  this winter with the help of Purell products.  

The bundle includes Purell professional surface disinfectant, Jelly Wrap Bottle Purell advanced instant hand sanitizers, and Purell Healthy soaps.  

When the kids get home from  school, their tendency is to grab snacks right away so I am always on them to wash their  hands first.  My kids are  10 and 12 but sometimes, they still forget these little things that they are supposed to do so I always remind them.  The healthy soap  is perfect to use in cleaning their hands upon arriving from school.  

I put one in our  powder room and one in the sink so  they can always use  it.

The professional  surface disinfectant is very useful for us.  We have  two dogs and a bunny inside the house so you can imagine the dust they bring.  You might not  notice it but they do produce   so much dust inside the house.  Cleaning and disinfecting  the  surfaces is always a must for us.

Keeping the house dust free  is almost impossible but with  regular cleaning and with proper  cleaning tools, it can be done.  

I always have sanitizer in my  purse because it  comes in handy especially when we are outside our home.  I also  put  one to each of my children's  school bags for them to use  when at school.  I even  put one to my husband's  lunch bag.

Shoplet have everything that you need for your business and home including Office supplies, Cleaning supplies,   Medical supplies, and  Office Furniture.  Thank you once again Shoplet and Purell!

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the product/s mentioned  to help me  facilitate this review but  opinions are my own.

How to Stay Fashionable While Getting Fit

Fitness is important for women of all ages, and there are ways that you can stay fashionable while getting fit. You can still look cute while working up a sweat, and some of the best workout attire and accessories can keep you in the fashion game. Here are a few of the best ways to blend fitness and fashion into one.

Wear Waterproof Makeup

Even if you aren’t going swimming, exercising can still leave you wet when you sweat. Wearing waterproof cosmetics will help prevent your makeup from smudging or running. You can find waterproof foundation, mascara or eyeliner pencil that’s sold in stores or online. Your makeup can later be taken off with waterproof makeup remover.

Show Off a Sports Bra

Sports bras can keep you cool and looking trendy while working out in the gym, going for a jog or cycling through your neighborhood. Popular color choices include black, gray and pink. Your sports bra should provide a snug enough fit to give you adequate support and allow you to perform all your exercises without any difficulty. Fitness Magazine advises you to wash your sports bra in cold water with mild detergent to make it last longer. Most sports bras have lifespans of nine to 15 months if they are worn regularly.

Don’t Forget the Jewellery 

Certain jewellery pieces can be worn during exercise. Internet-based stores where you can buy women's jewellery online that’s great for working out offer pieces such as clip-on earrings, silver rings and cuff bracelets. Choker necklaces that aren’t too tight can also make great workout accessories. Just be sure to not wear pieces that are too dangly or keep you from moving freely.

Hats Still Work Wonders

Even just a simple baseball cap can enhance your fashion sense while working up a sweat. If you plan to exercise outdoors on a hot day, wearing a hat can also help shield your face from the sun and keep your head protected from harsh UV light. Plain black, pink and white hats go great with just about all kinds of workout attire. You can also get a hat with a catchy word or slogan on it to help you stand out more from the crowd.

Get the Right Bag

You’ll want to carry your workout gear in a bag that matches your personal style. Shape.com points out that many of today’s top fashion designers make bags that are easy and fun to carry. Tote and duffel bags are always great choices. Certain bags have both straps and handles that can be adjusted without any problem. Some of the best bags are made from durable materials like canvas and nylon. It’s even possible to find leather bags that include extra pockets to hold additional accessories.

You shouldn’t have to sacrifice fashion for fitness, and wearing stylish clothing and accessories can help you look and feel your best. Having the right fashion items will likely make you look more forward to your workouts.

Why Moving to a Different Country Might be Your Best Decision in Years

No matter how much you love the town or city where you live, you have most probably thought what it would be like to live somewhere on the other side of the globe. A place with different people, different cultures, away from bad memories and the hustle and bustle of city life. A place on our very own earth, yet so alien to you. A place of fascination and discovery, full of opportunities distant from your previous life mistakes. A new start to a new life. Of course, as good as that sounds, it might not always be so simple. Moving somewhere across the world usually requires some sort of preemptive planning, or enough money to not have to care about things of that calibre.

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Wanderlust

First of all, let us talk about the obvious. Living somewhere else in a completely different climate and time-zone can be quite the exotic experience for the average westerner. Moving to a different country will prove to be much better than any sort of tourism could ever prove to be. No longer will you exclusively stick to the tourist-beaten paths of yesteryear just to see those same postcard-esque locations seen by just about every tourist who made it out of the airport. You will be able to explore off into the much more real expansive reaches of the landscape. Filled with locals and small local businesses rather than camera-bearing tourists in Hawaiian shirts. The real visage of the town and country will lie bare just in front of you, waiting to be discovered. With more than just two weeks of time at your disposal, you will become more familiar with the traditional local foods rather than just getting the same old panini from Starbucks. This will most definitely prove to be a rather culturally enriching experience

Buying rather than renting?

If you come from any sort of bigger city in Europe, the UK or the United States, chances are you are no stranger to ridiculous house prices. Regardless whether you are looking to rent a flat, or buy a whole house, the prices are probably out of this world and far beyond the reach of the average person, unless you want to go in debt for the next 20 years. Buying a house abroad is a very viable option for most working class people. Places like Southeast Asia have considerably cheaper living expenses, not limited to the housing alone. The price of food, transport and other basic commodities also tend to be a lot cheaper. Anyone who wants to move abroad should consider actually buying property due to how much drastically cheaper it is. If you have a surplus of money in the first place you should probably invest in new property in somewhere prestigious like Kuala Lumpur, alternatively somewhere back in the west. If you are just looking for ownership of property with relatively average wages, buying abroad seems like a much more feasible option.

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Staying afloat

While it is cheaper abroad, it is mostly cheaper due to earnings being higher in the west. Favourable currency exchange and several other factors have a big part in this. If you started working somewhere where you are planning to buy the house, chances are the previously drastic change would be nowhere near as impressive. Think about where you are working now, can you somehow make this into a freelance situation? Could you take your current profession and get your own clients rather than having them get processed through a company first? Can you come to an arrangement with your boss to allow you to work from home? All these are options very much worth considering since they allow you to maintain your usual wages but from the other side of the world where they are considerably more impressive. Maybe you are in a position where you own a company of your very own? It is very possible travelling back over, taking care of business and then leaving can still be profitable and very much on the affordable side. Planning important events that require your presence out of season and booking in advance can reduce plane ticket fees by huge chunks of the price. Of course ideally, if you have a company then the best case scenario would be just being able to manage it from afar. In the modern era of technology, communicating with all your staff and business partners should not be an issue whatsoever. Either by phone, or via the internet, there is most definitely some sort of program which will suit your needs. The biggest problem in this case would be timezones. and even then that is an easily avoidable problem. Rearranging your daily routine to fit a few phone calls or online meetings should not be much of an issue.

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New career opportunities

You should not rule out the possibility of new career opportunities opening up when you move. Even if you do not feel like you have some highly sought after qualifications, that might not be entirely accurate in a completely different part of the world. Skills which you do not even consider out of the ordinary may be in high demand in your new place of residence. One that people often seem to forget about is the language you use in your daily life. With the English language being used on such a wide scale across the world, it is no wonder English language teachers are in high demand across the east. Very often you do not even need any proper teaching qualifications, being a native English speaker, or of a native level is more than enough to land you several jobs overseas. Often, just a conversation partner who is fluent in English is enough for students to learn pronunciation from, not requiring much more from you than properly speaking basic English.

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What if you change your mind?

Many people get homesick, the culture shock, different weather and general longing for something more familiar just proves to be too much, leaving many questioning their previous decisions. Keep in mind, even if the house you bought or are buying is not fully paid off yet, it is a great asset to possess. If you do not feel like living too far from home permanently, the option of having a free holiday house always stands. Why splash ridiculous amounts of cash for hotels when you can go to your very own house in a tropical paradise? Whenever you are not there, you can either rent the house to someone or even set up an Airbnb location which often proves to be very profitable. This is a relatively stress-free business opportunity and allows you to gather clients from around the globe who just happen to be going on holidays to wherever your future house may be. Put all your personal clutter away into a storage cupboard under lock and key, then just advertise the rest of the house as a place perfect for holiday goers. Chances are you could hire someone to clean up the house whenever the people renting are gone, ready for your next clients. Of course, if worst comes to worst and you want to back out of the situation entirely, you can just sell the house itself. If you managed to renovate it somewhat, kept it in good shape and it is in a decent location, you probably won't have many issues finding buyers willing to pay much more for it than you invested into it in the first place. That’s after you have already had a tropical holiday house for a decent amount of time.

The Ten Things To Think About When Buying Abroad

Paradise Abroad

Moving abroad, or buying a second home abroad is exciting and full of new opportunities. Maybe that’s why you are moving; to have new opportunities available to you in life, in love or even in work. Or maybe you’re moving because you feel in love with somewhere on vacation or traveling. But in amongst the planning, packing, travelling, and choosing of your new home, there are parts of moving abroad that people don’t tend to think about. Like the political stance of the country they are moving to, or the significant cultural differences you should probably be aware of.

But one of the most important things you should be aware of before moving abroad is the different living expectations in other countries. Not just the various types of buildings, but the methods of housing within those countries, and any relevant information you should know about owning a house in that country.

A lot of the time you will need to secure a visa or a living permit before being able to buy a property in certain countries, and sometimes you have to live in the country for a certain amount of time just to achieve that permit. There can also be a lot of restrictions on what you can buy and where you can buy just because you’re not a native citizen - which does make sense when most citizens have a hard time getting onto the property ladder without the houses being prioritized to foreigners.

Affording It

The move itself will be pricey, there’s no getting around it. And living in a new country might be more expensive than you thought - particularly if you are moving to a major city within the country. New York is more expensive than Richmond, Virginia for example. Spend some time saving and doing some research.

Work It

The easiest way to know if you can afford the move is to know that you have a job waiting for you on the other side. If work is the reason you are moving then great - but make sure that it is a stable and confirmed role. Negotiate your contract so that it is airtight, have everything in writing, and uphold your end of the contract.

You will also need to see whether or not you will need a visa, and if so which kind. There are over a hundred different types of visa’s within the US alone, so make sure you are applying for the right one.

Finding The Right Place

Finding your new home might take longer than you think, it would be a miracle if you woke up one day wanting to move abroad, called someone and had something secured by that evening. It doesn’t work like that. You can look at local (in that country) estate sites like this one for Bekasi in Indonesia: http://rumahdijual.com/bekasi/rumah-harapan-indah. Or you can use local (to you) travel real estate agents to help you source your new home.

Politics

Each country is racked with its own political differences, some are worse than others, and some seem better than they actually are. Consider the political feel of the country, or area of that country, that you are moving to. The difference between one place and the next may be extreme. It is worth researching and understanding the politics of your chosen country before you move.

What Are You Letting Go Of?

The worst thing that can happen is to regret your choice of immigrating. Not only will it wreak havoc on your bank account if you choose to move back, but it can have repercussions on your mental health. Before moving think about what you will be leaving behind; loved ones, memories and a way of life.

On the flip side, also think about the reasons you are moving in the first place. If you are going to secure a better place for yourself, and maybe for your family, then is it worth it?

Language

The biggest barrier you are going to face when moving abroad is communication. So get ahead by learning before you move. No one is expecting you to become fluent overnight, and it is always easier to learn a language when you live in the country. But knowing the basics will help you immensely.

Currency

There will be a significant amount of time before you stop checking every coin and note as you pay for things. And you’ll find it hard for a while not to constantly compare prices to the prices in your home country - which you can do here; https://money.howstuffworks.com/exchange-rate.htm. The quickest way to become familiar with the new currency is to go to the post office and exchange some money. Make sure you get one of each coin, and the major notes, and just have them at home. You can devise a test for yourself and your family - which will help any children you have to get used to the new money too.

Food

Seeing as you’re moving to the country, it seems a shame if you don’t try the local food. Besides, once you move there might not be many chances for a roast dinner. Start experimenting with food either at home or a restaurant. Not only will you get accustomed to the food, but you’ll also hype up your excitement for your up and coming move.

Traditions

If you are moving to a heavily traditional country, it’s an idea to become acquainted with some of them before moving. For example, if you are moving to an Islamic country you might want to learn a bit more about the religion and the times of prayer. If you are moving to Thailand, you should become familiar with their near-worship of elephants, or how in Poland it is considered rude to pick at or refuse food. You will be the minority and you don’t want to offend anyone.  

If you are moving to a country that favors different cutlery, like chopsticks, it’s about time you learn, or you’ll find yourself stuck when you eat out.

Transport

Learn which side of the road to drive on! This isn’t something that you should wait until after you have moved to learn. Also, have a look at the public transport available - UK residents are quite spoiled with regular trains to most corners of the country (even if we grumbled about it now and again.)

Paying For A Top Family Holiday - You Can Do It!

As lots of people struggle with money at the moment, many families will miss their annual vacations next year. That is a sad situation because it means the children won’t get a break where they can explore a new landscape. Still, there are endless ways in which adults could improve their situations and find some extra cash. Just use some of the suggestions below. 

Consider your vehicle

Many people spend too much on their vehicle every month. There are two options available, and so you need to work out which is the cheapest for you. If you’re leasing your car at the moment, you might throw money down the drain. Take a look at the infographic to ensure you’re walking the right path. 

Consider your energy usage

Is it possible to reduce your energy bills every month? Yes, it is! You could use a comparison site to find the best deals, or you could install some solar panels and provide the electricity in an eco-friendly manner. 

Consider your unused subscriptions 

Most folks have unused subscriptions that drain their bank accounts every month. Maybe you haven’t used Netflix in a while, but you still pay for it? Perhaps you thought joining a gym was a good idea, but you’ve never set foot on a treadmill? 

Those were just three simple ideas, but there are lots of other ways in which you could pay for a family holiday next year. So, just create your plan and set the wheels in motion as soon as possible. 

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Finding Treasure at Thrift Shops

Going on a thrift shop is fun because you can find really nice things for  cheap prices.  Here are just some of the  pretty things that I find  at the thrift store.  

 This big  vase with flowers was only $3.  I thought it's so darn cute.  I bought it because I wanted to add some color in our entrance hallway corner. 

 I don't really need this vase but since it was only $3, I bought it too.

 The tall vase  was also $3.  I bought it to put my  glass flowers. 

 The first two  decorative things on top  are both $4 each.  The one in the bottom was given to me by  my son's godmom so when I saw the two decor, I thought it would go great together of what we already have. 

Thrift shopping is fun if you are willing to really look for  some hidden treasures.  Sometimes, prices  at  a thrift store doesn't make sense, there are products that worth a lot but they sell it for cheap then there are some also that doesn't worth anything but they price it high. Again, it all  comes down to looking through the stuff they have and paying attention to their pricing.

How about you, do you shop at a thrift store?  What is your recent find if there's any?

What Are Your Options When Financial Strains Are Getting Too Much?

In today’s economic climate, only a small percentage of people are lucky enough to go through life without facing financial troubles. For many, those issues tend to be temporary problems. But what about when those strains become long-term?

 

Financial problems may be encountered for a whole host of reasons. In truth, though, the source isn’t overly crucial. The important thing here is that you find a way to overcome those obstacles to get back on the track to financial freedom. Here are some of the options at your disposal.

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Borrow Money

 

In many cases, those financial troubles surface from unforeseen issues rather than a lack of responsibility. Perhaps your work hours have been cut, or the home has become damaged. When this happens, the need for quick cash is hugely stressful. Moreover, the repercussions can allow things to escalate out of control.

 

Borrowing money enables you to pay off those debts before creditors start charging excessive fees. Moreover, it provides the breathing space that will give you time to find a more stable future. When taking this option, though, you must choose the best option. Learn more about the different avenues at banking.loans. This will prevent future problems from surfacing too.

 

If bank loans aren’t viable, there could be a chance to borrow from friends. However, this can be a very dangerous environment, so you must be sure that you’re making the right decision.

 

Relinquish Assets

 

You might not have cold hard cash at your disposal, but you probably have some assets. If your life has become unsustainable, it's worth taking one step backward to encourage future steps forward.   

 

Homeowners will usually find that their properties are the greatest resource. Whether it’s downsizing or relocating to a cost-efficient solution such as steel homes doesn’t matter. Those moves can gain access to capital while lowering ongoing costs. In turn, this is sure to work wonders for the family’s bank balance.   

 

Vehicles are another solution. Alternatively, selling unwanted items on eBay or at a garage sale can generate a quick boost of funds. While the last solution is only a one-time idea, its influence can be vital when you’re in a hole.

 

Earn More   

 

Gaining access to increased capital on a short-term basis is great. Still, if financial problems have become an ongoing problem, you need a long-term solution. While cutting your monthly bills down to size will help, improving your income level should be top of the agenda.

 

This can be achieved in several ways. Visit forbes.com to discover the best ways of asking your boss for a raise. Alternatively, you could start a side business from home or offer your services on a freelance basis. Either way, increased income will help reduce the strain for far greater happiness.

 

Whether you have family responsibilities or not, gaining that financial freedom is one of the most liberating feelings of all. Let’s face it; you’ve probably felt trapped throughout those recent ordeals. With a little good fortune, this won't become an issue ever again.

What to Do When When Shopping Becomes a Problem

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Shopping is great fun, and it can really help to relieve stress if it’s your thing, but if you aren’t a particularly frugal shopper, or if you’ve started relying too heavily on shopping to the detriment of your bank balance and the glee, it might be time to start getting your shopping problem under control.

Here are some simple things you can do to kick your shopping addiction to the curb and get back to more reasonable levels of spending:

Take Inventory

Going through your closet and your cupboard, depending on what exactly it is you like to buy, and taking stock of what you already have is a great way to curb your spending because, it can help you to think more before you buy, and only buy the things you really need.

Give Yourself an Allowance

Setting yourself a monthly shopping ‘allowance’ is another great way to make you at least pause and think before you go on a wild credit card spree at the mall, especially if you give yourself incentives to stick to the budget, such as saving for a vacation or boosting your retirement fund with the cash you save.

Carry a Shopping List

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Whenever you’re heading out to the store, first write a shopping list of items you need and how much you are willing to spend on them, This is a simple way to curb the spending impulse.

Have a 30 Day List

The 30-day list is a great technique, devised by Leo Babauta at Zenhabits.com to help break a spending addiction. Basically, when you see something you want to buy, instead of purchasing it then and there, you write it down on a list. If you still want it after 30 days, you give yourself permission to buy it. Surprisingly often, you’ll find that you don’t actually want that thing you just had to have at the time, anymore.

Fix Your Finances

If you start taking control of your financial situation, perhaps by fixing your credit score at creditrepair.co, or by making real efforts to pay down your debts, even consolidating them so they’re more manageable, not only will it feel great, but that feeling you have of taking control will start to influence your spending habits, making you much less likely to pay with plastic  for stuff you really don’t need. When you’ve worked so hard to improve your circumstances, undoing it all in a few minutes on Amazon really isn’t so appealing.

Don’t Get Sucked in By Sales

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The prospect of saving 30 percent at your favorite dress store or $100 off that new couch you’ve been eyeing might seem appealing, but unless you really need it, it is money wasted, and anyway, sales are hardly difficult to come by these days - it’s almost certain that when you really do need to make a purchase, you will be able to do so at a discount.

Breaking your shopping habit will take time, and you’re likely to experience a few setbacks along the way, but if you’re determined and you do some of the things above, you will break free from the shackles of shopping, and when you do decide to shop, you’ll find it much more enjoyable as a result!