One and Co

One and Co

Archives for December 2019

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How to make your hunting trips more luxurious

Hunting trips don’t have to be cold and uncomfortable. If you take the time to get your preparations right, you might find that your next hunting expedition could end up being the height of luxury. While a hunt can always be a grueling experience, if you have the patience to get things right before you head off to the woods, you could be much more comfortable than you ever expected. If you’re planning a hunting trip, but you don’t want to spend your time in discomfort, here are some amazing tips that could turn a potentially uncomfortable experience into the luxury trip that you’ve always dreamed of.

Tent Tips

You don’t need to get yourself a small and uncomfortable tent to go hunting with. Check out the best luxury tents on the market and you might have more space and more protection from the elements that you ever thought possible. Choose an all-season tent, and make sure that you:

  • Avoid spraying your tent with insect repellents and sunblocks as these can corrode the fabric
  • Make sure that you have a groundsheet
  • Pick your tent site wisely
  • Remove your boots and leave them outside (but check them for creepy crawlies before you put them on!)

Always pay attention to the area surrounding your campsite. If you see any dead trees, move on. These could fall given the slightest encouragement, and that could ruin your weekend very quickly if one falls onto your tent in the middle of a downpour.

Sleeping Bag

Once your tent is sorted, it’s time to pay attention to your sleeping bag. Always check the temperature rating before you finalize your sleeping bag choice, but remember that these can sometimes be misleading. Always aim for a temperate rating that is around 10 degrees higher than the extremes that you expect. You will also need to pay attention to your fill type. Synthetic insulation sleeping bags can be heavier to carry around but they are far more resilient, especially if they get wet. Down bags are much lighter, but if they do get wet, then you won’t be able to use them. The smart move is to take two sleeping bags with you so that you can double up if the weather takes a turn for the worse. Remember as well that you can lose a lot of heat through the ground, so sleeping pads and groundsheets are essential if you want to stay in luxurious comfort.

The Right Clothing

You will have a much better time if you have the right clothes with you. Always invest in some of the best cold-weather clothing that will keep you protected from the elements. There are plenty of materials and styles to choose from when it comes to choosing the right clothes for a hunting trip, but you can’t go wrong with Merino wool from SKRE. This will give you the warmth and protection that you need, while also allowing your skin to breathe. If you want to be comfortable on your hunting trip then packing the right clothes is going to be essential.

Hunting doesn’t have to mean being cold and uncomfortable as you wait for your prey to appear. Take your time to get the basics right, and your adventure in the wilds could end up being much more luxurious than you thought.

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4 Ways To Have a Good Relationship With Your Neighbors

African American neighbors greeting each other over fence

When you move into a new home, it’s in your best interest to get along with your neighbors as well as you can. Although there are no rules stating that you have to love the people who you share a street with, it makes your living situation much more enjoyable if you live in peace.

You never know when you may need a hand in your community. Being able to depend on your neighbors to help in a time of need or even watch your house for you while you’re away is incredibly beneficial.

Here are some of the best ways to have good relationships with your neighbors.

Respect The Rules

It’s important that you respect the neighborhood rules that are set in place. It’s important to follow local ordinances and regulations. If you don’t respect the rules of the street, it won’t be long before you start to irritate the people around you.

Always put your garbage where it’s expected to be put, don’t park your car in forbidden places, and always be respectful of how much noise you make. That’s not to say that you should never have parties or play music in your backyard. However, it’s considered common courtesy to let your neighbors know if you plan on making more noise than usual. Usually, if you respect your neighbors, then they’ll respect you.

Be Friendly

You don’t necessarily have to invite your neighbors over for dinner every Sunday; however, you should always smile and say hello. Being friendly just means acknowledging each other while still respecting each other’s privacy.

Take a Gift Over When You First Arrive

When you first move into the neighborhood, it’s a good idea to bring a gift to your neighbors. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or spend a lot of energy on it. Baking some cookies and giving them out is an excellent example of a neighborly gesture that can go a long way. If you don’t want to ring doorbells or have to chit chat all day, it’s perfectly fine to leave it on their doorstep with a note.

Keep Your Yard Looking Nice

Even though your house may be yours and no one else’s, your property is still in your neighbors view. It’s courteous to make sure that the view they see out of their window into your yard isn’t a lot of junk.

Your yard is a reflection of the neighborhood as a whole. Therefore, keep your yard well maintained and even consider adding some flowers or trees. Neighbors tend to appreciate when their fellow residents make an effort to keep their homes looking beautiful rather than disheveled.

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Tips For Buying The Most Suitable Home For Your Family

When you’re ready to purchase a home for your family, there are several variables to consider. Purchasing the right home means that you’ve clearly defined your family’s needs, and you found a property that meets all of your standards.

Setting the standards for what would make the perfect home may be a bit more of a puzzle, though. Take heart, and read through a brief look into some tips for buying the most suitable home for your family.

Consider how much space you need

When you’re trying to decide how much square footage you need for your family to live comfortably, you should move beyond the number of bedrooms. Your family will need more than sleeping space to thrive.

You may have plenty of bedrooms, but do you have space for an office? Your forever home may need a spare room in addition to the necessary square footage.

When you’re goal is to find the perfect home for your family, consider the whole story while considering various elements of prospective properties.

Consider what you can truly afford

When you are projecting what you and your family can afford in a new home, you have to consider the full picture. You will be paying more than a mortgage payment each month to maintain a comfortable home.

In addition to your monthly mortgage payment, you will be responsible for the physical upkeep of your property. You will have to pay an energy bill each month. You will also be financially responsible for any repairs on the home.

Consider the neighborhood

You need a safe and comfortable environment to choose the perfect home. You want to know that your family will be safe at night.

You want to be assured that your children are surrounded by upstanding individuals. Take the time to truly research various aspects of any prospective neighborhoods, and use what you find to decide whether or not the property is right for your family.

Consider the features of the home

For a home to be the perfect space for your family, it needs to showcase all of the necessary features. Your partner may love to cook. That means you need a nice kitchen. If you have active children, you may benefit from a large yard space or basement.

Consider the state of the home

Always get a full and professional home inspection on a property before you sign on the dotted lines. You don’t want to purchase a home that needs more work than you’re willing or able to give it. Talk with the family about the level of newness you all expect in the perfect home, and search until you find what you seek.

 

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3 Times You Need To Fix Your Bathroom

When it comes to home improvement, there is a category of repair that lots of people tend to avoid. And that is when you need to fix something about your bathroom. These are not fun jobs. But they are very practical ones. And, if you don’t do repairs on your own, bathroom repairs can be extremely expensive if you have to call a plumber. That’s why you should have some DIY skills ready in your toolbox.

Three situations, in particular, come to mind when thinking about bathroom home improvement and repair. First of all, there is when your bathtub drain stopper stops working. Second, there is the classic issue of the leaking toilet. And third, there is the dripping showerhead. In each of those instances, a few tools and some know-how will go a long way.

The Bathtub Stopper

What happens when your bathtub drain stops working? It can make for a terrible experience first of all. Especially when you’re taking a shower, you don’t want to end up with your feet submerged in 4 inches of water. So, if this common bathroom situation does occur, you need to know how to fix it. These days, it usually doesn’t take more than a short amount of research on Google to find out what type of bathtub drain stopper you have, what the most common issues are, and what to do about it.

The Leaking Toilet

Do you know how to fix a leaking toilet? If there is one bathroom problem that’s the most annoying, it’s going to be that. A leaking toilet makes noise, wastes money, and can cause significant damage to bathroom floors, depending on where the leak is. Because of this, it’s much better to learn how to find where the leak is coming from and fix it yourself rather than waiting too long before significant damage occurs and then having to call a plumber with outrageous pricing.

The Dripping Shower

After you take a shower, does the water turn entirely off? If not, and there is still some dripping coming from the showerhead, you know that can be a source of irritation. A single drip coming out of a showerhead can make an obnoxious noise, and it can create stains in your bathtub. Because of this, you should learn some quick showerhead repair techniques and have those tools on hand. That way, the first time you notice your shower head leaking, you immediately have the skills and materials to fix the situation. Sometimes your best bet is to buy a new shower head as an enhancement to your bathroom, but that is simply one of several methods to come to the desired goal.

 

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7 Ways to Design a Comfortable Home

Comfort is key when designing your home as your house should be the space in which you relax and spend most of your time, whether you are unwinding after a long day or entertaining guests. However, due to many modern interior design trends, the need for a comfortable home often comes second to its appearance. Here are some of the best ways you can create a comfortable and fashionable home that your whole family can enjoy for the foreseeable future.

Swap Heating for a Fireplace

Although central heating is the best way to heat your home in terms of spreading heat evenly around your house, replacing central heating with a fireplace can help you create a cozy atmosphere that has previously been missing from your family home. Fireplaces help to give your main living space direct heat, while also allowing you to enjoy the aesthetically pleasing nature of controlled naked flame. When investing in a fireplace, you can choose to install a wood-burning fire or a gas fire, each of which has its advantages. While gas fires can be easily turned off and on and create less mess than wood-burning fires, the benefits of wood-burning fires include giving you the traditional warmth and comfort that families seek from installing a fireplace. Or if you don’t want a live fireplace, you can always buy a cozy-looking electric one.

Buy Relaxing Seating

However, there is nothing that instantly lessens your comfort more than hard or uncomfortable seating in your home. Instead, your seating should be as soft as possible to ensure that you can snuggle up in front of the television all evening without a stiff back in the morning. Luckily, there are many unique and modern seating options that you can choose from when looking for comfort. One of the best of these options is a bean bag. These are not only for kids, providing teens, couples, and new mothers with the perfect place to recline without discomfort. Click here to take a look at the oversized bean bags that are on offer to families and the benefits that these can have for your home. You could also consider seating options such as hammocks. Although traditionally used within gardens, hammocks can make a quirky addition to your rooms that can make you feel like you are relaxing under the summer sun even in the depths of winter.

Consider Underfloor Heating

The ultimate comfort and luxury for homes is underfloor heating, allowing heat to be distributed evenly across your floors and ensuring that your feet never get cold again. Underfloor heating is perfect for tiled floors that can get cold in the mornings and evenings, helping you to start and end your day the right way. Not only this, but by installing underfloor heating into your home, you will be instantly increasing its value when you come to sell, with underfloor heating being one of the most desirable elements that potential buyers look for in new homes.

Use Technology

Now that you can install technology into your home, there is no reason why your home shouldn’t be comfortable, with various technical innovations ensuring that you never have to leave the sofa. The best smart technology can make your new home comfortable in many ways, such as voice assistants that can play music or dim the lights whenever you ask them to. Not only this, but you will likely feel much safer in your home if you know it is secure, and even kept clean through decluttering, and smart locks and smart trash cans can help you to keep your rooms clean and safe by automating these actions so that you do not have to worry about them.

Splurge on Soft Furnishings

It is the simple comforts in life that can transform your home, however, and splurging on soft furnishings is a cheap and exciting way to make your home more relaxing. Not only will they add extra warmth in the form of blankets and throws during the winter months, but soft furnishings can also help you to make your home cozier through their soft and warm materials for you to snuggle up in. Soft furnishings are especially good for covering cold materials such as leather furniture, instantly making your home a haven for your family.

Create Mood Lighting

Nothing makes your home more comfortable than mood lighting; however, with lighting dimmers instantly transforming the look and atmosphere of your room at any given time. Mood lighting does not have to be disco lights and lava lamps, however, and ambient lighting can be created using lamplight, candles, and chandeliers to create the warm and welcoming glow that you desire. Not only this, but you could also consider types of lighting such as accent lighting, which can be used to create an elegant and regal atmosphere, and task lighting, which is a smaller and more focused light, to construct the mood that you are looking for.

Personalize the Space

Nothing makes a home more yours than adding personal touches wherever you look. The easiest way to stay comfortable in your home is to personalize the space and surround yourself with your possessions and memories to make yourself feel safer and more secure. Many families opt for children’s artwork or their favorite images on your walls, which can help to add interest to your rooms and ensure that you can see your favorite pictures daily. You can also personalize the space with ornaments and tokens from travel, holidays, or events that can help to act as reminders of wonderful days or memories that you want to treasure for the rest of your family life.

Designing a comfortable family home can be difficult, especially if you want to declutter or are opting for minimalist décor. However, making your home relaxing is important for your whole family. As you have seen, there are many ways to add comfort to your space, from buying blankets and throws to changing your heating options.

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Stacey L Tokunaga – Tips on Helping You Learn a Language

When my friend Stacey L Tokunaga moved down to Mexico 5 years ago I desperately wanted to join her and move down there myself, if for no other reason than the experience of living somewhere new for a while. In preparation to make the move I decided to start learning Spanish, as I didn’t want to be alienated once I moved down there. Stacey was able to speak Spanish from a young age and she did tell me that if I wanted to enjoy living there, that I should too. Learning a language is not only fun but it gives you the chance to unlock an entire culture. If you want to get started with learning a language, here are some tips which may help you out.

Use it Or Lose It

As you learn a new language you have to make sure that you are doing all that you can to practice. Even Stacey tells me that after a couple of weeks of being back in the US that she has to shake off a little bit of rust when she goes back to Mexico, and she can speak almost fluently! In order to retain what you are learning you must find ways in which to practice and speak to others in your nw language.

Confidence

If you think that you are not going to make mistakes then you are completely wrong, and the truth is that you should want to make mistakes as this is how you are going to learn. Don’t be embarrassed when you are chatting with a native speaker, just try and say what you can and they will most likely correct you if you get something wrong. The key to learning a new language is having the confidence to go out there are speak it, regardless if you make mistakes.

Submerge

Although I did manage to get my Spanish to a solid level before I moved to Mexico, I have learned far more in a shorter space of time since I have been down here. The reason for this is that I have submerged myself in the language and surrounded myself with people who don’t speak English, forcing me to up my game, or sit in silence. If you have the chance to do this then I would recommend it completely. You only learn to drive a car once you have passed your test and got out on the road, and the same thing is true in terms of learning a new language.

Use Tech

It has never been easier to learn, practice and speak a new language than it is right now and there are so many apps which you can use to boost your learning. You can find dictionaries and social media learning apps which will help you to take your language learning to the next level.

Work hard, be brave and you will be able to pick up a new language in no time at all.

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Mark Gilbert ATN – Reasons to Listen to New Music

During my first year at the Automotive Training Network I made very good friends with Mark Gilbert ATN founder and a massive music fan. It was in fact through the music that we bonded and we used to introduce each other to different types of music and information about our favorite bands. Growing up I can remember seeing people of a certain age completely shut off the idea of listening to new music and I was determined to never be like that. Mark provided me with the perfect inspiration because although he was older, he still had his finger on the pulse of the new bands and artists that were coming out in the modern day. The idea of stopping listening to new music seems absurd to me, regardless of how old you are, and here is why you should never stop.

Not Finished Yet

Many people buy into this myth that everything that could be made has been made and that the only new music there is, is old music that issuing regurgitated and repackaged. This is just not the case at all and music has a million and one ways in which it can be played, presented and delivered. Even if we look at the court cases which have taken place in recent years of artists who have apparently copied rhythms or time signatures, the two songs are very often completely different. Also you only have to look back to the Beatles and Led Zeppelin who based their careers on trying to sound like others, only in a different way.

There Won’t Be Another…

After Elvis they thought nobody could take over the way that he did, then came Michael Jackson, after Jacko people thought that nobody could do what he has done but you know what, someone will come along and take things further. The same goes for guitarists, people thought Robert Johnson was the king and then Hendrix came along, after Hendrix came the likes of Slash and Kirk Hammett, there is always someone new and there is always progression in new music. Upbeat Geek runs us through the history of great artists regularly with their latest music news.

There is Room

We have to remember as well that within every genre there is room for a number of artists and songs which can be written at different times. Take the grunge scene for example, when Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains were making their early albums they had a certain sound which was instantly recognizable, the bands were very different in content and delivery, but they all matched that sound. If a group comes out tomorrow with that sound people write them off as copying, but the truth is that there is room to love Dirt ,Ten, In Utero and whatever record happens to come out tomorrow. New music doesn’t have to be unique and the first of its kind, it just has to make you feel good, make you sing, dance or put you in a certain mood, regardless of when it is made.

Don’t close your ears just yet, there is plenty of great new music on its way.

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Soul Quest Orlando – Reasons to Start That Business You’ve Been Dreaming Of

When I was a teenager all I wanted to do in life was own my own record store but I never really saw it as a concrete plan, more of a wishful fantasy. As I grew up I fell into the rat race, took a course in marketing and began working for a digital marketing company where in truth, I was never really happy. Just before my 30th birthday an even happened in my life which kicked me into gear and after some hard months of saving up and planing, Soul Quest Orlando was born. I haven’t torn up trees since I launched the shop but I am doing pretty well and most importantly I am exactly where I need to be in life. If you have a dream of owning a business, here is why you need to go out there and do it.

Life is Short

It was a friend of mine who passed away just before I was 30 that made me realize I may not have forever to plan this shop. In the back of my mind I thought that I’d retire from marketing at around 50 and then launch the shop as a way to enjoy my later years. I realized very quickly just how arrogant this thinking was, working on the assumption that I’d still be around. I may very well be, but there are no guarantees in this life and you just have to take advantage whilst you can.

No Regrets

Even if you do make it to 80,90 or 100, there is going to be nothing worse than sitting in that chair in front of the TV in your nursing home, pondering on all the opportunities that passed you by which you are now not able to do. This is something that stays with me a lot and whilst I have no doubt that I’ll have regrets about things that I did or didn’t do when I get into a ripe old age, not setting up the business that I dreamed of will not be one of them.

There Are No Obstacles

One of the reasons why people don’t go ahead and start that business which they have always dreamed of is because they put up a number of obstacles. Not having the skills, not having the money, not sure where to start, these are all challenges not obstacles and just like everything in life, you have to meet them head on if you want to succeed.

Failure

Without doubt the number one reason why people put up these obstacles and put off setting up their own business is a fear of failure. To get over this you just have to think, what is the absolute worst that could happen? Maybe you go broke or have to file for bankruptcy, that happens sometimes but when it doesn’t it only results in problems for a short while and then you’ll get back to how things were.

Don’t hesitate, go out there and get your dream.

 

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South Bay Energy Reviews – What to Look For in an Energy Supplier

Last year my company decided that we would start to look for a new energy company after having some issues with our previous providers. After scanning the internet and weighing up our options, we eventually decided on our new suppliers. We chose the company after reading the glowing South Bay Energy reviews which were enough to tip the scales in ether favor. Looking for a new energy company can be a bit tricky, no matter if you are doing it for your business or your home, and here are some tips which I’d suggest that you bear in mind when doing so.

Reputation and Credibility

After whittling down our choices to just 3, we chose to let the deciding factor be the reputation of each of our picks, something key in selecting which company you plan to use. Reviews play a huge part in this and I would suggest that a review for an energy provider will give you far more value than a review for something like a product of service which you are going to buy. When it comes to energy, customers are only looking for a good service, and that is why reviews are so black and white and can give you a perfect insight into the supplier.

Price

Whist most suppliers are very competitive with their pricing, there can be quiet a swing in terms of what each company is charging. In truth South Bay wasn’t the cheapest nor the most expensive, but their costs were factored in to our overall decision. It is important that you don’t make your decision solely based on cost as sometimes you can go with the provider which appears cheaper, but those costs could easily rise or you may have to forego another aspect of their service in return for the lower price.

Contract Terms

Some energy providers want to lock you in for 24 month contracts, others may just want the 12 and beyond that there are some additional contract terms which you need to look into. Cancellation fees should be something you bear in mind, as well as your options if you wish to switch or if the price rises, how much guarantee do you have? A longer term will usually offer lower prices but with larger cancellation fees and the chance that the price could rise after 12 months. Pay particular attention to the terms of the contract.

Renewable Options

Another key consideration to make is around renewable energy and whether or not you have ways in which you can offset the environmental impact of operations, including energy usage. Many suppliers now have green or eco options which they can give you and this could also be a deciding factor in your decision, especially if you are a business which is dedicated to lowering its carbon footprint.

Weigh up the pros and cons, focus on the details and get the right energy provider for you.

 

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Lyoness – Understanding What Cashback Is And How You Can Save Big Money

There are many ways in which you can save money on your grocery shop, you can find discounts and multi-buy promotions in store, you can get coupons online and use them and you can also take advantage of the brilliant offers that you can find on cashback websites such as Lyoness. This is a relatively new way to save and although it has been around for a little while, there s still a huge numbers of shoppers who aren’t making the most of the big savings on offer. Much of this I believe is down to the fact that many don’t quite understand what cashback is or how it works, so let us clear that up for you.

What is Cashback All About?

Most discounts and offers give you the saving when you purchase the product but cashback offers this in reverse. Each week the site will feature a number of products, each of which will offer a different percentage of money back when you buy the product for full price. So let’s say that X brand of shampoo was a featured offer this week with a saving of 50%, you go to the store, buy the shampoo which is on offer, and let’s say it costs $3. For this purchase you will be eligible for $1.50 back into your account because you have bought the item.

How To Use The Cashback Site

One of the biggest reasons why more people should be looking to get involved with cashback is because it is so simple to make savings. Simply find a site like Lyoness and sign up for a profile, you will pay a small membership fee which will give you exclusive access to the promotions. Check in each week to see what products are eligible for cashback, buy the product at full price and then simply upload your proof of purchase to the cashback site, and wait for your money to be credited. The money you get back is not coupons or credit vouchers, it is actually money which you can then withdraw to your bank account or use for future online promotions.

Why Do It?

The products which you will find on these sites are likely to be products which you buy each and every week in any case. What this means to you is that you could well be paying full price for products eat the moment when you just don’t have to. Another reason why you should look to use cashback sites is because you are going to be able to count on some of the biggest savings that you will find anywhere. When compared with in-store promotions and even coupons that you may find online, cashback almost always promises bigger savings.

Don’t spend money that you don’t have to, look into getting started with cashback and within weeks you’ll be saving some big money.