A Dinner party is, on paper, a simple blend of ingredients; good friends, good food and good conversation. Anyone who has hosted a dinner party, however, will tell you that it is not that simple. Hosting a dinner party can be fun, stressful or a straight-up nightmare, depending on how you play your cards. The key to an unforgettable dinner party is preparation. Before you race out and buy dining chairs, it pays to create a timeline of events as well as a checklist of items you might need. Creating a solid plan will prepare you for the many glitches that will pop up and keep your head in the game. Start with the most important part of your proposed party; the guests. Who’s coming? Dinner parties are more personal than a regular party, so deciding who you want to invite is important. If this is your first gig as…

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Going through life without aspirations and just accepting whatever is thrown your way is not good for you – it isn’t a way of life that can provide happiness or fulfilment in the long run. This is known as ‘drifting’ as it can sometimes seem like we are just drifting through life, taking it easy and never making changes. This kind of lifestyle is taught as something that should be accepted with gratitude as a blessing. While it is great to feel secure and do familiar things, life is not all about being secure. Each day, millions of people find themselves trapped doing the same thing over and over and over again without questioning themselves about it. This approach to life can leave people in a bad mental state, often leading to depression and other mental health problems that require professional help. So, how can you get out of this…

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When that cold weather hits, we’ve got to have our winter faces ready! As a result of harsh winds and dry air, our skin becomes dry and flaky and cracking can occur around our noses due to higher rates of flus and colds. Here’s some tips to making sure your face is a smooth as a baby’s bottom this winter, so that your foundation and makeup application is absolutely flawless. Revise your skin care routine. During winter, our skin tends to react adversely to harsh environmental aggressors. To keep your skin silky smooth for ultimate makeup application, you’ll need to step up your regular skin care routine. The best way to do this is by adding a little extra hydration wherever you can. Moisturising as much as possible helps to maintain the outer layer of skin which acts as a protective barrier to pollutants and free radicals that can…

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It can be difficult to know just what gifts to get for many situations. After all, many gifts have been done before, and they’re just not unique enough to be noticed for that special occasion. Luckily, Uncommon Goods has you covered. The company is all about sustainability, and suppliers work to make products in environmentally and socially responsible ways. That means no products containing fur, feathers, or leather, and only selling products that don’t harm people or animals. Need a wedding gift? Check out the personalised cutting boards which have the happy couple’s names carved into the top, or take a look at one of the beautiful anniversary wine boxes, which are a great way to help friends and family members celebrate their ‘firsts’. And if you’re the bride, you’ll probably want to get something special for your bridesmaids. The birth month and flower necklaces are a great way to…

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Sodium valproate has been widely used as a mediation for epilepsy, as well as bipolar disorder and migraines for decades. While sodium valproate can be highly effective at treating these conditions and is generally considered safe for those taking the medication, there is now a growing awareness that its use by pregnant women can pose a serious risk to their unborn children. What risks does sodium valproate pose to unborn children? Research has shown that the children of women who take sodium valproate while pregnant are five times more likely than average to suffer from a physical birth defect. For those infants whose mothers took the drug during pregnancy, around 1 in 10 have a physical birth defect and around 4 in 10 experience developmental issues. The physical and development effects sodium valproate can have on infants are referred to as Foetal Valproate Syndrome (FVS) and can include: Physical defects…

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Hygge has become quite the buzzword in the past few years. It is the Danish art of living cozier, and numerous books like “The Little Book of Hygge” have become international best sellers. Since Denmark is constantly at the top of lists ranking the happiest countries in the world, it’s no wonder that the rest of us are eager to learn these Danish secrets. Here are four ways that you can add hygge to your home. Dim the Lights Lighting can have a major effect on your mood and energy level. Let hygge lead your lighting plan by swapping out bulbs that give off cool light for bulbs that have a warmer tone. Install dimmers on all overhead lighting in your home to allow you to customize it based on your needs. Look to nature and aim to keep indoor lighting low after the sun goes down so that you can wind…

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We’ve all been there. We need to keep our phones with us, but there isn’t an easy place to put it. You don’t want to carry a bag around, but without a pocket what can you do? Fortunately, there is a solution. Enter the phone pouch. What is it for? Picture this: you want to wear your favorite yoga pants because you’ll be headed to the gym after you finish taking the kids to school. You’re juggling the kids, their bags, their lunches, and your own stuff when you realize there’s no place for your phone. Here’s another one. You go walking every evening, but you don’t feel safe out there without your phone. Plus, your phone has all your music on it, and how are you supposed to stay motivated without the music? Yet you’ve never really found running pants with good pockets for your phone. The phone pouch…

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When a marriage gets to the end of the road, and there’s no going back the process of getting divorced can be very painful. Whether you saw it coming, or it caught you unawares doesn’t make much of a difference, there are still some very difficult decisions you need to make. Every one that you make is going to have financial, legal and relational ramifications for all concerned. There is also likely to be a ripple effect for your extended family. All the more reason to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible, and you don’t have to force those around you to take sides. Here are some tips to help guide you. What do You Want from the Proceedings? It may be a case of being allowed to walk away and wanting nothing. However, it’s more likely there are going to be assets that need to be…

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Hoping to stay warm without paying more for electricity? This post is for you. If you’re looking for some #TipstoKeepWarm, there are a number of things you can do to save money, stay warm, and get through the rest of the winter. Here are some of the best tips: Use Layers One of the best ways to stay warm in winter is to simply to use layers. Bundling up can save you a lot of money since you’ll be warm without needing to increase the heat. Consider visiting a website like Chums which has a variety of warm clothes to keep you toasty whether you’re inside or outside. Layers will allow you to stay warm without getting overheated. Use a hat to keep your head warm, and use a neck warmer or scarf to keep your neck toasty too. If you’re not yet using slippers inside, you’re missing out. There are…

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