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Life Tips for Personal, Financial and Business Growth

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How to Feel Confident and Fabulous on a First Date

Going on a first date can feel daunting. From blind dates to online dates, not everyone feels confident when they meet a potential new lover for the first time. If you’re about to put yourself out onto the dating scene and want to know what you can do to feel more confident and fabulous, you’ve come to the right place.

Go on a Date When You’re Feeling Good

If you’re not in a great mood, you will instantly feel less confident and ready for a first date. If you’ve received bad news or something unexpected has happened before you’re due to meet, get in touch with your date to apologise and rearrange for another day. You are likely to have a better first date if you go when you’re feeling good. Listen to your favourite music, talk to a trusted friend, or eat a nutritious meal beforehand to boost your feel-good hormones.

Dress for the Date

It’s important to dress as you feel comfortable rather than trying to pull off an outfit you don’t feel confident wearing. Don’t feel like you need to wear bright colours or accessories that wouldn’t normally be your style. Wear clothes which comfortably fit your body’s shape – you can even explore clothing for different sizes such as plus size women’s clothing UK or petite clothing if these cater better to your needs.

Think About What to Say

A first date shouldn’t be scripted, but if you’re feeling a bit nervous it can be helpful to prepare a couple of conversation starters in advance. For example, ask your first date about their hobbies and passions, or find common ground talking about your favourite bars and restaurants. Tell them about a recent movie or play you have seen, or a book you’re planning to read. This can be helpful if both people are not very talkative or if you find silence during conversations awkward or uncomfortable.

Remember You Have Nothing to Lose

You’re meeting someone for the first time, and in most circumstances, there is nothing – or very little – to lose if things don’t go well. Taking this approach can help you to relax more ahead of your first date. There is no obligation to meet up again if things don’t go well, but you can think of it as an experience and a story for the future.

Stay Engaged

Engaging with your date and focusing on the present moment can help you to feel more confident about yourself. Body language such as smiling, laughing, maintaining eye contact, and hugging your date at the beginning or end of the date can all help to portray more confidence (and in turn help you to feel more confident too). Body language such as folding arms, looking away, and yawning can signal that you are disinterested and disengaged with the date.

A few simple steps could help you to feel more confident and fabulous when going on a first date. Stay in the present moment, be yourself, and enjoy the experience of meeting a potential new partner!

 

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4 Simple Ways to Make Your Home Stand Out

Whether you’ve been living in your property for many years or you have just moved in, everyone wants an attractive place to call home. Interior design doesn’t come naturally to everyone and many people struggle to transform four boring walls into an exciting living space. Luckily, with a bit of know-how and a few top tips you can elevate a property without completely renovating it. Here are 4 simple ways to make your home stand out.

A Cozy Fireplace

A crackling fireplace complete with an impressive mantelpiece can conjure up feelings of coziness and warmth, while giving your living space a sense of luxury and grandeur. Fireplaces are typically installed in the living room and treated as the main feature of this space. Alternatively, you can install a fireplace in the bedroom for a romantic and warm atmosphere. Nowadays, you can choose from electric, gas and wood burning varieties depending on your taste. For a selection of fireplaces, visit stonewoods.co.uk.

Eye-Catching Light Fixtures

One of the simplest ways to make a room stand out is by swapping your existing light fixtures with new models. Certain light fixtures can feel dated, especially if you have had your property for many years and they haven’t been replaced since you moved in. The best way to pick a light fixture is by matching the style to the room. Create a statement kitchen look with bold, pendant lights or wow visitors stepping into your home with a shimmering chandelier in the entryway. In addition to attractive fixtures, the light bulb temperature you choose can make a huge difference to the ambiance of a room. As a rule of thumb, bright white bulbs should be placed in rooms where you are most active, such as the kitchen or the home office, while bulbs with a soft white temperature will help make bedrooms and living rooms feel more comfortable and relaxed.

Thought-Provoking Artwork

Displaying artwork in the home is a great way to express your personality and show off your artistic side. Art is personal and completely subjective and so it makes for interesting conversation pieces. They can also act as icebreakers if you enjoy hosting regularly. Artwork, such as sculptures, make magnificent focal pieces as they command a lot of attention. If you are new to art and feel slightly intimidated by standalone pieces, try picking out a painting or a print that speaks to you and display it in a prominent place.

Quirky Furniture

Furniture doesn’t have to solely serve a practical purpose; it can also provide your home with points of interest. A large, antique dining table centered in a dining room can give this space an elegant look, while a collection of plush, velvet armchairs will give your living room a vintage vibe. In addition, the color of your furniture can also have a psychological effect. Blues and greens are excellent for family rooms as these colors can have a peaceful and calming effect. On the other hand, if you want guests to find their voice and mingle, warm oranges and yellows can encourage communication.

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4 Tips for Making Your Home Mobility-Friendly

Do you or one of the people living in your home require a mobility-friendly environment? Mobility-friendly features have come a long way and are not only useful but quite creative. Today, they can work with the design of your home to look beautiful and ensure everyone can use the space as intended. Whether you have just minor mobility issues or more pronounced ones, there are plenty of ways to address them in the home. Let’s take a look at some of the most important ways you can make your home mobility-friendly.

Focus on the Entryway to the Home

One of the most important updates people can make is to ensure that the entry into their home is functional and safe for all, which means mobility-friendly features. If you currently have stairs that lead to the front door, a re-design may be necessary. You may require a ramp for those in a wheelchair or who find stairs difficult, or an outdoor stairlift.

It may also be necessary to widen the front door if it doesn’t allow for wheelchair access.

Bathroom Updates are a Must

The next area to focus on renovations and updates should be in the bathroom. Without mobility-friendly features, the bathroom may not be very functional, and can even be hazardous. Some of the most useful and popular mobility-friendly updates and features include:

  • Mobility-friendly toilets that sit higher
  • Detachable shower head to make showering easier
  • Lever taps rather than twisting taps
  • Walk-in baths to prevent falling
  • Wet room showers for those who require a flat surface, ideal for people in wheelchairs
  • Non-slip bath mats
  • Grab bars
  • Change the height of the counter
  • Change the height of the towel rack

There are many different features and tweaks you can do in a bathroom that will make it a comfortable room for all to use. You can look into what companies like beautifulbathroom.net are doing.

Is the Kitchen Accessible for All?

And then we have the kitchen, which can likely benefit from updates. Think about food preparation, cooking, and eating. How can you make each of those activities safer and more comfortable for those with mobility challenges? Keep in mind with kitchen updates, they can get pretty expensive depending on how much money you are willing to spend.

Ensure Hallways and Doorways are Clear

Sometimes a major renovation may not be necessary; rather, it is about decluttering spaces to ensure you can move through the home unimpeded. All hallways and doorways should be open and free of clutter so those who require assistance when walking, such as a cane or walker, can move about with ease. If a resident requires a wheelchair, it may be necessary to make more drastic changes, widening doorways, and perhaps opening up hallways.

Ensure the Home Is Functional for All

Living with mobility issues can be challenging, but your home should be a place where you feel comfortable and safe. This means taking the time to invest in mobility-friendly updates and renovations, no matter how minor or major they may be.

 

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How to Update Your Kitchen

Sprucing up your living space is always refreshing and is ideal for when you feel the need for a change. There are lots of great places to focus on when you want to redecorate, such as the living room, your bedroom, even a home office. However, if your kitchen needs a makeover, the following options are all great ways to update this space, and there is something to suit every budget on this list.

A Full Remodel

If you have a big budget to play with, the best way to upgrade your kitchen is by going for a full remodel. This option is perfect if your current kitchen is outdated and can help to add value to your property as a result. There are plenty of designs to choose from, so finding the perfect style that reflects your tastes shouldn’t be too much of a challenge, nor should finding one in your price range. For some examples of what’s on offer, look at the designs from this kitchen manufacturers Bolton.

New Cabinets

If you can’t afford a complete remodel, don’t worry. There are still plenty of ways you can make your kitchen feel brand-new. One of the most effective ways to do this is by replacing your kitchen cabinets with new ones. You don’t necessarily have to replace the entire cabinet either unless it’s damaged or you want more space. Instead, you can simply swap the old doors for new ones, which can transform your kitchen’s look.

New Worktops

Another budget-friendly way to update your kitchen is by having new worktops put in. This is worth it if your current worktops have seen better days and have cracks or have warped, as this can be unhygienic as they are harder to clean properly. Wooden worktops look great in country-style kitchens, but granite or stone will be easier to clean and add a luxurious touch.

New Color Scheme

If you’re happy with your worktops, cabinets, etc., why not try a new color scheme instead? Painting the walls in fresh tones will do a lot to change the aesthetics; just make sure the color you do choose matches the other features that you’re not replacing. Neutral tones might be a better choice, as they are timeless and fit well with most designs.

New Floors

Your kitchen floors go through a lot, possibly more than any other room in the house, enduring spills, bleach, and even dropping the odd pot or pan. This is why it’s important to have floors that are durable and easy to clean in your kitchen, so if you have seen better days consider having them replaced. They can also help to change the appearance of your kitchen, and if you are on a tighter budget, you can put down vinyl floors which are the cheaper option. These can come in different patterns, so you can choose a wood, tiled, or stone effect for a better finish.

If you want to update your kitchen, consider the options above and see which ones best suit your budget.

 

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Technology Review – The Future for Plastics & Composites

It would be difficult to find anybody in the world today who is unfamiliar with plastic. Since the advent of its mass production in the 1950s, plastic has found a place in virtually every imaginable aspect of our daily lives.

Since the inception of plastics technology, the need for more easily produced, durable products has led to the development of composite technology – glass fiber and, in more recent times, carbon fiber.

The exponential rise of plastic technology

It probably comes as no surprise that the plastic industry is a significant market sector. The global applications for plastic products now span almost every single industry sector.

Plastic technology itself is certainly not new. Relevantly, the global plastic market still continues to expand steadily, with new applications still being discovered. With an annual growth rate of almost 4%, the world market is projected to be worth well in excess of 750 billion dollars by 2028.

Why is the plastics market increasing?

Perhaps the greatest drivers of the market have been improvements in wear and chemical resistance coupled with improved mechanical strength, recyclability, and ease of repair.

With the burgeoning market and greater product durability, the repair and maintenance after-market is similarly expanding. Plastic and composite welding and repair have become a significant component of the support markets for a broad range of diverse industry sectors, notably including the automotive, marine, aerospace, and leisure/recreation industries.

After-market repairs and maintenance support have naturally developed alongside the plastics manufacturing industry, with repairs being practically effected with a plastic welding rod similar to its metal welding counterpart.

What are composites?

The quest to find a product that could be both strong and durable led to the development of what is now known as a composite. Some plastic products are, in fact, basic composites. In essence, a composite is a manufactured substance comprising two or more different natural or artificial elements which, when blended together, create a product that meets those desired qualities of natural strength and durability.

It is interesting to note that the composite does not produce a perfect, harmonized blend of the component materials – rather, they retain their original qualities and contribute to the final manufactured product.

In technical terms, composites are a polymer matrix reinforced with either a natural or man-made fiber such as glass or carbon. The pair act together – the polymer providing environmental protection and the fiber contributing strength and structural rigidity.

The ability to create a product that can maintain its strength and integrity across specific extremes of pressure, temperature, and stress loading means that plastics and composite technology have made the quantum leap into the current space exploration industry.

Composites and the future of space travel

The qualities of composites – strength, relatively lightweight, and the ability to operate in environmental extremes, have meant that the material plays a significant role in the current development of rocket and space technology.

NASA has a specific team – the Composite Technologies for Exploration project researching the application of composites for the construction of heavy-lift deep space rockets, which will ultimately drive the proposed Moon and Mars missions.

From the advent of plastics in the early 1900s to the development of composite rocket technology, the future is certainly an exciting one.