Category Archives: Food/home improvement/business

Which Bathroom Type Are You? and Style Updates

Posted in Food/home improvement/business, Uncategorized by

A favorite bathrom decor style can often provide glimpses of your personality. Here are four considerations:

Prefer to keep an unadorned bathroom or maintain just one basic color scheme throughout?

Then your decor style is City Sophisticate.

A straight-ahead, no-nonsense person, you tend to cut right to the chase, modest tastes and temperament.

There’s no abundance of accessories in this bathroom (clearly serving the purpose for which it was intended)!

From the touch of an old quilt wall hanging to a simple calico curtain, the easy comforts of a Country or Nature decor help you to sit back and relax.

Your bathroom may also abound with ceramic animals, plants, and decorative paint treatments.

You enjoy warmth and charm; nothing makes you more at peace with yourself than being able to communicate with nature.

Your bathroom’s a sanctuary from “civilization.”

Romantic-Fresh-cut flowers, scented soaps, wood, wicker, potpourri and candles make you want to linger here (for this is not merely a bathroom; it’s a toilette!).

There are also cherished keepsakes among stained glass and lace curtains.

Brightly-colored accessories and floral wallpaper complement your reserved, yet hidden passionate nature and showcase your grace and elegance.

Your bathroom’s as private and gentle as you are.

Or do you like bright yellow walls (or any bold color) with a black toilet seat lid, plus heirloom linen and lace towels?

Then you’re a combination of styles, and Eclectic.

Your fanciful mix of decorating reveals a fun-loving, whimsical personality.

You’re a contented person who has the ability to be comfortable and create an intimate space through a blend of your favorite possessions.

Style Updates

Colorful accessories will always brighten up a bathroom, such as:

A set of Stripe, that consists of hand and bath towels in bold, solid colors, big unexpected patterns, and even reversible ones. Go to dusendusen.com

Have a black-and-white bathroom? The color red can be used as an accent; rich jewel tones will also work well.

Unique, artsy-type bath mats that are 100% fluffy (!) cotton, Cool Breeze retails for $60 at coldpicnic.com

Spray a little of your favorite cologne or perfume on your shower curtain before you go in. By the time you’re ready to towel off, the entire bathroom will smell wonderful!

Tissue box covers or dispensers are widely available in amazing, limitless varieties of colors, prints, and patterns (and of course, you can always just use the one you already have). Shower curtains also abound in endless varieties and in all price ranges.

Plants love a bathroom’s humid environment! If your bathroom’s large enough, simply add a few.

Don’t you just hate it when you get that build-up of “crud” in the average soap holder?

Well, fret no more. The Cork Soap Dish is totally water-repellent, due to the grooves in this particular product.

Retail price is $13 at wildminimalist.com

Sometimes bathroom tissue can be found in several hues and shades; they can then be coordinated with the color scheme.

Do you have light-covered tiles (pale pink, mint green, etc.)?

Use them as the basis for a pastel color scheme, incorporating spring colors in your choice of curtains, towels, and other accessories.

Or are they black-and-white?

Go for a dramatic black-and-white theme (accented by rich purple and aqua; or you can use red!).

Style Update product sources: “We’re Loving” by Cat Dash-Delights section-Real Simple, March 2021

Turning Your Goals Into Reality

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Define Your Particular Goals-Goals let you let know where you’re going, how you’ll get there, and when you’ll arrive; they’re a target for you to shoot for.

The more specific you can be, the better. Set your goals in terms of measurable amounts that are actually achievable and that you can commit to. For example, don’t plan in general-“I’ll have a successful freelance business“; instead, plan in specifics-“This month I’ll make five contacts for the purpose of acquiring at least two new clients.” This enables you to know what you have to do by what date. And if you DON’T reach the goal by then, just keep going until you do!

Write Them Down-Put it on paper, your computer database, or personal organizer. Under each goal, list all the tasks you’ll need to do to reach that particular one. Cross off these tasks as you achieve them.

Always Keep Your Goals In Sight-Don’t bury them somewhere (because you WILL forget them and won’t be as motivated). Hang them up as a poster above your computer (yes, they can be stored in the computer, but sometimes it’s too easy to forget them there, too) , or on a wall behind your desk. Tape them on a work table or part of your work area. Carry them with you. Or, write them on your calendar.

Review The Goals Daily-When planning your schedule and putting together your daily to-do list, refer to the goals. Don’t let a day go by without taking some steps toward your goal. Include the goal’s key tasks on the calendar. This ensures they’ll have your utmost attention.

Create Goals for All Career and Life Aspects-At day’s end, ask yourself, “What have I done to get closer to my goal?” And no excuses!

If you haven’t done anything through the day, try your best to get a goal’s task done that evening if need be.

One common way to sabotage goals is to set them for only one aspect of your life or career. For example, if you’re running a business, you’re not only running it, you’re also getting the business and doing the business. You don’t want to concentrate on just one part, to the exclusion of the rest.

And don’t make just work-related goals; make personal ones as well, for balance. One of the things that you can do is plan a weekly family outing or dinner with you and just the hubby or the wife once a month.

To Help You Along…..

Ohio artist Dinara Mirtalipova has created a blank writing journal (with a breathtaking cover!) that can be used not only for goal setting, but also for working out ideas, recording dreams, and other flights of fancy (which can enhance any present and future goals). Check out http://www.mirdinara.com; retails for $36. For those on a budget, several dollar and discount stores also carry a nice selection, from $5 and up.

A good night of sleep will not only boost your immunity; it’ll also give you the energy and outlook to help achieve your goals. A blend of calming essential oils are featured in the product Sleep Rollerball from Essence One. Chill and unwind! For more info, go to http://www.essenceone.life ($18).

A lot of people are able to work from home straight out of bed, entirely in their “jammies” for several hours or even the whole day. I’m NOT one of them. It’s essential that I wash up, change undies, get dressed, make the bed, get my mom “situated” (I’m also a full-time caregiver.), etc; then and only then, do I feel ready to tackle my projects. Even though my “commute” is actually from upstairs to downstairs, this much-needed routine puts me in regular work mode.

I also take a couple of breaks to recharge and refresh my brain. It may be a very simple brunch, a water or lemonade break, or just stepping away for five to ten minutes, doing another activity or just simply doing nothing.

I don’t actually have a set time to work, but what I DO strive for is a certain time block: for example, I’m finishing this up within my 12:30 pm.-4:30 pm. slot (with a break in there somewhere). If I’m having a super-busy, hectic day or am just tired, I’ll try to get some work done from 11:30 pm. -3 am. A LOT can be accomplished, provided I can stay awake!

I don’t actually have a set time to work, but what I DO strive for is a certain time block: for example, I’m finishing this up within my 12:30 pm.-4:30 pm. slot (with a break in there somewhere). If I’m having a super-busy, hectic day or am just tired, I’ll try to get some work done from 11:30 pm. -3 am. A LOT can be accomplished, provided I can stay awake!

Product sources: Editor Picks-Home + Garden segment and Self-care resolutions-recipe for success-Life segment- Midwest Living, January/February 2021

Beating Stress by Astrological Sign-Part 1

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Aries-When you get stressed out, your adrenaline tends to skyrocket. The best way to work off your tension is activity! Walking, gardening, even batting a ball around will make you feel a lot better. Writing down the steps you need to resolve a problem is also good. INSTANT STRESS-BUSTER: A long drive. It’s an easy way to feel that at least for this moment, you’ll in control of SOMETHING (until you clear your head and take care of the one that’s not).

TAURUS-For you, it’s all about returning to home to unwind. You “work out” stress by being a couch potato, watching TV or listening to soft music, while curled up in a blanket. INSTANT STRESS-BUSTER: A small shopping spree. Your sign enjoys shopping (for the most part), so buying yourself a little something, like a new skin cream or power drill, is an instant pick-me-up.

GEMINI-You’re the talker of the Zodiac, so talking out your stress with someone is the best way for you to deal with it. If no one’s available to listen to you, vent your frustrations out in a journal or write a letter (Don’t mail it, though). An INSTANT STRESS-BUSTER for you would be a manicure or hand massage (Geminis are natural multi-taskers, really working their hands and fingers).

CANCER-Your tend to lose your appetite when you’re under stress. Eat some comfort food (Meatloaf and mashed potatoes, ice cream, burgers and fries-anything that you consider as “comfort“). They’ll make you feel better and that everything’s going to be alright again. INSTANT STRESS-BUSTER-Cook! Make some noise with the pots and pans!

LEO-You love and crave the attention of others, so if you surround yourself with adoring “fans“, you’ll quickly get over the blues. Taking your kids, friends, spouse or fans out to dinner or a movie is also good. New clothes that make you look fantastic (and getting complimented on them!) will also bring about a better mood. Your INSTANT STRESS-BUSTER is looking over old photos; you’ll remember good times you’ve had.

VIRGO-When you’re stressed out, try working on small organizing projects, such as cleaning out closets or even your purse to feel better. Getting your surroundings in order makes you feel like your problems are in order, too. And while you’re cleaning, you just may come up with a solution to what was bugging you in the first place!
INSTANT STRESS-BUSTER-You have a great eye for detail, so keep a jigsaw puzzle around and spend a little time on it when you’re upset or worried. It gives you something else to focus on.