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4 Distinct Advantages of Learning the Banjo over Other Instruments

There’s no denying how iconic the banjo is. Not only does it boast an unmistakably unique aesthetic look, but it also produces a recognisably beautiful and striking tone that no other instrument can truly replicate. This has allowed the instrument to remain well-liked despite more popular stringed instruments like guitars which have taken the limelight over the years. To this end, here are just a few advantages of learning a banjo over other instruments.

  1. Banjos are generally easier to learn

Unlike other instruments that often require a considerable investment of time to become competent, learning the banjo is usually easier to get into and learn. While it still presents its own unique and fair share of challenges, the simplicity of the instrument ensures that even a daily routine of short practice sessions will be sufficiently effective. Best of all, with plenty of references available both offline and online, you’ll always have the resources you’ll need to be able to learn to play dueling banjos for beginners.

  1. Banjos are often cheaper than other alternatives

Apart from time, money plays a much more crucial role in learning an instrument more than many of us give it credit for. After all, money doesn’t fall off trees, and the majority of us will undoubtedly have no more than a modest budget to invest towards pursuing our passion for music. By opting to learn the banjo, not only will you be able to learn music much faster, but it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

  1. Banjos are unique instruments

One of the reasons why many musicians love the banjo is because of how unusual and unique the instrument is. From the way it looks to the melodic sounds that it can produce, banjos are versatile instruments that allow for a high level of creativity that music in this day and age seems to lack. By taking up the banjo, you’re guaranteed to stand out from the oversaturated genres of today and play pieces that are as unique as the instrument itself.

  1. The musical system of a banjo is complete

Music is all about the perfect balance between rhythm and melody. Not unlike fish and chips, you can’t just have one without the other. Having to play the drums without the accompaniment of other instruments, for example, can undoubtedly tire the ears of the listeners. The same goes for the melodic pieces of the mandolin which can only exist with a suitable rhythm section. The banjo, on the other hand, boasts a musical system that is more or less complete. While it can be played with other instruments, it also lends itself well to being played on its own.

It’s not hard to see why the banjo continues to be relevant even in this day and age of electronic and technologically-driven music. It represents an era that is as timeless as it is unique, allowing those to pursue competency in the instrument to do so at their own pace and time.

Image: Pixabay.com

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Super-Cool Winter Surprises For Her

Winters are almost here. The season of pullovers, hot cuppas, dry fruitcakes, and not to forget, winter embarks the beginning of celebratory days like the Christmas and new years. While many of us think that a Christmas tree with a nice dinner is enough for the winters, however, it becomes important to realize that gifts play a huge role in hitting the milestones right. Not just for men, but for the women counterparts of your life as well.

 

So, at the onset of winter sun, here are a few of the surprises that can make your lady go bonkers and warm her heart at the same time.

1. Designer Pullovers

With the end of summer colors, winter becomes more of a gloomy season for women. However, with a proper hunt down the malls, you can acquire a perfect pullover for her. Not only it will keep her warm, but also will remind her of you every time she puts it on.

2. Photo Mug

Make her sip affection and love and give her a dip to past memories with a photo mug. Not only a picture, but a photo mug ensures to highlight a warm message that can simply melt her heart and make you reach out to her in a soulful way. In fact, you can gift a mug with a heart-shaped handle as Valentines gift for her and make her fall in love all over again.

3. Custom Made Handbag

Moisturizers, gloves, keychains, socks, winters demands for huge, spacious handbags. You can either go luxury or buy her from the usual ones. All you need to do is pick her favorite color and her most wanted brand and get the handbag of her dreams.

4. Chocolate Flowers
 Flowers are great things when it comes to girls. No matter which variety it is, be it rose, daisy, lily, carnations or orchids, but what will leave her awestruck is the chocolate flowers. These are the Ferrero Rocher bouquets that hold each hazelnut-chocolate ball in a stick and thus, they ensure to make her bloom in chocolate all over again.

5. Personalized Tokens

Personalizing the gifts have become the trend. You can pick any of the gifts such as the keychain, cushion, lampshade, tabletop, wall clocks, tiles, coasters, cards, and get it personalized with a beautiful memory you wish to represent your emotions with. Each of these tokens can be embossed with a photo and a heartwarming message and when you think this is it, you can even opt for online delivery and send it anywhere via a doorstep delivery.

6. Sweet Treats

Chocolates, cupcakes, jar cakes, pastries, chocolates, handmade chocolates, desserts, and sweet delicacies are a perfect way to win hearts, especially of your lady love. These luscious bites on their way to stomach make sure to hypnotize the heart and leave it awestruck.

So, this winter makes sure to go overboard and surprise, dazzle, and delight your girl just like the way she has been wishing to.

Why is it More Practical to Ask for Laundry Services?

Even if you can find people to do some household chores, you might do these tasks yourself instead. There is nothing wrong if your goal is to learn how to do these chores and be responsible. You also don’t want to spend money on paying someone to do the tasks that you can do. Before you write off the idea of outsourcing some services such as laundry, you need to understand that it is more practical if you let others do the tasks.

You will still spend money

Washing your clothes at home does not mean you won’t spend any money. You will spend money buying the detergent and fabric softener you will use for washing. Your utility bills might increase because washing clothes could take hours. You are also exerting a lot of effort on top of that. Therefore, if you want to save money and time, it is best for you to hire someone to wash the clothes for you.

You can’t do everything

When you decide to wash clothes at home, you will put all of them in the washing machine and hang them. You are not even sure if the clothes are clean. Your goal is to get things done so that you can do other things. You are also not capable of dry cleaning since the process is quite complicated. Instead of doing the laundry yourself without the guarantee of quality results, you should have cleaning professionals do the job for you.

You can spend time doing other things

You usually deal with your laundry during the weekends. Is it the best way to spend your weekends? When you have worked hard throughout the week, the last thing you want to do during the weekend is work again. You can use your free time on other activities like catching up on your favourite TV shows, or bonding with your family. Washing clothes could take hours, and you can’t even have a nap during the given time.

You can take on other jobs

Some people work two jobs to make ends meet. However, they spend their weekends at home because they need to do a lot of chores like their laundry. If you think you can use the weekend to get another job, it does not make sense to waste the opportunity. Besides, the amount you will pay for laundry services is only a fraction of what you will get if you work an extra job.

You need to be smart in using your time. If you can let others do some household chores, you don’t need to do them. You will pay for these services, but you will get a lot in return. You can also ask the cleaning company to pick your clothes up and deliver them back after washing. If you want dry cleaning services, take a look at dry cleaning in Chelsea for more information about what they offer.

Apart from not having to work hard and saving your time, you also want to protect your clothes and make them last longer. It is smart to let experts do the job.

Image: Unsplash.com

 

Common Reasons Why People Opt for Equity Release

Equity release, as in any other type of loan, comes with a risk. You are borrowing an amount of money tied to the value of your property. When you die, and someone buys the property, the people you leave behind will only get a small amount of the property’s value, depending on how much you borrowed when you were alive. Therefore, you need to think twice before you decide to take out this loan.

On a positive note, even if you opt for equity release, you can stay in your property until you die. You also don’t need to pay rent.

Some people would caution you on how to spend the amount you borrowed. However, it is your property, and you worked hard for it. You can use the money in whatever way you think would be beneficial for you.

Home improvement

It is one of the most famous reasons for borrowing money through equity release. It is a smart move because home improvement increases the value of your property. Therefore, when the time comes that the property is up for sale, you can expect your estate to get the right amount of money from it. Even if the company where you borrowed the cash from deducts their share from the sale, the amount will still be high. Besides, you are staying in your property until you die. You will still enjoy whatever changes you decided to make.

Go on a holiday

Some people think it is unwise to borrow money to go on a holiday. However, at your age, you need to enjoy whatever you worked hard for in the past. You might also be suffering from illnesses, and you only have a few years to enjoy your money. Once you hit a certain age, and your illness worsens, you might be unable to travel anymore. While you can, you need to enjoy your life.

Pay Debts

Although equity release is technically a loan, you need not pay the amount immediately. You can even opt not to pay anything back until you die. The only downside is that it could increase the interest due, and the sale of the property will go almost exclusively to the equity release company. Despite that, you are not leaving behind a tremendous amount of debt for your family to pay. You don’t want them to have to think about how to pay off loans when you are dead. It is a smart move to choose equity release to pay off all other loans that you have. You can even clear the outstanding mortgage you have using this loan.

Consult an expert

A lot of people have benefitted from equity release. It comes with a risk, but you can get the amount you need if you take this loan. To help you out, consult an expert. Ask for advice on how to apply, and how much you can borrow. Once you are ready, check out http://www.55plusequityrelease.com for more information on equity release. They are experts in this type of loan, and they will help you make up your mind.

Image: Pixabay.com

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What Should You Do If You are Up for Deportation?

Even if you have been in the UK for several years, you could still be up for deportation depending on the circumstances and if you breach any immigration rules. Worse, if you are inside the country illegally, getting caught will most likely lead to expulsion.

Dealing with deportation issues could be an extremely challenging time for the family. Before you panic, you need to compose yourself and do the right thing.

Who could get deported?

If you are not a British citizen by birth and the court convicted you of a criminal offence, you might get deported. The Home Secretary can also determine if someone needs to get out of the country if it is for the public good. Usually, it involves high profile and controversial cases.

Appealing the decision

It is not yet the end if you receive a deportation order. You can still appeal the decision of the Home Secretary. There are instances in which the order could be a violation of laws and treaties. For example, if you enter the country as a EEA national. Another ground could be the length of time that you were in the country, and your deportation could lead to your separation from your family who are all British citizens. You can also establish your ties to the country. If you prove that you have deep relationships with the UK, even if you did not have the right documents, you can appeal against a deportation order.

Call an immigration lawyer

As soon as you have been issued with a deportation order, you need a lawyer to advise and represent you. You will normally be given a right to appeal against the order. Meanwhile, you could be detained, and you need to instruct a lawyer to apply for an injunction and issue judicial review proceedings. The courts may grant the request for an injunction if you are able to show the prospect of success of your judicial review application. Within the stated time, you and your loved ones need to act so that you can process the requirements immediately, and you will no longer be up for deportation.

You need the best immigration solicitors in this situation. Even if you pay higher fees for their services, it would be worth it. Imagine being away from your family because of the order. After deportation, applying to re-enter the UK is a tall order, and will most likely end up in a visa refusal.

Don’t wait until it reaches deportation

If you know you have issues with documents or your visa is no longer valid, but you are still inside the country, ask a lawyer for help. You need advice on what you need to do to stay legally in the country. Don’t wait until the authorities detain you. Also, if you were given the chance to stay in the country as an immigrant, committing crimes should not be on your to-do list. Appealing deportation when you got convicted of a crime is close to impossible.

Yes, you can get help from a lawyer when you are about to be removal, but you should try not to reach this stage before doing something about the situation.

Winter 2018/2019 Flooring Trends

As the days get shorter and the nights become colder it is important to ask yourself whether your house is of an adequate standard to cope with the winter conditions? For most people the answer is yes, however this is only as they do not want to do the renovation work, so they really mean no. We are looking at the winter flooring trends that may be able to solve any renovation issues as well as spruce up your home. Flooring is easy to install and really can make a huge difference to your home, that is why it is a great place to start.

One traditional French flooring style that is making a resurgence is parquet flooring. French Castillo’s were the first buildings to feature parquet flooring as they truly appreciated the elegant patterns that you are able to create with wooden blocks. The patterned style has now become increasingly popular with many flooring suppliers struggling to keep up with the demand of customers. However, suppliers have been able to manufacture a modern engineered version of the traditional solid parquet blogs. This means that the boards are now suitable to be installed on top of underfloor heating, which is a fantastic option when heating your house during the cold season.

Carrying on the wood flooring theme, dark wood flooring becomes popular in winter months as the darker colours appear to add warmth to the house. Walnut flooring and chocolate stained oak perfectly fit into the dark wood flooring category as the dark tones and textures look fantastic in any room in the house. This allows you to install the boards throughout your whole house and create a uniformed effect throughout.

It is all well and good aiming to purchase real wood flooring for large areas of your house, however it can become very expensive and most certainly not recommended if you are sticking to a tight budget. Therefore, a cheaper alternative, that is also compatible with underfloor heating is vinyl flooring. Vinyl flooring is extremely thin and manufactured using a photographic layer to replicate the appearance of wood, tiles or stone. As the photographic layer is computer generated, you are able to recreate designs that is impossible to be constructed using any other material. This allows you to show off your newly designed floor to guests over the Christmas period when the majority of households will expect lots of guests.

Many individuals will still argue that even with underfloor heating, the products above can still feel cold underfoot and therefore would always stick with carpet. A thick carpet does feel amazing underfoot and new manufacturing techniques have allowed the silky softness to be intricated into high quality carpets. It does feel like you are walking on cloud. The only negative of installing carpet during the winter months is that muddy footprints from the wet weather may ruin your new carpet. However, there is an easy solution for this. Leave your shoes at the door.

At the end of the door, flooring is a very personal decision and you should always stick to your personal choices.

Tips on Finding Your Perfect Prom Necklace

When looking for their prom dresses, girls will often shop for their jewelry at the same time. Girls are looking for pieces that will stand out and make them feel unique and beautiful, which is why it can be nerve-wracking to buy your prom jewelry (as well as your prom dress). If you don’t have a heavily detailed neckline on your dress or are wearing a plunging neckline, you’ll probably want to purchase a necklace to accentuate your neck and draw attention to your face–but how to choose?

When you’re looking for a necklace to match your prom dress, consider these tips:

Cost

When it comes to necklaces, the sky’s the limit with the price. Even a simple necklace can end up costing a fortune if it’s made with real gems. Even costume jewelry can set you back away if you’re not careful. When shopping for your prom necklace, keep in mind how much you’re looking to spend before you go shopping. Just like how you can find some gorgeous but cheap prom dresses, you can also find beautiful necklaces that won’t cost as much as your dress.

The dress’ style

The cut of your dress should heavily influence what kind of necklace you buy to go with it. For example, if you have a crew neckline or halter neckline, pair it with a statement necklace or shorter necklace that hits your collarbones. If you have a strapless dress, pair it with a choker to better break up space. JJ’s House designer Jessica suggests looking at images online of styles that you may like and bringing that with your jewelry shopping.

“While you may not be able to get that exact necklace, if you have a few ideas you’ll be able to narrow your search better. Just be sure you can return the necklaces if they don’t work,” she says.

Dress embellishments

If you have a ton of details in your dress like embroidery, rhinestones, or illusion panels, you’ll want to keep your jewelry simple so that it doesn’t confuse the outfit visually by demanding too much attention. Minimalist necklaces are very popular these days, which means it won’t be hard to find a delicate, subtle necklace to pair with your eye-catching dress.

Color

Even if you want your jewelry to pop, you don’t want it to clash. If you want some color in your jewelry, make sure that it complements your prom dress by using a color wheel. If your necklace only has rhinestones but your dress also has rhinestones, make sure that they are in the same shade: crystal with crystal, black with black, etc.

Your style

Don’t let yourself get caught up in the bustle of prom and forget your own style. You still want to recognize yourself in those photos after the big day is over. Ultimately, your style should be reflected in your dress style and in your necklace style. This means choosing a necklace that speaks to you and something that you may even want to wear once prom is over.

Reasons to Eat Kosher Food Besides Religious Observance

The restaurant culture is alive and well in New York City. Whether you are looking for five-star, casual, or street style dining, there is always a spot that fits every craving and dietary desire. New Yorkers live fast-paced lifestyles, and most people are always on the go. Restaurants provide a convenient option to fulfill a basic need and move on to other more important pursuits.

Restaurants in New York offer varied cuisines from around the world. One example is kosher food which refers to a set of rules the Hebrew people follow when preparing and eating food. But choosing to eat kosher is not only about religion. Some people choose to eat kosher because of the following reasons.

Kosher food preparation cares about animal welfare

One characteristic of kosher food is how it emphasizes the prevention of suffering of animals. People who still eat meat but prefer to buy from sources that follow Hebrew ritual slaughter prefer kosher food. It is not to say that there aren’t controversies surrounding kosher meat, but there are many reputable sources that follow sustainable and ethical practices.

To entertain kosher observant friends and family

Eating together in gatherings is more fun if everyone can enjoy the food you prepare. Unfortunately, if any of your friends or family have dietary restrictions, providing for all of them can be a bit complicated. If you have kosher observant friends and family coming over for dinner, why not serve kosher food or look for kosher catering? It doesn’t matter if some members of the family have different degrees of observance. By choosing to serve only kosher food, you can bring people together even if they come from different backgrounds.

For lactose intolerant or people allergic to dairy

One law of preparing kosher food strictly separates meat and dairy. If you buy meat certified as “pareve” you are guaranteed that it is not contaminated with any kind of dairy product.

People who are observant of “halal”

There are many similarities between halal and kosher food. Depending on where you are in the country, you may have difficulty finding halal certified purveyors, but have better chances of finding kosher certified food. As such, kosher food is often the alternative for people who can’t find producers of halal food in their area.

For people who are looking for vegetarian food options

Kosher food has strict laws of separation. For example, meat and dairy products never mix. In the same manner, other foods labelled as “pareve” such as eggs, grains, and produce can be consumed with dairy but are not mixed before preparation. These rules simplify shopping for food if you are vegetarian. If you buy products with “pareve” certification, it means there is a guarantee that it is not tainted or contaminated with meat or dairy. On the other hand, if you are a vegetarian who eats eggs or dairy, you can also have the confidence to buy dairy products knowing that there is no chance it will contain any meat product.

Image: Pixabay.com

 

Tips for Selecting a Health Plan Consultant

Healthcare is ever-changing. We would like everyone to take care of their health to be able to keep up with the activities that they love. Choosing a health plan can be rigorous but it doesn’t have to be. There are Health plan consultants capable of guiding you through the process for yourself, family, or business. However, there are things to look for when choosing a consultant. Not everyone is a right fit for you. Here are a few tips to consider before your consultation when selecting a Health Plan Consultant.

 

The Right Fit

Those looking to pay a consulting firm should review the firm’s present work, expertise, results, and client to vendor relationship. Charlie Kirksey of GuideWell Connect Health Care Consulting Practice said, “consultants should be experienced physicians who can prove their track record with delivering thorough recommendations in scenarios close to any issue a health plan leader could be challenged with.”

The consultant should engage and work with the payer to achieve a specific goal. They should have key knowledge with the work being presented to them, be results driven, and put successfully addressing the work before consulting. A consultant should be able to combine tactical recommendations and action plans to successfully deliver perceptible results.

Consultant Red flags

There can be times when you don’t want to recognize the red flags but they are as clear as day and you have to start the process over. Finding the right fit is very important. The first red flag is when taking the time to have a consultation with a firm and they are using a standard approach, showing they do not have the time then you should not either. They aren’t committed to starting a partnership. The guidance that a consultant gives should be properly tailored and implement their expertise.

Make sure that the consultant understands the health plan and your business needs. They need to have extensive knowledge of the plan before they can decide on a strategy. The result should include a solution for the payer based on the stance in the market. The consultant and payer should be able to come together on the objectives for the plan. The engagement between the consultant and payer should be well-off that the consultant can bring in a third-party to facilitate an actionable plan for the payer’s situation. If this does not describe your relationship with the consultant or their views, this is a big red flag.

Another red flag is how the process developments itself. If the firm has a dedicated team during the engagement but a sudden switch is made during the sale then this is not a good firm to do business with. As a payer, you need to know who all is working with and for you. The team should be composed of experienced professional oppose to a few junior associates. Shadowing is different from a hands-on approach in this case.

Maximizing the Engagement ROI

As a payer, you want to get the most out of your engagement with the consulting firm. After choosing the right consultant, ensure there is a transparent communication relationship. Trust is important between both parties because withholding information can threaten the results. If there are contributing factors that can cause a problem, the consultant needs to be in touch with the right people and fully understand the technology along with the process for successful results. Having health plans be open to various changes and expanding the scope of the engagement for the sake of rectifying the culprit of a problem is another way to maximize the ROI on engagement.

When a payer and consultant have an ongoing relationship, things such as being ahead of regulated changes, market trends, and consumer behaviors ensure member retention and increases the chances of the members paying higher prices.

Consultants have the ability to help payers gain more members as well as to improve their retention rates. The right consultant with the right approach can guarantee better financial results for members.

Author Bio: Adrian Rubin is a climate change advocate and freelance writer.

Reasons for Outsourcing Accounting Services

You need accountants for your business. They help you in preparing tax documents. They can also provide crucial advice on improving your business moving forward. For small business owners, hiring full-time accountants might be impractical. The services they offer don’t necessarily cover an entire month of work. You are spending money on full-time staffers when you can outsource the service and pay the accounting firm on a project basis. Here are other reasons why you need to outsource accounting services for your business.

Better use of resources

When you have quality staff working for you, it is a waste of time to ask them to work only on accounting tasks. They will keep working on accounting operations only when they can be of good use in doing other tasks. If you outsource the service, you won’t care how the accounting firm does it as long as they finish the project on time. You also don’t want to put a lot of pressure on people working with you full-time, so outsourcing would be a wise choice.

Reduce the cost

Hiring full-time employees mean that you need to pay them a regular monthly salary plus benefits on top of that. It would be more practical if you outsource the service since you will only pay the firm you choose for the project that they work on. Once the project is over, you don’t need to pay them anymore until you need their services again.

Reduce fraud

The third-party firm that you hire will be responsible for making sure that everything they return to you is accurate. You can hold them accountable for mistakes and potential fraud. You can’t do the same thing for your employees especially if you are running a small business. Even if your employees are no longer doing well, you can’t quickly fire them or get angry at them. It will be awkward working with a small team if you have significant differences.

You hire a team of experts

By outsourcing accounting services, you can expect not only one person to work on your accounts. These firms have a group of accounting experts who will make sure everything is perfect before returning the documents to you. They also have a system of checking everything to ensure that they provide what their clients want. If you only have one person working on your accounts, the possibility of committing mistakes increases. You may also be unable to afford to hire the best accountant to work for you full-time and settle for someone who simply knows the job.

Get business advice

Aside from helping you with your accounts, accounting firms could also provide business advice. They will help you find a way to grow your business based on their analysis of your statements. They know your financial status in detail, so they can help give you the best advice on how to improve your business.

If you agree with the idea of outsourcing accounting services, check out the best accountants in Central London and start your partnership now.

Image: Pixabay.com