LifeStyle

The days of filling up family photo albums with polaroid pictures are mostly a thing of the past, but people still want to treasure and share the memories that matter to them most. Why let your precious moments gather digital dust on your phone or computer when there are so many convenient, functional options for available for you to keep the best memories at your fingertips? Here are three simple ways to store and save your cherished photos.

Photo storage & display: Cloud, photo frames, and projectors

Computers can crash and phones can break or be stolen; this is an unfortunate reality about the devices on which many individuals tend to keep important files and pictures. The solution is cloud photo storage, which has revolutionized the way users keep and manage their pictures, freeing them from the fear that they could lose irreplaceable images and videos in the blink of an eye. Cloud-based options enable you to access your photos from multiple devices, and many allow you to digitally share your photos with others.

If you are tired of the lack of privacy on some social media sites, know that there are plenty of other places for you to share your photos and even let people comment on them without having to make them part of the public domain. These days, more and more employers scour social media sites when making hiring decisions. While you may have nothing to hide, the level of information complete strangers can glean from the information and pictures posted online is oftentimes nothing short of invasive.

From there, copying photos to display devices can help ensure that you, your family, and friends keep great memories alive with random or themed slideshows. Digital photo frames are a wonderful way to provide low light and reassure kids who might be fitful sleepers, or to comfort loved ones who might be far from home. Projectors can turn a drab wall into a lovely beach from a recent vacation or create a fun backdrop for a party, so remember to take your old photos out for a spin whenever possible.

Print options: Canvas frames, retail therapy, and pictures on (almost) everything

If you’ve ever wanted to decorate your home with some chic canvas prints, but realize no amount of wine will turn you into a world-class painter, don’t despair. You can turn your own photos into custom canvas prints easily online and finally fill that gaping hole over the couch with something personally meaningful. Using a panoramic photo to create a double or triple canvas spread can add elegance and completely change the mood and tone of a room.

Several retailers like CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Staples, FedEx, and more offer email to print services so that you can create regular prints, posters, coffee mugs, or even bound photo albums to give as gifts. These usually take less than a few weeks, and you typically have the option to pick up in store to avoid shipping charges, or have your items mailed to your home.

Online companies like Vistaprint allow you to create marketing and promo items from your photos including magnets, business cards, hats or t-shirts, blankets, holiday postcards, calendars, and much more. You can put your favorite photos on almost anything to create a unique and special gift to make a friend or loved one smile, to remember a special event, or even to bring an unexpected pop of color and form to a drab space at work.

With so many options to choose from for storage and printing your happiest memories, there’s no reason to lose them or let them waste away collecting digital dust. You took the time to take the pictures, give yourself and your loved ones a reason to smile every day by bringing those photos to light.

Top class professional athletes are in the fortunate position of being able to fully dedicate themselves to their chosen sport.

Easy access to the latest developments in sports science and sports psychology make it really easy to stay ahead of the game, but amateur athletes often don’t have the same luxury.

However, by employing selected elements of the techniques used by many elite level athletes, it is possible for amateurs to greatly improve their sporting performance.

Read on as we look at four ways amateur athletes can significantly enhance their training and preparation.

Make training part of each day

Top athletes partake in intensive daily training sessions, helping to ensure that they remain in the best possible physical shape.

While that type of commitment is often not possible for most amateur athletes, particularly due to work commitments, it is certainly feasible to build additional fitness work into your daily routine.

Signing-up at your local fitness facility, taking up cycling, going swimming or doing some simple exercises at home are amongst the ways you can improve your fitness levels.

Recovery time matters

Rest and recovery have become an integral part of professional sport in the modern era and the same should ring true at amateur level.

Stretching out muscles, repairing tiny muscle tears and getting lactic acid moving all help to aid recovery and boost your performance.

Getting enough rest is also crucial, so wind down by using the Gala casino offer to play your favourite games before heading off to bed at night.

Eat healthy food

Professional athletes utilise the services of nutritionists who provide expert advice about the right things to eat so they can perform at their best.

Eating a balanced and healthy diet will ensure your body can cope with the demands your chosen activity places upon it.

Hydration is also hugely important, so amateur athletes should drink plenty of water before, during and after taking part in sporting activities.

Supplementation plays a key role in recovery and building muscle as well as work capacity, but ultimately it is a small part of the picture. Supplement if you can afford it, and only after you’ve cleaned up your diet, prioritised recovery and put in 100% effort in training.

There’s no ‘I’ in team

Athletes who play team sports need time to bond with their teammates, but it’s not always easy to find the time to do that at amateur level.

Work and family commitments often prevent athletes from getting together for just a few hours a week, so finding time for team-building is really important.

Teams who have bonded away from their chosen sport generally produce better performances, so put plenty of effort into building a positive environment and you will reap the rewards.

Applying for a mortgage can be fun and exciting, but only if you know what you are doing. The main reason people get denied is that they don’t know what to expect when it comes to understanding why people are rejected from mortgages. It is a lot like other loans—to live in your dream house you need to be reliable and dependable. But even if you are, it is entirely possible that you will still be denied. Below are the reasons that people who apply for a mortgage get rejected.

Poor Credit

The first reason that people get denied is bad credit. You should do everything you can to make sure your credit is in the best shape it’s ever been. When your score is high, not only are you more likely to approved for the mortgage—you will also get a better interest rate.

Debt reflects poorly on your ability to pay money back, and no mortgage lenders will give you money if you are in debt. It is best to pay off all your debt before sending out applications. There are also helpful tricks to increase your scale. For example, registering to vote increases your score. Even if you don’t have an interest in voting, this can help you out when you are applying for a mortgage. Your credit score may be poor if you have defaulted on payments, made loan applications recently, or are currently using a high percentage of your credit.

You took out a Payday Loan

Taking out a short-term or payday loan is not good for your credit history in any way. For example, just the fact that you took out a payday loan is reflected on your credit file for about six years. Any mortgage lender will see this as a negative reflection of your financial status. Payday loans are viewed like financial irresponsibility. The lender will think that you can’t manage money, even if you can.

The best way to get around payday loans is first not to take them out, and then to wait until it is off your score. While repayments are always reflected on your file, the longer it has the less the mortgage lender is likely to care.

Your Deposit is Small

When it comes to buying a house, your deposit determines a lot. If you are able to offer a large amount, the mortgage lender is much less concerned about your credit and other factors. To put it simply, if you have the money you can get a mortgage. Save up a bit, especially if you have bad credit, and you will be able to take out the mortgage you need. According to the site MoneyPug, where they have a mortgage calculator, you will be able to attain a smaller interest rate and decent monthly payments if you are able to offer a large deposit.

You Don’t Earn Enough or are Self-Employed

Mortgage lenders are also concerned with how much money you make, where you work, and if it will stay consistent over the years of your mortgage. If you simply don’t make enough money, no lender will approve your application.

Even if you do make enough but own your business, many lenders will see this as an instability. It is always helpful to show evidence of your financially stability. If you can prove that you make enough and that your pay is consistent, you shouldn’t have a problem. Show the mortgages proof of future jobs and they will be a lot less concerned about your self-employment. Prove to them that you are successful.

You Don’t Apply at the Right Time

Like anything, you need to apply for a mortgage at the right time. When interest levels are high, you should wait to apply for a mortgage. Right now, as it turns out, interest rates are low. If your credit score is strong and you have the chance to apply for a mortgage to buy a home, you will be able get a reasonable rate.

For taking out a mortgage, it is all about doing your research. If you know what you are getting into and have the means to show you are stable and make enough money to pay the mortgage, you will have a better chance and a more reasonable interest rate.

If you want to learn more about our blog, please click here.

It is understandable why anyone would want to have their nose pierced. Not only does it look hot and exciting, but there is a certain allure to people who have facial piercings. That said, such a decision is not something to be made lightly. If you are chalking it up to being spontaneous, you could end up regretting your decision.

While it is fine to want to have your septum pierced, it would not be a good idea to have it done without at least being aware of a few points. That way, you will not be blindsided by something that you could have avoided had you read up in advance. Here are just a few things to consider for those interested in having their septum pierced.

Keep in mind that most jobs will likely not accept a facial piercing

While ear piercings are relatively common, a beautiful Nose Ring could very well net you the wrong kind of attention. For example, most jobs are unwilling to hire people who have facial piercings, which could complicate your desire to get your septum pierced. While you can just remove the jewelry if ever you are going to work, it is not a good idea when you have just recently been pierced. After all, there is a healing and aftercare process, and the removal of the jewelry could have a few consequences.

The healing and aftercare process can take a long time

One of the reasons why it is not a good idea to have your nose pierced if your job does not accept it is the fact that it can take a long time for a piercing to fully heal. It can take up to two months – if not longer – for a piercing to heal. During the process, you will also need to wear jewelry to keep the piercing open. Otherwise, it could end up closing when it heals, which means that you have to go through the same process all over again.

That said, it is possible to have your jewelry turned upwards, though it might result in more pain.

There is a little more pain to a septum piercing than people realise

For some, they think that the worst part of having a septum piercing is the process of piercing. However, most people who have nose rings will likely tell you that the most painful process is the insertion of jewelry to keep the wound from closing. While there is not enough pain for it to be a cause for concern, it is still vital that you understand that there will be pain, especially during the aftercare process.

While getting a nose ring comes with its own set of challenges, anyone who genuinely wants to have a piercing will do it anyway. The important part is that you go through with it while completely aware of what you are getting into. Without a doubt, getting a nose ring is exciting, but it can be a very involved process.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

For many parents, saving for their children’s higher education is among their core objectives in life. They want to provide their children with the necessary tools to lead highly productive and independent lives.

While there are many savings vehicles that parents can use to pool college funds, we must acknowledge that some of these plans are camouflaged bad deals. In order for parents to save adequately for college or university, only the best savings vehicle should be used. With so many options available, it can be confusing and difficult to determine which plans are among the best.

If you live in Canada, the good news is we’ve determined the absolute best savings vehicle you should use that is guaranteed to yield significantly more returns than all the other saving options—RESPs.

An RESP, Registered Education Savings Plan, is a saving and investment vehicle devised by the Canadian government to assist parents to save enough for their children’s post-secondary education. This is accomplished through the use of the Canadian Education Savings Grant (CESG) which the Canadian government provides to all RESP account holders. In order to assist parents accumulate more money, the government supplements all contributions made to an RESP with 20% grants.

The grants are awarded to a maximum of $500 a year i.e. for the first $2,500 contributed by parents. By signing up with an RESP provider such as Heritage RESP, parents become eligible to receive up to $7,200 in lifetime grants from the Canadian government. It’s worth noting that this is a basic grant amount. For more information, you should check out Heritage RESP’s reviews or you can also contact them directly.

There are other additional grants that the government offers parents who require more assistance e.g., single parents or parents with low income. Known as additional CESG, these parents can receive an extra 10-20% on top of the basic grant, in order to supplement their savings. Collectively, the grants translate to 30-40 cents per dollar invested in an RESP. Put in perspective, this means parents receive anywhere between a 30% and 40% return on investment for their first $2500! This is the only savings vehicle that offers such high interest rates.

And that’s not all. Parents with RESP accounts also stand to benefit from further government assistance through the Canada Learning Bond (CLB). This was devised to further assist low-income families, particularly those with kids born after January 1st 2004. When parents secure RESP accounts for such children, even if the child is enrolled under the National Child Benefit, he receives an extra $500 from the CLB as a result. An extra $100 dollars is also deposited in the child’s RESP each consecutive year until the child reaches maturity.

Other benefits associated with RESPs include:

1. Tax-sheltered payments

All contributions to RESP accounts aren’t taxed. This applies to funds below $50,000. Any amount above this limit is subject to getting taxed at the prevailing rates.

1. Early withdrawals

With RESPs, parents don’t have to wait until college in order to make a withdrawal. They have the freedom to do so at any time provided the money is invested in the child’s post-secondary education. If it’s withdrawn to meet the child’s higher education, suitable taxes may be levied. The parent is also free to determine the amount to be withdrawn.

1. Change of beneficiary

With RESPs, parents can easily change the name of the beneficiary at any time, provided the beneficiary is less than 21 years when he/she is included in the plan. It should be noted that all RESPs support this. There are two major types of RESPs, i.e. a single plan and a family plan. Under the single plan, only one beneficiary is permitted. When changing the beneficiary, no blood relationship is required and the beneficiary can be named at any age. On the flip side, there are also family RESPs that support more than one beneficiary and require that all the beneficiaries be related by blood to the subscriber/parent (nephews and nieces are excluded). All beneficiaries must be under 21 to be named.

By having several RESP options, parents can choose the most appropriate RESP plan for their children or the children under their protection depending on the situation. Parents can also continue making contributions to RESPs until the child turns 31 years old or the plan itself completes 31 years since opening date.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

You already feel confident that laser hair removal is the best way to remove unwanted hairs from your body permanently. You cannot rely on waxing or shaving since the hairs will continue growing back. With the popularity of laser technology, it is now easy for you to schedule an appointment and eliminate those hairs.

Before you do so, you might feel confused considering all the options available. These are some essential considerations before you choose a hair removal clinic.

Guaranteed health and safety

You cannot take the risk of choosing a clinic because it is cheap if it does not ensure health and safety. Make sure you will only receive the services from qualified staff. You can ask about credentials and experience before you decide to do the procedure. You can read reviews online and check if previous patients felt satisfied with the services received. You may also look at photos of the room where you will receive the treatment to ensure it is clean and safe.

Honest advice

Before you even schedule the procedure, you need to speak with the expert in the clinic to determine if you need to have laser hair removal. You can also ask questions about the risks and side effects. If you receive honest responses, you might trust the clinic to do a great job; otherwise, you need to keep searching for other choices.

Reasonable price

Price is not a good standard in determining where you will have the procedure. You might find clinics that pretend to have a registration, but they do not. Since they offer cheap services, you might decide to choose them. Be careful in judging the options based on the price since your primary goal is to save money. Laser hair removal is generally expensive when you choose the best clinics. However, you will still save money in the long run if you are not going to spend money on shaving or waxing anymore.

Ask for referrals

Perhaps, you know someone who has tried laser hair removal before. You can ask your friend to recommend the best clinic for this treatment. Previous patients who received the best services will not hesitate to recommend the clinic where they had the procedure. They might even give you the contact number so you can do it soon.

After going through these things, you will now have the right choice for the procedure. Call the clinic first and ask if you can walk in for a consultation. If you feel confident about the clinic and you are okay with the price, you can schedule the procedure.

Check out laser hair removal Edmonton offers if you want only the best services. With the clinic’s top-quality staff and experience in offering this service to a lot of people, you will not suffer from any side effect after the procedure. In no time, you will say goodbye to those unwanted hairs and become more confident of yourself.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

It’s important to have clean drinking water especially if you want to keep your family healthy. There are different contaminants that can be found in the water that flows to your houses like chlorine or other chemicals. To ensure your family’s safety, you should seriously consider investing in a water filtration system for your home. Below are some of the benefits of drinking filtered water and how it can improve your health and your life.

1. Water filtration systems remove a wide variety of contaminants from your drinking water

Did you know that tap water can contain chlorine, pesticides, chemicals, heavy metals, and potentially harmful bacteria? As a result, it gives off an unpleasant smell and makes it undesirable to consume. If you’d like to be able to remove such contaminants from your household’s drinking water, it’s a wise idea to have a water filtration system installed in your home.

2. Pure filtered water is the healthiest option for growing children

If you’re a parent, you can give your children the best possible start in life by providing them with clean, pure, filtered water. In fact, filtered water has been proven to boost children’s immune system. So if you’d like to prevent your children from getting sick, it’s a great idea to provide your family with a high-quality water filtration system.

3. Water which is produced by a filtration system tastes better than tap water

If you assumed that all water tastes the same, think again. Filtered water tastes a lot cleaner than tap water and therefore is much more pleasant to consume than unfiltered water.

4. Water filtration systems can prevent you from contracting a gastrointestinal disease

By drinking filtered water you can decrease your chances of developing a nasty gastrointestinal disease by 80%. As unfiltered water can contain E. coli, giardia, and cryptosporidium, which all can lead to the development of dangerous gastrointestinal diseases.

5. It’s much more cost effective to drink filtered water than to purchase bottled water

If you don’t want to spend money on purchasing bottled water each week, it’s a great idea to invest in a water filtration system for your home. You’ll be able to drink as much water as you’d like, without incurring an extra cost. It’s also an eco-friendly option if you care about the environment and want to preserve it for future generations, as you won’t need to keep purchasing bottled water.

6. You’ll decrease your chances of developing cancer

Arsenic, which can lead to the development of cancer, is sometimes found in unfiltered water. So to decrease your chances of developing cancer, it’s well worth getting into the habit of drinking filtered water on a daily basis.

7. Drinking filtered water can clear up your complexion

Since our skin is composed of 64% water, keeping yourself hydrated is imperative to maintain a healthy and youthful glow. However, not all water can be consumed as unfiltered tap water contain contaminants that may do you more harm than good. Drinking filtered water free from harmful contaminants can help your skin clear up any impurities.

Hopefully, with the benefits listed above, you’re now convinced of the advantages of drinking filtered water instead of tap water or bottled water!