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Dua Lipa Expanding Her Career With Lifestyle Brand Service95

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Dua Lipa announced to Vogue this week that she would be launching her own lifestyle brand, Service95. Dua explained the brand as a “style, culture, and society concierge service,” which has been a hobby of hers for quite some time now.

“I’ve dreamed about this for so long. It’s a massive hobby of mine – I’ve always compulsively made lists of everything: my favorite places to eat, my favorite places to stay. Honestly, if I were to show you the Notes app on my phone right now…” 

Service95 is described to be a weekly newsletter featuring recommendations personally chosen by Dua. 

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“All my friends and family, wherever they travel in the world – even if they’re just there for one night – they’ll text me to ask what they should do. I’m their go-to person for recommendations.” 

Service95 will “allow those outside Dua’s inner circle access to that same insider knowledge she’s acquired as one of the biggest – and most well-travelled – superstars on the planet,” Vogue wrote.

Dua is also mending this new project with her non-profit organization the Sunny Hill Foundation, which recently opened up a kindergarten in her parent’s native town of Kosovo. Service95 will be used as a platform to shine the spotlight on inspiring figures and the causes that Dua feels passionately about. 

“For young people, looking at the news can be quite intense. You want to help but you don’t really know how to help. I want to help give young people the tools to make a difference.”

She’s not just stopping there either, Dua announced that along with the newsletter the project will also involve a podcast called At Your Service, which is described to have a wide variety of guests, including activists and some of Dua’s most famous friends. 

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“It’s very interesting being on the other side of the interview! All the guests I’m speaking to have very inspiring stories, and hopefully [as listeners], you will learn something about yourself,” she says. 

“Providing a platform for grassroots voices, or breaking down pressing issues in an accessible way, that element is really important to me. I’ve always believed that being of service is my mission in life. The whole idea is sharing information and helping each other.” 

“Subscribers can look forward to an artfully curated mix of think pieces, travel tips, and advice. There will be lots of different voices, interesting articles, and my own personal note about what I’ve been up to and what I’ve discovered,” Dua explained. 

“I want to be able to experience things, I don’t want to go to an amazing city and stay inside my hotel then leave and just say that I’ve been there. That has always been a massive thing for me. No matter what, I’ll make an effort to do something fun, and now I hope I can inspire others to do the same.”

Investing in Real Estate

Tips For Investing In Real Estate Right Now 

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Now that the Covid-19 pandemic is beginning to slow down a little, many are beginning to take on new business endeavors. Real Estate investments have been on the rise within the past year, especially among first-time investors. So what should you know as you enter into your investments in 2021?

Many experts believe that first-timers should always find a mentor who they can trust to guide them in their initial investments.  Realty ONE’s CEO Kuba Jewgieniew, explained how now that more individuals are opting to stay home for work, looking at trends in the market has never been more important. 

“With fewer people returning to a physical office and many more people reevaluating their life choices, we’re seeing a resurgence in cities like Phoenix, Arizona, our headquarters’ home of Las Vegas, Nevada, and even once-less-popular markets like Boise, Idaho,” Jewgieniew explained. 

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“As more people move to these metros but also out to the suburbs to get a bigger space for less money, we’ll see even these areas become more popular, driving home prices higher.”

“An area with higher property values has the potential the yield a more lucrative real estate investment. So pay attention to on-the-rise hotspots—that can be a certain city or even a specific neighborhood—when deciding where to invest,” Jewgieniew explained.

Apartment buildings and boutique hotels have been predicted to receive a slew of investments in the coming fiscal year as well, which Jewgieniew thinks will lead to a larger presence of tech giants in our communities:

“I anticipate that retailers like Amazon will buy up these malls and convert them into distribution centers, creating jobs near the former malls. I believe that a lot of these apartments near the malls are going to get converted into condos to accommodate the workforce.”

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Jewgieniew explained that it’s important to build an organized business plan before making any official decisions as well.

“It’s not just about how much money you have and what income the building creates; you’ll need to factor external factors such as interest rates, vacancy rates, and occupancy rates into the equation too.”

Finally, Jewgieniew urged first-time investors especially to not get too excited by the thrill of investing in a new property, and take their time when it comes to reading all the fine lines. 

“A year ago, I would have said something different, but do not try to get in and get out quickly. Buy it, hold it long term, and focus on cash flow. Competition for these properties is intense right now, so you may have to pay a little more than you should to acquire one—and since construction materials are also extra expensive, it’ll be harder to turn a profit.”

Overall, just be smart with your money and make sure you’re making investments that will benefit you in the future. “If you’ve got a business plan in place and have a network of resources, like a knowledgeable real estate pro, then now could be a good time to invest in a flip property.”

Furnished Home

How To Declutter Your Home As Lockdown Eases 

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Now that more of us are getting vaccinated and able to leave our homes more freely, it’s time to bring our spaces back to their pre-pandemic glory, you know, like before we were spending all hours of the day in our living room. 

Dilly Carter is a professional home organizer and self proclaimed “declutterer” who stars in the show ‘Sort Your Life Out’ which helps homeowners organize their cluttered spaces. Carter recently discussed how it’s important to have your home as organized as possible because it has an indirect impact on your mental health. 

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“You wake up in the morning, you tumble out of bed, you try to find a towel, you try to find your toothbrush, you go to the wardrobe, you try to find a shirt that’s been ironed, you try to find a pair of trousers. Your socks are in the kitchen drawer. You stumble down the stairs, trip over some Lego, go to the kitchen, sniff the milk to see if it’s off. And you start work and you’re like, ‘Why am I so stressed?’  This build-up of tiny annoyances is why you need to declutter,” she says.

Carter claims the easiest place to start is an empty room, or by completely emptying out a room. “An artist would never create a masterpiece by drawing over another masterpiece, would they? The next trick is to put back only the things you absolutely need in the empty room. Be as ruthless as you can; the goal is to create as much space as possible. We don’t want to be surrounded by stuff, because stuff clouds our mind and clouds our judgment. We need space to breathe.”

It’s important to also reclaim the spaces that may have been taken over by clutter. “Sometimes a kitchen is a kitchen, but it can also be a playroom, and it’s also a study, and it’s also a front room. That’s why the kitchen doesn’t feel like a kitchen at the moment. So let’s bring it back to just being a kitchen. Let’s take out all the kid’s toys and put them back in the bedroom. You will end up with dedicated spaces that don’t feel encroached upon by the rest of the house,” Carter explained. 

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Begum Zarmann is the UK’s go-to decluttering trend expert who recommends taking photos as you declutter your space so you can keep track of your progress: “Before you start to declutter, choose a small part of your home, like a bathroom cabinet, and take a photo of it. Once you have tidied and organised that space, take an after photo. Why? Keeping a record of your transformations gives you the motivation to declutter more.”

Zarmann also recommends sorting all of your things within four large boxes. “Label them ‘rubbish’, ‘give away’, ‘keep’ or ‘relocate.’ Whether it’s a drawer or a full room you’re tackling, the key is to organize your items into one of the four boxes and to not skip a single item, no matter how insignificant you may think it is.” 

Carter also recommends getting one big box for paperwork exclusively. “Walk around your house with the biggest cardboard box you can find and just shove it all in there. Doesn’t matter if it’s unopened mail, paperwork or files. Whatever it is, get it all into one box. Because then, mentally, you are only dealing with one box. And then when you’re ready to deal with that box, you sit there, in front of your favorite TV show, and you can start going through that paperwork. From that, you will soon have your keep pile, your burn pile, your shred file.”

From that point forward it’s up to you to be diligent when deciding what gets thrown away, what can be donated, potentially sold, or relocated to get actual use within the home.

Woman Traveling in Greece

Top Tips From A Travel Agent On Booking Future Vacations 

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While the Covid-19 pandemic is still very much an issue in our world, with the release of multiple vaccines and advanced health and safety procedures being implemented to curb the spread, many are remaining optimistic, and spending their remaining days in quarantine fantasizing about where they’ll travel to first once the world reopens again. While we may not know exactly when we’ll be able to hop on a plane without worrying about if we have our masks or not, it can be fun to start thinking about the future now.

Nadine Cresswell-Myatt is a travel journalist who recently published the best tips she’s ever received from a travel agent before, so here are some things to keep in mind the next time you have the opportunity to leave your house for a while. 

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First and foremost you should always book early morning flights in the middle of the week, specifically Tuesday if you can. Regardless of if you’re a morning person or not, flights leaving early in the day are much less likely to be delayed, additionally, by the time you get to your destination, depending on how early and long your flight is, you’ll have more of the day to take in the scenery and start enjoying your vacation right away. 

The best days of the week to travel are also always in the middle of the week, and statistically speaking Tuesday’s are the least busy days for most airports in America. Mid-week early morning tickets also tend to be much cheaper than say a 6 p.m flight on a Friday. If you’re the type of person who packs a lot and gets nervous that a packed flight may prevent you from using overhead carry on storage, definitely consider getting a flight on one of the least busy travel days in general. 

A more niche, yet useful, tip for couples or anyone traveling in a group setting is to always pack a complete change of clothes in the other person’s suitcase. While this may sound weird, if you find yourself in the unfortunate situation where the airline loses your luggage, or accidentally ships it to the wrong location therefore delaying how long you are without your clothes, having at least one change of clothes will be enough to hold you over for the first day or two; or until you can get to a clothing store. 

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Keep all prescription medication in your carry on. This goes along with the previous tip of ensuring you have all your necessities should the worst happen and an airline lose your luggage. Your health is never something to be taken for granted, as this pandemic has taught us, so if you’re an individual taking prescription medication in any context, make sure you have it on you at all times just in case. 

Along those same lines, bring more medication than you will need. Some travelers make the mistake of only packing the specific dosages that they’ll need for the time they’re gone, however, you never know what could happen. For example, say you’re getting ready to leave and a storm hits so your flight gets moved to another day, you don’t want to be left anxious thinking about how much medication you have left. 

Finally, if you’re using a travel agent, only use ones that have actually been to the destination you’re trying to go to. It’s the same concept for any type of professional you would hire to do a service for you. You would never hire a real estate agent that just moved to your town a week ago and didn’t know anything about the area, you would want the more established agent who has been selling homes in your town for decades. So whenever you’re able to take that first trip post-pandemic, plan smartly, and leave no box unchecked. 

Outdoor Furniture

How To Care For Your Outdoor Furniture So That It Lasts For Multiple Seasons 

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One of the more positive things that has come out of 2020 and the Covid-19 pandemic is the utilization of our outdoor spaces. Many people have been spending their time in lockdown updating their yard spaces to make it more accessible and aesthetically pleasing for socially distanced outdoor gatherings with friends and family. 

However, for many this is the first time they’ve invested in actual outdoor furniture and accessories, and while most pieces are well equipped to survive the elements of the world, homeowners should know the proper ways to care for their outdoor spaces and the furniture within them so that they can last for years to come. 

As a general rule, one should be prepared to pay some regular attention to their furniture and products at least once a year, typically at the start of whatever season you like to bring your outdoor furniture out. For those who live in climates where the weather is relatively warm all year, like California, you may want to consider putting in some extra TLC to your furniture twice a year. 

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Adam Taylor is the owner of The Wood Doctor, a furniture restoration company, and has been working in the industry for more than four decades. According to Taylor the “most attention people pay to their outdoor furniture is the day they buy it,” but he’s determined to change that. 

For timber and wood pieces specifically, Taylor claims that those are the easiest to maintain, and owners really just need to focus on keeping them clean. “Clean it off, removing any dust with a brush, or fine grade steel wool for more ingrained dirt. Once clean, I recommend using one of Sikkens oil-based products, which enhances and preserves the natural beauty of the timber.”

Taylor explained that “an oil-based product expands and contracts with the weather, feeding and protecting the wood without covering it. Other products that introduce a film that covers the wood. This means water gets in where there are gaps, gets trapped and causes the wood to rot from the inside out.” Ideally he believes new furniture should be given four coats of oil, applied about 16 hours apart for the most optimal protection for the year. 

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For fabric products it’s smart to have some sort of storage space that can fit all the fabric-covered items in your collection. While outdoor fabrics are equipped to handle the full brunt of the earth’s elements every day, overtime that prolonged exposure to the weather will break down the fabric and shorten the lifespan of it. 

Sweep down your fabric items with a hard-bristle brush to remove dust and other debris. Throwing outdoor fabrics in the wash on the cold setting with a color-fast detergent can help take care of bigger messes or stains, but Taylor recommends hosing off any fabric that gets stained immediately if you can. 

For wicker or cane furniture, one should make sure they use a UV-safe resin once a year to strengthen the tightness of the woven pattern. Thick bristle brushes and some basic soap and water can help dust off these surfaces in the beginning of every season as well. 

Finally, for those with wrought iron furniture the biggest order of maintenance is rust prevention and removal. Surface rust can be easily removed with a wire brush or steel wool, and then the surface can be painted over with a rust guard to help prevent further rusting. If you just bought a new set of wrought iron furniture, you should paint over it with a layer of rust guard as well. 

House Fire

How To Better Protect Your Home From Wildfires

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As we’ve all seen, wildfire season has been devastating within the past year alone. The frequency and severity of these wildfires in the US have grown exponentially to a place we’ve never seen before. According to the US Forest Service’s 2019 Wildfire Risk Analysis, more than 4.5 million homes in the western US are currently at high or extreme risk of wildfire exposure. Now more than ever it’s important for all homeowners to take necessary precautions in protecting their homes as much as possible from the potential threat of wildfires, here are some measures one can take: 

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Clear Your Rook and Deck: Burning embers from smaller fires that float down from the plumes of smoke in the sky are a major threat to homes and other structures that aren’t protected. It only takes one ember to ignite a pile of dead leaves on a roof or deck that can prompt the entire house to then go up in flames. In the warmer wildfire season especially, one should be keeping their deck/porch swept of all dirt and debris as well as their rook. If you live in a wildfire prone area, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends getting asphalt shingles, clay or concrete tiles, metal, and/or slate roofing as all of those are fire resistant. 

Keep Embers Out Of Vents: Open eaves, vents, and other areas of exposure can also be extremely vulnerable to ember exposure, so make sure you have all openings from the outside of your home screened/sealed off. If your home has a pet door make sure it has a proper seal that can keep it closed during fire season/when it’s not in use. 

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Create A Plan For Emergency Responder Access: In case of emergency, you need to ensure that firefighters and other law enforcement employees are able to gain access to your home should you and your loved ones need help. Make sure your street names and numbers are clearly marked and legible from a distance. Make your specific address number prominently known on the outside of your property. If you have a driveway, try to keep it as cleared out and open as possible should a firetruck need access, as well as other areas of access into the home. 

Collaborate With Neighbors: If you’re in a wildfire prone area on the west coast of the US you should be talking to your neighbors about what the plan is should your neighborhood need to evacuate or respond to an emergency situation. There’s a multitude of online resources wildfire-prone communities can access to keep them better prepared for the future. Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a company whose main purpose is literally creating guides for communities to keep them prepared. 

Firewise USA is a program run by the NFPA that empowers homeowners and residents all across the country to increase their ignition risks in their homes and communities. Currently the program has over 1,500 active sites in 42 states that they run out of. 

The NFPA also created a prep day to raise community awareness on wildfire risk that they call the Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. This day is full of useful information, techniques, drills, supplies, etc. that can better prepare any homeowner for future wildfires. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of this day’s activities and information workshops aren’t able to occur in person, however, the NFPA created an online toolkit that anyone can access at any time to give themselves a refresher on wildfire prevention.

Girl WFH

Google Offers Work From Home Tips Based On Employee Survey 

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Google recently spoke with more than 5,000 of their employees to figure out the best remote working practices that they’ve experienced within the past six months. Chief executive Sundar Pichai recently announced that because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Google would be extending their work from home policy until at least July 2021. Before making this decision the company surveyed their employees to better grasp what was working, and what wasn’t in terms of remote working. 

The main thing Google wanted to focus on with their employees was their well-being, performance quality, communication with one another, and productivity from home. They found that making team meetings a priority was extremely important for maintaining a positive company culture virtually. These meetings are often the only time employees communicate with each other “face-to-face” via video conferencing. 

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Google has also recommended that all of its team leaders take a special interest in their employees personal lives and getting to know them on a deeper level. Enduring working through a pandemic together has proven to be a bonding experience for many companies, and Google wants their business model to exhibit that. 

Being present is also key to a healthy work environment in general, but especially when workers aren’t able to be in each other’s presence. Specifically, Google recommends making sure all employee cameras are on during group video conferences, but muting your microphone when it’s most practical to not distract from whoever is speaking in the moment. They also recommend giving both verbal and non-verbal cues of agreeance (“yeah that’s a good plan”, “most definitely!”) so employees really feel like they’re being listened to. 

While it’s important to also give your employees their space to actually do their work, industry and team leaders should make it a point to check in with everyone at least once a day. Even if it’s just a quick message exchange about the weekend, it’s important to keep communication up so employees feel comfortable to go to one another when life and work gets overwhelming; as it has for most of us at this point in time. 

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It’s also important for team leaders especially to recognize and praise their employees’ good work. Now that we’re all working on a more independent level at home, it can be easy for our hard work to get overlooked. Receiving a message from your boss praising you for a specific completed task of any kind will keep morale up, and greater build that bond between you and your workers. 

Google also recommends that employers discuss a list of “norms” that all employees need to abide by with their work. These norms could include expectations for email response times, taking days off, who to go to when your having difficulty with a certain task, the easiest ways to communicate with you and other higher-up employees, and how often everyone should be checking in with one another, even to just say “hey, how have you been this week?” 

Finally, make sure your company is using a digital platform that is easy and accessible for everyone. Not every meeting needs to be a video conference and not every clerical error needs to be addressed with a phone call. Digital platforms like slack, discord, whatsapp, etc. make it easy for employees to quickly message each other for clarification/checking-in. So when discussing the list of norms with your employees, make sure to mention which mediums of communication are most appropriate for specific tasks or issues. 

Bedroom Decor

Tips For Redecorating Your Bedroom

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Your bedroom is the most personal and intimate space in your house, so it’s important that you feel completely at ease every time you’re in it. This is where you go to recharge, unwind after a long day, and are meant to feel the most yourself, and now that all of our bedrooms are seeing a lot more of us due to the coronavirus pandemic, there’s never been a better time to revamp your space to ensure that it’s exactly how you want it, especially since we’re all going to remain indoors for an indefinite amount of time. 

One thing that personally makes my room feel like a relaxing oasis completely separated from the daily stresses of living during a pandemic, is having an obscene amount of pillows on my bed. Having multiple pillows of different sizes, shapes, colors, and patterns will not only give you more options for back support when you’re just vegging out in bed, but also will add a much more cozy feeling to your space. 

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Decorating your walls with artwork and posters that are specific to your personality is what makes your room truly yours. Instead of going online and buying a painting from your favorite vacation spot, try to make your own first! Creating your own art for your room, or home in general, will not only make your space more custom, but also will give you something to do everyday while stuck indoors. 

Don’t be afraid of patterns when it comes to your bedding or any other smaller pieces of furniture in your room (ex: a reading chair or accent rug). Patterns give the eye a focal point when you’re in a certain space, so if your bedding has really intricately designed roses all over it, your eyes are likely going to be drawn to that, which also means you don’t have to do a lot more in terms of interior design. You never want a space to become too busy with different patterns and colors, as that can make one feel overwhelmed in their own room. 

If you’re more of a simple bedding type of person, however, then another area where you can incorporate prints and different patterns in your room would be on the accent pieces. Things like lamp-shades, flower vases, curtains, etc. all have the potential to brighten up dull parts of your space with colorful patterns. 

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If you really want to make your space comfortable, you need comfortable elements within it. This means plenty of blankets to snuggle up with, and maybe a down comforter for ultimate fluffiness while you dream. 

As I previously mentioned, the personal elements in your room are what make it really feel like it’s your space, and also help you relax more! So reveal a personal side in the way you design your room, whether it be as simple as hanging a few family photographs, or painting an entire piece of furniture, really make the elements yours. 

Another way that you can make your room feel personal is by ignoring traditional rules for design and what you think other people would like. I always fall into the trap of trying to rearrange my space to adhere to HGTV design show standards, however, I’m not a professional interior designer, so why act like it when it comes to changing up my space? If you want to arrange your furniture in a way that’s “off-centered” or crowded up together in a corner, then that’s your prerogative! Again, your space is meant to be a place of peace and relaxation for you and you only. So do whatever you need to do to make it feel like that. 

Packing Suitcase

Travel Like an Expert in 2020

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If, like us, the thought of traveling more in 2020 sounds like the best thing to do with your spare time, you probably also dislike the thought of packing first. Whenever any of us go away on vacation, we always seem to spend far longer deciding what we want to take, then arranging what we can actually take before giving up and ending up in a hotel room by the beach surrounded by nothing but 8 pairs of socks and more pairs of underwear than we would ever need at home – seriously, why do we always take so much underwear on our travels!

We have searched the internet for the best packing tips around so that when you get to security you know you will not have to pay a fine, or worse, wear all your clothes just to keep costs down.

First things first, make sure you have the right bag or suitcase for the journey. If you are taking a flight it is a good idea to invest in some lightweight luggage meaning you can pack more. However, if you are taking the train you can probably get away with an overnight bag or a rucksack.

When heading to the beach it is tempting to throw a few pairs of bathing costumes into your bag and forget everything else. But what about in the evenings when you are heading down to the restaurant? How many times have you looked into your bag and realise you have brought four different shirts or dresses but not the right shoes to match? A great tip we found is to pack a capsule wardrobe. By packing clothes that have a similar color scheme, you will not only have to pack less shoes but you will also be able to mix and match your clothing, making more outfits out of fewer items.

However, if you do decide you want to take more items of clothing make sure you remember to roll your items. Not only will this help reduce the need for ironing but you will also be able to fit more items into your case.

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Always place anything that can crease easily at the top and hang up in the bathroom once you get to your hotel, as the steam from your shower will help any creases to drop.

If you are planning on taking bulkier items with you – jeans, jumpers, heavy shoes – try to wear them on your flight. So long as you are not uncomfortable it is easier to wear your heavier items, leaving your bag or case free to hold more items.

Underwear. Yes, we are back to the underwear! Undies do not need ironing and it does not matter if they crease so squeeze these into spaces you can not fit anything else: shoes, corners, the gap between trousers and tops.

Try to take as few pairs of shoes as you can however when packing make sure they are packed around the edge so you can put your clothes in between them – utilizing the gaps left with your underwear of course!

Another great tip we found was the use of dryer sheets. If you are traveling long haul place a dryer sheet between your items and you should have fresh clothes when you land.

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If you do need to take heavy items in your suitcase make sure you place them at the bottom of your case so that they not only make your suitcase easier to move – especially if you have one with two or four wheels. It will also stop your other clothes from getting creased.

Toiletries are a huge bone of contention for many couples that travel. Where you can try to pack as little as possible, especially with many hotels providing toiletries in the room. However, if you do need to take some try to take multi-use products as well as items that are better for the environment. By purchasing small bottles from the local drugstore, you can decanter some of your shampoo, conditioner or body wash from home rather than buying products that have been created specifically for the traveler. Not only are you helping the environment by not using one-use plastic, you are saving money too.

Or if you are on a short trip why not take some dry shampoo, the perfect accessory for any hair!

Entertainment is another area that you need to think about. Why take a book when you can read them on an electrical device, the same with your music, maps and travel guides. Again, not only are you saving money but you are also helping to keep your carbon footprint down.

Finally, the most important thing to remember is that whatever you decide to take should be significant to where you are going. There is no point taking suit trousers if you are spending the entire holiday on a beach, likewise if you are on a city break you may not want to eat dinner in a pair of speedos!

Business Meeting

How To Make Your Business Idea A Reality

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We’ve all had that moment when we’re gathered around the coffee table, hanging out with a few friends, having a few drinks, when suddenly one of you gets a brilliant idea. The idea is shared amongst the group and you all agree that the idea could make you all millionaires! You all could finally quit your nine-to-fives, buy a house, and retire early, it’s that good of an idea. Typically, after the initial excitement wears off, the conversation often quickly changes, and maybe one of your friends wrote down the idea just in case, but it’s likely it will never get brought up again. But what if that wasn’t the end of it? So often we have these brilliant ideas that never actually see the light of day, unless a bigger and wealthier corporation comes up with it somehow, but what if we actually all had the means to create our dream businesses? While I can’t provide you with a proper investment or all the specific logistics for your particular idea, I can give you the right tips to actually making your business dream ideas a reality. 

First and foremost, one of the keys for creating a good and marketable business idea is to ask yourself: what problem does your idea solve? Consumers want a product, store, service, etc. that will be beneficial to their life in some way. Even if your idea is a simple corner coffee shop, what is it about your specific shop that makes customers want to walk into your doors every morning for their morning coffee? Maybe it’s the fact that your shop is the closest coffee shop within a five mile radius, or maybe it’s that you make homemade muffins every morning so that they’re fresh for the customers. Whatever it is, your business needs a niche that makes it special; the goal should always be to be as memorable as possible.

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If you’re having trouble even thinking of a general idea of what you want to do, make it personal. Think about your own life and current living situation and what would make going about everyday easier. Making it personal connects you on a deeper level to the idea, and will create a greater sense of passion for the project. 

Lindsay Cook, the founder and CEO of the app FitOn, spoke with Forbes Magazine about this concept:  “As a busy working mom, I realized that making it to my favorite studio classes had become seemingly impossible. When I searched online for more accessible and practical workouts, I was disappointed in the quality and lack of motivation that existed. Hence the inspiration behind FitOn.”

Once you have your idea it’ll be time to do some research. You want to research your general market, and designate your target audience. When researching your market you want to think about it in relation to your product/idea. Does it reach a broad enough audience? Is your intended market large enough to sustain the business in its entirety? What aspects of your idea should be expanded upon in order to be more relatable and usable to the general public? You also want to think about how you’re going to market yourself and sell your product; obviously this all depends on the specifics of your idea.

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Will it be exclusively online or do you want a storefront to start off? Either way, definitely make a professional website for the business to make it easily accessible to anyone. Additionally, having an online presence can include making your business multiple social media accounts; this way, your business is more likely to reach that broader audience you need. 

Before you dive fully into your idea, it’s good to get some honest feedback, validation, and tips from others on how you plan on running your business  and the product itself. Create focus groups or online forum boards in which you can present your idea to friends, family members, or even complete strangers. Consumer feedback is so important, especially when it comes to a business that you’re starting from the ground up. Your audience is your customers, so it’s important to appease to their wants.

Once you have your feedback, it’s time to take this coffee table idea you made with your drinking buddies and turn it into a reality. Running a business is no easy feat, so take your time to make sure you’re jumping through all the right hoops and crossing your T’s and dotting your I’s. Believe in your idea and have some faith that you will be able to retire early on a beach in Miami when the business finally does take off. Robert Herjavec, star investor on the show Shark Tank, recently gave Business Insider some of the best advice he’s received regarding starting a business:

“You have to have a senseless belief in your idea and yourself—almost to the point of being delusional. Remember that everyone has advice, but no one knows what you have to go through to start, grow and scale a business until they live it. Talk is cheap, but action speaks volumes.”