Listicle How To Stay Sane And Productive Working From Home: Campaign Monitor Review 9:47 PM I work online. Social media management, content and copywriting are my main focus. As of this writing, I also have wedding plans to do and house duties which include taking care of our 17 dogs. All these resulted to me sacrificing my time blogging. I used to actively engage with subscribers and followers. Now I can barely post. Not complaining! My life has beautiful plot twists. But I know that I must put time and effort in maintaining my relationship with my faithful blog family as this is the main reason why I started to work from home. But how do I stay on top of things without going crazy? How to stay sane and productive working from home? Here's my Campaign Monitor review and other tips I'd like to share based from my experience. How to Stay Sane and Productive Working from Home 1. Keep your environment conducive to working. I used to work in the bedroom. Big mistake! Your bedroom is a place for resting, not for working. As much as possible (and please make it possible), do not work in your bedroom. Although you're working from home, keep "home" separate from work. You'll see your bed and that will give you the feeling of wanting to "lie down for just a minute" and be comfortable. That's procrastination waiting to happen. That will result to projects delayed and tasks half-done. If you want to stay productive while working from home, don't work in your bedroom. 2. Keep distractions away. What distracts you from focusing on your task? For me that's my phone. Sometimes the dogs asking for neck scratch too. Dog owners know the struggle. Put your phone away or turn to Airplane mode. There are also productivity apps you can download. For your dogs, establish a routine. Give them treats before you start working or after. Whatever works for your pooch. Don't let them in your working area if they get too hyper or needy. Personally, I find it helpful if I feed them first or play with them before working because by then they're full and tired and they would just want to sleep under the table or beside me. 3. Have a routine. I'm lucky have clients who let me work anytime I want as long as I finish the hours we agreed on. I choose to work as early as I can so I can work some extra or run personal errands and end the day early too. Establish a routine around your schedule like going to an office. Have breakfast, check emails, decide on which task to work on first, have a break and allow yourself to rest. Campaign Monitor Review 4. Schedule ahead of time. I'm thankful that there are apps and tools that allow me to schedule ahead of time. I can schedule social media posts and emails. Recently, I've come across Campaign Monitor. What I like about Campaign Monitor It is easy to use. Signing up is uncomplicated. If you're new to email campaign, there is a short tutorial video that shows you a quick overview of how to start and monitor your emails after sending. They have professional looking email designs ready to use and easy to customize. They have pricing plans to suit your budget. You know they have the best intention for your business and subscribers because before you can send a campaign, you will be required to verify your subscribers list. You just need to answer how you obtained your list and how often you email them. But that leads me to what I don't like about this tool... What I don't like about Campaign Monitor I have answered the questions so I can set up my email marketing but I didn't get a reply. It takes forever for their support team to respond. I've messaged many times about my concern but still hasn't received any feedback. Based on my experience, I'm giving Campaign Monitor 3.5 stars. 5. Step away. Take a few minutes to step away from your desk. When work is getting too much, when I encounter some good old writer's block, I find it helpful to take a few minutes away from my laptop. What do I do? Take a shower. My best ideas for some reason come to me while I'm in the shower. Amazing how many articles I've finished writing in my head while enjoying a cool bath. Snack. I don't just snack on any food because food affects the way you think and feel. So you also have to be mindful about what you're putting inside your body. Read a few pages on whatever book I have my hands on. Watch funny videos or vegan cooking videos. Play with the dogs. When you remove work-related thoughts in your head, you find yourself ready for more ideas to come in. 6. Take vacations. Vacation does not need to be grand. You don't have to book a flight to Bora Bora or Maldives. Mini-vacations could be great and helpful. How does being away from work help you achieve more at work? Your brain needs to reboot. Your body needs to rest. Your soul needs to recharge. A healthy, calm body, mind and a soul at peace make you productive. Vacations help you stay sane because stress from work can drive you crazy. How about you? How do you stay sane and productive working from home? What is the email campaign tool you use? Please share with me in the comment! Note: I have received compensation for this review but all opinions are my own.
Home 7 Budget-Friendly Interior Design Ideas 4:36 PM You don't need to look far for budget-friendly interior design ideas. You can simply make a slight adjustment here and there to elevate the aesthetics of your space. There are many benefits when you hire an interior designer. It can save you time and money because it'll help you avoid making interior design mistakes.There's nothing better than getting a professional like Helen Coulston to help take your home interior to the next level. But if you're looking for some of the best and most budget-friendly interior design ideas, here are seven we recommend. 1. Paint an accent wall Not everyone has the time to paint an entire room. Repainting could be costly too. Save on paint and labor by painting a single accent wall. Choose a color that goes with your home's color scheme. Get bold! Many of the best interior design professionals do this to make an impression. 2. Coordinate with new fabrics Fabrics play a significant role in the overall aesthetic of your space. You can create a new color palette or mood by changing your fabrics. Décor Aid designers suggest looking at things like your area rug and throw pillows to determine a new color scheme, pattern, or accent color. You can adjust window treatments and lampshades, and even incorporate new pieces with complementary shades, like an ottoman or pouf. The best trends in interior design NYC style will prove how well this works. These fabrics, working together, will change the look of your current interior decorations and transform your home. 3. Install unique statement shelving. Blank walls can be stale and uninspiring. Fill them with something both aesthetic and functional. Shelving is an excellent choice for this. You can display books, photos, and knickknacks on a shelf. Installing shelving with a unique or quirky design. For example, add one with more angular pieces, a dimensional base, or multi-level shelving. It could be a conversation piece. 4. Repaint wooden pieces. Wood is easy to paint and revamp. Bring a pop of color to a bleak space by repainting your wood furniture in a striking primary color like red or yellow if you like This is one of the most cost-effective interior design ideas that can bring an eclectic, mismatched look and breathe new life into your home. 5. Add some greenery.Adding indoor plants is one of the best, freshest, and most accessible interior design ideas.Whether your style is high-end luxury, handmade and bohemian, or somewhere in between, there is a plant that will suit the space.Plants and flowers add a pop of color to a room, keep the place cool, and help uplift your mood. 6. Include a statement headboard. A headboard is a piece that can change the entire style of your bedroom. If you want to transform your room, add or change your headboard.Consider tufted headboards, velvet, rounded, geometric, or other unusual designs and make a statement. 7. Refresh your cabinets. Consider changing the color of your cabinets. Add new handles and pulls throughout the cabinetry. Elongated, flat shapes will give an air of sophistication, while rounded and ornate knobs will provide more of a bohemian feel. See what best suits the interior design of your space.Do you want to revamp your space without breaking the bank? Then, follow these seven best budget-friendly interior ideas and transform your home from blah to boom!
Reviews Choosing My Online Wedding Invitation: Paperless Post Review 10:04 PM In case you missed it, I'm getting married soon! It seemed only yesterday when I was enjoying the ups and downs of the single life, wondering if I would ever find the one. It was a long journey, but God has plans far better than I imagined. Fast forward to today, I am stressed out and excited at the same time, planning a small and simple wedding, meeting suppliers, finalizing details, and choosing my online wedding invitation because it's more practical and better for the environment. Why I chose to go digital? Paper wedding invitations are expensive. All suppliers I've contacted both locally and abroad require a minimum of 50 copies. But, again, this is a small wedding. We don't need 50. People will either throw it away or keep it and forget about it afterward. It will only collect dust or add to people's clutter. We want to help the environment and save a tree. Paperless Post Review It was another part of God's beautiful plan that the wonderful people I've worked with before from Anagram Interactive introduced me to this excellent website creating online invitations. What are the chances?! Why I like it Paperless Post is easy to navigate, have expressive and various designs and layouts and even has designer collections (Kate Spade, anyone?). They have invitations for any holiday or event. If you have a finished design, you can upload it, customize and send it to your guests using the platform. You can import Gmail, Yahoo, or AOL mail contacts, create recipient lists, and invite guests. It's fun that I did not only see wedding invitations and RSVPs. They also have thank you cards, a Bridal shower, bachelorette party, and engagement party invitations. With RSVP, you can track who's opened your invitation, who's RSVP'd, and who needs a nudge. So they really have all the cards you need in an online version. Oh, just check their website and see for yourself. They also have friendly customer service so it will be easy for you. Here's the result of me playing around with their Our Big Day design by Crate & Barrel. You can customize the background. For example, I chose these pretty blossoms.Choosing My Online Wedding Invitation I changed the envelope color from yellow to rose gold and the stamp to a gray heart. The lining can also be customized, so I used one that's colorful and dainty. Enter your recipient's name: I enjoyed trying different styles and layouts; I have a few saved on my draft. Note: These are only samples for your reference. The holiday is fast approaching. I'm sure you'll find a card to send your loved ones this season and show your thoughtfulness and creativity even when you're far away---in an efficient and environment-friendly way. How about you? Which do you prefer? Online or paper invitation? Why? Note: I have received compensation for this review, but all opinions are my own.
Travels 3 Australian Cities To Spend An Extraordinary New Year’s Eve 5:31 AM Celebrating New Year’s Eve is probably one of the best things to do under the sun. The most interesting thing is that different people celebrate in different styles. While some prefer preparing cakes, candies, cookies, chocolates and mouthwatering delicacies for their loves ones at home, others prefer celebrating in some outstanding location that would leave them with bags of memories. Well, both are memorable but when you step in a new country to celebrate such a special occasion, you experience new things and come back with wonderful stories. So, if you are in search of one such venue where you can celebrate the best new year’s eve of your life, why not try Australia? No, it’s not because it’s both a country and a continent but most importantly, it has some awesome cities where the celebrations are bound to leave you spellbound. Apart from having smaller cities, Australia has eight capital cities out of which you can aim to visit Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane where the celebration leaves everyone speechless. Therefore, if you are keen about this plan and willing to make a move, eDreams will be there to assist you by all means. So, let’s gather a few facts and know how these three vibrant Australian cities can surprise you with their New Year’s Eve celebrations: Sydney This beautiful city is sure to amaze you with its astounding display of fireworks. Once you reach the Darling Harbour, the nocturnal sky there will keep your eyes still for a few moments. If you are done, move towards the Harbourside, say with your favorite drink, and witness dazzling displays like you had never dreamt of. Just don’t worry about cafes and restaurants as the Darling Harbour is lined with a lot of these. A visit to the Bondi Beach will also be quite memorable while the light shows at Taronga Zoo will keep your little ones happy. Melbourne What’s best about Melbourne is that it would bring you a plethora of locations where you can take short visits and keep celebrating. People usually head to the Docklands, Southbank, Federation Square and CBD. In case you are willing to party hard, visit the suburbs like Richmond, Collingwood, St Kilda, Abbotsford, South Wharf and more. There are exclusive European bars that arrange Hawaiian themed parties where you are surely going to have a blast. Even at 123 Queen Street, entertainment will take a new note with themes of 90s. Brisbane Nothing can beat the magnificence of the 31st night over the Brisbane River that goes illuminated with an out-of-the-world light show. Although the show lasts ten minutes, it’s grand enough to get you goosebumps. To have the best views, move towards the River Quay or the Streets Beach or rather towards Clem Jones Promenade. Don’t worry about the routes as eDreams will be your tour guide and would give you the best possible suggestions for a nice and pleasant journey. Enjoy and All the Best!! If you like this blog post about life and love, please share the article using the social media buttons below or on the left. Thanks!
How-To How To Spring Clean Your Life In 2019 1:23 PM It's time for spring cleaning - not just our homes but our lives. Rather than focusing on New Year’s resolutions you know you will never stick to, take a more proactive approach to improve your life, from self-improvement to decluttering your stuff. If you want to ensure next year is one to remember, learn how to spring-clean your life in 2019. 1. Review Your Finances & Start SavingAfter many months of hard work, do you have little money in the bank? Provide yourself with more financial security in 2019 by reviewing your budget. For example, compare your outgoings against your income to identify where you are wasting your revenue. You should also open a savings account to develop a rainy-day fund to enjoy financial security throughout the year. 2. Spruce Up Your Credit History Speaking of your finances, have you got a poor credit history? If so, this could prevent you from securing a mortgage or car loan. However, it is possible to dispute a report to repair your credit. Crediful specializes in helping people take control of their finances, so you should read their review on a popular credit repair company that could help you to receive the keys to your own property or car in 2019. 3. Alter Your Attitude A negative attitude can affect your day. Give yourself a fresh start by developing a more positive mindset. Whenever you have a pessimistic thought, counteract it with a positive affirmation. It might also be helpful to undertake cognitive behavioural therapy to effectively manage your emotions and problems, as it can change how you think and behave. 4. Remove Physical Clutter Clear your mind by clearing your home of physical clutter. Take the time to remove items, simply collecting dust in your home. This means finally tackling your junk drawer, pulling unwanted items out of an attic, or purging your rooms of items taking up unnecessary floor space in the home. It will help create a light, airy, and bigger home. 5. Automate Your Bills Take a little stress out of your life by automating your bills, as you’ll simply need to make sure there is enough money in an account to cover your outgoings each month. You also can streamline your payments by ensuring your bills leave the same account to make it easier to track your payments. 6. Get Real About Your Career As your career will take up most of your time, it must make you happy. Ask yourself if you’re in the right job or if something bigger and better is waiting for you. Maybe you are settling as you’re too afraid to step outside your comfort zone. If so, there is no time like the present to take your career into your own hands, so change jobs, expand on your qualifications, or identify the different ways you can climb the corporate ladder. 7. Start Clearing Your Debts If you want to live a happier, more peaceful life, embrace a debt-free lifestyle. Like decluttering your home, getting rid of your debts can make you much happier. Aim to pay off your credit cards or make bigger loan repayments so that you will free up your finances in the future. You can then focus on spending the money on home improvement tasks, a dream vacation, or a large nest egg. 8. Say Goodbye to Toxic Friends While it might not be easy to say goodbye to friends you’ve known for many years, you need to remove them from your life if they pull you down instead of building you up. While you might feel connected to them due to the time you’ve known them or the journey you have gone on together, you cannot keep them in your life simply for nostalgia. If someone treats you badly, they’re not your friend. 9. Make a To-Do List Do you struggle with organization? Do you constantly miss deadlines or fail to identify your priorities? If so, consider making to-do lists to perform every essential task on schedule. Whether juggling multiple tasks at work or wanting to complete projects within the home, make a list that will break down the tasks by priority, day, or concern, which can simplify your life.
Travels 5 Places To Visit For Your Family Vacation In France 7:00 PM Charles de Gaulle, the former French President, rightly said, “France cannot be France without greatness.” Boasting of incredible destinations, unmatched culture, thrilling nightlife, and fine dining, France today allures over eighty million tourists on an annual basis. Holidaymakers from all over the globe take utmost pleasure in exploring the sizzling cities of this nation that is steeped in deep history. The majority of the cities are dotted with magnificent palaces, cathedrals and ancient castles that make France stand out in terms of architecture and aristocracy. This European country, in other words, is that ideal paradise where you will love to take your near ones, especially your family. Being the third largest country in the world, France has plenty of beautiful cities for a super holiday that can now be exclusively arranged by Opodo. Here are 5 great cities that will surely make a family vacation of a lifetime. Take a look: 1. Paris The capital city has to be on the list as it is also the most populous one with plenty of remarkable things to witness. To top the charts is the Eiffel Tower followed by the Louvre Museum, the Sacre-Coeur, and the Arc de Triomphe. Well, if it’s not the first time for you, head to Denfert-Rochereau, the Place de la Nation, the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Marais where you can keep a bit of distance from the crowd. Besides, you can take your family to let them witness around 6,600 sculptures at the Musee Rodin. The Seine Cruise, on the other hand, will be quite enjoyable as it would take you past the famous landmarks, making way to the English Channel. Don’t forget to take your kids to Disneyland Paris where they will enjoy taking spectacular rides. 2. Lyon Rested in east-central France, Lyon is the third largest city that boasts of a long history and attracts tourists to witness its vibrant culture and historic architecture. Do not miss exploring its various districts like the Presquile that is surrounded with bars and restaurants, the Croix-Rousse that is known for its secret passageways while Fourviere will leave you spellbound with its Gothic churches and Roman ruins. The Lyon Cathedral and its astronomical clock of the 14th century too is sure to grab your attention. 3. Strasbourg This is one amazing place in France where you will discover beauty in its art and architecture, food, fashion and even in its language. As it is located along the Rhine River, it has a fine blend of German and French cultures. Moreover, what the ladies would love here is shopping from the range of Alsatian textiles, stork-shaped souvenirs, cookware and what not. Pick up those exclusive gift boxes, candies, and cookies from those little shops to leave your little ones delighted. 4. Corsica Who doesn’t want to witness the birthplace of the great Napoleon? Ajaccio, the capital of Corsica, takes pride in having places in the name of this German legend, especially the Bonaparte House Museum. Besides, water activities are plenty here as a lot of tourists spend weekends here kayaking, surfing, water skiing etc. 5. Marseilles If you are keen to witness the amalgamation of African and French culture, this is the city for you. The beaches here too deserve mention like Plage de Prado, which is quite wide and open for kids who can find climbing walls and playgrounds as well. Of course, the historic museums like the Art Museum and the Natural Art Museum will accumulate memories for the art lovers. The unmatched Mediterranean food keeps calling back tourists every year while young graduates love choosing this French city for weekend evening parties. If you are willing to explore these cities or other any other location in France with your family and friends, Opodo will assist you without any hassle. Grab this opportunity now and you never know this can be your dream vacation you have been waiting for!! If you like this blog post about life and love, please share the article using the social media buttons below or on the left. Thanks!
Food 4 Ways To Make The Most Of A Farmers Market 7:00 AM Farmers markets across the United States enable local farmers to sell fruit, vegetables, and more directly to consumers. Each farmers market has its own individual character, letting you really experience an area, its food, and its people. Incorporating a visit to a local area farmers market can be a great way to enhance your next vacation. Here are four ways you can make the most out of your own visit to a farmers market, both at home and on your travels. 4 Ways To Make The Most Of A Farmers Market Purchase Fresh Seasonal Produce Image via Flickr by katerha You haven't really tasted a tomato unless you've had one fresh from the vine! Grocery-store produce pales in comparison to the fresh, seasonal bounty you can buy at a local farmers market. Top restaurants often pick up produce at their local markets, because the main secret to a great meal lies in using quality ingredients. You deserve the same from your own kitchen and while traveling — why settle for chain dining or typical road-trip snacks when a stop at a nearby farmers market can set you up with seasonal local produce to enjoy on the road? Travel to Different Farmers Markets You can have so much fun visiting different farmers markets during your travels across the U.S.! Check out different seasonal produce across the country, and enjoy the different character of each market. Whether you're enjoying fresh produce from the historic downtown Roanoke Farmers Market (Saturdays through September!) or the weekend markets in downtown Sacramento, visiting a local market enables you to get a real feel for the character and food of a given area. When weaving a visit to a farmers market into your travels, be sure to get a hotel nearby so you can easily plan a stop at the market along with your visits to other area attractions and events. Try New Produce One of the best ways to make the most out of any visit to a farmers market is to try produce that might be new to you or that you might otherwise avoid. Learn to enjoy produce in season, and appreciate it more precisely because it is fleeting. You might think you don't care for a particular vegetable, but you may never have had the chance to taste it at its peak freshness. Farmers markets help us learn what's in season and learn how to eat locally year-round. Talk With the Producers Farmers markets offer a unique opportunity to get to know the people who are growing the produce you're about to consume. They can tell you about how it was grown, give you tips on how to prepare your purchases, and guide you to the fruits and vegetables you're most likely to enjoy. At home, become a regular and get to know your local farmers. On the road, talks with local producers can be a great addition to your travel experience. Farmers markets let you eat seasonally and help create personal connections with the people growing your food. Be sure to build in a visit to the local farmers market at your next travel destination. If you like this blog post about life and love, please share the article using the social media buttons below or on the left. Thanks!
