by editor | Sep 16, 2012 | Lifestyle
The ideal living room should really live up to its name and be a living room. After all, this is the only room in most of our houses where the room’s designated purpose is leisure and relaxation. All the other room we use have a purpose which is largely functional. The most functional of all the rooms in the modern house is, of course, the kitchen where we prepare food, wash and clean up after ourselves and usually do a whole lot more like eat, store food and drink, and maybe even entertain occasional guests etc.
Obviously, our bedrooms are highly important as we spend more time here than anywhere else in the house – though most of the time we’re unconscious of course.
Other rooms are generally used for storage and, of course, we eat in our dining rooms. So for most of us in this day and age – we’re left with the appropriately-named living room or lounge to , well…, live and lounge around!
The problem comes when the room isn’t much of a living space but, instead, is rigidly formal and a little boring. Often, the living room furniture people choose is designed to make a room look smart rather than to have fun and relax in. But we can still achieve both these goals with the right furniture choices which are also good fun.
Take the recliner chair, for instance, which is great fun to sit and relax on, but also looks neat and tidy immediately in its non-reclined position. There are many other choices that achieve the same purpose like a smart pouf that fits into the corner of a corner sofa looking perfect when not in use – but affording the whole family the chance to lie down together in front of a good film on a cold winter’s night. The ideal living room is really about living!
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by editor | Sep 16, 2012 | Lifestyle
Sainsbury’s TU Clothing
Introduce ‘Dear Zoo’
Babywear this Autumn
23 Aug 12
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the classic children’s book, Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, a range of gorgeous babywear products will be available in TU at Sainsbury’s this autumn.
The cosy cream coloured neutral babywear features characters from the classic Lift the Flap children’s book and will be in stores from 16th September.
The range, which is completely new for 2012, includes a Sleepsuit and Matching hat set with mini ears detail, £8.50 [aged newborn to 12 months]. There is also a pack of two short sleeved Bodysuits [aged newborn to 12 months] featuring the puppy character from the story, £8.00.
There is a gorgeous 3-piece gift set which includes a pair of booties featuring the monkey character, as well as mitts and cute little hat. All three items come in a cream gift bag [aged newborn to 6 months] £8.00.
To compliment any baby’s nursery, there is a stylish and neutral coloured cream sleeping bag featuring the monkey from the Dear Zoo book as well as a gorgeous repeat-pattern of all the characters from the story. The Sleeping Bag is 2.5 Tog which is perfect for Autumn/Winter nights and is £15.00 [aged newborn to 12 months].
To complete the range there is a pack of two bibs featuring the puppy and other Dear Zoo characters, £5.00.
All products are available from TU at Sainsbury’s from 16th September 2012.
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by editor | Sep 16, 2012 | Lifestyle
Careers4u.tv Helping Students
Make Post-16 Decisions
23 Aug 12
Whatever the GCSE results – good or bad – for the first time thousands of 16 year-olds across the country will be making choices that will influence the rest of their lives. All this is happening at a time when jobs are harder than ever to come by, working lives are likely to be longer, university fees are increasing and one-to-one careers advice is no longer freely available. Whether youngsters chose to stay at school, go to college, get an apprenticeship or find work, their success will depend largely on their attitude.
Celia Middleton, founder of Careers4u.tv, has interviewed hundreds of people in the early stages of their working life and is in no doubt that people who start thinking about their career early have a significant advantage. ‘Once someone has an idea of what they want to do, they are able to work towards that goal. Even if they change direction later on, they will still have gained skills and experience. Motivation is a powerful tool and respected by employers.’ The Careers4u.tv website offers students inspiration and information via videos of young employees, entrepreneurs and apprentices. They volunteer their time because they remember how difficult it can be to find first-hand information and want to help the next generation.
According to Dr Deirdre Hughes, OBE, Chair of the National Careers Council, ‘Young people with better career exploration skills are more positive about their post-16 and post-18 choices. Having access to good quality careers information and advice, especially around exam results time, is crucial.
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by editor | Sep 16, 2012 | Lifestyle
Tippitoes Expands into Travel Systems
22 Aug 12
Tippitoes is delighted to announce the launch of its brand new 3-in-1travel system, Toto which is now available to purchase at www.tippitoes.com with an RRP of £385.
Suitable for use from birth and designed to adapt to parent’s needs as baby grows, the Toto 3-in-1 is the first travel system from leading nursery brand Tippitoes. It has everything you need to ensure getting around with your baby is as hassle-free as possible. Incorporating pushchair, carrycot and car seat functions each option is designed with your baby’s comfort in mind.
Available to buy individually the car sear, carrycot and pushchair are easily converted without the need for adapters. The carrycot and pushchair options are parent facing to encourage development through talking, laughing and interacting. The pushchair can also be used forward facing to allow baby to take in the world around them.
The Toto car seat is a group 0+ baby seat suitable for babies from birth until they reach a maximum weight of 13kg/29lbs (approx 12-15 months). It features an impact absorbing shell with side impact protection to ensure your baby’s safety in the event of a side on collision. The lightweight car seat also features an adjustable five point safety harness, with chest pads and head hugger.
When not in use the complete travel system folds compactly for storage. The Toto travel system features front swivel pneumatic tyres complete with front and back suspension, linked rear brakes and an ergonomic sponge grip handle which ensure a secure and smooth journey for both baby and parent. Other added extras include adjustable hoods and spacious shopping basket.
Available in a stylish black finish complemented by silver piping, the Toto 3-in-1 combines style, safety and quality at an affordable price.
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by editor | Sep 16, 2012 | Lifestyle
Stoop and Drink
There are some things I think I do pretty well. There are others that need improvement and still others that are probably beyond anything I can help. I picked up golf for a while. How hard could it be, I wondered? I soon learned. It didn’t take long before I was consistently shooting in the lower seventies. Pretty much every hole.
Two people actually gave up working with me to improve my game. Which is okay – I have more time now for doing things less frustrating, like solving the problem of world peace.
I heard of a hotel that has a water fountain in the lobby that is operated by an infra-red beam of light. When a thirsty person wants a drink, she simply bends down and the water automatically turns on. There is a sign above the water cooler that reads, “Stoop and drink.”
What a marvelous parable for a life attitude. Stoop and drink. Especially when we have something to learn, when we want to drink from the fountain of knowledge, we may need to stoop and drink.
Like Albert Einstein. He once arrived in London carrying his violin case. After greeting him, an old friend asked, “You still play the violin, Albert?”
The mathematical genius nodded and said, “Yes, but not very well. My teacher says, ‘The trouble with you, Mr. Einstein, is that you can’t count.’”
He knew that he had much to learn if he were to play the violin well. And he was wise enough to know that he would learn better if could approach it with a sense of humility; he had to stoop in order to drink.
Have you ever skied? Even if you’re an adult, if you’ve never attempted downhill skiing you would do well to begin by taking a lesson on the beginner’s slope. Yes, you may be the only person in the group over four feet tall, and you may also be the only one to slide down the slope backward while little people are whizzing by. Believe me, I know. But you’ll never get the hang of it unless you learn the fundamentals. If you stoop to take a lesson or two, you can leave the bunny slope behind forever.
Author Barbara Sher says something interesting about this approach to learning new things. She says that you “can learn new things at any time in your life if you’re willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up to you.”
I think she’s right. I takes some stooping to approach something new like a beginner. But that is the way we learn best — at any age.
Over the years I’ve come to realize that anybody can teach me, if I let them. Young people and old people, the uneducated and the learned — anyone can be a teacher. But not anyone can be a learner. It takes the right kind of attitude to learn. But if I’m able to stoop, I’ll have plenty to drink.
— Steve Goodier
Find Steve Goodier here: http://stevegoodier.blogspot.com/.
Newsletter: http://LifeSupportSystem.com.
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