Lilac City Momma

Lynn

Time for a Spring Clean: Wardrobe Edition

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Spring cleaning is good for the home, and it’s good for the soul. When the area you are cleaning out is your wardrobe, however, it’s good for your sense of style as well. Far too often we hoard old clothes that don’t fit us or that we don’t wear ever. Doing so bulks up our closets, and yet can actually make you feel like you have nothing to wear. You need to clean thoroughly and gut your wardrobe so that you can get to the diamonds in the rough, and so that you can make smart shopping decisions in the future.

How You Know You Need to De-Clutter Your Closet

Not every spring warrants a full clear out of your closet, but you should consider doing one if:

You Never Feel Like You Have Anything to Wear

This is a huge sign you need to audit your wardrobe. Having plenty of options and not feeling like wearing any of them is not a good sign. Clear out what you don’t wear to make room for the items you love.

You Have Clothes That Don’t Fit

If you have something that doesn’t fit and hasn’t fit for years, get rid of it! It doesn’t matter if that is your goal weight and you are keeping it around for “motivation.” This strategy is toxic and not helpful, and it clutters up your wardrobe.

Your Wardrobe is a Mess

Having a well-organized wardrobe brings peace of mind and the ability to see all your options easily.

Steps to De-Cluttering

If you have decided it is time to de-clutter your wardrobe, you will want to:

  1. Take Everything Out
  2. Sort Through What You Have
  3. Organize Your Closet with Your Keeps
  4. Donate, Sell, or Recycle the Rest

What to Look for When Buying New

When buying new, you want to choose clothes that suit your body type and shape, invest in quality fabrics, and know what pieces will be the most versatile in your wardrobe:

Choose Clothes That Flatter Your Body Best

The online world has given women of all sizes the ability to shop for great clothes that suit their needs. From ethical fashion to plus size fashion, the best place to search for your next great wardrobe staple is online. For curvy women, for example, you can find great options from every day to wedding-appropriate online at Froxx.co.uk. Even if you can’t go in store to try things on, you can call them or email them with a purchase request and have it delivered right to your door.

Know About Fabrics and What They’re Good For

Learn the basics about the most popular fabrics that are in use today, and if you come across something new, look it up before you buy. Some materials are terrible for summer months, others are bad for winter, and some are just unwise all year round. By knowing your fabrics, you can make future purchases work better for your lifestyle.

Be Creative When it Comes to Styling

By choosing clothes that work together, you open up styling opportunities. This way you can be more creative with your options and express yourself more fully than ever before.

 

How To Talk To Your Children About Drugs and Alcohol

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Being a mother or a father is stressful. It can be very hard to keep up with the dangers and risks kids face every day in order to try and protect them. Nowadays, children are more exposed to drugs than ever. They see them on t.v or in the movies, where they are often portrayed as normal, or even fun. There is not enough talk about how drug addiction is a disease, and that far from being cool it is actually very dangerous. Studies show that 78% of US teenagers have tried alcohol, and over 42% have used illicit drugs. Many years ago, I was one of those teenagers.

I started drinking alcohol when I was just a child, only 9 years old. Then, I became acquainted with drugs at 13. At first it was marijuana, but soon enough I was consuming more hardcore drugs. Even though there were some pretty evident changes in my behavior, it wasn’t until I was years into drug abuse that my family talked to me about drugs or alcohol. It was a big taboo back then, and my parents were scared about how to deal with it. I don’t blame them for my addiction. They did the best they could with what they had. But now that I am 10 years sober I realize the importance of talking to kids about drugs from a young age. It can make a big difference in preventing them from being in a dangerous situation.

It is important to give your children the right information regarding delicate topics such as this one. Talking openly to them about drugs and alcohol can help build trust between you and they will feel more comfortable coming to you if they have any questions. If you’re planning on having the “drug talk” with your children, take a look at these tips on how to do it the best way.

Do Some Research

The first step before talking to your children about drugs is to educate yourself on the matter. Do some research about different types of drugs and their effects on the mind and the body. You can’t tell your children that drugs and alcohol are dangerous if you don’t know why. Understanding the differences between each type of drug, what they look like, the consequences it may bring, etc, you’ll be prepared in case your kids have any questions.

After stating the facts about these substances, it is important to be clear on your personal view of drugs. Explain why you think they should not use illegal drugs, why you think this would be irresponsible behavior and discuss the harms drugs can cause. Avoid scare tactics like telling them that “marijuana will kill you”. It will be more effective to discuss drugs realistically and share actual facts with them.

Keep it Age Appropriate

An important factor you should take into consideration when talking to your children about drugs and alcohol is their age. The way you approach them and the terms you will use will vary depending on how old they are.

Ages 4 to 7

This is the age when you start teaching them about the importance of self-care. Talking to them about nutrition and personal hygiene can lead to the topic of drugs and other behaviors that can be bad for them. For example, when you give them a vitamin you can explain to them that it is important to take it because it makes them healthier and stronger. But also tell them that they should only take what you give to them because there are other drugs that can harm them. If they get curious about any medicine you take, explain that you should only take medicines that have your name on them or that your doctor has chosen for you. If you take medicine that doesn’t belong to you, it can make you sick.

Ages 8 to 12

This is an age in which kids tend to give their friend’s opinion a lot of importance. It is also the time when they start questioning their parent’s views and decisions. A good way to start the conversation is to ask them what they think about drugs and alcohol in a nonjudgmental way. Show them that you value their opinions and that you are open to any questions. If they have false information about drugs, gently give them the correct facts. Explain that it is easy to come across wrong information, but they can always check with you. Starting a dialogue with your children at this age helps keep the door open as they get older, more curious about the world and less inclined to share their thoughts with their parents.

Ages 13 and Up

Adolescence can be a difficult time to communicate with your children, but it is the most crucial time to do so. Kids this age are likely to know other kids who use alcohol or drugs, so you have to be prepared to answer more specific questions about these substances. Try to understand your kid’s feelings about drugs, but also use these conversations to explain the dangers and legal issues of consuming these substances. Be straightforward about your expectations of them and how you want them to behave in situations that involve alcohol and drugs. Let them know that your main concern is their well-being and that you are always available to talk about any questions or thoughts they may have regarding this topic.

Talking to your children about drugs from a young age can help them make better decisions throughout their life. When I was growing up I didn’t have access to any reliable information regarding this topic, and maybe if I had I wouldn’t have struggled with addiction all those years. If you don’t talk to them about drugs and alcohol today, you may have to talk to them about drug and alcohol detox and recovery tomorrow. And, trust me, if there’s anything you can do to avoid that, you should.

Do you know any other tips about how to talk to kids about drugs and alcohol? If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment below.

 

How to Entice People to Sign Up to Your Newsletter

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One of the things that you will realize as an email marketer is that people are not always willing to give up their email addresses. There was a time when people are willing to exchange email addresses with you simply because they know that their emails are just used for fun. Emails have definitely changed over the past decades.

There are a lot of people who use email addresses for business purposes. People now guard their emails as much as they can. It has been said that people would like to avoid getting emails from companies that they do not trust. If you get people to give out their email addresses to you, this is a sign that you have done something right. With the right approach, you can steadily build up the email list.

If you want to know more about how you can acquire email addresses, this is one link that you can check. Emma provides information not only for emails but for marketing in general. You will have a lot of fun learning new information in words that you can easily understand.

These are some of the things that you can do to make people want to sign up:

  • You have to become clear about the things that you can offer to your subscribers. People do not want to subscribe and not get anything good in return. What if you would offer a discount coupon or you will provide a private sale? If you would deliver, you can expect that your subscribers will let other people know about it.
  • If you already have an audience because of the content that you have created, you can get people to subscribe to you. Ask them to subscribe and it will be their choice if they truly want to sign up or not.
  • Make sure that your sign up form can be easily seen within your website. There are a lot of business owners who wonder why there aren’t any people who subscribe to their newsletter. The moment that their websites are checked, the newsletter can barely be found. Always check this to be sure.

Do you think you are ready to make people sign up to your newsletter soon?

 

The Prettiest Places to Visit in England

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If you are planning to visit England in 2019, you would be smart to look beyond its capital city of London. If you love the idea of viewing rolling green hills, exploring quaint villages, and snapping photographs of historic architecture, you need to look beyond the big cities and immerse yourself in rural England.

To breathe in picturesque views, charming buildings, and diverse landscapes, here are the prettiest places to visit in England. Such locations are filled with English charm and unwavering beauty.

The Lake District, Cumbria

The Lake District has recently been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status due to its natural beauty. It is the ultimate destination for those wanting to experience the beautiful countryside that is so synonymous with England, as it is home to many tranquil bodies of water, tiny villages, charming country pubs, and breathtaking mountain ranges.

The Cotswolds

It is hard to believe the Cotswolds is as little as two hours’ drive away from bustling London. It was declared as an Area of Outstanding Beauty half a century ago, and it will be easy to see why once you arrive, as it features honey-colored towns and villages that will make you fall in love with England. You easily could spend many a week here, too, as the Cotswolds covers approximately 800 square miles across the following five counties:

  • Wiltshire
  • Gloucestershire
  • Warwickshire
  • Oxfordshire
  • Worcestershire

Highlights include the Highgrove Estate, the private residence of the Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, which is open to the public. You also shouldn’t miss Corsham Court, which is a former royal manor that offers stunning gardens that were designed by Capability Brown, a notable English landscape architect.

Surrey

Offering beautiful landscaped gardens, ruined medieval monasteries, and historic Tudor properties, you would be hard pressed to find a better county to visit than Surrey, which is full to the brim with picture-perfect market towns, such as Godalming, Farnham, and Guildford.

There are also many superb attractions you will not want to miss in the county. For example, top of your to-do list should be the town of Weybridge. Not only does it offer superb views of the River Thames, but it is also home to Thorpe Park Resort, Brooklands Museum, and the beautiful Bushy Park. Plus, those looking for a great British pub should drop into The Flintgate, which allows visitors to sample a variety of real ales, real ciders and keg beers from some of the best independent breweries in the UK.

Cambridge

One beautiful destination you will not want to overlook during a visit to England is Cambridge, which dates back to 1209. Once you arrive in the university city, you should climb the tower at the Church of St Mary the Great, which will offer spectacular vistas over the city.

Every tourist must also explore Kings College and its beautiful chapel, which still features graffiti from Oliver Cromwell’s army. You also can view a large wooden screen, which was a gift from Henry VIII to his second wife, Anne Boleyn.

Take the Stress Out of Party Planning

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Twenty Three Layers is one of the top personal and corporate event planners in NYC. The company was founded by Jessica Boskoff, and it is her unique vision that set their events apart. Whether the event is for thousands or just a few people, Twenty Three Layers will create a unique occasion. Part of the reason for its success is that it follows some basic principles that will lead to a stress free and successful event. There are several key elements to keep in mind when planning a party no matter how big or small it is.

One key is to have planning down to the last detail. Nothing should come as a surprise, as everything has been thought out well in advance. Food and drink lists, guest lists, and the timing of the entire event should be planned with exceptional care and attention. Part of that planning should be to have a theme of a party. It can be as simple as a Christmas theme if it is a Christmas party. Parties with a well thought out theme can really make them stand out.

It is fine to send out e-invites, but a classy party should send out traditional mailed invites. They add a touch of refinement. The invites can be as fun as you want but having them mailed is a nice touch. It is fun for people to make their own drinks, so various beverages and mixers can be made available. It is a nice place for people to converse and have a fun time. One drink that can be prepared in advance is a unique cocktail that has been made just for the party.

Food can be served various ways, but one nice way is to have food trays moving around the party. It means people can move around, and there is always something available. It might be nice to have kids in their own sections to eat and play. It will allow the others at the party to relax with other grown-ups. If there is a sit-down meal, the servings can match the theme, or they can be nice and simple. Part of the art of planning means the host or hostess can leave themselves lots of time to be ready for the start of the party. A relaxed host will mean relaxed party-goers.

A nice touch is to give the guests party favors as they leave. They do not have to be expensive or fancy, but they will be a great thing for your guests at the end of the event. It is by following these tips that Twenty Three Layers has become one of the most sought after event planning companies in NYC

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