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These five eye-catching natural stones will make for an unforgettable living space.Amazonite Extra GraniteWith shades of teal and gray infused with white crystals, this makes a design statement in any room.Pink OnyxSwirls of pink and white make this mesmerizing surface feel simultaneously relaxing and energizing.Nero Antico MarbleThe contrast of black and white Nero Antico marble gives your home a sleek and modern feel.Fusion Wow QuartziteA range of colors including shades of gold, orange, blue and peach make it one of the most unique stones around.Earth Glitter GraniteBlack with shimmering swirls of gray, pink and orange, this stone brings a room to life with its stunning appearance.Published with permission from RISMedia.
While world peace is a great idea, if you want to add a touch of calm to your life, begin with your bedroom. Your room isn’t merely the place to rest your head, it’s where you wake, and the vibe of your room can set the tone for the rest of your day. Below are five tips for bringing a peaceful vibe to your bedroom.Choose calming colors. While red or orange may be your favorite fiery hue, when picking shades for your room, choose soothing, calm colors like light blue or a gentle gray.Pick minimal patterns. Keep the fun, funky patterns for the living room throw pillows. Busy patterns can make us feel crowded and overwhelmed, so minimize zany patterns in your sleep space.Clear the room of clutter. Create a sanctuary in your bedroom by keeping it clear of clutter, from laundry to oversized furniture. Spend a few minutes before bed each day storing any items you pulled out, close the closet doors, put the books back on the shelves and dive into bed with a clear head and space.Bring in nature. Houseplants can boost mood and pump more oxygen into the room. Choose a few easy-to-care for plants, like a fern or a ficus, and place them where you can see them when you wake.Select the right lighting. While blackout shades can be great for blocking disruptive light, it can also negatively impact your sleep patterns by keeping your body from waking at its natural time. Find a set of blackout curtains that filter light but allow you to wake in the morning naturally.Published with permission from RISMedia.
These days, we’ve all got busy schedules. From work to family and social commitments, it can be hard to fit in everything. Here’s where time management can help. Consider the following tips to tick more off your to-do list, daily.Time block. Time blocking is one of the No. 1 metrics of successful time management, and it can make larger tasks feel less overwhelming. Each night before bed, look at your next day’s to-dos and chunk off sections of time for each project, from cleaning the house to tackling paperwork. Unsure how much time? Aim for 1 – 3 hours to avoid mental exhaustion.Schedule the hard stuff first. To slay procrastination, schedule the things you’d prefer not to do, first. Getting the difficult or least-liked items done first will help you feel more productive.Reward yourself. Sprinkle in 15 – 30 reward breaks throughout the day, like walking with the dog, reading a chapter of a book or calling a friend.Be kind. Regardless of how diligently you planned to follow your daily schedule, sometimes things happen. A headache, family emergency or a task that proves more difficult than you expected. Even a terrible night’s sleep can throw off your flow. If this happens, be kind to yourself, pat yourself on the back for what you did manage to accomplish and promise to catch up tomorrow.Published with permission from RISMedia.
If you want the best possible mortgage loan, youll need a good credit score.Try increasing your score with these simple steps:Pay all your bills on time. Late or missed payments can impact your score for years.Pay off debt and keep credit card balances low to improve your credit utilization ratio.Dont close unused credit cards, so long as theyre not costing you annual fees.To avoid too many damaging hard inquiries on your credit report, dont apply for new credit unless you need it.Check your credit reports at all three major bureaus – TransUnion, Equifax and Experian – and dispute inaccuracies that could drag your score down.And remember boosting your score requires time and discipline.Published with permission from RISMedia.
Raising a family means dealing with laundry, cooking, cleaning and other chores. Parents often feel overwhelmed and struggle to get their kids to help out, but it doesn’t need to be that way.Start Early Young kids have a natural desire to spend time with their family members and to participate in activities. If your children want to help, find things they can do to contribute in a meaningful way. Letting kids dry dishes or put clothes in the washer can make them feel important, provide a sense of accomplishment and promote teamwork. Allowing a toddler to help might require more time or might initially lead to more of a mess, but that is how kids learn.Set a Positive ExampleLet your children see you doing chores. Kids learn a lot by observing others. You might think that your child has no idea how to sweep the floor, but after watching you do it several times, he or she might do a surprisingly good job if given the chance.Encourage collaboration as much as possible. If you need to vacuum, ask your children to help you pick up any toys from the floor first. If laundry needs to be folded, get your kids to help fold everyone’s clothes, not just their own.Create a Routine, but Make It InterestingSet aside a time every day for all family members to do chores. One child will be less likely to complain about vacuuming if his or her siblings are folding laundry or taking out the trash. Having a designated time for chores can also help children accept them as a regular part of everyday family life. Remind your kids that they can watch TV or play video games after they have finished their tasks.Make chore time fun. Play upbeat music and sing and dance while working. Let your kids choose the playlist and take turns serving as “DJ.”Trying a variety of chores can help your kids take on more responsibility and understand how the household operates. If a child enjoys washing dishes, let him or her wipe the counters or sweep the floor. If a child likes to feed the dog and is strong enough, let him or her help walk the pet. A child who likes to put laundry in the washer and dryer can learn to fold clothes.Treat Kids as Valuable ContributorsAllow your children to help with chores in whatever way they can as early as possible. If your kids feel that they are contributing and appreciated, and chores are treated as a normal part of life, the entire family can work together and avoid conflict.Published with permission from RISMedia.
Published with permission from RISMedia.
Want to quit smoking tobacco? Theres good reason to. Quitting smoking reduces your risk of cancer, heart disease and other illnesses. And let’s face it: Smoking is expensive, so kicking the habit can also save you a lot of cash.Although quitting an addiction is inherently difficult and may take several tries, its not impossible. In fact, millions of people have successfully stopped smoking, and with hard work and the right strategies, you could become one of them. Try the following tips from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to help you quit smoking:Get Ready to QuitIf you want to quit smoking, try to get motivated. Make a list of your reasons to quit, and write a contract to yourself that outlines your plan. You could either slowly limit how much you smoke before quitting fully or quit all at once by going cold turkey. Use the method that works best for you.Determine what triggers you to smoke. For example, do you smoke after a meal, while driving or when you’re stressed? Develop a strategy to handle each trigger. If you’ve tried to quit smoking before, think about those attempts. What helped you during that time, and what made it harder?Seek SupportSet a quit date, and let those close to you know about it. Ask your family and friends for support in your effort to quit smoking. You can also get support from hotlines and websites, such as 1-800-QUIT-NOW and smokefree.gov.Try Medicine and Use It CorrectlyTalk with your doctor and pharmacist about medicines and over-the-counter products that have been shown to help many people quit smoking. You can buy nicotine gum, patches and lozenges from a drug store, and other helpful medicines are available by prescription.Learn New Skills and BehaviorsTry new activities to replace smoking. For example, instead of smoking after a meal, take a brisk walk in your neighborhood or around your office building. Take up knitting, carpentry or other hobbies and activities that keep your hands busy, and try to be physically active regularly.Try to avoid smokers, and ask those you can’t avoid to respect your efforts to quit and not smoke around you. Remove cigarettes, ashtrays and lighters from your home, office and car, and try to avoid drinking alcohol, which makes people more likely to start smoking again after quitting.Prepare for WithdrawalWithdrawals can be challenging, but keep in mind that symptoms often lessen after only one or two weeks of not smoking. If you feel like smoking, wait a few minutes for the urge to pass, and remind yourself of the benefits of quitting.Although many smokers gain weight after they quit, the average gain is 10 pounds or less. You can control this side effect by following a heart-healthy eating plan and being physically active. Remember the bright side: Food smells and tastes better if you dont smoke.Dont Give UpIf you relapse and start smoking again, dont get frustrated or discouraged. Most smokers make repeated attempts to quit before complete success. Accept that you slipped, learn from the experience and recommit to quitting smoking. Set a new quit date, and try again.Published with permission from RISMedia.
Its important to consider your lifestyle and living situation before bringing a dog into your home.Here are four breeds that are suited for city life!French BulldogA daily walk is enough exercise to keep them happy and healthy. French bulldogs will be perfectly content just lounging by your side.Bichon FriseThis hypoallergenic toy-sized breed is great with children and loves to play games to expend their energy.Yorkshire TerrierThese little pooches love to play inside and enjoy walks around town.BoxerBoxers are perfectly happy living in an apartment; they just need enough exercise. Spend at least an hour with your new jogging partner, and theyll be content.Published with permission from RISMedia.
When it's time to move, you need someone who markets your home, knows how to find the right buyer, negotiate on your behalf, oversee the inspections, handle all necessary paperwork and supervise the closing. We take care of everything you need buy or sell your Scottsdale home, from start to close.
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