Category: Holiday
During the holiday season many families will turn to credit cards to finance Christmas expenses. This makes it less stressful to make ends meet, especially during the holidays. Sometimes we don’t even realize how much damage is done until the credit card bills start to arrive in January.
Credit cards are very convenient but have their pitfalls. Credit cards bear very high interest rates, often more than 20% interest and in the case of department store cards up to 30%. Interest is calculated monthly so if you get caught up in a pattern of only making minimum monthly payments, they can take years to pay off. Credit cards that have balances more than 75% of their limits will damage your credit rating/credit score.
The last thing you want to do is go into the next holiday season with credit cards that have balances from the spending you did the past holiday season. The best thing to do if you have accumulated balances on credit cards from holiday spending is to consolidate maxed out credit cards using your home.
There are many reasons why it is a great idea to consolidate maxed out credit cards using your home. Here are just a few:
1.Using your home to consolidate maxed out credit cards will enable you to start the New Year on a fresh foot and with a single monthly payment.
2.Using your home to consolidate maxed out credit cards will increase cash flow because a home equity loan or line of credit will bear a much lesser payment than what you are paying to your credit cards on a monthly basis.
3.Using your home to consolidate maxed out credit cards will reduce the overall interest that you are paying to loans and credit cards. Home equity loan and home equity line of credit interest rates are much less than what you are paying to your individual credit cards.
4.Using your home to consolidate debt will improve your credit because all of your credit card balances will be reduced to zero and the less debt reporting to your credit report, the higher your credit score will be. Also, as we mentioned when credit card balances exceed 75% of your limits, it reduces your credit score and will trigger a message to appear on your credit report that indicates that your credit card balances are too high in proportion to your credit limits.
It is important that if you consolidate your maxed out credit cards using your home equity that you don’t continue to use your credit cards. Put them away and only use a single card and make sure to use the card in denominations that you can afford to pay off in full each month. This will ensure that you don’t find yourself in the future with a new payment on a consolidation loan and paying credit card balances.
Start your New Year off with your finances in order and without the stress of having to pay a windfall of credit bills.
When the winter winds start knocking at your door, it can be challenging to keep your children occupied. The holiday season is a busy time with shopping, decorating, baking and preparing to entertain. There may not always be time for you to sit and enjoy the season, but if you use your creativity you can create valuable holiday memories with your children that will last a lifetime.
Craft supplies offer the perfect opportunity for you to do some holiday multi-tasking. By engaging in holiday crafts with your children, you can spend quality time together while also knocking some important holiday tasks off your to-do list. More importantly, by making homemade cards, gift tags and ornaments, you can save money for more important things.
Holiday Cards
Holiday greeting cards are a staple around every major holiday. Sending warm wishes to the important people in your life is a nice sentiment, but cards, stamps, address labels and finding spare time to fill them out can be nuisance. However, if you turn your greeting cards into a holiday craft project, you can get your kids involved and make the process much more enjoyable.
Craft Supplies:
Cardstock
Embellishments
Glue
Scissors
MarkersHoliday Gift Tags
When giving out your Valentines Day, Christmas or Hanukkah gifts, homemade gift tags can make your presents a little more special. With just a few craft supplies you can create ornamental tags that are ideal for any holiday. Use photographs of your children or let them draw holiday pictures for an even more personalized look.
Craft Supplies:
Cardstock
Ribbon
Embellishments
Glue
Scissors
Photographs
MarkersHoliday Ornaments
When you think of holiday ornaments, you probably think of a Christmas tree. However, you can use ornaments to decorate your home for any holiday. Use green clovers for St. Patricks Day or Fireworks for the Fourth of July. Use any craft supplies you have in your home to create decorations for every holiday that are inexpensive and personal.
Craft Supplies:
Photographs
Popsicle sticks
Close pins
Glue
ScissorsFor even more holiday craft ideas, visit your local craft supplies store and browse the aisles for inspiration!
With trick-or-treating in the bag, people are starting to gear up for the busy holiday season that’s just around the corner. Buying gifts, attending holiday parties and finding that perfect holiday dress are all on the agenda. And while this time of year can be stressful, attending holiday parties and feeling fantastic in your dressy clothes shouldn’t be.
To ensure that you look your absolute best in your holiday party dress, it’s imperative to choose the perfect bra to wear underneath. Unsightly bra straps, exposed bras that aren’t pretty enough to be shown, strapless bras that fall down, or worst of all – going without any bra at all — are a few of the pitfalls to avoid when choosing lingerie to pair with your dress.
Knowing what lingerie to wear underneath a party dress is a perplexing complication in the shopping process for many women. In fact, some women turn down an otherwise fabulous dress simply because they don’t know what bra to wear with it. But rest assured, finding a great bra doesn’t have to be difficult. The following guidelines will lead you in the right direction toward finding the ideal bra this holiday season.
Straps
If you have a strapless dress, the most obvious and safe choice is a strapless bra. Many convertible bras have removable straps, so you may have one in your lingerie collection already that will work.
Bras that have decorative straps with embroidery or lace can look very pretty showing underneath a strapless dress or under the straps of a dress. The important thing here is to stay with the same color family of your dress. In other words, a black lace bra strap showing underneath a black cocktail dress looks sophisticated – a fuchsia bra strap does not. Likewise, consider the style you are conveying with your ensemble as well as the event you’re attending. If the event is an office party and your overall look is classic and sophisticated, revealing your bra straps may not be the best choice.
Padding
The amount of padding to choose is mainly a question of personal preference. Some women like to feel more natural and opt for a lightly padded bra such as a bralette or other bra with minimal padding. If you are a woman with a petite bust, there are many options available in the Petite Lingerie market that will enhance what you have and make fitting into a holiday dress easier. For point of reference, Petite Lingerie is made specifically for women with AA bra cup sizes, A bra cup sizes or B bra cup sizes.
If you have a petite bra cup size and prefer a bra with more padding for your holiday dress, look for a push-up bra that has padded inserts or “bumps” that push breast tissue up and in, therefore creating maximum cleavage. No matter how padded your push-up bra is, make sure it is comfortable and fits you properly in the cups and band.
Color
When choosing a bra for your holiday dress, it is important to coordinate the bra color with that of your dress. For example, a black bra is likely to show through a lighter color dress. Contrary to popular belief, a nude bra is the best option to wear under anything white, rather than a white bra. The closer the shade of nude is to your skin, the more the bra will disappear under your clothing.
Increasing numbers of couples from around the world are flocking to Thailands southern province of Krabi to enjoy luxurious accommodations, breathtaking scenery, and world-class service.
Following a suggested packing list that includes flip flops, suntan lotion, a Thai guidebook, and an umbrella, the list below offers further suggestions of six additional important items to bring for a holiday spent at a beautiful Krabi resort. Pack light, pack smart, and plan to have the enjoy the vacation of a lifetime.
1 – Suitable Change of Clothes for Visiting Krabi Temples
If you are interested in traditional Thai architecture or Thai culture, then you must visit some of the fascinating temples that are abundant in this historically rich region. You must show some respect, however, and dress more conservatively than you would on the beach, so make sure to include at least one set of appropriate clothing.
2 – Mosquito Repellent
Parts of Krabi can be prone to mosquitoes, especially in the evening, which is another reason to pack at least one set of long trousers and a long sleeved top. If you have had all of the recommended vaccinations for Thailand, then the only worry associated with a mosquito bite, is the unpleasant itching. To prevent being bitten at all, pack a good mosquito repellent and leave your perfume or aftershave at home, as the mosquitoes love them too!
3 Camera
From the moment you first arrive in Krabi, you will be dazzled by a succession of colourful and exotic images. You will want to capture as much as possible, so that you can remember your holiday long after it is over. Dont forget to pack your camera for some stunning photos of the breathtaking Thai architecture and striking landscapes that will be sure to impress your friends and family back home. If you are going to scuba dive in Krabi, an underwater camera is well worth the extra expense.
4 – Imodium
Thai cuisine is deliciously aromatic and can be exceptionally spicy you will certainly want to try the fiery curries, but go easy if you are not used to hot food! Pack some Imodium in the event of upset stomachs that can be triggered by a combination of the warm weather and highly spiced food.
5 – Money Belt
The crime rate in Krabi is impressively low, although in some of the popular holiday resorts and tourist centres, pick pocketing can be an issue. If you want to enjoy peace of mind, pack a money belt that will hide your cash from view. You can even invest in a waterproof version, to keep valuables safe while you enjoy the fantastic swimming and snorkeling of your Krabi resort.
6 Snorkel
Dont leave your snorkel gathering dust at home – if are visiting some of the amazing dive areas in Krabi, then a snorkel is a must! Krabi offers some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world and you would be mad to miss out on the beautiful displays of exotic fish and coral reefs that lurk just below the surface.
Altitude sickness is little documented but very real problem for skiers of all abilities and levels of experience during their skiing vacations. Often a stay in an idyllic, high altitude La Plagne chalets can cause the same problems as a hike up Kilimanjaro! Here we give you the lowdown on the symptoms and experiences of skiers with altitude sickness.
What with all the rich holiday food, the intense exercise and that bottle of mulled wine you saw off around the fire of your La Plagne chalet the night before, you may put your light head and nausea down to indigestion, tiredness or even a hangover. But often, the real culprit is altitude sickness.
Altitude sickness can be a real problem for skiers, especially in high altitude locations. It is a problem which is often overlooked but which can be extremely dangerous if you find yourself affected whilst out on the slopes. Even from the comfort of your La Plagne chalet it can be an extremely unpleasant experience.
Symptoms of altitude sickness include:
Light-headedness
Physical weakness
Tiredness
Exhaustion
Nausea
Headaches
Dehydration
Mental Confusion
Trouble Sleeping
The effects of altitude sickness whilst skiing can range from the unpleasant to the extremely dangerous. You are unlikely to find yourself suffering too severely in your La Plagne chalet because skiing accommodation is often situated lower than the ski slopes themselves. But once up and ready to ski, especially at altitudes greater than 6,500 ft, you could get into real trouble.
There have been plenty of frightening reports of altitude sick skiers becoming disorientated and lost in the cold. The key, according to many health professionals, is hydration. Drinking lots of water, around 8 litres a day, can help you to fend off altitude sickness. Equally, avoiding large amounts of coffee and alcohol can help stop you becoming dehydrated and therefore altitude sick.
Ascending mountains slowly can also help to reduce the problem. Perhaps spending the first day of your skiing holiday on lower ski runs and then working your way up is advised, as this will allow your body to get used to the lack of oxygen. Above all, be sensible! If you feel unwell then avoid skiing, snuggle up in your La Plagne chalet and, if the symptoms persist, seek the advice of a local doctor who will be well versed in altitude sickness problems.