Family Gathering

Hey guys,

Summer is here, and what a nicer way to spend it than family quality time, I guess we're a lucky family where everyone can get along easily with each other, unlike other families where they have to put an extra effort to get along.

We have a lot in common, the youngster play together, the elderly talk to one another and a lot happens in between.

So my Mom and Dad hosted a family gathering at their home, and it was fabulous, I would love to share some of those moments that were captured with you.

I hope you'll enjoy them, and please don't forget to leave me a comment about your favorite family gathering game!!

What I ate today?

Hey guys,

Winter stayed for so long this year, It felt like the cold weather will continue forever, we started turning on the heater at home at the beginning of October, and just last night I turned it back on, it seems like we will have a very cool spring this year.

So the sun is staying longer up in the sky which makes me very happy, and when we started getting the worm weather back, I got inspirited to wear cute outfits again, and that hit me in the back of the head when I tried to put on my cute pair of shorts and BAM they wouldn't fit anymore.

Bad luck, or bad eating manners, bummer.

I decided to eat clean to lose a few pounds to be able to get back in those shorts, so here is what I ate today, and remember I'm not a nutritionist nor I'm an expert in dieting, this is what works for me and feels right for my body and type of activities.

These are all vegan recipes that I absolutely love.

Breakfast: (9:30 AM)

I love oats, so  I had oats with my homemade oat milk and fresh strawberries and bananas, and added some oat milk to my coffee too. That was so good and super filling. I wasn't hungry until much later.

Snack: (11:30 AM)

My go to snack lately has been fresh fruits and some green tea or any herbal tea really.
Oranges, Kiwi, Strawberries, and some small melons.

I'm drinking Lipton's green tea or Alattar (a local brand) herbal tea.

Lunch: (2:30 PM)

My lunch was so good, I made my lentils, chickpeas and cauliflower Kurry recipe with brown rice and pickles.
Again oranges and melons yummy.

Snack: (5:00 PM)

My black coffee is my favorite thing in the world, and I had it with my Vegan Canary biscuits (local brand).

Dinner: (8:00 PM)

For dinner I had Dolma (Stuffed grapes leaves) one of my top ten top recipes, with lettuce and tomato salad.

Then I'm done for the day. I try to stop eating around 8:00 PM or so and I got to bed around 10:00 PM. Unless I'm up late finishing a blog post (like this one) and in that case a second round of biscuits may be in order!

Did you see any food you like or currently eat? Share below.

Please tell me if you want more vegan recipes I can dedicate a  post for my go to vegan recipes.

March's Lifestyle Favorite.

Hey guys,

I can't believe March is about to end, it's amazing how fast the months are going by.

A lot has happened this month, good stuff happened, I could never be happier, and among the things I enjoyed are this month's lifestyle favorite.

Fashion:

Slim-fit Lizzy Mango dark jeans. Why? They're the most comfortable pair of Jeans I've wore in a long time, they're the perfect color that goes with everything, and they're slim fit, so they elongate your legs like nothing else. They're just perfect, but an old model and they discontinued the production of it.

Black Converse. Again it goes with everything and very comfortable. There is no reason why it shouldn't make it to the list.

Tory Burch crossbody bag. It's compact, affordable, cute and it does what is asked of it. Black and petite, and easy to grab and go. It fits my cellphone, money, cards, tissue paper and my lip balm, everything I need.

Makeup:

Inglot Hd foundation. I think I should do a complete review on this foundation, it's my holly grail of
 foundations. It never looks cakey and goes on very smoothly.

Inglot concealer. Same as  the foundation, I swear by it. It's high coverage and thick, but once you set it with powder you forget you're wearing makeup. Amazing.

Candles:

SINNLIG for Ikea. I've been burning it constantly this past month, it smells incredible and fills the whole house with the amazing scent of Apples, It screams spring, plus the color the amazing.

Food:

Spinach. Anything spinach, raw, cooked, shredded, or whole. My favorite recipes are the Mini Spanakopita Triangles Recipe, these are amazing Greek spinach pies, and fresh spinach salads.

Snacks:

Twinfish OAT choco bars. These are amazing, I've been a fan of oat since I was a baby, but these oat bars are nothing like anything I've tasted before. Plus they're Vegan.

Apps:

Cooking Fever. Addictive, time consuming , and super fun. Try it. It's FREE on android.

Movies:

Backtrack. A horror movie - which I'm a fan of - Tells the story of a psychiatrist who has lost his daughter in a car accident, and has been hunted by her memory for the past year, until one day a weird girl comes into his office and reminds him of his deceased daughter, who will change his life for ever.

 Music:

This past month I've been listening to a playlist of songs on my Youtube channel, and they're are all pop songs that are romantic and touching, some are in English and some are in French but as equally as romantic and beautiful.

So, I hope you enjoyed this month's lifestyle favorite.

Please don't forget to share this post with your friends.

Office Cleaning

Hey guys,

A clean office makes for a clear head, but who has time to organize with your workload? Setting up systems and sticking to them allows you to work smarter while you work harder. It also gives the impression that you're on top of things. Who wants to leave them standing there while you shuffle through mounds of paperwork to find the one file folder they need?

Here are my five steps to organize your office.

1. Make a Plan.

As with any large project, making a plan is essential to achieving success when it comes to office cleaning. For best results, business men and women should start by identifying what items need to be cleaned, how often they should be cleaned, and where everything should go?

Try to write it down so you don't forget, or at least have headnotes just in case the ideas got lost in your head.


2.  Declutter and separate.

• Get Rid of Old Papers.

        Chances are many of those papers piled high on your desk aren’t of any value to you. As you begin to sort through your stack of papers, begin asking yourself: Do I need this? Why? Where will I look for it when I need it? Then, create a filing system that best fits your needs, and make a point to file future printouts as they are created to keep the problem from reoccurring.

• Separate Business and Pleasure

 Regardless of where you do the bulk of your work, it’s important to keep distractions at bay. Keep a home office free of distraction by having a designated mail location away from your office space, and encouraging family members to keep the area free of toys, tech gadgets, and anything else that might invite lost time and inefficiency to sneak into your day.

• Keep Supplies and Often-Used Items Separate

 Daily-use items that you’ll likely need throughout the course of a day, like your laptop, pens, planner, and Post-It Notes, all deserve a spot on your desk. Other items, such as tape, stapler, paper clips, and envelopes, should be neatly stored inside your desk. This keeps less-frequently-used items from taking up valuable desk real estate, but ensures that they are easily accessible.

• Organize Your Computer

 When your favorite desktop background starts getting obscured with icons, it’s time to de-clutter your virtual desktop. File away documents that you’ll need again, and send everything else off to the virtual recycle bin. Not only will you have a much more attractive looking desktop screen, but you will save countless hours searching for your important documents.

• Slow Down

 One of the biggest pitfalls to organization is finding the time. Invest the time to properly organize your space, so files, supplies, and other items are in an intuitive, easy-to-find place. Once you’ve established a system that works for you, stick to it! Spending a few seconds to return items to a designated spot will help you save lots of time in the long run.

3. Clean.

A clean office is vital to the running of a business. It improves productivity, because all items are organized and in their rightful place. It improves creativity and focus.

• Keep a closet or basket fully stocked with all of your office cleaning essentials (glass cleaner, dusting spray, microfiber wipes, rubbing alcohol, paper towels, etc).

• Give every item in your office a place and keep it there. If you have trouble remembering where things are, label the storage locations.

• Clean your office phone frequently by spraying cleaner onto a cloth and wiping that on your phone. Dip a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol to wipe down the dial pad.

• Take out the trash frequently and vacuum frequently in areas that people eat. This will help keep the bugs at bay.

• Remember to clean behind your furniture as well. That strip of dust and dirt behind your desk betrays an otherwise clean and tidy office.

Please check this free printable office cleaning checklist to help you figure out what you want to clean.

4. Organize.

There are many ways and tools to help you organize you office space, here are a few that are essential and affordable:

Binders: If you have piles of papers everywhere, it's probably best to use binder organizers to keep papers from stacking everywhere.

Keyboard organizers:  If you don't have a convenient storage space at your disk this keyboard organizer will help you keep your desk clean and tidy.

Card organizers: If you're like me and have a ton of business cards laying around the office then you need a good card holder or go the extra mile and invest in a good rotary business card organizer.

Desk organizer: You need a place to sort your mail, pending documents, etc. 

Files organizer: Stash your files and bills in a cute file tote.

Drawer organizer: Use drawer trays to organize Utensils, Tools, Crafting supplies or Vanity stuff.

5. Keep it organized.

• File As You Go

One of the biggest office offenders is piles of paper -- on your desk, on your shelves, and eventually on your floor. It's easy to get busy and start stacking papers to file for later, but before you know it, you have a task that's too big to tackle. The key is to process papers as you go. Set up a system of trays or file folders that are clearly labeled and make it a habit to use them. The same goes for your computer desktop.

• Create two zones

Not all work is created equal. You should approach office organization with this two-zone perspective.

Zone 1: Computer work. This is your traditional desktop. You spend most of your time here, knocking stuff out and getting things done.

Zone 2: Non-computer work. This is where you go to do non-computer stuff. It could be the same desk, but simply another area that is cleared of monitors, cords, and chargers. This is where you go when you thumb through documents, use your iPad, sign papers, scan documents, or stamp envelopes.

• Reboot Your Office Every Evening.

No matter how clean you keep your workspace, it's going to get messy during the day. That's okay, that means you're working! It's when you keep it messy that things start to become a problem. To make sure this doesn't happen, clean off your desk every evening. All it takes is 5 or 10 minutes to straighten things up, and you'll come to a clean desk every morning, ready to work.

Finally I hope you found this post helpful, it took me a long time to write and search for links that might be helpful for you.

Tell me your favorite strategy to clean and organize your office, and don't forget to spread the word with your friends and family. Thanks.

How work smarter not harder?

 Hay guys,

A major problem for most people is having too much work and not enough time to do it. One solution: fine-tuning your time-management skills. By using your working hours more efficiently, you attack stress on several fronts:
 

• You’ll feel more in control, be more productive and more secure in your job.
• You’ll get greater satisfaction from what you do.
• You’ll give yourself more time to relax and enjoy life.

No matter how you juggle your schedule, the number of hours in the day will always remain the same. But it is possible to adjust your habits to buy more time for the things that matter most.

 1. Walk away

Walking away from a complex task might seem counterintuitive, but breaks can actually make you more productive. Removing yourself from the work environment immediately reduces stress and gives your brain a chance to “catch up.” If you’re working on a hard problem, your subconscious mind will continue working on it even if your conscious mind is trying to relax—which is why sometimes, solutions magically pop into your mind when you aren’t thinking about the problem. Either way, you’ll come back refreshed and in a healthier, more focused mental state for work.

2. Create routine habits.

 Habits happen naturally after they’re formed—they become a ritual, something you can slip into automatically, something you don’t even have to think about. For example, if you have to update an editorial calendar every day, make it an unconscious habit, sparing you the necessity of remembering it in a desperate scramble. Forming habits is the hard part—a good rule of thumb is to force yourself to commit the action every day, with no breaks from the routine, until it comes naturally.

3. Take more breaks. 

On average, your brain is able to remain focused for only 90 minutes, and then you need at least 15 minutes of rest. By taking breaks roughly every 90 minutes, you allow your mind and body to renew--and be ready to fire off another 90-minute period of high activity.
For some people, 15- to 20-minute breaks might be tough to pull off, but taking short breaks throughout the day can still help you to refresh your mind and reset your attention span.

4. Make a “to don’t” list.

Prepare a list that contains all the things you shouldn’t waste your time on – useless tasks, unnecessary meetings, worthless phone calls, and so on. Then place it next to your “to do” list.

5. Check your email first thing. 

This one is fairly counterintuitive; basically everyone says not to check email right away, but I do and find it extremely useful.
Dealing with important issues first thing helps you make quick decisions about whether your day needs to be adjusted to fit in with what everyone else is doing or whether you can proceed with the tasks you already had planned.

6. “Multitask” (not in the traditional sense).

 No matter how busy you are, there are always “negative spaces” in your day—and these gaps are when you should “multitask.” Try to fill the empty spaces with productive work: On your lunch break, watch a tutorial video or catch up on your emails. On your drive into work, listen to audiobooks or podcasts. During your workouts, catch up on some voicemails or watch a TED Talk. The more you learn and work in these negative spaces, the more you’ll get done overall.

7. Organize Throughout the Day

Remember this rule: Tuck it, transfer it or trash it. Quickly glance over every piece of mail and every memo or e-mail message you get. If it looks as if it’s potentially important, file it right away in a folder marked “pending” or delegate it to someone else to take care of. If it’s not relevant or it’s something you’ll never look at again, trash it. Handle your mail the same way at home.
 

8. Plan Ahead

Start your workday right—at home the night before. After dinner, pack your lunch for the next day, while you’re already in the kitchen. Lay out the kids’ clothes and your own and pack your briefcase. Then spend a pressure-free hour or more doing things you enjoy before bedtime.

9. Establish an opening ritual.

Try to begin your day the same way. If you work at home, maybe take a short walk before you go to your office. Have a cup of tea or read or meditate before starting your work. An opening ritual will ease your mind, body and soul into the day.

10. Guard your calendar.

Make sure your time is focused on your one or two top priorities. Ask yourself: “Is this how I want to be spending my time right now?” Remember: you are your calendar. So treat your calendar with respect.

What tips do you have for working smarter?

If you like this article, please check How to save $7897/year article.

13 Smart ways to deal with toxic people

Hey guys,

Do you have to deal with toxic people in your life, I do.

I will give you 13 ways to deal with them with no sweat, these ways have helped me since I was 17, when I figured them out, some of them I have retained through life and personal experience, some were given to me as an advice from people I look up to ,either way I feel these will help you as they helped me ALOT.

1. Respect Yourself

Don’t enable others to take advantage of you by making excuses for them. The more you value yourself, the less time you spend with people who don’t value you. If you make excuses to spend time with toxic people, you might have to evaluate some of your own issues. You might be dealing with a lack of self-esteem, which is attracting others of the same nature.

2. Restrain Yourself

While you may find it incredibly easy to chop down the lies and baggage that toxic people pile on, restrain yourself from getting involved. It isn't necessary to validate anything that is being questioned because you know the truth.

3.  Establish Boundaries

 

This one may seem obvious, but it requires the most pro-activity. Just because you’re in a work or home environment, doesn’t mean you have to engage with that person. If it’s someone you’re very familiar with, like a spouse or co-worker, you probably have learned some of their behavior habits, which makes him or her more easily predictable. So, in the future, think rationally about when you need to engage and when you can walk away.

 

4. Raise Your Positivity Levels

 

Toxic people are very negative and like to spread negativity amongst the people that they encounter. The saying that misery loves company is very true. When you encounter toxic people, do your best to raise your positivity levels and list the reasons why your life is worthy of more.

5. Stay Aware of Your Emotions

Maintaining an emotional distance requires awareness. You can’t stop someone from pushing your buttons if you don’t recognize when it’s happening.  Think of it this way—if a mentally unstable person approaches you on the street and tells you he’s John F. Kennedy, you’re unlikely to set him straight. When you find yourself with a coworker who is engaged in similarly derailed thinking, sometimes it’s best to just smile and nod. If you’re going to have to straighten them out, it’s better to give yourself some time to plan the best way to go about it.

6. Don’t Focus on Problems - Only Solutions

When it comes to toxic people, fixating on how crazy and difficult they are gives them power over you. Quit thinking about how troubling your difficult person is, and focus instead on how you’re going to go about handling them. This makes you more effective by putting you in control, and it will reduce the amount of stress you experience when interacting with them.

7. Understand that toxic people are in pain.

No person who hurts others is happy with themselves. By verbally beating others up, toxic people actually batter their own selves. Their external toxicity is the symbol of how they treat themselves. The pain you feel after their remarks is lesser than the pain and misery they have to live with every hour of their lives. Be compassionate, therefore; this kind of understanding and attitude will help you to be less affected by their words and actions.

8. Develop A Support System

You shouldn’t have to go at it alone. Besides, gaining outside perspective is always a good idea. Sometimes even simply talking out the situation with someone can foster a solution to your lingering problem. Someone might be able to see a solution that you can’t because they are not as emotionally invested.

9. Avoid arguments.

Trust me, toxic people are experts in arguments. They will quickly bring you down if you attempt to over-smart them with arguments.

10. Be Yourself.

Don't be tempted to bend the rules or change who you are as an individual. Always be yourself and be proud of it. Own it! Never shy away from what you believe in and do not allow others to make you feel less than who you are.

11. Busy yourself.

Make yourself seem too busy to give them your time. Keep finding ways to get busy and keep excusing yourself from having to talk to them. You can even make it obvious that it’s an excuse, for they don’t value your time anyway so you shouldn’t care if it’s an urgent business or not.

12. Have Patience

Patience really is a virtue and moreover it's an attribute that you must have when dealing with difficult people. Stay calm and do not get overly emotional. With patience comes wisdom.

13. Pray

Seek comfort in prayer. Pray for your ability to restrain from adding to the toxicity and pray for the people who feel the need to bring misery upon themselves and others. It's easy to write people off but it's important that you pray for them - as there may be a deeper underlying issue.

Finally, I hope you found these advice helpful, and somewhat assuring that everything is going to be okay in end.

 

Please tell me in the comment down below if there are special topics you want me to cover here in Aseel's corner, I'll appreciate it. Thank you.

Decluttering with Aseel

Hey guts,

I've started a new series on my blog to start decluttering and cleaning the house, the car and the office.

Maybe you may not think you have much to declutter, but you do. I do. I went into working on this post thinking that I didn't have much left to declutter -- but, boy was I wrong! Maybe you have SO much you don't know where to start. So, follow along and you'll soon discover the joy of decluttering -- just be careful because you could feel the exhilarating freedom of getting rid of stuff you really don't need!

The first step is to ask yourself 10 question about each item, it may take time, that's why at the end I'm going to give a schedule to declutter your entire house, so bare with me.

!0 questions to help you declutter

Once you are done with the questions, you move on to the challenge.

It's the (30 bags in 30 Days challenge)

You only need to follow along and your house will be decluttered completely in 30 days, how easy and simple.

When you're done you'll feel a relief like no other, and your house will look more spacious.

Please tell me if there are any special topics you want me to cover on this series down below. Thank you!

House Cleaning Checklists - Room by Room

Hey guys,


Are you tired as I am? House cleaning and organizing are struggles for anyone, not any more, I have decided to start an organizing series on my blog, where I share my tips, tricks, ideas, DIY and checklists to help you with your journey to a better organized and tidy house, Here I provide you with some lists for cleaning the house, to cut down the time you spend everyday cleaning the house. I hope you find them helpful.

Here are the links to download the checklists, room by room.

Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

 

 

Bathroom Cleaning Checklist

 

 

Bedroom Cleaning Checklist

 

 

 

Living Room Cleaning Checklist

Entry way and Office Cleaning Checklist

 

 

 



Download your Free printable Checklist for all the rooms of the house

Enjoy, I hope you'll have a restful day.

Vitamins. Their importance and how to get them?

Hey guys,

 

 

 

I thought I would give you some information about Vitamins, sources and benefits.

 

Hope you'll find it beneficial.



vitamin	Sources	Benefits
Vitamin A (Retinol)	liver and fish oils, milk and eggs. Most dietary provitamin A comes from leafy green vegetables, orange and yellow vegetables, tomato products, fruits, and some vegetable oils	It is essential to the formation of visual purple in the retina, which allows vision in dim light. It has antioxidant properties, which means it protects cells from the daily toxic damage of oxidation, provides immune support and fights inflammation.
Vitamin C	bell peppers, dark leafy greens, kiwifruit, broccoli, berries, citrus fruits, tomatoes, peas, and papayas.	Vitamin C helps protect cells and keep them healthy, and It is involved in the production of collagen, which maintains healthy connective tissues like the skin, bones and blood vessels. It helps with wound healing, and it helps with the absorbtion of iron.
Vitamin D	Cod liver oil, tuna canned in water, sardines canned in oil, milk or yogurt, beef or calf liver, egg yolks and cheese.	It is important for the regulation of calcium and phosphorus absorption, maintenance of healthy bones and teeth, and is suggested to supply a protective effect against multiple diseases and conditions such as cancer, type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
Vitamin E	Nuts such as almonds, peanuts and hazelnuts, and vegetable oils such as sunflower, wheat germ, safflower, corn and soybean oils.	Antioxidants remove free radicals — the unstable compounds that damage the cell structure. Immunity levels improve when vitamin E is consumed. Another important benefit of vitamin E is that it reduces cholesterol and the risk of developing cancer.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)	Whole grains, cereals, and beans: Wheat germ, brown rice, rice bran, oatmeal, legumes, peanuts, sunflower seeds, and dried soybeans.	Helps fuel your body by converting blood sugar into energy. It keeps your mucous membranes healthy and is essential for nervous system, cardiovascular and muscular function.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)	Eggs, nuts, dairy products, meats, broccoli, brewer's yeast, Brussel sprouts, wheat germ, wild rice, mushrooms, soybeans, green leafy vegetables and whole grain and enriched cereals and bread.	The human body needs a daily dosage of it since it cannot be stored in the body. It plays a major role in energy production and represents an essential nutrient in your diet.
Vitamin B3	Asparagus, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, mustard greens,squash, green beans, broccoli, and potatoes, eggs, cheese, and yogurt.	It's able to lower cholesterol levels and control them, and it releases energy into the body's cells.
Vitamin B6      (B complex )	Fish, beef, liver and other organ meats, potatoes and other starchy vegetables, and fruit (other than citrus).	It plays an important role in converting food into energy and helping the body metabolize fats and proteins. The B vitamins are also important for healthy hair, skin, liver, and eyes.
Vitamin B12	Animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products. Vegan products including rice and soy beverages, ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, and nutritional yeast.	It converts carbohydrates into glucose in the body, it helps the nervous system, reducing depression, stress, and brain shrinkage. It is essential for healthy skin, hair, and nails. It helps in cell reproduction and constant renewal of the skin. Vitamin B 12 helps protect against cancers including breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancer.
Folic Acid	lentils; dried beans and peas; dark green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, collard or turnip greens, okra, and asparagus; and citrus fruit and juice.	Folic acid helps your body produce and maintain new cells, and also helps prevent changes to DNA that may lead to cancer.

How to stay motivated to lose weight

Hey guys,

Feel like you're falling behind in your fitness goals? Here are some expert tips for staying motivated and committed to your weight-loss plan
 

1. See it through

 

Making the decision to live healthier is the first step, but you won't ever see results if you give up too soon. Whether you've hit a plateau in your weight-loss or just can't find the motivation to get to the gym, here's how to tweak your workout philosophy and get back on track to meeting your goals.

2. Know your goals

 In order to meet your goals, make sure they're SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely).

Asking yourself the following questions when setting your goals for weight training:
• How do you want your physique to look?
• What are your reasons for weight training?
• How much time do you have to dedicate to this process?

3. Be prepared

 

With a hectic schedule, you may not always be able to plan and pack your meals ahead of time.

For those times when you do eat out, choose the healthier options. In order to ensure you don't exceed your daily caloric needs, check the nutritional information of a meal before ordering it, piling on the veggies, choosing foods that are fresh, steamed, baked or roasted over deep fried or breaded and limiting your drink to water.
 

4. Overcame obstacles

It's inevitable that you'll encounter challenges along your weight-loss journey.

Here are some tips for overcoming the most common barriers:
• Motivation: Create a buddy system
• Time Management: Plan your workouts for first thing in the morning
• Family: Find ways to incorporate your children
• Financial: Find free things you can do outdoors, or go for a swim at the local pool for a small fee
• Making you a priority: State your schedule and plans to your family so everyone knows that's your exclusive time. And stand your ground!

5. See how far you've come

Assessing your progress since you first began will help you stay motivated and strive for continued success.

Here are some tips for choosing—and sticking to—a training program that's right for you:
• Do what you enjoy. You're more likely to stick with a workout if you get some enjoyment out of the activity.
• Choose a couple of goals to focus on. (Choose only a couple of training parameters.) Don't overwhelm yourself with trying to fix everything at once.
• Begin slowly. You'll only get discouraged if you can't maintain that initial level of intensity.

 

6. Visualize your success

 

The power of visualization is a fitness technique commonly used among professional athletes and sports teams.

Here are three steps to visualizing weight-loss success:
• Clearly set your goals
• Think positively
• Quietly visualize

Hope you found them helpful!!

What was the tip you already use?

Things you need to know when you want to start your blog

Hey guys,

Today's post is all about starting a new blog and what you need to know to lead a successful business.

1. Choose your blog name

Coming up with a name for your blog is actually way harder than it sounds. You need something short and snappy that will resonate with your readers and make sense based on the content you plan to produce.
Make sure your name is available on all social media sites and the blogging platform you want to use.

2. Learn basic analytics.

How are you going to know whether people are visiting your blog and what they’re clicking on if you don’t know how to look up your stats? Google Analytics is the best free platform to check your blog’s success. The main number you want to look at is “Unique Visitors,” which shows how many new people visit your site in a given timeframe. Of course, it’ll probably just be your friends and family reading your blog to start, but with time and effort that number could really grow.

3. Reply to your comments!

You wouldn’t ignore someone who spoke to you in real life, so take the time to reply to every comment on your blog and your social media accounts. This makes readers feel validated, and it fosters a happy, inclusive online community. Plus, it’ll make them like you, which keeps ’em coming back (and, hopefully, sharing content from your site.)

4. Be consistent. 

Be consistent with how often you post. Most blogging hosts allow you to schedule posts for a certain time, so you can make a point of posting every day at 9 a.m. This can help build a loyal audience who know when to look for your new posts.

5. Use keywords in your posts. 

Using keywords is a great way to boost your ranking on search engines like Google. A cheap and easy way to work out what keywords you should be including in your post, use Google Keyword Planner. This will tell you the words and phrases people are actually searching for, and how often per month they’re being searched.

Start a blogging calendar. 

Plan your posts in advance using a blogging calendar. At the beginning of each month, pencil in any major events you want to cover Fashion Week, food festivals, holidays, or whatever then, pencil in the stories you’re planning on creating for each day. It’s a good idea to also keep an ideas log, where you can jot down any posts that aren’t timely, but you’d like to create at some point.

I hope you found these tips helpful and handy, keep them in your mind the next time you think of creating your own or posting a new topic.

      

How to help your husband with his anger?

Hey guys,

Today's topic is all about dealing with angry husbands. Marriage is no walk in the park, and everyone who's about to get married should expect the worse, when you meet someone they'll try to show you their best side, there is a hidden side you never knew about, so be ready.

More than anything, your husband needs to know that you’re on his side, that you’re not against him. You need to communicate, more than you probably think necessary, that you accept him and love him, even though you may not be satisfied with some of his behaviors or responses. Separate the actions from the man; affirm the man. His search for peace may begin sooner if he knows that you’re satisfied with him and willing to walk through the steps of healing.
 

• Be His Friend, Not His Mother

 He needs a friend who’ll treat him, and insist on being treated by him, as an equal. He needs a friend who’ll gladly share life’s responsibilities with him but not live his life for him, someone who’ll encourage him in his problem solving but not solve all of his problems for him.
If you find yourself playing a mothering role to the man in your life, he will never fully deal with the causes and crisis of his anger. The scared little boy will whine and fuss until you make it all better. You can transition from mother to friend in his life by lovingly placing in his hands those responsibilities and problems that he should deal with.

• Appreciate Him; Don’t Nag Him

It’s estimated that upwards of 90 percent of men today are unhappy and angry in their jobs to some degree. Most of them feel fortunate to be working, but they often languish in their dead-end jobs

 Nagging him to buck for promotions or beg for raises may only intensify his anger. Bugging him for a bigger house or newer car will only deepen his frustration that he has no more control at home than he has on the job. But if you become a wellspring of appreciation for the work that he does and the living he provides, you will lift some of the pressure from his life. Find many ways to say, “I appreciate that you work hard at your job and that you hang in there even when it’s frustrating and tough. I couldn’t love you more if you owned the whole company.”

• Affirm Him; Don’t Criticize Him

If your man is struggling with being locked into a job that’s distasteful to him, you can ease his struggle by affirming him for who he is and what he does. Compliment him for the character qualities he exercises (or needs to exercise) in his job: patience, perseverance, determination, creativity, etc. In everything you say and do, let him know that he’s the best taco maker (or pump jockey, accountant, construction worker, sanitation engineer, etc.) in the world. Appreciate him for the effort.

• Give Him Space; Don’t Crowd Him

Most of us don’t like to be pushed, especially men. It’s an affront to their struggling masculinity and only serves to exacerbate their anger. They feel intimidated because their wives can’t accept them the way they are. They feel inferior in comparison to the ideal man their wives are badgering them to become.

Give your husband plenty of room. Show him that you’re concerned about him and that you love him. Let him know that you’re available to listen to him and talk to him. Then back off to pray and wait. Trust God to work for your man’s good in the situation. Allow him to use “the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit” (1 Peter 3:4) in you to encourage and help him.

• Give Him Time; Don’t Rush Him

We live in an age of instant gratification. We can travel thousands of miles in hours; we can transact business in seconds with our high-speed computers, cell phones, and cable shopping channels. We hate to wait. This subconscious urgency we all share for fast results may get in the way, however, when it comes to the process of helping a man defuse his anger. Change doesn’t take place overnight. It may take your husband weeks, months, or years to fully heal from the causes and results of anger in his life.

• Hold Him Responsible; Don’t Be Co-dependent

If your husband’s anger gets him into trouble in any way, you are not responsible to cover for him or take the rap for him. Doing so only allows the problem to continue; it never stops the problem. Only when we allow someone to face the consequences of his behavior will he begin to see that he’s responsible for making changes in the way he behaves.

• Give to Him; Don’t Withhold from Him

If your husband is in the process of dealing with expressions of anger that have been hurtful to you in some way, you may be tempted to say something like, “Once you get your act together, then I’ll start being the wife I should be.” You may feel like withholding affection or sex from him until he deserves it. You may feel like asking him to move out until he has better control of his temper or habits. Or he may have troubled you so much that you’re ready to give up.

While there are a few occasions when a temporary separation may be necessary (such as when his uncontrolled rage is endangering you or the children), you can probably be more helpful to your man’s healing by staying with him. Love, forgiveness, and acceptance are qualities to be given freely, not to be held hostage for ransom. He needs your friendship, not your judgment.
God will use your openness, kindness, and willingness to go the second mile to aid in his healing.

What are your ways of dealing with your angry husband?

The story of Valentine

Hey guys,

Today's story is somehow different because it's historical, true, and inspiring.

"The story of Valentine's Day begins in the third century with an oppressive Roman emperor and a humble Christian Martyr.   The emperor was Claudius II.   The Christian was Valentinus.

Claudius had ordered all Romans to worship twelve gods, and had made it a crime punishable by death to associate with Christians.   But Valentinus was dedicated to the ideals of Christ; not even the threat of death could keep him from practicing his beliefs.   He was arrested and imprisoned.

During the last weeks of Valentinus's life a remarkable thing happened.   Seeing that he was a man of learning, the jailer asked whether his daughter, Julia, might be brought to Valentinus for lessons.  

She had been blind since birth.   Julia was a pretty young girl with a quick mind.   Valentinus read stories of Rome's history to her.   He described the world of nature to her.   He taught her arithmetic and told her about God.  She saw the world through his eyes, trusted his wisdom, and found comfort in his quiet strength.

"Valentinus, does God really hear our prayers?" Julia asked one day.

"Yes, my child, He hears each one."

"Do you know what I pray for every morning and every night?  I pray that I might see.   I want so much to see everything you've told me about!"

"God does what is best for us if we will only believe in Him," Valentinus said.

"Oh, Valentinus, I do believe! I do!"  She knelt and grasped his hand.

They sat quietly together, each praying.   Suddenly there was a brilliant light in the prison cell.   Radiant, Julia screamed, "Valentinus, I can see!  I can see!"

"Praise be to God!"  Valentinus exclaimed, and he knelt in prayer.

On the eve of his death Valentinus wrote a last note to Julia, urging her to stay close to God.   He signed it, "From your Valentine."  His sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 270 A.D., near a gate that was later named Porta Valentini in his memory.   He was buried at what is now the
Church of Praxedes in Rome.   It is said that Julia planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave.   Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship.   On each February 14, Saint Valentine's Day, messages of affection, love, and devotion are exchanged around the world."

 

I hope this story has inspired you to love and give and wait for nothing in return.

 

Who's your valentine this year?

How to stop the Procrastination?

Hey guys,

Today's motivation is all about stopping the procrastination. Just get up and start working.

As a human it's normal to lose the well to keep on doing the things you've been doing everyday, so I'm here to give you ways to help you find your own motivation and stop the stalling.

You need to be your own creator of life, find what makes you feel alive and happy, where is your joy in life and pursuit it.

1.  Always do more than what you're told to.

Remind yourself that there’s always more to be done than can be done. Then ask yourself if you’re getting the right things done.

      2. Try new things.

Find new thing that will interest you and help you find inspiration.

       3. Teach others what you know.

There is no greater joy than helping others and share the knowledge, ask someone to help you complete the task, and make your intentions public. This will add pressure, but for some of us, avoiding embarrassment is the mightiest motivators.

       4. Make work into play and vise versa, and motivate yourself.

Positive reinforcement is the most effective means of motivating yourself. Give yourself a treat to look forward to as a reward for buckling down on your to-do list; go see a movie, eat a chocolate bar, go out with a friend, whatever it is that will motivate you.

       5. Take breaks.

If you can’t seem to focus and are working half-heartedly at your tasks, give yourself a brief break. Set a timer for ten minutes, and take a nap, read a book, or call your friend. Do whatever it is you’ve been daydreaming about so that the temptation is removed once you get back to work. Just be sure to follow through with your deadline rather than ignoring it when your alarm finally goes off.

       6. Create a to-do list.

make yourself an old fashioned to-do list with check boxes and everything. List everything, big and small, that you have to do for your entire day; break big activities into smaller bits if necessary. Then, as you work through your day, check off each of the items on your list. You will feel a growing sense of pride as you visually monitor your ever-diminishing list of projects.

       7. Always be creative.

Many creative endeavors are throttled by mental blocks and distractions, but there is always a way to get past them. Find your ways to be creative and let the juices flowing.

       8. Hang out with people who inspire you to take action.

I’m pretty sure if you spend just 10 minutes talking to Steve Jobs or Bill Gates, you’ll be more inspired to act than if you spent the 10 minutes doing nothing. The people we are with influence our behaviors.

       9. Get a grip and just do it.

At the end, it boils down to taking action. You can do all the strategizing, planning and hypothesizing, but if you don’t take action, nothing’s going to happen.

For many of us, procrastination comes from an overload of obligations. Our ability to say “no” to things that aren’t really moving us towards our goals is a tough skill to learn, but since it becomes impossible to tackle difficult tasks when we’re suffocating under a bunch of meaningless obligations, it’s necessary that we acquire it, and acting smart.

What do you do to stop the procrastination?