Classy and Pink

Everything You Need To Know About Setting Up Your First Home

We all dream of getting our own home when we are living with our parents. We may even plan what we would want it to look like. The reality, however, is that it may be a few years before you can afford a place of your own.

Most people in their late teens move into halls of residence at university or flat-share or house-share with friends at first. You don’t have complete control of your home at this stage. You may be in your twenties before you eventually buy or rent a home on your own or with a partner. This is when the real fun starts!

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The boring paperwork aspects of having your own home

Owning a home comes with responsibilities. Obviously, you have to keep up the mortgage or rental payments or you could end up losing your home. It is best to keep all the paperwork relating to this in a big file!

You also need to arrange insurance for the contents of your home and the building as well if you own it. You can search out the best deals for your property. Don’t forget about local taxes. You can find out more the local government for your area.

Finally, sign up with a gas and electricity supplier and inform the local water supplier that you have moved in.

The fun side of having your own home

The best bit about setting up your own home is making it look just the way you want it. If you have bought a house or flat that needs a lot redecoration, this could be a long job. Don’t try to rush it. Take your time and enjoy it but don’t try to do more than one room at a time. Focus on the rooms where you spend the most time. The kitchen and living room are the obvious choices. Get one room completely finished before you move onto the next or you could end up getting overwhelmed.

You don’t have to spend a fortune doing up the house. A few tubs of emulsion and a few pots of gloss paint cost very little! Do as much of the work as you can yourself using guidance from blogs and YouTube. You will soon become an expert.

You can freshen up any room very quickly by getting some affordable ready made curtains. This is the quickest and cheapest way to transform the room that you have just decorated. There is such a huge range to choose from that you will always find a style to suit you. There is even plenty of guidance on how to measure the window and how to fit the curtains once they have been delivered.

You don’t need to buy all new furniture. Borrow what you can from friends and family and trawl charity and second-hand stores for bargains. Don’t forget sites like Ebay.

Before you know it, you will have a lovely space to live in and you will be hosting your first party to show it off!

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, by Laura Classyandpink

Digestion Problems? Here’s Food For Thought…

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Is your gut unhappy? Whether you’re suffering from the runs, constipation or painful cramps, a trip to the doctor is always recommended, especially if you’ve been suffering with a reoccurring problem or simply been suffering for a lengthy amount of time. Sadly not all digestive problems are easy to diagnose, however you may be able to restore order to your gut by making a few simple changes to your lifestyle. Here’s some helpful tips and tricks to digest and get your bowel movement back to normal.

Try medication

There are plenty of over-the-counter meds worth trying including IBS probiotics and laxatives. Some may have side effects so it’s always worth reading the label first. By buying online you may also be able to read consumer reviews to judge the medication’s effectiveness. Various herbal remedies such as ginger root, fennel and many herbal teas are proven to be good for the bowel.

Limit fat and up your fibre intake

Fatty foods take more work to digest and can make many digestive problems worse. Take a break from such foods, especially ones including processed fats. A high fibre diet made up of vegetables, whole grains and fruits can be good for both constipation and diarrheal symptoms. Generally it’s also good to avoid trigger foods such as dairy, spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine too.

Stay hydrated

Drinking lots of water will help to flush out any bacteria that could be causing an infection as well as breaking down any hard stools if you have constipation (as well as stopping your body from becoming dehydrated if you have diarrhoea). It’s very difficult to drink too much water – we should all be drinking 8 glasses on average a day. For digestive problems, it’s beneficial to drink even more than this.

Exercise regularly

Staying active also keeps foods moving through your digestive system, which is useful if you’ve got constipation. Exercise also has the dual effect of creating antibodies and boosting your immune system, helping to fight off any infections or pains. On top of this, you can help maintain a healthy weight through regular exercise, which is also good for your digestive system.

De-stress

Stress is also bad for your digestive system. When stressed, our body goes into a survival mode that traces back to when we were cavemen. Energy and neuro signals are sent to important parts of our body used for fight or flight (e.g. the legs for running, the lungs for breathing) and taken away from parts of the body that aren’t deemed important at that time (e.g. the digestive system). This causes our gut to go into disarray, producing too much stomach acid and not producing enough digestive enzymes. Taking the time to de-stress could be the solution to your gut problems, or at the very least calm any ongoing disorder such as IBS or a food intolerance. Various forms of relaxation therapy and herbal remedies can stop you from getting as stressed.

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, by Laura Classyandpink

Getting Over the Mid-Life Career Crisis

Do you feel it? Are you getting tired of your job? Have you disconnected from your colleagues? Do you feel like you could be achieving something more in life? Don’t worry, this type of feeling happens to everyone and all of those symptoms are collectively known as the mid-life career crisis. To help you get over this rough time in your life, here are a couple of excellent tips that will give you a new look at your situation.

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Don’t panic

The worst thing you can do is panic and do something drastic that you’ll regret in the future. Explore different choices, look for advice, and speak with your employer before telling them you’re going to quit. When your emotions are all over the place and you’re mentally fatigued from this stress, it’s easy to flip out and do something crazy such as putting money on another career choice or saying goodbye to your old life. Career changes are common and much easier to pull off than they were in the past, so it’s not something you need to act immediately on. Take the time to relax, calm down, and identify why you’re feeling disconnected from your current career path and what options there are.

Find a new purpose

Finding a purpose in life is probably one of the most important aspects of living a fulfilling life. Your purpose in life isn’t set in stone and there’s nothing saying that you can’t find a new purpose when you want. For instance, your purpose right now may be to look after someone else’s business as a manager, but it might tire you and you may want something more exciting or fulfilling. You could take a look at job searches like Simply Education that are tailored towards specific careers. In this case, becoming a teacher is a job choice that many people loathe because they dislike working with children. However, for others, it’s a fulfilling job because you’re empowering the younger generation with knowledge that will help them in the future.

Seek advice

Remember that you’re never alone no matter what tough situation you are going through. There are entire communities filled with people who are in a similar position as you, and they’re more than willing to give you some assistance in the form of advice. Remember to look around at different online forums and message boards to get a rough understanding of what other people have done in similar situations. You might find a friend that has been through your exact situation, or you might be able to connect with others who are going through a mid-life career crisis as well.

Going through a mid-life career crisis isn’t as uncommon as you think, and the opportunities out there will assist you in changing your path to something that you can feel proud about. Remember to remain calm and don’t panic, look for something that truly makes you happy, and then seek advice on your situation in order to make better decisions.

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, by Laura Classyandpink

Bring Hotel Luxury Into Your Home

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When we think of hotels, what do we think about? We think of vacations, of course. But when we think of vacations, we usually think of our hotel rooms more than the attractions of the location itself! Why is this? It’s because many of us love hotel rooms. Some say that they feel a little alien and not homely enough, but this can be a plus in a lot of ways. After all, what makes a hotel room different from a room in your home? Answer: ultra-cleanliness. A complete lack of clutter. Simplicity. And, much of the time, extreme comfort.

So how can we bring that luxurious hotel room vibe into our homes? How can we make a place that we can imagine people paying good amounts of money to stay in temporarily? It might be easier than you think. Some of the methods involve buying new things, some see you getting rid of some things, and others simply see a change in habits.

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No clutter

Hotels are gloriously free of clutter. (Well, until you unpack your suitcase and kinda leave everything lying around for most of the trip.) Many people think that this makes hotel rooms feel impersonal. But that lack of clutter really does help relax you. Most people have a bunch of junk in their home that they really don’t need. It’s time to get rid of it.

Decluttering isn’t quite as easy as it sounds; you’re always going to have more superfluous possessions than you think in most of your rooms. So it’s important that you really dedicate yourself to the task and get yourself emotionally prepared to dive into a bunch of nostalgic but inessential possessions!

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Luxurious (and frequently-washed) bedding

When people think about hotel rooms, they often think first and foremost about the luxurious beds. The mattress, the duvet, the pillows, the pillowcases - everything feels soft and smooth, but firm when it needs to be. Buying your bedding from the same suppliers that serve hotels, such as Richard Haworth, should be on your priority list if you want your bedroom to replicate the gorgeous feeling of hotel beds.

Another thing you need to do? Wash your bedding often. This is actually something you should be doing anyway. Your sheets should be washed and replaced at least once a week - but most people seem to leave them for two or even three weeks. Frequent washing isn’t just something that aids with feelings of luxury - it’s essential for good hygiene!

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Good climate control

Air conditioning and heating is a must, here. A programmable thermostat will help you keep your rooms as cool as a hotel room has to get in popular vacation destinations. Achieving this needn’t involve setting up an elaborate and extra-powerful HVAC system, however. One thing that people often forget about when it comes to home climate control? The curtains.

Whatever you use to block light and warmth from getting into your home will have a big effect on the temperature - and hotels usually have thick and powerful curtains. It helps control your home climate as well as helping your properly darken a room so you can get a good night’s sleep.

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, by Laura Classyandpink

Expert Health Tips To Help You Through Your Twenties

Ask anyone who is currently somewhere in their twenties: once you leave your teens, your body can quickly go downhill! Sure, you won’t be affected by all the problems that plague teenagers, such as acne, but a whole host of new health problems will start to appear. For example, your body’s metabolism will start to slow down, so watching what you eat is imperative. Thankfully, though, you just need to know how to look after yourself and your body as you go through your twenties.

Here are some great tips from health experts that will help you enjoy a healthy decade!

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Get Organized With Your Medical Records

Now that you are in your twenties, you mom won’t be there to help keep you organized anymore. And that means you will need to make sure that you stay on top of all your medical records yourself. For example, ask your mom for all your immunizations records so that you know whether you will need more soon. It’s also a good idea to ask about any illnesses that may run in the family so that you can book any screenings that you might need.

Cut Back On Sugar

Eating a lot of sugar throughout your teenage years probably wouldn’t have had too many negative effects. You might just have got really hyper! However, now that you are in your twenties, all the excess calories found in sugar will make you bloated in no time at all. It’s best to keep sweet treats just for very special occasions! If you do feel a craving for something sweet, reach for a piece of fruit instead.

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Increase Your Workouts

As I’ve already mentioned, as we get older our bodies find it incredibly hard to lose any excess weight gain. But the best way to keep your weight in check is to start increasing the intensity or frequency of your workouts. If you read the Physical Culture Society, you will see that plenty of exercise can greatly improve your overall health, and not just your fitness. So scheduling in an extra session at your local gym could really do you a world of good!

Look After Your Brain

It’s not only our physical health that can slightly deteriorate throughout our twenties. Our mental abilities can often slow down as well. Even if you don’t notice a difference in your thinking and concentration throughout this decade, taking good care of your brain now can pay off in later years. There is plenty you can do to care for your brain, but the main thing is that you keep it active. So, next time you have a spare ten minutes, why not work on a crossword or try to complete a Sudoku puzzle? If you want to push your brain even further, most experts believe learning a second language is a great way to keep it fighting fit!

Health in your twenties doesn’t have to be a slog - these great tips will all help you enjoy a very healthy decade!

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, by Laura Classyandpink

How to claim for Criminal Injury in the UK

If you have fallen victim to a criminal injury in recent years, including mental injuries, you could claim compensation under the Criminal Injuries and Compensation Scheme in the UK.

You’re eligible in the UK if you were physically or mentally injured as a direct result of a crime of violence, or if you’re a close relative of someone who has died as a direct result of criminal violence. You could also be eligible for compensation if you were injured in the last two years.

The definition of criminal injury is an injury that has been inflicted as a direct result as a violent crime. This can include crimes involving physical violence and behavior by one person to another that is intended to seriously hurt or kill. For example, if you are a victim of child abuse, sexual abuse, rape, and domestic abuse, or have been in the last two years, you are eligible to claim under the CICA scheme.

In cases where child abuse is present, firms such as CICA UK will act on behalf of claimants who are children and even adults who were abused as children. They will also act on behalf of anyone who wishes to make a claim through the CICA scheme. Once you have agreed to let lawyers, such as those as CICA UK, represent you, you will no longer have to take part in any proceedings to do with your case. For the most part, you can put your ordeal behind you and look to moving on, which is the most important thing.

CICA UK understand that the ordeal you have been through is terrible, and that you will need time to process and come to terms with your injury. They can also advice you and your family members on how to make the claim through them, and guide you through the process of the claim itself.

No amount of money can erase what has happened to you, but it’s important to understand that there are people willing to fight your corner and earn any compensation you will need to help towards medical bills, prescriptions and any therapy you may need in the future. If you would like information on support services for victims of violent crime in the UK, the Victim’s Information Service provides amazing guides which can be found on their website.

For more information on the CICA scheme, visit the CICA UK website.

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, by Laura Classyandpink

A Look at Doe Deere's Routine

Doe Deere is a female entrepreneur, who was born in Russia and raised in New York. She is currently living in Los Angeles and is the founder, as well as, the CEO of Lime Crime Cosmetics. Lime Crime are certified vegan and cruelty free cosmetics. Doe was artistic and full of imagination as a child. She loved colors and is still hard core into colors today. Lime Crime started out on Ebay as a way for Doe to sell her DYI fashions. This opened the door for the cosmetic line.

Doe's "typical" day consists of going into the office around noon, having lunch and socializing with her team. She is in meetings up until 6pm, which is when she leaves the office most nights. Occasionally, she will have late nights and be there until midnight. She enjoys spending time with her two Persian cats, which she does before going to the office. Her daily routine, before she spends time with her Persians, starts at 8:30am. She doesn't need to set an alarm to wake up, she has an internal one. First thing she does when she wakes up is check her calendar on her phone and drink a glass of water to stay hydrated. She does stretches and eats a healthy breakfast that consists of: Grits, yogurt, fruit and orange juice. The orange juice is freshly squeezed from the oranges taken off her tree. During her morning routine she also checks her social media and email. After doing all of that she gets ready for work by applying her makeup and doing her hair. She takes anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour to do her makeup. The length of time depends on her schedule for that day. She enjoys taking her time and applying her makeup, it makes her feel free. While she is doing her makeup she listens to a group she is obsessed with; The Beatles. The Beatles remind her of fond childhood memories.

As she is listening to her favorite music she uses Glossier face wash to cleanse her face. She then uses Murad Hydro-Dynamic Quenching Essence moisturizer. Depending on how her day is going to end on which foundation she uses. She will use a powder to set her makeup before filling in her brows. She will then use blush and lipstick from the Matte Velvetine range to finish her look.

Follow Doe Deere

Twitter: @doedeere

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doedeereofficial

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doedeere

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, by Laura Classyandpink