Category Archives: Main

How to Take Your Company’s Environmental Platform to the Next Level

As the country focuses more and more on the environment, it has become more important than ever for companies to re-examine their environmental footprint and their role in protecting the planet. Of course, completely changing how you run your business can be a scary thought, so that’s not what this guide will aim to do. Instead, this guide will provide just a few tips on how any company can lower their impact on the environment and promote greater responsibility.

Look Into Cheaper Systems

Sometimes, you can actually save money while “going green.” Of course, the conventional wisdom is that it’s only possible to save money by going down a path that ultimately hurts the environment more, but that’s simply not true. For companies that routinely produce excess waste, outsourcing this waste to an industrial wastewater treatment facility can both help the environment and save the company money. These types of facilities, such as Sandling Industrial Services, are a useful tool for businesses that are trying to improve their efficiency while at the same time remain respectful of the environment and their local area.

Unplug Unused Systems

For those unaware, electrical systems typically take in power even when they’re not being used. While this might not be much in the short-term, it can make a large difference over a longer period of time. If you genuinely want to lower your company’s carbon footprint, then it might be worth the time to unplug any systems that aren’t being routinely used. It might take a little more effort, but it will be worth it in the long run when you see how it has affected your company’s environmental impact.

Look Into Work Alternatives

While this last tip might not work for every business, it’s still something worth considering. By letting people work from home, perhaps once a week, you can dramatically lower your company’s impact on the environment. With online communication improving on an almost daily basis, there’s virtually no reason for most companies to need to meet face-to-face for the entirety of the work week. Instead, simply have relevant staff members meet online whenever direct communication is needed. You might even find that productivity goes up when you let everyone get their work done from home, creating a win-win situation for everyone involved.

There are plenty of ways for companies to reduce their impact on the environment, but these are just a few of the simplest and cheapest to implement. Feel free to experiment with alternate methods, you might even discover a few of your own that other companies haven’t thought of yet.

How to Attach a Guitar Strap

Іf уоu’rе nеw tо thе guіtаr wоrld аnd wоuld lіkе tо knоw hоw tо аttасh уоu guіtаr strар tо уоur guіtаr with the help of a leather guitar strap, hеrе аrе sоmе hеlрful tірs. Fіrst уоu nееd tо knоw thе fеаturеs оf уоur guіtаr аs wеll аs thе fеаturеs оf уоur guіtаr strар. Моst guіtаrs аrе еquірреd wіth mеtаl fаstеnеrs саllеd strар buttоns. Тhеsе аrе whаt wіll hоld уоur guіtаr strар іn рlасе оnсе thе strар іs аttасhеd. Ensure the strap goes with the guitar, if you have a stylish Epiphone guitar you don’t want to ruin it with an ugly strap.

Guіtаr strарs usuаllу соnsіst оf lеаthеr еnds mеаnt tо аttасh tо thе guіtаr. Еасh еnd wіll hаvе а lіttlе hоlе аbоut а 1/4″ іn dіаmеtеr аnd а slіt аbоut 1 іnсh іn lеngth саllеd а buttоnhоlе. Gооd guіtаr strарs wіll usе nісе fіrm lеаthеr thаt wіll nоt strеtсh tо thе роіnt whеrе thе guіtаr соuld fаll оff. Ѕо whеn buуіng оnе, mаkе surе thаt уоu сhесk thе quаlіtу. Іn gеnеrаl, уоu wаnt thе lеаthеr tо bе аbоut 2-3 mіllіmеtеrs thісk оr 6-8 оz lеаthеr.

Оnсе уоu hаvе fоund thе strар buttоns оn уоur guіtаr аnd thе buttоnhоlе оn уоur strар, slіdе thе buttоnhоlе оvеr thе buttоn, sесurіng іt tо thе guіtаr. Νоtе: sоmеtіmеs thе buttоnhоlе аrе dіffісult tо strеtсh оvеr аnd wіll rеquіrе sоmе gооd strеngth tо асhіеvе. Тhіs іs nоt а bаd thіng оr а dеfесtіvе рrоduсt. Іn fасt, thіs mеаns іt wіll bе sесurеlу аttасhеd tо thе guіtаr. Yоur guіtаr wіll hаvе twо buttоns tо sесurе thе strар tо. Оnе lосаtеd оn tор оf thе guіtаr bоdу, аnd аnоthеr оn thе bоttоm оf thе guіtаr bоdу. Воth wіll rеquіrе thе sаmе stуlе оf fаstеnіng.

Ѕоmе асоustіс guіtаrs оnlу hаvе оnе strар buttоn lосаtеd аt thе bоttоm оf thе guіtаr bоdу. Іn thіs sіtuаtіоn уоu wіll nееd tо аttасhеd thе tор еnd оf thе guіtаr strар tо thе nесk оf thе guіtаr. Тhе tор еnd оf thе strар іs thе еnd орроsіtе оf thе аdјustmеnt hоlеs оr slіdе. Yоu саn sіmрlу аttасh thе strар usіng sоmе quаlіtу lеаthеr strіngs thаt саmе wіth уоur strар. То tіе thе strар tо thе guіtаr nесk, lоор іt sесurеlу thrоugh thе buttоnhоlе оf thе strар, thеn раss іt undеr thе strіngs аbоvе thе nut (lосаtеd аt thе tор оf thе frеtbоаrd) аnd bеlоw thе hеаd mаkіng surе thе lеаthеr strіng іs nоt tоuсhіng аnу оf thе guіtаr strіngs аs thіs wіll саusе рrоblеms wіth thе sоund аnd tunіng оf thе guіtаr.

Аlwауs dоublе сhесk уоu guіtаr strар mаkіng surе іt іs fаstеnеd sесurеlу аnd рrореrlу. Іf іt fаіls іt саn bе dеvаstаtіng tо thе guіtаr аnd саusе соstlу rераіrs. Іf уоu’rе lооkіng fоr еvеn mоrе sесurіtу, bе surе tо lооk іntо thе vаrіоus strар lосks оn thе mаrkеt. Тhеsе tурісаllу соnsіst оf twо mеtаl ріесеs, оnе thаt rерlасеs thе strар buttоn оn уоur guіtаr аnd аnоthеr thаt fаstеns tо уоur guіtаr strар, thаt lосk tоgеthеr рrоvіdіng а fаіlsаfе соnnесtіоn. Тhеу usuаllу hаvе quісk rеlеаsе fеаturеs tо mаkе tаkіng уоur strар оff аnd оn а brееzе. Іnstruсtіоns fоr іnstаllіng thе strар lосks аrе іnсludеd іn thе расkаgіng. Еасh strар lосk іs dіffеrеnt sо mаkе surе уоu rеаd thе іnstruсtіоns thоrоughlу.

The Funniest Gifts Ever

We all like to receive gifts, but is it always the case? Are there some situations in our lives when the gift we receive is unwanted and utterly useless to say the least? It seems that this might be the case indeed.

Have you ever played the game of Secret Santa? If you work in an office or any other place where such games would be suitable then you probably have done it by now. In this post, I would like to tell you about the game called White Elephant It is slightly different from Secret Santa and I will get to the bottom of this,

One of the main rules in the game is that the gifts you choose are supposed to be utterly useless to the other person. Why would anyone do it then? The answer is fairly simple: for the laughs. And then when you see items such as UFO detector or the Google cardboard, which is a poor’s man equivalent of virtual reality, you start wondering why anybody would even invent such gifts. But the answer is again very very simple: for the laughs.

When you look at the places where you can buy white elephant gifts, you will clearly see that the choice of them is very wide. It can be even entertaining to just browse such gifts even if you are not planning to buy anything, which you might end up doing anyway. I’ve just had lots of laughs looking at the Ostrich pillow. You might need lots of courage in order to appear in public places such as trains in something such as this particular pillow. Of course, the list here goes on and on. Buying in imaginary friend on Amazon might seem like a crazy idea, but when you look at the number of reviews you will see that there are people who are into such things. So, next time you are at an office party where you play the White Elephant game, consider getting somebody an imaginary friend from Amazon, an ostrich pillow, or the UFO detector. The whole office is guaranteed to laugh.

5 Home Renovations that Can Benefit the Health of Everyone

The home is more than just a place to lay your head at night or store your stuff. It’s an investment into the future of yourself and the family. However, you don’t need to settle for the layout. In fact, there are many things you can do to the house that can benefit everyone’s health. With the right home renovation contractors, you can boost the capacity for good health.

Carpets and Floors

Not everyone realizes just how bad the padding can get underneath the carpet. This is especially bad if you have animals in the home for an extended period of time. Mold and bacteria can easily become trapped within, which can lead to poor air quality. This goes beyond smell as some people can experience asthmatic attacks.

Insulation

The carpets are not the only thing that can lead to a bad quality of air. Old and rotten insulation in the home can also be quite problematic for those who have breathing issues. This is aside from the fact that it could be a resting place for all kinds of natures wildlife. It can also cause inefficient energy use in the house while using air condition and heating systems.

Slow Leaks

A slow drip may not seem like a terrible problem. However, it can easily turn into something worse. The moisture from the pipes can lead to mold and fungal growth, especially if the leak is in a cool and damp location. Over time, it can also lead to rotting the drywall and framework of the house itself. This could pose a serious risk to everyone in the home.

Roof Repair

Even the smallest of holes in the roof of your house can give rodents an entryway. Many of these critters carry diseases and have no problems spreading bacteria to other areas of the property. Although you might not have to worry about contracting the plague, a lot of people often get sick throughout the year because of mice and other small rodents.

Landscaping

The right landscaping can offer an engaging way to play outside. Physical activity is important in the health and well-being of everyone in the home, and having a yard to support those activities can be quite inviting. From play equipment to a simple yard, it will make going outside that much easier for everyone. Playing tag in the yard is much easier, and safer, if it’s done on grass as opposed to rocks and dirt.

Exercise and dieting are not the only ways you can be healthier at home. In many instances, the environment itself will play a role in being healthy. Take the time and explore your options for what renovations are ideal for you. Safety, security and well-being should be what a home is all about.

The Life of William James Mayo – Founding Father of the Mayo Clinic and the Mayo Stands

William Mayo is one of the three founding fathers of the Mayo Clinic, together with father William and brother Charles. They are known not just for creating the Mayo Clinic, but also for developing stainless steel Mayo stands, tools that are still used all over the world today. The Mayo family lived in Rochester, which was hit by a terrible tornado on August 21, 1883. Luckily, the family was unharmed, but an emergency hospital was instantly set up in the town’s dance hall. The two Mayo brothers instantly became involved in treatment the members of the community.

The Development of the Mayo Clinic

The Sisters of Saint Francis were asked to assist after the tornado, providing nursing care. After the crisis, they approached the Mayo family to ask whether they would be willing to help plan for the foundation of a hospital and attract talented physicians. The two brothers and their father did more than that, setting up the Mayo Clinic within its hospital, where they worked together with the Sisters of Saint Francis to perform surgeries.

William J. Mayo had three children, who all died in infancy. In July 1939, Dr. Will died of stomach cancer. Interestingly, throughout his medical career, Dr. Will had focused on this type of cancer. William was buried with his children, near his parents, in the Rochester Oakwood Cemetery.

Interesting Facts about the Mayo Brothers

There are some fascinating little titbits of information about the Mayo Brothers that every medical professional who has ever used a Mayo stand should be aware of. These include that:

  • A stamp of brothers Charles and William was released on September 11, 1964.
  • That both brothers were Freemasons, members of Rochester Lodge #21, the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.
  • The Mayo House is one of our country’s listed historic places.

Mayo Predictions

One other important thing to be aware of is that the Mayo family was a family of visionaries. In September 1931, William Mayo was interviewed by the New York Times. They asked him to predict what the world would look like in 2011, as part of the 160th anniversary of the paper. Mayo said that average life expectancy, which was just 60 in 1931, would rise to over 70. He was right.

He said that most infectious and contagious diseases would have been overcome. He also stated that the major health issues would be cancer, nervous system disorders, kidney and blood vessel illnesses, and heart disease. He was right again. He didn’t just guess this, however, but used scientific methods in his calculations. However, as much as it was an educated guess, it remained a guess. But he was absolutely right. By 2020, the average life expectancy was 78 years in the United States, and it was over 80 in countries like Japan. And his predictions about diseases have also mainly been right, and particularly those of more common causes of death. The only thing he seems to have missed is the obesity epidemic.

The Effects of Weight Loss Surgery on Family Relationships

No matter how often people tell you that beauty is skin deep, the reality is that people do judge on appearance. This is something we all known, and none of us can really help. The result of this, however, is that when someone has a gastric sleeve and their weight begins to drop off, their personal and family relationships are also affected. People will start to see you in a different light, because you have changed. And the truth is also that you will see yourself in a different light.

Positives and Negatives

Overall, the weight you lose is good on both a physical and psychological level. However, you also have to get used to some really big changes. Suddenly, you will be the center of attention and you will receive compliments rather than criticisms (sometimes hidden, sometimes not so much). You need to be able to know how to respond to these types of compliments the right way.

Try, as much as you can, to be dignified, grateful, and happy when you accept a compliment. Do not show false humility, and do not be afraid of the attention you will suddenly get. A lot of people do the latter, actually. This is because most of us aren’t cut out to suddenly be raised to near celebrity status. We aren’t prepared to be noticed positively, and many of us feel that type of attention is too much to handle. It can make you feel like people are putting unrealistic expectations on you, and that you will be unable to live up to this. This can, in some cases, lead to anxiety.

Interestingly, people often find their family relationships are the most under strain. This is because a partner in particular, who has been used to their wife or husband having been obese for a long time, can start to feel insecure about the fact that they suddenly start to get a lot of positive attention. Furthermore, if they themselves are also overweight, they may also start to feel envious of their partner.

All of this sounds as if life after bariatric surgery is not very pleasant, but that absolutely isn’t the case. By being aware of the impact this surgery can have on your social relationships before you have it completed, you can also become better prepared for it, and avoid the negative consequences. This is particularly true firstly for yourself. As stated, you are going to have to get used to accepting compliments in a graceful manner, and enjoy the positive attention you will get.

In terms of your partner, if you discuss the fact that these issues may happen before you have the surgery, you can come up with a plan to make sure nobody ends up feeling insecure. In a true partnership, people are supportive of each other. This means your partner should be supportive of the fact that you suddenly look amazing, but that you should also understand that they will have to adjust as well.

How to Teach Young Children to Dress Themselves

Have you been considering how to teach your toddler how to get dressed? You may have been looking at the different manufacturers at EKE and noticed that your child was showing an interest themselves. It is important for children to be able to dress themselves not just for the development of their own personality, but also for muscle memory, independence, and more. But how do you achieve this important milestone?

1. Have Realistic Expectations

At some point, children start trying to dress themselves. Depending on their level of coordination, they may find this more or less difficult. Between 18 and 23 months, most kids can put a hat or shoes on. By age 3, they should be able to dress themselves, but may still struggle with fasteners and buttons. By age 5, they should be able to dress themselves independently.

2. Let Your Child Be an Individual

Children, if given the choice, will often put on the most hideous combinations of clothes. You need to allow them to do this, however, as they are developing their own unique and individual style. Try, as well, to involve your kids in shopping for their own clothes. That way, they have more of a chance of picking something that actually looks good, instead of throwing combinations together from clothes they had no input in.

3. Simply Does it

If your child is still in the stage where they are just starting to learn to get dressed, you need to keep it simple for them. Lay out some loose fitting clothes that are easy to put on. Help them if they want you to as well. As the child becomes older, you have to make sure that their clothes are in easy to access places, so that they can pick what they want.

4. Never Criticize

Your child is not failing at life if they are a little slower at learning how to get dressed. They may not show any interest in it and be perfectly happy with you dressing them for ages. Once they do start to get dressed themselves, don’t put any pressure on them. And if things go wrong, help them solve it rather than criticizing them. Don’t tell them they are stupid for putting their t-shirt on the wrong way around, for instance (you would be surprised at how many parents do).

5. Have a Routine Poster in Place

Create, together with your child, a poster with a routine on. Put a picture of your child on it and list all the things that they have to do in easy to understand, visual ways. Make sure it is at a height that the child can see, so that they know exactly what they need to do and when.

6. Get up Earlier

Learning takes time, and you simply cannot rush these things. If you had 10 minutes on the morning to get your child dressed, you will need a lot more if you want your child to do it themselves. Hence, this may mean getting up earlier as well.

Top Tips for Taking Your Kids on Holiday

If you have young children, there’s no need to have to wait until they’re older for you to all enjoy a family holiday together overseas. For the majority of parents with a young baby or toddlers, the idea of getting on a packed plane full of travellers wanting to get a few hours of rest before their holiday commences can be a nightmare. Tiredness, boredom, travel sickness and a lack of facilities can be a recipe for disaster when you travel abroad with little ones – but with some careful planning and lots of preparation, this doesn’t need to be the case. In fact, if you plan it right, travelling with your kids can be a fun, enjoyable experience for everyone.

Flight Time and Drive Time = Nap Time

Many parents are being savvy with flight and drive times, booking flights and driving during the hours that they know will coincide with a time of day when their toddler is asleep. Booking a late flight or driving during the night time so that you can travel when your toddler sleeps helps to make the whole experience less stressful, as you won’t need to deal with boredom or worrying about your baby disrupting other passengers if they start to cry or make loads of noise on a plane. Just remember that driving in the dark does require a lot of concentration, so it’s best to share the job.  If your partner hasn’t passed their test yet, encourage them to practice for their driving theory test on Toptests and get their practical lessons booked as soon as possible.

Kid-Friendly Destinations

Arriving at your dream holiday destination only to discover that they barely offer any facilities for visitors with children can be a parent’s worst nightmare. Even worse, turning up at the hotel or apartment that you’ve booked to discover that the area is teeming with young partygoers, hen groups and rowdy stag groups can be enough to make most parents want to turn around and get on the next plane home. When you book your accommodation, make sure that you spend a bit of time researching and checking the destination as well as the place you’re staying at to make sure that it’s family-friendly with loads of facilities for kids. It’s also a good idea to opt for places that have plenty of children’s activities in the area.

Safety First

When it comes to keeping your little ones safe on holiday, you can never be too careful. It’s far better to pack tons of sun cream and end up having to take some back home than not packing enough and your little one’s sensitive skin being burnt. When it comes to packing, sun safety should always be a priority – opt for long sleeved, loose clothing that covers little shoulders and legs for the best protection, and don’t forget a sun hat! It’s also a good idea to pack distinctive clothing to make your toddler stand out in a crowd – this way you’ll be able to identify them easily if they get lost at the airport or on the beach.

Taking kids abroad doesn’t have to be stressful!

4 Tips on Shopping for Wedding Favors

Wedding favors are a very important part of any wedding reception because they really let your guests know that you are happy they showed up to support you as a couple. Many of your guests will be traveling great distances to be with you on your big day, so give them a token of gratitude is the least you can do. However, with all the expenses that mount up when you are planning a wedding, it can sometimes be difficult to keep your wedding favors within your budget. Knowing where you should go shopping for wedding favors and what you should be looking for can go a long way to making sure your guests are happy and you don’t completely break your bank.

Where to Shop

Knowing where to shop for your wedding favors is probably the best way to get what you want and keep it in your budget. We are all familiar with the classic concept of shopping at a wedding supply shop, but often times this means paying premium prices for the favors you want. That may be fine for someone with a large or unlimited wedding budget, but most people need to watch what they spend. Instead of wedding supply stores, try looking at dollar stores or in the clearance bins. You never know what may be waiting for you. Also, online stores often carry more overstock items and offer better prices. You’ll need to shop earlier so there’s plenty of time for shipping, but you can get really great prices when shopping online.
WeddingFavorStore

When to Shop

Usually, it is a really great idea to start shopping for wedding favors as far ahead of time as possible to get the best prices. That typically ensures that you’re not too rushed and can take your time to find the best prices. However, this is completely dependent on when your wedding will be held because there are certain times of the year when prices are much higher because of demand. Avoid shopping in the spring or summer for your wedding favors because this is when most people are out shopping for their wedding favors and other supplies. All that competition drives up prices and you’re more likely to find a good deal during the off-season.

What to Buy

When figuring out what items you want to buy for your guests, you want to keep in mind that you should choose favors that are going to be appreciated while at the same time fit into your wedding theme. For instance, sparklers for weddings are packaged much different from regular sparklers that are designed for other holidays or events, so make sure you are buying items that will fit your wedding décor. It’s not only wedding sparklers that have different purposes other than for weddings, so consider that example when brainstorming your wedding favor ideas. Typically, any item that you buy as a wedding favor will also have other purposes so make sure you are buying a version that is actually packaged for weddings to avoid items that look tacky or out of place.

Staying Within Your Budget

It can be very easy to get excited the moment you see those “prefect” wedding favors sitting on the shelf and want to snatch them up immediately; regardless of the price. However, it’s always a really good idea to shop around before making your purchase to make sure you get the best price possible. Utilize the internet to research prices for the same wedding favors at multiple stores before you head out shopping to save time. Using a little restraint and shopping around can really help you stay within your budget and get the perfect wedding favors for your special day.