Prepping for the Biggest Destinations

Prepping for the Biggest Destinations

Travelling to another country is probably one of the most exciting experiences a person can have. But at the same time, preparing for the trip can be such an overwhelming process… I know how much getting the right tips for your destination can be tricky and so today, I would like to share one of my favorite sources with you. The guys at Insidr have spent a lot of time gathering the best tips for the biggest destinations in Europe like Paris, Madrid, Venice, and London.

I made a small selection of their best articles on some of my favourite destinations, but you should definitely check their whole website out! You’ll see that they not only suggest travel itineraries like 2 days in Amsterdam, they also cover talk about very specific topics like finding gluten free restaurants in Paris!

Known for being the city of lights, of great food, and sometimes, even romance, Paris is perhaps on everybody’s list of dream destinations. But while a lot of people dream about their trip, most of them forget about the practicalities when traveling to a foreign country, with a different language and environment no less. At Insidr, I came across these interesting articles that have answered so many of my own questions! For example, honest tips about the public transport in Paris or how to get to Paris from the airport (Orly / CDG), and even going so far as writing up a guide to getting your own Navigo Pass. I particularly found the list of common scams to avoid to be really eye-opening! They also help with coming up with interesting things to do on Sundays in Paris and when traveling to Paris with kids!

A lot of you know how much I love hunting down the best cafes, restaurants, and the latest food trends. It’s really no secret that I’m a big foodie. So when I read the articles Insidr published about the best macarons, creperies and croissants in Paris, I nearly booked myself a flight! I also loved how they put out a list of  Paris’ coolest hidden cocktail bars, best outdoor food markets, and even where to eat gluten free food because those are the kinds of places only locals would know about. It was through them as well that I found out about how great Galeries Lafayette’s gourmet selections are and that they actually have cooking classes! I used to think it was just a place for shopping luxury goods!

No matter how many times you’ve been to Paris, there’s always something new to discover or something old to come back for. They write a lot about the places to see in Paris and about the must-do things there! For example, they published an article that helps travelers decide on the perfect river or canal cruise in the city! And if walking is more up your alley, their article on the most beautiful bridges in Paris is really interesting, too!

To me, France is probably one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Of course nothing compares to Paris but the country is even more beautiful beyond the capital. And I’m not just talking about taking a day trip to Versailles. With a perfect mix of nature, heritage, culinary delights, and culture, I could never recommend you enough to experience what the other towns have to offer. I think the articles at Insidr are the perfect guide to these hidden treasures! For those who are into history, you cannot miss the D-Day Beaches as well as the Mont Saint Michel area in the northern part of the country. And while you’re in the area, don’t forget to hit some of France’s quaint and charming towns like Dinan, Cancale, Bayeux, Etretat, Honfleur, Deauville and Saint Malo. And don’t leave Paris before visiting Giverny to marvel at Monet’s house and garden.

Insidr recently released their new detailed recommendations and tips on Venice, the gem of Northern Italy. You’ll find a lot of detailed and updated information on several famous sights, including Piazza San Marco, Grand Canal, or Lido. The basics are covered as well, with what to eat, where to stay, and what to do while visiting beautiful Venice. Detailed transportation info (including canal navigation!) is also included.

If you haven’t been to London, the only thing I can tell you is to go! And If you’ve already been before – go again! The Insidr articles I read about London made me realize how it is such a special city with infinite things to do! I love how they prepared guides and recommendations on London’s different neighborhoods like Westminster, Camden, Shoreditch, Notting Hill, things to do near London Bridge, Covent Garden and Greenwich.

They didn’t leave the important practical stuff out either! You’ll save a ton of money on Uber or taxi rides after reading their guide to public transportation in the city and how to get to and from the local airports.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

3 Ways to Save a Life

3 Ways to Save a Life

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Suicide is now being treated as an epidemic. With so many people ending their lives prematurely across the USA, it is becoming more and more important that everyone is aware of the signs and symptoms of those having suicidal thoughts so we can save as many lives as possible.

 

The reality is that if we can all be more aware of our friends and family, we might be able to stop this epidemic in its tracks. No matter what the reason for suicidal thoughts, if we can just get the help our friends need, there is a much better chance that they will go on to live a long, happy and healthy life.

Learning About Mental Health and Suicide

It’s not a cheery subject, granted, but learning about all the most common mental health issues is a good way to get grounded in what the medical horizon looks like. Many people with mental health conditions are perfectly capable of leading normal and fulfilled lives and may be so adept at hiding their problem that you simply never know.

 

Depression and suicidal thoughts definitely fall into this category. Many people who go on to commit suicide never gave a hint to their friends and family what they were feeling beforehand and therefore never gave them a chance to help. This is devastating news for everyone involved and learning to identify symptoms or even just checking in on an emotional level every so often could make a significant difference.

 

Relias Academy’s online suicide prevention courses are ideal for giving you all the information you need and suggesting the actions you might want to take. Just remember that if you are concerned for someone, you might want to approach another of their friends or family for a little support. You don’t have to do this on your own and shouldn’t be expected to either.

Being There

When people say “I’m here for you” it often comes across as empty words. If you know that someone is depressed and needs more help, you might be tempted to say this to them but then wait for them to ask for more help when they need it.

 

Asking for help, no matter what the situation, is really hard. Instead of waiting for someone in need to finally come to you, you should ask them direct questions such as “how can I help” or “would it help if I … “. You don’t have to do everything for them, but offering more tangible ways of helping is a lot easier for your friend to either accept or reject. Plus, once you have offered a form of help and followed through, they should become more comfortable in asking for other things.

 

Sometimes the best way to be there for someone is to literally be there. Sitting with a friend, even if you settle into a slightly uncomfortable silence is another tangible way of demonstrating your commitment to the friendship. Being a listening ear is usually the best way to give someone time – especially when they may not know how to phrase their problem in other situations.

Ask Your Friends How They Feel

We are all guilty of asking the question, ‘how are you?’ without stopping to really listen to the answer. And, we are all also guilty of automatically responding, ‘I’m ok.’ This needs to change.

 

Asking your friends how they are feeling and really listening properly to their response is a great way to check in and make sure they are alright. We should be sharing more about how we feel and the pressures we are under, rather than brushing them aside and forgetting about how important our mental health is.

 

Talking to friends about their mental health is a difficult conversation to have but, given that this moment could be the chance they get to find help, it is important that you power through – especially if you are concerned. This is a pretty touchy subject so you should be prepared for your friend to respond badly, but don’t give up. It is important that they know that you are offering a safe space for them to talk things through.

 

Though you can’t be expected to be the only thing standing between a person and their darkest thoughts, these three simple approaches show just how easy it is to do something about the suicide epidemic we face. If we can all take the time to really care for our friends and each other, we will all benefit – suicidal thoughts or not.

US National Suicide Prevention Hotline

1800-273-TALK

OUTSIDE THE US… call your National Emergency for help.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

Planning a DIY Project? Consider These Management Tips

Planning a DIY Project? Consider These Management Tips

If you have decided to start your DIY project and beautify your home for yourself and your loved ones, you need to know that there are plenty of things that can go wrong if you don’t plan the processes carefully. You can come across unexpected issues, run out of money and time, or cause more damage than good. If you would like to make your DIY project a success, it is important that you consider the below tips.

Projects Pics Diy Tools

Image via Max Pixel

Create a Timeline

Planning every step of the renovation project will help you identify potential problems and pitfalls, It simply doesn’t make sense to change your heating system if you want to have underfloor heating; you have to create a timeline of your DIY project that prevents you from touching the same area and  job more than once. This will not only help you save time, but also money.

Make Your Budget Fit

The next thing you need to be sure about is that you will have enough money to complete all the work. You might be thinking big, but you don’t really want to get into debt and take on a second mortgage just to make some structural changes. When planning the jobs, consider the cost and time it takes to be completed. Compromise on the changes, but not your materials.

Consider Professional Tools

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Every DIY job goes better and gets a more professional finish if you invest in trade tools. If you are not likely to use them more than once in a lifetime, you might visit your local DIY store to hire equipment that will help you stick to your budget and your timeline, and avoid getting frustrated with the job.

Outsource Some Tasks

There are some things you shouldn’t DIY in your home, and you have to stay away from touching the work that is best left for professionals. There are some jobs that can easily be completed on a budget, such as laying laminate floors or tiling a bathroom, provided that you have enough time and patience. However, you should not touch electricity or plumbing for your own safety. If you know that you are not a person with an eye for details, you might contact a remodeling company to help you out with some tasks.

Set a Deadline

Home improvements can be frustrating for the entire family. You don’t want to put up with the mess for months, nor does your partner. It might be a good idea to set a clear deadline for each renovation task, and stick to it. This way, you can avoid your project spiraling out of control and taking over your home life for months, even years.

If you are brave enough to start your home renovation project on your own, it is important that you plan every stage and make sure that you can stay passionate about the job at hand. Ask for help and improve your skills, but – most importantly – try to stick to your budget and deadlines.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

Here’s What You Need To Consider Before Accepting A Job Offer

Here’s What You Need To Consider Before Accepting A Job Offer

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Being offered a new job can be very exciting indeed. That’s especially the case if you have also been offered a larger paycheck and more exciting responsibilities and challenges with the new company. However, is it always right to accept a new job offer? After all, they can’t always be as good as they seem, can they?

 

More often than not, you will already have a good idea as to whether accepting a new job offer is the best thing for you to do or not. There might be some situations in which it is best to stay put in your current job. The only way you can know which is the best option for you is to weigh up the pros and cons of accepting this new offer, and trying to figure out whether it will place you in a better position than your current job. Here are some things that can help you make this important decision.

 

 

Read The Contract Through Carefully

 

First of all, it is necessary to take a look at the contract you would have to sign if you were to take up the new job offer. Usually, the company who want to hire you will send you this contract along with the offer so that you can review it. If they don’t, you should think about requesting it from them. Make sure you read all the different clauses so that you get a good idea of what you can expect from this new position. If it looks to be a favorable offer, then you might want to seriously consider accepting it.

 

Check The Retirement Plan

 

Every job should come with some sort of a retirement plan. Generally speaking, companies will put in place a pension that their workers can all pay into each month. Your employer will contribute to your pension pot as well, usually matching your monthly installments. As you can tell, this is hugely beneficial as it will provide you with an income once you do finish work for good. However, some companies’ retirement plans aren’t always as good as what they seem, so it’s necessary to find out about the one at the new company. Review it to see if it is better or as good as the one at your current work. If you aren’t entirely sure, you might want to pass on the details to a financial advisor so that they can advise you.

 

Consider Health And Safety

 

You might also want to look into the health and safety record of the company that has given you the job offer, especially if you will be working in a fairly dangerous environment, such as a factory or on a building site. They should have a public health and safety record available that you will be able to request. In this report, there will be a record or all kinds of injuries or accidents that have occurred to employees working in the company over the past few years. If you will be working in a construction firm, you might also want to get in touch with the skilled mesothelioma attorneys of NBA law firm as they will be able to inform you of any asbestos-related claims that have been made against the firm. There should also be public reports regarding the company’s record of following all the necessary regulations within their industry.

 

Possibly Negotiate The Salary

 

The new company will let you know what you will earn if you do take up their offer when they inform you of it. More often than not, the salary will be mentioned in the contract if they haven’t already discussed it with you. When you are moving to a new job, you should always try to aim for a higher salary or wage than what you are currently on. So, if they have offered you a slightly lower wage or have only just matched your current salary, you might want to think about trying to negotiate it.

 

Check Out The Corporate Culture Of The Company

 

It’s also worth finding out as much about the company’s corporate culture as well before you decide on whether you want to work there. This will give you an idea of how well you will settle into the new job. Ideally, you want to find a company that promotes social gatherings and get togethers amongst its employees. Not only that, though, but it’s also worth making sure that the company will offer you plenty of training so that you can improve yourself during your time there.

 

Happy job hunting!

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

Thinking Ahead And Three Questions To Ask Yourself

Thinking Ahead And Three Questions To Ask Yourself

Right now the only future thinking you might be doing is considering the weekend plans. They go by so fast don’t they? Where your meeting up for your weekly catch up with your friends or what restaurant you are going to eat in. Maybe you can’t think further than next weeks deadline for a project at work, or perhaps beyond wedding planning or starting a family. That is completely understandable. Living for the moment or not thinking too far ahead means you are making the most of what is right in front of you. But before long, you will find that you are getting older, getting wiser, and retirement will hit you square in the face. What next? The truth is, the sooner you start thinking about it, the better off you will be.

 

Often the decisions you put in place today can mean you don’t need to spend time in the future thinking about it, as things will be set up and in place ready to go. Which is why I thought I would share with you some of the things you can start to think about, plan for, and even pay towards right now. Hopefully some of these things can help you better prepare for a different phase in your life, enabling you to feel secure right now, and carry on enjoying living in the moment.

 

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Have you thought about future investments?

 

It is time to start thinking about making some solid roots for yourself, and one of the biggest ways that you can do that is through investing in property. Your first home enables you to get that foot on the property ladder and then subsequently, as life changes and moves forward, you begin to move on up that ladder. Maybe buying bigger properties or investing so that you make more money in the long term. For the future, this means you have a steady nest egg ready and waiting. Sat that with a no mortgage and equity you can use by downsizing when you no longer need the big family home.

 

You could also invest in additional properties. A lot of people consider using property as a way to fund their retirement in the future. Buying and selling properties that have had work or been renovated. Keeping properties on a portfolio to rent out so that come the end of their working life they have a fair few properties that are worth something. These can either continue to supplement your income through rent or be sold so that cash balances can be used to life off.

 

What about your health as you get older?

 

Retirement isn’t always going to be rosy. There could be some major decisions you need to make in terms of your health at some point. Getting older often means that your health might start to deteriorate, no matter how well you have looked after yourself. Living independently might be exactly what you want, but you may also need to consider how you might do that. Having money aside in advance to help adapt a home could be the ideal solution. Enabling you to still live in the home you love. You may also need to think of the possibility of a care home or nursing home at some stage, of course, no one wants to consider this, but it might be a harsh reality. I know there can be some stories you hear about nursing homes, but this is when knowing you have the law on your side can help make you and your family feel more at ease about this prospect in the future. Websites like https://grayandwhitelaw.com/practice_areas/kentucky-nursing-home-abuse-and-neglect-lawyer.cfm can be extremely informative and reassuring.

 

How will you spend your time?

 

Now onto the fun things, how do you want to spend your later years in life? Many people see retirement as their chance to tick off places on the bucket list. Websites like https://personalexcellence.co/blog/bucket-list/ could help you with yours. That destination list you mentally store in your mind over the course of years of places you want to go and experiences you want to have. Retirement means you have the time, and hopefully the finances, to make that happen. Of course, travel isn’t for everyone, so you may want to think about other things you can do with your time. Perhaps you want to take up some hobbies you haven’t had time to enjoy while working. Maybe you want to learn something new. Doing this gets you out of the house and socialising.

 

I hope this has got you thinking about some of the ways you can start to think and prepare for the future.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

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