Great Habits: Picking Up Your Child From School On Their Bike

Rather than just picking up and dropping off your kids from school in your car, why not kit everybody in the family out with bicycles and turn the event into one that builds better habits for everyone? Your kids are sure to love showing off their bikes at school, and you’ll be building stronger bonds in the process. Here’s why commuting to their classes on bikes can be a terrific choice for your children.

Creating a Lifetime Of Healthy Exercise Habits


Encouraging your kids to ride a bike to and from school may help them build habits that can keep them from developing couch potato lifestyles as they grow older. Daily exercise is recommended for most children, yet many schools offer limited physical education opportunities. Riding each day can have a strong influence over how much activity and exercise your kids will engage in for the rest of their lives. Bike riding is so much fun that children may not even realize that they’re doing something good for themselves, but you’ll know that they’re learning a great deal about how good it can feel to be active.

Showing Off Their Bike To Their Friends

family riding bikes

In the same way that many adults can’t wait to show off their new cars, kids often get excited about flaunting their new rides as well. For kids, owning a bicycle gives them the freedom to go places and do things they otherwise couldn’t do, and it also offers a cool way for them to express themselves. By adding an eye-catching paint job, decals, and accessories like wheel lights, horns, and handlebar streamers, your kids can customize their bikes to make them uniquely theirs. Riding their tricked-out beach cruisers into the parking lot at school is sure to have them beaming with pride.

Spending Time Together As A Family


Picking up your kids from school isn’t a task reserved only for those children who would otherwise walk home. If your kids bike to their classes, meeting them and riding home together can make for a safer journey while providing a good way to forge closer family bonds.

Connecting with kids right after school may make it easier for them to talk about what they learned and experienced throughout the day. By meeting them on a bike yourself, you’ll be reinforcing that cycling is a healthy habit at any age. As an added bonus, riding a hybrid trike with an ample rear basket can make it easy to combine your after-school meetup with other errands like going to the market or grabbing your dry cleaning.

Encouraging your kids to bike to and from school can lay the groundwork for healthy habits, provide them with a source of pride, and strengthen family bonds. To find the perfect ride for accompanying your kids, check out a Sixthreezero around the block review to learn about one great cruiser option for adults to ride. Then everyone can peddle home from school in style!

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How To Choose A Bangle

Choosing a bangle isn't as easy as picking a design you like, there are other things you need to consider. Of course, the design is important, but you also need to factor in the material the bangle is made of, your budget, the craftsmanship, and the size and fit of the bangle. 

So if you are looking to buy a bangle soon, let's look at how to choose a bangle in more detail and what you should be looking out for. 

Design and craftmanship

gold bangle

Firstly most people when looking for a bangle will be drawn to the design, whether it's a classic simple look or a more fashion-led design. A bangle is simply a rigid bracelet worn on the wrist. Of course, a design like a simple classic cuff bangle in platinum, white gold, yellow gold or silver never dates and you will get a lot of use out of it.  Most fashion-led designs however will come in and out of fashion over time and can only be worn with certain clothes, or as an accessory with a certain look. Fashion-led bangles are often costume jewellery and made of materials such as wood, glass, plastic or metal.  If you are looking for costume jewellery, check out small designers in your locality that make their bangles carved from reclaimed wood, recycled glass, or plastic retrieved from the ocean for a unique piece of jewellery that is eco-friendly too.

Craftmanship is also a consideration, and a bespoke design from a master jeweller will often come with a sizeable price tag, as well as being beautifully made and unique to you.  If a designer is well known or if the jewellery is from a known and coveted brand such as Tiffany,  this can make the item more expensive as well. 

Metal and price

Indian bangle
Of course, if you are wealthy you can buy what you want. Platinum is the most expensive precious metal and a bangle made from platinum can cost the buyer thousands of pounds. Adorning the bangle with precious stones, such as diamonds, sapphires and rubies will also add to the cost significantly as well. 

However, if you have a budget then you may want to stick to buying fashionable items in a cheaper precious metal like silver or palladium or instead consider buying costume jewellery as mentioned above.

If you are on a tight budget source your jewellery from countries known for their jewellery making especially their bangles, such as India. The competition will often mean that the bangles will be well made. In Europe, Portugal is known for its silver filigree designs and a bangle made here will be stunningly beautiful and well crafted.

Size and fit

bangles

If you already have a bangle that fits you then you are lucky as you can use this to work out the size of bangle you need. Get a ruler, then measure the internal diameter of the bangle to work out your size. Measuring your wrist will give you a false reading as the bangle has to go over your hand and knuckles.  If you don't have a bangle that fits then you may be able to try on bangles in a shop, and ask the nice shop assistant if they know the size or take a measuring tape to work it out. You could also borrow a few bangles from family or friends and measure one that fits. You want a bangle to fit over your hand and sit on your wrist comfortably without it falling off when your hand is lowered. If you don't have a bangle to try on, tuck your thumb in and then measure your hand across your knuckles with a measuring tape. 

The style of the bangle can affect how it fits, with irregular designs fitting differently than regular circular bangles. Some people like the fit of the bangle to be tight while others prefer a looser fit so you need to take this preference into account. A big cuff bangle will feel different to a thinner bangle and you may want it to be a bigger size. Some bangles are hinged which means they open up and then close with a clasp. This style of the bangle will be easier to fit a wide range of wrist sizes and may come with a safety chain to prevent it from falling off your hand. 

As you can see there is a surprising amount of things to take into consideration when choosing a bangle. Let me know, do you wear bangles? 

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5 Home Improvement Projects That Add Value To Your Home

If you are looking to add some value to your home, whether you are buying a property to resell or doing up a family home, there are certain home improvements you should focus on.  These are home improvement projects that can really add value to your home, whether you are selling it now or in the long term. So let's look at what they are.

1. Bathroom Remodel

bathroom

A bathroom remodel will add some luxury to a home and also adds value. It's always a selling point if you have a new bathroom or a new kitchen in a home. Consider adding a bath and a shower to gain the widest appeal. A new power shower with decent water pressure is always a plus point. Think about adding underfloor heating if you have the money as well. Whether you are planning a bathroom remodel in Houston or Harrogate, it's well worth doing to add value to your home. 

2. Adding a conservatory

Adding a conservatory to your home is worth doing, especially if you need the space, and of course, an extra room is always a selling point. There is nothing nicer than sitting in a conservatory and watching the wildlife in your garden with a cup of tea, I do that all the time at my mum's home.  Many simple conservatories do not need planning permission either, but always check before you go ahead.

If you already have a conservatory that feels too cold in winter or too hot in summer, updating it can be just as valuable as adding one. Older polycarbonate roofs often let heat escape and let glare in, so a modern conservatory roof replacement can turn a seasonal space into a room you use all year round. That kind of upgrade improves comfort, cuts energy bills and makes the whole extension far more appealing to buyers.

3. Attic conversion 

An attic conversion can be a costly undertaking however, research by Right Move suggests that an attic or loft conversion can add at least 20% to the value of your home. That's one big reason to get one, in my opinion, don't you think? You do need some serious money, though, and attic conversions start at around £10,000 or around $13,500, going upwards to £30,000 or roughly $40,000 or more. 

4. Fitting a new kitchen

kitchen
 
A modern kitchen is always a great selling point in a home. New buyers are looking for modern units, with up-to-date appliances and a fresh lick of paint. A kitchen that looks fresh and inviting. You can have a bespoke kitchen made for you or make some adjustments to a kitchen yourself if you are on a budget. Replacing the kitchen doors, having new flooring fitted or having new built-in appliances can all make a big difference to a kitchen if you can't afford a total makeover.

5. Improving energy efficiency

Improving energy efficiency in a home can definitely add value to it. As well as keeping your energy bills down you are also helping to save the planet by conserving energy. This is a big plus point if you are selling your home or are looking to sell it in the future.  Ways in which you can improve energy efficiency in your home include having a new energy efficient boiler fitted, getting solar panels fitted, or having loft insulation installed to the correct thickness.  Check if you can get a grant to help with improving energy efficiency. 

As you can see there are several ways in which you can add value to your home. Let me know if you have done any of these.

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What Type Of Jewellery Was On Display During The Medieval Period?

From Pandora to Georg Jensen, jewellery is a much-loved fashion accessory for both men and women today. Of course, jewellery has been worn since ancient times and has always had an influence on fashion even in the Dark Ages.

During this period in history and medieval times, suffering and deprivation had a devastating effect on the vast majority of Western Europe’s population. The result of famine, wars and the plague, in particular, eventually led to a decline in the production of jewellery, although the British Isles managed to show off some superb pieces despite the undoubted difficulties which engulfed much of the population.

The types of products on offer were far beyond the usual necklaces and brooches featured in medieval-themed movies or the Avalon slot game by Microgaming, which is based on Arthurian legend. Belt buckles, buttons, hat badges, arm rings, ankle rings, and a whole host of other designs were regularly snapped up by the wealthiest people.

Gold was a popular material in particular and paired beautifully with a variety of decorating techniques, such as enamelling and soldering. Gemstones were also extremely desirable in the medieval period, with the likes of freshwater pearls and coral being high on many peoples’ lists. Gems were eventually altered too, perhaps by being cut and polished into something else.

Jewellery worn during the Byzantine Empire



As I’ve touched on already, Western Europe’s lack of jewellery production certainly hindered the overall growth and production of jewellery in Europe as a whole, but the eastern side of the continent was very much still in production and continued to make a variety of stunningly beautiful pieces thanks to the stability the Byzantine Empire gave the population.


Most of the jewellery produced was influenced by religion, more specifically Christianity, and featured depictions of the afterlife and a whole host of other religious images which influenced the all-round culture and way of life of that particular empire. Earrings were particularly favoured by people also and represented an excellent gift for various rulers. They weren’t just any old earrings either, instead, being filled with coloured gems and enabling whoever wore them to make a real statement of power and style.

What about Barbarian jewellery?


Wikipedia Creative Commons Pair of showy fibulae James Steakley

Brooches and pins were particularly popular during the Migration Period, a time when the Barbarian invasion began. Germanic fibulae, which were worn as both brooches and pins, were especially popular and formed a vital part of Barbarian fashion, enabling people to fasten their clothing and illustrate some additional style in the process.

Barbarian jewellery was worn by both men and women, too, although it was mainly only accessible to the wealthy and the well known. The craftsmanship which went into an array of pieces from that time was quite remarkable also, with a wide-ranging selection of products being regularly donned. From shoulder clasps to single fibula brooches that many of the women wore, the technique on display and the quality of products were quite remarkable.

Viking jewellery



Silver was the go-to option for the Vikings, with many of it lacking the extravagance and detail of some of the aforementioned styles being worn by others. It did evolve somewhat, though, as Vikings adapted the commonly worn silver jewellery to include animals, geometric patterns, and everything else in between. The Vikings had a range of clever techniques to elevate certain pieces too, perhaps by carrying out filigree work or sprucing a piece up through repoussè (hammered into relief work). 

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The Difference Between Cotton And Linen Dresses

If you are looking to buy a new dress, you will need to choose a suitable fabric.

While women’s dresses are available in more than a dozen fabrics, cotton and linen are two of the most popular materials. They are both comfortable and stylish, making them the favourite choices for women all around the world.

However, there are distinctive features that differentiate cotton and linen dresses and that are useful to know.

TOP 7 Differences Between Cotton and Linen Dresses

1. Origin or source of the material

material

Although cotton and linen dress appears to look visually similar, they are made of two unique materials. Cotton is made from fibrous organic material around the seeds of the cotton plant, while linen is a material weaved from fibers of the flax plant.

2. Strength and softness

Have a minute to compare the fluffiness and strength of cotton and linen material in your wardrobe. You will probably notice that both fabrics are very soft and fluffy. Some people will claim that linen feels slightly softer, especially after being washed and worn many times. An interesting fact you should know is that linen gets to be softer over time. So, if you feel your favorite linen dress is soft right now, it may feel even smoother up to 30 more years.

Cotton and linen fabric appears to be durable, but the difference lies in their fibre’s physical composition. Thanks to the cellulose fibres present in your linen dress, that makes it more durable than cotton. These fibres appear to be longer and wrapped tighter, providing strength and versatility to the linen fabric.

3. Absorption, quick-drying and temperature-regulating capabilities

Others speculate that linen fabric absorbs more water than cotton, but this speculation is not necessarily true. In fact, a linen dress will absorb up to 20% of its water in weight until it feels wet. Neither the cotton nor linen are water-resistant, but both have the quick-drying ability. Linen fabric stands to be more superior to wick the moisture instantly than cotton. So, the most appropriate fashion apparel during the hot season is in linen material since linen draws the sweat out of your skin, and it dries more quickly. Also, linen table napkins and table covers are more practical because they promptly dry all kinds of liquids.

Moving on, the temperature-regulating capabilities of linen is more substantial than cotton thermoregulatory abilities.

Linen fabrics are referred to as “natural air conditioners,” just like your favourite linen bedsheet will keep you cool and cosy even on the warmest nights. And thanks to its innate ability to keep moisture away from your body, you won’t wake up sweaty and feeling hot at all. But during winter, it is advisable to layer linen to keep your body warmer.

4. Breathability

dress

Here is where the linen dress really shines and why many preferred linen fabrics to cotton entirely. Linen fabric is one of the more breathable textiles on the planet. Thanks to the flax fibres' hollow structure, making linen highly breathable by helping the air and water circulate with ease and allowing heat to escape away from your body. Would you agree if I say that wearing a linen dress or sleeping in with your linen bedding feels more comfortable? That is why a linen dress is the ultimate clothing choice for the summer season.

5. Wrinkle-proof and smooth quality

A wrinkle-proof fabric does not entirely exist even cotton and linen clothing will eventually develop wrinkles. A linen dress will naturally generate more wrinkles than a cotton dress because of the breathability of linen fabric.

There are ways to get wrinkles out of linen clothes. For instance, removing your linen dress from the dryer and immediately putting it up on a hanger will help hinder wrinkles from forming. Also, if your linen dress instructions state “dry clean only,” you should not wash it in the washing machine; instead, have your local dry cleaner professionally cleaned it.

Another clear distinction between cotton and linen is their texture in correlation with their smoothness through visual and physical examination. Compare your cotton and linen dresses using your sense of touch. You will notice that cotton feels a little smoother compared to your linen dress. Then, look closely; you will see a more visible lined pattern in the weave of a linen garment, while a cotton piece appears to be smoother and more uniform.

6. Hypoallergenic and longevity capabilities.

Both materials came from natural fibres that support hypoallergenic properties. As mentioned earlier, linen can get rid of moisture instantly; that is why it has the innate ability to control and prevent bacterial growth. Therefore, linen is more suitable for people suffering from allergies and skin problems because of the lower thread count and loose weave formation of flax fibres keeping the small particles such as dust at bay.

Cotton clothes are comfortable to wear, but they can lose their beautiful form after repeated washing, unlike linen clothing that gets better with every wash. At the same time, linen has moth-resistant and anti-microbial properties keeping your linen clothes fresher and looks great for years to come. Take note that your favourite linen dress will get better with age.

7. All in All

In summary, both cotton and linen fabric has many excellent features that’s why they deserve to be the preferred fabric apparel for everyone. See the table below to have a recap and better understanding of the differences between linen and cotton.

Linen Vs. Cotton

linen and cotton

Once you have superior linen attributes and feel the necessity to change your wardrobe or use it all around your home. You can buy linen clothing and other linen home essentials online; we strongly suggest purchasing pure linen.

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Voice-over: Its Importance In Creating Content

A voice-over is important in creating content. Although it is a kind of oral speech, a voice-over is first written in text to be read later in a recording studio. This text usually has no self-existent literary value but captures the visuals. If isolated from the images and other sounds that make up the environment, a good speech may sound strange, and not sufficiently understood or misinterpreted. This is why the script of documentaries guided by oral narration often takes the form of a two-column text, where one column contains the text of the speech, while the other describes the images that accompany it at all times.

Depending on the type and methodology preferred, voice-over parts can be written in every production phase, from development to the end of editing. In many cases, the speech is written by enriching the meaning of the images, while other times, its writing precedes and the images are collected based on it. Most of the time, however, the final text of the speech is not finalised until after successive writings and tests in the editing. The question of who writes the highlight is just as complex. In practice, it can be the researcher, the director, an outside copywriter, or any above combination.

The writer of the speech, however, is not only familiar with the subject or the story of the film, but also needs to understand to some extent the cinematic language in order to calculate the synergy of sounds and of images in the creation of meaning.

Simplicity of speech

voiceover

It is crucial when voice acting to go for a simpler tone and speech. The orality and ease with which they are understood and received is very important for the audience. This is the case in all "traditional" means of media such as television and cinema. It should not be necessary for someone to go back and re-watch something in order to understand what has been said.

If the viewer finds it difficult to watch the narrative at one or two points, they will probably give up after a while. The sentences, then, are usually short to be comprehensible and use simple, everyday language. Difficult expressions, specialised terminology or complicated syntax should be avoided. Although already written, the speech of the speaker usually tries to hide this side of his words. The simplest way to check the orality of the voice lines is to pronounce them, to interpret them as you see them.

Voice casting



In a film that uses voice casting, the viewers perceive the narrator's voice as the voice of the film itself. Even if the editing is more or less completed with a rough recording of your own speech, the film's identity is still pending in the hands of the narrator, usually an actor who will recite the voice lines. An unfortunate choice of voice can undermine your work, while a successful one can add immediacy and character to any scene where it is heard.

The film's voice should come from its narrative core and be organic and natural. The casting of the voice finally leads us to answer the crucial question: "who is the personality that leads the cinematic narrative, who tells this story?"

Beyond any attempt to rationalise the process, the choice of voice ultimately remains a crucial part of any voice over project. Each voice has its own tone and reflects its owner’s personality, and experience in life, giving an interpretation to the narrative from the beginning, without the need for "acting". There are voices with depth and warmth, voices with a rich, charming tone, which can make the viewers "feel" the words and not just understand their meanings. You can look for candidate voices in actors, more or less specialized in this, or even amateurs whose "profile" matches the image of the narrator you have in mind or whose voice seems appropriate to you. Ultimately the choice of voice can be safely obtained only through tests of alternative voices (auditions). You can find pro voices of different types at voquent.com, which fit perfectly with your content and can engage the audience.

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