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3 Really Easy Arts and Crafts Projects You Can Do From Home
Doing arts and crafts projects is a great way to express yourself and channel your emotions.
Art can help enhance every child’s cognitive development. By practicing arts and crafts, children heighten their critical thinking skills. It helps them make a mental plan or picture of what they intend to create.
Even as an adult, you can still enhance your skills through art. There are tons of arts and crafts that are easy to do and usually take less than an hour to create.
If you are looking for some fun and simple projects to do at home, here are a few options to consider.
1. Beaded Accessories
Show off your summer style with a beaded bracelet or necklace. Beaded accessories look best worn during summer. This accessory is one of the few summer arts and crafts projects you can do before going to the beach.
With these arts and crafts projects for adults, you can make jewelry of your own. To do this, all you need are colorful beads, needles for beading, and thread or wire.
Start by measuring the length of your wrist or your necklace. Cut the thread or wire according to size and tie a knot at one end. Start threading your beads using the pattern that you like.
You can use a bead spinner with a beading needle so that you can string your beads to your jewelry faster. You can do this by adding your beads and spinning the container. The beads go through the beading needle and onto your bracelet or necklace.
2. Paper Bag Puppets
If you are searching for good arts and crafts projects for kids, making a paper bag puppet is the way to go! Character puppets help kids in their language development by encouraging them to speak.
For this project, all you need is a brown paper bag and a few coloring materials. Think of a character that you can use to base your puppet. Draw its face on the paper bag and start coloring its features.
You can also add more personality to your puppet by gluing colorful feathers or fuzzy wires to it.
3. Cardboard Tube Rockets
Tissue paper rockets are one of those art projects you can do with materials you can find around your home. To do this, you will need cardboard tubes, glue, glitters, and straws for decoration.
You can start by decorating the cardboard tubes with your favorite colors. Create a rocket cap using paper cut in a circle. Use glue to attach the rocket caps to the cardboard tubes.
Decorate your rocket using glitter or paint. Then, cut strips of tissue paper for the added flame effects.
Try These Arts and Crafts Projects Today
Art projects are a great way to express yourself and get creative. We count on you to test out these arts and crafts projects we made for you.
Do you want more helpful art projects to test out? Check out more of our articles today! We cover topics on lifestyle, travel, popular news, and more.
How to Boost Immunity for Cold and Flu Season with DavidPaul Doyle Naturewise
Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, is a worldwide respiratory illness that affects approximately 5-20% of adults and 20-30% of children annually. In addition to these numbers, it has been reported that up to 100,000 deaths occur from complications caused by the flu each year in the United States alone. In the case of infants, pregnant women, and elderly people, serious complications can lead to hospitalization or even death.
In addition to decreasing your chances of contracting influenza, it is also important to boost your immunity with a healthy lifestyle to provide a strong defense against other viruses that may be encountered during this time of year.
One of the biggest factors that can help you boost your immunity is diet. DavidPaul Doyle Naturewise recommends an alkaline diet for optimal immune system function to increase the pH level in the body and provide nutrients that can help boost immunity.
An alkaline diet focuses on vegetables, fruits, and grains. To take full advantage of this immune-boosting benefit, you should avoid or limit your intake of animal proteins, dairy products, and processed foods like white bread and sugar. They also suggest drinking at least 4-6 cups of tea each day to help boost your immunity. Green tea is most beneficial as it is high in antioxidants and caffeine.
Taking a vitamin B supplement daily to provide optimal amounts of this important nutrient that plays a role in protein and carbohydrate metabolism helps increase energy levels and aids in red blood cell formation. Supplementing with a vitamin C supplement also provides numerous benefits. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps boost the immune system by countering the effects of free radicals and helps produce collagen, which is important for healthy bones, cartilage, teeth, and gums.
Another overlooked supplement that can help boost immunity during the cold and flu season is royal jelly. Royal jelly is a substance produced by worker bees to feed young, developing larvae in the beehive. Royal jelly has been used for centuries as an energy tonic and is now recognized for its immune-boosting benefits.
One final nutrient that aids in boosting immunity is zinc. Zinc has antioxidant qualities and helps support a healthy immune system response to viruses, bacteria, and fungal infections. In addition, it also enhances mood, promotes wound healing, and prevents premature aging of the skin.
In addition to dietary changes, they recommend supplementing your daily routine with at least 15 minutes of exercise. Not only will exercise help you boost your immunity, but it can also keep excess weight and high blood pressure in check, both conditions that can decrease immune system function.
Aside from dietary changes, increasing your exposure to sunlight can also help boost immunity. Studies have shown that vitamin D levels of 30 ng/ml are required for optimal immune function. Vitamin D is formed when the sun’s rays interact with cholesterol-like molecules on the skin, and it can be acquired through diet, supplements, or by getting 15 minutes of sunlight per day.
4 Biggest Challenges of Students in 2021
Here we are in 2021, and students have no shortage of challenges coming at them. Between a pandemic and modern technology distractions, it’s more difficult than ever to stay focused in the classroom. The great news is that overcoming challenges is possible with the right preparation. Here are some of the most common challenges that students face today, and how they can handle them with the right tools and guidance.
Poor Diets
When there’s so much work coming at students to complete, nutrition and exercise often take the back burner. Unfortunately, food is the fuel that gives students the brainpower to excel at their studies. So, it’s important that students not only prioritize getting their work done but also giving their brains the right food to stay focused. Quick nutrition solutions that are the most convenient can leave students feeling tired, and lazy. Whereas nutritionally packed options keep them alert and prepared to tackle their workload.
Screen Distractions
Statistics show that students are interrupted an average of 10 times a day by screens. With incoming notifications from multiple platforms, combined with calls or text messages from friends and family, it’s no surprise why the average person between 15 and 25 spends 4 hours a day on their phone.
The problem is that it becomes extremely distracting for students trying to focus on their studies. Luckily, recent smartphone updates come equipped with settings like “focus mode” and “do not disturb.” It’s recommended that they put their phone on one of these settings while working to avoid the temptation of picking up their device.
Social Challenges
In the age of star-rated society that is fueled by how many followers you have on social media, social distractions are at an all-time high. Many students are distracted by the social challenges that come along with their learning environment, and some may even experience bullying. Depending on the age of your student, you may find that some have more social challenges than others. Try to check in with them to ensure that they’re doing OK. If you sense that something is off socially, and you notice that their grades are slipping, it may be up to you to intervene and see where the root of the problem lies.
Financial Troubles
Older students attending university may be crippled with financial debt. Although the promise of a career stands before them after their degree is completed, so does an overwhelming amount of debt for many.
It’s important to look into as many scholarships and financial aid opportunities as possible. You never know what financial help is out there for students, so make sure to do some investigating. The less debt that your student leaves university with, the better they can start off their careers on the right foot.
A Complete Guide to Buy and Use Glass Chillums
When looking to invest and enhance your smoking experience, getting a chillum is the perfect solution for you. Whether you want to enjoy it with your friends or alone, you can find that nothing quite compares to the smoothness and taste that a glass chillum can provide.
Modern glass chillums are excellent to use alone as they can be lit up without anyone else’s help, unlike a traditional clay chillum. Traditionally used by holy men for meditation and spiritual purposes, its popularity has increased over the past few years, and here’s how you can find the ideal one for your needs.
Quality
Glass chillums can be fragile objects to handle if you haven’t researched beforehand and ended up buying whatever seems more convenient to you. Not all types of glass chillums are manufactured the same way.
Double and triple-blown glass chillums are more durable than ones that use no glass-blowing techniques. You can find online stores with in-house artisans who use their years of expertise to create a solid and durable chillum.
Design and Price of Glass Chillum
You can find a variety of shapes and designs in good-quality glass chillums. Many stores hire experienced artisans to create unique, one-of-a-kind chillums that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.
Don’t look for the cheapest chillum since it can compromise the quality and make of the glass. Find a reasonably priced option that has good reviews and a detailed description of its manufacturing process. Check the product specifications carefully before buying.
Your Usage
When looking to buy a chillum, you should consider how regularly you will use it and where. If you’re planning on using it mainly with your friends, you want to find one that has thick glass and an interesting design.
However, if you plan to use it alone, you can find one that has good portability and is smaller sized as well. It will enable you to travel with the pipe without being too conspicuous. You can carry it discreetly wherever you go.
How to Use Glass Chillums
Glass chillums are comparatively easy to use, but the methods to use them can differ when you’re using them alone vs. when someone else is lighting them for you. Fill up your smoking substance in the conical bowl end and make sure to pack it in tightly.
You can get someone else to light the smoking substance inside the bowl for you or do it yourself. Avoid the heated end of the chillum, and suck the smoke from the smoking chamber on the other end.
Find the Ideal Chillum for You to Elevate Your Smoking Experience
Using a glass chillum elevates your smoking experience to be better and more satisfying each time. There isn’t much preparation needed compared to other smoking methods like rolling papers, and you can light the chillum within five minutes.
Whether you’re looking for a smoking accessory to help you unwind during the weekends or looking for an aesthetic piece that you can add to your smoking collection, a high-quality chillum can do both for you at a reasonable price.
The Best Beauty Tools to Invest for Your At-Home Routine
There are so many great beauty tools out there that bring a professional treatment into your own home. This way you can enjoy treatment on a regular basis without breaking the budget. When you consider the cost-per-use of each of these products over their lifetime, each product costs cents to use every day, making them an excellent investment for your routine:
A Microdermabrasion Tool
These tools use a vacuum-suctioning tip to remove dead skin cells from even the most difficult-to-reach areas on the body, and can often be used on your face and the rest of your body to promote skin turnover and blood flow. Both of these benefits work to clear the skin and keep your skin healthy and radiant.
A Microcurrent Tool
A microcurrent tool like the NuFACE facial toning device is the perfect way to enjoy a face-lift right at home. The microcurrents work to tone and tighten the skin by essentially giving your face a bit of a workout. 85% of users have experienced an improvement to the contour of their face, and 80% noticed a reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, all for just five-minute sessions a day.
Cryo-Freeze Tools
These tools have made their way around social media the past year. Essentially, you pop them into the freezer and in the morning use them to reduce inflammation and boost circulation.
At-Home Micro-Needling
Though you won’t be able to get the same results with at-home micro-needling as you will at a clinic, the at-home kits have greatly improved and can help improve your skin’s circulation and turnover. The purpose of micro-needling is to cause superficial trauma to the top layers of your skin, so that your skin will produce extra collagen in response. Micro-needling also works to help your skin better absorb serums.
Gua Sha Tool
This is another tool that has seen a recent resurgence thanks to social media. The stone is specially shaped to fit around your face and stimulate the skin. Make sure that yours has a textured side which works to address fine lines and wrinkles.
Light Therapy Spot Treatment Tool
LED light therapy can work to reduce acne breakouts and can even help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, as well as redness. There are a variety of types of tools available, from spot treatment to full-face tools.
What to Remember
These tools can help keep your skin at its best, but if your health is holding your skin back, they can only do so much. Always combine skincare purchases with a healthy lifestyle in order to do the best for your skin.
Choosing the right products also plays a big role in how these tools work for your skin. Some, like the NuFACE, have a skincare lineup that is designed to help you get the most out of the tool. Others, like micro-needling, work best when you put serum on your face first.
A Simple Guide to Choose the Right Size of Bong
Bongs are the best ways to smoke marijuana and other herbal smoking products. They are available in different sizes and shapes, and the type you choose depends on your personal choice. For instance, if you want to get high quickly, a massive hit from an enormous apparatus is ideal for you. On the contrary, a mini 5 inch bong is perfect for carrying to a friend’s house for a party. You may also choose a size in between as per your preference.
What is a bong?
A bong is a water pipe for smoking, and the term is derived from the Thai word – Baung – a bamboo or wooden cylindrical smoking tube. During the Vietnam War period, American soldiers came across the ‘baung’ and took the water pipe concept back to their country. As the native dialect became challenging to pronounce ( bah-owng), a simplified version (bong) was coined with which everyone rolled.
Check out the various sizes of the device available on the market.
Big
Want to get a nice hit and plenty of smoke? Get a big apparatus with long stems. They range in size from fourteen to twenty-one inches. A single hit from one of these devices is good enough to give you a massive high. While portability may be an issue with such devices, they are perfect for home marijuana parties.
These devices come with unique features like ice catchers and percolators to impart satisfying and smooth hits.
Medium
Want something smaller but not very big? A mid-sized apparatus is what you need. If you have some experience and can handle slightly large hits, this size will be good for you. Unlike big devices that touch the twenty-inch range and smaller ones within eight inches in height, these devices vary in size from ten to fourteen inches. This size is excellent for getting satisfying hits and not getting overboard. You can hold them while smoking, but you may not be able to carry them while traveling. They are found in varied styles and shapes. Choose from a fancy colorful option or a scientific one with additional features.
Mini
For a phenomenal smoking experience, a mini device is an excellent option every time you take a drag, especially if you are starting to smoke marijuana or herbal products. Though they are small, they can pack powerful hits. These devices act as great options for traveling.
The devices vary in size from four to ten inches. The most available size in the market is a 5-inch bong.
If you want something on the go or are a beginner, opt for the smallest version. They conveniently find space in rooms and are portable. If you are experienced in smoking marijuana and are comfortable taking big hits, do not hesitate to get a big apparatus. You can also check out medium-sized devices that are suitable for almost all types of smokers.
Assess your smoking habit and decide which size to go with. The ultimate aim is to get a splendid high and stay in its ecstasy. Whether you sit under a tree, in a moving car, or at your home, take something that you find convenient to maintain and handle.
What We Must Do to Prepare for Retirement
Have you ever asked yourself why you go to work? When first hearing this question, you may think it’s to buy things or to be able to do things you can’t do without money. Those are both true, yet what people really don’t realize until it’s too late is that the main purpose of working is to make sure that you are taken care of when you are no longer able to work. A lot of people will believe that they can handle this problem by having children, believing they will take care of them when they get old, but oftentimes the kids either aren’t interested or do not have the resources to do it.
Our employers have devised a series of different mechanisms to ensure we have money when we retire, like Social Security, IRAs, 401k, or any other tax free investment program. However, it may not be enough, especially if no alternative measures or budgets have been made. That money can be burned through relatively quickly. It’s kind of a realization that gets a lot of people thinking about, “how will I take care of myself in the future when I get older?”
Think of your future life
In order to effectively plan for your future, you have to have a good idea of what you want to do when you get to that point. Do you want to live in a condo or do you want to live in an RV traveling the country? Where will your funds come from? Will you have enough to cover your expenses, and, if not, what will you have to do to get enough to do that? A surprising amount of people do not actually do this first step and that’s why they encounter problems as they get older.
Speak to professionals
Perhaps you want to plan for your eventual future but you don’t know where to start. There is no shame in getting consultations from accountants, financial planners, and people who work in nursing facilities or with retirees. These people not only have the experience and are trained to understand what you are dealing with, but they have also seen things that will allow them to give you suggestions based on what they’ve seen that worked. You can use their information to create for yourself a comprehensive plan for your retirement.
Do some math
This is how you will be planning for your future. You take your current salary in investments, and you calculate how much you will need to save and what return on your investment you will need to pay for your expenses as you get older. If you had spoken to a professional like in the earlier example, they may also be able to point you to some alternative investments and freebies that are given to senior citizens. Do research on different discounts that different companies give to senior citizens and that may be your saving grace in the future.
Take account of how old you are and how old you want to be when you stop working and check on your investments. How well are they doing right now? What else will you need to do to get you and your funds on the right track? Do you have enough to invest in another business or another security? You have the opportunity now in your relative youth to be creative in figuring out what you will do in this inevitable future.
Understand life is unpredictable
There may be those worried about unforeseen circumstances and health problems. You will also need to think about that while you are planning. Medicare will only be able to do so much. Make a list of all of the charities and all the organizations designed for older people and put that in a list next to the list for your discounts. Review this list from time to time to make sure the companies are still in business and still providing the service that they had promised earlier.
When making your plans, you must keep this one principle in mind; the end goal is to save up enough and have invested enough to where your investments along with Social Security and various help from other sources will allow you to live a relatively comfortable life in your old age. That is the purpose for working which many people seem to forget, but it is the main one that matters. The sooner you figure this out the sooner you will be able to retire with your health intact.
4 Tips for Healthy (and Happy) Employees
If you want your staff to be productive and happy, it starts with keeping them healthy – both mentally and physically. The question is, do you have a strategy that prioritizes your workers’ health?
The Connection Between Employee Health and Happiness
Unhealthy and disengaged employees drag down productivity and profitability. On the other hand, healthy and engaged employees increase productivity and boost the bottom line.
Fortunately, you can usually address both foundational items with a single program. That’s because health typically has a direct and positive effect on happiness (and vice versa).
As CEO Naz Beheshti explains, “Healthy employees are happier and show higher rates of job satisfaction. Engaged employees show up to work with a bounce in their step and are less vulnerable to stress, a significant driver of poor health.”
If healthy employees are happier employees, this raises the question: What impact does employee happiness have on one’s business? According to one study, happy employees are anywhere from 12 percent to 20 percent more productive than dissatisfied ones.
Four Tips for Keeping Employees Healthy
Keeping employees happy doesn’t require a rocket scientist – but it does require some intentional planning. Here are four useful suggestions.
- Implement a Wellness Program
If you don’t already have a formal employee wellness program, you ought to get started on one right away. Research shows that 61 percent of employees make healthier lifestyle choices when they’re encouraged by a company wellness program.
Such initiatives improve decision-making, both at the workplace and in many employees’ personal lives.
Launching an employee wellness program might sound more intimidating than it is. In many cases, it’s as simple as coming up with a few critical health objectives, training your staff on their importance, and empowering everyone to meet the goals through support, guidance, and opportunities.
- Offer Telehealth Services
Depending on the type of business you have and the risks involved with working in your operation, you’ll have to address the safety of your employees. Although there are hundreds of ways to prioritize employee safety, one excellent approach is to protect your people with telehealth services.
Telehealth essentially makes non-emergency healthcare services accessible to individuals regardless of where they happen to be. In the case of employees, you can give them access to healthcare while they’re at work.
This increases the likelihood that they’ll actually seek treatment or medical advice at the first sign of trouble, rather than letting an issue develop unaddressed, and potentially creating more serious problems.
Workplace telehealth services are commonly applied in factories, warehouses, and construction job sites. They can serve as on-site injury triage in situations where employees get hurt on the job.
This kind of setup is mutually beneficial for the employee and the firm. The worker gets immediate medical attention, while the employer gets expert guidance on how to proceed without having to file unnecessary OSHA reports.
- Invest in the Right Office Furniture
If your employees spend most of their time working in offices or cubicles, you want to make sure they’re comfortable and properly supported. Investing in the right office furniture – including ergonomically friendly desks and chairs – goes a long way in keeping employees focused and productive.
For employees who spend more than five hours a day in the office, standing desks are highly recommended. These allow employees to transition readily from sitting to standing without wasting much time.
- Gamify Healthy Activities
If your employees are like most, they’ll need a positive nudge to encourage them to engage in healthy behaviors. The best way to do this is by gamifying healthy activities. For example:
- Encourage physical activity by giving employees a 30-minute break in the middle of the day if they’re willing to go on a walk or engage in some form of physical activity.
- Incentivize good nutrition by offering free healthy snacks (and even the occasional free lunch).
- Create mini health competitions in which you reward workers for pursuing healthy and responsible tasks during work hours.
Simple little steps like these can go a long way toward motivating employees to be healthy, which typically amplifies their happiness and engagement. Don’t hold back!
Adding it All Up
When you empower employees to become a healthier version of themselves, you free them up to be happier and more productive. Take some time to invest in this facet of your business and positive results will follow.
Seven Important Lessons Nimrod Santo Learned From Being A Self-made Entrepreneur
Nimrod Santo is renowned for his influence as an online entrepreneur, business developer and a direct-response marketer. He continues to share his stories and experiences on entrepreneurship.
Here are seven important lessons Nimrod Santo learned from being a self-made Entrepreneur.
#1. If it is good enough, you will not get it so easily
From growing as a direct response marketer to owning over seven-figure online businesses, the greatest lesson for Nimrod, is that “Nothing Good Comes Easy.”
#2. Be Honest and Practice Integrity
Nimrod is very emphatic on the importance of honesty and integrity in business. He considers honesty and integrity beyond big bucks that requires compromise. To be trusted with more millions of dollars or whatever forms of value, proven honesty and integrity is required.
Again, honesty and integrity slides both ways. To your clients and to your team members. Trust, recommendations and opportunities would come if clients can always trust your ability to deliver the best.
#3. Build a System and learn to Delegate Responsibilities
Even though Nimrod Santo is popularly described as a jack-of-all-trade entrepreneur, He is very smart at delegating responsibilities, divulging knowledge and building efficient systems.
This allows him to focus on the most important things like sustaining the vision of the business and finding time to do other things that makes him happy. You would be burnt out too quick trying to do everything all by yourself!
#4. Customers mean everything!
Nimrod considers customer attraction, satisfaction and relationship, as very important, irrespective of the nature of operation. One simple rule applies; a lack of customers means a lack of business.
You must understand who exactly you are selling to, who else is selling to them (competitor) and how best to be the most preferred seller. Finally, stay simply accessible and open to feedbacks from your customers.
#5. Financial Discipline determines how long you would stay in business
Financial discipline for entrepreneurs starts with treating the business and the business owner as different entities. This helps in tracking cash flows, including profit and loss.
A very good advice is to place yourself as the business owner on a fixed salary just like your employee.
#6. Healthy Work-Life Balance
Being a successful entrepreneur is hard. Not finding that sweet balance between work and all the other things that matters in life, makes it more tortuous.
With discipline, Nimrod is able to find good time for his interest in surfing and travels despite how busy his life could be. Succeeding at your personal life and doing things that makes you happy, is part of a whole that helps you also succeed as an entrepreneur.
#7. It is not all about having the capital, you have to like and be good at what you do
Having enough money to start the business is a thing, but succeeding at the business would require more than that. You need to be very interested in the business.
This would help in developing other critical aspects of the business, like setting realistic goals based on realistic expectations, defining the business model and marketing approach.
Related: Expert Explains: How Nimrod Santo Plans to Crush His Business Goals in 2021
Is Wine a Good Investment? Underground Cellar Explains
Wine is a very common investment and people have been using it as a store of value for years. It is easily appraisable, fairly liquid, and can stand the test of time. Not only that, but it can also appreciate. This on paper should make wine a great asset.
Of course, wine can also be delicious and make for a great conversation piece. It could even be used to entertain. A recent article we read spoke on blind tasting parties and how to host them. One piece of advice was to mix exclusive wines with cheap wines to try to trick people’s palates. How are you going to have this kind of selection unless you have a nice collection?
With that being said, let’s take a look at what the team at Underground Cellar have to say on wines as an investment.
Wine is Only a Good Investment if You Know the Product
Unless you have a knowledge of wine and you have a genuine interest in it, we wouldn’t suggest you invest money in wine. Some people will go as far as learning the entire science of winemaking before they start investing. This will be essential if you want to know which wines to buy. Those who have a good knowledge of different vineyards, grapes, and years will always have an advantage over those who get their advice from someone else. Even things like soil conditions can make a difference. Knowing the history of wines is another essential part of becoming a collector. All of this knowledge will allow you to spot winners, but also avoid getting swindled.
Wines are Relatively Stable
One of the benefits of wines as an investment is that they are much more stable than other assets. Yes, there is still volatility, but nothing like you would see with other assets like gold, for instance. The goal here is to find great vintages that are in high demand. There will always be a cap on the number of bottles of a certain vintage that will be available on the market, and as more people buy and consume it, it will become increasingly rare. This means that your investment will keep growing over time.
Good Returns
It’s estimated that wines offer returns of up to 10% on average. This is rather impressive when compared to other investments like bonds, stocks, and mutual funds, for instance. Few people invest all of their assets in wine too, and you could use wine to balance your portfolio’s volatility while maximizing returns.
Another great thing about wine investment is the tax benefits. With other financial instruments, you’ll usually have to pay various fees or capital gains tax. There’s none of this with wines. While you may have to pay to have the bottles stored by a professional, the only fees you’ll have to worry about are duties and tariffs on international trade as well as shipping costs.
If you were thinking of buying wine as an investment, know that it could be a great option. Just make sure that you’re up for the challenge and ready to learn.