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The greatest gift you can give your new stepchild is time. Remember your stepchild is grieving the loss of their nuclear family. It will take time for them to get used to the situation.

Getting married always presents adjustments for the wife, husband and their extended families. Marrying into an already existing family structure introduces additional challenges and adjustment for everyone involved. Newlyweds may not enjoy the same privacy and bonding time that childless couples experience. Stepparents will have instant roles and new relationships with possibly confused or resentful children.
With the proper blend of patience, communication, and support from your spouse, being a stepparent can be a rewarding and positive adventure. Here are some tips for easing the transition and building and maintaining healthy relationships with your stepchildren.

Depending on the situation and age, children may take a long time to accept a stepparent. Teens may take even longer than children under eight. Adolescents may already be struggling with all the adult relationships in their lives. They may also be experiencing things that have nothing to do with the new stepparent. Being too eager to force a relationship may backfire.

Giving kids time to get used to you may prove beneficial over time. “The greatest chance to be a positive influence can only be achieved through patient bonding,” advises John Patrick Jacobson, a stepfather of two teenaged children and founder of website, Stepfathers.com.

Your spouse plays a vital role in helping kids and stepparents build a positive relationship. Tad Benson, a stepdad of a six-year-old boy and founder of Stepdads.com warns that sometimes “Moms tend to try and force it and make everything all right, but it won’t pay off in the long run.”

Benson maintains, rather than rush the relationship, “it will take time and it needs to be built on mutual trust and acceptance.” He states, “your goal initially is to survive.” Based on his experience, Benson adds, “as long as everyone is mutually respected and there’s love abounding, you should strive to create your own relationship and family dynamics.”
Benson warns that, “stepdads need to see themselves as stepdads, not biological dads.” Though this may be difficult to accept when you are eager to forge new relationships with stepkids, but Benson feels this belief will help to build a better foundation. A new, special bond will most likely develop naturally over time.

According to a recent poll completed by stepdads, conversation is the best way to connect with stepchildren. This is followed by activities of mutual interest such as computer games and sports.

Stepparents may make progress building relationships with stepchildren by trying to be a loving relative, instead of a …

Read more: http://www.familytlc.net/step_parenting.html

Hedges present a number of capabilities to a home garden or landscape. They’re able to mark property lines, provide barriers for individuals and animals, screen off unpleasant views and work as a windbreak. Landscape bushes and trees do require maintenance and watering. Fake plants can be utilized in several of these instances to replace natural plants. Fake hedges are believed as beautiful “living walls” because of their natural and real-like appearance. Technicians can cut them in various sizes and shapes depending on how you’re going to use it – possibly a living privacy screen to surround the lanai or a deciduous wall application to improve the deserted area.

Because fake hedges are constructed with the high quality and robust materials, they could be conveniently set up in the meditation and pool side areas. The evergreen appearance of privacy hedges will give comfort and warmth specifically for those who find themselves seeking relaxation. And no one can ever tell that the fake hedges are artificial simply because of its natural look. You no longer have to spend money for maintenance and etc.

From supplying that realistic looks that can enhance the bare wall into a visual one, their unique features can leave a warm welcome to the visitors. Fake hedges are quite popular in terms of choosing the perfect privacy screen for your backyard. According to studies, they play a huge role in the lives of the people residing in urban and suburban areas. They could keep your activities from the prying eyes of your neighbors or could barricade your home from unpleasant sights and sounds. Furthermore, hedge privacy screen may filter some pollutants or gas values round the area.

Currently, home and business owners are increasing the usage of artificial hedges for a number of reasons. Large artificial hedges, with the accent of artificial ivy, azaleas and bougainvillea, could significantly affect your outdoor garden -transforming the old plot to a modern courtyard. You can even have it in a form of topiaries or arcs that may give an eye-catching appeal to the crowd. In addition, in order to add more style to your garden, it is possible to ask the design consultants for valuable suggestions

Since we are in a fast-growing society, these structural factors that can greatly help us produce a perfect seclusion and safety for our family and family members. Also, you no longer need to devote your time maintaining your hedge because this artificial hedge prettily lasts for long.

One thing about Singapore that is different from other country is that Singaporeans tend to lack the ability to do home repairs themselves. This is usually because:

As such when there is a minor problem such as flush leak or tap leak, we tend to engage a third party to do the work. The question is whom should we outsource this work to? A plumber or a handyman?

What is the difference between a plumber and a handyman?

To break it down to simple terms, a plumber is a technician whom specialise in water works only. They only do repair work related to your piping, toilets and sinks. Nothing else.

While a handyman is someone whom is a jack of all trade. You can get them to do the work of a plumber and yet also get them to do other repair work such as minor electrical repair or carpentry work.

The main difference between them is the proficiency at which they are able to do the respective work. A handyman is a professional whom can be said as someone whom is a jack of all trade but master of none. In this we can see the issue. Should your problem be complicated, a handyman may not have the necessary skill set to complete the work required.

How to differentiate between a handman and a plumber?

The answer lies in their website/advertisement. For example here is a site of a Singapore plumber. You can see that the company on this site only provides plumbing services and nothing more. All their work is related to plumbing such as chokes, leaks in pipe, changing of sanitary ware etc.

Now lets compare this site to that of a handyman. As you can see on the site, they offer a wider range of services with plumbing being part of it. They also provide work such as door repair as well as many others.

The crucial point to note:

When engaging a handyman, you can get a 1 stop solution for your home problems yet at the same time if your work is complicated, they may not be the best option.

Taking for example:

Case 1 – repairs needed at home includes a flush leak, light flickering and minor carpentry work.

Case 2 – Leakage in ceiling.

For case 1 a handyman can probably solve all your needs. As you are giving all the job to 1 person, the price should also be lower than that than you calling a plumber for the leak, a electrician for the light and a carpenter for the carpentry work. This is because you have to take into account the travelling time. For example if i am to ask you to buy lunch for 30 pax all from say macdonald compared to i am to ask you to buy lunch for 30 pax at macdonald, burger king, pizza joints etc. The job at the first option is going to much easier than the 2nd option and that is why business charge more for travelling time too.

For case 2, a handyman may not be able to handle the job as such a plumber might be more suitable.

As such after weighing the pros and cons of each, can one decide on which technician to hire for the repair work in their home.

Plumbing companies provide a variety of commercial and residential services. Their authorized and licensed experts are trained to offer you pro tips to accomplish all your plumbing needs. Anything may go wrong in the plumbing system from leakage to the failure of the sever system. Without correct maintenance and care, it becomes highly difficult to manage the problem. It also gets worse when neglected and left for nothing. Skilled plumbers can deal with all the problems immediately after determining the source of the problem.

Comprehensive services offered by Plumbers:

All Plumbing Repairs
Residential plumbing solutions also include replacement of pipes which cracked or burst due to the age or due to disasters, drain blockage, malfunctioning sewer lines and low pressure of water in faucets. It deals with numerous home plumbing system: interior water supply system, exterior residential plumbing, gas plumbing and drain, sewage and vent system. All kinds of repairs in relation to your pipes, faucets, sewage are dealt with by plumbers.

They are the pros who have been in the field for years and have a better idea of how a water heater should be carried out. Your service might involve a suggested replacement of your entire system if it is outdated, old, and dysfunctional or you may require a replacement of certain parts. This service can lead to a huge investment on your part because it can allow you to spend less on your monthly energy expense and will allow you to become more eco-friendly as you use less resources in your house or office.

Drain, Waste and Vent System
This plumbing system is the process of removing greywater from a house and enables this wastewater to pass through drain lines promoting proper and safe drainage. Drain pipes used are normally made from cast-iron or plastic drain pipes or ABS. Such a system stops waste water and sewage from entering septic and sewer systems of private and municipal. Draining problems could often appear to cause bigger damages like flooding of bathrooms and kitchens which can result in basement or lower level ceiling damages. Because these drain clogs can seem to creep up on homeowners it is a great idea to get your pipes and water systems routinely checked by a professional plumber.

There’s not much a residential plumbing service cannot do. Whether it be fixing a faulty pipe or putting in something completely new, a residential plumbing service could be there for you. Whatever that need may be, whether it is something you have looked towards doing for a long time or a last minute emergency. Whatever service you need to request from a plumber, always ensure that the plumber is trustworthy.

In terms of the interior design of your property, you want to decide each item with particular care, ensuring that this blends in with the overall design of the room and complies with your particular prerequisites. With custom-made furniture, you can pick a design that with your interiors. Although they are more expensive than regular furniture, it can actually help you in numerous ways.

• Durable
Typically, custom-made furniture will save you money since it is so well-built. Since it’s handmade with care and diligence, you’ll usually see that custom-made pieces last a lot longer than factory-produced items which are little more than glued-together particle board.

• High Quality
The very first reward you’ll find in regards to picking custom-made furniture is that it is fully authentic. You don’t stand the risk of obtaining a product, only to find out later it’s a knock-off. You’ll know who made it and this lets you do your research first, learn about the company, their carpentry approaches and if you are getting wood, you can make sure they follow a sustainable programme to put your mind at ease. Furthermore, for those who have pot loads of money then you can tell the carpenter to utilize the very best wood or alloy around.

• Stylish
Furniture is much the same, buying custom-made furniture allows you to set yourself apart from the other houses, having something unique and original in your house which you can appreciate for years to come.

While custom furniture is usually seen as an high-priced option, it actually provides value for money at the mid to high rates. This is because the purchaser has full control over the price. You may go in to a high end furniture shop and observe a really nice design you like, but it’s out of your price range. It is possible to opt for customized one which is almost just like the design you like. You can present your budget and then the store will show you your options.

• Increased use
The most significant features of choosing a piece of custom furniture as opposed to a generic retail furniture is that it is designed to your precise specifications. Typically, when purchasing standard retail furniture, you’re restricted by the dimensions of that piece. This tends to cause issues, for example small rooms might not be capable of taking a big custom closet, or in a bigger room a small piece might look too small in its surroundings. Also, you could have different and unique designs from magazines and from the web and combine them to look distinct. In case you are shopping for ready-made, you can’t use your very own design.

Essentially, custom-made furniture can save you money by offering functionality, unique style, durability and quality all for less than similar items produced in a factory.

For most people these days they have come to the conclusion that the best deals on anything in most cases are found on the Internet. Unless you have your mind made up on exactly what you want, it is easy to get mesmerized and finally confused, and eventually leave the store with nothing! Online shopping has come a long way; buying large appliances online is becoming more popular every day. With manufacturers and retailers offering the same products online as they do in the showroom, online shopping can make shopping for major appliances a simple and stress-free task. Convenience has become the marketing strategy for online retailers. The best online shopping tips streamline the process of buying appliances. Use these online shopping tips to purchase large appliances with ease.

Buying Large Appliances Online: See more: http://www.overstock.com/guides/online-shopping-tips-for-buying-large-appliances

As with any type of painting, the success in executing a good facial makeup lies greatly in the tools used to apply the different colors. If you are confused with what tool to use, here are some tips.

We all know that makeup can be very overwhelming to not only find the perfect shade, but the perfect coverage, as well as the tools to apply the foundation so that you can achieve that flawless complexion you strive for.

There are a few options out there to choose from that can absolutely accomplish what you set out for, perfection.  Today, I’m going to do a comparison of the Sigma F84 Angled Kabuki Brush, and the Beauty Blender.  Both of which I love equally, but for different reasons I am about to discuss.  So let’s do this! I have listed a few different types of makeup products as you can see above.  I have 3 foundations, a concealer, and a cream blush.  Now, before I get into the nitty gritty of what tool I prefer to use for what, let me say that by all means your hands are absolutely just fine to use as an application tool (just be sure they’re clean before touching your face).

Foundation Brush:
I absolutely love my Sigma foundation brush (see just how much in this post here).  I love how easily it applies my foundation, and gives me an “airbrushed” effect to make my skin look flawless yet natural.  I have found after some trial runs with a few different types of foundations, I feel like a foundation brush works best for me when used with a foundation that’s a thicker consistency such as the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour full coverage foundation or Kat Von D lock-it tattoo full coverage foundation.  The proper way to apply foundation with this brush is to pour your desired amount of foundation on the back of your hand then dab the brush into the foundation and begin applying to your face.  There really is no rhyme or reason to what direction you go or where you start, but always be sure to move your brush in circular motions.  The circular motions allow your makeup to be “buffed” into your skin which creates an “airbrushed” flawless effect.  If you have any trouble areas or pigmentation problems with your skin, I recommend using the brush in a stippling motion over those areas (patting the brush into the skin for extra coverage).

Beauty Blender:
I was introduced to the Beauty Blender recently and cannot get enough of it!  In a few simple steps, you have amazing coverage and what’s even better, this applicator works to blend multiple products on your face.  I prefer to use this applicator with thinner/runnier foundations such as the Tarte Maracuja Miracle Foundation, concealers such as the Tarte Maracuja creaseless concealer, and cream blushes such as Stila Convertible Color.
The first step is to soak your blender in water and squeeze out as much water as you can with your hand, then wrap it into a dry towel and squeeze even more moisture out.  The idea is to have your sponge damp, but not wet.

Read more: http://www.beginwithjenn.com/beauty-101-foundation-brush-vs-the-beauty-blender/

The bedroom needs to be the most comfortable room in the house, of course, the purpose of shelter as a basic human need is to provide a place to sleep and replenish the body and mind. Due to this, home light fittings and arrangements for the bedroom needs to be carefully considered. But the lighting of one room is not the same as others since they may have distinct functionality and requirements for a specific user. Your son or daughter’s personality and likes and dislikes also will play a substantial role to understand the lighting needs. As an example, newborns need low-level lighting so you’re able to see during those frequent trips in the night time to feed, change and comfort. While older kids may get scared at night if the room is dark, which in that case setting up a night light on the opposite corner of the room is a great idea.

• Recessed lights: These are ideal for providing ambient or general lighting fixtures, giving your bedroom the feel of being bathed in sunlight. They may also be smartly set to accentuate specific areas or features of your bedroom that is certainly perfect for adults.

• Suspended Industrial: One of the biggest fads recently in any room of the house is the craze for industrial lighting fixtures. These stark fixtures are popular because they’re practical and non-fussy whilst being beautiful in an unconventional way. Industrial fixtures are also ideal for creating a shared bedroom more masculine since they easily balance out any overly feminine or romantic characteristics.

• Bedside Lamps: Added table lamps for the bedroom are very important if you would like spend some time at night and not really feel as if it’s the middle of the day due to the bright overhead lights. Placing a lamp or two beside the bed can make your bedroom feel more cozy and welcoming late at night. You can place a lamp on a bed side table or consider installing wall lamps which flex elegantly just over the bed head.

• Dressing Room: Lighting the dressing room is extremely important. If lights are too bright overhead, it’ll cast discomforting shadows on the faces when testing out attire. Additionally, if this harsh overhead lighting is utilized in addition to the mirror inside the dressing room makes it even worse. Place a mounted lighting close or above the clothing so it will be shadow free.

While multiple lighting places are extremely needed in all bedrooms, you don’t have to fill up the room with lamps and light fixtures. The bedroom is one of the few rooms at home where one can enjoy having a few environmental shadows during the night and not be concerned about guests with poor eyesight.

How do work schedules affect the home and where do we draw the line between work and family life? Here are some tips in managing your schedules. If only we could figure out a way to keep life and crazy work schedules from impacting our fabulous marriages, we’d be golden!

Unfortunately, the reality is if we don’t figure out how to manage our work schedules, they will quickly manage us.

This guest post by the always wonderful Paula Rollo can help whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, businesswoman or a combination of them both.

When workloads begin to encroach on your marriage and time with one another, feel free to push back and say, “Not in this house,”

Until tomorrow…make it a great day! It can be tough to connect when one or both of you are working extra long hours.

My husband has had a crazy work schedule for most of our marriage, and so we’ve learned some important lessons along the way about how to thrive in a marriage when your time together is minimal.

At some points during our marriage we had conflicting work schedules, and other times my husband was working 55+ hours a week while I stayed home with the kids and even started working from home.

Our schedules are still subject to change, because of the industry my husband works in, but we’ve got a much better handle on how to keep our relationship thriving, even when our time together is not as much as we would like for it to be.

5 Ways to Keep Your Marriage Strong Through Crazy Work Schedules

1. Maximize the Time You Have Together – Don’t spend your time together lamenting that you don’t have more time! Instead, find fun things that create conversation and a relaxing atmosphere for you and your spouse! We try to have a game night at least once a week. This allows us to have fun and spend time chatting while doing something relaxing and entertaining for both of us. (I wrote about our favorite 2 player board games here if you want to check it out!)

2. Remember, It’s Only a Season – Even if it is a very long season, it is still just a season! Like I mentioned above, my husband has worked very long hours and had an unpredictable work schedule for most of our marriage. It is so easy to get frustrated with the scheduling during this season of life, but when I find myself getting upset I like to stop and remind myself this is just a season.

Four years with a difficult schedule is a long time for us, because we’ve only been …

Read more: http://www.happywivesclub.com/5-ways-to-keep-your-marriage-strong-through-crazy-work-schedules/

Candles have a very special place in the world right now. They’re less expensive than torches and are an enhancing object in the house too. Obviously, there are several kinds of candles that happen to be suited to various purposes. They have been always used as a bright idea for romantic dinners, candle decorative forms utilized in home décor, plus much more other uses. We frequently find candles at hotels, restaurants and also many would use candles at several corners of home to generate a cozy, romantic atmosphere and unique style of home décor. Yet it’s never very difficult to use this technique for the home.

• Groups – One of the most popular candle decorating ideas would be to put various sized candles in groups. Picking candles of different levels may add a remarkable outcome to any room. Putting candles in various sized containers is also a good way to create depth and height when decorating with candles. If you desire a more simplified look, you can pick candles and containers that are the same color and size. However for anyone who has an adventurous side, you can combine textures, sizes and colors to create a unique look for the home.

• One – Stay simple and classy with a stylish centerpiece on your own dining room table or in any area of your family area. Showcasing a single candle is definitely well suited for those who prefer minimalist style in the home. Merely go with a striking and pretty candle and put them in a container which you like or any holder that will suit your home’s theme. Who said that one is lonely number with regards to candle decoration, it yells beauty with elegance.

• Decorative candle holders – In regard to candle decorating, it doesn’t merely concentrate on the candle itself but the candle containers are as vital as well. Placing the candle in a pretty and unique container can instantly alter the overall look of the candle display. You could make your own candle holder and make it as weekend DIY project with your family. You may use mason jars, cement, copper pipe, glass and style them to suit your own taste.

• Lanterns – This is a look that is involving patios and outdoor areas, however candle lanterns can also be integrated into your home. There are several styles to pick from, mason jars, glass globes, shaped glass holders, and many more. With so many possibilities open it has to be simple for any homeowner to see a design that will added to their home and allow you take pleasure in all of the beauty that candles have to offer.

