All that comes with it

I am the epitome of a tom boy. From birth to the glorious age of 24 I haven’t changed. I spent my childhood obsessed with BMX’s and the ninja turtles, hating all things pink and being called Les.

My parents had a hard time shopping for me because of my tendency to “accidentally” ruin anything pink and pretty. In 2013 I now am the proud aunty of 4 gorgeous kids and to my joy not one of them falls into the trap of “blue for boys, pink for girls”. This causes various problems when I buy the gifts however and I now feel for my parents! Below is an easy to follow guide for funky printed T-shirts for those against the grain kiddy winks! Vistaprint have a great selection on their website and you can fully customise the front and back of the t-shirts and specify sizes. It’s quick and easy and what’s more it means you don’t have to get all messy with old style tie dye!

So don’t stick to the status quo. Let your trouble makers establish an identity outside of the blue and pink lines and get creative without the stick mess!

Author bio: Leslie Harding who is Auntie Lou-Lou to 4 little trouble makers, on behalf of Vistaprint UK.

As the world becomes more environmentally aware, people are looking to go green and reduce their carbon footprint. While some choose to build an eco-friendly house from scratch complete with renewable materials and solar panels, others make a few basic tweaks to their home. If you’re looking to do your bit for the planet in a quick and simple way, here are a few tips to help you out.

Arrange a gas boiler service

If your boiler isn’t working properly, it could be releasing emissions into the air unnecessarily. To stop this from happening, it’s a good idea to arrange a boiler cover with a company like HomeServe before the problem escalates. A Gas Safe Register approved engineer will check your central heating and ensure everything is working efficiently. If it’s not, a few basic repairs could reduce your energy bill significantly and cut your carbon emissions at the same time.

Let natural light into your home

During winter, it can be tempting to turn the lights on when it’s dark and cold. This could leave you with unaffordable charges, so why not make the most of natural light? If you have sofas, cabinets, tables, chairs, or any other furniture blocking your windows, try to move them out of the way and let the sun shine through. Sure, the days might be gloomy at this time of the year, but when lighting makes up eight per cent of an average household’s energy bill, it’s best to try anything you can.

Cut back on water

Cutting back on water is one of the easiest ways to save money and energy – you just need to make a few lifestyle changes. Turning the tap off when you brush your teeth, filling the washing machine and dishwasher to the brim and not overfilling the kettle can all make a big difference to your outgoings. Similarly, taking showers instead of baths, washing up in a single bowl of water and fixing leaking faucets will help you live a more eco-friendly life. As a sudden loss of water from a burst pipe or such like can be damaging and expensive, it’s also worth taking out plumbing cover for extra protection.

Get busy in the garden

If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, you could always transform a small section into an allotment. Growing your own fruit, vegetables, herbs, spices (and anything else you fancy) will save you money at the shops and help you connect with nature. It can be rewarding to nurture things from scratch, so work out what you want to cultivate and get started. If you have the space, you could even start a roof garden, as plants produce oxygen and clean the air.

Recycle your old gadgets

If you have a number of old games, gadgets, DVDs, CDs or even clothes lying around your home, then a great way to get rid of these an de-clutter your home would be to recycle them. Some great websites for this are Amazon or Ebay. Another great place to do this is Music Magpie. By visiting www.musicmagpie.com, you can sell DVDs, CDs and games, giving you money whilst also de-cluttering. You could then save up this cash to get yourself something new for your home.

It’s surprising what a few home improvements can do, so think about going green throughout 2013 and beyond.

We live in a time of constant temptation and impulse. As we set about on our daily routines of working, socialising and even relaxing at home watching TV, we are exposed to thousands of adverts encouraging us to spend our hard earned money on the latest trends and fads. Out of the thousands of adverts, at least one is likely to catch your eye and then before you know it you have blown half your months wages on a new reclining leather chair that you probably could have done without. Our instinctive nature wants us to find that short term fix to happiness as we let the future work itself out without giving it too much thought.

Adding to this ‘living for the moment’ ethos is the constant media attention on how doomed our futures are whatever we do. There’s a new doomsday prediction almost every week, news about any economic prosperity fails to appear no matter how patiently we wait, and global warming is set to plunder the earth into apocalyptic disorder in any given moment. All these worries make us sometimes want to flip a middle finger up to the future and instead live for the day and enjoy what we have right now. We are all guilty of this mentality at times and I have to say I can definitely reason with this philosophy.

What we sometimes forget however is that the future can be even better than today if we made some financial plans and started to get the ball rolling early on. This could be saving the extra £15 a week that we spend on buying cigarettes and alcohol or sticking to a plan to put 20% of our income into a high interest bank account. If you can save a small pot of gold within a 5-10 year plan then the future won’t seem so bleak, long term happiness could be achievable.

Another prime example of future security comes in the form of life insurance. The wander of the future is we do not know what it holds, be it good or bad, anything can happen over the course of time. Getting life insurance early on in life can not only give you peace of mind that your family’s future will be secure but it can also lower your life insurance premiums as age and health are the two major contributing factors to how much you pay monthly, and ultimately, how much of a pay-out you get in the end.

Enjoy every moment you can, smile and be happy with everything you have! But remember, if you want tomorrow to be a better day than you might need to help it out a little. Save some money when you can, secure your future and those of the ones you love and make sure that if that rainy day ever does come then you are more than financially ready for the storm!

Fans of the Yankee Candle range will be excited to discover that there will be five brand new scented candles released for Spring 2013. The new fragrances will be part of the Housewarmer range, and will be available in small, medium, and large sizes.

There is a definite theme involved with the new scents. The names of all but one inspire thoughts of relaxing on a sun drenched beach on a remote tropical island. Judging by the names, the labels, and the fragrances themselves there is no question that the range is designed to evoke feelings of peace and tranquillity.

Take the new Turquoise Sky scent, for example. It provides a calming aroma of a salty, misty sea-spray combined with sea grass and musk. The candle itself is a beautiful blue colour, and once lit you can practically hear the waves lapping at the shore.

Paradise Spice continues the tropical island theme with hints of banana, cinnamon, and cloves. There is also a definite vanilla essence, which gives the candle its creamy colour. The ingredients blend together to create a very pleasing aroma to fill any home.

In addition to the hints of banana found in Paradise Spice, the next two new scents in the Housewarmer range are inspired by food. Firstly, there is the Waiki Melon candle, an exotic scent which combines juicy, ripe melons with orange oil. This beautiful orange coloured candle gives off a sweet aroma that is irresistible.

A perfect companion to the Waiki Melon candle, and continuing the theme of relaxation in an exotic location, is Black Coconut. As the name suggests, this candle is striking in its black colour, and gives off a strong coconut scent. There is also an infusion of cedarwood to create an overall feeling of warmth and comfort.

The last of the five new spring collection fragrances is called A Child’s Wish. Rather than being beach inspired, as with the other four candles, this fragrance truly evokes the spirit of springtime with its pleasant green colour working well with its aromatic hints of flowers, fields, and meadows.

These five new Yankee Candle scented candle fragrances have been inspired by nature, and they are perfect for spring. They will re-energise homes by filling them with fresh, clean scents, and are welcome additions to the extensive and very popular Yankee Candle range.

This is a guest post by Tim Aldiss who writes for Yankee Candle

Downton Abbey is one of the UK’s most successful television dramas. Millions of viewers have been enthralled by its evocative portrayal of a bygone age and have eagerly watched each series to see the latest storylines unfold. The influence of Downton Abbey can be clearly seen in some of the recent trends in home furnishing. Damask is becoming increasingly popular either to be used as a fabric or as wallpaper. The classic and elaborate patterns of damask would have been completely at home in the age of Downton Abbey but the patterns are timeless and can fit easily into a contemporary decorating scheme.

Great examples of designers who have reworked traditional designs include Cole & Son who have produced the Byron wallpaper which uses metallic soft colours in a damask design but which is overlaid with a stunning peacock design. Another standout design is the Tivoli Damask. This has a damask design in gold which is so delicate that it could be hand drawn. The design is laid on top of warm tones of burgundy and red which would give a rich and opulent feel to any room. If you are looking for a damask based design but would like a pattern that has more of a contemporary twist then Osborne and Little’s Fernery design is a beautiful example of a modernised damask pattern.

It is even possible to find a damask paper which can definitely be guaranteed to fit in with any room or decorating scheme. Fabricsandpaper.com has a hand printed wallpaper called Preston Damask which can be printed in any colour.

Silks and velvets have also seen a surge in popularity with the general trend being back to the use of fabrics that would not have looked out of place on the set of Downton Abbey. These types of heavy and often elaborate fabrics would have been used throughout a stately home such as Downton with fabric often even used as wallpaper. For a modern house the use of damask based designs can help to complement particular pieces of furniture or be used to add touches of opulence to the general furnishing scheme. Using these fabrics and designs in your home will add a touch of timeless elegance that you know will never go out of style.

Tim Aldiss writes for Fabrics & Papers where you can find a good range of damask wallpapers.

When it comes to buying the essentials for your home there was a time when the only options available were unattractive and cumbersome to use, but now there are so many choices available that whatever your needs or decor you’ll find something that fits.

One of the most important purchases for your home is your kettle. It’s constantly on show and gets used frequently, and even more so when you have visitors, so it’s crucial to get the look right and to pick one that’s easy to use. We’ve handpicked a few favourites that we’re sure you will love!

Our top three kettles.

It’s so important to get that perfect cuppa – here are a few of our top choices with options for any budget!

Budget – Breville White Cordless Jug Kettle

This simply styled offering from Breville is a great choice if you’re on a tight budget. It offers all the functionality you need, in a neutral white finish and still offers great features like a useful water level window, a limescale filter and even stylish illumination.

What’s more it comes in at just £17.50 and has a brilliant 10.0 on Revoo. Reviews say that it’s lightweight and a comfortable fit for your hand – what more could you ask from a well-known brand with a great price?

Splurge – Magimix Polished Steel ThermoSystem Kettle

This absolutely stunning kettle is a high end choice coming in at £77.00, however it offers a specially insulated wall in order to maintain water temperature more efficiently, plus it’s available in a choice of different handle colours making it a perfect addition to any modern home.

It has all the features you’d expect from a premium model with the beautiful styling you love from Magimix. It’s got a super-fast boil and is supremely quiet – the epitome of the perfect cup of tea!

Special mention – Breville Brita Hot Cup

If you’re not likely to make multiple cups at once then it could be worth investing in the Breville one cup. It’ll look great on any kitchen work surface and is guaranteed to prepare your water in an instant and filter it as it goes, so you know you’re getting a crystal clear cuppa.

Plus you can choose from nine different cup sizes – so your brew will be the perfect fit! It’s also economical as you only boil the water that you need, the exact amount for your cup or mug!

So there you have it, there are so many different kettles and water boiling systems to choose from that it can be difficult to decide. These are just a couple of our favourites but you’ll find plenty more kettles from Ebuyer, with easy to compare reviews so you can make an informed choice. If you need to do more reading around then you’ll find plenty of comparison articles online, it’s all about choosing the features that work for you in a style that fits your home!

With the New Year upon us, it is this time of year when people start to analyse their lives over the last year and how they want the next year to be. Unsurprisingly this becomes one of the main times of year for career changes and we thought it would be good to highlight one particular career that provides a steady wage, a constant challenge and sociable working hours.

Bookkeeping is one of the most respected jobs in any company, but one of those roles considered a bit dull from outsiders. You need a lot of organisation skills, a real affinity with numbers and attention to detail to make a good career from it. But you don’t have to be born with these skills, like anything it can be taught with experience and the proper tutoring.

Good, qualified bookkeepers are in great demand in the UK. As government regulations and requirements multiply in numbers and complexity, businesses and organisations desperately need help keeping their accounts in order and are always looking for capable people.

The Personal Qualities That Recruiters Look For in a Bookkeeper

As mentioned there are certain specific qualities that recruiters look for in people applying for bookkeeping positions. These include:

Organisation skills

Bookkeepers are expected to be neat and well-organized. You’d be the one person on the job who’s responsible for ensuring that all the numbers are correct and in perfect order. That’s a big responsibility, so you would have to be willing to be accountable for the fine print, and for the tiniest details.

Number comfort

Bookkeepers are expected to be good with numbers. That doesn’t mean you need to be a mathematical genius, but it does mean you can’t be afraid of numbers.

Problem solving

Bookkeepers are expected to be analytical and methodical. So if you enjoy solving puzzles, bookkeeping may be perfect for you. Bookkeepers need to be good at defining and solving problems to help management make better financial decisions.

Time management

You would be expected to get the job done, done right and done on time. Bookkeeping deadlines are often critical to the business. With some regulatory bodies changing fines for late submitting, the job requires you to schedule the working day appropriately.

Technologically up to date

With the constant development of computer software all accounting professionals are expected to stay abreast of technological changes. Most small business owners have little time or inclination to keep up repairs. It pays to keep up to date.

The Professional Qualifications That Recruiters Look For in a Bookkeeper

Nothing more than a few GCSEs or equivalent with some form of mathematics qualification is actually required for many entry-level bookkeeping positions, so career changers can often find volunteer and part-time bookkeeping jobs helping friends keep their books. It’s a great way to get on-the-job experience.
However, recruiters are on the lookout for people with a few more qualifications.
Recruiters will not only scrutinize your personal qualities. They’ll also take a close look at your training and your experience. They’ll want your CV to meet their standards. Here’s how you can look your best:

Get trained

Recruiters will definitely be looking at your education, so make sure you get the best training you can. Take classes accredited by the ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers) or IAB (International Association of Bookkeepers).

Classes would include some basic maths and bookkeeping techniques, as well as more advanced study in specific areas such as payroll, accounts receivable or accounts payable.

Bookkeeping courses can be taken in college or through distance learning courses. The length and cost will vary depending on your chosen level of achievement.

Get experienced

Recruiters will want to see how much actual hands-on experience you have keeping books. Of course, the more experience you have, the better you’ll look. But recruiters will also look at the quality of your experience, so it’ll pay for you to take on as much responsibility as you can at each job.
Competition can be fierce in the job market. Basically, there are two ways to get the kind experience that’ll help you stand out in the crowd. One way is to get a wide variety of experience in different bookkeeping areas. The other way is get a whole lot of experience in one specific area, such as payroll tax preparation.

Set your salary expectations

Changing careers to become a bookkeeper can be a smart decision. According to Payscale.com bookkeepers can earn anything from £13K to £24K+ depending on lower level experience, So it is important, if you are starting out to ensure you can meet the expectations of employers with a mixture of experience and education.

A few weeks ago Ladbrooks contacted me and asked if I’d like to participate in a blogging experiment they were running.

In short they wanted me to find out if lucky charms actually worked to increase your chances at winning big on their online casino.

Not any old lucky charms either – but these Lucky Charms!!

They also sent me a bunch of other lucky charms and talismans too, but none of them were able to give me type II diabetes with a single bite so I pretty much cast them aside.

So, after eating four bowls of Lucky Charms, bouncing off the walls for a couple of hours, and then slipping into a sugar induced coma I went over to the Ladbrooks site and put a crafty £5 on Huddersfield Town to beat Leeds United in the big local football derby.

Huddersfield lost 2-4. Bugger.

Maybe, I thought I had angered the gods by going against my nature. Betting on football is perhaps far too manly an activity for a geek like me. I needed to find something more attuned to my nerd-like nature.

So I tried a variation on a theme and donned my favourite T-shirt in order to have a go on some of the poker games.

I lost. Again.

Still, at least I’ve contributed to science. I can now say that the hypothesis that lucky charms increase chances of winning is, to use a technical term, a bunch of arse.

I read the other day that if you’d bought every single Apple product that has ever been released then you’d have spent around £400,000. However if your taken that money and instead of buying a product on it’s day of release invested it in Apple itself then you would now have seven and a half million pounds.

Oh yes, there is significant money to be made in investing. The only problem is you need to have some sort of insight what to actually invest in.

Obviously you could go out and employ an investment advisor to help you make wise choices based on a sound knowledge of all the opportunities available to you.

Or alternatively you can come to me.

Using my own patented brand of fortune telling incorporating tea leaves, chicken entrails, and a copy of the Leeds – Bradford train timetable I am able to give to you invaluable advice on where best to place your money.

So without further delay, here’s 3 investment opportunities that may make you rich beyond your wildest dreams in 2013:

Jetpack Technology
I don’t know if you’ve noticed but we’ve been living in the 21st century for a few years now. That means we’re officially in the future. However for some unfathomable reason we STILL haven’t been given our jetpacks.

This is a state of affairs that surely can’t be tolerated much longer. Therefore I fully anticipate that 2013 will be the year that the secret world government finally get their act together and give us what is rightfully ours – a jet pack for every man, woman and child on the planet.

Clearly then, now’s the time to start investing in Jet Pack technology (and also the hover car and personal robot butler industries as well obviously).

Howard the Duck merchandise
Disney’s takeover of Lucasfilm was pretty big news a couple of months ago. Everyone assumes that the purpose of the acquisition was for disney to get their hands on the Star Wars franchise. however i happen to have some information that this is just a smokescreen.

Disney’s real strategy was to buy up the rights to make the next Howard the Duck movie.

You mark my words, the whole of western civilisation is going to go “quackers” for Howard the duck in 2013 – and nows the time to start bulk buying all the Howard the duck tea towels, swimming flippers, and commemorative plant pots as humanly possible.

Gravel
Celebrated celebrity chef Hesten Bloominthal has been advocating more and more adventurous cooking for many years now. Next summer he is due to release his groundbreaking book “Cooking with Gravel and Sawdust”.

The will naturally lead to an explosion in the quarry and timber industries and so I highly suggest targeting your investments in that direction. I particularly recommend putting your money into limestone, as Bloominthal pushes it quite heavily due to it’s tangy flavour with lack of aftertaste.

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So there you go – Three fantastic investment tips that may well send you leaping up the “worlds richest” charts. You are very welcome indeed.

Cycling can be a healthy and enjoyable way to get around and it is a great way to introduce healthy exercise into your child’s day. However, if you don’t ensure that your son or daughter is wearing the proper safety clothing and following safety laws when they are on their bike they could suffer serious injury. No amount of head injury compensation is worth it so do ensure that your children follow some basic rules.

Quality Clothing

If your child is riding on the road then make sure they are wearing decent clothes. Shorts and a vest may seem suitable but will offer little protection and even a minor incident could lead to fairly serious injury in these cases. For the more serious rider who regularly takes their bike on the road, jeans and a more protective top are essential.

The Helmet

Of course, the most important piece of protective clothing available is that of the helmet. The helmet has and continues to save lives. It can prevent knocks to the head from becoming serious injuries and it is critical that anybody riding on the road wears a helmet. Make sure your child is wearing one before they set off.

Cycle Lanes

Where cycle lanes are available you should encourage your children to use them. There are thousands of miles of roadside lanes and dedicated cycle paths across the country and many of these have the benefit of being away from main roads. If you’re looking for a pleasant way to take to cycling with your children then these cycle routes are ideal for you.

Lights And Reflective Gear

Lights and reflective outer clothing make your children more visible while they are out on the road and this can save lives and prevent serious injuries especially at night. Reflective strips can be added to existing clothing, jackets purchased that are designed specifically for this purpose, and lights should be fitted and used when cycling in the dark.

Visit www.irwinmitchell.com to see how you can claim head injury compensation for a cycling or other type of accident.