What to Do When You Need a Cake Fast

One of Sam's 8th birthday cakes (I made 3!!!)

We have all done it. That friend, business associate, or even a family member has a birthday coming up within the next few days and you’ve forgotten that it’s your turn to plan the party. There is no time to shop and bake because your already busy schedule just got busier. What can you do when you need a cake fast? Here are a few thoughts which just might help!

When All Else Fails – There’s Always Walmart!

Before going any further, did you ever stop to think that Walmart really does have a pretty decent assortment of cakes that are really priced quite reasonably? Many shoppers don’t realize that Walmart carries cakes because they are not kept out on displays in the center aisles. While some of the larger Supercenters may have some cakes on display, most Walmart stores have a cooler located near cold cuts and cheese where cakes are stored. If you are working on a budget, you can find current prices on allcakeprices.com without waiting half an hour for a customer service rep to run back and forth checking for you.

Enlist the Help of a Friend

Sometimes, you have that special friend who is there for you through thick and thin. Well, this is one of those times when you just might need a bit of help – unless, of course, the party is for that friend! However, we all have friends who will help us out should the need arise so perhaps she’d be willing to bake a cake or run around town to order and pick one up for you. If time is limited and there’s much to do, friends are a wonderful resource. Someday you might even be able to repay the favor, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Cake Mixes are a Working Lady’s BFF in a Pinch

There probably isn’t a lady around who doesn’t have at least one Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines cake mix in her cupboard! We all find them on sale and snatch them up just in case of ‘emergencies’ like this. You’ve just found a use for that Red Velvet cake mix you found on clearance, so get out the eggs and oil. You’ll have a cake done before you know it. You may not be the best decorator in town, but hey, you are limited on time! Try those edible cake toppers and decorations you quickly make or find at any supermarket in town. You might even find a theme that fits the occasion. You’ll never know until you try.

So you see, there are things you can do when you need a cake fast. Even if you don’t personally have time to bake it or pick one up, you must have that one special friend who’d be willing to help in a pinch. Don’t feel bad because you’ve forgotten a special birthday. You are busy and time slips by unawares. It may not be the cake you were hoping to offer if you have to bake it yourself, but again, there’s always Walmart. No one will ever know you fell down on the job.

How to Maximize the Chances of Getting Your Dream Job

Who wouldn’t love to get their dream job? Maybe you absolutely love sports and want to become a professional sports athlete. Perhaps you have a passion for music and you want to be a touring rockstar with your band. Or maybe you have a more humble approach to your career and simply just want to work as a veterinarian taking care of animals. Whatever your dream job is, here are a couple of tips to help you reach it in record time.

Source: Pexels

Identify What You Really Want From Life

How can you chase your dream job if you don’t have one? Don’t worry if you still feel undecided about what you want to achieve in life. It’s important that you don’t rush yourself into picking a dream job, but it’s also completely fine to change what your dream job actually is. This is because we all change. Our interests change, the things we fall in love with change and our passions can also change. If you find that you no longer have an interest in something that you used to, then it’s alright to accept. What you want from life will change over time, so it’s important to understand that as a fact of life. Don’t feel depressed if you wake up one day and tell yourself that you no longer want to work in your current career. Accept it and try to move on by rediscovering yourself.

Understand Your Limitations and How to Overcome Them

Everyone has limitations. Whether it’s physical limitations or knowledge, they can usually all be overcome. If you want to work on computer science, then it’s important to start studying and to invest in the hardware and machines needed to indulge in your passions. Another thing to keep in mind is your age. If you want to become an athlete, then it’s important to focus on your physical ability. Unfortunately, our bodies are less suitable for professional sports the older we get, so it’s important to try and find alternative ways to do something we love. For example, if you’re too old to play for a team then you can always look for a job as a coach or manager of a sporting team instead.

Source: Pexels

Gather Experience as Early as Possible

Whatever you want from life, it’s important to gather as much experience as possible so it’s easier to improve your skills. Having experience also means that you have more to put on your resume for when you apply for a job. Sometimes, gathering experiences means working for free or subjecting yourself to harsh criticism in order to learn. While no one enjoys the idea of being shouted at or criticised on a regular basis, you do have to remember it’s all for the sake of growing your ability and learning new skills. Try and study as much as you can and don’t neglect to seek advice from a mentor or more experienced people that you are in contact with.

Write an Outstanding Resume

If you’ve already found your dream job and you’re about to apply, make sure you don’t skimp on your resume. Make sure you gather as much experience as possible so you have plenty to write about. Use a resume writing service if you don’t feel comfortable writing your own, or look at tips to help you make a fantastic first impression. Remember that you can find industry-specific tips to help you write your resume. For example, this article titled “Top 5 Resume Tips for Nurses” is a great place to start if you want a career as a nurse. It shows some informative tips to help you write a specialised resume for a healthcare career and this will greatly improve your chances of landing a healthcare related job. With a bit of research, you’ll find hundreds of tips for almost any career that you could think of and they will all help you reach your dream job.

Source: Pexels

Learn to Approach Businesses

Sitting and waiting for opportunities isn’t going to get you a dream job. Learn to approach businesses and be confident when offering them your skills. This is a trait that freelancers learn to pick up. Freelancers are known to be far more assertive and they understand that they need to pitch their ideas and skills to businesses in order to build up a portfolio. Approaching businesses shows that you’re willing to take the initiative, and this goes a long way to helping you solidify a career in your dream job. It also helps you improve your ability to network and communicate which are solid benefits to bolster your first impressions.

Stop Worrying About the Money

Money is important, but you should only worry up to a certain point. If you’re making enough money to support your way of life, then you should be fine with a job that pays a little less. If it’s deciding between a well-paying job that you hate and a lesser-paying job that you absolutely love, then the choice should be obvious. Job security is important, but excess wealth will be wasted if you don’t have time to use it or if you’re not in a positive mindset to make the most of it. In short, worry about money only up to a point, then stop using it as a reason to apply for jobs you don’t actually like.

Never Settle for Less

To summarise, you should never settle for less when it comes to your career. You’re going to be spending a large part of your life working and if you force yourself to work in a job that you don’t actually enjoy, then you’re doing yourself a disservice. If you’re dedicated to finding a job that you love, then make sure you’re always hungry for more. Keep networking with people to discover new opportunities, work feverishly to improve your chances of finding your dream job. Take the initiative when possible and never wait for chances to come to you.

Sam McLoughlin Guest Post and Update: Guns and Kids

Hey there, peeps! This is Sammy Mac writing from the OP in the JC (Overland Park in Johnson County for the geographically challenged).

So like what do you think about guns and kids? I LOVE me some guns. They are my brothers', but I steal 'em and use 'em and stuff. I have to wear my wolf hat while I shoot at imaginary stuff. It helps if I also have on the other right gear, like my dolphin shirt and my Halloween pants in January. Oh, and two socks and one shoe that is too big for me. Peace out.

Check out this other picture of me, the one my brother Michael calls "Family Man Sam" ... yes, I am holding yet another Nerf gun and I wonder what you think about toy guns since my dad wasn't allowed to play with them growing up then he went into the Army to be a sniper. Interesting times, folks.

This was originally posted on February 5, 2012, but updated 11/30/17 to say that I now have a HUGE Nerf gun arsenal now that I am 8. We have moved to Peculiar, MO (aka The Country) where we can shoot real guns on our own property into a hill with a pond. I am going to learn how to use guns responsibly when I'm bigger. I might graduate to Airsoft guns first and I can go to Airsoft wars at the Christy house when I am 10. So excited.

Here's a gem I found. Guess my parents (and one of my godmother's, Ellen, were pro-toy gun from the start).

The Health Benefits of Knitting

As if producing lovely scarves, sweaters and blankets isn't reason enough to spend time knitting, there are actually a number of scientifically proven health benefits that come from knitting.

For those not already knitting, you can get yarn and needles at your local craft shop (click this link for a good knitting supply shop), and learn the basic stitches from any number of good Youtube videos. Once you start, here are some of the ways you'll be helping your mind and body:

Concentration and Focus

Concentration, memory, and focus are all places that can see improvement once you start knitting regularly. Having to constantly keep track of your finger positions, the tension of the yarn, counting the stitches and remembering the pattern all keep your mind sharp.

Keeps Your Hands Busy

This one is a bit of an odd-ball benefit, but having your hands busy with knitting can keep you from doing other things you would rather not be doing. People who are trying to quit smoking often say they are uncomfortable when they have nothing to do with their hands. If you tend to snack when you shouldn't or even bite your nails, you can keep yourself too occupied to do these things if you are knitting. For people who are constantly checking on their phones, this is a way to break that habit too.

Pride and Accomplishment

It just makes you feel good to produce something tangible with your own two hands, even if it is just a knitted dishcloth. Mastering a complicated pattern, finally getting the hang of an advanced stitch or even just sticking with a big project to completion (like knitting a blanket for a queen-size bed). Feeling proud is a great mental boost and shouldn't be discounted as a real health benefit.

A Kind of Meditation

Knitting has all the same relaxation benefits that you get from meditation. Even though it can be a "busy looking" hobby with fingers flying and needles clicking, it's very easy for a practiced knitter to let their thoughts go, much like a more typical meditation techniques. This can be very helpful for any problems with stress, anxiety and even depression. It brings a lot of mental peace, even though some tough patterns or difficult mistakes might seem more stressful than meditative.

Arm Strength and Joint Movement

This is a combined physical benefit that comes from the movements involved in your arms, wrists and fingers when you knit. It's a low-impact and low-strain exercise that still works the muscles and keeps your joints fluid, providing you are knitting on a somewhat regular basis. Knitting also improves your finger dexterity and fine motor control too.

On the other hand, if you are already suffering from stiff or painful joints (perhaps due to arthritis), it can be difficult to do a lot of knitting. Consider this to be more of a prevention for joint troubles rather than a treatment for an existing condition. 

Now that you know how helpful knitting can be, you can enjoy your hobby even more.

7 Ideas for Lifting Your Spirits

Dessert, hot chocolate and some good books lift our spirits on a dreary day

In order to live a long and happy life, it is important that you make the most of every day. You need to make sure that you are enjoying every moment and that you always have a smile on your face. Otherwise, you will end up looking back in regret. If you are wondering how you can embrace a more positive frame of mind, continue reading. Below are seven ideas for lifting your spirits.

Put a smile on your face

Smiling is a fantastic way for you to improve your mood instantly. Even if you are feeling down, a smile can trick you into thinking that everything is better than it seems. If you are really struggling to crack a smile, why not visit treat yourself to a joke of the day? This is a great way for you to ensure that you always find something to smile about. It will also help you to have positive interactions throughout your day, as you can share your joke with close friends, family members, or work colleagues.

Take up exercise

Another option is to take up exercise. This will help you to feel more body-confident and to take better care of your health. Not only this, but exercise results in the release of endorphins. This chemical will instantly lift your spirits and provide you with the energy that you need to get through your day. If you are struggling to find an exercise regime that appeals to you, make sure that you think outside the box. Ideally, you want to take up a physical activity that is plenty of fun. It should also be something that your loved ones can get involved in. This will make it a positive experience from start to finish and will prevent you from giving up. You could attend a spin class, enjoy aqua aerobics at your local pool, or sign up for a kickboxing session. The most important thing is that you are having a go. Don’t focus on losing weight or looking good. Instead, you should be concentrating on the way that exercise makes you feel.

Invest in your social circle

You should also make sure to do plenty of socializing. If you are struggling through a difficult time, you will need to have someone to lean on. Or, if you are accomplishing wonderful things in your life, you will need to have someone to share this with. If you already have plenty of friends, make sure that you invest in these relationships. Set aside some time each week to get together with your loved ones. You could invite them round to your house, put together a night out, or plan an exciting activity for you all to enjoy. Alternatively, if you don’t have a lot of reliable contacts, why not try to make new ones? You could download an app, attend a class, or take up a new hobby. Just make sure that your life is filled to the brim with people that want to see you happy and always make you smile.

Give yourself a makeover

If you are going to enjoy high-spirits, self-love is important. You need to take care of yourself and to remind yourself that you are worthy of love and appreciation. One of the best ways for you to do this is by indulging in a makeover. You could try out a new hairstyle, update your wardrobe, or treat yourself to a day at the spa. The most important thing is that you are happy with the end result. Your makeover should leave you with a new lease of life and a new sense of confidence. Once you have completed your transformation, why not finish with a celebratory photoshoot? Don’t worry, you don’t have to take it too seriously. Instead, you can invite your loved ones round and have a little fun. Then, you can frame your favourite images from the day.

Enjoy comfort food

Even if you are devoted to healthy eating, you are still allowed to break the rules from time to time. Every now and then, you should indulge in some comfort food. This is the perfect way for you to relax at the end of a long day. It is also a great way for you to treat yourself and to have fun with the food that you are eating. Make sure that you experiment with a number of different recipes, until you find one that leaves you truly satisfied. It should smell delicious, look divine, and taste amazing. If you want to be really indulgent, you could even purchase a pre-prepared meal. This will remove all of the stress from the process and will save you from the washing up.

Surround yourself with positive vibes

Make sure that you spend your days surrounded by positive vibes. Everywhere you look, there should be another reminder of the things that you are grateful for. Perhaps you could frame your favorite holiday memories. Or, maybe you could pin up motivational quotes. Whatever you decide, just make sure that you are never short of a reason to smile. This will be especially useful when you are struggling through a difficult day. It will also come in handy when you lack self-confidence or are wrestling with a difficult decision.

Visualize a positive future

If you spend a lot of your time worrying about the future, this could seriously affect your levels of happiness. That is why you need to plan ahead. This will stop you from stressing, and will help you to look forward to the days you have in front of you. Why not create a mood board to help you with this process? You could even create several: one for your career goals, one for your relationship goals, and one for your overall life goals. During this exercise, you will need to make sure that you are using plenty of bright colors, powerful words and phrases, and striking images. You will also need to display your mood board somewhere where you will see it every day.