Getting Your Family in Touch With Their Spiritual Side

We live in a truly fascinating universe. It is a place full of mystery and adventure and there is an endless array of things that we struggle to explain away with science and logic. Many of us feel that there is a certain something, an unknowable and mysterious something, which permeates every facet of our existence. Not everyone agrees. Whether this is because it is something that only reveals itself to some of us or it’s because those people just aren’t looking, it can sometimes feel like there are chasms separating our differing experiences of the universe.

It is also incorrect to think that exploring your spiritual side is a rejection of the principles of logic and science. Rather, it is an acknowledgment of the limits of our human understanding of a universe which is infinitely more complex and beautiful than we could ever comprehend. Engaging your spiritual side can be a really wonderful bonding experience for you and your family. In this article, we are taking a look at some simple yet thoroughly enjoyable activities that your whole family can participate in to expand the horizons of consciousness.

The Power of Nature

For those of us who do not believe in a God, or any other kind of supreme deity, there is still an undeniable, omnipotent, and in many ways, all-knowing, force in the universe. We call it nature, and it is nature which allows our universe to play out the way it does. The laws of nature dictate what is and isn’t possible, and while we don’t yet fully understand nature, we are all capable of admiring its majesty.

Taking your family out on a camping trip to admire the beautiful stars in the night sky and the infinite variety of wildlife that we can witness during the day is an excellent way of bringing you closer to nature and to one another.

Stones

Whether you believe that precious gems and stones are able to influence their surroundings and the moods of those who possess them, there is no denying their beauty. The way that many of these stones are formed in nature is remarkable. Hidden within them is a fascinating tale of how natural processes are able to mold and remold matter into wonderful new combinations. Check out accessgems.com for a guide to the purported properties of precious stones.

Meditation

Meditation and mindfulness are becoming increasingly popular practices for a wide range of individuals. The benefits that they provide are scientifically proven and are a powerful testament to the power that our minds have over our bodies. Whether you practice meditation alone or as a group, it provides an excellent tool for you and your family to explore the depths of your own consciousness.

Exploring your spiritual side isn’t something that many of us have considered doing before. Sure, we all have that one friend who just won’t shut up about their magic crystals and their chi, and most of us nod and smile but don’t really believe. However, exploring your spiritual side doesn’t mean rejecting science and reason, and if it isn’t for you then you can always turn back, but it is worth exploring to see where it takes you.

Amazing Craft Activities You Never Thought You Could Do At Home

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Craft is seeing a resurgence in popularity recently as people have a newfound yearning for all
things homemade, bespoke and one off. When you mention to the uneducated mind that you’re
a bit of a fan of all things crafty, they probably envisage you stenciling pieces of furniture in a
haphazard way, whipping out a hot glue gun to stick sequins onto card or faffing about with fabric
to try and make a patchwork quilt. Craft is much more sophisticated nowadays. Online platforms
like Deviantart and Etsy celebrate the work of crafters and give the finest creative visionaries the
opportunity to sell their wares and make a name for themselves in the world of art and design.

If you love craft, but you’re not sure what to turn your hand to next, you should consider some of the
ideas that’ll be explored here. Gone are the days of crochet and cross stitch (although these are still
worthwhile activities) to be replaced by metalwork, woodwork, soldering, welding, construction and
paper craft, all of which can be done by you from the comfort of your own humble abode. People
have ditched the mundane 9 to 5 to follow their passion for craft in an attempt to set up their own
businesses. Take a look at these ideas to give you some crafty inspiration.

Jewelry

Many people like to consider themselves as connoisseurs of all things shiny and sparkly. The art of
creating jewelry is in designing something new and original. Everyone has seen a beaded bracelet
or hoop earrings. To make your foray into homemade jewelry a success you need to come up with
something that your potential purchasers have never seen before. By using different materials such
as copper, brass, or fabric, you can create some wonderfully unique pieces. Wooden wedding wings
have grown in popularity as consumers hanker after more sustainable items. If you have the dexterity
and eye for detail, you could be launching your very own line of jewelry.

Furniture Design

Although you might not have done woodwork since you were at school, if you enjoy getting to grips
with a solid piece of pine or wrestling with a glorious piece of walnut, then woodwork could be for
you. You could sign up for a free adult taster course at a local college and see if you enjoy it as
much as you did when you were a teenager. Designing furniture for an interior doesn’t have to
mean constructing massive wardrobes or eight seater dining room tables. You may want to specialize
in chairs, stools or bedside cabinets.

In a similar fashion to other craft activities, you must make sure you have the right equipment to
do the job. A hot glue gun, a wrench and a hacksaw simply won’t do. You need to get the most
appropriate cutting utensil to make your jaunt into woodwork easier on your hands. The range of
saws and cutting implements can be mind-boggling. You might find yourself wondering
what is a hybrid table saw or will a circular saw do the job? Use your trusty friend Google and
investigate all of your options.

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Christmas Decorations

It’s that time of year where it wouldn’t seem right not to mention the craft of making homemade
decorations for the Norwegian Spruce adorning living rooms across the nation this month. People
enjoy having something bespoke and handcrafted especially at this time of the year. While baubles
are ten a penny, you could think outside the box to make something truly festive and unique. How
about using the Danish concept of hygge to ditch the tinsel and create a whole new brand of cosy
soft furnishings bespoke for a Christmas tree? You may want to design your very own snow globes
complete with mini internal Christmas scenes or you might opt to design a range of
festive greetings cards. Whatever it is that you want to create, make it original and unique.

Pet Food

Dog lovers and cat fanatics are a money making market to break into. With people up and down
the country willing to purchase diamante collars for their pooch and boutique booties for their
feline friend, pet owners are willing to shower their animal pals with luxury goodies. You could
choose to investigate the world of pet cuisine. There is a real push to make pet food healthier
as a ridiculous amount contains crude ash and other nasties. You could create a gourmet doggy
biscuit or a meaty stick or a tasty treat that contains nothing but natural ingredients and more
nutrients than you can shake a stick at. You never know, you may be able to market your product
to a local pet store after testing out the delicious morsels on your friends mutts and moggies.

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Metal Work

The industrial look is very much en vogue at the moment. People are swapping their mahogany
bookcases for metal shelving and their floral light shade for a vintage metal pendant lamp. If you
want to get in on the act, you’ll need to get yourself a blowtorch and set yourself up with a studio
in your back garden where you can solder and create to your heart’s content. You might want to
design some metal modern art type sculptures or focus on incorporating metal into household
objects such as lighting and storage. You might even want to purchase items that have seen better
days and upcycle them, giving them a new lease of life. Make sure you go on a training course if
you have little or no experience and heed all of the safety advice that you are given.

Embarking on a foray into the world of craft can be life-affirming and hugely satisfying. Creating
something from scratch that other people love and will ultimately spend their hard earned cash on
can become addictive which is why the explosion of entrepreneurial crafters shows no sign of
slowing. Why not get in on the act and set up your own money making craft business.

4 Things Home Decor Influencers Don't Tell You

Over recent years, “influencers” have -- as one might expect from the name -- had a huge impact
on our culture. For those influencers that operate in the home decor and lifestyle category, the doors
are thrown open, and their lives are shared with their loyal followers. Instagram is the most popular
platform for these influencers, but plenty of specialist home design blogs also exist-- you may even
follow a few of these yourself.

As nice as these influencers’ feeds and blogs are, it’s vital to remember that what is being shown
is probably not an authentic representation of their lives. Many followers have tried to replicate the
look and feel of an influencer’s home, only to find themselves struggling-- and feeling rather
despondent as a result. This issue is compounded by the expense of trying to achieve these perfect
homes.

What’s really going on

These home decor influencers are not revealing the full picture of how they live. In a way, it’s
similar to the tricks that the beauty industry uses to sell makeup. Beauty advertisements are known
for confusing realities, such as advertising a mascara with a model who is clearly wearing false
eyelashes. These tricks are often seen as a grey area in advertisements, which are heavily
regulated-- but there’s no such regulation for influencers.

The result of this problem is that you may find yourself scrolling through your Instagram feed or
visiting your favorite lifestyle blog and feeling… a little inadequate. Influencers seem to have the
perfect home all the time, which can be disheartening if you’re living in a home that’s surrounded
by clutter, and your “areas I want to renovate” list is spirallng out of control. People describe
themselves as seeing their homes, and their lives, as somehow inadequate as a result of the
exposure to such perfection from influencers. If you have ever experienced this, then you’re going
to want to read on.

So the next time you see a photograph showing a gorgeous home that looks like it naturally repels
dirt, it’s worth reminding yourself of a few things…

#1 - Every single photo is staged

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No matter what the caption says, you should always look at any images you see of an influencer’s
home with a skeptical eye. Influencers stage photos; and to an extent, you can’t blame them for
that-- though the ones that don’t admit to doing so are a little more ethically dubious. For an
influencer, there’s no such thing as a ‘candid’; everything is always managed to perfection, adjusted
and altered, situations created out of nothing. It’s no different from how professional photographers
stage a scene to create the perfect image, even if influencers are doing this in their own homes.

In no area is this more obvious than the kitchen. Kitchens are practical rooms; they are there for a
purpose, meaning that they see a lot more mess and disruption than anywhere else in the house.
Bear this in mind the next time you see a photo of a gorgeous kitchen that makes you want to
entirely renovate your own. It’s one thing to browse through Tap Warehouse and treat yourself to a
new sink because you want to; that’s a good decision, but the decision should always be yours,
rather than powered by an influencer’s photo that is staged anyway.

So while you can enjoy photographs of beautiful homes, it’s important to remind yourself every
now and again that the image is beautiful because it’s been staged to perfection.

#2 - Photos are always edited

If you were to go and snap a photo of your kitchen right now, it wouldn’t matter how good the decor
was-- it still wouldn’t look like the images you’ll see from influencers. The reason for that is simple:
photo editing.

Most of us think of photo editing in terms of airbrushing, which is used to change a model’s body
when advertising clothes or makeup. However, photo editing is used in another way by influencers.

This is primarily seen in terms of light. Have you ever wondered how influencers manage to
achieve such light, bright rooms? The answer is simple: they don’t. Instead, they take a standard
image, and then turn the brightness up in PhotoShop or similar programs. Some influencers may
even go a step further, and remove clutter or unsightly objects from an image. It’s therefore important
to bear in mind that any image has been edited, so you cannot expect your home to ever look the
same.

#3 - Angles are very cleverly chosen

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If you look at the photo above, you’ll see that it shows a large expanse of a gorgeous room-- but
you don’t know what’s going on behind the camera. The kitchen surface could be a mess; or the
TV could have wires protruding at every angle-- but you can’t see that, so it’s like it doesn’t exist.

Influencers use angles as a kind of manual editing tool; always remind yourself of this when looking
at their photographs.

#4 - “Reviews” may actually be paid sponsorships

Finally, a moment to discuss a sad reality. If an influencer is paid to feature a product on their blog
or social media, they are supposed to disclose this fact to their readers… but many don’t. Buzzfeed
found that 93% of celebrities don't disclose sponsorships/freebies properly, and the number is
likely similar for the less-famous influencers.

So if you see your favorite influencer extolling the virtues of a new product, it’s worth wondering if
their opinion is genuine, or if it’s been paid for. At the very least, make sure you check out a few
other reviews before you spend.

To Conclude

Influencers produce stunning images and can provide wonderful tips on how to manage your home
and decor, but they are not necessarily representative of real life. Before you consider upgrading
areas or your home or feel downhearted about your current decor choices, remember the points
above, and you’ll always be sure to have the right perspective in mind.

5 Things in Your Home That Are Worth Upgrading

When we talk home upgrades, we usually talk about things that are either minor improvements or
things that are great for luxury but not practicality. As much as we’d all love to beef up our homes
by adding fancy flooring, wallpaper, appliances and furniture, the reality is that we need to pick and
choose our upgrades.

If you want to get the most out of your next renovation or upgrade, then here are a couple of
fantastic home upgrades that are worth every penny.

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Home Decor

You might not think that decor matters much, but it actually plays a huge part in how you perceive

your home and how much comfort you have. After all, no one wants to look at poorly-kept walls
with flaking paint, do they? While it’s a slight exaggeration, it should get the point across. Having
something to look at which invokes a feeling of warmth and comfort is far better than a plain or
broken wall.

How to Save Money When Shopping Online

Online shopping is, without a doubt, the fastest, cheapest, and most convenient way of buying whatever it is you need. You save a ton of time by not having to get dressed and drive anywhere. You also save money on fuel and plastic bags while also doing your bit for the environment as a result.

But, did you know that you could be saving a lot more? There are numerous methods and websites that facilitate the opportunity for you to save some money for the next haul. Listed below are the three main ways you can save some cash before you checkout.

Coupons

Everyone knows about those paper coupons that are often found in magazines or newspapers, but did you know that online stores also offer occasional coupons? These usually come in the form of discount codes that are posted on social media, sent to mailing lists, or found on the website itself. Once you have the code, you can type it in on the checkout page where you’ve placed your order.

Many websites usually offer a “welcome bonus” or a special code as an incentive for signing up to their website. But there’s always the chance that you missed one or didn’t receive it because you never saw the post. That’s where dedicated coupon websites such as ecouponshub.com come in handy, offering a comprehensive list of coupons available for redemption on a variety of websites.

End of Season vs Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sales

This only really applies to fashion but is definitely worth noting. Those “amazing limited deals” in November may seem enticing, but a lot of the time they’re just the usual price or slightly below, with the original price being marked up, giving you the illusion that you’re saving a ton of money when in reality, you aren’t.

Fashion is cyclical, and retailers need to get rid of the previous season’s stock before the next season’s stock comes into the store. This is when they’ll actually mark down the prices of their items in order to make space for the new stock. So rather wait a few weeks for the next season to arrive, buy this season’s stock at a discounted price.

Making Use of Wishlists

For this, it pays to have a dedicated email address to avoid getting your primary one spammed. Sign up on each website and add what you want to your wishlist or cart. This way when those items go on sale, you’ll get notified.

By making use of the methods above, you can save yourself a pretty penny in the long run. Be vigilant and keep your eyes open for the deals that are worth your money. Be sure to avoid impulse buys and spending money on things purely because they’re on sale though. You’re only fooling yourself if you do that.

The general rule is to only buy what you’ve wanted to in the first place unless you’re going to flip that discounted item for a neat profit. Then, by all means, go ahead.