Everybody Needs Good Neighbors

Photo - Flickr - You’ve noticed the “For Sale” sign on the lawn next door now has a “Sold” sign, so you know new neighbors will be moving in before too long. Welcoming these new neighbors to the area is not only a nice gesture, but it’s a great way to help them feel welcome. An opportunity to make new friends - Here are 10 helpful tips for helping your new neighbors to feel at home;

1. Introduce yourself. A day or two after your new neighbours have moved in, go over with your family and introduce yourselves. If you’re unsure of what to say, consider asking if they have children, pets, or what brought them to your neighborhood. It is likely they will be grateful for the excuse to stop unpacking for a short while.

2. When taking food, be considerate of allergies. When you go to introduce yourself, it’s nice to take a treat as a welcome gift. Keep in mind that many people have food allergies, so you might want to steer clear of the cake or freshly baked cookies. Celiac disease, gluten allergies, or a dairy sensitivity are common in many families. Instead, you could put together a gift basket with coupons to local stores, a map, and information about their new city. You could also give them a house plant or seeds for a garden.

3. Get a group of neighbors together to help move. When you see the moving truck pull up, get a group of neighbors together to help your new neighbors unload the truck. Not only are you offering a friendly service, but this is a good way for everyone in the neighborhood to get acquainted.

4. Host a dinner party. Give your neighbors a few days to get settled and then invite them over for a dinner party. You may want to invite two or three couples from the neighborhood over as well so your new neighbors can meet more people. This is a good time to offer housewarming gifts, which don’t need to be extravagant simply thoughtful. Photo - Flickr

5. Share Neighborhood Watch information. People want to feel safe where they live. Be sure to share the details of your neighborhood watch program with them. Share when the group meets and where your new neighbors can go for more information. Invite your new neighbors to participate and to take part in helping to make the neighborhood safe.

6. Provide a neighborhood and national safety directory. Put a list together of all the neighbors’ addresses and phone numbers. You may also want to include phone numbers for schools, doctors, government offices, and the police department. Gather this information in a 3-ring binder so it’s easily accessible. If everyone in your neighborhood doesn’t have one of these, work together to build out enough for everyone.

7. Don’t forget the fun. You could put together a packet that has menus for your favorite places to go to eat, information for the local gym, library locations, take out restaurants menus and addresses to theaters. Photo - Pexels

8. Create a list of local services. Get all the phone numbers for reliable babysitters, lawn care professionals,  and handymen in the area. Glue the information to a magnet that can be put on the refrigerator. When you’re new, you don’t know where to go for basic services.

9. Connect with local groups. Do you belong to a book club? Do your children play soccer? Offer to connect your new neighbors with any groups or clubs you may belong to. This will help them acclimate to the community, while also making friends and getting to know their new home town.

10. Be courteous and respect their privacy. Not everyone enjoys interacting with new people, and your new neighbors may be hesitant to have a lengthy conversation with you or a group of people. Keep your meeting brief, and if your new neighbor seems uncomfortable, politely introduce yourself and leave. If your new neighbor suggests that it isn’t a good time, respect their wishes and come back another time. Try saying something like, “I can tell you’re busy. Is there a better time for me/us to stop by?” The secret to meeting new people here has the same rule of thumb as dating - “No Means No”. If you aren’t successful it may be that you have to wait for them to come to you.

Moving to a new city and into a new neighborhood can be uncomfortable and scary. When you greet new people with warm smiles and a friendly attitude, it can make the transition much easier.

5 Top Tips to Avoid a Car Breakdown

Many of us rely on our cars more than ever before. Whether you use your car to run the kids to school, to get to work, or simply complete daily errands, without a vehicle, all sorts of problems can occur. With that in mind, here are five top tips to avoid a car breakdown.

Keep Track of Engine Oil

To ensure your car is working at its best, it’s important that you keep your engine oil topped up. Doing so will help stop any friction or heat from building up within your car, helping to ensure all moving parts work correctly. If your vehicle runs out of engine oil, a build-up of friction and heat will occur, which can result in your car not functioning properly.

Never Miss a Service

When on the road, it’s not just your life that’s on the line, therefore, it’s essential that you never miss a service or MOT. While you may not get the best news from your mechanic (especially if there are lots of repairs to be made), it’s best to listen to the experts and take their advice on board. Having a full service enables your mechanic to thoroughly inspect your vehicle and identify any small problems before they turn into something bigger.

Drive Properly

The way you drive can affect the health of your car. For instance, it’s best to avoid revving your car engine in cold weather, as this will cause rapid temperature changes in the engine, as well as damage components. Also, try and avoid hard starts and stops because they can wear down your rotors and brake pads.

Remove Unnecessary Weight

If your vehicle is filled to the brim with clutter, the added weight can have severe consequences on your car. Each time you use the brake, or turn a corner, your car is having to work much harder to get the job done, therefore, make sure to clean your vehicle regularly and get rid of anything that may be causing the extra weight. If you ignore the problem, you may get broken power steering or snapped brake lines.

Don’t Ignore Warning Signs

There are lots of warning signs that you should be on the lookout for when driving. Whether it be the smell of burning rubber, or you begin to notice a strange sound coming from your vehicle, it’s best to take your car to your local garage where they will be able to pinpoint the source.

Getting Help

If you are faced with car repairs and you’re not covered, it can be daunting to know where you’re going to get the money from to foot the bill, which is where Loan Pig comes in. Loan Pig provides short-term and payday loans which many of its customers use for car repairs and more. You may want to check out their website where you can learn more about LoanPig.


When in your vehicle, it’s crucial that your car is in good condition. If you notice any problems with your car, there are lots of maintenance tasks that are simple to do which can help you avoid having to take your vehicle in for repair which can be costly. Never ignore red flags, such as strange noises or warning lights, as you may have to fork out more money to get your car fixed.

Gifts For Someone From Scotland

There is nothing nicer than buying someone a traditional gift because it means a lot more than buying the obvious option, such as chocolates or flowers. If you are buying a present for someone who lives in Scotland, grew up there, has fond memories of the place or simply is a fan of its culture, then Scottish gifts provide a great option for a birthday present or a gift for any sort of celebratory occasion.

https://pixabay.com/photos/scotland-landscape-mountains-hills-1761292/

Luckily, we can help you out when it comes to picking the perfect present for someone special in your life. Here are some of our gift suggestions…

A tartan angel necklace 

There are lots of tartan angel necklaces to choose from. If you are looking for the perfect gift to give the special lady in your life then it is advisable to opt for an ivory tartan angel necklace. Not only is it a stunning piece of jewelry but it symbolises love and thus it shows the person how much you truly care about them. This aspect coupled with the guardian angel itself also signifies that you want to look after them and protect them, creating a very touching gesture. A lot of people have a keen interest in angels, which can make this gift especially. You can read this piece on what angels really look like for more information and to aid you while searching for the perfect jewelry piece. 

Shortbread

If you are looking to buy someone a tasty gift, shortbread is the perfect idea because it originates in Scotland. Who wouldn’t like to receive some delicious shortbread? You may even want to get a Scottish food hamper. 

A baby pink pearl bracelet

A gorgeous and delicate pearl bracelet is a lovely gift idea for a special little girl. It is often a popular choice for those buying a birthday present for their daughter or a christening gift for their godchild. If you can, try and find a bracelet that comes with a detachable extension chain, meaning it can grow as the child gets older. This means that the bracelet will be something which can last a long time. I’d opt for a dreamy baby pink colour as this is a popular choice amongst young girls. How is this a Scottish gift? Well, you can get Scottish river pearls, so this can help you to make the connection.

Scottie Dog Brooch

This is the perfect gift for someone who is Scottish and proud. The silver Scottie Dog is a perfect representative of Scotland and animals are very much in fashion at the moment.

So there you have it; the top four Scottish jewelry gifts! I hope they make that special person smile.

Tips for Maintaining Safe Workplaces

 Creating and maintaining a safe place to work is crucial for all businesses. Whether it's a one-person operation or a huge multi-national company, it's important to have safety checks in place and to follow routine measures to keep the workplace up to code. Commercial buildings are used for a large number of industries. They also serve a large number of people, so it's of utmost importance to keep conditions safe and to keep buildings secure.

Read on to learn some ways to keep up with the safety needs of your commercial space:

Inspections

Having safety inspections done can help you know what types of issues may arise in the future and they also pick up on any issues that already exist in the space. From foundation to roof and everything in between, it's smart to inspect every facet. There are professional inspectors whose job is to find and track safety concerns, so take advantage of their knowledge. This step may be tempting to skip, but it can give you a strong advantage and a lot of knowledge about the property.

Repairs 

Once you have the property inspection information, you are ready to plan any necessary repairs. If your inspector indicates, for example, that the location needs updates to its outlets or to its generator, these are actions you want to take sooner rather than later. Luckily, you can find the right repair contractor easily. Just go online and search for commercial electrician Austin to connect to a professional and begin your repair process.

Routine Safety Checks

Making a habit of checking potential safety hazards is a great way to keep on top of any problems. You can assign a specific person to perform the safety checks, or you can rotate the responsibility around. Either way, you want to schedule it, the key is routine. This practice helps keep the workplace clean which is ideal, and it also helps give you an idea if any problems are developing.

Renting or buying a commercial property is a big deal - so you want to make sure to take all the steps necessary. Operating an office space or business of any kind requires a safe working environment. With the help of professional inspectors as well as maintenance and repair professionals, you can make sure the building is up to par. Keeping a schedule for safety checks - done by yourself, your employees, or a professional - also helps you make sure everything stays up to code.     

               

How To Put Safety First For Your Family

Image by Kaelie Nielsen from Pixabay 

It goes without saying that you want to keep your family safe, and in this day and age it can be worrying times, and you might wonder how you can possibly keep your family safe. With disasters happening all over, gun violence and stabbings at their peak, terrorism and online threats, the world is a scary place. Realistically though, it is a very safe place. Statistically, you are safe from all of these things, so reading horror stories will only scare you. But if you are feeling concerned for your family right now, then there are some things you can do to put your mind at ease and to feel safe in the knowledge that you are putting safety first. 

Talk To Your Children 

There's no point hiding your children from things that go on in the world; it is better to be open and honest about things that could happen and what they should do. For example, teach them the basics about what to do in a fire, such as getting low to avoid smoke or feeling doorknobs for heat before opening them. If you live in an area affected by hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes, talk with children about how to recognize the signs and where they should go.

Make sure children know how to call the emergency services too. 

Put Together A Family Disaster Kit

Having basic supplies is crucial if there is a disaster, so get prepared ahead of time. A few things you can put in there include a first-aid kit, Water, Flashlights, batteries, chargers, non-perishable foods, like canned foods (and a can opener) and peanut butter, spare clothes, and a blanket or two and some toys or games.

Involve your children in planning and packing this disaster kit and make it into a fun game because the more you make it something regular and ordinary, the better and hopefully it will never be more than a game. 

Educate Yourself On Online Safety

The online world is a scary place, but there are also so many benefits to it and great things for our kids that you shouldn't keep them away from it, just keep them safe on it. They learn quicker than you do so you need to be ahead of the game and educate yourself on online safety. It's important to start discussing online safety at an early age, teach them about passwords and why they're important. It's also important to teach them about their behaviour online, and if they wouldn't do it in person, then they shouldn't do it online either. Would you go up to a stranger and start a conversation? Would you abuse people you don't know about how they look or what they're doing? They need to learn as well that once they have posted something, then it will stay online forever so to think about what they are saying. 

Always Buckle Up

It goes without saying really, but this simple act can mean the difference between life and death. According to the National Security Council (NSC), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people aged 1 to 33. It also states that roughly every 12 minutes, someone in the United States is killed because of a road accident and every 14 seconds, someone will suffer an injury causing a disability. Seat belts save the lives of thousands of people every year, so always make sure you are travelling safely, use child safety seats and make sure you have installed them properly. Finally, don't drink and drive. Again, it's something that shouldn't need to be said, but sadly, according to the NSC, approximately 40 per cent of auto accident deaths involve drinking, so this is not a positive figure. Always make sure you are following the rules, because should something happen which isn't your fault, you need to make sure you can level the playing field with these car accident lawyers. 

Always Wear Helmets

For both you and the kids, make sure that you always wear a helmet when you are doing activities such as biking or playing sports, such as football, hockey, or baseball. Make sure your kids to but set a good example and wear one yourself. 

Keep An Eye Out Near Water

Always keep an eye on your children at a pool or beach or even in the bathtub. If you have a swimming pool, make sure it is fenced in and install self-closing doors leading to it. Put all the toys away to stop any temptation from little ones and for added protection, install a cover that prevents access to the water.