Tips for Homesick Texans

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                    Texas is a unique place. When you move away after living most of your life in the Lone Star State, you may undergo some culture shock and start longing for home. There are several ways you can ease into your new surroundings and soothe your homesickness.

Comfort Food

One of the most remarkable things about Texas is the food. Good barbeque is both a science and a sport, and sharing a border with Mexico results in a blend of cultures and culinary offerings. If you are hungry for home, look for authentic Mexican food Richmond KY. Flooding your senses with the aromas and tastes you miss can ease some of the longing.

Wide, Open Spaces

You may have heard that everything is bigger in Texas, and that's not an exaggeration. Driving for ten hours in most parts of the country will take you through several states, but if you start driving west from Dallas, you're likely still in Texas ten hours later, and you have seen quite a few different landscapes. If you miss these long drives, try a trip up the Pacific Coast. You can explore new areas and still enjoy fantastic views.

New Experiences

If you are homesick for Texas, getting to know the new place you're living may be just the thing you need to feel better. Ask around for yearly festivals and try out some of the local restaurants. Establish your weekend routine early, exploring new brunch spots or wandering around downtown. Learning to love where you are doesn't mean you love Texas any less, and it will help you feel more at home in your new city.

Even when you miss all the familiar places in Texas, there are many things you can do to make the transition to living elsewhere easier. Your heart may always belong to Texas, but you can make any place your home.
             

5 Fun Ways to Keep Kids Interested in Reading and Storytelling

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When children are very young, they love being read to, then many children will even progress to reading books by themselves. There is, after all, something magical about reading and losing yourself in a fantasy world.

Unfortunately, as children grow, there are many other distractions, especially in the modern digital world. Yet, reading and storytelling are still essential to their development, it encourages creative thinking, use of imagination, and puzzle-solving skills.  

While reputable early childcare establishments such as this childcare Liverpool encourage reading, it is important to continue the trend at home. Your children will thank you for it one day in the future!

Audiobooks

Storytelling doesn’t just mean reading a book. Children can get lost in fantasy and learn from it just as easily by listening to an audiobook. This allows them to do other things at the same time and it appears much cooler than simply reading.

If they are still not keen try playing audiobooks in the car and talk to them about it while you’re driving.

Just remember to use open-ended questions if you actually want a discussion.

Try Different Books

If your child isn’t interested in reading then consider what they are reading. This isn’t a one-size fit all option. Take a look at the different books available and encourage your child to try different themes and genres, they are certain to find something they enjoy.

Schedule Time

A great way to ensure everyone is reading is to create a schedule that dedicates just 15 minutes to reading every day. During that time no electronic gadgets are allowed in the house, everyone reads and no one feels like they are missing out.

15 minutes doesn’t seem like too much for a child to read for but it will build the habit.

Children Choose Their Own Books

It’s essential that children are allowed to choose their own books. Just like most things in life, choosing something for yourself automatically makes it more interesting and more valuable.

If your child has chosen a book themselves they are more likely to want to sit down and read it. That’s three-quarters of the battle taken care of!

Lead By Example

Don’t forget that children are naturally curious and rebellious. If you’re telling them to read a book you should be doing the same thing. This encourages them as you’re leading by example. You can do it at the same time as them to reinforce the reading schedule.

If you’re not visibly reading then your children will question the importance of reading and will be more likely to give up. Reading is beneficial for adults as well so it’s not a bad thing to take a few moments to enjoy a good book.

You can even leave the books you are reading lying around and other potential titles, it will ensure your children are interested and help them to choose their next book.

Don’t forget that reading also expands your child’s vocabulary, and may even expand your vocabulary. That’s definitely beneficial as they grow into adulthood.

What To Do When You’ve Been Injured at Work

Most of us head to work each day with a focus on the tasks, jobs, and responsibilities ahead of us. While work is never easy and often stressful, there is usually no need to worry about your safety in the workplace. There are measures and protocols in place to protect employees. 

Unfortunately, accidents in the workplace are quite common. In a busy environment, it’s easy to slip or fall, causing injury. In other circumstances, people fall victim to pure bad luck. Certain professions are more dangerous than others. Jobs such as logging, roofing, construction, and fishing have a higher accident rate. However, no jobs are free from the risk of an accident. 

An accident at work is something you never think will happen to you until it actually does. A significant injury can be life-altering, and can at least inhibit your ability to work and make a living. You should be informed on what to do if you’re involved in one. 

In the unfortunate event of a workplace accident, here are six steps that you need to take.

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Assess your injury
As soon as an accident occurs, you should concentrate fully on assessing and tending to any potential injuries. Your safety is the number one priority. Avoid causing further damage by moving or putting the injured areas under unnecessary pressure. 

Call out to a colleague, a passerby, or the emergency services for assistance. If there is an on-site medical kit, instruct someone to bring it and perform first-aid if it’s required.

Document the incident
With your own health and safety being the priority, the next course of action should be to document any evidence surrounding the incident. Take photos and videos, or have someone do so on your behalf. 

Take contact information from any witnesses or people involved in the accident. 

As soon as you are capable, write down your account of the accident. This could be very important for any future claim. The closer to the time of occurrence, the more accurate your account is likely to be.

Visit a doctor
Immediately after the accident, you should visit your doctor to make a professional assessment of your injuries. If your injuries are severe, call an ambulance or go straight to the ER. 

Ensure that the doctor writes an official, signed account of your injuries. 

Treat your injuries
No matter the extent of your ailments, it’s important that you take the necessary action to recover. Visit a chiropractor or therapist for specialized treatment. Stay disciplined and follow their instructions to minimize the longterm effects of the injuries. 

Monitor medical costs
Keep all receipts related to your medical costs, including appointments, therapy, and medication. If the accident was not your fault, you shouldn’t have to undertake the financial burden of recovery. 

In a future claim or agreement with your employer, having a record of your medical costs will make compensation much easier to receive. 

Consider legal action
If you are an innocent victim of an accident, you shouldn’t have to pay the long term price. Seek advice from a legal expert and decide whether or not you should pursue legal action. 

This might not be your ideal scenario, but you might need to take the legal route to receive compensation.

4 Reasons Why Having Life Insurance is Beneficial for You

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Is life insurance a good investment? Many people ask a lot of questions about life insurance because it is a part of your financial plan. It’s beneficial to have life insurance from a very young age because you’ll never know what happens. We all know that no one thinks about death, but life insurance will give you financial confidence. Most people don’t understand the benefits of life insurance. 

It can help you take care of your family members, too – this would be one of the benefits of life insurance. So, it’s simple – the more life insurance you have, the more benefits. So, what is whole life insurance? Life insurance provides an amount of money to your loved ones in case you pass away. There are many types of insurances, but life insurance typically comes with a lot of features. Basically, you cover your entire life – of course, if you keep your payments updated. 

Flexible Work Opportunities That Can Supplement Your Income

COVID-19 took a sledgehammer to the job market earlier in the year, forcing millions of people out of work involuntarily. It was a massive disaster and left many of us worrying how the heck we were going to keep a roof over our heads during the lockdown. Fortunately, the economy appears to be bouncing back, with millions of new jobs being created in both May and June. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t scars from the lockdown. Many people’s finances are in tatters. 

Fortunately, there are plenty of jobs you can do to supplement your income. You don’t have to make do with a smaller income from your regular work (or none at all). 

Become A Household Assistant

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Wealthy people will remain relatively unaffected by the current economic crisis engulfing western countries. Even if their incomes are down this year, they have massive cash reserves and want to maintain their quality of life. They know that things will improve in a couple of years, giving them plenty of opportunities to build their wealth again. 

For that reason, the household assistant market is hot right now. Millionaires and billionaires want people to do the odd job here and there to manage their properties. They’re too busy to do it themselves.

If you do a good job, you can usually earn tips that easily double or triple your regular pay. And even if you work for a basic rate, all that money soon adds up and makes a massive difference in your quality of life. 

Offer Your Services Freelance

COVID-19 made “going freelance” mainstream. Now everyone wants to try it. Marketable skills include writing, transcribing, tutoring, providing virtual reception services, and even accounting. 

Freelance gigs tend to build slowly. At first, you might only get a couple of projects per week. But over time, demand will build. People will tell their colleagues about your services. And eventually, you’ll fill your calendar. 

Become A Carer

Child and elderly care jobs never went away during the crisis. In fact, the demand for people to work in this sector went up and up. And even when the economy returns to normal, that process will continue. 

The great thing about most care jobs is that you can divide your time into chunks. Agencies tend to operate sophisticated timetables. So you just tell them when you’re free to work, and they’ll get on with the job of providing you with opportunities that work around your schedule. 

Try Dog Sitting

If you thought babysitting was a real money-spinner, you should try dog sitting. Most people really dislike leaving their pooches in their homes when they go away for the night, just in case they start acting out. And a lot of people can’t bear sending their dogs to kennels if they decide to go abroad. 

Dog sitting, therefore, is becoming increasingly popular. You essentially house sit for the person who is going away while also looking after their four-legged friend. Basic knowledge of how to look after a dog is required. But other than that, you don’t need any special skills.