Find Joy in Your Photos Again - Simple Steps to Regain Control

Written by Christine Sutton


Photographs are intended to bring us joy. Instead most people feel anything but joy when it comes to their photographs. Most people feel challenged, frustrated, and overwhelmed by their photographs!

The average person has shoeboxes and dresser drawers full of photos that are a jumbled mess. Many people have years and years’ worth of photos that have never even made it out ofrepparttar film developer’s envelopes! Even worse, some people have even stopped taking pictures because they feel so guilty about their already out-of-control photo “collection.”

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your photos, then start by taking these simple steps to findrepparttar 110769 joy in your photographs once again:

1. Practice Photo Safety

If you were to ask someone to name their most prized possessions, they would likely tell you that their photographs and keepsakes were most important. And yet, most people are unknowingly damaging these very items that they consider most valuable!

How about you? Are you damaging your precious photographs? If you have any photographs in shoeboxes, magnetic albums, manila folders, plastic baggies or standard film developing envelopes, then your answer is YES! If you have ever written onrepparttar 110770 back of your photographs with a ballpoint pen, then your answer is YES! That is because all of these items expose your photographs torepparttar 110771 three biggest hazards: Acid, Lignin and PVC. Here's a quick explanation of these hazards:

* Acid: A chemical substance that can weaken paper and cloth, causing it to brown and become brittle. * Lignin: An organic substance that is present in wood pulp. It becomes more and more acidic as it deteriorates. (The yellowing effect of a newspaper is an example of lignin.) * PVC: (also known as polyvinyl chloride) A chemically active plastic that, when combined with moisture inrepparttar 110772 air can emit hydrochloric acid.

This may sound complicated, but you don't need to worry about rememberingrepparttar 110773 details. Just remember that acid, lignin and PVC will damage photographs! Whenever you purchase photo albums and scrapbooking supplies, be sure that they are acid-free, lignin-free and PVC free.

You also need to protect your photographs from hazards inrepparttar 110774 environment, such as excessive heat, light and humidity. For ultimate safety, you should store your photo collection in a windowless closet away from water pipes and heat sources.

This may seem like extra work, but practicing photo safety shouldrepparttar 110775 first step in any of your photo organizing projects. The greatest organizing systems are useless if your photographs are destroyed inrepparttar 110776 process!

2. Gather everything in one place.

It’s hard to organize your photographs if you don’t know where they are! Having everything in one place will bring an immediate sense of peace, and it will make it easier for your family to enjoy your precious photographs. There’s a security benefit, too! Ifrepparttar 110777 unthinkable happens and you need to evacuate your house, you will be able to quickly gather your treasured items.

3. Don’t get hung up onrepparttar 110778 “big picture”.

If you’re like most people, then just thinking about your massive photo collection is enough to discourage you from taking action. You see years and years' worth of photos and think you could never get them all organized, so why bother? Get rid of that "all or nothing" mentality!

PARENTS: How You Can Win the Battle To Keep Your Child Safe From Strangers This Holiday Season

Written by Michelle Annese


When we think of Holiday shopping, we think of allrepparttar glowing lights at our area malls andrepparttar 110768 various eye-catching decorations in shopping centers. Along withrepparttar 110769 distraction of our ‘to do’ list in our heads, we get preoccupied with carrying bags and scoping out gifts. But withrepparttar 110770 whirlwind of diversions, we cannot put our guard down on who is scoping out our own children.

To help with this here arerepparttar 110771 top 7 things parents can do to prevent their young from falling prey to strangers and child kidnappers inrepparttar 110772 busy hustle and bustle ofrepparttar 110773 season. 1.Stay connected. Make sure you have your children with you whether in a stroller or holding your hand. Even if your child stays next to you other times ofrepparttar 110774 year, allrepparttar 110775 distractions of toys, decorations, and Santa can make any kid get sidetracked. For older children invest in a family walkie-talkie set. Make sure they know how to use it and check in with them on regular time intervals to know where they are – even if they are right next to you. 2.If your child is lost go right to security. Most malls and shopping centers have security protocol when a child is missing. Don’t try to look for your child alone. Let them help yourepparttar 110776 second you realize you cannot find your child – every moment counts.

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