Got Rhythm?Written by Norma Schmidt, Coach, LLC
Want to thrive while juggling job and family? Get into a regular rhythm of work and rest. It's as vital as inhaling and exhaling.The right rhythm for you is uniquely yours. A daily period of 10 to 20 minutes to relax and rejuvenate can do wonders. You might decide that one day per week you will avoid work related to your paid job and keep household chores to a minimum. Vacations of several days or longer are marvelous to look forward to. The key is to make periods of relaxation a regular part of your daily, weekly and yearly schedule. START SMALL. Short breaks are easiest to schedule. Even moms with toddlers can manage a few minutes a day to read, pray, stretch or whatever else helps you find your center. During spring when my first child was learning to walk, I benefited enormously from spending just five minutes a day reading "The Physics of Star Trek." Over time, my rhythm came to include longer rest periods, with even greater benefits.
| | Patio Design – expanding your home outdoorsWritten by Nicholas Webb
By: Nicholas WebbA patio can be just like another room in your house. Effective patio design can mean that your increase floor space of your home, by adding an outside room that allows you to entertain like never before. A patio can just be a rectangular slab of concrete with some plastic chairs and griller, but it can also be so much more. What comes to mind when you think of a patio? Patio design gives you opportunity to create an outside living area – an extension of your home – for entertaining and relaxing all year round. For instance, people who like to entertain may want to consider a patio with an undercover kitchen and dining area. By adding a barbecue grill, a built in fridge and some quality outdoor furniture, patio can, in itself, become a feature of your home. When commencing a new patio design, it is important to remember that your new outdoor entertaining area does not need to be expensive. There are a variety of different patio surfaces to fit a particular style or budget, including concrete pavers, natural clay stones and bricks. There is no need to stick to one type of paving or surface - experiment. Pebbles, gravels, bricks and tiles, can all be incorporated. A contrasting brick edge can also be effective. Similarly, patio shades need not be extensive, just enough to cover main cooking and eating areas; after all, why block out view of your gorgeous garden in midday sun or stars in sky on a clear night.
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