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Finding Your Feet As A Twenty-Something Adult

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dancing

It feels like the world runs at 100 mph from the moment you leave school. After the safety and security of teenage life, we are suddenly bombarded with responsibilities and things we need to achieve for a better life.

Most of us when we leave school are pushed into doing a degree, finding ourselves a job, and we have Apartments for Sale thrown at our feet every day. The transition from child to adult never seems slow enough for us to manage, and in the blink of an eye we become a young adult trying to make their way in a huge, scary world. If you are at this stage in your life right now and wonder how you can find your feet, here are some tips.

Don’t rush into education

During our teenage years we are pulled and pushed in every which way, and both out teachers and parents push us to work for further education and get a degree as soon as we leave school. However, the important thing to remember here is that this is your life, not theirs. Although it may seem as if you have no choice but to take their advice; it is ultimately a decision which you need to make for yourself. If you genuinely don’t want to go into further education, you don’t have to. There are no rules which tell you that you have to spend 3-4 years of your life living on a campus. If you want to go straight into working for a company you totally can. In fact, the best thing you can possibly do for yourself is take the year to think things over and go travelling. Take the time to decide what you want to do with your life and make some amazing memories. When you get home, you can decide whether you want to settle in a job or go to college.

Ask questions

During this time of ours lives, we have so many things going on that we rarely get the chance to sit down and breathe. It is important to remember that your parents, friends and other family members have been through this stage in their lives too. If you ever have any doubts about what to do and how to balance your work and personal life, just ask. There is no shame in not knowing what to do, after all, you’ve never done this before. Take the time to talk to people from different backgrounds to get a view of every aspect of your life. It will allow you to make the right decisions and find where you want to be.

Stay single… for a while

There are few people in the world who are lucky enough to meet the love of their life during their school years, and if you are one of these people, lucky you! However, for the rest of us it might be better to stay away from relationships for a little while in our early twenties. These years are the defining years of our lives, and they will be the years which point us in one direction or the other. If you truly want to find your feet and discover who you really are, you need to do it alone. Although there is nothing wrong with baking a partner to share these years with, it can be just as rewarding to spend this time focusing on yourself and getting yourself ready for the rest of your life. Once you have settles in a home, have a job and have some form of stability in your life, it is the perfect time to start a relationship.

Exercise

Our happiness is just as much about our physical appearance as it is about everything else. If you truly want to find who you are and live your life to the fullest, you need to be confident in your own skin. You don’t have to avoid pizza and wine for the rest of your life to be healthy, but just take some time every week to get outside and get some fresh air in your lungs. It will give you chance to reflect on the week and your success as you work up a sweat with your muscles.

Find your passion

Perhaps one of the most cheesy parts of this list is to find your passion. But honestly if you want to be totally happy and make the most of your life, you need to find something to work for. Think about everything you enjoy doing, and think about the things which you care about the most. Using these hobbies and subjects you can figure it exactly what kind of person you want to be, and what kind of job you want to be doing for the rest of your life. If you have a passion for helping animals for example, you could join a charity, work in a nature reserve or as a vet. Once you find that driving force to wake you up every morning, you will be able to find success in a job which you enjoy.

Don’t give up

Adult life is hard. You have to find the time to balance seeing your family and friends, working, keeping fit and relaxing by yourself. It can become a stressful situation for many of us and it is tempting to run back to our parents and revoke our responsibilities. What you need to remember is that everyone else your age is struggling with this too. Adulting is not easy at all, and when you couple this with trying to find your place in the world it can feel as if you are destined to fail. You will never meet an adult who claims to have everything together, because life doesn’t work that way. You will simply pick things up along the way which will help make life that little bit easier. Just keep on with your life, look forward to the future and live every moment with energy, life and happiness.

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3 Ways To Really Add Something Special To Your Personal Style

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If you are like most people, you probably want to look as original as possible in your general style. Of course, this is much easier said than achieved, and it is one of those things which can take a truly long time to master. But as long as you are focusing on a few key areas, you can be sure that you can more easily create a personal style of your own which nobody else quite has. In this article, we are going to look at some relatively easy ways in which you can hope to do this, no matter where you are at at the moment in relation to your own sense of style. As long as you follow these, you can expect to stand out in no time at all.

jewellery black and white

Jewellery

Using jewellery is one of the best ways to bring something extra to your own personal style, no matter what kind of a look you are going for. The beauty of it is that there is some kind of jewellery that works for everyone, so whatever it is that you hope to achieve, you will be able to help[ your style long in this way. For some this might mean finding some interesting and unique body jewellery from the likes of Ivy Dayelle, to really give something fresh to the overall look. And for others, it could be a simple case of employing the help of a single ring or necklace. Even a small single item like this, used propelr,y can be enough to completely transform your personal look, and make it into something else entirely, so it really is worth considering.

Body Decorations

If there is one thing that humans have been doing for as long as we have been around, it is decorating our bodies in various ways. Different cultures over time have done it in many different ways, but one method which has cropped up in pretty much every culture forever is the tattoo, albeit in different forms and achieved through various ends. If you are someone who has long considered getting a tattoo, but you are not quite sure about it, it might be worth going back to the drawing board and thinking about it again. It’s all about the design, so as long as you are happy with that you will find that you are able to consider this as a real possibility. Despite what you might fear, it might turn out to be the best thing you ever did for your own sense of style – but do make sure that you really want to do it before you start the procedure.

getting a tattoo

Homemade Clothing

If you are the creative type, then creating your very own homemade clothing might just about be the best way to go. This is something which can be fun, enjoyable, and give you items of clothing to wear which literally nobody else in the world has. You really can’t get any more unique than that, so if you do this you can certifiably say that you have much more in the way of personal style than most people.

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High Class Fashion On A Low Budget

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coats on a rack

There can be special occasions when we all want to dress up a little more elegantly. This clothing can be expensive to buy, however there are ways to reduce these costs. Here are a few ways to afford luxury clothing.

Shop second-hand

Second-hand clothing is always much cheaper than brand new clothing. It’s unlikely you’ll find luxury dresses shopping at a thrift store or a charity shop, although you may get lucky. Consignment stores are often a better choice as they specialise in high end second hand clothing. On top of physical stores, you can use online second hand sites such as Preloved to find clothing – just make sure that pictures are included so that you have a good idea of the condition.

Shop online

There are many online stores such as Fresh Soul Clothing that specialise in affordable clothing with a luxury touch. These sites can sometimes sell cheaper than physical stores due to not having as many overheads. Just make sure to factor in the delivery cost when buying online. Most online stores now allow returns if an item of clothing isn’t the right fit, so don’t fret about the fact that you can’t try on these clothes first.

Hire expensive clothing

Buying isn’t the only option when it come to luxury clothing – hiring it from a company like Rent the Runway could allow you to get a luxury dress for a tenth of the price of buying it. Such companies dry clean and iron each dress so that it feels brand new when putting it on. Just make sure that you return the dress on time, as there could be a late return fee. It is possible to buy clothing from some of these companies if you’ve hired and don’t want to part with it, however you’ll be paying a premium to own it – more than were you to buy the dress from another retailer.

Borrow from a friend

If you know a friend or family member that’s the same size as you, it’s possible they may have an item of clothing that you could borrow when it comes to a one-off special event. This is ideal for most people – the idea that someone they know has worn it can turn a lot of people off – but if you’re skint and need an outfit, it could be a solution worth considering.

Swap clothes

Got a luxury dress that you’d be willing to swap with somebody? Sites like Swishing have become popular for clothes swapping and now have sections for boutique clothing. This could be a cheap way of getting a new luxury dress, whilst getting rid of an item in your wardrobe in the process. There may also be a clothes swap event near to you, however these events may not always have luxury clothing to choose from.

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A Fairytale Holiday: Magical Places To Visit

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Summer is almost upon us, and you will no doubt be considering where to go. Now, you could go for the usual tourist spots, but let’s be honest, they can get a bit boring and predictable. You could also visit a place to bolster your education and knowledge about the world we live in, especially if you’re a history buff, but for some, that may be too much reality. Because in this article, we are considering those people who are looking for something a little more fantastical; something magical that will transport you away from the doldrums of life into more enchanted realms. Looking for a fairytale holiday? Consider the following places.

Fantasy castles in Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle

Book yourself a stay in the country’s capital at the Courtyard Munich City Center and head out on day-trips to some of the best places Germany has to offer. In nearby Bavaria, you should visit what have become known as Mad Ludwig’s Fantasy Castles, so-called because they look like something straight out of a Walt-Disney animation. In fact, the breathtaking Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria inspired the Royal castle in Sleeping Beauty. Located at the foot of the Alps and backed with snow-capped mountains, this is a place of beauty that will transport you to another world. Not only that, but Germany is a fantasy-buffs dream anyway, with its many picturesque towns showcasing incredible color and architecture that looks like something from a picture book.

Visit the Shire in Hobbiton

And you thought Hobbiton was a fictional place? Shame on you. Okay, so it isn’t actually a place you would find on the map, but as many places in New Zealand were location-based for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies, it’s only right that a hobbit-sized village should be constructed for the fans of Tolkien’s classic novels. Make like a giant and visit this colorful locale, and tour the homes of Bilbo Baggins and his hobbit neighbors. You can even have a pint of ale at the Green Dragon, regaling your fellowship (holiday companions) with tales of derring-do and dragon slaying.

Venture through the Crooked Forest in Poland

The Crooked Forest

A fairytale wouldn’t be complete without a walk through an enchanted forest, but let’s be honest, they are quite difficult to find in the real world, no matter how many fairy lights you hang from the branches to create atmosphere. Until you get to the Crooked Forest. Perhaps we should have used the word spooky instead of enchanted, as the 400 pine trees curve and twist in shapes you wouldn’t have thought possible. You can almost imagine poor Snow White walking through here on a dark night, with only the moon to guide her way as she tries to stay out of the clutches of the evil Queen. So, if you are easily spooked, visit this peculiar spot in the daytime!

Step onto King’s Landing in Croatia

We have probably just sent a chill up the spines of Game of Thrones fans. While we still have a long wait for the final series in the fantasy saga, you can still visit one of the many locations around the globe where this epic series was filmed. While you are spoilt for choice – from Iceland to Malta- there is none more iconic setting than the capital city of King’s Landing, which was filmed in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The site of the Iron Throne, you can take one of the many tours while humming the tv show’s theme tune as you go.

Finally

Once upon a time you went on vacation and had a truly magical holiday. Well, you did if you visited any of the locations we mentioned. And of course you don’t have to visit them in the summer, as remember: Winter is coming! *

* Game of Thrones reference for those of you who are non-fantasy buffs.

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Make Your Home More Spacious With These Steps

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Everyone wants to live in a spacious home, but most of us don’t have the money to buy the kinds of properties that offer vast open rooms. However, you don’t have to simply accept your situation when you’re in need of more space. You can always make changes to the way in which your home looks and functions. There are lots of little ideas that will not only add space to your home but add the illusion of additional space too.

So, where should you start when you’re looking to make your home that little bit more spacious? Some of the changes we’re about to discuss are quite big, while others are very minor and easy to implement. Which of them you choose to adopt will depend on your own circumstances, but read on now and learn more about them all.

Rearrange Your Furniture

First of all, you should think about rearranging your furniture so that you can make the most of your space. One of the things to think about is how you use and move around your space. There should be a clear pathway and through line in each room. It should never be tricky to navigate your space, and the way you arrange your furniture will decide whether that’s the case or not.

living room with geometric designs

Move Some of Your Stuff Into Storage

If you’ve got some things that are taking up space in your home but you don’t really want to part with them permanently, you should look into making use of self storage options. This allows you to get a lot of this stuff out of your home, meaning you can then focus on making the most of your space without it being taken up by things that shouldn’t be there. It’s a big win-win for you.

Make Use of Mirrors and Natural Light

The mirror trick is as old as time, but it really does work in the home. When you add some extra mirrors to the space, you will find that the light gets reflected around the room, making the space look much bigger. It’s well known that dark and dingy rooms feel smaller than those that are flooded with natural light, so make use of that simple fact when designing your room. Do what you can to make the most of the light from the windows. Blinds rather than curtains can help with this.

Rid Your Home of Overly Bulky Items

Any items that are big and bulky should be banished from your home at the earliest opportunity. This might sound like an unnecessarily sweeping statement to make, but with all the small and simple furniture options out there, it makes no sense to persist with bulky items. This is something that should also apply to your window dressings. Large and bulky curtains can really make a room seem smaller than it is, so get rid of them as soon as you possibly can.

Keep Things Light and Neutral

By keeping things as light and neutral as possible in terms of the interior design, you will be able to create the appearance of spaciousness in your home, even if there isn’t all that much space at all. This is because everything will feel more laid back and lowkey. Whereas, if you allow your space to be overwhelmed by colours and design choices that are too bold and brash, it will start to feel like the walls are closing in on you from all sides.

Make Use of Every Spare Corner

There shouldn’t be a single corner of your home that you’re not making use of in one way or another. If you allow space to go to waste, you will only end up regretting it later, and that’s not what you want. If there is a spare corner, add a chair or some form of additional storage. If it adds something useful and functional to the space, it deserves to the be there. Of course, you shouldn’t just use the space for the sake of it; there has to be a reason for the changes that you ultimately make.

living room dark grey

Your home might not be as big and spacious as you’d like it to be, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make changes to it that will accentuate the space you do have. These ideas are just the tip of the iceberg, so start by implementing them, and when you’ve done that, you can find other ways to make your home look and feel more spacious.

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