How to decorate a Southwest Styled House

What does a Southwest Style House look like?
A Southwest-styled house is specially made to give an inviting and gorgeous look to guests and visitors. You can recognize a Southwest-styled house with some prominent features such as flat roofs, its covered porches, stoned pillars and walls, smaller windows, large wooden doors and lower roof when viewed from inside. It has patterned tile work creating a cool environment. Another feature which is noticeable is the use of stucco walls.

Stucco walls are made by applying thick layer which hardens when dried. These houses are usually found in single story homes. Such houses are commonly found in Southwestern areas of America (like Phoenix, Las Vegas, California, etc.). These houses have also embraced current trends in decoration along with old traditional wooden style.

History
Southwest Style house plans have a historical background after which it was known all over the world. In earlier times, Southwest style houses were also known as Pueblo Revival Style. This design was taken up from Spanish mission in New Mexico. Its popularity increased during the 1920s and 1930s. The main features of such houses at that time included the use of bricks and concrete on walls and flat roofs. This style was very famous in New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado in earlier times.

Tips to decorate your Southwest Style house

• As you will start decorating your house, you will also color its walls. Southwestern styled houses are painted with bright and vibrant colors (including yellows and oranges). On the other hand, those colors should not be extra bright that it irritates your eye. The color chosen should be warm. Shades of yellow, orange, golden and blue are in tradition with this style. Paints denote natural colors of the sky.
• Use of wood should be easily seen. Using different kinds of wood such as pine, oak, maple, birch, etc. can indicate Southwestern style. Bold wooden furniture is also encouraged. New Mexico was famous for more use of wood.
• If you do not feel like using more wood in your house, you can go for metalwork. Furniture made from metal is also found in Southwestern styled house. You can set up wrought iron tables and chairs or railings.
• Add creativity to your walls by either making it with stones or stucco. Textured walls are more liked in such houses. You can enhance the interior by putting spiritual content on the walls.
• Every house has pillars inside it. Making it out of stonework will look more inspiring. It will then look more like a Southwestern styled house.
• Simple wooden flooring will not sound like a house of such category. Therefore, adding art will help you. You can either use stones or rough planks and brick. To add beauty, you can also place rugs all over the floor with different designs. Southwest house designs have variety, so you could also add mosaic tiles on the floor.
• Include more of Spanish decoration. Guests should find more Spanish details. Pottery of different shapes and sizes are promoted.

Accidents Do Happen but Your Children Shouldn’t Suffer the Consequences

Whether at work or play, there comes a time when parents are exposed to being injured, sometimes leaving them medically unable to work for the rest of their lives. If you, or a loved one, has been injured as the result of negligence on the part of a business, government entity or even a driver of a vehicle covered by insurance, you may be eligible for compensation that will help you financially for the rest of your life and especially during the years you have minor children at home. Yes, accidents do happen but your children shouldn’t suffer the consequences.

What Kind of Injuries Do Personal Injury Lawyers Handle?

Many people aren’t aware of all the types of injuries that are covered under a broad classification called ‘personal injury.’ If you have never been injured before and have not had to file a claim, you may not be aware just how many injuries are actually covered. A knowledgeable and experienced personal injury lawyer can handle:

 Injuries resulting from dog bites and serious attacks.
 Emotional distress intentionally inflicted.
 Injuries that are deemed work-related or on the job.
 Medical malpractice.
 Falls and slips resulting in injuries.
 Injuries directly resulting from products that are faulty.
 Sports related injuries.
 Assault and/or battery.
 Loss of companionship (often referred to as loss of consortium).
 Wrongful death.

And these are just the most common types of injury, but by no means is this a complete list of what a personal injury attorney can handle.

Understanding the Attorney – Client Fiduciary Obligation

There is one bit of advice which should be given, across the board. No matter what kind of injury you have sustained or where you sustained it, if it is serious enough to put you out of work, you should always contact a personal injury attorney. The reason for this is because you need to ensure that your best interests are being represented. This is called a fiduciary obligation and his/her obligation is to represent you and only you, not your employer or the insurance company, however, there are exceptions. This is why you hire a personal injury attorney – so that your best interests are represented to the exclusion of all others as the law dictates.

Your Children as an Extension of This Attorney – Client Relationship

When representing you, as the person who supports minor children, this fiduciary relationship then is implied between your attorney and your children. If you are unable to speak for yourself but have children who depend on you, your attorney can speak for you in a court of law to ensure their support throughout the years you would have been supporting them. It’s a tricky subject and one that only an accomplished lawyer can explain well, but the point is made.

Your children shouldn’t suffer the consequences of your inability to care for them financially or in any other way due to that injury. Accidents do happen but if you are not at fault and you have suffered significant injuries, a personal injury attorney can win the compensation you and your children deserve.

Choosing to Have Hope - Make Frozen Donor Eggs Your Fertility Alternative

Life doesn’t always work out the way we think it will. Sometimes, even the most perfectly laid plans go awry. If you dream about having a big family, maybe with a black lab and leisurely weekend breakfasts on the porch with the little ones running around, you may feel like your dreams have been shattered after several rounds of unsuccessful IVF.
But don’t give up hope-- remember what your grandmother used to say? When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. With major advances in donor egg IVF treatment, now you don’t have to give up on your dream of working on the Sunday crossword while nursing your infant, and all the other little pleasures that come from being a Mom.

Moving Forward

Whether you’ve already experienced a successful pregnancy or are trying for your first, some couples never find out the reasons behind their negative pregnancy tests, for others the facts can be cold, hard, and inescapable. Those three little words, “no longer viable,” can be devastating for any woman to hear. For many couples, deciding to use a donor egg is one of the toughest decisions they will ever have to make – but it can also be one of the most rewarding.

You and your partner may find it helpful to speak to a therapist or counsellor when weighing up your fertility alternatives, as the psychological impact of using a donor egg needs to be fully understood by both parties. This can be a testing time in your relationship.

Coming to terms with the fact that your child won’t share your DNA can be hard, but knowing that you’ll experience the joy of carrying your own baby and feeling her kick and hiccup inside of you is still a real possibility.

Using Frozen Donor Eggs

If you and your partner are seriously considering your fertility options, then using frozen donor eggs may be something for you to look into, as there are numerous benefits of this technology. If the high price (typically between $35,000-50,000 per cycle) of using fresh donor eggs is an issue, the good news is that a frozen donor egg cycle generally costs around half as much, and some companies also offer flexible financing plans.

Frozen donor eggs are also much more convenient for women who work or lead demanding lifestyles. With traditional fresh eggs, the donor’s cycle has to be synched to your own, which can mean lengthy delays and high amounts of medication. When using frozen donor eggs, any potential complexities have already been taken care of, and cycle synchronization is no longer an issue. You can start embryo transfer as soon as your schedule is open and your uterus is ready.

You’ll also have access to a national donor pool, which means you’ll have a greater selection of nationwide samples from different ethnicities to choose from, and you won’t be restricted to finding a donor locally available.

But Are Frozen Eggs Successful?

If you’ve done your research, then you’ve probably read that success rates are still slightly higher when using fresh donor eggs; that’s partly because fewer studies have been conducted regarding frozen donor egg fertility treatment. There have been major breakthroughs in vitrification (egg freezing) over the last few years.

Vitrification is a flash freezing process that minimizes the risk of ice crystals forming in the eggs, which was a major problem with previous slow-freeze methods. This latest technology, combined with overall improvements in thawing protocols, means that your chances of success with frozen donor eggs are now higher than ever before. So, now you can choose to have hope by making frozen donor eggs your fertility choice.

This guest post was provided by Heidi Hayes, CEO of Donor Egg Bank, USA

Make the most out of your adventure in Japan with HealthyTokyo.com

This article is a guest post provided by HealthyTokyo.com

Have you ever dreamed of packing up and going to the other side of the globe to explore a new country with your family? While being one of the most modern and developed countries in the world, Japan is also an ideal destination if you enjoy doing sightseeing. Temples, shrines, castles, mountains hot springs, but also huge shopping malls, amusement parks and very modern buildings… There is so much to discover in Japan and every member of the family will find something that fits their tastes.

Living such an adventure with the family is very exciting, but it can also be a bit scary. What if one of you falls sick? What if we do not like the food? How about the language barrier? As an answer to these questions the website HealthyTokyo.com was created. HealthyTokyo is a really convenient website and app that helps to make Japan a more foreigner-friendly place.

The website provides you with a list of the best health and wellness providers in Japan split into three different categories:

•Medical Partners: English-speaking doctors and dentists…
•Wellness Coaches: fitness trainers, nutritionists, yoga instructors…
•Healthy Partners: Organic restaurants, nail salons, spas, massage salons, gyms…

By becoming a member for free, you can check the list and get all the information to access these places; locations, language spoken, phone number and email address…HealthyTokyo also offers a premium membership plan that will allow you to use the concierge who will help you to make appointments and find the places you need. Premium members also benefit from promotional offers with the partners.

Living the adventure with your family has never been this safe and easy. HealthyTokyo.com is dedicated to keeping you and the whole family healthy in body, mind and spirit to make the most out of your trip to Japan.

Are you prepared for an emergency? See how Boltwell can help

Emergencies-- They are not something we expect, they just happen. We do all we can to prepare ahead of time. Sometimes you are quite sure what you even need in your emergency kit. I received a sample box from Boltwell that included a variety of basic items to keep on hand in case an emergency arises.

The box was filled with so many handy items. I was really impressed with how detailed it was. 

Emergency kit included: 

• Weather radio that has a light on it as well. 
• Hand Sani Pen to clean away the ick that can make you sick.
• Multi Tool- cuts, saws, screws, unscrews and can open bottles. 
• Food bar for when hunger strikes
• Ultibrush- All-in-one toothbrush including toothpaste
• Toilet kit- for when you aren't around a toilet
• Quick Dry Chamois Cloth- good for drying your hair or absorbing water from a puddle.
• Dry Shampoo- Keeps hair fresh when showering is not an option.
• Pocket Lantern- It gives off way more light than you would expect with 4 settings including flashing. 

The First Aid Kit was loaded with so many items. I don't think I would have thought of half of these things. 

CONTAINS:

• Flexible bandages

• Large gauze pads

• Gauze rolls

• Gauze sponges

• Latex-free first aid tape

• Butterfly wound closures

• Flexible wrap bandage

• Latex-free nitrile gloves

• Triangle bandages

• Emergency scissors

• Irrigation syringe

• N95 masks

• Antiseptic skin cleanser

Boltwell offers a variety of kits for so many different needs such as Fire safety, Pet care, Food, Car and more. You can purchase kits ready-to-go or individual items as add-ons. I think my husband will want to get the emergency ladder. I feel like along with keeping extra food supplies available and having a family plan, you can be prepared for emergencies with these emergency kits. 

Check out Boltwell emergency kits on their website and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. 

When Life Gives You Lemons ... Keep Your Head to the Future (Guest post)

2013 is a year that I’ll mark down as one with plenty of ups and downs.

I had the wonderful experience of moving into a new apartment with my girlfriend, becoming a proud owner of a husky puppy, and I did rather well in my work.

Though …

The last few months have been somewhat rough. I lost two of my grandparents and my girlfriend lost one of hers. There were a few rocky parts about the “what’s next” in the relationship. The holidays certainly added to the overall pressure.

But in the end, I am grateful for what I have experienced. It really helps to shine a light on the important things in life. It reminds you of the old saying of “when life gives you lemons … make lemonade” but, for me, it became a thought of “look to the future”.

The things that became Increasingly Important

I can’t speak for all of us, but when you’re faced with these types of ups and downs, you can’t help but think of the big picture.

The more I age, the more it has become increasingly important (and apparent) that I figure out what’s in store for my future.

These are items like:
•  If I had a child how would I pay for their college?
•  Why do I get wrapped up in the “rat race”?
•  How am I going to plan for my retirement?

I know these are some of the very same thoughts you have and I believe I might be able to share a bit of wisdom about these topics.

1. Keeping Healthy

I like the concept of “your body is your temple” because it helps you understand that you have just one and what you put into it really does matter.

It doesn't matter if you let yourself go, if you’re already lean, or if you’re dealing with some kind of setback. What matters is that you take control of your health and the best way, on the fundamental level, is through proper food.

Don’t continually wait for the New Year to make a commitment to better living. Start learning healthier options for your cooking. Start getting out there and exercising (even just 15 minutes a day). Get the whole family involved – get them excited.

You’ll add years to your life if you make the commitment to be healthy – and you’ll certainly want to see the same for your family.

2. Finding Acknowledgment in a Career

Being proud of your work and gaining acknowledgement of your commitment is very rewarding on a psychological level.

I noticed this with my grandparents. They were from another time so they were the type to put in the hard hours even when the task was far out of their league. They went through times far worse than mine and came out very successful.
I think you should do the same.

Your career doesn't need to suck away the time you can spend with the family. On the contrary, you should strive to increase proficiency in work rather than throwing more time at it. Not only will you have that extra time to spend with the family but you’ll set in motion what’s needed (savings and investments) to ensure your child has the opportunity for a higher education.

3. Knowing what’s at the end

We all meet our end, which is a scary thought in and of itself, but even scarier when you think about what you leave behind to your children.
Bills? Maybe. Inheritance? Hopefully.

It doesn't matter how you start – just the fact that you do start planning for your retirement. This can involve any number of savings plans. Schwab recommends investing in an IRA account, but that's just one of multiple options.

You won’t always have the same energy or skill set to compete in your career. You will eventually retire. You also want to plan for the unexpected (those lemons).

Get real about your life and how you impact others. Save anything (even a little) for the future. Give up chasing material possessions that holds you back from enjoying the bigger picture. Solidify the well-being of your family (and all those after) by committing to planning for the end.

Strangest Celebrity Deaths

Although death is an inevitable part of life, some of us don’t like to think about our own mortality. In choosing to write a will, we can prepare our families for that unexpected time, and we will be safe in the knowledge that they will be cared for. We all have to prepare for the unexpected, like some of these stories from the celebrity world tell is.

Natalie Wood

The famous West Side Story star’s death in 1981 was judged as accidental drowning; however, even to this day, her death is shrouded in mystery. Away on a weekend boat trip with her husband, Robert Wagner and the actor Christopher Walken, it is generally believed that some foul play is involved in her death. Talk of alcohol fueled arguments on the boat the night before, as well as bruises found on her body has led many conspiracy theorists to believe that this death was no accident. Almost 30 years later, her death was changed to ‘undetermined’ after a review of the case; however, questions remain.

Brandon Lee

Like his father, Bruce Lee, Brandon echoed his father’s footsteps by exiting the world at a similarly young age in 1993 (Bruce was 32, Brandon 28). Unlike his father, Brandon Lee was killed on a film set, when a gun prop contained an actual bullet. His death was ruled accidental, but inevitably succumbed to continued conspiracy theories about he and his father’s death.

Steve Irwin

Despite living and working with the world’s most dangerous animals, it was a stingray attack in 2006 that killed the notorious ‘Crocodile Hunter’ in a bizarre accident. Whilst filming a documentary about the ocean’s deadliest animals, a stingray approached Irwin while he was snorkeling and pierced him in the chest with its tail spine (believed to be a defensive reaction). He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the charismatic wildlife expert was mourned worldwide as well as in his native Australia.
Many deaths remain unpredictable, yet some will remain unexplained. Though we probably won’t succumb to any of these incidents, it is always wise to remain prepared for death by writing a will. Whilst you might not hold the fortune of these celebrities, yours is still valuable and needs to be taken care of. If you fear that any problems might arise surrounding your will, you should contact specialists like http://www.disputingwills.co.uk immediately.

The pros and cons of making a will online

With the prolific rise of the internet, it is possible to buy practically anything from the comfort of your own home. And it’s not just useful for its ability to allow you to buy a new pair of shoes or a new handbag; the World Wide Web has also paved the way for people to create legal documents online and even make a will.

Creating wills online is a modern phenomenon and being so new many people have concerns and reservations about the validity of creating a will via the internet. If you are thinking of making your will online as opposed to going to a bricks and mortar solicitor, you may want to take a look at the following pros and cons of online wills.

Less expensive
Making a will on the internet is considerably less expensive than having it made out by a professional solicitor. An online company that specialises in creating wills will generally charge a one-off fee for the service which would work out significantly cheaper than having a solicitor create the document as they usually charge by the hour at quite a hefty rate.
Further savings can be made when writing a will online as many companies offer discounts to people who get their friends and family signed up for the service too.

Quicker
It can take several months for a solicitor to draw up a will for you. Using the internet for the service can significantly reduce that amount of time, and you can even have a documented will and testament in as little as 15 minutes. Whilst this is only a sample will, and may need to be taken to a solicitor’s office to be verified, the bulk of the work will be done saving you time and money.

Less security
One of the main reasons we create a will is for peace of mind. It is important to remember that if a will has been created by somebody who is not deemed mentally capable then it is not legally valid. In this sense it is perhaps safer to personally interact with a professional solicitor to give you that additional peace of mind but many online services offer phone helplines and other services to help bridge this gap.

The life of the SAHM

We have less than 2 weeks of the school year left. Time has flown by. The girls have been immersed in studying, exams, SAT's and volleyball conditioning. Of course I am in overdrive as a mom making sure they have all the necessities to make their days go smoothly. I have been spending a lot less time online and a lot more time on the floor playing dinosaurs, camping, blocks and flashcards. I am really working hard at giving little Will the same head start that the girls were given. You really do get to see the big differences between boys and girls! It does seem a little more challenging getting the boy to sit down long enough to learn something new. I think he does better absorbing information as long as he is moving. This sometimes means practicing numbers while doing jumping jacks! Needless to say, I am in great physical shape!

I still go through those days feeling mommy guilt wondering if I am doing enough for the boy. At the end of the day, he displays a lot of what he has learned through his actions. He is listening and paying attention. You better believe if anyone does something they shouldn't be, William will be the first one to let you know that you are not making a good choice. Those are the times that I think he is listening a little too well :)

I already have the Summer calendar prepared and it looks like the kids will be very occupied. I have some family trips I am planning as well. This Summer, we will take day trips or very short trips to close-by cities. No big vacations for us. I just hope that gas prices will continue to decline. I am also getting back into couponing so that we can maximize our cash.

Have you started getting your Summer family calendar set up? Do you have any fun plans?