by | May 29, 2023 | Inspirations |
Hello Beautiful People,
Memorial Day is a day to be thankful for the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
We often hear, is it okay to say Happy Memorial Day?
According to Flags of Valor, of course, it is okay to say “Happy Memorial Day” because you are coming from a sincere heart of gratitude for the generations who provided that sacrifice before.
JT and hubby at Soldiers Memorial Military Museum in Saint Louis.
Photo by:Laurentiu-ordache
Memorial Day is meant to be a day of remembrance. It is not about barbecues and having the day off. Please take time today to reflect on the men and women who served for the United States in war and paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe. “Freedom is not free.”
Photo by: Ludovic-Gauthier
The complete version of “The Star-Spangled Banner”
National Museum Of American History
The Star-Spangled Banner
O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,
’Tis the star-spangled banner – O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto – “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
by | May 24, 2023 | Fashion |
The teenage years can be a nightmare. There is so much going on with all the changes and emotions and weird feelings that it seems impossible to manage. Self-esteem issues are one thing that many teenagers face, and even the most confident adolescents can transform into awkward and self-conscious teenagers through no fault of their own.
And this can be a huge knock to their confidence. As a parent, you want your teen to be as positive and happy as possible, so how can you help your teen build their confidence without being too overbearing? Here are a few ideas to help you guide them in the right direction, but only from a distance, of course.
Help Them Find Their Style
While your kids have long grown out of letting you pick their clothes, you can still help them find their style through subtle influence. Teenagers spend five or six years desperately trying to discover who they are. During this, they’ll cling to artists and actors or YouTubers as role models.
With fashion being cyclical, it’s no surprise that whatever was fashionable 20 or 30 years ago is coming back into style, too, so showing them how to achieve 1990s men’s hairstyles and even dragging some of your clothes from that era out of storage can help them find some style inspiration.
Teach Them Life Skills
The more capable your kids are now, the happier and more confident they will be once they move out and go to college or get an apartment of their own. You can help them become more capable by teaching essential skills that will benefit them without you to cook their meals, do their laundry, or keep the house clean.
It may not seem like much, but these skills can–and will–make a significant difference in how they handle situations later in life. They will have no trouble taking care of themselves and taking care of their friends or partner, also.
Help Them Flourish
Parents can also help their teens flourish at school and in extracurricular activities. Their grades and hobbies are where they will find most of their self-confidence, so you can encourage them to explore what they are best at. This could be through taking more advanced courses or applying to universities with a focus on their preferred subjects.
You can also give them all the tools they need to succeed. If they are into sports and activities, taking them to games and competitions will expand their horizons. For creative ventures, instruments, and extra classes enable them to hone their skills.
Give Them The Chance to Speak
Your teen may stop talking to you at some point, but this is something you can probably expect. Still, this doesn’t mean they don’t have ideas or beliefs. You need to make them feel comfortable enough to speak about their issues or any worries. Parents who empower their teens to discuss issues that are both personal and global will find that discourse is much easier to establish and maintain. Furthermore, this makes your teen feel like their opinions are respected, which is a superb confidence booster.
Help Them Handle Typical Teen Issues
Every teen will encounter problems as they learn more about who they are. Some will handle it better than others, so helping them learn the best skills for handling teen anxiety or other typical teenage issues is a must.
Your support will make them feel more confident in themselves and prove they have the support they need to excel. What’s more, it’s better to learn coping techniques now instead of struggling with the same issues in the future when they may not have as strong of a support network.
Provide Unconditional Support
It goes without saying that you will love your children unconditionally even if they may make it difficult to support them sometimes. Your unconditional support is vital for raising your teen to be the best person they can be. A stable home environment and willingness to help them with school work and other demands is enough to foster confidence and give them all the tools. You must still encourage independence, but your support will teach them how to be independent and prepare them for the rest of their life.
Confidence
Confident kids grow up to be more self-assured and willing to put themselves out there, which increases their chances of success later in life. You can set them up for this success by ensuring you do everything possible to improve their confidence and boost their self-image to prepare them for whatever life throws their way.
by | May 16, 2023 | Food |
Planning an incredible dinner party for your friends doesn’t have to be daunting if you start early and get organized – this blog post offers helpful advice to ensure culinary greatness at their event and create memories they won’t soon forget.
Select A Theme
For an unforgettable dinner party experience, create a theme to complement the food being served. Use this as an opportunity for creativity and have some fun by selecting colors, styles, or flavors that create an ambiance and setting; think red-and-white checkered tablecloths with bottles of red wine as part of an Italian-themed meal; for Mexican fare, choose bright yellow and pink hues along with festive mariachi music playing in the background as you decorate accordingly – plus get your guests involved by having them dress accordingly as part of this theme.
Pick Your Menu
For an unforgettable dinner party, it is crucial to choose an unforgettable menu. Begin with an appetizer that will wow guests’ tastebuds, like bruschetta topped with tomato and basil or stuffed mushrooms – two tasty choices would do. As a main course, select something hearty and impressive, such as steak au poivre served with garlic mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables, or something more exotic such as a fried wonton recipe.
For dessert, indulge in something decadent such as chocolate mousse or tiramisu; include snack items like olives and crackers during the night to keep everyone energized and make this dinner party truly memorable for all. With careful planning and careful presentation, your dinner party can become unforgettable for your group.
Get Creative with Decorations
To add an extra special touch to your dinner party, be creative when selecting decorations for it. Create an impact with tablecloths, napkins, and placemats that reflect the chosen theme; more oversized items like lanterns or centerpieces could further add that special touch – try Mexican decor like bright paper flowers, sombreros, and pinatas; for Italian cuisine, use checkered cloths candles string lights, etc…
Get innovative regarding food presentation – use colorful platters or edible decorations like vegetable roses… Being creative will ensure an unforgettable dining experience for you and your crew. Make your home an inviting and cozy dining experience for guests to enjoy their meals by adding unique napkin holders, centerpieces, or hanging lights over the table. Your decorations should flow from room to room for maximum warmth and hospitality.
Stock Your Party Essentials
No dinner party would be complete without its essential supplies, so ensure you are ready by stocking up on dishes, silverware, glassware, and linens for each guest to have their own plate, bowl, utensils, and napkin – and platters and utensils to serve food from your catering services as well as cloth napkins real plates glasses as well as decorations such as candles or flower arrangements! Finally, don’t forget to schedule time before the big event for rehearsal when setting up tables and chairs before it takes place so everything runs smoothly on party night!
In conclusion, with the right planning and attention to detail, you can craft an unforgettable dinner party for your crew. From choosing a theme and menu to stocking up on supplies and decorating your space – put in the effort to curate an incredible evening that everyone will remember fondly.
by | May 15, 2023 | Blogging / Technology |
The online world is a wealth of opportunity for businesses, and for those that exist solely online, it’s something you want to be hot on from the beginning. The more you maximize these opportunities, the more success you’ll likely find due to it.
To get everything your business needs from the online world, this guide will hopefully give you all the insight into what’s required to maximize your opportunities this year. Let’s look at how to maximize your options as an online business in 2023.
Take full advantage of social media
Social media is a powerhouse and a place many businesses can utilize to skyrocket their business and branding. However, it’s all about how you use it and the time you invest into it – as well as the money.
With any social media platform, consistency is vital. Knowing what works for the algorithm is also important, so it’s good to focus on one or two platforms, to begin with. Managing a social media platform is a full-time job, so it’s good to find one platform that works best for your business and go from there.
Expand your payment process types
To help ensure your users are satisfied with every aspect of your business online, getting the payment processing right is vital. Nowadays, it’s essential to have an integrated and seamless payment process in place for easy transactions.
A payment API for online transactions is a great way to help provide your users with the best experience regarding your online business. Consistency is vital, whether it’s through a mobile app or your website.
Get feedback and input from customers
When you’re looking to improve your business, it’s always important to speak to your customers. They’ll be able to provide accurate and insightful feedback or input into what could change regarding your business.
Sure, not all might be constructive, and it’s worth taking what you want from it. However, it’s worthwhile to do when growing your business online.
Collaborate with other businesses
Collaboration is an essential part of business, and when it comes to other companies, you shouldn’t be afraid of collaborating with those who operate in a similar circle. Start connecting with other businesses and discover who is out there by networking online and offline.
Many people and businesses, in general, will want to help one another get a leg up on that business industry ladder.
Install a chatbot
To help with your online business and interact with every potential customer, install a chatbot on your site. These are highly effective in converting leads to customers without the customers needing to interact with a human!
Maximizing your opportunities as an online business is something you should look to do as a company in 2023. Make sure to follow these tips to help you get there.
by | May 13, 2023 | Pets |
CIao Lovelies!
It’s National Dog Mom’s Day!
I found out today and almost missed it. However, the second Saturday in May is National Dog Mom’s Day. According to nationaldaycalendar.com send out a chorus of yips, barks, and howls of praise for all the dog mommas!
Use #Dogmomsday to share on social media.
Dogs have been a part of my family since I was three years old. My first dog was like my little brother; my mother named him Mucho. Mucho was a sable collie, and we grew up together. I will never forget that my Mother got him as a gift for me and she ordered him from Sears, and he came to our house in a wooden box with holes in it. My dad cracked open the box with an ax and was in the box with some food and a bowl of water. He was handsome, loving, smart, and kind. When Mucho became more mature, my parents thought he needed a little brother, so Yukon, the Alaskan malamute, joined the family. In future posts, I plan to write a series of stories about the pups that are forever imprinted in our family.
I wanted to share my puppies, Seppe and Lucca, with you on National Dog Mom’s Day! They love unconditionally, and I must admit I didn’t think of myself as a Dog mom; however, my husband and I train them and ensure they are well taken care of.
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