by | Mar 15, 2016 | Travels |
It’s no surprise that travelling to the far-away, beautiful, exotic and historical country of China is at the top of many “bucket lists.” China is a people-filled, cultural mecca of divergent economics, a vast sweeping land with so much to see, it would be impossible to see everything in a single visit. That said, planning a trip there prove to be challenging to even the most seasoned traveller.
Image by The China Travel Company
One way to curb some of those challenges is to book your china holidays with The China Travel Company. When you work with an experienced agent, they’ll be able to not only help you plan the trip, but will also work with you in terms of how to keep within your budget and still experience your desired locations.
Once you’ve made the big decision to take that trip to China, you have several options. Since we’ve agree to disavow “just winging it,” you can opt for a planned, self-guided tour, a family tour, one focused on Tibet, a “City Breaks” tour, a private tour, an “off-the-beaten track,” or, one in which you get to go exactly where you want to go, but it is entirely planned for you.
And, you’re in luck!
Fortunately, there are tailor made China tours available. But where should your bespoke tour take you? Here are some tips to make your China Travel, the trip of a lifetime:
- Make a decision of the kind of trip you want to take. Of course, one of the first considerations is: who is going on this trip? Will it be a couple of fit folks? Will there be seniors or children? The reason why this is extremely relevant is that there are journeys that may include a good deal of walking, or long bus or car rides. Always keep in mind who will be on the trip and how well (or not) they’ll be able to handle the location and what’s required to fully experience it.
- Since you’re putting together a bespoke trip, you’re not beholden to an all-city, all-famous or all adventure vacation. You will be able to “mix-and-match.”
- If more than one person is travelling, and, for example, you’ve been assigned to “plan” the trip, don’t make all the choices and then present the other person or the rest of the group with it. Before you even begin, ask everyone to do some research (if they’re old enough to do so; if not you’re probably going to have to choose a trip more geared to them). Ask: What are “must-sees,” “interested,” and “not-at-all” excursions?
- Armed with your – and other travellers’ –opinions you can begin your planning.
- While you can do some of this yourself, work with a travel agent. Logistics are critical and you want to be sure that you’re visiting locations in an “order” that makes sense.
- Yes, you’re the king or queen of your castle, but let’s face it — you’re not the Tsar or royalty, with minions carrying your luggage for you. Anyone who tells you to pack for any possibility hasn’t travelled much. If you know where you’re going, check the average weather for the season. Bring clothes that are packable, with easy-dry undergarments. It truly is easier to travel as lightly as you can, and focus your energies on the excursions and not how to get your luggage up, down or around and where to store it.
Travel smart, travel light. Be considerate to your companions and the people whose country you’re visiting.
by | Mar 7, 2016 | Accessories, Fashion |
Hi Beautiful People,
The weather has been all over the place in Missouri. There’s been snow one week and temperatures in the high 60s the next. When temperatures fluctuate, it is hard to figure out what to wear and still fill season-appropriate. I have seen people wearing, anything from shorts to parkas and there has to be a happy medium.
For those late winter days when it feels more like spring, it is important to dress in layers. It may start out cold; but it can warm up considerably during the day.
In the photo below, I am wearing a washable natural colored suede skirt with a fine cotton cable teal turtleneck sweater and a scarf to add a bit of colorful pizazz. I am looking for a linear look to make me feel taller, so I finished it off with my Earth boots. However, I could also add a pop of color in my boots.
Layering effect: If I may get a little warm, I could always take the scarf off.
Another version of this outfit, I teamed a fine knit grey turtleneck with a cinnamon sweater, washable natural suede skirt with the colorful print and my Earth ankle boots. I wore this outfit to church and finished it off with my Valentines day gift, the Dooney and Bourke McKenzie Hobo. Do you see how the color is not screaming, I am still taking center stage.
JT Style File
Color and print in the right proportions will add brightness and individuality.
by | Feb 27, 2016 | Music |
Songwriting is a wonderful creative outlet where you can tell your story and express your emotions. Songs can have a significant impact on the emotions of the listener making them feel joy, sadness and adoration. Being able to write a song and see how it can change people’s lives is a fantastic skill to have. The amazing thing about songwriting is that almost anybody can give it a try. So whether you want to create a Christian rap song for an event or have dreams of being the next best thing, here are some tips and tricks you can use.
Carry a notepad and pen with you
Inspiration for your songs can come from anywhere at any time. So always carry a notepad and pen with you so you can write down any lyrics or ideas you think of. Having these ideas documented will be useful as you can refer to them as and when you need them. Some of your ideas may not be right for a song you are currently writing, but they may be just right for one you write in future. It will also help to your organise your thoughts and come up with suitable solutions.
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Write about personal experiences
It’s always better to write about what you know, so you can make your lyrics more sincere and honest. So consider personal experiences you have been through in the past. It could be the loss of a family member, finding love or having your heart broken. You could also write about how your faith saved you from a situation or your thoughts on current affairs in the world. This will bring a unique perspective to your lyrics that will be unlike any other artist or song.
Buy an instrument
As well as writing lyrics you will also need to write some backing music. The best way to do this is to buy an instrument. Pianos and guitars are often popular choices for songwriters as they compliment multiple genres of music. You can use the instruments to learn songs by your favourite artists for some initial inspiration. You can then take what you have learned and experiment with chords and differing keys. Click here and take a look at the wide variety of instruments you could try.
Rewrite your lyrics
Sometimes a song will come together all at once. Other times it might take you a week to complete a verse or line. To get better at songwriting, you will have to rewrite your lyrics time and time again until you are completely satisfied. Remember that your first attempt does not have to be your last. Play your song to your family and friends and listen to their feedback. You could also change around the wording of your lyrics by looking in a thesaurus or dictionary for more unusual words.
The key to successful songwriting is taking your listeners on a journey from beginning to end. Be honest and let your personality shine through each verse. That way your songs will alway be greatly received by an audience no matter how big or small.
by | Feb 21, 2016 | Accessories, Fashion |
Good Evening Beautiful People,
I pray that you have had a wonderful and relaxing weekend. After a full week, it has been good to be at home and get some things done around the house. We finally put up the last of our Christmas decorations (don’t judge!) and had a chance to also do some yard work. The weather this week has been wacky, to say the least. The week started off with about three inches of snow last Sunday, with temps around 10 degrees. By the end of the week, the temperatures warmed up into the 60s and 70s; which some rain and thunderstorms on Saturday night. Now, for me, that is too warm and too crazy for February. This is still winter, we shouldn’t be getting such a big range of temperatures.
Thanks to El Nino, this winter has not really been a true winter. It’s been cold and hot, it’s raining and snowing. And sometimes in the same week, for goodness sake. During Christmas, the Gateway City endured historic flooding in much of the area. While in January, the East Coast dealt with a historic blizzard. But wait, doesn’t the East Coast get a historic blizzard every year?!?
With all these temperatures changes and forms a precipitation, what is a girl to wear? Thankfully, I have been living in these types of winter weather conditions for a while now, and I have learned a thing or two. The most important thing is dress in layers and have many great accessories tucked away in the closet that can be pulled out at a moments notice, depending on what the weather is doing at the moment.
One of the wacky things about this year’s weather is that the temperatures can be hovering around zero to ten degrees for a couple of days, and then jump up to the 30s and 40s in just a day. When it is cold like that, I want to make sure that I am protected with warm boots and fury hats. When the winds are blowing and the temperatures are barely above zero, than keeping warm is a necessity. For me, my toes and ears get the coldest the fastest.
Gotta bundle up on those cold and windy days
Winter is meant for snow; but it seems this year we have have been getting more rain. Over the Christmas weekend, we received over five inches of rain in just three days. It’s days like this when you need to be sure you have a strong and sturdy umbrella to keep you dry. You need an umbrella that can withstand strong winds and that has a lifetime guarantee. That is what you get from Crown Coast. I love the automatic feature that allows you to push a button to open and close the umbrella.It retails for $44.95; but can be purchase on Amazon for $18.95
Crown Coast Umbrella available on Amazon
DISCLAIMER:
BubblingWithEleganceAndGrace received the Crown Coast Umbrella at a discounted price in order to write this review.
We received no monetary compensation for this review and all opinions are strictly our own.
by | Feb 18, 2016 | Around the Home |
If you need some handy work done around the home a tradesman is someone you may want to consider hiring. With this being said, you want to know you are hiring the best and are getting the most value for your money as well. So, how do you go about attaining such goals? These are a few things to keep in mind when trying to hire the right people and trying to get the most bang for your buck when hiring them.
Comparison sites
Using a comparison website prior to hiring a tradesman will prove extremely beneficial. You can compare credentials, the work they do, the quality of services, reviews, and how former clients feel about their workmanship. All of these factors will help you in hiring the tradesman who is not only qualified to do the work you want to hire them to perform, but also ensure you are hiring someone who is fully capable, is licensed, and has all required experience for the tasks you wish to hire them to perform. You can find a tradesman through comparison sites very easily. Most comparison sites offer videos or a step by step guide on how to hire a tradesmen though their site.
Qualifications are critical
Check for credentials. Make sure they have all required licenses, are fully certified, and have been servicing different tasks you wish to hire them to perform for years. The more qualified they are, and the more credentials you can see, the more likely it is that you are hiring the best for different trade tasks and jobs.
Pricing up front
Make sure you know what you are paying up front. From the cost of labour, to the price of parts, services, and any small jobs they are going to perform, make sure you know what things will cost prior to hiring a tradesman. Not only so you find the most affordable prices, but also to get the most for your money and to ensure you aren’t being taken advantage of.
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