Why does your baby fight sleep

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Why does your baby fight sleep

In my experience, the most common reason for a baby fighting sleep at nap time and bedtime is overtiredness.

Babies who sleep poorly in the day often need a lot of parental help to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night.

This is because they have become over stimulated through being awake for too long during the day, or due to poor quality naps (typically 30 minutes or less) when out and about.

Time and again people ask me for advice about their baby's night sleep and when I ask about day time naps they say "she won't nap for more than 15 minutes in the day" or, "he stopped napping before his first birthday".

The trouble with this is that these babies are awake for too long a period for their age. As a result they become chronically fatigued, find it harder to fall asleep, and/or stay asleep. Sleep problems then start to arise because parents assist their babies to sleep.

Of course, some babies really do need less sleep than others and can tolerate longer periods of time awake. But if your baby is finding it hard to settle to sleep, doesn't nap well in the day, and/or is waking regularly throughout the night, I suggest you look first at the amount of day sleep she is having and the length of time she is staying awake.

You will know how long your baby can stay awake while content and happy by watching her closely. As soon as she starts to fuss, become frustrated, rub her eyes, or show other signs of tiredness, it's time for her to sleep.

The length of time your baby is content while awake will vary but it's probably a lot less time than you think. Some approximate 'contented awake' times are:

0 - 3 weeks (15 - 30 minutes)

3 - 12 weeks (30 - 90 minutes)

3 - 7 months (1 - 2 hours)

7 - 12 months (2 - 3 hours)

1 - 2 years (3 - 5 hours)

2 - 3 years (5 - 8 hours)

All babies are different and these awake times are just a guideline. Interestingly, babies seem to have their shortest, 'contented awake' time in the morning and these then increase as the day goes along. So the longest period of 'contented awake' time is at the end of the day.

For example a seven month old baby may need a nap 1 hour and 45 minutes after waking in the morning. She is likely to then have a further two naps in the day and may be contentedly awake for three hours before her final sleep.

If your baby is staying awake for a longer period of time than is right for her age, she is very likely fighting sleep due to overtiredness. Alternatively, she may fall asleep at the end of the day straight away due to exhaustion (I call this a "dead" sleep). But she will probably then wake regularly through the night because she was over stimulated before bedtime.

Another reason why your baby may fight sleep is because she isn't being prepared for what is about to happen. Your seven month old may be playing happily. She's been awake for about two hours and she starts to fuss. First she becomes frustrated with her toys, then she starts to rub her eyes with the back of her hand.

You know she's tired so you pick her up and put her in her cot. She shouts, screams even. In and out you go, trying to settle her, until she is beyond tired. Eventually, you get her up, concluding that she wasn't ready for a nap after all. This is a scenario I often hear about.

When you put your baby down for a nap, it's really important you do it as soon as she's tired because the window of opportunity here is quite small. Even just ten minutes to tidy the kitchen could mean she's moved from tired and ready for a nap to too tired and over stimulated.

As soon as you see your baby is tired, take her to where she sleeps and then spend some time preparing her for her nap. The older your baby, the more time this will be. For example, an 18 month old may need a story and milk while he winds down, but a six month old baby may just need a cuddle, and/or a small feed. The aim is to help your baby become drowsy and ready to sleep.

At the end of the day, the preparation for bedtime will be longer, probably involving a bath and some music so your baby knows it's night time.

A tired (not over tired) baby, who has been prepared for sleep through a calming routine, will find it much easier to fall asleep without your help for naps. And a well rested baby, who has napped well in the day, will be able to settle herself to sleep at bedtime. Which is essential if you want your baby to sleep through the night without your help.

Why a Logo Maker Is a Must for Advertising

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Why a Logo Maker Is a Must for Advertising

Studies have shown that children are more apt to recognize Ronald McDonald than famous figures such as Jesus!

The power of a logo is immeasurable.

We can see an advertisement and instantly know the brand simply by looking at their logo. And sometimes a logo is so well-known our brains even see certain colors in an advertisement and we know the brand immediately.

Have you ever questioned whether or not a logo is necessary for the success of your brand? Having trouble figuring out where to even point your compass?

Were here to help you figure all of that out.

Read on to learn why a logo maker is a must-have for advertising.

Youll look professional

Trying to create your own logo in Microsoft Word just wont do.

Youll look like an amateur, and your customers will take notice. Thankfully, there are online tools you can use to ensure that your image looks completely professional and put together.

With your own professional logo, youll stand out among your competitors and look legitimate. Plus, your customers will take your brand as a serious contender among the other brands. Printed materials and websites with your logo will let potential customers know that youre reputable in your industry.

Creating your own logo with clip art and the like will scream to your potential customers that youre not at all serious about your business. Also, it may convey that youre not as established.

Are you wanting to make your brand look professional? You need to consult in an expert logo maker to really polish off your companys logo.

Youll be remembered

Remember how we said more kids can identify Ronald McDonald than most famous figures? That same theory also works with adults.

We are a very visual society. Dont you remember using flashcards with pictures to remember the alphabet? Putting an image to a name helps us remember things we may otherwise forget.

Thats why having an image as a face to your brand is so important. Using a logo maker to create that face, you can establish recognition to your customers and future customers.

People may not always remember your brands name. They may not even remember your slogan. But chances are they will always remember your image.

Your logo will showcase your brands values

Whats your companys core values and goals? Stamping your companys mission statement on every advertisement may work in some places, but a logo will work better.

Your logo should and will encompass all of your values.

Need some help thinking how you can incorporate your values within a simple logo? Think of the sports authority Adidas. Their well known three slash symbol means more than many people know.

The three slashes represent the figurative mountains that athletes need to climb in order to achieve greatness. Pretty neat, right?

Almost all the marks you see in advertisements mean far more than meets the eye.

When you think of your logo as more than just a logo, youll find it easier to come up with a way to showcase your values and goals.

Remember that your logo is your brands identity. So it should be something that truly reflects how youd like your company to be viewed by your customers.

Youll connect with your customers

Weve established that your customers will take notice when you add a logo. But using a professional logo maker to create your brands logo will also connect with your customers.

Connect on a personal level

You build a personal relationship with your customers when you incorporate a logo. Its like adding a face to a name. Youre making a first impression with everyone who views your brand and its products. So make sure that your brand is well dressed and put together.

When youre creating your face with a logo maker, ask yourself questions as if you were a customer. Some things to think about when creating a logo:

What emotions will this logo stir up?
Is this memorable? Does the brand stand out against other competitors?
Is this relevant to our companys products or services?

Think outside of the box

Did you know that things like fonts and colors can play into how youd like your brand to come across to customers? And believe it or not, they can influence how they feel.

Some ways that colors change how we feel when we see a brand:

Yellow The color yellow represents the sun and joy. Your customers will feel happy and excited when they see the color yellow within your logo.

Green This color is associated with the colors of nature. It makes customers feel calm and relaxed. They will also feel that your brand is trustworthy.

Purple Purple equates to royalty when people see it incorporated into a brand. This color will make your customers feel nostalgic or romantic.

Orange This color also represents happiness and sunshine. Want to add this color to your brands logo? This color will make your customers feel creative and enthusiastic!

Black This color gives a mysterious vibe. Use this color if you want your customers to identify with your formal side.

Make sure youre focusing on your brands demographic

When youre using a logo maker, you want to make sure that youre creating a logo that speaks to your demographic.

Creating a logo that resonates with your millennial target group may differ from a logo created for a brand targeted more towards baby boomers. So youd think of a more modern look for the millennials, and maybe a more vintage or classic look for the latter.

Your logo makes things official

Your professional logo created with a logo maker doesnt only affect your marketing plan. It also makes a difference on the legal front as well.

While you legally dont need a branded logo, its best to go ahead and legalize your brand officially. And creating a trademark or a logo is the best way to keep you and your brand safe.

Lets put it into perspective for you. Imagine that youve spent a ton of time (and money!) creating an awesome logo for your brand. Lets say that you start plastering this logo all over your website, products, and marketing materials.

And then you find out your logo is already being used by another company. And they have it registered with the federal government.

Youre looking at a potential lawsuit. And this can also happen if the roles are reversed. You want to make sure that youre not wasting precious time and money working and using a logo thats already being used.

And you also want to make sure your logo is protected so no one else can use your logo.

Seeing forfeit logos not only stinks, it makes your brand look cheap. Plus, having an official logo will make your company look reputable and established.

Go ahead and take the extra steps to get your brands logo completely official. All the effort will be worth it in the long run.

Logos are easy

You may be thinking, But creating one is really hard! It is, and it also isnt. Its true that logos can be difficult to come up with. But thats because theyre so important to the success of your brand.

However, logos are easy because you dont have to spend a ton of time and words to get your message across. A well thought out logo created with a logo maker will allow you to convey your message with just a simple image.

Theyre also easy because these logos are easy to place on things like pamphlets, receipts, products, and more. And the more you use them, the easier it will be for your customers to recognize your brand instantly.

Use a logo maker to create your new logo

Did you know that Twitters iconic blue bird logo only cost them $15? Some other companies have paid millions of dollars to get the best logo money can buy. But Twitter is just one of the many examples that prove you dont have to spend an arm and a leg.

While you may think that your new logo may cost you half your budget, youve never been more mistaken!

Once you have some idea of how youd like your logo to look, youre able to create your own for free. And while you could pay a professional the big bucks to create your brands face, why would you?

Our free online logo maker is designed to help you create something awesome. You can upload your own images or look through hundreds of our specially customized photos. There are plenty of graphics that will suit your business identity.

Easily add or remove text and switch up the colors however you see fit. Want to make changes later? You can. The easy to use interface allows you to make changes without having to know a ton about graphic design.

You may find yourself thinking, Wow, creating my own logo isnt as tough as I thought! Its really that easy.

If you need any support or have a question for us, were here to help you!

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Who Invented the Photocopier

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Who Invented the Photocopier

Like many pieces of machinery that have become part of our lives we tend to take the office photocopier for granted.

Photocopiers that produce a reasonable quality print were only developed just over 70 years ago and the man who invented the concept of electro photography was someone who was fascinated with new concepts and ideas.

That man was Chester F Carlson and, yes, he was an American. He worked as a part time researcher, inventor and patent attorney in the patent office in New York, a job that meant he had to make a large number of copies of important documents.

This was usually done by typists using manual typewriters and making carbon copies. But there was a limit to how many legible copies could be produced in one go since the process depends on the typewriters' metal letter keys making a strong enough impression through several sheets of paper with carbon-coated sheets in between each and thus transfer the image clearly.

It was a tedious process and Carlson quickly discovered that there were never as many copies of the documents available as he needed.

Inevitably, given his background, he started looking for a more effective method of making copies.

From boyhood Carlson was fascinated with getting new knowledge and said of himself as a boy that he had turned toward interests "of my own devising, making things, experimenting, and planning for the future"

He said he idea of making an invention appealed to him as a means to improve one's economic status. But equally he was interested in technical things and making a contribution to society.

It may be also that his childhood situation influenced this outlook. He is known as a schoolboy to have published a chemical magazine to support his invalid parents.

But his education and subsequent career do underline an innate curiosity and pursuit of knowledge.

His achievements include working as a research engineer at Bell Telephone Laboratories in New York and also achieving two degrees, one in Law in 1939 from the New York Law School and the second in physics from Caltech.

During his career he was granted 34 U.S. patents, of which 28 relate to electro photography, the technology that is the basis of the photocopier. He also established the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science and the Chester F. Carlson Award to recognize outstanding work in the science or technology of electro photography.

He realised that his search for an office machine that could copy documents without a typist having to laboriously produce copies, that would then have to be proof read and corrected, would depend on document reproduction using light-reflecting properties.

His first experiments resulted in a successful copy in 1938 - made by laying an image put on a glass microscope slide, laid on a sulphur-coated zinc plate, whose surface was rubbed vigorously to create an electrostatic charge. Then the room was darkened and the strongest light that could be found was shone onto the surface.

The result was a success, though hardly something that could be regularly used in a busy office. But it was to be another 15 years before any company was willing to take the risk of developing this untried new technology and eventually in 1944 he signed an agreement with the Battelle Development Corporation, an organisation that sponsored new inventions.

Two years later, a company called The Haloid Company (now Xerox Corporation) got in touch with Carlson, a patent licence was obtained and in 1948 the first commercial xerographic equipment was developed and the rest, as they say, is history.

Which Content Promotion Strategy Can Help Your Recruitment Business

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Which Content Promotion Strategy Can Help Your Recruitment Business

?

Ask any recruiter or HR department and theyll tell you that they think the talent pool is shrinking.

There just doesnt seem to be a great number of employees with the right skills and tools to make a seamless transition into a new company.

But that doesnt mean theres nothing a recruitment company can do about it.

In fact, one simple way to connect with and recruit fresh talent is by using a content promotion strategy. Heres how it works.

A Great Promotion Strategy Works When Content Isnt Hidden Away

The resource page is a thing of the past. This information shouldnt just be hidden away in one corner of a recruitment companys website. Rather, it should be spread across the website to give potential talent a way to access vital information more easily.

The more information thats supplied to a talented employee, the easier it will be for them to come across as informed, educated, and ready to transfer their skills to the next company lucky enough to grab them.

Many recruitment companies spring up after the owners leave an industry to start their own business. Often, after leaving, they learn more about who works best in which environment. Its vital knowledge they can then pass on to the companies theyre filling spots for.

Utilize Social Media to Find Talent

If a recruitment company isnt taking full advantage of social media to locate potential employees, theyre theyre ignoring a huge pool of talent. Especially since joining and using social media is completely free.

Even when paid advertising through social media is used, its now possible to precisely target the exact type of person a company wants to hire. Its incredibly easy and its very cost effective.

Its also wise to add share buttons to blogs and websites to help spread the word organically. Also, learning how to utilize LinkedIn to find hidden talent is a must for any recruitment company.

Newsletters for Sharing Information

Newsletters are great. Not only is it a wonderful way to capture the names and email addresses of great talent, but its a fantastic opportunity to share valuable information.

A successful recruitment company should be utilizing a promotion strategy within the content of their newsletters. Not only should the newsletter inform, entertain, and engage the readers, it should prompt them to send in their resume by ending with a call to action.

RSS Feeds to Post Openings

The best recruitment opportunities are sometimes also the easiest. Like using RSS feeds to post openings.

Companies dont even have to post the open job vacancies manually. Instead, theyre pulled directly from an updated feed that comes from the recruitment companies website.

Ad Retargeting to Entice Talent to Come Back

Just because someone visits a website once and hasnt returned doesnt mean theyre lost forever. Theres now the possibility to use ad retargeting to re-engage with prospects.

Even better, recruitment companies find this method extremely effective because theyre only investing in qualified leads who have already expressed an interest. Its also possible to use this tool to drive potential leads to gated content, meaning its easy to track conversions and prove ROI.

Use Employees as Marketing Tools

Since employees send out up to 121 emails every single day, its a wise idea to use this practice as an effective promotion strategy.

Just have employees promote content within their email signature.

Inbound marketing strategies are constantly changing and improving. To get the latest news on inbound marketing, sign up for free today.

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When its Time to Repair Your Plate Heat Exchangers

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When its Time to Repair Your Plate Heat Exchangers

If youre already using plate heat exchanges, you probably already know how absolutely critical they are for your business.

But what happens when they break? Heres how you can know if its time to embark on the plate refurbishment process.

Weigh your options

If youre in the position where your plate heat exchanger has fully broken, then the first thing you need to do is establish whether or no its going to be better to replace or repair. Whether its an old furnace or a commercial refrigeration unit, this is a big decision and can have a major impact on your annual bottom line.

First, youll want to determine that its actually the plate heat exchanger thats not working. If its a furnace, have you eliminated all other possible problems?

For example, theres no point in undergoing the plate refurbishment process if its actually just an electrical problem or a clogged filter.

Second, you want to determine the costs associated. We have a free quote service so you can get a good idea of what youre getting into nice and early if you decide to refurbish and fix rather than buy new.

Finally, youll want to look at unit replacement just to compare. Contact your local dealer and browse any online commercial stores.

Its also worth looking at the used market to see if you can pick up a deal. If your unit is especially old, sometimes the best option is to buy an old unit and actually refurbish THOSE heat exchanging plates, giving you the most cost effective solution.

How old is your unit?

Whether youre looking at second-hand units or just trying to date yours to make the best decision, youll probably want to know how old it is. Some installation experts will write the installation date right on the unit, giving you the age.

However, if its not there, you can still figure it out. Just look around for any manufacturer information, serial numbers, or model numbers (these are often on the insides, so you may have to turn the unit off if you havent already).

After that, its just a matter of Googling the manufacturing number and seeing what comes back. If that doesnt work, you can always call your manufacturers helpline.

What can a refurbishment do?

The benefits of a new unit are easy to understand you get (depending on what were talking about) between 10-20 years of use.

But what are the benefits of taking on the plate refurbishment process?

The biggest benefit of plate refurbishment instead of replacement is that its a cost-effective way to expand the life of your heat exchanger plate. By simply cleaning it through our exhaustive process, we can restore a shocking amount of life and viability into the tool.

Second, it means that you can put off a major new purchase. It also means that your initial investment into a quality heat unit is going to continue to reap dividends. Assuming the plates arent cracked (we check), after cleaning and new gaskets your unit might last anywhere from another 10-20 years.

Wrapping up

Knowing whether its time to clean and maintain your heat exchanger plates isnt easy. But if you carefully evaluate your unit, its age, and your own financial circumstances, you cant go wrong.

Got questions about the plate refurbishment process? Weve got answers. Check out our FAQ for everything you need to know about heat exchangers.

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When Hiring A Chef For Your Restaurant

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When Hiring A Chef For Your Restaurant

Hiring a chef for your restaurant is not going to be as easy as you think it will be. An outstanding chef can demand a sizeable compensation package and may only be good at preparing outstanding dishes and be very poor at managing the kitchen. Finding one that can do both is the trick.

Chef schools are a good source for finding newly minted chefs, but they will rarely have any management experience. If you can continue to run the kitchen as the new chef learns the ropes of leading the staff, then this may be a possible solution. If you want someone to take over the kitchen from top to bottom, this is going to cost some money and your restaurant may be just a resume-building job in the eyes of the newly hired chef. This is a sticky problem for a restaurant owner. If you are off the beaten track, this will make it harder to attract a really good chef, unless they are just tired of the rat race in the big city. Small towns are not a show place for a talented chef. If their intention is to build a reputation for future use, then your restaurant will not fill the bill.

Chef schools

Chef schools are expensive and are supposed to be a three-year curriculum, but are often only a one-year course before the student is offered a great opportunity with a big hotel or casino. This competition for these young people will make your offer more difficult to stand above the rest. There is such a demand for quality chefs and the supply is limited. Newly trained chefs can prepare great food, but they have no experience in running a kitchen or managing the staff. This part of a chef's job takes time to learn and you will have to be the teacher of how to manage people, buy for the kitchen and plan for easily delivered meals. If you are not in an upscale area, then you will face the problem of the chef wanting to become known and your restaurant not allowing for that to happen. These people realize that there is a difference between being in the big leagues and playing in a small market. The other factor in finding a chef from these schools is the students are constantly offered jobs in restaurant chains and hotel chains. Your offer to them will have to be very competitive and enticing as to the freedom you may be able to offer compared with a chain operation. You still will not gain a chef with managerial experience.

Listing job on the web

There are websites that allow restaurant owners to post jobs for chefs. These sites are another possible source for finding a candidate for your business. The advantage to the owner of the restaurant is they can list the requirements of the job. Job requirements can eliminate some people who would not have qualified for your job. The chefs who do respond will have different levels of experience and capabilities. Running the kitchen, ordering the ingredients and being able to put out quality food are important elements for a solid chef. Imagination and food knowledge will also come in various levels. Finding a chef you can afford that can also do the job is going to be like trying on shoes. Some will fit well and some would never work out. Those that fit will need to be looked at as to working compatibility. A candidate may have all of the requirements and be very difficult to work with over time. This situation will not work out for the restaurant owner.

Compensation

Structuring the pay to the chef can be worked out in many ways. Straight pay for hours is the obvious way to pay the chef. This may not work, as you cannot come up with enough pay under your current situation. Performance pay connected with a guarantee is one of the ways you may be able to compete with the big boys. Sales improvement is easy to calculate and is an obvious way to show growth of the restaurant.

A percentage of ownership for the right person may also be a way to get a really capable person. This also has the advantage of binding a quality chef to the operation. In the right situation this may offer the best option of all.

A contract between the owner and the chef is not unusual. The contract will detail exactly what the duties are and how they will be paid. Any really qualified person is going to demand that the agreement be put in writing so that both parties know what was agreed to between the owner and the chef.

Training of staff and education

A good chef will by example show the staff how to complete the work in the kitchen. He will know all aspects of the job and be able to show or demonstrate what he wants from the kitchen staff. If the chef is also a good teacher, you have a winner as this talent can be multiplied. Teaching the staff the correct way to run a kitchen will increase efficiency and lower cost. This will help the bottom line of the restaurant.

A chef that is worried about giving up his secrets is detrimental in the long run. You learn by doing. Asking questions and trying a new ways of doing things can find improvements. New specials are discovered this way all of the time in quality restaurants. Sharing knowledge and answering questions helps all involved grow. New restaurant dishes are the result of experimentation and trying out a new idea. If this is not done, the growth will be slow to non-existent. Restaurants live on reputation and quality of food and service. The reputation is not a given and must be earned over time.

Conclusions

Finding a chef is not like hiring wait staff. Many people can serve food. A good chef must be looked for, given reasons to join your restaurant and then compensated in a way that meets the competition. This will be a major expense to a restaurant that may or may not be covered by an increase in business. It could however give the owner more free time and not be such a slave to the business. Some owners would be happy with that trade off. Others want the talent of the chef to increase the sales and add to the bottom line.

Advertising on the internet and in larger city newspapers may be useful in getting some possible candidates. Chef schools could also be a source for chef for your business. The problem most restaurants have is the chefs are in demand and can be very difficult to hire. Their expense will not be small as their reputation or skill will be what you are hiring and not everyone can do the job. This accounts for the shortage of good chefs. Schools that teach are constantly raided for half trained chefs. This makes finding a chef you can hire and afford a problem that you may have to spend a lot of time doing. The chefs have the advantage at this time.

What's The Most Important Room - The Kitchen Or The Bathroom

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What's The Most Important Room - The Kitchen Or The Bathroom

Above all else, your home should reflect the personality of your family. It's incredible how the home can help you to maintain a cohesive family unit, especially in this day and age when there are so many pressures, issues and problems in the world. It's easy to get distracted and to let some of these challenges in our lives get the better of us, but by focusing on the home as a central, pivotal point in family life today, we can all keep it together.

It's so important to make the home "lived in." By reflecting the individual personalities of each family member and taking into account what's important for the family unit as a whole, you can really enjoy your time together under one roof. This is why it's essential to make sure that the house is configured exactly as you want it. You don't have to settle for whatever you inherited when you moved in there, as you might not have had the luxury of being able to design and build a home from scratch to begin with. Nevertheless, with a little bit of ingenuity, creativity and passion you can re-create the home of your dreams, no matter what your budget.

Allocate time to sit down together and brainstorm your ideas. This can be fun and inclusive and make each family member feel as if they are contributory. What's most important on a daily basis?

The first thing that you need to determine is the overall "theme" of the house. Whilst there's a certain amount of flexibility and room to manoeuvre in terms of the decor and decoration, you want everything to match well together and in general, the theme should carry from one room to another. Many people choose to start in the kitchen, as this can often be an area to socialise. Is this the most important room in the house to you? The answer won't be the same for every single family, of course, but the moral is to determine the most highly trafficked areas and pay particular attention to them.

Do you tend to feel that the bathroom is purely functional, or is it, by itself, perhaps the most important room in the house? Many people feel that the bathroom is a sanctuary, a place to reinvigorate and rejuvenate and face the world once more. If it truly is an area that provides you with an ability to recharge and find peace in a troubled world, then maybe you should devote a more significant part of your overall budget to bathroom redesign.

Remember that, in general, by making sure that your home is more up-to-date, with cutting-edge appliances, space-saving options and maintenance-free products you can also save money, save time and feel truly happy with your efforts. When you've finished you may well find that you are happy that you didn't consider moving to a "larger place." You've been able to make the best and most productive use of what you already have, as witnessed by the smiling faces of the family all around you.