Life Style

Keeping your data safe is becoming increasingly important, as more and more homes and businesses are capturing their lives digitally. More than ever, videos, photos, and important documents are being stored on hard drives and in the cloud, but what many people don’t realize is that a sudden power outage can cause massive data loss. While losing your electricity is harmless when you have files safely stowed away in a file cabinet or fire safe, people are prioritizing digital storage for its ease of use and seemingly limitless storage capacity.

It’s for these reasons and many others that standby generators are becoming popular for tech companies and residential homes alike. Here are five key reasons to buy a standby generator.

Keep your data safe

Even if your data is stored on the cloud, if servers go down and lose their power, you run the risk of losing data. While many people think of thunderstorms as causing electrical damage if your computer or devices aren’t plugged into a power strip with a surge protector, the risk of data loss is possible whenever power is lost. If you have a standby generator that can automatically reroute power to itself in the event of an outage, you can keep your important data safe.

Standby generators are better than portable options

Some people have been buying portable generators to provide backup power, but in many cases, they aren’t as reliable as a dedicated standby generator. A company like Welland Power, known worldwide as a top-notch UK manufacturer of diesel generators, is going to provide you with something that you can count on far more often than having to go out and hook up a portable generator to run your important appliances. A portable generator is also much more restricted in terms of the amount of power it can supply and how long it can run. If you want to have a dedicated way to ensure you get power, a standby generator is going to be far more effective.

Keep plumbing running

When people think of losing power, they don’t always think about how that may affect their plumbing. However, if you have a sump pump which is powered by electricity, you’ll definitely want to make sure that it stays on to avoid any additional flooding around your home or business. If you’re located in a colder climate, having the temperature stay consistently above freezing point can also be critical in avoiding costly plumbing issues. A burst pipe due to cold temperatures can be a major headache on top of dealing with a power outage, and is best to avoid by purchasing a standby generator.

Mitigates inconvenience and unnecessary costs

If you’ve ever lost power for more than a few hours, you understand how it can be very inconvenient. When your appliances don’t work, it’s harder to cook meals at home or do your laundry. This can necessitate eating out or using a laundromat just to complete household tasks, and can be costly. Another costly complication of losing your power is having food stored in your refrigerator or freezer spoil or go bad. Replacing groceries can be expensive, and having a backup source of power allows you to avoid these kinds of situations.

Keeps you safe in emergencies

In inclement weather or natural disasters like hurricanes, standby generators are a necessity when it comes to keeping you and others safe. Emergency lighting, exit signs, powered doors, and elevators can all be powered by standby generators to ensure that people are able to find shelter and that the shelter is appropriately-equipped to keep them safe. Particularly if you live in an area known for its bad weather and storms, it can be a wise choice to invest in a standby generator.

There are many benefits to buying a standby generator. The peace of mind that comes from knowing that your home or business won’t be compromised during a sudden loss of power is often enough of a benefit to persuade people to insure themselves with a standby generator. Having a backup generator that is able to kick on automatically when you lose prime power can also save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in unnecessary replacement costs or repairs, making them a worthwhile financial investment for protecting your assets.

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Marketing through influencers has become more and more popular since the dawn of the internet. Consumers are trusting the celebrity endorsements so common in commercials less and less. They seek more credible, expert, and knowledgeable sources than those of paid actors. In this day and age, these qualities are found among social media influencers. Take a look below as we walk you through a few tips on how you can get started as an influencer.

Find Your Specialization

The first step in becoming a social media influencer is discovering where you fit in. Influencers who align their content with their passions and interests are far more successful than those who choose something that they aren’t passionate about, but think will be lucrative. Your target audience is far more likely to believe you when you review a product if you are enthusiastic when you do so.

Develop Your Format and Posting Strategy

Formatting and posting strategies make or break all forms of social media influencers. Think about the mediums that are most likely to be appealing to your target audience and appropriate for your personality and style. Proper combinations of pictorial, video, audio, and text formatting draw viewers and customers more effectively than single formats.

Balance personal and informative content carefully. The 5-3-2 principle creates a practical balance for most influencers. Of every 10 posts you publish, five need to be valuable content created by others, three ought to be informative and exciting content created by you, and two should be posts about you personally.

Select Your Social Media Platforms

Do some research on your chosen specialization to find out what platform people interested in it tend to use. If your specialization focuses heavily on images, Instagram is a reliable choice. If video is more your thing, consider YouTube as a platform for your influencing. If text is the best way to get your point across, Twitter will be helpful. Facebook combines aspects of all three, so it is wise to use it alongside other social media platforms to reach as many people as possible.

Distribute Your Content in a Timely Manner

The goal of every influencer is to extend their reach to as many people as possible. Your content can be the best on the internet, but if you aren’t putting it out there for people to view and interact with it, it’s useless. To this end, it is vitally important that you plan the timing of your content distribution carefully.

Research the best times to post on different social media platforms, according to their characteristic patterns of use. Posting when the largest number of people possible are online on each platform will maximize your effectiveness as a social media influencer.

Through the selection of a specialty that is meaningful to you, the development of format and posting strategy, the choosing of relevant social media platforms, and the timely distribution of content, you will be well on your way to becoming a successful social media influencer. Be patient and publish content frequently. Sticking to these steps will help you realize your influencer goals.

 

Approaching retirement age is a scary phase in your life. You don’t know what’s going to happen next. You worry that you’re not getting the same monthly income anymore. You also think that being out of a job will drastically change your life. If you haven’t reached that age yet, you have time to prepare. Once you see these signs, you know that you’re ready for retirement.

You’re ready to stop your job

Changing your daily routine after decades of doing it could be tricky. You wake up at the same time each day so you won’t be late for work. After retirement, you suddenly stop going to work, and it changes everything. However, if you’re ready to let go of your job and pass it to someone younger than you, it means that you won’t feel bad about retirement.

You have plans for retirement

Another sign that you’re ready is when you already have plans for retirement. You know what you will do with your free time. You don’t feel worried that you will get bored not doing anything. You can pursue your hobbies or take part in different organisations.

You still have friends outside work

You worry about your social life once you retire. If you made friends outside work over the years, you know that retirement will still be fun. You can hang out with them or even travel to different places. If they’re your fellow retirees, you won’t feel bored with retirement at all.

Your kids are already stable

It’s not easy to retire when you know that the people you love still have a lot of financial challenges. They could also face other issues outside the family. As adults now, you don’t need to be so responsible for them. However, as a parent, you want to make sure that your kids are in a good situation. If they are, you can retire without feeling burdened.

You feel excited

Most people are unhappy about retirement. They dread the time when they won’t be as useful as they used to be. However, if retirement excites you, and makes you feel like you have a lot to look forward to, it’s a good thing.

You’re financially ready

You won’t have the same income anymore once you retire. If you prepared well by saving up using your retirement plans, it’s a good thing. You can use your savings to sustain your lifestyle upon retirement. You can even start doing the things you love but were unable to do because of the nature of your job.

If you don’t think you’re financially ready yet, it’s okay. You can rely on loans for retirees such as equity release schemes. For this loan, you need to secure it against your property. After you die, the creditor will sell your house and use the amount to pay for the loan. The extra money will go to your kids.

Retirement is scary for several reasons, but you need to face it with pride and excitement.

Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/psrloDbaZc8

 

If you’re looking to remodel your home, you may be surprised just how much detail you’re probably going to spend on finding the right floor. Not only that, but sometimes you don’t have all the time or the tools in the world in order to do custom flooring yourself, as it can be a pretty tedious and time consuming process to replace a floor in a room. If that is your story, you can count on quality flooring stores that has their own installation contractors to get the job done for you!

Burnaby’s Finest Flooring

There are numerous applications that you may need new floors, as well as different types of flooring available. When you’re remodeling your floor, some of the best and most popular materials that are chosen are:

• Hardwood floors
• Laminate
• Cork Flooring
• Vinyl
• Tiles
• Carpet
• Rubber Floors
• Rugs

And even others that people don’t often think of (there are some unconventional flooring materials as well).

What a Flooring Contractor Can Do for You

A flooring contractor will be able to assess what would be your best situation when it comes to traffic throughout your business or home building and give you the greatest options in terms of pricing, installation, and even repair for your floors. Depending on what types of floors you want also depends on what types of work will be performed. For example, if you need your ceramic tiles to be replaced with a new custom design, you’re probably going to have to have some “deconstruction” of the previous flooring done in order to achieve the optimal results, as well as have the concrete and insulation remade. Some types of flooring aren’t the type that can just be laid on top of the other in order to “cover it up” like a coat of paint.

Why Brands are Important

You want to hire someone who not only has budget friendly materials available, but also high-quality materials so they can perform a better job, and you can get those custom floors that last. Not only that, but also having the right brands helps when it comes to a proper design sense in order to give you the best floors out there that can even look so amazing that they’re excellent conversation starters.

Conclusion

If you live in Burnaby, you can get some excellent contractors in the area. Be sure to shop around, but take a good look at One Stop Flooring, where you can get a customized free estimate, and have people come in to help you design floors for your new home, or redesign floors for your old one. If you want to do the work yourself or have another contractor, you can always use their supply store for your supplies as well. For all of your flooring installation and restoration needs, you can trust a company that’s been around for years and has helped hundreds of homeowners and businesses alike in order to give them new flooring at a good price range.

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Were you assigned by your girlfriends to organize a friend’s bachelorette party? It’s not going to be simple but don’t let it stress you out! You need to remember that the success of this party depends on you and it should be fabulous. Here are some of the best ideas for bachelorette parties. You can choose the most suitable one for the future bride!

Party’s theme

Perhaps the option of organizing a bachelorette party in the club makes you smile because you will not need to make big preparations, but it’s not a very original idea. So, co-opt your gang of friends and organize together a bachelorette party that neither you nor your future bride will ever forget! How can you do this? Very simple: plan the entire event around a theme. Do you have no idea? We offer you some, extremely inspired! Find out more here.

Princess Party

As your girlfriend is getting married, then you have to make her feel like a queen. The princesses will, of course, be all of you so that everyone will have an essential role in the party. Everybody should be in their tutus and magic wands! You can start the party with these outfits and go to places where you can dance or just celebrate at home.

You can also rent a limousine to drive you and your friends through the city and take pictures. For everything to be more fun, you can wear t-shirts with various messages, tutu skirts, tiaras, the bride can wear a veil, etc.

You have dreamed all your life for a fairytale wedding, you – the princess and he – the knight in a glittering armor. Why not start with the bachelor party? Shirts made of tulle for everyone, different shirts, red roses, and teacups – ready to go?

Picnic to go

If the bride to be is not a club fan, but rather prefers a quiet evening between friends, you can have a party in the garden or a nearby cottage.

Don’t you want a traditional bachelorette party? It’s great because we have an idea you can put into practice, especially if the weather is nice. Go for a picnic! Choose a favorite place and go camping at a park or any other place that will inspire you. You can make handmade decorations – inspirational message cards, candle jars, tulle strips attached to trees, and a wreath of white flowers for the bride, while the rest of the guests can have colored ones. You can prepare barbecues, sandwiches and your favorite drinks.

For beautiful memories, hire a photographer to take quality pictures to remind you of these moments for life.

A party inspired by “Baywatch.”

Another great idea is to spend this time with your friends in Baywatch style, especially as most bachelorette parties take place in the summer season which is the wedding season! Do not worry if you do not have the perfect silhouettes like the protagonists of the famous sitcom. It is enough to have the most beautiful swimsuits and enjoy the beach or pool party! Choose colorful cocktails to make it feel more special. You can talk to the barista to let them know what you like. You can also hire male entertainers or stripers online or by going to the Grand Rapids Majesty Male Strippers webpage. Whatever, you decide it’s bound to be epic. You can tell them the theme of your party, and they’ll make it worthwhile.

Gather the best team you want near you before you start your marriage and make sure you mark the occasion properly. If your friends are not into swimsuits then you can choose pink tops for the girls and white for the bride, white shorts for everyone and, of course, sunglasses.

Club party

It would be best to go to several clubs. You can choose a club where you can go and drink a bottle of champagne and dance, another with karaoke, or live music, all depending on the preferences of the future bride.

Mountain trip

Another great way to spend the bachelorette party is to organize a trip to the mountains, depending on the season, or maybe even in another country. If you choose the tour, you have to arrange it in advance and make sure all guests agree.

Do not run away from the idea of ​​a party during winter. You can organize the bachelorette party on a mountain weekend! Did somebody say a pajama party?

A day at the spa

Because the wedding is very stressful for the future bride, another idea for spending the bells is a day at the SPA, the perfect opportunity to relax before the wedding in the company of your best friends. If the most convenient location for organizing a bachelorette party is at home, then you can move the spa there. This is perfect if the bride is not adept at clubbing. You can have a party with romantic movies, cocktails, and junk food, all while someone else does your nails and hair. Set up a dress code, some songs and movies, maybe from the year the bride was born, and the fun will be guaranteed.

Gifts

After you are settled with the theme, next on your to-do list as a bridesmaid is to choose the gifts for the bride. The options are vast, from more practical gifts to more fun ideas. The choice belongs to you, so here are some suggestions for you:

• The “Best Friend” pendant, easy to wear on a bracelet and even necklaces, which symbolizes the sign of friendship between you.
• Another option is a flower arrangement, a more practical gift, ideal for flower lovers.
• A gift set of aromatherapy, a perfect gift for the future bride to enjoy in the honeymoon!

Do not be afraid if the bachelorette party does not turn out as you intended; the most important thing is that you are together for a memorable evening. No matter what you choose, make sure you have fun and get ready for the adventure of life! Congratulations and be happy!

 

If you’re contemplating on purchasing new toys instead of just having an ATV and purchasing quad parts to upgrade your ATV you may want to consider a Honda Shadow Aero 750 and looking for honda oem parts that you can add to your bike. Here is everything you need to know about purchasing your first Shadow Aero 750.

An OEM Buying Guide for Honda Shadow Aero 750:

Features:

1. Low seat height 

The Shadow Aero 750 features a low seat which means that placing your foot down at stop lights a breeze.

2. Detachable passenger seat 

If you are interested in riding with a passenger, you’ll appreciate the fact that this particular model offers a handy detachable passenger seat.

3. Chrome features 

The Aero 750 features multiple chrome details such as stylish chrome handlebars, chrome engine side covers and chrome rear shock covers.

4. V twin engine

If you’re looking to purchase a bike which offers a grunty engine, you’ll love the fact that this particular model boasts a powerful v twin engine. Which means that you’ll be able to use your bike to commute to and from work and to enjoy long drives on the weekend, without any issues.

5. Unique look 

The Honda Shadow Aero 750 offers a unique look as it’s body is inspired by a classic art deco 1950s bike but still offers a thoroughly modern look. So if you like the look of classic bikes but still want to purchase a bike with a sleek body, it’s well worth taking a Shadow Aero 750 for a test ride.

Some examples of some of the Aero 750’s classic inspired features include a full front fender and spoked wheels.

6. Shaft final drive 

This particular model features a shaft final drive which is clean and low-maintenance and which will ensure that you never have to worry about lubricating your bike when you’re out on the open road.

7. It boats an efficient fuel injection system

The Honda Shadow Aero 750’s special programmed fuel injection system, ensures that you’ll never have any issues starting up your bike on a frosty, cold morning or when you’re riding at altitude.

8. A 2 into 2 style exhaust system 

The Honda Shadow Aero 750 offers a 2 into 2 style exhaust system which produces an authentic V-twin cruiser sound. So if you’ve always loved the sound of V-twin cruisers, you’ll love the sound that the Honda Shadow Aero 750 produces.

9. Modern front disc brake 

While the Shadow Aero 750 has a cool, classic look, the front disc brake is thoroughly modern and boasts a 296 mm front disc brake. Which will allow you to brake smoothly in the blink of an eye. So if you’re looking to purchase a bike which offers modern safety features, it’s well worth considering the Honda Shadow Aero 750 as one of your final options.

What to consider:

1. Whether you want to purchase the ABS edition

You may want to consider purchasing the ABS model of the Shadow Aero 750, which offers a modern, state of the art braking system. Which is perfect for riders of all skill levels and levels of experience. You can also find cheap honda motorcycle parts for your bike so that you can customize it to your liking.

So if you love the sound of all of the Honda Shadow Aero 750’s features, it’s well worth taking one for a test drive today.

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Even the most ardent luddites are no longer denying it – technology is a part of modern life that’s here to stay. It permeates all areas of our existence, from allowing us to monitor our health and budget, to dictating how we spend our down time. On that note, today we’re looking at technology’s role in the future of online poker, and revealing the main ways we’re expecting it to shape the future of the game…

Convenience

Firstly, advances in technology are set to make playing online poker even more convenient than it is now. While it’s still possible to compete against real life opponents at tournaments like the World Series of Poker, or in bricks and mortar casinos, technology brings the excitement of the game to us. The incredible rise in online poker sites over the last decade, faster wireless networks and developments in smartphones, has allowed poker lovers to work on their game anytime and anywhere. Moving forward, things are only set to get faster, with the knock-on effect predicted to be more players reaching a higher standard in a shorter time period and therefore elevating the quality of play to previously unseen levels.

More varied player pool

The convenience of online poker means a wider variety of people are taking it up as a hobby. Playing online removes the need to pluck up the courage to walk into any intimidating poker rooms where players are more experienced and potentially wealthier. This has led to more younger players and an influx of women taking up the game. Online poker rooms also have the added benefit of offering low stakes (1-2c) or completely free games. This encourages more beginners to learn the ropes in an inexpensive, non-stressful environment. Moving forward, technology will continue to open up the game to people from all walks of life, widening the player pool and offering more chance to practice. The result being a higher volume of more highly-skilled players to compete against at any time of day or night.

Better players

Already online poker rooms are providing invaluable insights into how you and your opponent’s play. If you want to improve your game – analysing this kind of data is key! Moving forward, we expect to see technology used to improve player data and feedback. We’ve seen the first glimpses of this with tech like poker solvers, which essentially grants you access to your very own poker coach who can help you to develop your game faster than ever before.

Virtual reality

One particularly exciting development the poker world has had its eyes on for a while now is virtual reality. With hardware coming down in price and software being improved, soon we will see players from all corners of the world competing in a virtual space. Again, this will allow players to gain more experience taking on competitors from all corners of the globe…pushing people to advance even further.

Cryptocurrency

As various cryptocurrencies continue to grow in popularity, more online poker players will realise the benefits they have. For example, moving currency from a crypto wallet to an online poker account is faster, safer, and stops you being affected by banking regulations and fees from either the banks or third-party payment processors. Technologies such as Etherum for example, enable close to free payments and eliminate almost 100% of all chargebacks. As the cost of operating poker sites decreases, expect to see players winning more substantial cash prizes.

While it’s impossible to predict the limits of how technology will progress the game, it’s clear that people will become better players much faster. Having greater access to more opponents will keep online poker more exciting and security and ease of play will improve exponentially. Exciting times are ahead for online poker, and technology is set to play a key role in the journey.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

Recent research has brought the underground world of mashonisas (South Africa’s illegal loan providers) to the surface. Who are these informal lenders, really?

South Africa’s loan sharks; violent or vital?

Recent research has brought the underground world of mashonisas (South Africa’s illegal loan providers) to the surface. Once characters familiar in some quarters through headlines and stereotypes alone, a qualitative study has revealed that informal lenders may in fact quash many assumptions.

Are mashonisas violent?

You may know of mashonisas from untoward headlines and unsavoury stories. This image is likely a dominant one in the minds of many South Africans who have never had dealings with a mashonisa. While this industry is unregulated (and therefore vulnerable to more unsavory characters), many informal money lenders are everyday members of low income communities. These individuals often turn to money lending after deciding to capitalise on a small amount of disposable income.

Although research conducted into mashonisa life in an informal settlement reveals that some lenders may in some cases treat borrowers less than- scrupulously, the individuals interviewed on both sides of the lending divide very rarely reported troubling transactions. Humiliation was one of the major “misbehaviours” of mashonisas according to some reports. Some interviewed consumers claimed they were rudely treated both by their lender and the community at large for seeking a loan.

There are a few reasons why mashonisa related violence may appear lower than the stereotypes suggest. It is possible that such incidents are under reported. It is also possible that informal lenders do not profit from a negative reputation. Those who treat consumers reasonably are more likely to enjoy custom from the local community.

Based on this research, it appears that mashonisas could be a long way from the violent image they have traditionally been associated with. In fact, online loan provider Wonga’s informal lending report could be interpreted to show many mashonisas are “everyday Joes”, including former factory workers and kitchenware sales women, ranging in age from 27-48.

Are mashonisas vital?

Wonga’s study could be read as evidence for the central role of mashonisas in communities where access to short term finance is virtually non-existent. These mashonisas provide loans of R500-R5000 over short periods to individuals who need to cover the cost of crucial expenses such as petrol, school costs, food and other essentials.

Although interest rates range from 30% to 50%, in informal settlements and townships, these lenders are often the only port of call. Consumers in such communities may not have access to “official” finance options due to geographic distance from such services, an impaired credit history or no credit history. With many people outside of formal employment, it is difficult for low income South Africans to access short term finance, especially following the country’s 2005 crackdown on irresponsible lending.

Although not ideal, this dearth of conventional credit access appears to render “loan sharks” the only option for many South Africans in desperate need of capital to cover expenses. As the national cost of living continues to creep up, the mashonisa is likely to become ever more vital in South Africa.

Agriculture is a complicated business; in many respects you are dependent on the weather to ensure your crops grow successfully. However, while you may not be able to control the rainfall, amount of sun or even the storms you can ensure your crops have enough water and nutrients.

Nutrients can be ploughed into the field before planting but they can also be added to the water allowing you to feed and water your crops efficiently though an irrigation system.

However, for the irrigation system to work effectively you’ll need a pump; the question is which pump or pumps do you need for your agriculture business?

Understanding Dewatering Pumps

You will need one or more dewatering pumps. Any pump which removes water from a construction site, surface water from the ground or even water out of a mine shaft is known as a dewatering pump. In essence it is removing the water from one place and directing it elsewhere.

This is one pump that is often overlooked in an agricultural environment but is actually essential.

Your standard pump will run an irrigation system; pumping water through pipes and allowing it to spray on your crop when there has not been much rain.

But, what happens when there has been too much rain? The ground becomes sodden and rivers can burst their banks. This can actually cause your crop to drown.

To prevent this you’ll need a good quality dewatering pump; it should quickly and effectively remove excess water and allow your crops the chance to grow; even in bad weather.

The Centrifugal Pump

The centrifugal pump pushes water outwards, using centrifugal force. This type of pump as very few moving parts which helps to ensure it is reliable in all situations. As reliability is an important criteria when choosing agricultural pumps this is an excellent choice for your irrigation system.

These pumps work best when installed level with or below the water level; they will then propel the water through your pipes and onto your fields to water your crops.

Flow Rates

It is important to consider the flow rate before you choose the right pump for your agricultural needs. The flow rate dictates how much water can be passed through the pump ad onto your crops.

However you need to consider the amount of water that needs to reach your plants and the gradient the water needs to be moved up. The greater the gradient the more powerful and the higher the water flow the um will need to have; this is the only way to ensure the right amount of water gets where you need it to be.

Go Solar

It is worth considering the power source for your pumps. In the past a diesel pump was the only really viable option for an agricultural setting. However technology has advanced hugely in recent years and it is now possible to purchase solar panels surprisingly cheaply. Couple these with batteries and transformers and you can have a reliable source of power to run virtually any pump. This is an option that should be considered before you commit to your next pump.

Everybody loves this time of year when the holidays are approaching, but preparing and paying for holidays can be a bit of a daunting task. This is why it’s important to figure out your perfect holiday process to make things a little easier on yourself. Here are some of our best tips.

Prepare Ahead of Time

One huge mistake a lot of people make with the holidays is waiting too long to prepare. It might seem like you’ve got plenty of time from Halloween until Christmas, but those days will go faster than you think and every day that passes makes things more difficult.

It’s always a good idea to plan out what you’re going to do for the holidays as early as possible, whether you need to recruit family for a big dinner, figure out what you’re going to cook, or shop for gifts. When you prepare ahead of time, you get to enjoy the holidays themselves a little bit more.

Be Creative

Let’s be honest, we don’t always have money to give great gifts to everybody we love. Sometimes you have to use a little bit of creativity to make sure you’re not spending too much money on a gift but it’s still going to provide that same high-price satisfaction. One of the best ways to make sure the gift you’re giving will be loved is to make it something personal.

Mixbook has a number of things that make great gifts for the holidays, from Christmas photo cards to some of the best photo books. Plus, everything is customizable using pictures that can easily be uploaded to Mixbook. All you need to do is upload a picture to Mixbook, choose what type of product you want to create, customize it, then place your order.

Relax

If you have children, the holidays can feel like a stressful time where you’re expected to perform at a certain level. The good news is, most people aren’t expecting a ton out of you for the holidays, so anything you do is just fine. As much as you try to buy every gift on the list and make the perfect dinner for your guests, keep in mind that they’ll be happy to spend time with you regardless. The holiday season is about spending time with people we love, so nobody is going to fault you if you don’t have quite enough money for prime rib this year.

Get yourself a cool game – and invite people over

Holidays are a great time to spend with your family and friends. Butt everyone’s busy, racing around, searching for presents, stopping by to visit relatives and their overall crazy holiday groove. So why don’t you proactively come up with a reason why people should come by and visit your abode? I recently bought a super nice beer pong table (some good recommendations in this guide) and attracted everyone to my place as if I had a huge hidden magnet around. Beer pong games are super cool and awesome and what friend would pass on a friendly competitive game that involves drinking and laughing around? Spread some holiday cheer by providing the perfect environment for everyone to have fun.

How do you make it through the busy holiday season in one piece? If you have any tips or fun ideas you’d like to share with us, feel free to leave a comment below—we’d love to hear what keeps you hustling during the holiday season.