*This is a sponsored post*

The effects of stress on a person’s health are a major issue in America today. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that 80% of our medical expenditures are stress related, while 84% of recently stressed Americans, according to an online survey, say they are worried that their home isn’t organized enough. The connection is clear. Stress and poor home organization are, unfortunately, connected and are causing home owners to waste their time, their money and sacrifice their well-being. According to a study by a Boston marketing firm,  looking for lost items costs the average American 55 minutes each day. That time is spent looking for things they know they own (but can’t find). This can lead people to buy multiples of items they already have, further increasing the disorder.

But long-lasting order can be restored to a home, and adding space-efficient designs to your home, and especially storage spaces like closets, is a great way to begin de-cluttering. Closets are the most highly employed spaces in your home, and also some of the most personal. You fill your closet with your clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories that all represent who you are. Why shouldn’t your closet also reflect your own distinctive style? Investing in a custom closet design will give you a closet that reflects your interests, fashion preferences and needs while reducing your clutter-induced stress and saving you precious time every day.

A custom closet design can incorporate innovative storage systems into your closet that make it a unique fit to you. Make sure to make your design choices from companies that offer a wide range of closet designs and products, like Tailored Living, that will enhance your closet to your specifications. For bulky or unusually shaped items, invest in cubbies, hooks and even slide out racks which accommodate your purses, luggage and even your hamper!  If shoes are your passion and currently take up all your shelf and floor space in your closet, then a design that includes cubbies will create a specific space for each of your individual pairs of shoes. You will have better access to all your footwear and simultaneously protect them from harm.

And custom closet designs can benefit everyone in your household! Drawers and drawer organizers are great for kids’ closets. They bring a child’s clothes and toys down to a height accessible to him or her and help teach your child to keep their room clean.  And of course home organization specialists, like those available through Tailored Living, are able to come to your home and assist you in forming a functional and attractive design for your closet. Home organization specialists are especially helpful when it comes to organizing closets belonging to multiple people. They help identify who needs what space and what solutions will accommodate both of your belongings.

You have better things to be doing than searching for your keys, glasses and that shirt you know you bought last week but can’t remember where you put it. It’s time to take back the house and restore order to your home and your life with a closet design that fits you! 

*This is a guest post*

Cardiff is a wonderful place to visit. As one of the newest capital cities in Europe and home to a number of huge entertainment and sports venues there is plenty going on in this fantastic modern city. Whilst adults may be content to explore the city and all it has to offer simply by wandering and discovering, children are likely to get bored and require child friendly activities to be scheduled in. First check Travelodge’s website for great deals on Cardiff accommodation then start planning your itinerary from this list of great family fun things to do in Cardiff.

Planet Ice

Cardiff’s own ice rink, Planet Ice caters for the smallest to the tallest with many fun events happening here all year round. If your kids can toddle they can skate with the help of a penguin, specially designed to support your little ones as they find their feet on the ice, providing a stable support for them to join in the fun with. The rink is open to visitors daily and you can even book the venue for birthday parties, or visit on a show day and watch the pros whizz round instead.

Cefn Mably Farm Park

If the weather is good and you fancy doing something in the great outdoors then why not venture to Cefn Mably Farm Park, an activity farm located between Cardiff and Newport in the beautiful Welsh countryside. Here you can touch and hold the animals, ride a pony, climb on the log play zone, and if the weather decides to take a turn for the worse, then you can always retreat to one of the indoor play areas in the 12,800 square foot undercover area.

Techniquest

In Cardiff there is a place where learning meets fun. This place is called Techniquest and it is a Science Centre in Cardiff where kids and adults alike can experience hands on learning through fun activities. There are over 160 stations to experiment with and the educational charity puts on many shows and demonstrations throughout the year for their visitors to enjoy. This is a surefire hit with all the family and is definitely worth a visit. A family of 5 can enjoy Techniquest for £23, which is great value for a full day of entertainment.

Cardiff Bay Walking Spy Trail

Adults can enjoy learning about the history and workings of the Cardiff Dockyard in the knowledge that the kids won’t get bored with the Cardiff Bay Walking Spy Trail. Following the step-by-step instructions, you can travel through shipwrecks, fishy tales and wetlands. The whole trail takes about 2 to 3 hours to complete and is filled with questions and learning in a fun package. All routes are pushchair friendly so you can take the whole family without any worries.

Get to know Cardiff for all it’s famous for and keep the kids happy at the same time by incorporating some of these fantastic children’s activities into your trip. Whatever they’re into you’re bound to find it here in this vibrant and exciting city.

*This is a guest post*

If you are a food blogger, you probably already know that the pictures that you take of your recipes can have a major impact on the popularity of your blog. If you can take pictures that make your readers’ mouths water, you are sure to bring in and maintain a lot of traffic. Although it can take a lot of trial and error in order to get good at taking pictures of food, following these tips can help you take better pictures right away.

Don’t Use Your Flash

Although it might be a habit to turn your flash on, especially when you are taking pictures indoors, it is important not to use your flash if you want to take good pictures of food. The flash can make your food look washed-out, uneven and utterly unappealing.

A Steady Hand Isn’t Good Enough — Use a Tripod

Holding your camera in your hands might seem sufficient, but it can be very hard to keep a steady hand while taking an up-close shot of food. Therefore, it is worth it to invest in a digital camera and accessories that will help you take a stabilized picture. A tripod can be worth its weight in gold when it comes to taking food pictures, and they don’t even cost a lot. You can check out some photography websites like Snappit Digital Cameras and Accessories or even rig up your own homemade tripod if you want to.

Use the Macro Setting

If you have a point-and-shoot camera — instead of a more expensive DSLR model — try using the “Macro” setting on your camera when you are taking your food shots. This setting makes it possible to take closer shots of your dish, and it blurs out the background in a tasteful manner that really puts focus on the food.

Try a White Plate

Although you might be proud of your beautiful dishes that are in all sorts of gorgeous colors and patterns, they might not be right for taking pictures of food for your blog. You can experiment with these dishes once you gain a little more experience in food photography, but most people find that plain white plates and other dishes are best for beginners. They make your food really pop in the photo and can be much easier to photograph.

Don’t Forget the Props

Experienced food photographers know that you should always “stage” your photos for best results. This can mean simply folding up a pretty napkin or placing a piece of silverware near the plate, but it can also include using various placemats, table linens and more to create a beautiful background. There are lots of things that you can use to create a nice background — even scrapbook paper works nicely — and you don’t have to spend a fortune on them. Taking the time to set the stage for a nice photo can make the difference between a gorgeous picture and one that isn’t so appealing.

Author Bio: Joanna is a Brisbane resident who is currently studying photography herself, she writes blogs to inspire other beginner photographers.

*This is a guest post*

In an increasingly complex world the idea of dressing up and reaching out for fantasy can seem an ideal proposition.

Parties

 Most people love a good party, especially children, and this is demonstrated by the growing popularity of costumes and themed parties. There are so many ideas and styles to choose from that sometimes one is spoilt for choice. For anyone who is conscious of the cost of a party, it’s probably far cheaper to buy a costume rather than risk having food or drink spill down the front of a new and expensive outfit and then have to fork out for an expensive dry cleaning bill.

 Having a themed party can also make the choice of food and decorations a lot easier for the host. For example a Wild West Party could entail the preparation of burgers and nachos and the choice of dress is easy, big hats, waistcoats, gingham dresses and any other configuration that you can evolve.

Character

One of the reasons that dressing up is so popular is that for a short while we can become someone other than ourselves. Thanks to a dinosaur costume, an introverted and shy child may very well transform themselves into a raucous untamed animal. Similarly, a reticent adult may totally amaze their friends when dressed up as Captain America or Superwoman.

 It’s important for all of us to escape from the cares and worries of everyday life and a fancy dress party provides the perfect opportunity to release one’s imagination. The fancy dress costumes do not have to be expensive; you can buy one essential item of clothing and then transform your image with clever make-up and add other items of clothing from a thrift shop. The important thing is to have fun and take the opportunity to share a moment of madness with others, building lifelong memories in the process.

 Anyone who is lacking in inventive ideas should just have a look at a few film magazines and select one of their favourite movie characters to emulate. It’s surprising how becoming someone else, even for a couple of hours, can release the spirits and make everyday life just that little bit easier – so why not give it a go?