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What Are Some Ways To Surprise That College Graduate In Your Life?

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Do you have a child who is about to graduate from college? You’ll probably know by the panicked state of their voice when they talk to you on phone. They’ll have finals, internships, and projects that they have to finish in addition to trying to secure a job. There’s no question that when graduation comes around, they’ll need a break or reward of some sort. So how should you reward the college graduate in your life for all of that hard work?

  • Give them a graduation party: There’s no doubt that your college graduate probably hasn’t seen their friends and family in a while as they navigate the aisles of their college library trying to complete that annotated bibliography to finish off that Senior Thesis. Give them a breath of relief with an organized graduation party to tell them well-done. You can have it at your family’s house or a mutually-agreed upon location; the key is that your graduate knows that you’re proud of them for their hard work.
  • Give them a home warming gift: With luck and due diligence, your college graduate will land a job where they’ll have to live on their own. If your child is anything like most college graduates, they probably don’t have many decorations or fixtures to make an apartment a home. Why not give your college graduate a decorative piece like limited edition art, so they’ll have an apartment that they want to come home to. Other ideas include purchasing an appliance for them or paying their first month’s rent.
  • Give them a dream vacation: Life happens, and soon enough, you’re tied down to a job where you only get two weeks of vacation for the year. Europe, Asia and Mexico are vacations best left to the young and curious. Why not reward your college graduate a dream vacation when they have the time, drive and romanticism to enjoy it? A vacation also gives them the opportunity to recharge their batteries, so they’re better able to start the next part of their lives.

These are just some ideas out there about what you can give your college graduate for their graduation. Whatever the case, the most important thing is to give your child who’s graduating something they’ll appreciate so they know how much you’re proud of them. As we all know, you only graduate from college once. Be sure to do your part as an appreciative parent by giving your college graduate a gift they’ll remember.

Samantha Wideman is part of a team of writers and specializes in writing about current news events.






Four Awesome Things You Didn’t Know About Leather

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There are always two basic values that come attached to almost all the good things in life- beauty and quality. Not-so-strangely, the same qualities are associated to leather goods too. Leather furniture, gives you so much more than just aesthetic appeal, it becomes very necessary to make sure every penny is well-spent. To ensure you make full use of all the benefits this beautiful material has to offer instead of falling prey to pre-conceived notions, we give you four simple yet surprising things you didn’t know about leather.

1)   Leather is easily adaptable

Contrary to popular belief that leather furniture is only best suited to modern homes, leather does manage to spring up a pleasant surprise with its versatility. Leather furniture comes in an endless variety of designs and patterns, most of which are perfectly timeless. If your home has a very modern feel to it you can simply go for full leather sofas. However, if your home’s ambiance is more towards the old-world vintage, you can easily use solid wooden furniture with matching leather accents. So even if your home is designed to a specific theme, you can fearlessly use leather sofas achieve that luxurious look.

2)   It’s extremely durable

Because of leather’s direct association with being a natural fabric, many prospective buyers worry about its strength and susceptibility to natural elements, and the vexations of daily wear and tear. But not many realize, that just like the human skin, leather is (or was) skin too, which by default, makes it water-resistant. Moreover, high quality leather is probably the only furniture material that is scratch-proof. So the next time your lazy pet or energizer bunny-like kids hop onto the couch, don’t hyperventilate. Your sofa is going to remain as good as new.

3)   Leather is hypo-allergic

People can be allergic to even the most seemingly harmless things, like water or banana or socks! Well, at least you can strike leather off that list. Many people are of the belief that since leather comes from animal skin, there’s a high chance of some sensitive person to have an allergic reaction. But, quite on the contrary, leather furniture is probably the best option for those with a sensitive system. Firstly, because leather is hypo-allergic, and secondly, because, the leather is so tightly stretched and sealed to the frame, there’s absolutely no spot for allergens to settle or spread.

4)   And low-maintenance too

Its cost is the only expensive thing about leather. But once you buy it, it serves like a faithful long time investment, with extremely satisfying returns. Like we mentioned earlier leather is water-resistant. It is also repeals food, so, if you ever have the pleasure of serving some clumsy eaters, rest assured. Your precious sofa is just one swipe of a cotton cloth away from its original natty form. You only have to make sure you wipe the stain before it bleeds into the leather’s natural color. This also helps you save money that you would otherwise spend on regular maintenance, polish, repairs and restoration.

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Sophia Easton, author of this post, is a home improvement and lifestyle blogger. She works with a luxury leather furniture company and maintains their blog.

What To Expect When Moving To New York City

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If you’re moving to New York City you’re likely going to have the time of your life – the city’s night-and-day culture, strong economy and numerous landmarks make it a great place to live. But many new New Yorkers are unprepared for some of the day-to-day realities. From how to pay for hot dogs to handling your air conditioning installation in NYC, here are five things you need to know.

1. Smaller living space. Cost of living is high in NYC, particularly the cost of rent or real estate. In general, New Yorkers live in much smaller apartments than people from other US cities or regions are used to. That doesn’t mean it’s uncomfortable – you’ll get used to it quickly, and it discourages clutter – but you may want to sell some things before you move.

2. Carry cash. For a thriving and technologically advanced city, New York is surprisingly averse to credit and debit cards. Many corner shops and restaurants are still mom-and-pop stores, and if they paid the credit card fee on every transaction they’d have to close. Of course, ATMs are abundant, but that carries a fee for you. Try to keep cash on you whenever you go out.

3. New Yorker pride. It’s true that New Yorkers take a lot of pride in their city and in living there – and you will quickly find that transplants are rated by how many years they’ve lived in the city. While you may get some good-natured ribbing, listen to the newbie advice they give you: you’ll learn a lot about getting around, staying safe and where to find bargains.

4. Public transportation. Many New Yorkers don’t own cars at all. They’re expensive to park and most apartment buildings don’t have a free lot for residents. Driving can also be a nightmare, and most locals will go everywhere via subway, bus and taxi. If you do decide to own a car, be prepared not to use it very often – for most errands the subway is easier.

5. Get air conditioning. Most of New York consists of older buildings, and they usually don’t have central AC. At the same time, they overheat quickly in summer. Air conditioning is typically each tenant’s responsibility in the Big Apple, but fortunately air conditionining installation in NYC is not expensive and you can easily add either a window unit or a newer ductless AC unit to any apartment.

What else does someone need to know for their first week, month or year in New York?

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  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=new%20york%20city&ex=2#ai:MP900401477|

Jess Holmes is part of a team of writers and specializes in writing advice oriented pieces.

The Carnival Festival In Limassol, Cyprus

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Holidays in Limassol, Cyprus

Limassol Carnival

Limassol has a little bit of everything and there really is no shortage of fun to be had when you visit this beautiful island. If you’ve never visited the island before you may not be aware of just how beautiful it is and how much excitement can be had in the area. There truly is something for everyone, but there are certain times of the year when you may consider visiting, if you want to get the absolute most out of your trip. There are all kinds of events that take place in Limassol, so you want to be certain that you visit during one of the festivals that you’re interested in. Let’s talk a bit more about some of the festivals in Limassol and what you can expect when you visit.

The Lemesos Carnival

Limassol is filled with many tourist attractions such as festivals and celebrations. One of the most popular attractions is the Lemesos Carnival. This is a 15 day event where people from all over the globe come together to have a fun time. The celebration is held on the beautiful beach front of Limassol and it is meant to represent the ancient times of Greeks and Romans that once were the inhabitants of the area. You can expect to have a great time learning about the history of the region and also a beautiful and fun day with your companions.

More about the Lemesos Carnival

The Lemesos Carnival began being celebrated by tradition, but it has evolved into a massive event of fun and excitement. The many people of Limassol have kept their traditions alive and also kept the Lemesos Carnival a huge event for many years. Many people of the region gather on the street to take part in music, dancing and many other types of entertainment. If you want to learn about the rich history of the region, sample some delicious food and drink and just have an all-around fun time. I highly suggest visiting during this celebration.

Other Fun Festivals in Limassol

There are many more festivals held in Limassol, and the celebrations are had by many people. Another very popular event in Limassol is known as the Festival of Wine. This festival is very fun and exciting and it goes on strong for 15 days. You’ll have access to many different types of wines, delicious food and you can partake in all sorts of traditional dancing. It’s a great time to be had by all.

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George Sanders has worked in many Limassol hotels and has over 10 years of travel planning experience.

Pros And Cons Of Different Tile Materials

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Tiles have been made by man for over 4000 years – with such a rich history and reliable reputation, it’s not surprising that many of the original materials used through time still remain today, along with many by-products and variations that have evolved with them.

Each tile type has its own set of pros and cons, making each suitable for different uses.

There are three main categories that tile material can be broken down into; ceramic, quarry and stone. There are more categories and variations within these categories, but here are the main pros and cons that you will need to know when picking a tile to suit you and your home.

Ceramic – Ceramic tiles are seen as great value for money, although they may not be the cheapest tile to purchase, their long-lasting and durable qualities mean they can last the life of your home and increase its value. You can find cheap ceramic tiles at discount flooring outlets or end of line ranges if you fancy some bargain-hunting. Ceramic tiles are long-standing, low maintenance, can stand high traffic and, because they are made from scratch, can be found in a variety of colours and shapes.

One drawback of ceramic tiles is that they are porous – a glaze is applied to the tile and hardened in order to make it non-porous. It is not advised that ceramic tiles are DIY-appropriate, they require professional installation and because of their hard nature, ceramic tiles can chip upon impact.

Ceramic tiles come in many varieties, including; earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, glazed, unglazed and mosaics.

Quarry – Quarry tiles are, by comparison, quite inexpensive because they are quick to produce and don’t require a glaze on the top layer of the tile. They are thick and durable, meaning they are good for high-traffic areas.

However, because there is no glaze, quarry tiles tend to be very porous, which doesn’t make them very good for floors or kitchen surfaces. The lack of glaze also makes them susceptible to stains, they need to be sealed and polished regularly.

Stone – Stone tiles are the most natural in their look and style, they include materials such as limestone, marble, granite and slate. Although they may not be the most functional of tiles, it is their aesthetics that makes stone tiles a winner – their varied colouring and texture of natural stone, which cannot be re-created with ceramic.

However it is their look and style that can provide a drawback. Because they can vary so much, if you ever needed to repair a floor, you may struggle to find a perfectly matched tile. It is advised that you buy extra when you initially purchase your stone tiles.

Beth has a tiled wall in her bathroom, which she created with some decorative wall tiles from http://www.fitcreative.co.uk.

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