Category: Living Life Simply

Brandy Ellen is a work from home NH mama who enjoys writing. Since age 12 when she dabbled in both poetry and creative writing, she simply has a passion for writing fiction and non-fiction articles. This category found on Brandy Ellen Blogs will give you insight into her life, her loves and anything to do with the world as she lives and breathes it.

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How to Celebrate National Unplugging Day

National Day of Unplugging happens every year in March. This year we will celebrate this national holiday on March 4th by unplugging from the virtual world to be more present in our real world.

In today’s world, it is more important than ever to unplug and connect with the people and things around us. The National Day of Unplugging started in 2010 as an event that encouraged people to unplug from their technology, turn off the TV, spend time with friends and family, read a good book or simply relax.

This is an occasion to disconnect yourself from high-tech gadgets for 24 hours. As part of my preparation for this day of unplugging, I want to remind you of various ways you can unplug all year round:

1. Take a break away from the internet

We live in an online world where it’s easy to get wrapped up in our online life. To celebrate National Unplugging Day, take a day off of the internet so you can unplug yourself for 24 hours.

2. Unplug your TV

Do not watch any televisions or other electronic screens for 24 hours. Instead, try to spend more time talking with your family and friends.

3. Leave your phone behind

Leave your devices at home on National Unplugging Day so you have no choice but to be present wherever you are. Instead of taking photos of the world around you, open up a book, go for a walk, or strike up a conversation with the strangers around you.

4. Read more books

Instead of taking photos of the world around you or playing on your devices, try to read more instead. If you feel like reading is too much work, try listening to an audiobook while undertaking another activity such as cleaning your house, walking your dog, or commuting to work.

5. Spend less time on social media

Try spending less time on social media for National Unplugging Day to disconnect from the virtual world and instead focus on your real life. Don’t worry if you have no choice but to use social media so try avoiding it whenever possible.

Why Celebrate National Day of Unplugging?

While most of you will be on board with the idea of unplugging for 24 hours, let’s face it, some of you may be a little more reluctant.

I understand and I do hear you.

But, do you hear me?

Since I know some of you out there may need a little more convincing to think that 24 hours without electronics is worthy of a celebration, I’m sharing some of my favorite reasons why I believe everyone should celebrate National Day of Unplugging:

Being present in this moment.

Unplugging from the virtual world and living life by being present is truly a gift we can give ourselves.

Celebrate real life.

Instead of taking photos and posting them online, try celebrating your real life by spending time with family and friends and really enjoying their company instead of looking at your phone screen.

Gain space to dream.

No distractions will give you the time and space to dream big. It also gives your mind a chance to wander which makes solving problems easier.

Reconnect with yourself.

This day can help you reconnect with yourself so you don’t regret missing out on life.

Take care of yourself.

When you unplug, you will have more time to take care of yourself which includes your health. Try exercising, reading a book, or meditating.

So there you have it, plenty of positive reasons to celebrate National Day of Unplugging. I’ll be honest with you, I do my best to incorporate at least one day per week of total unplugging. This has truly helped me stay more balanced, optimistic, and present in my family life.

If you’re still reluctant about celebrating National Day of Unplugging, I invite you to start planning now for this unique holiday. Make some notes and get yourself ready to unplug for the entire day on March 4th. You can give this one day in March and see how you feel the next day. Who knows, it may be the start of something wonderful where you unplug once a week like I do.

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How to Bring the Beach Home (no matter where you live)

You see I am sitting here freezing in the cold New Hampshire winter dreaming of a day at the Atlantic Ocean again. Do you see that photo above? It’s a photo from our York, Maine vacation we had not that long ago in November. It may have been off-season, but boy was it so refreshing to get a little “salt water therapy” with my family.

Since I can’t really venture to the ocean again until warmer temperatures arrive, I wanted to bring some ocean home with me. That’s why I decided to share this article with a variety of ideas, such as the Riverside Designs steel decoration pieces that you can not only save some cash on (see promo at the end of this blog post), but give you a sense of calm that comes with a beach day — without leaving your house!

Whether you’re into the beach or not, I’m confident that these tips will help you make your home or special room feel cozy. I’m telling you, whatever I can do to make my home feel cozy during the winter months is so worth it to me!

Here are some suggestions on how to make any room feel like you’re at the beach with things that most people already have around their homes or can find easily enough.

Bring the ocean indoors with colorful accessories. 

Add some indoor/outdoor coastal pillows to your sofa or love seat for comfort and style.  Try to stick to colors that you already have in your room such as blues, greens, and light gray/beige.  This makes the room more cohesive and easier on the eyes.

You can also try pillow covers with coastal-themed prints such as anchors, seagulls, or sailboats.  And of course, there are always surfboards!

Other accessories you may consider adding to your room include:

  • Anchors for the nautical feel
  • Seagulls for a coastal-breeze effect
  • Seashells to fit with the beach vibe
  • Fishbowls instead of just fish
  • Word Wall Decor

Whether you opt to decorate your entire home or beach home with a nautical theme or you just want to redesign one room in your home, such as a bathroom, I’m confident these ideas will surely get you started on the right path.

Now, before you click off the page, remember I said I had a promo for you?! Well, it’s right there below this text – go ahead and use it to save some cash while you make plans to bring the beach home no matter where you live …

Save 20% off all metal art products with code METALART20. Minimum purchase of $20 required. (Wood products excluded)

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How To Transition From Military Life To A Civilian Job

Interior House Painting Tips for the Perfect Paint Job

Most people that join the military do so as a temporary thing. They are there for various reasons from feeling like it is their patriotic duty to wanting to learn new skills and everything in between. For most military members, there comes a time when their service is over and they need to come back to the civilian world and find a new career.

This can be a difficult process and is not as easy as it may seem. It is a challenge to find the right fit for you after you’ve learned how to live in a certain way. Not only that but there are injuries, both psychological and physical, that can pose some problems.

In this article, we will go over several things you can do to more easily fit into a civilian role after working in the military.

Make an assessment

Before you can find the perfect job, you have to do a personal assessment which is going to help you decide which route to take and what your options are.

For instance, you may have some PTSD or a physical injury that will require you to have special accommodations at work or could even limit the types of jobs that you can do. Of course, you can’t be discriminated against because of your military service and are considered a protected class of workers in many states. If you feel like you are finding it difficult to find work as a vet, then do a search for “discrimination lawyers near me” to do a consultation.

Aside from that, you should think about what skills you acquired during your service and see which type of job will be the best fit. For example, if you were doing military logistics then there will be lots of jobs working in supply chain management that would be ideal.

There are tools offered by the VA that will help you do this assessment and come up with some ideas on the ideal job for you.

Use the resources that are available

Luckily for members of the military, there are a lot of resources designed to help you transition from military to civilian life. You have access to many of them long after you’ve completed your military service.

Even aside from the Department of Defense and the Veterans Administration, there are many local and state resources out there to help veterans and ex-military members. Make sure to take advantage of these resources so you aren’t trying to make the transition by yourself.

Get educated

There are some jobs that will require a specialized degree or some certifications. You may have to dedicate some time to get the right education for your dream job. A benefit of being in the military is access to free education so research what is required for the career you are most interested in and then see what you are able to access for educational benefits.

You may have to delay the start of your new career but with the right educational foundation, you will have better access to the best options.

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3 Steps to Prepare You for House Hunting

Preparation is the key that will unlock several doors when you are in the housing market of Melbourne.

However, we can all agree that buying a new home is a monumental task when the real estate market is as competitive today. And it’s especially true when we are talking about mid-range, affordable houses.

So do you want to have an edge in this competitive market? The answer is preparation. The sooner you plan to buy a house, the easier it will be for you to deal with the competition. But, if you are already house hunting, read on, and you’ll find three essential steps that will enhance your prospects of buying a new home.

1.  Research About Loan Programs

Although your mortgage lender is already discussing several home solutions with you, do some research on your own before you finally meet the loan officer.

However, if time is a luxury, you don’t have to be ready to seek advice from a professional mortgage broker. When you are looking for homes in Melbourne – a mortgage broker will help you filter through loan options, overcome complex borrowing challenges, or steer you in the right direction of loans with the best interest rates. Moreover, a Melbourne Mortgage Broker will act as an intermediary between you and the lender, which you actually need.

Once you are prepared to buy a new home, the whole process will move a whole lot faster. Try not to agree with everything your lender says, and never feel that you don’t have enough time to look for other loan programs. In any case, a rational decision would be to work alongside a mortgage broker while negotiating with a lender. So, make sure you get that benefit.

 

2.  Find an Experienced Real Estate Agent

Buying a home is a complicated and intimidating task. Therefore, you’ll need an experienced real estate agent who can take care of your interests while answering questions you may have about a property.

Make sure you do not rely upon the advice and guidance of the seller’s agent. They have to advise in favor of their client, not yours.

To find a reliable real estate agent, get your friends and family suggestions. Also, find and read some online reviews, and interview a few agents before you hire a real estate agent.

 

3.  Be Ready to Pay for a Money Deposit

Make sure you have liquid cash available for your money deposit. Once you find the house you were looking for, you’ll have to submit an earnest money deposit with your offer. This is also known as good faith money that tells the seller that you are a serious candidate.

These money deposits vary according to the price of the house. However, one to two percent of the total purchase price is enough to cover the money deposit cost.

Moreover, the seller won’t always ask for a particular sum of money in this case. These funds are submitted in an escrow account or added to your down payment.

 

In Conclusion

In your hunt for your new home, you need to prepare to the best of your abilities. However, the real estate market is unpredictable, and a lot can happen quickly. So make sure you provide yourself with the benefit of knowledge before you make the final decision.