Notepad Corner

It used to be that only a new mother would find the topic of sleep endlessly fascinating—the way a hungry person might obsessively ponder their next meal—but nowadays sleep, and the elusiveness of a good night’s rest, is a hot topic. 

We, moms like our kids to develop a habit of reading, the reason why we encourage them to start to like books and other reading materials while they are young. I am really proud to say that my son is an avid reader. Despite having gadgets and game consoles, Yahmir would rather bury his nose in adventure filled young-adult books especially the Percy Jackson Book Series. You cannot deny his being a huge Rick Riordan fan having the almost all the books in the series. He’s currently waiting for the next book, The House of Hades which is to be launched on October 8 of this year.

Buying large lots of books has never been easier; you can have a thousand books delivered to a home or business with a single click of a button. While e-commerce has made shopping as simple as ever, there is always a level of uncertainty that comes with doing online transactions. One of the few disadvantage of shopping online is it is tough to get that “feel” for a business that you get when spending some time in a store or office. Considering the following factors will help you pick the best quality  online book distributor to meet your needs. First Impressions Are Everything A business that has a poor quality website usually offers poor quality products and service. If a business doesn’t bother to make their site attractive, informative, and easy to navigate, they are unlikely to go out of their way to provide quality customer service. A cheap and updated website doesn’t exactly inspire customer confidence when it comes to handing over personal banking information eithe...

Florida always makes the top 10 lists of most desired family holiday destinations thanks to those powder-white beaches, year-round sunshine and expansive theme parks. Florida is the fourth largest US state and there is no shortage of other activities to keep you busy. Here are some tips on where to base yourself to get the most out of your Florida family holidays… Accommodation in Florida Cheap holidays to Florida 2013 aren’t hard to find and one of the reasons is the diversity and wealth of accommodation on offer. Florida is geared towards family holidays and this is reflected in the low accommodation prices. Family rooms in hotels such as those found on Orlando International drive and the always-popular city of Kissimmee provide exceptional value for money. All-inclusive family holidays to Florida will be the best money saving option and remember to ask about free child places for additional savings. The Theme Park Capital Florida is much more than just th...

If your car was submerged in water due to floods, the dirt, water and mud that got into can cause severe damage. Thus, it is important to spot on the possible signs of damage as soon as possible. Here are helpful basic tips for a flooded car. image courtesy of Naypong - FreeDigitalPhotos.net Never attempt to run your car as doing so can most likely damage it beyond repair. It is advisable to disconnect at once the battery from the terminals to reduce further harm on its electrical and electronic components. 

The prospect of a family holiday in Hawaii may seem like a tricky affair; how could you possibly get to see all the islands with kids in tow? However, there is a family-friendly way to make the most of Hawaii – by cruise ship. The beauty of Hawaii cruises is that your accommodation travels with you,which means you avoid packing up every time you move resort. Let’s take a look at some of the other advantages of  cruising in the Hawaiian archipelago … Sail between the islands There are six major islands to visit in Hawaii: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui and Hawaii’s Big Island. A cruise holiday can take you to all six islands in the archipelago, and you can hop off at every one and get a real sense of the diversity here. 

The eyes are the vital organ of vision. Having good eyesight is an important part of wellbeing as it primarily helps us to see things better in performing our daily activities. It is one of the most important parts of the body that truly needs proper care to ensure that they keep working in good condition. Based on an informal study, it said that 90% of the body's energy comes from the eyes, when the eyes are tired, no matter how much you think your body can still make it, your body will give in to the call of your droopy eyes and before you know it, you'll be snoring in no time. There are a lot of ways for us to care for our eye health - eating a balanced meal, resisting the urge to rub your eyes and wearing your prescription glasses or contacts all the time and replacing your home’s old fluorescent lights with dimmers. Dimmers will not only make your home seem cozier, it will also help you save on electricity and will help you keep your eyes healthy as well. To...

If you’ve just started out in business, or are still relatively small in size, you don’t need to have all your services provided internally. The advantage of outsourcing your business services is that you can shop around for expertise and high-quality skills, without the commitment and complication of employing extra staff. Here are five unusual business services that you may not have thought you needed, until now. A Recruitment Agency A recruitment company may seem like overkill if you are in the start-up stages of your business, with only a handful of staff. But the quality of your staff will make or break your company, and it takes a special kind of employee to thrive in a start-up or small business environment.  Recruitment agencies specialise in finding these niche talents, so they can save you an awful lot of hassle and heartache. A Private Investigator If you’re not operating through a recruitment agency or human resources professional, you may wish to enlist a ...

One of the most exciting activities that families look forward to during the holiday season is shopping for treats. Department stores teem with festive decors and accents which create a surreal wonderland for the little ones and the big ones as well. It definitely makes Christmas the happiest time for them and for parents too! This is the best time for you to take advantage of and use your Marks and Spencer voucher codes to save on your long list of purchases! Shopping for gifts and treats should start a bit early if you intend to bring kids and little ones along with you to avoid the influx of shoppers who seem to enjoy rushing around boutiques and shops. There are also concept stores that you can visit which have some of the most exciting Christmas treats to choose from. Kids will surely enjoy picking up delicious looking treats and sweets from Marks and Spencer while you and your husband try out top of the line clothing and accessories on big sale! 

When it comes to flooring materials, there are several choices that you can make depending on your budget and the design you have in mind. One of the most common yet pricey options is the granite tile and the marble comes in next. But the growing popularity of limestone tiles now makes it the preferred choice for both residential and commercial flooring needs. You will notice that more and more establishments have turned to limestone tiles due to its durability and low maintenance qualities. Apart from this, it also give any space that clean and healthy feel because of its anti-bacterial capability. For home flooring, limestone is a classy, ideal choice and will suit both grand and simple home decoration. It is welcoming and admirable especially when patterned artistically. You can find limestone tiles that are honed, polished or highly polished textures to blend beautifully in any room décor. One admirable property limestone is it’s being temperate independent. You don’t have...

Les Miserables is a popular French-language musical show based on Victor Hugo’s highly acclaimed work of fiction which is considered as one of the greatest novels of the 19 th century. Originally the play ran for several months in 1980 in a sports arena in Paris. It was inspired by a concept album which also enthused musical producer Cameron Mckintosh to come up with an English-language version of the play. In 1985, it opened at the Barbican Arts Center in London and received diverse criticism from the literary scholars. Though there are a lot of negative reviews and critical reactions during that time, the public loved the play and since then, people are having a hard time scoring Les Misables tickets whenever or wherever it is being played. image courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

Having a baby can bring so much wonder and happiness in our home. The little bundle of joy, the newest member of the family brings heavenly cheerfulness yet can also cost a great deal especially when it comes to buying infant items such as food, formula, diapers, clothing and accessories. As parents, we want our little one to have everything he needs and ensure that he gets only the best ones even if it means for us to go a little more than our budget. We can actually stay within a reasonable budget and still avail quality infant products for less through discount tickets for necessary items like babyoye coupons . With discounted vouchers we can shop among top baby brands for less! Thus, getting the best products for our little one without compromising the family’s finances. Photo credits:  David Castillo Dominici – FreeDigitalPhotos.Net Save on Diapers and Formula The biggest percentage of expenses associated with raising a tot goes to diapers and infant formula. Mo...

When is the best time to introduce solid foods to your baby? This is one of the most frequently asked questions that first time mothers ask on their pediatricians. 23 years ago, I also have asked the same question not to my baby’s doctor but to my mom. My two sons who are now 23 and 14 years old began to eat solid foods at 4 months old. Normally for healthy babies, the recommended time you can  start introducing solids little by little is at 4 to 6 months old. However, most studies shown that it’s not about the age, there are cases wherein a four month old baby is still not ready to eat solid foods, therefore it is still best advised to consult your pediatrician. 

Crafting is a great way to spend time with the kids, keeping them entertained for hours and allowing the whole family to have fun. The scope for activities is extensive, meaning you can always find something new to do and teach the little ones a new skill. This can also be a cheap hobby – especially when you purchase the right equipment. Here are some must buys when you want to start crafting with your children: 1. Non-toxic pencils or crayons Non-toxic coloured pencils are the best option for drawing and colouring-in activities since, unlike paints and felt tips, they are less likely to mark furniture or stain clothing. They are also inexpensive and last for a long time when you use a good sharpener. 

Does your child really require a tutor? Does he always struggles with homework and experience difficulty in learning his Math or English even after you repeatedly help and aid him in his lessons? As parents, we do not want our child to fall way behind the class and never recover so the easiest way to solve this problem is by hiring a tutor. Hiring a tutor involves financial commitment, an added cost on the family budget. So it is important to find an experienced, caring and certified tutor who will best qualify to meet your child’s unique needs – his learning style and temperament. 

It's really no secret that many people are averse to mathematics. "Believe it or not, lots of people change their majors and abandon their dreams just to avoid a couple of math classes in college," says math writer and former Wonder Years star Danica McKellar. While the hands-off approach of college professors can be daunting, you needn't take such drastic measures to get on top of your math studies. Just follow these four college math tips! 1. Avoid Solution Manuals Image via Flickr by Tim Geers Many math students mistakenly believe learning the solution is the most important goal when faced with any math problem. However, it's much more important to learn the concept. While solution manuals can sometimes help math students understand their coursework, all too often, they become crutches. It's far easier to abandon a problem when you already know the answer. The best college math students persevere when faced with challenging problems. They r...

Every student has a different method or strategy when it comes to studying their lessons. We parents always say to our children to study hard to do better in school in order to get good grades. Upon moving up to middle school, high school or college, most students practice on their own learning style which can make studying easier for them. However, more often than not they overlook the difference between studying hard and studying smart.  Here are smart studying tips which can take up less time yet producing better results. Inside the classroom Pay attention in class. Sit close to the teacher.

Elegant is timeless. It does not know a specific era, and it doesn't just grow out on people. It is for this very reason that many would like to incorporate this quality in the clothes and accessories they wear; even in the house they call home. How does one make his home not only look, but feel elegant as well? There are many ways to make your house an epitome of elegance and one of them is by creating a contemporary look to it. If you have the taste and are not bothered by doing a good deal of quest for inspirations, then you might not even have to hire a professional designer. Talk about savings! Perhaps you'd be able to buy that pendant lighting piece that you have been eyeing for quite a while now. To help you in achieving that elegant contemporary vibe in your house, we've gathered some tips: 1. Minimize the use of flamboyant fixtures and accessories. Elegance doesn't take advantage in quantity -- it demands attention without having to be loud. Such ...

If any of your children are going through a divorce, your role as a grandparent is about to really experience some major changes. Your days of being the babysitter, having fun times in the park and late night sleepover coordinator just became much more complicated. You now have to consider all the emotions of your child, your grandchild, your child's spouse and the other grandparents. These are not easy times, but here are a few suggestions for getting through this rough patch. The divorce is now public knowledge, and your job as grandparent should remain the same with your grandchildren. Your goal should now be to try and make those visits in your home as close to the visits were before the divorce. You want to try and give the children some normalcy, and you want to give them almost a safe haven where they can feel like things were before the divorce. Children do not understand all the complications that arise with a divorce, and many children blame themselves for the brea...

The aircon or air conditioning unit is one of the most indispensable appliances in the house. The convenience it brings especially during the summer season requires a hefty price in the budget too. In most households, the air conditioning unit consumes more electricity than any other appliance. Budget conscious homemakers like me is always looking for ways on how to cut cost on electric bill. The electric bill is one of the utilities we pay on a monthly basis, proper aircon management can cut back on electricity cost. Here are some tips on proper air condition management. The simplest way to save is to run the AC less often during the cold season and rainy days. Open the windows to allow the cool air to get in and use the electric fan instead.

The stereotypical reputation of Scottish people as being 'careful with money' has been blown out of the water with the findings of a recent survey by Debt Advisory Centre Scotland, which looked at the spending habits of almost 3,500 UK adults, of whom more than 400 were Scottish residents. Although you might think a Scotsman - or woman - would be particularly considerate before making a purchase, the survey found 82% of people there, roughly 3.5 million people, have made a purchase in the past before realising that they regretted it for one reason or another. In 18% of cases overall, the regret stemmed from the fact that the individual later felt that they couldn't afford the amount of money they had spent - perhaps restoring the stereotypical reputation somewhat - but the high proportion of Scottish consumers who stick to their guns once they have made a purchase could still be surprising.