- Page 2 of 328 - Good food, good company, good advice from Grandma

The Millennial Way: More Light. Character, and Ambiance

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The millennial generation is finally getting on the housing ladder, en masse. For such a long time, this particular generation was unable to afford a home. Thus, they lived mostly in rented apartments, in large cities where they worked. Nonetheless, they have finally entered the market and are having a profound effect in terms of how modern homes are styled. Interior design has always had a mixture of generations, all giving their input to what a contemporary family home should look like. However, as more and more of the older generation bow out of the industry, millennials are gaining a larger say. If you would like to know how they are changing the way we live and see our homes, look no further.

Light running wild

Lighting plays a more important role in our homes than ever before. Natural lighting is especially beloved the millennial generation. Even though you can and should have LED lamps and bulbs all around the home, natural lighting should be your main source of lighting for the majority of the day. Large open patio doors and windows are especially important. They allow the garden to be seen from afar, without restriction. This does mean you will need tempered single sheet glass. Since there is less framing in the structure, you should consider getting triple-glazed glass doors and windows.

Natural light is also running wild, thanks to the open floor plan. Natural light is not only allowed to floor into the home but then encouraged to run free with very little getting in the way of it. Therefore, focus on an open floor right beyond the windows; at the moment of light entering the home. Move seats, chairs, tables, drawers, and even window sill figurines out to the way. It may look slightly bare, but the benefit of having lots of sunlight in your home far outweighs the lack of style in certain places.

Cheaper but more character

Eco-friendly designs are the way of the future. Millennials are deeply concerned with creating a sustainable home that coincides with their environmental concerns. What we’re starting to notice is, culture and beliefs have incredible influence in the way millennials style their homes. One notable effort is the desire to have cheaper materials but relies on the unique designs and styles of the items, to make the home beautiful and suave. Consider a copper or brass clock instead of stainless steel or plastic. This is a cheaper metal, but it’s slightly pink and orange tint gives off a more bare and industrial vibe. Consider brass for your lamps, taps, water jug, picture frames, showerhead, and cutlery. It’s a cheaper metal but it has bucket-loads of character.

The richness in the ambiance

Millennials care about how their home makes them feel through all our senses. It’s not always about style, but the ambiance of the entire house. For one thing, the smell of the home is increasingly taking center stage. That’s why non-toxic cleaners are out and no longer be tolerated. They care about brand values, safety, transparency, and efficacy. The EPA has created a ‘safer choice’ list of products that millennials are more likely to take seriously. Therefore, for your home, you should use cleaning products that don’t leave a nasty chemical smell and instead use a product with natural soft tones of lime, citrus, and zest.

A simple corner

It’s not always about style but about function in the millennial home. Homes are no longer just temporary sleeping units, we need them to be more about comfort and reliance. We rely on our homes to make us feel safe. We rely on our homes to make us feel like we belong somewhere. We also rely on our homes to give us different forms of relaxation. That’s why the reading nook is making a gigantic comeback in the contemporary millennial home.

Choose a corner in your home that offers you enough space to take a nap. Select a seat that allows you to sit up straight, lean back and even crawl up and provide ample room for your feet. Select a soft yet breathable throw that you can use to keep yourself warm in the cold weeks of this winter. An LED reading lamp needs to be placed on top of a small personal drawer. From now on, this shall be your simple corner, where you can read a book, be alone with your thoughts or just take a nap.

The millennial generation is slowly but surely, taking a bigger piece of the interior design pie. The industry is shifting towards this way of thinking. Start off by allowing much more natural light inside your home.

How You Can Embrace Your Golden Years – Age With Ease

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Entering into your golden years certainly isn’t what it used to be. Today’s 50-year-old isn’t at all what it was 20, 30, or 40 years ago. In fact, for many people, their senior years can be some of the most enjoyable, stress-free, and exciting times of their life. Of course, that’s not to say aging is always easy. There is bound to be bumps in the road, and it’s all in how you handle those bumps that determines the outcome. Here are some ways you can embrace your golden years, age with ease, and really learn to find all the positives.

age with ease

Become a World Traveler

Once you no longer have the worries and stress of a full-time job, your retirement years can be the perfect opportunity to become a world traveler. Many seniors choose to downsize, selling their large home and opting for a smaller more affordable space, which frees up cash for travelling. Perhaps you’ve had those bucket list destinations you’ve been dreaming about visiting for years, so why put it off any longer?

Even if you’re not interested or financially able to travel the world, simple things like a little day trip or a few days on the road touring around can be just as exciting and enjoyable.

Create a Robust Social Circle

This is also a great time to strengthen your bonds with friends and family and create your own social circle. Many seniors end up feeling lonely and withdrawn simply because they lack this all-important social circle.

Getting together with friends and family for a coffee, a meal, taking a class together, shopping, or even visiting local attractions is a great way to keep that connection with people.

Don’t Shy Away from Technology

While technology may seem a bit intimidating, it’s also a great way to communicate with friends and family, find information that you’re after, and provide you with entertainment. Rather than chalk it up to something that is too difficult to learn, make it your goal to master a smartphone, tablet, computer, and other smart devices.

If you’re feeling really over your head, many towns and cities offer classes that can help you to at least master the basics.

Coping with Aches and Pains

One of the most common issues people tend to have as they age is the occurrence of aches and pains. These may be sporadic and only linger for a few days at a time, or they may be chronic due to such things as arthritis. Regardless of the reason, these aches and pains in your muscles and joints can make moving about and going about your regular daily activities uncomfortable, and in severe cases – impossible.

So, how can you cope and manage the pain? Well, there are a number of treatments and tips that can help alleviate and even get rid of the pain. One product that people are really starting to embrace and begin to understand its full benefits is CBD oil. CBD oil has been shown to help where pain is concerned, in particular, with inflammation associated with arthritis. If you can address the inflammation and bring it down, the pain itself will be reduced.

The key with CBD oil is that you make sure you are buying from a reputable company that is selling a safe and legal product. Hempura is a great example of such a company that offers CDB oil in the UK, which is fully compliant where safety and legal restrictions are concerned. All of Hempura’s products are tested to be <0.05% THC and CBN, which means you don’t have to worry about using it. The oil can be directly applied to areas of your body that are in pain, providing almost immediate results.

Outside of CBD oil, you can also look into hot and/or cold packs and OTC pain medications to relieve pain and inflammation.

Make Sure You’re Treating Your Body Well

Then there is your overall physical health, which should be a top priority no matter what age you are. Keeping your body and mind healthy can be done by eating a healthy well-balanced diet, getting enough sleep, staying well-hydrated, and of course, getting regular exercise. Exercise doesn’t have to translate into a gym membership, something as simple as a brisk daily walk counts as physical activity and will benefit you.

Keep a Positive Mindset Helps You Age With Ease

This final tip can be easier said than done. Sometimes it can be hard to stay in a positive mindset, especially if you’re dealing with stress, health issues, pain, and so forth. The key is to try to find positives no matter the situation. Positive thinking is extremely beneficial to your overall mental health, helping to ward off depression, anxiety, and stress, and helps you age with ease .

Making Your Golden Years Your Best Years

By following these tips and advice, you’ll be making sure that your golden years are some of your very best years.

Travel Tech You Absolutely Cannot Live Without On Your Next Trip

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If you thought that tech was limited to the business world, you’re sadly mistaken. Technology has also found its way into the world of travel and is changing tourism as we know it. Who would have thought? The younger generation already sees the benefits. The internet has opened up access to parts of the world that many people never thought they’d visit. Apps and gadgets have made it easier than ever before to have a great time when you arrive at your destination. So what does all this vaunted technology actually look like? What is the travel tech you absolutely can’t live without? Let’s take a look at what’s out there.

Additional Power Packs

Today’s smartphones are marvels of modern engineering, but they have an Achilles heel: the battery. While the other components have been doubling in capability every couple of years or so, cells have been stuck in the doldrums. Smartphone batteries have improved by just five or ten percent per year.

This state of affairs isn’t a problem when you’re at home, just a couple of steps away from the nearest power outlet. But, it can be an issue if you’re hiking, on a tour bus, or slumming it at a campsite. Your phone whirrs away as it usually does, before failing catastrophically, when you need it most.

Power packs, therefore, are the tech world’s solution. These are essentially giant batteries that you can lug around with you in your luggage and then plug them into your phone to charge it when it starts to flat-line. Most of these packs are quite large compared to the battery in your phone, providing perhaps four separate full charges before they run flat themselves. That’s almost enough juice to keep you going for a whole week!

Smartphone Gimble

If you’ve ever watched a video of somebody cycling or skiing on YouTube, you’ll have noticed something rather odd – the camera doesn’t shake at all. The reason it doesn’t is because of a kit called a gimble. Essentially, it’s an arm that allows the camera to compensate for the movements of the person carrying it, creating a smooth image.

Until recently, there was no such thing as a gimble for your phone. But with the arrival of the OSMO Mobile and Mobile 2, that’s all changed. You just put your device in the gripper and then carry it around with you wherever you go. The gimble will then smooth out the video feed, even if you’re running along the beach or climbing a thousand steps to a Buddhist temple in Tibet. This is a great piece of travel tech you absolutely can’t live without.

Luggage That Powers Your Devices

We’ve already discussed the problem of phones running low on battery while you travel. Now, though, a company called Away thinks that it has come up with a solution: a travel case that comes with an built-in charger.

Travel tech you absolutely can't live without — Pixabay – CC0 License

The exterior of the case is the usual rigid polycarbonate – no surprises there. But the interior is something wholly different, with lithium-ion batteries built right into the frame.

Just be warned, though, you can’t take lithium-ion batteries with you on a plane because of the fire risk, so the practical advantages of this type of case for long-distance travel are lacking. But if you’re going somewhere in the car, it’s perfect.

Mobile Tablet Readers

There’s nothing like sitting by the pool, reading a good book while you relax in the sunshine. It’s what holidays are all about. People love books – they’re interesting and whisk you off on a whistle-stop tour of your imagination. But books aren’t THAT popular – not in the same way that mobile devices are, anyway.

The good news, though, is that with devices like the Fire HD from Amazon, you can have the best of both worlds. You can indulge in your favorite novel and then when you’ve had enough of that, watch a bit of TV. Granted, it’s more expensive than books from the discount store, but you get a heck of a lot for your money.

Bluetooth Travel Speakers

Nobody takes their hi-fi on holiday with them – it’s just not practical. But that doesn’t mean you can’t listen to your playlists on demand. You can!

Bluetooth speaker technology has come on leaps and bounds over the last five years or so. Manufacturers know that people want speakers that are small enough to fit in their travel cases, waterproof enough to survive the beach, and loud enough to be worthwhile. Today, a range of companies, including Bose, make speakers that are ideal for long summer holidays, perfect for blasting your tunes all afternoon by the pool while enjoying a cocktail. Or two.

Translator Apps

If you’re traveling to a non-English-speaking part of the world, it can be a challenge to communicate with local people. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation at a restaurant where you have no idea whether the waiter has understood a word you’ve said or not. Here’s where translator apps can help. All you do is speak into the app, and it then transcribes your sentence and translates it into your chosen language. All you then do is show the output to the waiter (or whoever), and they can see precisely what you mean.

Using apps like these might create problems with your data plan, at least according to operators like SMARTY mobile UK. They warn that some providers charge extra, depending on where you travel, so always check ahead before tapping into the cloud on your mobile. You don’t want the ordering of your food to cost you more than the eating of it.

When it comes to translator apps, there’s only one game in town: Google. The California-based search giant has the best machine learning technology, and its translator is currently streets ahead of its nearest rival. That could, of course, change, but don’t hold your breath. It is a fabulous piece of travel tech that you absolutely can’t live without.

Foodie Apps

There’s no denying that food is a massive part of the travel experience. For some, it’s the highlight. I know it is for me. Sometimes, though, you get an itch to try something specific – perhaps a dish you’ve seen on your favorite travel blog. Translating the picture of the thing you want to eat into a restaurant decision on the ground used to be a massive challenge. But with the advent of apps like Foodspotting, that’s all changed. You just hop on the app, look at pictures of dishes you like, and then grab the location so that you can try it yourself. Simple!

Packing Cubes

Strictly speaking, packing cubes aren’t high-tech, but they are a fun gadget, and they do come in handy if you’re planning a long break. The purpose of these packs is to allow you to stuff as many clothes into your suitcase as possible, without winding up with a jumbled mess. Packing cubes are mainly just small cases in which you put clothes and then use a vacuum to suck out all the air, saving space.

White Noise Sound Machines

Changing location can have a massive impact on your ability to sleep. If you live in the country but visit a city, it can be difficult to ignore all the cars and sirens going on outside. Fortunately, you can blot out the sounds coming through your hotel or apartment window with a portable white noise sound machine. The way these machines work is very interesting. What they’re mostly doing is churning out a jumble of sound frequencies that have the effect of canceling out incoming noise. The result is a much quieter experience than you would get if you went without.

Portable Steamer

Unfortunately, not all travel is for pleasure – for some, it’s business. Thus if you are traveling for some sort of corporate event, making sure that your shirt and pants are free from wrinkles is vital. You don’t want to open your suitcase, only to find that your suit is practically unwearable. Here again, innovative companies can help. Firms like OVO, for instance, now sell travel irons and steamers that don’t rely on cords or sockets at all. You just switch them on as you would any other device, and then use them as a regular iron to relieve your garments from all those unsightly fold marks.

Currency Converter Apps

When you’re on holiday, it can sometimes be a challenge to know how much money you’re spending. What do 25,000 Indians rupees translate into in dollar terms? Often, you don’t have a clue. Here’s where currency converter apps can make a big difference to your experience. If you see a price tag in a shop abroad, you can just whack the price into your app and get a real-time estimate of the dollar value. It’s the sort of thing that helps you avoid getting scammed and well worth downloading onto your phone.

A Travel Pillow

Finally, where would any of us be without a good travel pillow? Sleeping on a long flight is practically impossible. Your head just lops around whenever you drift off, instantly waking you up. Travel pillows wrap around your head, supporting it if you do decide to get a little shut-eye.

Tips On Shopping To Suit Your Body

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When shopping for yourself, some people love it, others hate it. It’s all about how you feel in the clothing that you wear. Shopping for your body is something that can be difficult to master, so here are some tips that might help when shopping to suit your body.

shopping to suit your body — **Image Source**

Don’t Stick With One Size

You will likely have a size that you always stick with when it comes to shopping. However, the problem with that is that clothing companies operate with different measurements, and that can change the sizing. So in one store you might be a size 10, but in another you could be a size 12. That’s why it’s important to try out other sizes, rather than just sticking to the one. Being able to fit clothing to your body is usually dictated by the sizes you go for, and you may end up buying sizes that aren’t fitting your body properly. Rethink what your size might be now, especially if you’ve noticed a slight change in how much you’ve grown or how much weight you might have lost over the past few months. Our body shapes can often change quite regularly, so always keep checking on this.

Experiment With Fabrics

There are so many different fabrics to try on when it comes to clothing, whether that’s plus size lingerie, choosing between lace or meshing, or trousers that are denim or leather-look. Everyone is different when it comes to what they find comfortable, too, so don’t just stick to what you’ve tried before. Experiment with different fabrics and the forms that they come in when it comes to clothing. You might be surprised by what you enjoy wearing and what feels good on you, especially when it comes to the fit.

Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Comfort zones are something not all of us like to step out of every very often. However, you can often find that you like something when you try an outfit that’s daring, or one you wouldn’t have thought to take off the hanger. Make sure you’re doing this when you go shopping and make those items your wild card to try on. You’ll probably find that as you shop, you’ll add more wild cards if you end up liking the results that you get from them.

Love The Body You’re In

The body you’ve got is one you need to start feeling more at ease with. Our bodies change over time, and we’re not all going to look the same, no matter how much you wish it to be so. It’s important to love your body and what you’ve been given. Having that confidence is going to make you look and feel good in everything you put on, no matter whether it suits you or not. It’s all about that confidence and feeling good in your own skin that really makes the difference.

Use these tips to make your next shopping experience more about shopping to suit your body, than about finding the latest trends or styles that are popular.

Stay Safe While Cycling On The Road

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Cycling is a fantastic form of exercise and an environmentally friendly way to get around. However, you may be concerned about ways to stay safe while cycling on the road. After all, if you did get into an accident then you would likely come off much worse than a car. If you are in an accident then you may want to contact a bicycle accident law firm.

However, there are precautions you should take to help keep yourself and others safe. As a cyclist, you have a responsibility to be aware of the road, make yourself visible and abide by the law. Before you get on a bike, read up on what you need to know and make sure your bike is fit for purpose.

cycling on the road

Maintain visibility

The top priority when you are on a bike is making sure you are seen. Wear bright colors or Hi-Viz and be sure to have a white light at the front of your bike, as well as a flashing red light at the back.

Where it is safe to do so, make eye contact with drivers to ensure that you are safe.

Be aware

You need to be aware of everything on the road. You also need to make sure that other vehicles are aware of you. Be cautious about drivers’ turning intentions, as they may not always indicate. You should also try and keep out of the driver’s blind spots as much as you can. If you don’t drive and are unsure about blind spots then click here for more information.

Finally, be aware of any hazards on the road. Holes, parked cars or pedestrians could all be hazardous for a bike. If you need to cycle around something, be sure that drivers behind you are aware of your intentions.

Signal

Be sure to let drivers know of your intentions. When you are turning, clearly hold your arm out in the direction in which you are turning. If you need to stop, extend your arm into the air.

If drivers know where you plan on moving, then they will be able to respond appropriately.

Another important aspect of signalling is having and using a bell. If you need to alert a driver or a pedestrian of your presence, then you can ring your bell.

Rules of the road

As a cyclist, you still need to know the rules of the road. If you do get into an accident and you have not been following the rules of the road then you could have legal action taken against you. Learn the rules of the road in order to stay safe while cycling on the road.

Maintenance

Be sure that your bike is safe to use. Take it for check-ups regularly just as you would a car. If you are cycling quickly and something goes wrong, then it could cause an accident. In between check-ups, keep the chain oiled and the tires pumped yourself.

Consider your route

Some roads are more dangerous for cyclists than others. Always look for good cycling routes. Where you can, opt for roads with designated cycling lanes, avoid large roundabouts and roads with a high-speed limit.

Best Options for Online Shopping On a Budget?

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How do you use your spare time? A lot of people worldwide use their free time online shopping. That’s because there are tons of great deals in online stores like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, but are consumers too willing to buy unnecessary stuff simply because it’s low-priced? Is idle time a reasonable excuse for indulging in possibly low-quality items? Economists agree, too much free time may be a catalyst in this phenomenon that plagues society today.

online shopping on a budget

How the Cost of Goods Affects People Psychologically

Two parts of the brain work together while consumers search for ideal bargains. The insula associates emotional pain to costs in a region of the brain known as the medial prefrontal cortex. Immediate pleasure and immediate pain of paying for products are weighed side by side in a process called hedonic competition.

Satisfaction is the name of the game that corporations play on unsuspecting consumers who experience a sudden urge to buy advertised products. It is, of course, accompanied by the sheer enjoyment of online shopping or, more specifically, the pleasure from the reward of a sweet deal. This process, considered as a transactional utility, is a powerful combination. Many buyers’ defenses are useless against the sheer quantity of ads targeting these receptors. Sensory overload proves to be effective in many cases.

However, there are times when you really need something and you are looking for the deal. Take prodeals from ExpertVoice, for example. People pay attention when athletes, professionals, celebrities, and experts recommend a specific product. You don’t have to be a famous celebrity to endorse a brand. It’s a chance for you, as an expert in your particular area, to help others find the products and services that people want while enjoying a discount on products and equipment you need.

Corporations Lack Originality

From a corporate perspective, many companies are infamous for copying luxury brands. The objective is clear. Mass marketing ads encourage consumers to buy products similar in style to upscale designers who they believe most consumers already show interest in buying. Cheaper priced designer products are a steal for consumers, furthering this agenda.

This affordability allows consumers to pay for stuff they don’t need, without having to worry too much about going broke after. If the price of the outfit dropped from $30 to $15, it’s much safer and more fun for consumers to be impulsive. They won’t second guess if it’s necessary or not, making it easier to close the deal.

Does Everything I Buy Need to Be New?

Today, people who want to shop wisely can ask themselves this question before every purchase. There are a myriad of reasons to justify this way of thinking. I’ll talk about this in the next section why browsing online is the best way to experience what thrift shopping has to offer.

If you enjoy online shopping and staying in on the weekend rather than visiting the flea market, there are hundreds of second-hand retailers on the web. There are classified sites and outlets of all types and sizes for used product buyers and sellers, including eBay, the traditional outlet for all forms of online shopping new and secondhand.

On Facebook, there are many pages for almost any community where people frequently sell second-hand goods for sale and also for free. Sometimes pick-ups and drop-offs can be done directly to save money and time on delivery options.

Why Consumers Need to Be Thrifty

With the amount we spend on new products, we are still helping the corporation whose quality and business practices aren’t very ethical. Low-quality products have to be bought over and over again. The continuous purchasing of brand new cheap goods greatly inconveniences consumers. It wastes money and supports the idea that manipulation is a profitable business model. Buying second-hand is the best way to combat this unfairness.

Buying second-hand helps conserve energy and the environment. It conserves any commodities used for the processing of goods: power, water, and other natural resources. But so many natural materials are limited or are only usable at high risk: oil production for the manufacture of plastics and fuels relies on massive environmental damage. Pesticides are used in large quantities in cotton harvesting and a large amount of water is used.

Ending a Dangerous Cycle

By employing deliberate purchasing choices, we will reduce our exposure to these important issues. The commodity produced, instead of the new product being imported, does not necessarily consume raw materials and energy. Buying secondhand saves natural resources. The conservation of land is also a safety factor for the environment.

How Secondhand Buying Prolongs the Life of the Product

In reality, the idea is quite simple. The longer items are used, the fewer times they are thrown away and bought again, and the fewer garbage piles develop. This is very important when it concerns products that are hazardous and which increase pollution, such as electronic devices or plastics.

Some are still iffy about buying used products. Keep in mind, innovation itself is a commodity in our society. The more people buy and support secondhand products, the more socially acceptable this affordable business model becomes.

Five Great Careers for Women in Healthcare Industry

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In the past, people have considered the healthcare industry to be a male-dominated field. Despite many women thriving in the area of healthcare, people tend to assume that it’s mainly men providing our care. That’s simply not true. In fact, in recent years, more and more women have begun climbing the ladder and are entering the healthcare field at all levels, dominating the industry and breaking those glass ceilings! It’s long been assumed that the only careers for women in healthcare field are in nursing. While that’s a viable career option, there are several other careers in health to choose from.

careers for women in healthcare — *Photo Credit: Pranidchakan Boonrom*

Below is a list of five of the best healthcare careers for women interested in health-related jobs:

Nursing

We’ve already mentioned this one, but it bears repeating because nursing is a great, rewarding career. Nurses are in high-demand, can choose from a variety of jobs (nurses are everywhere, from ERs to general practitioners offices, specialized medicine and everywhere in between) and are well-respected, necessary members of the community. Nurses are the lifeblood of any hospital or doctor’s office and any doctor would gladly admit they’d be lost without them. Nurses also make good salaries, enjoy great benefits and usually get at least one day off per week.

Doctor

Female doctors have been on the rise for the past several decades. For years now, women have been rising to the top of the medical field in specialized areas, including cardiology, ophthalmology, pediatrics, gynecology, and more. Whether you’re interested in working for a hospital as an ER doctor, a specialized consultant, or dream of having your own general practice one day, training to become a doctor, while a strenuous and demanding course of study, will pay off in dividends (not to mention earn the respect and admiration of everyone you know. Who doesn’t love a doctor?).

Pharmaceuticals

Many women enter the field of pharmaceuticals or pharmacology. This is a fast-growing field as well, as medicines are always in high demand. It’s a rewarding and exciting job, working with manufacturers to create life-saving medicines and vaccines.

Billing

Interested in the medical field, but hate the sight of blood or don’t want to examine patients? A career in medical billing might be right for you. It’s a lucrative and in-demand career, and you’ll primarily be calling insurance companies and patients, reconciling billing questions and handling invoices. If you’re into an office job that pays well and has good benefits, this might be the career for you!

Executive

Yes, even hospitals have CEOs, COOs and managers on staff. If you’re interested in health, but also love management, this might be the perfect fit for you. Female leadership is at an all-time high in hospitals and health care centers around the country. Be at the top of your field, consulting with the board of directors and doing everything you can to provide the residents of your area with the best possible health care.

So there you have it, five great careers for women in the healthcare industry. With so many capable women in charge of our health, the future has never looked brighter!

Baggy Clothes Are Back In Fashion and Here To Stay

Karen · 1 Comment

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Over the last fifty years, the income of the average person has shot up. Today, we’re more productive and have more money in the bank than ever before, giving us the option of wearing pretty much whatever style we want. So, given this new wealth, many people find it strange that we’re not all dressed in the most fashionable garb we can afford. Many people still go with baggy clothes in their daily attire. Why?

It turns out that there are lots of reasons why the wearing of loose-fitting clothing is still with us. It’s not about “dressing down,” as many fashion gurus out there like to make out. Instead, it’s about making our wardrobe work for us. We’re the boss, not the clothes that we choose to wear. Here are some reasons why baggy clothes are here to stay.

Easy-Fit Pants Are In; Skinny Jeans Are Out

Skinny jeans hit the big time about ten years ago. Practically everyone was trying to wrap their thighs like German sausages. While it was fashionable, it wasn’t comfortable. The lack of blood flow to the feet was a deal-breaker for some. Now that we’re in 2020, though, the days of the skinny jean seem to be coming to an end. Even the top fashion houses now admit that baggy pants are the better option. They’re more flattering, more comfortable, and offer a bigger canvas for flamboyant embellishments.

Skinny jeans almost seem passe. As designer brand Kapital points out, today’s clothing is all about practical, authentic workwear. People don’t need to force themselves into garments that don’t fit.

Hardware Store Brands Are Becoming More Popular

If you’d told somebody ten years ago that hardware stores would become centers of fashion, they would have laughed at you. These clothes protect tradespeople; they’re not outfits. But as more women enter that line of work, these outlets have begun adjusting their offerings. Of course, it’s not about style on the surface at all – it’s about providing practical work-wear. But these baggy clothes also happen to look stylish at the same time, perhaps because of their rugged charm. And for that reason, they’re becoming more popular.

Big Fashion Designers Are Showcasing Baggy Clothes On The Catwalk

Most brands are in the business of trying to create new “fashion statements,” but many are now bowing out of the endless game of one-upmanship. It’s a pointless exercise that is moving fashion further and further away from the kind of clothes that people actually wear in real life.

Many brands can see this process playing out and don’t want to be a part of it. Instead, they’re looking for opportunities to transform traditional baggy garments into something that looks effortlessly stylish. Valentino, Lanvin, and others are experimenting with loose pants, shirts, jackets, and even dressing-gown style trenchcoats.

Big Shoes Are Making A Comeback

When it comes to sneakers, we’re in the midst of an arms race. Every manufacturer is aiming to make its shoes bigger and better than the rest. Statement sneakers, of course, have been around for a long time. But with the arrival of Nike Air Monarchs and copycat products, it’s going mainstream. People are wearing sneakers for fashion appeal, not because they’re jogging more. Plus, when you think about it, wearing big shoes makes a lot of sense in a culture embracing baggy clothes. You want to keep everything in proportion. Big shoes do that.

T-Shirts Are In Fashion, As Always

You might be better off asking when t-shirts weren’t in fashion. The iconic garment has been around for years and is still going strong. T-shirts are famously baggy, but more importantly, they’re also becoming more attractive. They’re no longer just the cheap option – they’re something that brands are developing more and more, creating cult followings along the way.

Some t-shirts have super short runs. This strategy is deliberate. The idea is to make particular t-shirts scarce, pushing up the price and making them more exclusive. It’s a bit like what Rolex and Jaguar do. Limiting supply can sometimes foster increased desirability.

So what’s the story here? Ultimately, we see a movement away from tight clothes to things that feel comfortable. This trend isn’t about being slovenly, though. It’s about trying to get the best of both worlds: looking stylish while also feeling comfortable and relaxed in the clothes you’re wearing.

Many of the biggest brands in the world are now onboard with the idea that baggy clothing is the future and launching exclusive lines. If you like wearing your clothes loose, it’s an exciting time.