Do you have a fear of being perceived as incompetent? Do you constantly worry about being found out for not being as knowledgeable or skilled as others think you are? Then you may be suffering from Impostor Syndrome.

Impostor Syndrome is a condition in which people are unable to internalize their accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a “fraud” or “impostor.” And while most people who suffer from Impostor Syndrome are intelligent and have all of the necessary skills to do their job, it doesn’t make their feelings any less real.

If this is you, here are a few tips that can help you develop the confidence you need!

• Practice positive self-talk: It can be hard to believe in yourself when you’re constantly saying negative things about yourself. Recognize your strengths and think of the qualities that make you a valuable employee – your talents, skills, knowledge, personality traits, and more. Every time you begin to have thoughts like “I’ll never get this done on time,” or “They’re going to find out I’m not good enough for my job,” stop thinking of them! Instead, immediately replace these negative thoughts with something positive – such as “Yes, I can do this task!” You might be surprised by how helpful a little positive self-talk can be.
• Talk to a trusted co-worker: It can be hard to open up and talk about your feelings with co-workers, but it’s actually beneficial for you. If you have one or two people at work who seem like they’re always happy and positive – start with them. Ask what their secret is behind being confident in themselves all the time. Surrounding yourself with others who have the qualities you desire, and opening up to them can help build your confidence.
• Create an action plan: An easy way to get started on improving yourself is by developing an “Action Plan” to work on one area of your life at a time. For instance, let’s say you feel like you’re not as outgoing and friendly with co-workers or clients when they first meet you as some other people are. Instead of feeling bad about that, just think, “Okay, I need to find ways for me to improve in this area,” then brainstorm solutions – ex: take the initiative by asking them how their day is going instead of waiting for someone else to approach them first; ask questions during meetings rather than staying quiet the whole time; smile more often. 
• Practice gratitude: Instead of thinking about all the things you don’t have, practice being grateful for everything that YOU DO HAVE! Write a list every day with at least one thing on it – even if it’s small. It’s important to keep this positive mindset going even during tough times so you can get through them without feeling anxious about your career.
• Keep track of your wins: A great way to stay motivated is by tracking your “wins” – the tasks or goals you complete successfully. Instead of writing down everything else that didn’t go perfectly (which can lead us into thinking more about what went wrong than right) – write down only what YOU did well. That way, when things don’t go as planned in the future, you’ll still feel confident knowing that there are lots of areas in which you’ve already succeeded before!

If you suffer from Impostor Syndrome, it can be hard to overcome those doubts, but when you build your confidence, you will see that you have the skills and smarts to do whatever you put your mind to! Use these tips to help you do just that!

Stress is a major problem for many people and there are a lot of well-known factors that contribute to stress, such as money issues and work problems. There are also small, everyday things that can add up and contribute to your stress.

But, what’s really important is learning to manage it – and reduce it when possible. Here are some tips to help you when you feel overwhelmed by the stressors in your life.

1. Tip #1: Mindful breathing is always a good place to start. Rather than just going through your day on autopilot, bring attention to the way you breathe and how it shifts when you are feeling stress or anxiety. When you pay close attention to your breath, you can notice patterns in its rhythm and learn how it changes depending on what emotions are present for you at any given moment.
2. Tip #2: Exercise releases endorphins (chemicals that help make you feel happy), which will reduce your levels of cortisol – the hormone associated with most feelings of stress. It’s been shown that people who exercise regularly have lower rates of depression as well as less likelihood of developing health conditions like diabetes later in life. If you are short on time, try taking a walk around your block for twenty minutes.
3. Tip #3: Take care of yourself by eating healthy foods that you enjoy and sleeping enough hours each night to keep your stress levels in check.
4. Tip #4: Practicing mindfulness is another way to reduce how much tension you carry. When you are mindful, you listen deeply and deliberately so that there is space between what happens to you and your reaction to these events. As this awareness grows over time, you find yourself able to be more accepting of life’s inevitable ups and downs.
5. Tip #5: It’s also helpful to keep an eye out for your triggers. What are some things that make you feel stressed? And then, try coming up with ways you may be able to avoid these stressors in the future. A good example might be trying not to check email before bed or taking care not to allow work drama to spill over into your personal life.
6. Tip #6: One of the best ways to reduce stress is through developing a sense of gratitude. It’s easy to get caught up in your own personal struggles and forget that you have so much more than many other people in this world! By reflecting regularly on what you are most grateful for, it becomes easier to put your stresses into perspective.
7. Tip #7: Research shows almost everyone enjoys “the simple pleasures” such as watching their favorite TV show or taking a hot bath at the end of the day. So while these things may not seem like they do anything for you, they help release tension – so don’t dismiss the importance of taking part in some of your favorite activities at the end of the day. 
8. Tip #8: Make sure you talk openly with people close to you about how they’re doing, too…you never know who might need some help themselves.

When you’re feeling stressed, it’s essential that you take time for yourself and work through your feelings. Use some of these tips to reduce your stress levels and, hopefully, you’ll be feeling like yourself sooner rather than later.

Are you a mom looking to carve out a little time for yourself? Want to laugh? Learn new things? Get some parenting help? Then podcasts are the way to go! And there are lots of fantastic podcasts geared towards moms and motherhood. Here are nine that you might like!

1. The Mother Like a Boss Podcast
   • It’s ok, you can admit it. Sometimes motherhood seems less like the sweetness of a Pampers commercial and more like a scene out of Jaws. Here at the Mother Like a Boss Podcast, we dive into the good, the bad and the ugly of motherhood and modern homemaking, with honest conversations, tips, strategies and tools.
2. One Bad Mother
   • A comedy podcast about motherhood and how unnatural it sometimes is. We aren’t all magical vessels! Join us every week as we deal with the thrills and embarrassments of motherhood and strive for less judging, and more laughing.
3. Extraordinary Moms Podcast
   • Every week, Jessica Dahlquist interviews different moms who share their motherhood journeys and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Extraordinary moms are not perfect, but at the root of everything they do is love and an intention to help live their purpose and contribute in a higher way to their families and the world. Let’s learn from one another!
4. Motherhood Simplified
   • Welcome to Motherhood Simplified,a podcast for moms who want to declutter but don’t want to become a full blown minimalist! Each episode is recorded live and in real time on my social media platforms so that you can have the experience of hanging with mom friends who get you, and are there for you while you embark on this living with less journey!
5. Motherhood Unstressed
   • Motherhood Unstressed is a weekly series of conversations and meditations addressing parenting, stress, mindfulness, and self-love. Each week Liz Carlile interviews experts that will have you smarter, calmer, and feeling more connected. In reality, Motherhood Unstressed expands beyond the show, it’s a GLOBAL community of mindful, purpose-driven people looking to grow and create a positive ripple effect at home and in the world.
6. What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood
   • Hosted by funny moms Margaret Ables and Amy Wilson, “What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood” is a comedy podcast about the never-ending “fresh hells” of parenting.
   • Amy and Margaret are each moms of three, dealing with the same hassles as any parent– but with completely different parenting styles. Margaret is laid-back to the max; Amy never met a spreadsheet she didn’t like.
   • We offer three episodes each week:
   • “Question of the Week” on Mondays
   • Regular weekly episodes on Wednesdays
   • “Fresh Take” interview with experts and authors on Fridays
   • Join us as we laugh in the face of motherhood!
7. Mom to Mom Podcast
   • We’re three generations of moms who have experienced nearly every season of motherhood. We don’t have all the answers, but you can be sure that we’ll always point you to the One who does.
8. Gems of Motherhood
   • The Gems of Motherhood podcast features amazing gems of mothers from all walks of life. Each week you’ll hear interviews, stories, as well as resources and actionable tips that you can implement in your daily life to be the best gem God has called you to be. I look forward to walking this journey with you.
9. Real Happy Mom Podcast
   • Hey there, mom! Are you juggling all the things in motherhood from managing your time, getting healthy meals on the table, to being a present wife all while making yourself a priority without feeling guilty? I get it! It’s overwhelming… and guess what? The fact that you need support… doesn’t make you a bad mom! That’s why I created the Real Happy Mom Podcast. The Real Happy Mom Podcast is a weekly show for busy working moms juggling it all. Each week, I’m bringing you inspirational stories from real-life moms as well as interviews with leading experts in various fields to encourage you on your motherhood journey and help you live an authentic life. In this podcast we will not only navigate motherhood by talking about time management, gentle parenting and self-care. But we will also go deep into topics you may have been afraid to explore, like intimacy with your spouse, communication with your kids, health, wellness and frustrations that come through inner confidence as a mom and wife. Mom life is beautiful and fun, but it’s also challenging and messy at times. Motherhood is the one job that we don’t get proper training or an instruction manual when we come home with our new baby. Every day is on the job training. I’m here to help you navigate motherhood that’s true to you so that you can be a real happy mom. Welcome to the Real Happy Mom Podcast, mom friend! You are in the right place.

Motherhood isn’t easy – and sometimes you might need some advice or just a good laugh – and these podcasts can help with both of those things!

**All podcast descriptions courtesy of Apple Podcasts.

Who’s ready for some Halloween fun? Maybe you’re heading to a costume party? Or taking the kids trick-or-treating? Perhaps, you’re just going to enjoy a night at home with a few scary movies. Whatever the plan may be, you’re going to need some food – either to enjoy at home or take to a party.

But why just make an ordinary dish when you can make something fitting for the holiday? There are all sorts of fantastic recipes that will showcase your Halloween spirit – and here are just a few of them!

• Halloween Buffalo Chicken Skillet Dip: Buffalo chicken dip is always a hit – no matter the occasion. This recipe capitalizes on the orange color of the dip to make a cute jack-o-lantern face in the skillet. And the pizza dough makes for a great dipper instead of tortilla chips or vegetables.
• Chef John’s Zombie Meatloaf: Yes, this meatloaf looks seriously creepy, but it tastes delicious! And who won’t appreciate all of the creativity that went into making this main course for Halloween? (If you have a favorite meatloaf recipe already, you can use that and then just shape it to be a zombie like in the picture.)
• Meatless Mexican Stuffed Peppers: Looking for a vegetarian dish to serve on Halloween? How about these Meatless Mexican Stuffed Peppers? They’re filled with all of your favorite Mexican flavors, and you can cut your peppers to look like jack-o-lanterns, and you can top them with your preferred toppings. (A little sour cream and some jalapeno slices would be delicious!)
• Mummy Dogs: Hot dogs are a quick and easy dinner, and these Mummy Dogs are no different – except that they’re really cute and quite festive for Halloween! Crescent rolls give you the mummy effect, and the addition of candy eyes takes it to the next level! (You can get candy eyes here!)
• Halloween Pumpkin Soup with Smoked Bacon: It may not look like a cute pumpkin, but the gorgeous orange color and the delicious taste of this pumpkin soup make it perfect for Halloween. Plus, that smoked bacon on top is a fantastic addition!
• Spooky Calzone Snake: Calzones are so good – and extremely easy to throw together – even on a weeknight! This one has you shaping it like a snake – which should be sufficiently spooky for Halloween, and then you can fill it with your favorite ingredients. While this recipe does provide you with directions for homemade pizza dough, you can always pick up your favorite from the grocery store. 
• Halloween Spooky Spider Deviled Eggs: Need a side dish to go with your Mummy Dogs or Chef John’s Zombie Meatloaf? Then these deviled eggs with their spooky olive spiders on top are just what you need.
• Spooky Pretzel Bones: Warm pretzels dipped in a spicy cheese sauce are DELICIOUS! And these cute pretzels are shaped like bones – making them Halloween appropriate. And, of course, if you don’t like too much spice in your cheese sauce, you can leave out the Sriracha sauce.
• Veggie Skeleton and Dip: Get the kids to help you make this adorable veggie skeleton and dip! They’ll have fun putting their artistic skills to work, and just maybe they’ll actually eat their vegetables.
• Gooey Monster Cookies: No meal is complete without dessert, and these cookies use cake mix as their base – so they’re super easy! Plus, they’re so cute and will remind you of Mike Wazowski from Monsters, Inc.
• Caramel Popcorn: Sure, you can buy it in the store, but when you make your own Caramel Corn, you’ll wonder why you haven’t before! It’s a must-have if you’re having a scary movie night.

No matter what you’re doing for Halloween this year, you’ll want to make some of these Halloween recipes! After all, Halloween only comes around once per year, and you don’t want to miss your chance to have some fun in the kitchen.

Have you ever heard any of the following quotes?

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” – Robert F. Kennedy

“It’s failure that gives you the proper perspective on success.” – Ellen DeGeneres

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” – Thomas A. Edison

They all have to do with failure. And, while it’s a topic that people don’t often want to talk about, it’s something that almost everyone will experience in their life. 

But failure doesn’t have to define you. You can use it as an opportunity to learn. 

Wondering what you can learn from failure? There are many things – and here are just a few.

• Acceptance: When you experience failure, it can be really hard to accept – especially if it’s something you’ve put your heart and soul into. But acceptance is a great lesson to be learned. Learning to accept things as they are will allow you to move on to new things quicker.
• Perseverance: An important thing to remember about failure is that it doesn’t mean never – it means not now. Failure can cause you to change your plans – but you might still be able to obtain your goal. You just have to persevere. 
• That Change is Good: When failure happens, it may be time to embrace change. No matter if you experience failure in a job, with a relationship, or in some other area of your life, this could be a way of telling you that it’s time to change things up. 
• To Believe in Yourself: You probably have people in your life who support you and believe in your abilities, but the most important person that needs to do that is…you. And failure can help you believe in yourself because there is a need to pick yourself up and move forward – whether it be down a new path to achieve your goal or with a new goal altogether.
• To Have Courage: Failure can definitely knock you for a loop, but it can also give you the courage to continue on. 
• That Success Doesn’t Come Easy: You probably see people all around you that seem to be finding success – and, perhaps, it appears to come to them easily. But that’s not often the case. And, when you experience a setback – it can show you that success is for those who work for it. 
• New Perspectives: If you experience some type of failure, but you want to keep trying to reach your goal – it may be time to gain some new perspectives. You can work to change your own perspective and also reach out to others who might offer you their views on what you’re facing. New perspectives can give way to new ideas.
• To Be Humble: If things have come easily to you, failure can be a humbling experience. It shows you that you still have things to learn in life – and that’s a good thing.
• Flexibility: Perhaps you went after your goal with a certain mindset or a firm idea on how you were going to accomplish it – and then it didn’t work. Use the experience to learn flexibility. There are many ways to reach your end goal – and you’ve only tried one. Look for other ways!
• Compassion and Empathy: You’ve probably always shown compassion and empathy towards others – especially in their time of need. It’s now time to show those same things to yourself. Failure necessitates the need for compassion and empathy as a means to recover.

In your lifetime, you will most likely experience failure – maybe even several times. But know that there are many lessons you can learn from failure – and that life does go on, and goals do get reached. Failure is just a temporary setback.

You do lots of things to stay healthy. You brush your teeth. You eat healthily. You watch your weight. You exercise. And these are all great!

But have you thought about what you specifically do to protect your vision and your eyesight? Maybe you haven’t, but there are some definite things that you can do. 

Here are a few tips to help!

1. Eat a healthy diet: You’ve probably heard people say that carrots are good for your eyes, but the crucial thing to remember is that a healthy diet is what’s important. A well-balanced diet is important for your overall health, and things such as dark, leafy greens (such as kale, spinach, and collard greens) and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids (such as tuna, salmon, and halibut) are beneficial for your eyes.
2. Maintain your blood sugar levels: Did you know that 90% of blindness caused by diabetes is preventable? It’s true. This means if you maintain your blood sugar levels, you may be able to prevent this complication. Make sure you and your doctor set attainable goals that help you do just that.
3. Don’t smoke: You know what smoking can do to your lungs, but studies have shown it also affects your eyesight. Smoking can increase your chance of developing macular degeneration, cataracts, and optic nerve damage – which can cause vision problems or blindness.
4. Adjust lighting to reduce glare: If you spend time dealing with glare off of various surfaces, you may need to adjust your lighting. While a glare will not damage your eyes, it can lead to eye fatigue.
5. Take breaks from your computer screen: Yes, you need to take breaks from your computer screen. You want to keep your computer screen at about an arm’s length away and consider blue light blocking glasses. 
   • Blue light blocking glasses are designed to filter or block the blue light given off by electronic screens. And you don’t need to wear glasses normally to wear blue light blocking glasses.
6. Wear your sunglasses: Get yourself some great sunglasses that block UV rays. UV ray-blocking sunglasses can prevent damage to your retinas and protect the skin around your eyes. Look for sunglasses that block 100% of UV-A and UV-B rays. (This information should be clearly marked on the sunglasses.
7. Wear safety glasses: Wearing safety glasses isn’t just for chemistry class. You should wear safety glasses (or other protective gear for your eyes) when doing anything that might cause injury or damage to your vision. While playing sports and mowing the lawn are just two examples of times when you should wear safety glasses.
8. Don’t wear old eye makeup: When was the last time you went through your makeup and tossed away old makeup? Has it been a while? Wearing old makeup (for example, mascara and eye shadow) can lead to eye infections. Good Housekeeping offers some advice as to when you should throw away your makeup.
9. Learn your family history: Some eye problems are hereditary. Talk with your family members and see if they are suffering from any eye diseases or problems, and speak to your doctor to learn if they might be an issue for you.
10. Have your eyes checked regularly: And yes, just like you see your general practice doctor on a regular basis for checkups, you should see your eye doctor, too. Their expertise can help you prevent future problems.

Protecting your eyesight and vision is an important part of your overall health. Follow these tips to do just that as you age. 

Do you have a dog? Is that cute, fluffy bundle of joy an extremely important part of your family? And does he/she get spoiled often? 

If you found yourself nodding affirmatively, then you probably love to treat your dog to a few goodies and treats! And if you’re looking for some things that can pamper your pet – and maybe make life a little easier for you as a pet parent – then check these out!

• Clearly Loved Pets Lucidium Pen: Looking for a way to keep your dog contained and safe but want it to be stylish and fit with your home decor? Then you are going to love these Clearly Loved Pets Lucidium Pens. They come in several sizes, and you can easily place all of your dog’s favorite things inside. 
• Pet Grooming Brush/Deshedding Tool: If you have a non-shedding dog, you are lucky. But, if you have a dog that sheds – then you know they need some special attention. Regular grooming is essential, and a good brush/deshedding tool can go a long way to help. This one has a 4.5-star rating – and over 35,000 reviews – so you can count on it to help keep your dog looking good and, hopefully, have less hair on your couch. 
• Blazin’ Safety LED Dog Collar: Want a cool leash that will help you keep an eye on your dog? Then this Blazin’ Safety LED Dog Collar is for you. The collar comes in several different colors and sizes, and you’ll love how bright the LED lights are. Plus, it’s rechargeable with a USB cord!
• Bingpet Artificial Grass Lawn Training Pad: Does your dog hate to go outside during the rain to do “his business”? Or do you have a puppy that you’re working on training? This Artificial Grass Lawn Training Pad can help. The artificial grass helps attract them to the pad – hopefully, preventing accidents in your home.
• Calming Dog Bed: Did you know that your dog can suffer from anxiety? They sure can! And if you are looking for a way to help your pet be less anxious, this Calming Dog Bed can help. It comes in three different sizes and several different colors and can help your dog to feel comforted – plus, you can put it in the washing machine when you need to clean it!
• Furbo Dog Camera: How about a camera that has two-way audio and can give your dog a treat while you’re away? Yes, it exists! The Furbo Dog Camera has a 4.6-star rating and will alert you when your dog is barking by sending a push notification to your phone. Then you can turn on the camera and maybe see why he’s so upset – and give him a treat to calm him down.
• Automatic Ball Launcher: If you have a dog that loves to play fetch, you may find that your arm is tired way before she’s done playing! That’s not a problem when you have the Automatic Ball Launcher! It will throw a ball that your dog can bring back and drop in the launcher – and then start all over again. And you can sit back and watch it all happen!
• Petfon Dog GPS Tracker: If you like to give your dog some freedom at the park, then you probably take them off of their leash and let them run around. Of course, this means that they have the ability to run away if they’re not well-trained or get frightened. But this Petfon Dog GPS Tracker can help you find them should that happen. This device will definitely give you peace of mind.

Show your dog some love with these cool products. From playtime to safety, there’s something for dogs of all ages – and sizes – on this list! 

Are you just embarking on a new career? Are you thinking of looking for a different job? Then you know there are a few things you need to do to start your job search.

One of the must-dos is to create your resume – or update the one you may already have. 

While you could hire someone to do this for you, there’s really no reason you can’t do it yourself. There are lots of online resources and some good books out there that can help.

• Ladders Resume Guide: Best Practices & Advice from the Leaders in $100K + Careers – Marc Cenedella
  • Now in its third edition and optimized to advance careers in 2021, this best-selling resume guide gives you all you need to know in a quick 90 minute read. From the author of America’s largest career advice newsletter, Ladders Resume Guide shares best practices and expert advice for writing a great resume without overthinking it. Informed by the millions of members at Ladders $100K+ community, and the recruiters and hiring managers who hire them, this guide makes it easy to greatly improve your resume in a single day.
• Modernize Your Resume: Get Noticed…Get Hired (Modernize Your Career) – Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark
  • Based on today’s real-world job search trends, MODERNIZE YOUR RESUME shows you how to craft a winning resume to meet the complexities of today’s highly competitive and technologically driven employment market. The 2nd edition has been updated with new resume samples, new designs, and new ATS and e-resume guidelines, along with new chapters for jobseekers with special circumstances – career change, military transition, and return to work.
  • The entire job search process is evolving at a remarkably rapid pace, and your resume is at the foundation of it all. In this book, you’ll learn to:
    • Write tight, lean, clean, and laser-focused content that allows you to tell your whole career story in half the words to keep your reader engaged. Focus on information that is relevant to your target market and integrate keywords that are vital to being found online.
    • Present important information quickly in a resume format that prominently displays your skills, experience, education, and other credentials as they support your current career objectives.
    • Create a distinctive design to make your resume stand out and capture attention. Getting noticed is step #1, so make that happen and you’re on your way.
    • Adopt a new mindset and deeper understanding of how to use today’s modern resume for both person-to-person job search as well as electronic, digital, and mobile search technologies.The 100+ resume samples demonstrate these strategies in action for real-life job seekers who’ve excelled in their search campaigns. The samples showcase the resume writing work of Enelow, Kursmark, and many of their colleagues who are also well respected for their expertise in resume strategy, writing, format, and design.
  • Clear guidelines and easy-to-follow examples give you practical know-how for building your own powerful resume that will serve all of your job search needs. You’ll learn what works, why it works, and how you can make it work for you.
  • Authors and Master Resume Writers Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark have each spent more than 30 years writing resumes, training professional resume writers, speaking to job search audiences, and writing about evolving trends in job search.
  • The latest in their library of more than 30 books is MODERNIZE YOUR RESUME, an up-to-the minute resource for every job seeker to guide you to career success. Follow the recommendations of this book and you’ll find yourself a more competent and competitive job seeker!
• What Color Is Your Parachute? Guide to Rethinking Resumes: Write a Winning Resume and Cover Letter and Land Your Dream Interview – Richard N. Bolles
  • Resumes get an average of eight seconds of attention before going in the trash—or getting on the shortlist. That’s just one of the findings reported here, as legendary career expert Richard N. Bolles presents new research about resumes in a guide that summarizes everything job-hunters and career-changers need to know about this essential tool.
  • This timely resource features the latest research on important resume topics such as key words, soft skills, scanning software, social media, and online posting. Bolles argues that on the basis of what we now know, we need to rethink what a resume is—and how it should be written. He details the words that must be avoided, and the words that must be used, on a resume that wins you interviews. 
  • This slim volume distills a huge amount of information down to its very essence. Armed with tips and shortcuts based on the author’s decades of experience, you can craft a resume and cover letter that will stand out to your dream employers—and increase your chances of getting interviews and landing jobs.
• Your Guide to a Stand Out Modern Resume: Make Your Resume the One That Stops the 6-Second Scroll and Puts You at the Top of the “Must Interview” List – Rebecca Morgan
  • It’s time to make your resume reflect how AWESOME you are in real life.
  • If your resume suffers from:
    • An outdated format that you’ve used since high school (a LOT has changed!)
    • Generic one-size-fits-all-isms (to avoid redoing it for each job)
    • Buzzword and cliche overload (this isn’t making you sound smarter – trust me)
    • Job description cuts and pastes (just…. don’t)
  • It’s time to unborify your resume and stand out from the pile.
  • If you have ever wondered how to make your resume stand out and get seen in the sea of resumes, this is the guide for you.
  • Make your resume the one that stands out in the sea of sameness and puts you at the top of the “must interview” list.

Don’t send out a ho-hum resume that ends up in a pile and never gets you called for an interview. Instead, create a resume that makes you stand out in a crowd and shares all of your skills – so you’ll find a job sooner rather than later. 

(*All book descriptions courtesy of Amazon)

When the weather is nice, it’s the ideal time to get kids outdoors to burn off some energy. After all, there are plenty of days in the winter when it’s too cold to go outside – so why not take advantage of the great weather while it’s here.

Kids can go for a bike ride or take a walk. Or they can grab the sidewalk chalk and create some art. Of course, they can always play games.

This summer, why not make outdoor play even more fun and teach your kids some new games? Here are a few they might like.

• Animal Tag: Tag is fun, but smaller children might like to play animal tag. One child is the zookeeper who must tag the animals and get them back in the cake. One player is the monkey – who can free animals that have been tagged. The rest of the children are the animals of their choice!
• Obstacle Course: Do you have children who are fans of “American Ninja Warrior”? Are they constantly climbing things? Jumping around? Then create a fun obstacle course that has them crawling, balancing, jumping, and more! You can use string, cones, pool noodles, wood beams, blankets, and other things you may have. Then time the kids as they go through the course to see who is the fastest – and who is the most improved.
• Four Square: You might remember playing this during recess at school, but you can teach your children how to play this fun game, too. With some chalk, a kickball, and four willing participants  – you have all you need to play this game. And if you don’t remember the rules, here’s a quick refresher. 
• Hopscotch: Here’s another game that only requires a couple of things – chalk and rocks. There are just a few basic rules to learn (and a couple of variations that can be played), and the kids will have lots of fun jumping and hopping around. 
• What Time Is It Mr. Fox?: What Time Is It Mr. Fox? is such a simple game, but a fun one nonetheless. You’ll need a large open space to play – and plenty of kids – but this game will keep everyone on their toes. 
• DIY Water Gun Cup Race: Is it an extremely hot day? Want the kids to have fun and get a little wet? Then it’s time to break out the water guns and have a Water Gun Cup Race. The supplies needed are minimal (cups, straws, tape, string, and water guns), and the kids will have a blast!
• Water Balloon Games: You’ve probably seen the big packages of water balloons at your local store, so why not pick up a few packages and let the kids play some water balloon games? There are lots of different games that can be played with the balloons – just make sure everyone is on board to pick up the balloons when the fun is over.
• Parachute Games: Did you love it when your teacher would pull out the parachute, and you would get to play different parachute games when you were younger? Then your children will probably love it, too. You can find parachutes on Amazon for under $20 – and there are many different games you can play with it. 

This summer, don’t let the kids stay indoors and play video games or watch television all the time. Instead, take them outside so they can play some games and enjoy the outdoors. You’ll have fun teaching them these games, and they’ll have fun playing them. 

Raise your hand if you love the beach! Do you love the warm sand? The sound of the waves crashing? The smell of the salt air? Or, maybe, you just love all of it?

Beach lovers are constantly looking for ways to spend time at their favorite place, but it’s not always convenient to get there when you have a job, kids, and other responsibilities.

So, why not bring a bit of the beach to your place? Yes, you can get that beachy, coastal vibe for your home. 

If you have some neutral furniture (think shades of white, blue, pale green, and tan), then you may be able to add some simple accessories to your space to bring it all together.

For Your Walls:

• Ocean Eye 2-Piece Picture Frame Kit: These framed canvases are perfect for bringing the ocean to your space. They can be hung together or separately on two different walls in your home.
• Petting Metal Lace Accent Wall Mirror: This mirror doesn’t scream “beachy,” but the turquoise or white color would definitely work.
• Seaglass Prints (Set of 2): These prints are reminiscent of sea glass that you might find as you’re combing the beach for shells and other treasures. The frames are made of durian wood, and you can buy the pictures individually or as a set.
• Vintage Portuguese Tiles Multi-Panel Canvas Wall Art: If you’ve ever traveled through the seaside towns of Portugal or seen pictures, you’ll see these tiles everywhere. Elephant Stock gives you four different configurations for these canvases – so pick the one you love!

For Your Floors:

• Amalfi Rug: Rugs are a great way to tie a look together. This Amalfi Rug has sea creatures and the perfect colors to bring the beach to your home.
• Blue Malibu Rug: Looking to incorporate different shades of blue, then this rug will do it. It comes in several different sizes, so measure your space to decide which size you need.
• Safavieh Handmade Bella Tilda Modern Floral Wool Rug: Yes, it’s a floral print, but the neutral white color and the texturing also give it the look of sand. It’s available in a round or rectangular shape and even has a version that has some blue hues in it.

Extras:

• White Spike Coral: This pretty white coral would make a great addition to any bookshelf, entry table, or coffee table. (Plus, be sure to check out the other beach decor that Pottery Barn has available.)
• Tempeste Platter: This handpainted porcelain platter is elegant and has that beach vibe you want. The colors are gorgeous and would be great on a coffee table or kitchen table.
• Beach Cottage Candle: Do you miss the smell of the ocean? Well, you don’t have to when you burn this candle at home. Homesick Candles creates candles that evoke memories of the places you love. This one that’s named “Beach Cottage” is supposed to remind you of: Salty ocean air with hot sand under foot. Afternoon tides leave driftwood, seaweed and conch shells scattered along the shore.
• Natural Banana Leaf Harper Basket with White Macrame: Baskets are not only a great way to decorate your home, but they also add additional storage should you need it. These are available at World Market and come in two sizes depending on where you want to place them.
• Ivory Knots Pillow with Tassels: Pillows are a great way to add some dimension to a room. This Ivory Knots Pillow with Tassels is neutral in color, but you’ll appreciate the details in the design.

Don’t let your love for the beach be found only while you’re on vacation! Bring the beach to your home by making a few easy decor changes.