Life

How to Set a Fancy Table Without Breaking the Bank

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Fine table settings are becoming more and more popular, especially for dinner parties. However, setting a table can be very expensive, especially if you want to make it look elegant and stylish. And if you ever want to change your dining this holiday season, you might want to visit B2C Furniture’s dining sets. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 8 ways to set a fancy table without breaking the bank!

1. Start with a tablecloth or placemats

Tablecloths and placemats are great ways to add color, style, and class to your dining room. They can also be used to hide stains or protect your tables from scratches, which is especially important if you have kids visiting often.

If you don’t already own tablecloths or placemats it’s easy enough to find them at any store that sells houseware.

2. Keep it simple, but don’t be afraid to mix and match

You don’t need to be afraid to mix and match. You can use different materials, colors, and styles for the tabletop, but make sure that you stick with a similar theme throughout the table. If you have a classic-style dining room table then it would be a good idea to keep the same color scheme on all 4 pieces of furniture in your home.

3. Flowers

Flowers are an inexpensive way to add color and texture to your table. They can be used as a centerpiece or in vases, so you can use them in many different ways.

There are many DIYs out there on how to make flower arrangements yourself, but if you don’t have time for that, then consider buying flowers! You can find them at most grocery stores or big box retailers like Target, Walmart, and Walgreens.

4. Napkins

The napkin is a crucial part of setting a fancy table. There are many different ways to use them, depending on the occasion and the person you’re seating. For example:

  • You can create an elegant look with one solid color napkin at each place setting. If you want to add some extra flair, consider using bright colors like red or yellow instead of just white or beige. They’ll make it easier for guests to see what they’re eating without having to strain themselves too much!
  • You could also choose different patterns for each guest’s place setting so that everyone feels special when they get their food onto their plate. This will help ensure that no one has any confusion about who should take which bite first!

5. Centerpieces

Centerpieces are the finishing touch to any table. They’re not just for weddings and formal dinners, though they’re also great for home parties or even casual get-togethers with friends.

Whether you want to use real flowers or fake ones, there are plenty of options out there that will make your centerpiece look fancy without breaking the bank. Here are some tips on how to make sure your centerpiece looks good:

  • Choose something unique and interesting. You don’t want something boring; instead, go with something fun like a glass container filled with sand or sea shells!
  • Think about the color scheme when choosing decorations. If your theme is red roses and white tablecloths, then go ahead and use those two colors together because they’ll match perfectly!

But if it’s black-and-white cookies instead? Don’t worry about matching everything perfectly, just stick them all around the perimeter of each plate so guests get an idea of what kind of food they’ll be eating before digging into their entrees.

6. Layering

Using plates, bowls, and cups of different sizes and colors can create a rustic look. You can also use plates to create patterns on your table, or you can use them to add color by placing them in contrasting colors. This will give you a very beautiful look that is both elegant and classy.

When setting up your table for dinner time, consider layering different materials such as wood veneer pieces, porcelain pieces, and glassware so that one item doesn’t overpower another item at the same time as well as providing contrast within themselves making sure there are no gaps between these materials which would distract from what’s going on with either one another or even just overall visual appeal overall

7. Candles

Candles are a great way to add ambiance and create a romantic atmosphere. The flickering of the flame will make your dining table look more inviting, especially if you have candles lit in multiple areas of your home at the same time. A few warm colors can also help set the mood for dinner!

Candles can also be used as a centerpiece on top of or around your dinnerware, which is especially nice when serving appetizers or desserts.

If you want something more affordable than candles but still want some color on your table, consider using colored stones instead! These types of decorations won’t call attention away from everyone else at every meal but they’ll make sure that everyone knows that it’s a special occasion too.

8. Flatware

Remember the golden rule of etiquette: “Use silverware for eating.” If you’re having a fancy dinner, it’s recommended that you use flatware made of silver. This allows for a more elegant and streamlined look when compared to plastic or stainless steel forks and knives.

The fork is the main utensil for most meals, so it’s important to make sure your guests feel comfortable using this piece of equipment during their mealtime experience. While many people may not realize this fact, certain foods require special attention when served with certain utensils, for example: if there’s soup involved in your meal, then use one.

Conclusion

The key to setting a fancy table is to start small. You don’t need a whole lot, but the best ideas are often found in the more unexpected places. We hope these eight tips have given you some great inspiration for your next dinner party or special event and don’t forget to check out B2C Furniture’s dining sets!

Author’s bio:

Mari Salome Malagar is a professional English teacher in the Philippines who is also a freelance content writer and social media content creator.  She loves to write and edit content for businesses and social media platforms. She has over 3 years of experience in teaching as well as digital media management.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/marimalagar

Home Decorating Ideas

Best 6 Self-Care Tips for a Better Work-Life-Travel Balance

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Balancing work life and personal life is hectic enough, but throw travel into the mix and suddenly it’s a whirlwind that’s tough to handle. If you’re traveling for work or simply trying to squeeze in a vacation in the midst of life, it’s time to take control. Putting self-care at the center is absolutely vital. If you’re not taking care of your health, everything from work to life to your travel plans will suffer.

Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to incorporate some self-care love into the busiest of routines. Here are six ways to make it happen:

  1. Upgrade your ride. If you have a long commute or are starting to travel by car regularly, the space you inhabit means a great deal. Upgrading toa spacious sedan or SUV can increase your comfort and safety while on the road. A lot of people are facing longer and longer commutes, sometimes spending hours on the road every day. If those hours are miserable, that sets the stage for the entire day.
  2. Choose hotels or home shares that give you what you need. If you have a great gym routine at home but never find time to squeeze in a session when you’retraveling, why not? Make sure you choose a hotel that has a decent gym or a home share that is close to a gym where you have a membership. When getting to the gym is just as easy while traveling as it is while you’re at home, you can find the time.
  3. Make sure your commute time is well spent. You already know what stresses you as well as what brings you peace or joy. If the news stresses you out, don’t turn on the news station during your trip. Commutes and long drives can be a time to catch up on podcasts, listen to a joy-inducing soundtrack, or listen to an audiobook. If you’re traveling with others, it can also be a time to bond with fellow passengers. Take conscious measures to reduce your stress while driving and actually put this time to use.
  4. Packlike a pro. How are your packing skills? They could probably be better, and making your packing tighter and faster is a great little self-care perk. You’ll be able to more easily carry your luggage and won’t have to worry about missing anything. If you make packing lists, get organized and choose items to regularly carry that are lightweight and durable. This last tip can make your packing just a little bit easier.
  5. Squeeze in some meditation. Meditation can be done anywhere and nearly at any time. It helps to clear themind and focus. Depending on the type of meditation, you can also calm yourselfor get energized. It doesn’t take a lot of time, and first thing in the morningis a great time to clear some meditation time. When traveling, it can seemdifficult to make time for meditation. However, meditation can also be achievedwhile walking. You can combine exercise with a meditation session.

Positive Words Research – 6 Self-Care Tips for a Better Work-Life-Travel Balance

6 Self-Care Tips for a Better Work-Life-Travel Balance

5 WOW Facts: How Movies Influence Our Life Day By Day

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From the very 90s, movies have shown a broader influence on our lives. The influence was so relatable that some movies made it to predicting the future. The directors should have been genius people. If you get to see the 1920s and further movies, you will know how accurate the prediction has been, specifically, science fiction. Breaking all the above said, Author Jules Verne should have been a time traveler to have imagined submarine in the Twenty Thousand Leagues under the sea novel written by him in the year 1870. Here are some wonders to keep your jaw down to the ground for a while.

1. The Simpsons

Half of you would have already guessed it. For the other half, this is a favorite cartoon that just rocked our school days. There were several inventions included here, and this made so many of us feel like we could invent a thing too. A good number of them have been brought to real-time application. Some predictions are blood spraying billboards, airplane restaurants, baby translators, 3D printed cakes, and smartwatches. In fact, auto-correct was one of the inventions predicted by the Simpsons. Our favorite is the 3D-printed cakes, though. The inventions seemed silly during the show broadcast, but we all have now realized our fault.

2. Minority Report

The 2002 film had Tom Cruise in the lead role. While all of us thought the movie is not so related, the facial recognition software inventors and people who invented user interfaces that operate with gestures thought otherwise. No one would have expected that in the 2000s but these inventions, including the personalized advertising thing, is actualized now. Unbelievable, is it not? We all know Tom Cruise is talented.

3. The Imitation Game

The plot goes around the Mathematician Alan who tries to simplify the enigma code and all the situations that happen through World War II. Watching this movie will be your last wish if you are a data science lover. There is some information about science and math involved in it. The brilliant director invented the entire plot that is in actual existence now. We don’t know if they were serious about it, but the big data companies were. The movie involves the British Government attempting to crack down on secret Enigma codes using heterogeneous computing. The plot was outstanding, the movie was brilliant and so were the big data solutions.

4. The Minority Report

This wasn’t a big deal for our fans. We all knew it was all real. The plot surrounds the police forces, being capable of predicting crimes using the predictive analysis method and just data mining. There is our officer hero who works in the unit himself who gets accused of a future murder. The movie touches on the real potential of innovation, and almost all the concepts had future possibilities. Now, the data to predict human behavior is a thing for us but back then, this was something beyond human imagination, and the story writer did it. Kudos! And the crucial details weren’t a thing to be missed out on. It is now a turnover thing for big data companies.

5. Takeaway

This motion picture brought the confounded ideas of data science and evaluation to the extra-large screen, even back when information business was still a novel idea. Since data information is all over, you ought to get yourself acclimated with the thoughts. We are certain movies like Takeaway would help in getting a handle on the nuts and bolts of data science. If you are an information researcher, it could be a great misfortune not to have seen this brilliant plot and direction, having said that you are a huge enthusiast of information science. No matter what, this was one of the big data solutions, and all our big data companies possibly had it.

Nobody can realize what’s in store. However, scholars and producers are continually taking their best figure out. They are attempting to anticipate innovation and world issues decades early – or demonstrating a future they just WISH would materialize. Since October 21, 2015 – the Back to the Future date that took Marty McFly’s breath away – has at last arrived. It’s an ideal opportunity to see exactly how much the film got right. In any case, it’s by all accounts, not the only film that turned out to be significantly more precise than the producers presumably ever expected (regardless of the possibility that despite everything we’re tending to drift sheets).

That doesn’t mean Hollywood missed the point, in any case. Check out, and you’ll see many creations that are beyond human imagination. As well as some of which were anticipated by motion picture producers decades prior can be seen. The far back you go in the film files, the all the more fascinating these parallels get to be.

Louise Rose is an amateur writer and picturegoer. Louise dreams of the round-the-world voyage with her family. Her life motto is “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass – It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”

Positive Words Research – 5 WOW Facts: How Movies Influence Our Life

movies influence our life

Top 8 Life Lessons from Dr. Seuss To Get You Inspired Now

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Dr. Seuss may have done most of his influential writing in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s – but even though his most popular titles are more than 50 years old, some of the life lessons they contained still ring true today.

Dr. Seuss didn’t always just write children’s books. He studied English literature and spent his early career working on various forms of writing, including political cartoons and war posters. He felt a great sense of pride in conveying important messages, which is likely why his popular children’s books offer such influential stories.

Here are 8 life lessons you can learn from the various works of Dr. Seuss.

1. You Can Make a Difference

There’s no greater influence you can have on someone than to show them how they can personally make a difference. It’s easy to push decisions aside thinking that they don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. After all, you’re just one person, right?

In The Lorax, Dr. Seuss teaches us that we can make a difference if we show that we care. He impresses on the reader that if people don’t care – people like you – nothing will ever change.

2. Be Yourself

This is a recurring theme you can find throughout his books, but nowhere is it more evident than in Happy Birthday to You!

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

You’ll find this message in many of his characters and books. He really tried to show young people that they’re original and that’s better than ok – it’s who you are, and the world needs someone just like you.

3. Look at the Brighter Side of Things

In One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, Dr. Seuss explores the complex life topic of looking for the good in everything:

“From there to here, From here to there, Funny things are everywhere.”

And

“Today is gone. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”

It’s about living in the present and really exploring the positive aspects of life. It’s really easy to get caught up in the negative things and think tomorrow will be bleaker than today. Dr. Seuss really tries to get us to think differently about today, tomorrow, and every day.

4. It’s Not All About You

It’s especially difficult to get children to understand that not everything is about them. However, you see this more in adults these days than ever before. Wallowing in your own sorrow will not get you anywhere. Dr. Seuss knew this better than anyone, and made it a central theme in Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?

“You ought to be shouting how lucky am I. Some people are much more, Oh, ever so much more, Oh, muchly much-much more unlucky than you!”

Look outside your own bubble and you’ll see how much better you have it than a lot of people that are out there struggling. Understand what you have and be thankful for it.

5. Try New Things

If there was ever a writer that tried to push people into new and exciting ventures, it was Dr. Seuss. One read through Green Eggs and Ham and this becomes abundantly clear.

“Say! I like green eggs and ham! I do!! I like them, Sam-I-am!”

Trying new things isn’t always easy, but it’s important that you don’t dismiss them before trying them. You may even surprise yourself with the things you like. The worst part about never trying something is you may never know if you could be missing out on the best thing in the world.

6. Use Your Imagination

Creativity is abundant in the works of Dr. Seuss. He wanted children to use their imagination and know that they were capable of almost anything they can dream up.

“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!”

That excerpt from Oh, the Thinks You Can Think really gets to the heart of the matter, even though you can find this mentality in almost any book that Dr. Seuss penned.

7. Equality for Everyone

A rather large topic for a children’s book, but Dr. Seuss hits the nail on the head in Horton Hears a Who! Complex themes like racism and prejudice were very difficult to tackle in the ’50s. In 1954 this book tackled it head-on.

“Don’t give up! I believe in you all. A person’s a person, no matter how small!”

Probably one of the more powerful lessons you’ll find in his book is that everyone is equal. No one person is better than the other. He hammered this point home time and time again, while other leaders of the day were pushing for the opposite. This meant his work at the time was more important, and difficult, than ever.

8. There’s a Time for Work, and a Time for Play

There comes a time in everyone’s life where work begins. This is usually younger than most people would like. Usually beginning with chores and helping around the house, but continuing into adult life. In The King’s Stilts, Dr. Seuss expresses the importance of work and play.

“And when they played they really PLAYED. And when they worked they really WORKED.”

The important thing we’re taught here is how important play and relaxing is. In fact, it’s no accident that it comes first – before work – in the structure the doctor use here.

Writing is a very difficult career, and as this list shows, many people can’t do it all. This is why so much of what Dr. Seuss wrote is relevant today: not many can do what he did in the way he did it.

We can all learn something from the many works of Dr. Seuss. We just need to use our imagination, and revisit a book or two!

About the Author

Kerry Creaswood is a young and ambitious writer from Savannah, GA. She is fond of various forms of art and thinks that everything we can imagine is real. To find more about Kerry – check her Twitter. Image source: www.flickr.com

PS: Please comment at the end of this article and tell me what life lesson inspired you the most? And also, do you know another life lesson from Dr. Seuss? Access the list of positive words to brighten your day!

Take a look at Attitude, Presence, and Gratitude Quotes: The Importance of Being Present because everyone deserves to take a step back from everything going on in the world and live in the moment with the ones they love.

8 Life Lessons from Dr. Seuss