Chronicling Europe 2018 – Copenhagen Greets Me

The weather was a little dreary on the first day but by the afternoon the sun came out to greet us, so did the city of Copenhagen. Big Bus tours as some of the best ways to see the sights and sounds of any destination. This is true whether you are traveling domestically or internationally.

We enjoy it because it’s a great way to learn about the history and to find hot spots to go back and explore. The Little Mermaid, Tivoli Gardens, and Frederik’s Church are amazing attractions and landmarks to visit while in the city. We got the chance to hop-on and hop-off at sites that interested us.

Diverse shoppers like me loved hearing about IKEA and its history here in Denmark. Everyone we encountered from the couple from Germany to our British concierge assistant made an impression on the trip.

 

Now like many of the travelers also there during our stay, the goal and destination involved sailing with world-renown musician Dave Koz on the Friends at Sea, Scandinavia and The Baltic Cruise. We would be visiting Stockholm, Sweden, Tallinn, Estonia, St. Petersburg, Russia and Helsinki, Finland.

Our backdrop throughout the journey would include the most amazing jazz being played by equally as amazing artists. Setting sail with Day One Headliners of Michael Lington and Jonathan Butler got us ready for the week!



Chronicling Europe 2018 - We’re Nearly There…Copenhagen

My husband has joked for years that the sun never visits London. Surprise, surprise when we landed at Heathrow, the sun was already there. Being slightly familiar with this airport, we quickly got ourselves in place for the next leg of the journey.

Every single Dave Koz & Friends Cruises provides us with swag and other goodies that display the brand logo. Breezing through this airport is difficult to do without seeing fellow cruisers. This is pretty much our experience on each of the cruises we’ve taken with DK.

Our trips to Rome, Venice, and this year Copenhagen allowed us to bump into others from the states with the same itinerary. Most of us are in the same age group, but you’d think we were teens with all of the giddy looks of excitement.

Those who have traveled on these jazz immersed, international, educational, and totally ROCKIN’ cruises, simply know what’s ahead. And at this point in the airport…WE CAN’T WAIT!



Chronicling Europe 2018 - Travel through My Eyes

I don’t do a lot of promos for airlines or many brands in general. It’s hard to say anything bad about an airline, however, which spoils you rotten as you travel. British Airlines has safely transported us from the US to destinations around the world.

There are some folks out there who are like me in that they LOVE to travel and they HATE to travel. I’m always excited to get to the final destination, which for me has included stops like Rome, Venice, and Copenhagen. It’s the hustle and bustle of getting there, journeying through airports, and constantly running that I HATE.

I’m not sure if it’s My Journey to 50…or a saucy attitude, but there are parts of the process that make me grumble. This is one of the many reasons why this airline was made for me! Comfortable seating, tasty beverages, yummy meals, music, and movies make me settle in and rest.

I  did anticipate traveling to this portion of the world for many years, even before my husband booked this trip. Now the only thing I needed to do was nap, write, eat, drink, and REPEAT! British Airlines did the rest.

Top Summer Styles – Tailoring Your Look

No one can tell you what you feel comfortable wearing! It is possible to get inspiration from fashion trends. This is a good way to find styles that appeal to your sense of fashion. At the same time, you will learn what pieces are being worn this season.

Summer is typically the time of year that everyone likes to show a bit of skin. It doesn’t matter whether you’re shopping for shorts, skirts or dresses. You will discover a wide array of colorful styles to choose from.

Harper’s Bazaar reports that virtually any shade of lavender is working this year. In fact, this is being seen in every layer for 2018, including pantsuits, minis and other items. Another top trendy style involves animated-influenced graphics, coupled with solid colored pieces.

You can create your own artwork with a graphic top and a pair of bright colored slacks. Here are some other Top Summer Styles to Consider:

• Spaghetti Strap Sun Dresses
• Plaid & Solid Color Combos
• Layered Skirts
• Retro Relaxed Fit Jeans

***Shop with Naked Zebra for Fashion Ideas!!!



Dietary Changes – Find Comfort & Fitness

According to Food Revolution, veganism and plant-based eating is at an all-time high. Some people make this choice because they can’t bear to eat anything from animals. Others are moved to change their diets because of existing health problems.

It’s no secret that removing certain things from the diet has fitness and health benefits. Vegans and vegetarians can see improvements as it relates to overall health, blood pressure and weight loss. There is no one approach to eating this way, however.

Sass Magazine presents an article that highlights how you can make this a personal journey. Long-term dietary changes should be seen as lifestyle changes. Planning for the process is the best way to be certain that it will work for you.

• Experiment with New Foods
• Transform Old Favorites
• Visit Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants
• Plan Inclusive Meals

What’s your approach to making dietary changes?

Introduce Color into Your Home – Décor Tips

You may be embarking on a remodeling project at your home. This will take a bit of time when it comes to selecting interior furnishings and décor items. The same is true for those who are trying to develop their very first homes.

The introduction of color is extremely important to each room of the home. This can be a scheme that is the focal point for the rest of the space. Color is also utilized as an accent to other shades, designs and features.

Finding the right pieces that bring this color into the room requires research and comparison shopping efforts. The Speed of Life and your other responsibilities could make it challenging. Don't give up!

Planning for each step of your decoration project can be helpful. Let’s take a look at some tips that will make it easy.

• Select a Central Color for Each Room
• Look for Artwork and Wall Hangings to Harmonize
• Set a Theme that Works for the Space

Creative Ways to Construct Meals – Save Time with Leftovers

If you are the family meal planner, you may be juggling a lot of ideas. The Speed of Life can make matters challenging, which is why organization is key. It is possible to construct meals for multiple days at once.

This can be done by using similar ingredients for those meals or to simply by making one large dish to accommodate the time. You can save even more time by creatively using your leftovers.

This can allow you to either deconstruct a meal or to be completely innovative. Roasted rosemary chicken, saffron rice pilaf, broccoli and rolls is an example of a very nice meal. There are a number of terrific dishes, possible with leftovers from this one meal.

These dishes are good for both lunch and dinner. Take a look at these 3 options:

Chicken Casserole – Use chicken, rice and broccoli along with a creamed soup mix and shredded cheese.

Chicken Sandwiches – Make cold/hot sandwiches from meat and roles, mix rice and broccoli for a side.

Chicken Salad – Use chopped chicken, mayo, mustard, pickles and spices to make a cold salad.

What other meals could you construct with leftovers?

What is Resume Development? – Necessary Details

Many people are unaware of the changes that professional resumes are expected to undergo. A part of this involves keeping up with trendy formats and designs. Others have to do with ensuring that these documents are both concise and informative.

The Speed of Life often takes people away from thoughts of how to fine-tune and modernize resumes and cover letters. The development process that content writers and resume specialists use is important. These are experts when it comes to crafting the wording that highlights an applicant’s skills and expertise.

These writers are familiar with the expectations of HR departments, hiring officials and interviewers. Showcasing details about experience is essential to securing an interview during this process.

Some skills are simply transferable because they are paramount to most any field or industry. Hiring a talented writer to tailor your experience in a way that catches the eye is important.

The details are what these readers are looking for so that they can connect them with the position they are recruiting for. Here are some skills to consider for your resume project:

• Team Collaboration
• Communications
• Problem Resolution
• Planning & Organization

Freelance Work Opportunities – Scrutinize Client Lists

The Speed of Life is there and waiting for you no matter what your stage of life. Some people are looking for part-time work to supplement their regular incomes. Others require work that allows them to stay-at-home.

Freelance is the perfect solution to both of these interests. It provides workers with varying skill sets the opportunity to earn money online in different fields and industries. Writers are some of the most popular examples of freelance workers.

They perform development activities, as it relates to content, such as articles, blog posts and other materials. These are not, however, the only freelancers. There are technical projects, IT projects and sales projects in this field of work.

One of the first things necessary is to list your marketable skills, to choose your clients. Scrutinizing your client list involves simply determining the types of projects you are interested in. These should be projects that connect your skills along with the requirements of the work.

Websites like Upwork make it easy to find the types of projects that you want. Here are some areas of consider:

• Content Writing
• Customer Service
• Product Sales
• Research Projects

Taking Advantage of Local Offerings – Summer Field Trips

There are many things for couples and families to consider during the summer. Once the Speed of Life slows a bit, travel is usually on the agenda. Globetrotting can be a lot of fun but certainly requires a bit of planning and budgeting.

Getting away from the stresses of life is possible by exploring the things that are available locally. These may include local day trips to parks, lakes and museums. Most cities, however, have activities and attractions that can be interesting to see.

Even planning a trip to landmarks, such as state and national parks is a nice way to learn and getaway. Visit their websites that display tourist details that travelers look for. Many of these trips are budget-friendly and can be done within a day or two.

• Walking Trails – Plan for the difficulty level and take a lot of pictures.

• Historic Sites – Look for site requirements and if tickets are necessary.

• Tour Brochures – Many cities with popular landmarks and attractions have brochures online.

• Weekend Getaway – Find scenic locations within an hour or two to relax and explore.

Supplemental Learning – Follow Up at Home with Great Tools

It’s never been a secret that parents participate in home education activities, where their children are concerned. Although homeschool techniques are becoming more and more popular in mainstream society, this has always been the case in families.

Parents provide students with supplemental education for public school study. This is true whether the subject is math or history. If you’ve ever helped with homework or purchased study materials, you’re a home educator.

As your child grows and develops, they will likely require additional resources in this category. Online resources, such as programs from ABCMouse.com are terrific for those between the ages of 2 and 8.

These are tools that enhance the learning process and sparks interest in different subjects. It is possible to achieve these academic goals from home:

• Games Building Eye-Hand Coordination
• Stories to Develop Reading Comprehension
• Puzzles that Increase Mathematical Abilities
• Topical Studies for Context Referrals

Finding online resources that are effective and budget-friendly is possible with a bit of research. Parents with multiple children can actually purchase products that are unique. Any of these that build internet skills will be helpful for the future.


The more you are able to supplement the learning process, the easier it will be to prepare for increasing grade level work.

Certification Tests for Your Field

There are many fields these days that require certification testing. Some are linked to professional activity and others are connected to a certain position. Companies within the health industry, for example often require applicants to have these certifications.

Nurses are some of the most commonly known in these fields. Educators are also among those who need these tests. It doesn’t matter what your area of expertise may be. You must find effective ways to prepare for these exams.

The costs associated with them alone are a motivator to students. Fortunately there are terrific resources online that can help with your study and preparation. Here are some resources to consider for certification and supplemental training:

***Use Speed of Life links to SAVE!!

ExamEdge – Promo Code: SAVE-CJ 10

Select Styles that Embrace Spring

Coming out of the winter frame of mind is sometimes easier said than done. The longer we have to deal with colder temperatures, the less we feel like spring is actually here. Selecting styles that are both fashionable and weather-friendly is the best idea.

Layering with trendy apparel is a good way to tailor your look for this season. When it’s cool outdoors, you may want a light jacket with long-sleeve tops. As the temperatures rise during the day, removing layers is simple.

Approaching summer months will provide many opportunities to show off some skin with the fashions you choose. Let’s take a look at some of the select styles that allow you to fully embrace the season:

• Striped Wrap-Around Tops
• Capri Length Jeans & Slacks
• Mid-Length Maxi Skirts
• Medium Thick Jackets

Shop with Speed of Life - Naked Zebra Ads



Freelance in Your Lane – Utilize All Your Skills

There are many different ways to pursue career goals. Some will find work in their areas of expertise or field of interest. Others will discover the opportunities that freelance work provides. This is work that is available through companies and industries around the world.

In most instances, these employers are in need of short-term relationships to achieve specific objectives. Hiring freelance workers is a good way to get the work done at a reasonable cost. The options for freelance professionals are vast.

Those with diverse skills have the opportunity to earn in that number of ways. For example, if you are speedy at typing information, you can work for clients needing data entry services. It may also be possible to secure projects that involve document creation.

The key to pursuing these opportunities is to fully utilize your skill sets. Those with technical knowledge can find clients in IT or administrative fields. Writers, discover that there are many companies requiring articles, blog posts and marketing materials.

Freelancing in your lane requires being strategic about what you offer and consistently increasing your experience levels.



Discover Ways to Relax – Creating a Quiet Space

Everyone has seen the studies that say there is good stress and there is bad stress. It’s true these are involved with virtually every aspect of life. Finding real ways, however, to decompress is essential to every lifestyle.

This involves discovering methods to enjoy true relaxation. Often this requires shutting out distractions and enjoying a quiet or serene space. Many homeowners have realized the importance of this space and are creating them DIY.

Those with additional rooms have the option of designing this area. It doesn’t have to be a large space but one that is adequate. Designating such a place for meditation, reading or even listening to music is beneficial. Couples can share this space or take turns utilizing it.

• Choose a Room
• Remove Clutter
• Embrace Natural Light
• Make it Your Own

Spring Workout Options – Carve Out the Time

Now that we have the season, not every region has the weather. It’s normal for there to be a bit of chill in the air during the spring. Much of the country however is dealing with full blown blizzard conditions.


This does present a challenge for those wanting to continue with outdoor routines in their workouts. All is not lost as long as you monitor the forecast. Don’t let the Speed of Life overcome you!


Understanding the windows of opportunity for running, jogging and walking is a smart plan. This will require watching the weather to determine what the best times are each week to get out there.


Depending on the state that you are in this window may be dwindling if it’s a particularly cold week. Schedule the best times to incorporate the outdoors into your fitness plans.


• Purchase Layering Items
• Carry Water with Your
• Map Out Your Route
• Stay Motivated

On-the-Go Snacks – Affordable and Reasonable Choices

Everyone has their own favorite snack. These are not always the healthiest choices. It is sometimes difficult to find on-the-go snacks that travel well. With a little research, you can find better choices. It is possible to find reasonable selections that are affordable.

This requires comparing similar products and reading labels. If your goal is to stock your work fridge with exciting treats, consider a combo package of snacks. You can enjoy a Snackventure by Hillshire.

Another option to try is prepackaged humus and chips. These will likely be found in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. Some snacks cost more than others, which often has something to do with nutritional details. Let’s take a look at a couple of choices;

Trail Mix Combinations

There are many different types of trail mix products on the market today. You can find bargain priced mixes with standard nuts, raisins and chocolate candies. The other end of the spectrum may be a mix with dried blueberries and macadamia nuts.

These can be separated into snack or sandwich bags and taken to work. The Speed of Life will not prevent you from snacking healthy.

Fruit & Veggie Sticks

One of the healthiest snack choices is going to be on the produce aisle. You have an array of terrific fruits and vegetables to choose from. Slicing an apple or pear will help you to find a budget-friendly snack. Peanut butter is a nice paring with these fruit stick options.

Peppers, cucumbers and squash are delicious raw vegetables for snacking. Dips like sour cream and chive complement this selection.

Flavored Crackers

Butter crackers are some of the most popular for making snacks. You can enjoy these in combination with other products or on their own. There are saltines, pita, pretzel and various types of crackers to choose from.

If you prefer plain you will find brands that fit your budget. Flavored selections include wasabi, cheddar, barbeque and even onion.

Preparing for an Empty Nest – Home and Life Plans

There is not just one example of empty nesters these days. Some of these couples have just sent the last of their children off to college. Others are seeing older children finally move away on their own.

Having your home to yourself presents an array of opportunities. This is a time to not only develop your home but to transform your life, as well. Couples often define themselves over the years as parents.

They sometimes forget that they are individuals and spouses. Preparing to be an empty nest involves evaluating where you are currently. It is also about making plans for the future.

Thinking about this time in advance makes it easier to adjust. Instead of going into a panic from the quiet, prepare for it and make a serene space for your lifestyle.

Redesign Projects

Now that the house is empty, why not redesign specific rooms. Setting up a budget for incremental changes is a good idea. New kitchen appliances or flooring will improve the look and functionality of this space.

Bedrooms, living rooms and even basements can be targets for change. This may also be an opportunity to develop more areas for entertaining.

Create Personal Space

Depending on how many children are vacating the nest, there may now be a lot of extra space. This is finally the time for husbands and wives to create their own personal living areas. You can transform a bedroom into an office.

Moving furnishings around or changing the décor will help with these projects. Couples should adopt rooms for themselves and to use together. This can be a fun adventure.

Vegan Tips – A New Lifestyle

Recent statistics have shown that veganism is on the rise. In fact, popular food delivery services have found that vegan options are some of the most popular. Different from vegetarian diets, vegans choose to only eat plant-based foods.


This means eliminating dairy, meat and things derived from animal products. There are a number of ways to achieve this sort of lifestyle change.Those who are heavy meat-eaters may have a challenge ahead of them.


It is possible to take a step-by-step approach to this new lifestyle. Find a few items in your diet to replace by vegan options and products. Consider this a fun and exciting journey to better health, fitness and the achieving of a set goal. Here are some easy tips:

1 – Swap veggie sticks and humus for potato chips and dip

2 – Create a go-to salad with your favorite veggies

3 – Experiment with vegan substitutions like Seitan and crumbles

4 – Explore your market for tasty alternatives

Outsource Your Writing Needs - Get Content that Produces!

Many businesses and organizations require relevant content on their websites. Content is displayed on each page of the site, as well as, on blogs. The information found here are what visitors see about you. Their impressions will be based upon what's written and the information provided.


It is important to maintain your website on a regular basis. Unfortunately, staff writers are not in everyone's budget. This is one of the reasons why outsourcing options are effective. Hiring a skilled content writer could be the solution to your problem.


Update Site Pages


If your site pages are outdated, they are not producing for you. Changing information or even showcasing new products and services is important. You should want your traffic to fully understand what you offer. Outsource this work to a freelance content writer for tailored wording.


Start a Blog


Blogs are not simply a way to communicate through social media. Corporations and successful businesses around the world utilize blogs as tools. They bring increased interest to the business and can affect sales. It is possible to hire content writers to regularly provide posts for your site's blog.


Post Articles


Articles are one of the most effective Search Engine Optimization tools. These articles are displayed and dispersed in various locations online. They are written to describe your site and services. At the same time, these articles include links back to your specific pages. Having these available could change business metrics altogether.


Thinking about what your business does, whether it provides services or products, is critical. This is the information that you want out there about you. It is extremely important that this information is displayed on your website. Simply existing online will not make your site productive.


Followed by Web Content Matters