Upgrade Your POS Systems

Smaller business often struggle to compete with rivals, especially in competitive markets such as retail and the food industry, so it can a great benefit to find a way of making things more efficient. Your customers will appreciate anything that makes life easier for them – and your team will, too – so what can you do to improve how things are done? Take a look at the day to day running of the business, and that is where you will find areas in need of improvement. It’s the little things that take up time, such as how and when you take payments.

If you run a business where your customers pay face to face, you need to have a good look at your payment and point of sale systems. POS is one area of the business that may be easy to improve, and it helps if you can find experts to give you the advice you need. The people to talk to are Merchant Account Solutions, as they are acknowledged experts on POS systems for small businesses, with many satisfied clients in a wide range of areas of commerce. You might want to check them out for some excellent deals on the latest systems and solutions, including free credit card readers.

Tablet-Based Solutions

Modern technology has helped advance the way we do business in many areas, and not least in that of payments and POS. If you run a business that takes payments by table – a restaurant or café, perhaps – why not check out the very latest POS systems designed for that type of business? These often come in the form of tablet-based systems, so that you use a tablet as the payment solution, and you can take it to the table rather than having your customers stand in a queue and wait to pay.

You can find information on the very latest such solutions at MerchantAccountSolutions.com. Their friendly team will happily help you with all the information you need on the very latest systems, and can show you how to get the best out of your new system. They can also supply free credit card readers – perfect for small businesses – so you get value for money there, too, and you will find the rates on transactions to be more than favourable. Have a look now, and you will soon see the benefits.

Credit Card Readers

If you don’t already take credit or debit card payments, you really need to; consumers will go elsewhere if they find better convenience, so talk to Merchant Account Solutions about this, too. If you are already taking card payments, it may still be worth having a look, as they will most likely have a new and more up to date solution for you, and it will be one that can improve your efficiency for very little cost.

Talk to one of the friendly team now for advice and help on how to improve your POS, and you will soon reap the rewards of greater efficiency.

Things Every Parent Should Be Teaching their Children

 

You are the first person your children look up to. Make sure what they’re seeing and hearing is helping them to become a responsible adult. A lot of people learn just as much as their children after they have kids. The desire to protect your children from the dangers of the world will cause you to learn things you never knew. Such as the dangers in processed foods and the internet. One of the best ways to safeguard your children from dangers is to educate them about them. The following are some of the things you should be teaching your children.

How to Eat Healthy

This goes beyond simply eating more veggies and fruits. It’s important for your children to understand that not everything sold in the store is good for their bodies. So they have to understand why not eating those sugary breakfast cereals is important. The more your child knows about health, the easier it will be to get them on board with eating healthier food options. There are plenty of documentaries out there that can help you make your child more aware of what’s on their dinner plate.

How to Stay Active

Normally, you wouldn’t have to teach your child to be active. This is especially true when they are young. The goal at this time is teaching them how to sit still. Being active is in their nature, but today’s technologies are killing that. We now see more and more toddlers and pre-schoolers on tablets and in front of the television. This is creating a lazier nation of growing people. You can avoid this happening to your child by teaching them the importance of exercise (aka playing). Get them used to moving and they will continue to do so into their teens and adulthood.

How to Use the Internet

It’s a good idea to put special locks on your computer, so your children don’t end up in the wrong places on the web. Ads and irrelevant links can be clicked on, taking them into an inappropriate website. You can block these type of sites using a tool or software like OpenDNS. You want to allow your children freedom to use the web, but always keep an eye on them. Teach them of the potential dangers of the web and how to safeguard themselves by not giving out personal information to strangers.

How to Survive Natural Disasters

A natural disaster can happen at any time and can be lethal. Your children need to know how to get out of certain situations, such as fires and where to go when tornadoes come along. Have a routine your kids follow to instill in them what needs to be done during various natural disasters. It’s also a good idea to teach them to swim in case flooding occurs in your town.

Being a good parent is all about providing and teaching your children. You can find great deals on products and services that will aid you in this effort at Groupon. Here, you can shop from merchants like Nine West and Microsoft.

Why Seattle is a Great Place to Live

 

Seattle is one of the premier cities to live in America with a rich history, vibrant culture and delicious food. One of America’s booming metropolises, there are many great reasons to move to the Emerald City.

Stunning Views

Flying into Seattle/Tacoma international airport south of Seattle, chances are your descent path will take you over downtown Seattle and the view is otherworldly. From the majestic mountains cradling the city to the jewel that is the Puget Sound and surrounding lakes like Lake Washington and Lake Union, you might just gasp in your seat as you are awed by the incredible beauty as you land. Drive for thirty minutes and you can be surrounded by rugged peaks and old growth forests with brilliant blue alpine lakes and only the sound of the wind and water to keep you company. The views from Seattle are phenomenal on a clear day but the best part is that to reach that nature is, in some cases, only a lazy Sunday afternoon drive.

Ferries

Seattle has the nation’s largest ferry system. Seattle is on the Puget Sound and many people commute into the city by ferry from some of the many islands, including Whidbey Island, one of the longest islands in all of the country. Ferries range in size from passenger only ferry commutes that take 15 minutes to hour plus long commutes with 400 cars and multiple levels to explore. Commuting by ferry in Seattle and the greater Puget Sound region is enjoyable and relaxing and is as easy and convenient as catching a bus.

Alt Culture

Seattle has a reputation as being one of America’s most liberal cities, but no worries if you are conservative as the cities to the east of Seattle, the Eastside, are for you. Regardless of where your beliefs lie on the political spectrum Seattle is a very diverse and interesting city. Anyone is welcome. From hipsters to tech workers, dog lovers to cat lovers, music lovers to birders, every day in Seattle offers new people to see and meet. Move to Seattle to expand your mind and meet a very diverse crowd of people.

Food

A very underrated aspect of Seattle is its delicious food. Check of famous Pike Place Market to eat some of the freshest seafood imaginable. A native American delicacy is cedar smoked salmon, so flavorful, so delicious. Tom Douglas is a well known chef who uses locally sourced ingredient in his restaurants. Seattleites love their sweets and boutique cupcake and ice cream eateries dot the city, making them almost as ubiquitous and Starbucks, almost.

 

This article was contributed on behalf of Stita Taxi, your taxi company of choice in Seattle.

How to Pick the Perfect Painting for your Living Room

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Picking the perfect painting can make or break your living room. After all, this social area can be one of the most used rooms, so its visual aesthetic is important to building harmony in your home. Finding a beautiful piece that will bring the room together can be exciting – but it’s no easy feat.

Let’s dive into the steps you need to consider to pick the perfect painting for your living room.

Measure the space

A big mistake by non-interior designers is to not base decisions on painting sizes. There is nothing more disappointing than buying the perfect painting, and then realizing that it’s too large or small for the area. When a piece of art is too large, it’s aesthetically overwhelming to the viewer and can impact the impression of space and size of a room. On the other hand, when a painting is too small, it can be overshadowed by other elements or look out of proportion.

measure the space

Choose paintings that fit a particular space. If the painting is large, it’s better to hang it alone and provide it enough margins. Smaller pieces should be hung in groups. Also consider the items around the painting: art should not exceed the length of furniture around it.

Styling

The classic singular frame is always a great choice for filling an empty wall. However, a more elaborate combination of canvases can form a unique shape that brings elegance and interest to a space. A canvas print split into 5 separate parts in different sizes (like the stunning example below) can transform a room and create an almost window-like landscape to enjoy.  Of course, there are a variety of combinations, pieces and designs that work well together.

styling

Lighting

Paintings need to be displayed with pride – always drawing attention to visitors. Arrange lighting in a living room in a way that ensures that paintings are illuminated. You can also add new lighting spots to highlight the paintings.

When choosing lighting, you need to consider the type of painting as well. Oil paintings can look shadowy under an intense spotlight, so you should use broad lighting for them. Reflection and glare can also cause issues depending on the paint or fabric used. To fix this, use a non-reflecting glass frame or buy non-reflecting canvas prints.

Visual Balance

visual balance

Achieving visual balance in a living room is key to creating an inviting and interesting room. Without visual balance, the room can feel uncomfortable and aesthetically displeasing. Paintings need to have the right scale and work harmoniously with other features in the room.

Blending well with the tones of wall colors is a must to create an attractive space. Additionally, a painting with colors repeated across highlights in the living room will create a visual balance.  Large paintings can also provide a focal point to the living room, and other furnishings can be arranged around it.

Consider cost

The majority of us can’t afford a Picasso but there are more than enough beautiful paintings, prints and canvases that we can pick for our living room. Before making any decision on a painting, take into account your budget and how much you can allocate into this new décor. Affordable options are not necessarily lower quality – they may be created by lesser-known artists or be fairly priced.

Reducing Garden Maintenance Time and Cost

Reducing Garden Maintenance Time and Cost

We all like to find ways to save money and free up valuable time; in these busy times, it is often the case that essential jobs around the house get overlooked in order to accommodate more pressing needs. This is as true in the garden as it is in the home, and outside there is essential maintenance that cannot be overlooked. The best way to keep garden maintenance to a minimum is to keep it simple. Don’t indulge in complex, hard to keep flower beds, and simply lay a nice lawn where your children and pets can play.

However, it’s worth remembering that even the simplest of lawns needs a great deal of maintenance. Grass grows very quickly in the summer months, so you will have to dedicate time to mowing it on a regular basis. Also, natural grass will become worn under heavy usage – such as the kids using it as a place to play – and you will need to attend to bald patches with nutrition and watering.

These are just a couple of the problems associated with keeping a lawn, and we will mention more later. So, what’s the answer? Do you hire a gardener? You could, but that’s an unwanted expense. In fact, we have a better suggestion: why not lay an artificial grass lawn?

The Benefits of Artificial Grass

So, why should you choose artificial grass for the garden as opposed to natural grass? In addition to the lack of maintenance – all it needs is hosing down every now and again, and if you spill anything on it you can just clean it off with water and maybe a weak detergent – there are many other benefits. First, it is surprisingly affordable; Artificial Grass Warrington can supply you with a beautifully laid lawn that will remain lush and green throughout the year, with no wear and no faded colours, at a price that you will find to be surprisingly competitive. Factor in the time and money you save, and you begin to see that it is a very sensible option.

Plus, what happens when kids and pets go outdoors after a wet spell? The bring mud into the house on their shoes! This won’t happen with your artificial lawn, and you also get the benefit of efficient drainage built into the design. Your kids can play out in all weathers and it is safe and sound, plus your dogs can’t dig holes in an artificial lawn!

It’s a sensible choice for a growing family where you don’t have the time to maintain a natural lawn, and you will not be able to tell the difference. Artificial Grass Warrington supply only the very latest, top quality product, and they will happily give you all the advice you need on the right product for your requirements, and send you a sample too. Get in touch with them now for more information, and they’ll give you a great quote for replacing your natural lawn with a durable, beautiful artificial one.

Top Quality Brand Name Kitchen and Bathroom Supplies

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The choice of bathroom and kitchen fixtures and fittings has never been greater, and whether you prefer traditional or more modern designs, you will be able to search through thousands of items to find those that are perfect for you. With many well-known brands to consider, and of course the need to find the best deals, you need to find a supplier you can trust, and we strongly recommend you take a look at the excellent range from Plumbtile, the leading name in bathroom and kitchen supplies. With a reputation for excellent customer service and sensible prices, Plumbtile are waiting to help you.

Contemporary Modern Design

Whether you are refitting your kitchen or bathroom, or are looking for a fresh style for a new-build property, we recommend you check out the Plumbtile range of superbly styled and very beautiful pull down faucet designs. These convenient and attractive items will be the crowning touch for any bathroom or kitchen installation, and offer effective and simple operation. Choose from a selection of familiar and more modern designs, and from a choice of well-known brands guaranteeing quality at excellent prices.

Plumbtile also offers a choice of excellent tiles, in many different styles and designs, and the well-designed website allows you to browse through the range and displays examples of their work. They have a live chat option so you can talk to one of the expert team, who will happily advise you on the best solutions for your requirements, and there are regular clearance items for excellent savings. It’s worth taking the time to look carefully at the website for all the information you could possibly need.

Help and Advice

One aspect of the Plumbtile website we particularly like is that they offer you advice on how to do jobs yourself such as, for example, installing a traditional Kitchen Tile Backsplash. The method is laid out neatly and clearly, including all the materials you will need, and you can find an excellent choice of backsplash tiles that will provide a wonderful look for your new kitchen, or add something special to your existing one. You’ll find their prices to be excellent, too, so we advise you to take a look at their range right away.

Plumbtile offers a wide variety of bathroom fixtures and fittings, everything from tubs and whirlpools to minor fixtures, and only provides the very best brands in the business. The team is on hand to help with any questions you may have and we advise you to have a look at the clearance center, where you can find excellent deals on end of line or discontinued items.

With full technical support and helpful service providers, you can rely upon Plumbtile to give you all the help you need to ensure your kitchen or bathroom is one that your friends will envy, and that will give you excellent service for as long as you wish. Check out Plumbtile now, or get in touch and they will be more than happy to help.

6 Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing Between Reusable Bag Materials

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reusable-bag-materials

When it comes to finding the best reusable bag materials, there are quite a few things to consider.  There is a wide range of materials for your reusable bags, and these include the following:

  • Cotton
  • Jute
  • Canvas
  • Bamboo
  • Woven PP (Polypropylene)
  • Non-Woven PP

It’s great to have options, but how do you know which option will best suit your customers? Well, we can’t tell you; it all depends on their needs. Of course, we can give you six questions to ask yourself if you need to narrow things down.

  1. Looking for Light?

Lighter materials are perfect if customers will be using many bags at once. If lightness is right up your alley, try going for either woven or non-woven PP.

  1. Desire Durability?

Canvas and cotton fall short when it comes to lightness, but they are both exceptionally durable. If your customers need to use their bags to carry heavy loads for years to come, either material makes an excellent choice, as does jute.

  1. Seeking Softness?

Selling finer goods? Expect your customers to carry their bags all day? You’ll want the softest material; both bamboo and cotton will serve you well.

  1. Must be Moisture-Resistant?

Certain items, such as ice cream and meat, can produce moisture while carried around, so natural fibres aren’t ideal. Once again, woven and non-woven PP bags come out ahead.

  1. Urging for Uniqueness?

For some businesses, standing out in a crowd is far more important than giving customers exactly what they expect. If that sounds like your kind of goal, try eschewing more traditional choices, such as cotton, woven PP, and non-woven PP, in favour of canvas, bamboo, or jute. We’re sure you’ll get a reaction.

  1. Prefer Popularity?

Being unique is great, but plenty of businesses would rather just give their customers exactly what they know they already want. If popularity is paramount, you can’t do better than PP bags, with 74% of consumers in a recent study reporting that it was their preferred material for reusable bags.

After considering the needs of your customers and asking yourself the questions listed above, you should have a pretty good idea of the bagging material that will best suit your business.

Scary Facts about Fires that Highlight the Importance of Teaching Fire Safety to Kids

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fire

Fires are scary. Most people understand how devastating they can be so they avoid playing with fire. However, fire safety is not just about avoiding playing with fire. There are a lot of possible causes of fires so there are a lot of tips to follow to ensure fire safety.

In addition, fire safety is the responsibility of every household and everyone that’s a part of it. Yes, this includes the kids. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to teach them fire safety.

This article will provide some scary facts about fires. These facts should convince you that you should educate your kids on fire safety and that you should start now.

It’s Not Just the Fire Itself

You know what’s deadlier than fire itself? It’s the smoke and toxic gases that fires release. This means that a lot of fire victims didn’t really die from the fire itself. They died because of the smoke and toxic gases that they’ve inhaled during the fire.

This means that you don’t have just one enemy. The best defense against them is education and to start right now.

60,000 Children Die from Fire-related Incidents All Over the World

This figure is just heartbreaking. What’s more heartbreaking is the fact that a lot of these deaths happened inside the home where they should have felt safe. In addition, a lot of these deaths could have easily been avoided if only the children were educated on fire safety.

Kids Under the Age of 5, Just Like Adults Over 65, are More Likely to Die in a Home Fire

These kids and adults are twice as likely to die in a home fire as compared to the rest of the population. This means that they’re already at a disadvantage. You can lessen their chances by educating them on how to avoid fires. Teaching them what to do in case of a fire will prove to be very helpful as well. It can save lives.

A Lot of Deaths Happen at Night While People are Sleeping

The fires are usually caused by an unattended candle or started in the kitchen. Just like a thief in the night, you wouldn’t know what hit you until it’s too late.

Fires are Deadlier to Americans as Compared to Natural Disasters

Add all the deaths caused by natural disasters and the deaths caused by fires will still outnumber them. This is a sad fact considering the fact that while we can’t really do a lot of things to prevent a natural disaster from happening, there are a lot of things that we can do to avoid a fire.

Fire Safety Tips for You and Your Kids

With these facts, you now know how important fire safety education is. Start educating yourself so you can start educating your kids. Judging from the facts above, it can be the difference between life and death. Check out this infographic by ContractorQuotes.us for some helpful fire safety tips.

The Best Moving Company in LA

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Are you moving house in the near future? Or perhaps you are relocating your business and need a full commercial removals service? If so, you will need to engage the services of a company that promises – and provides – excellent service, and that has a reputation built on many years of satisfied customers. For addresses in and around Los Angeles, the company you need to talk to is Attention to Detail Moving; they have been in the business for several years, and have a reputation for superb services, as well as excellent and unbeatable rates.

Widely regarded as the best moving company in the city, Attention to Detail offers a full range of solutions, and the company name is chosen to reflect the excellent service that they are known for. They can handle any move, no matter how small or large, and will happily listen to any special requests you may have. They are experts in piano moving, for example, so you can rest assured your precious and expensive musical instrument will be given the care and attention it deserves during the move. You can arrange for one of the team to visit you and assess your requirements accurately.

One area of the service that you will appreciate is that Attention to Detail are a packing moving company; the skilled and highly trained team will attend to any packing of all items that is required so you can be certain your items will arrive at the new address exactly as they left the old one. You can rely on the team to move even the most awkward items with precision, as many of them bring former military training to the company, ensuring a smooth operation that will have you moved and in place in no time.

If you need to move items into storage, then you can take advantage of the excellent storage solutions provided by Attention to Detail. They have safe, secure and local facilities that you can use for short of long periods of time, with access whenever you need and excellent rates. No matter what it is you need store, give them a call and they will be more than happy to help. You can get a free no obligation quote for your moving requirements by filling in the simple online form, and they will come back to you as soon as they can with the best price.

Moving home or office need not be a stressful experience when you engage the services of Attention to Detail Moving, and many very satisfied clients have already discovered this when they booked the company to perform their move. They will be happy to attend your premises for an accurate assessment of your needs, and provide you with an accurate price for the entire job. Take the stress out of your move by using a professional service; get in touch with Attention to Detail right now, and you may be surprised how affordable it can be to use the best in the business.

Healthy eating for children

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Children’s food is overwhelmingly associated with unhealthy eating. Who didn’t dream of chocolate, sweets, soft drinks and ice cream as a child? After all, sweets are featured as a vital part of childhood in most popular media, from children’s books to advertisers. It may not be possible to completely remove sweets from a child’s diet, but getting your kids to eat fruit and vegetables doesn’t have to be a battle. It is possible for your children to enjoy a balanced diet – you just need to know how to get them excited about healthy food. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Cook healthy recipes with your child

When you think of cooking when you are young, you probably think of freshly baked cookies, sweet biscuit dough and lots of coloured icing. You probably don’t think of salads, fajita wraps, mini pizzas and fish cakes. It’s never too early to tap into your child’s inner chef and teach them to make a few basic and healthy recipes that will see them through into later life as well.

Explore what healthy food your children like

Some vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, seem to be universally loathed by children. However, there are many other fruits and vegetables that your child may already like, such as avocadoes and cherry tomatoes. Encourage your child to try different vegetables and reward them when they try something new – even if they decide it isn’t for them after all.

Find alternative rewards to sweets

Parents often reward children with sweets and chocolate when they have done something well, making it easy for children to associate sweets with achievement and treat time. Avoid rewarding children with sweets and find alternatives such as stickers, healthy snacks, their favourite fruit or just lots of affection.

The lunchbox

If healthy food isn’t available at your child’s school, prepare a lunch box that contains a mix of starchy foods, protein, dairy and fruit. Include food that is fun to eat and shareable such as carrot sticks and hummus. While chocolate bars and crisps are convenient to add to a lunch box, try replacing them with fruit salads. Dried fruit does not count as a healthy snack as it is high in sugar and bad for teeth.

Smoothie recipes for kids

Fun, easy and quick — smoothies are a great way of getting one portion of your five-a-day. Make it fun by getting your child to pick their favourite fruits and put them in the blender. Ripe bananas give smoothies a creamy texture and naturally sweet taste, meaning you won’t need to add additional honey, sugar or ice cream. If you’re looking for inspiration, explore these healthy smoothie recipes for kids. Just remember, fruit juice and smoothies are high in sugar, so limit your child to a serving of 150ml or less a day.

Eating out

Children need a lot of energy to keep going but many children’s menus are high in fat, sugar and salt: chicken nuggets, burgers, fries, ice cream, grilled cheese. When eating out, buy a side of salad or greens to complement a child’s meal if a vegetable is nowhere in sight. When you’re on holiday, there is sometimes no choice but to eat in a restaurant. Here are some tips to help you eat healthily while on holiday. And whatever you do, make sure you’re keeping the soft drinks to a minimum!