Becoming an Active Member of the Community

Many of us are overwhelmingly busy. Between work, family, play and school, we’ve got a lot to do. But sometimes, we may feel like something is missing — a meaningful connection to the community perhaps? Becoming an active member of the community is an ideal way to get that connection and stay involved with local events and organizations. So how can you do your part to actively engage in the community? Here are a few things to try:

Church Ministries

If you belong to a church, going to Mass or other celebration each week is probably where your commitment ends. But there are other ways to more deeply ingrain yourself in the workings of the church and how it engages with the community around you. Sign up for participation in men’s, women’s or youth ministries to grow your faith and build spiritual, emotional and social skills as they relate to God’s divine purpose, according to Petra International Ministries. Churches may also run food drives, youth programs, hunger walks, counseling services and health ministries that aim to aid those in the community who need it most.

Hospitals

Nothing is worse than being stuck in a hospital with nowhere to go, especially when the prognosis isn’t good. Patients, particularly children, can get scared being in a strange place for days or weeks on end. You don’t have to have a background in medicine to be a volunteer at a hospital. All you have to have is a love for people and a goal of making people smile. Contact your local hospital to see if it offers volunteer opportunities that you could sign up for. You may be able to use your talents to make patients happy, such as knitting hats for young children or making colorful paintings for their rooms. You can visit with patients, greet visitors or donate your time by working in the cafeteria or gift shop.

Nursing Homes

Because elderly residents of a nursing home have often been placed there due to medical reasons or because they can’t safely live on their own anymore, they often become sad and withdrawn. Sure, there are activities in place throughout the day to engage them, but often times this isn’t enough to cheer up those who no longer have the comfort of their own homes. More than 50 percent of nursing home residents do not have close relatives, and 46 percent have no living children, leaving 85 percent of residents with no visitors, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Ask the volunteer coordinator at your local nursing home what you could do, such as lead a sing-a-long in the common room, lead the daily Bingo game, read books and poetry, craft scrapbooks, teach a language, or simply sit with each resident and ask them to tell you happy memories of their lives. You could also help at a higher level, by Hiring a Caregiver For A Nursing Home and increasing their staff, if they need it.

Homeless Shelters

Perhaps you’ve donated canned goods to homeless shelters in the past, which is extremely helpful to the community food banks. However, you could take this a step further and head down to the local shelter and serve food, especially during busy times in the winter or over the holidays. Want to do something a little different that you can involve your kids in? Guiltless Giving suggests creating hygiene kits for the homeless comprised of anything from toothpaste and toothbrushes to deodorant, combs and soap. These kits may also contain a reference card with important numbers where recipients can get the help and assistance they need to get back on their feet.

Getting active in your community doesn’t take a lot of effort but it does require that you take the first step. Get active today and make a difference in someone’s life.

Essential Tools for any Toolkit

Home Improvement 1For those who love to take on projects around the house on their own, there are many tools that can come in pretty handy. While some may simply seem like a luxury item, there are many tools that are a must have for the serious handyman. A lot of work can occur in a garden shed, you never know, there could be some serious TIG welding going on in there. For that, great toolkits are needed. One of these tools is the oscillating multi-tool.

As the name implies, this tool allows the D.I.Y-er the to complete several tasks at the same time. With this tool, you will be able to grind, sand and cut with a back and forth motion, rather than the traditional-and more unstable-spinning motion. Because of this, there are many reasons that this is the perfect tool for your toolbox.

Accuracy

One of the best things about this type of tool is that it is extremely accurate. Because of the back and forth method rather than the spinning motion, you will have much more control over the tool than ever before. The reason for this is because it feels more like vibration rather than movement.

It is also a tool that is easy to use, meaning that there won’t be a giant learning curve to overcome. Because of this, you can quickly begin tackling your household projects with little to no instruction. Many other power tools can be somewhat complicated and difficult to learn to use.

Versatility

Along with being accurate, you will also find that this tool is very versatile. It’s designed to be used for many different projects. It is can easily sand or cut a piece of wood, but it is also a great tool to help remove rusted bolts and screws.

Because of the design of the device, it is easy to use in a variety of locations. Plus, you won’t need to worry that it will go off course as you would with some other commonly used power tools.

Speed

Not only can you rely on the accuracy of the oscillating tool for many projects, but you will also be able to complete the project quickly. Many jobs that this tool can do are extremely time-consuming when you are doing the same job by hand.

Instead, you can rely on this device to help you speed up the project, complete it with unparalleled accuracy and be able to move on to your next project sooner than before. Not only is speed a great benefit when you are working in a woodshop, but it is also a great benefit for around the house as well.

So, if you are a serious handyman and have yet to add one of these tools to your arsenal, you are really missing out. There are so many projects that this tool will come in handy for. You will be surprised at the umber of times you’ll find yourself using it.

When it comes to caring for this tool, simply make sure that you are replacing the blades as needed. This will help make sure that every job you do goes off without a hitch. Additionally, performing all necessary scheduled maintenance will make sure that you are getting the most out of your oscillating multi-tool, increasing the life expectancy.

Cottage Pie

Preparation time: 35 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Serves: 10

The cottage pie is a family favorite. It freezes well and is sure to please everyone in the family. (more…)

Country Home Décor Ideas

country-style-home-decor-ideas-1[1]It is fun decorating a country home and there are several country home décor styles. Three different home décor styles are discussed in this article.

#1: Rustic Country

The rustic country style, also referred to as the American country style, makes use of a simplistic approach. Typically, furniture with straight lines is used and frills and fuss are avoided. To bring about an older appearance, wood is often distressed. “Shabby chic” is a popular as well as a contemporary version of this style. Some may look to have Custom Plantation Shutters installed to bring this style into their homes.

Further, Americana accents and symbols are used as accessories for this décor style. The American flag, barn animals or eagles and stars, old country sayings, and fruit and vegetables can be appropriately used within this theme. The window shades are generally white but may have a navy blue or red stenciled or stamped border to match the theme of the home.

#2: Country Cottage

This style is more formal and is also referred to as the English country style. The walls are painted using bright colors and the windows and tables are covered with heavily patterned fabrics having floral designs. Window treatments often include ornamental antler rods or a curtain rod that has been creatively carved out of a branch.

To complement this traditional look, homeowners often opt for high-quality window options, such as those from an Edmonton plastic windows company and other similar ones, which protect from weather and conserve energy while seamlessly integrating with the classic design elements of this decor style.

Ornate furniture with bold patterns and in colors such as red, green, pink, and sometimes purple are made use of as part of country cottage décor style. Several pillows with ornate trim, covered with fabrics having mixed floral patterns printed on them, are often used. Other things that are used include doilies, metal picture frames, mirrors, and bold floral arrangements.

#3: French Country

The colors used as part of French country include dark greens, deep reds (wine red, crimson, etc.), and touches of navy blue. Sometimes, eggplant and goldenrod yellow colors are also used. Typically, two main colors along with one accent color are made use of in this home décor style.

The walls are painted white or using neutral colors to create a balance with other bold colors used as part of the décor. Window coverings are provided with tasseled pullbacks or very ornate brass curtain rods. Typically, the curtains extend up to the floor and may even puddle up.

Further, furniture made of distressed wood (as in the case of rustic country style) with eclectic design is generally used. To make this style a little more formal, the furniture may be kept heavy and colored in dark shades. Glass is used as an accessory with vintage furniture pieces.

A varnished wood floor goes well with the country style. However, wood grain is appropriate for all styles. Rugs, an inexpensive option, may be used to accessorize any of the rooms. All the home décor styles discussed in this article bring the feel of another time. Whatever your taste, one of these designs will catch your attention.