Bath sets make a more useful and good-looking bathroom. They shall never be missing or else you won’t be having the best bath every day. These essentials are perfect to add in your bathroom be it new or not. They will make every bath experience more peaceful and organizing a lot better. Get the right supplies sooner and take it as a treat to yourself after all the hard work. They are in sets usually so you wouldn’t experience difficulty looking for products individually. Now, if you are looking forward to transform your bathroom into something modern or contemporary, you don’t only need to repaint the wall or renew the look of the floor. But you even need to buy a new bath set.

Bathroom should be kept clean and free from bacteria. It should also housed wonderful set of bath accessories to make it more useful and presentable. So, if you think that most of them are still missing then decide when to go shopping. But before you do that, you should first do some prep work and necessary changes.

The bathroom is probably the smallest room that you have in the house but one of the most important. Just like other room, it should be filled with the right supplies. However, before you shop for quality bath sets, you need first to determine if what are lacking. A set usually include a soap dispenser, soap dish, bath towel, floor rugs, personalized baskets, shower curtains, etc. Sometimes, you can even choose the items to complete the set. These supplies will not just offer you a more presentable bathroom whenever there are guests but they will even keep your bathroom more organized.

When you shop for right bath sets, check the quality of the supplies. Go beyond common looking sets to give a rare look to your personal bathroom. Make sure that your choice of decorations complements the accessories that you have. Never make things complicated while you are adding a new bath set. If your budget can afford the right set then you don’t have to face problems. It would be exciting to get new accessories for your bathroom but remember to shop wisely. Shop while you consider your personal needs and comfort. Think as well of somebody who shares the shower room with you. To top off the look and usefulness of your shower room, you can get a stylist for he maybe knows how to transform that once dull room into a great haven.

As the freezing winter nights begin to draw in, it is in bed when most of us begin to feel the big chill. And if this Christmas time is as chilly as last then we’re facing icy toes and tossing and turning all night, getting up in the small hours to source a blanket to put on.

Ask yourself honestly; when was the last time you bought brand-new bed sheets? Many people keep their bedding for years on end, slowly wearing them down in the wash and ruining their warmth and softness. What you thought were good bed sheets 5 years ago might not be anymore.

Maybe you’ve been putting off buying new bedding. Coming to loggerheads in a shop with a partner over prospective sheets or the mumbo jumbo about thread counts and various types of cotton may have put you off. But you spend almost a third of your life between the sheets; surely you deserve some great bedding after a long, hard day? High-quality bed sheets are definitely worth investing in, they will provide a good night’s sleep and durability. And choosing from the wealth of styles and materials on the market might not be as confusing as you first thought.

Cotton is the most common bedding material. There are various types of cotton of different finishes and qualities. 100% cotton is a general term used to describe cotton of a non-premium quality. Organic cotton is an eco-friendly alternative to regular cotton, as it won’t have been produced using fertilizers or pesticides.

Egyptian Cotton has been the most sought after bedding for years because of its luxurious soft feel and its durability. But just 8% of worldwide cotton produced is from the same species as the plant used to make Egyptian Cotton. The long fibres in this cotton make yarns that are smaller in diameter yet stronger than other cottons. Smaller yarn means that there will be more threads per square inch, creating a durable fabric which is light in weight and breathes well. Egyptian Cotton can be purchased in a sateen finish which gives a subtle gloss to the fabric.

Silk sheets have a strong shine to them and a delicate feel. They are very pricey however, and not as warm as Egyptian Cotton sheets. Mulberry silk is where the silk worms which spin the silk are fed a diet of Mulberry leaves, which creates a much softer feeling material. Satin sheets offer the same sheen as silk but are less costly and less durable. They are also quite cool to touch however, so unless you have a very warm home both of them are ideally suitable for summer use.

Modal is a tough fabric produced from beech pulp blended with cotton. There are also bamboo bed sheets, which blend the fast-growing Asian plant with cotton for an eco-friendly bedding.

In cotton sheets the thread count shows how many threads have been used to create fifty four inches. A greater thread-count usually indicates a more luxurious and smoother feeling fabric. Greater thread counts are typically warmer, and experts recommend looking for sheets of no fewer than a 200 thread count.

Crisp new bed sheets are the ideal Christmas present for that person who has everything. They are the home furnishing used the most, yet least often replaced. Or what about treating yourself this Christmas? Bedsheets are the present nobody ever receives yet we all need. Snuggling down in some high-thread count Egyptian Cotton bed sheets makes a great way to stay warm this winter.

A lack of self-confidence often prevents people giving a good performance when speaking at a public event. Yet, with a few simple techniques, even the most phobic of speakers can stand up and deliver a credible presentation. This article looks at how you can develop the skills that will give you the confidence you need to entertain and enthrall your audience.

Most people’s insecurity tends to stem from two main areas – the level of understanding of the subject itself and a dislike of standing up in public and talking in front of strangers. The good news is that you have control over both these issues so helping to boost your self-confidence and self-belief.

In terms of subject understanding there are some basic rules that you need to follow as part of your preparation:

Understand your audience. Find out from the organisers the background and experience level of your audience. Clearly you will tailor content and delivery to match the knowledge & expertise of the group so this information is vital to how you plan your presentation.

Understand what the organiser wants from you. Find out what they’re looking for in terms of approach and topic so you can offer an appropriate talk. If you can meet expectations, you’ll be delivering more likely to be invited again.

Identify your own goals and objectives. What do you want to achieve from this talk? Are there key points of information that you want people to retain after they leave? When you’re putting together appropriate material, refer back to your goal & objective list to ensure that you’re on track.

Make it easy to understand. Provide case studies, examples and relevant statistics that will quickly illustrate the points you want to put across to your audience. Relevant and interesting case studies and examples will be remembered long after realms of facts and figures. Use visual prompts, diagrams and pictures to simplify complex ideas or data and can reinforce the themes that you’re discussing.

What are the hot topics? Include reference and responses to the leading issues and questions that are concerning your audience. This demonstrates that you are conversant with the latest ideas and discussions that are taking place in the field. By providing commentary and analysis within your talk, you’re showing that you are an opinion leader and expert on the topic.

Be prepared. Anticipate areas of controversy, counter-argument or disagreement and prepare yourself with answers and necessary data. Again, this shows yours depth of knowledge on the topic and helps you deal with questions that otherwise might be difficult to answer.
Focusing your research and preparation this way allows you to provide appropriate content which is correctly pitched to your audience’s knowledge, experience, and expectation levels. Our audience will accept your knowledge and expertise from the moment you step foot on the stage. Knowing that you have pulled together relevant content which is backed up with case-studies, statistics and data to defend against counter-arguments, will greatly boost your confidence levels.

Avoid overwhelming the audience by telling them everything that you know about the topic – they won’t remember everything and you’ll overload them with too much information. Keep to a few key points for each section of the talk – you can go into more detail if you are asked a specific question.

Offering a brief paper or short report on the topic which the audience can refer to later achieves several things – it allows the audience to relax and concentrate on what you are saying rather than trying to listen and take notes at the same time. It is another opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge on a topic (and you don’t have to stand up and speak unless you offer a video or audio piece). It also helps you expand your network.

The second obstacle facing unconfident speakers is the actual fear of speaking in public. Again, there are some proven techniques which you can use on the day and before to calm nerves and anxiety and improve performance.

Shrink your audience down to size. Instead of viewing the audience as a vast sea of unknown faces, think of a smaller and intimate setting of just nine or so people. By selecting faces on the right, left and centre of the room, one in the front, one in the middle, and one by the back, you can look as if you’re speaking to the whole room. By focusing on these nine faces, you can respond to them in a more natural way.

Breathe. When we are nervous, our breathing changes to a more shallow and rapid rate. The muscles in the rib-cage and throat tighten and constrict which affects the sound of the voice and its ability to travel across a room. The higher, faster and tighter tone that results is also harder to listen to – making a conscious effort to breathe slowly and deeply will lower your voice, and slow the pace of your speaking.

Build rapport. Your prior research has given you an insight to your audience background and expectations which you can use to develop an affinity between you and them. Share your interest and enthusiasm for your topic and the audience will respond to your energy. They want to hear what you have to say – show that you want to share your knowledge with them.

Engage with your audience. Keep energy levels high by getting your audience to interact with you by conducting straw-polls, asking questions, and where appropriate, inviting them to take part in hot-seat sessions. The more you draw in your audience, the more positive the response to what you have to say.

Be appropriate in your dress and speech. Lack of confidence and anxiety can sometimes produce inappropriate language. Avoid bad language and dress in clothes that are both comfortable as well as appropriate.

Believe in yourself. Reflect positive body-language – remember that with all the background work you’ve already done, you are genuinely knowledgeable about the topic. Your experience and track record of achievements brought you the invitation to speak so this is the chance for you to share.

Get suitable help & support before the event. Build up your confidence by practising breathing techniques, visualisations, and relaxation strategies. Knowing that you have a range of tools to help you reduce your anxiety will strengthen you.
Remember that you don’t deliver all the information that you have researched and collected. Doubts and anxiety should fade from the knowledge that you know more than you’ll actually talk about on the day. Building on this assurance and practising the speaking & relaxation techniques above will help your delivery and composure on the stage.

Sumi Olson is the author of the Amazon five-star rated, ” How to Manage Your Social Media Marketing in 30 Minutes A Day”, and is an author, speaker and consultant on social media & business development. With 25 years’ experience in book publishing, business development, online selling, sales & marketing, Sumi is expert in reducing overwhelm and turning insights into implementation.

If you want to satisfy your publishing or writing aspirations, meet your sales, marketing & management objectives, or achieve your social media & online marketing targets, then Sumi Olson can give you the tools and knowledge you need.

With a young family of her own, she’s passionate about helping people create a great work-life balance through practical systems & processes so that they can spend more time on the things that matter in life.

The birth stone of December is turquoise, a show-stopping azure precious stone that’s been capturing eyes and hearts for milliennia. Wearing the birthstone associated with your birthday is thought to give good luck and protection, and what better way to wear it than in an exquisite turquoise necklace or bracelet, hand crafted and finished in Sterling silver or 9ct gold.

Turquoise is made from hydrated copper aluminium phosphate and it is found in igneous rocks which are rich in aluminium. Literally translated it means “Turkish”, a nod to its past when Levantine traders imported the jewel into Europe via Turkey. Turquoise is one of the few opaque gem stones, giving it a distinctive deep-pigmented colour which can vary from green to sky blue depending on its make-up, with or without black veins running through the stone called its matrix. Bright blue is the most sought-after type of the stone, an on-trend colour in fashion and jewellery. Turquoise and blue topaz are the birthstones of December, and Turquoise is also the traditional gem stone for people celebrating their 6th or 11th wedding anniversaries.

Turquoise was one of the first semi-precious stones to be excavated, mainly in the Sinai region of Egypt, Iran, and the south west United States and Mexico. Having been mined since as long ago as 3,000 BC, understandably resources of the mineral is running low. This has led to replica gemstones becoming prevalent in jewellery in the modern day, and a higher worth placed on real turquoise.

Turquoise offers a historical past rivalled by no other gem stone. The mummy of Queen Zer, the ancient Eqyptian monarch, was found decorated in vivid turquoise bracelets when she was discovered in nineteen hundred. She had chosen the precious stone to wear for 7,500 years. And picture the famous gold death mask of Tutankhamen: it too is embedded with precious turquoise stones.

The reason behind its historical significance is that turquoise has been highly valued by a lot of ancient civilisation who thought that it possessed powerful metaphysical properties. Around Asia the gem was believed to protect from the evil eye, and the Aztecs reserved the stone for the Gods in religious masks. In the 16th century American Indians thought that turquoise embodied the spirits of the ocean and sky, using it as both a form of exchange and also to bring fortune and protection to fighters and hunters. Even today turquoise is seen as having protective properties. In modern gemstone therapy it is believed to boost self-confidence and relieve depression, stomach problems, viral infections and rheumatism. If presented as a gift turquoise is perceived as a sign of friendship.

Whether you believe in these legends or not, it’s hard not to see the beauty which this show-stopping stone has.

To view a full selection of spectacular hand-made turquoise jewellery visit Birthstone Gifts [http://www.birthstonegifts.co.uk/]. They offer a personalisation service, which includes a wide selection of charms to include in jewellery available for a unique and unforgettable present.