All posts by Michelle Honeyager

10 Beauty Tutorials For Affordable Makeup

There’s nothing quite as great as splurging on a high-end beauty item. Exception: when you save money on a drugstore brand and it looks just about as good as the high-end item. So if you’re looking to work your beauty into a budget-conscious life, here are several beauty tutorials that show you how to make the most of affordable beauty products.

 

Drugstore and Affordable Makeup Tutorial

Amy-Rose Walker

 

In this tutorial, Amy-Rose shows you how to use primer, cream contour, highlighter, fake eyelashes, and lots more. In it, you’ll learn some of the “fancy” makeup tricks like contouring and highlighting using products that won’t break the bank as Walker makes use of common brands like Maybelline.

 

Full Face Drugstore Makeup Tutorial & Affordable Brushes

KathleenLights

KathleenLights makes use of common, affordable brands like NYX, Rimmel, and E.l.f. By the time she’s done, she has a flawless, classic look with gorgeous nude shades and an attractive double cat eye, proving the perfect look is still within reach when you’re working with a budget.

 

Cheap Makeup Tutorial

Zabrena

The theme of this tutorial is “nothing over $5” and the products mentioned all come from a 5 Below store. Beyond money-saving tips, this tutorial also points out which products wore best throughout the day, so you’ll learn how to save time in your makeup routine, too.

 

Last Minute Affordable Party Makeup Tutorial

Kaushal Beauty

If you’re on a tight budget and need a stunning look for that upcoming party, you’ll want to give this tutorial a look. If you can follow these steps, your results will be a sharp, sculpted look that’s easy on your wallet.

 

Easy Affordable Makeup Tutorial on Brown/Dark Skin

Toni Olaoye

Different skin tones come with different color and product considerations, so this tutorial is great is you’re looking for drugstore brands that work well with darker skin. This tutorial will get you a bright, highlighted look with a stunning cat eye.

 

Easy + Affordable Back to School Makeup

NikkieTutorials

This tutorial is for a soft, natural makeup look making it perfect for anyone who wants to make a stunning first impression, not just for going back to school.

 

Affordable Makeup Tutorial

Patricia Bright

If you’re calculating your budget down to the pennies, you’ll love this tutorial that breaks down how affordable makeup can be by the day. You’ll find accessible products like L’Oreal True Match. With affordability and ease in mind, this keeps the product list down to 10 items.

 

Full Face Drugstore vs. High-End Makeup Tutorial

Christen Dominique

Given that all these tutorials thus far feature drugstore brands, you may be wondering just how these match up to the high-end products. This tutorial provides a side-by-side comparison of drugstore makeup and more expensive products. Spoiler alert: there’s far less of a difference than you’d think.

Full Face Using Only Five Affordable Products

Denitslava Makeup

Sick of beauty tutorials that have dozens of products mentioned for a single application? This tutorial keeps the cost down by only using five products, all affordable drugstore brands like L’Oreal and Rimmel. It’s kept simple by using concealer, powder, a sculpt and contour kit, mascara, and lipstick only.

 

Everything $1 Tutorial

Bronte Jones

Keep it dollar store cheap with this tutorial. Everything mentioned was found for a buck at Shop Miss A including product steals from brands like Malibu and L.A. Colors. Even with products at this price point, you can achieve a smooth, highlighted look.

International Trips You Can Take with Your Tax Return

Tax season is one of the best and worst times of the year. Getting a return is like winning the lottery – a small lottery – but still money dropped right back into your bank account.

A wonderful way to use that money is to go on that international trip you’ve always wanted. It’s an often overlooked option, as international travel is known as being pretty pricy. But if you know where to look, you can easily get abroad for $2,000 or less per person. Here are some top international locales you can travel to using your tax return this year.

 

Mexico City, Mexico

One of the best ways to go abroad and keep it cheap is to visit a neighboring country. Currently flights to Mexico City are popping up around $400 per person round trip on Expedia.com. Hotels can go as low as $55 per night on the daily deals.

mexico city mx
House of Tiles (Casa de los Azulejos), Mexico City, Mexico

The area boasts many natural sites and ecotourism draws. There’s the National Museum of Anthropology and Palacio de Bellas Artes (a famous art museum), too. There’s even Chapultepec Castle, which is filled with royal relics.

 

Florence, Italy

The airfare for this art and culture destination is running around $1,000 for a round trip ticket, while hotels are averaging around $200 per night. Your best bet for finding inexpensive lodging is using options like AirBnB.com.

Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy
Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy

But while it is one of the more pricey options on the list, Florence has stunning vistas, and the city itself is perfect for roaming and taking in the food and culture. The city even calls itself an “open air museum”, perfect for getting away for several days and exploring another culture.

 

Corfu, Greece

With Greece’s financial crisis, it has risen as a popular place to go on the cheap. Round trip airfare is currently sitting around $700 – not bad for flying halfway across the world! Meanwhile, hotels are super cheap, many going for far less than $100 per night.

Agios Georgios Church, Corfu, Greece
Agios Georgios Church, Corfu, Greece

Even better, you’re getting out into the seat of Western culture. There are castles, historic temples devoted to Greek gods, archeological sites like the Palaeopolis, and stunning churches to visit.

 

Nova Scotia, Canada

Hotels for this area run in the $100 per night range, with some deals going even lower. Meanwhile, flights can be in the $300-450 range, depending on what part of the country you are in.

Nova Scotia, Canada
Nova Scotia, Canada

Nova Scotia is a gorgeous area with tons of natural attractions. The location is a key area for activities like whale watching, food and wine tours, museums, beaches, and lighthouse tours.

 

Hamburg, Germany

Flights to this central European locale are currently around $800 per ticket round trip. Meanwhile, you can find hotels deals for as low as $100 per night.

Hamburg city hall (Rathaus)
Hamburg city hall (Rathaus), Hamburg, Germany

Hamburg refers to itself as the “maritime capital of the north.” Stunning architecture sits right along waterways where you can take canoe and kayak excursions. The area is famous for its sightseeing boat trips and trade centers.

 

St. Lucia, Caribbean

Lower-end flights to this Caribbean escape are popping up in the $600 range. Hotels can be pricey, at up to $800 per night for spa and beach resorts, but you can find hotel deals for as low as $75 a night. This city is located on a small island just south of Puerto Rico. It’s the perfect place to get away if you want some luxurious island time in an unspoiled region.

Halcyon Beach in St Lucia in the eastern Caribbean Sea
Halcyon Beach, St Lucia

Check out the rainforest areas for hikes, pristine beaches, and waterfalls. There’s horseback riding along the coast, and the area is known for activities like fishing, kayaking, and scuba diving.

 

Lima, Peru

Flights to Lima can be around $500-600 per ticket at the moment. Hotels can be found for deals as low as $43 per night, though many average around $100 per night.

Boat driver waits on passenegers in Lima, Peru
Boat driver waits on passenegers in Lima, Peru

Peru is a wonderful place for culture and history. It’s famous for the Inca site of Machu Picchu, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Lima itself is a hotbed for great food, through which you can experience the culture of the area.

 

Copenhagen,  Denmark

Hotels in Copenhagen can run around $200 per night on average on Expedia, though they can get down to around $150. Flights can be in the $600-800 range.

The Gefion Fountain and St. Alban's Church, a large fountain on the harbour front in Copenhagen, Denmark
The Gefion Fountain and St. Alban’s Church in Copenhagen, Denmark

The city offers sightseeing tours, and is home to tons of history in the form of sculptures, castles, and palaces. There’s even a famous amusement park, Tivoli Gardens.

 

St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

This one’s cheating, but if you want to feel like you’re traveling abroad without messing around with passports, consider visiting this U.S. territory to the east of Puerto Rico. It’s a popular vacation spot, so hotel prices can be around $500 per night, but there are more modest lodgings in the $100-200 per night range. Flights are going for around $500-600 round trip.

St. John, US. Virgin Islands
St. John, US. Virgin Islands

This is a true tropical island paradise – pristine blue waters sit along lush green backdrops and 60 percent of the land area is preserved national park, so it’s the perfect place to get out into nature.

 

Cambodia

If you’re looking to go to Asia, Cambodia has become a bit famous for the budget conscious as it’s a place where the US dollar can stretch pretty far.  Flights to Cambodia can run around $1,100 at the cheapest, but for hotels, you’re looking at less than $50 per night at many places.

Bayon temple in Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Bayon temple in Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Located between Thailand and Vietnam, this gorgeous country boasts white sand beaches, archeological sites, and unique religious art.

 

Sunshine Coast, South Africa

Airfare to this area of South Africa runs around $800-1,000 at some of the lowest rates, but hotels in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa can run for $40-100 per night.

Camdeboo National Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Camdeboo National Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa

This region encompasses a good bit of the Eastern Cape coastline. Here you’ll have your beaches, as well as access to classic African wildlife watching at Addo Elephant National Park, not to mention multiple other reserves nearby.

 

Negril, Jamaica

Jamaica is a great place to go if you’re in a tropical mood. Not as mainstream or built-up as a place like Hawaii, Jamaica runs in a more economical category. Flights are currently popping up around $600 per ticket round trip, and hotels can be found in the $200 per night range, sometimes below.

Negril, Jamaica
Negril, Jamaica

Negril is on the western coast of Jamaica, and is known for its expansive beach areas. It also boasts some top entertainment with festivals, cafes, and music.

 

Dublin, Ireland

If you’d like to visit the U.K., but London seems on the expensive side, try Ireland. Airfare can run around $700 per ticket round trip, and hotels can go for around $100-200 per night.

Dublin, Ireland
Dublin, Ireland

In Dublin you can see the heart of Irish culture, like Trinity College and the National Museum of Ireland: Decorative Arts & History. The scenic town is full of culture, traditional Irish music, and life at its many pubs. There are also plenty of day trips you can take to see the more natural areas, like Giant’s Causeway along the scenic coast, and it’s a great destination for road trips.

 

*Hotel and airfare prices were found on Expedia.com for May 2017, and may be subject to change.

Modern Ways to Stay on a Budget 

Sometimes it can feel like staying on a budget is a truly impossible task, especially if it’s your New Year’s resolution. You try to keep an eye on how much money is coming in and going out each month, but pesky extra expenses or that “gotta have” item come into your life and it’s all a monthly budget free fall from there. Next thing you know, as long as you get your minimums on the credit cards paid, you figure you’re good.

The problem is living this way can get to feel precarious and unsustainable. Like one more bill will tip you out of any hope of ever saving anything ever again. Luckily, in the digital age, it’s far easier to get a handle on your financial world. Thanks to the bevy of financial apps, digital rebate programs, and browser extensions, budgeting success is never more than a click or tap away. Here are some of our top picks of the best digital budgeting tools.

 

Mint
mint logoThis is one of the most popular budgeting apps out there, and for good reason. It’s made by Intuit (the tax software people), and it puts all aspects of your financial life into one place. It helps you create budgets, and even offers suggestions based on spending habits. It helps you track and pay bills, allowing you to set up alerts and payment schedules. And it even checks your credit score without a credit card number, and gives you tips on how to improve your score. It’s the one-stop-shop for all your budgeting needs.

 

Catchbudget

catchbudgetMaybe you don’t like your budget following you around in your pocket wherever you go. Maybe you want to keep your budget contained to your desktop computer. For that there’s the Catchbudget Chrome extension. (Though the program does come with a smartphone app option.) This program is meant for households to manage their budgets, as it allows access of up to three family members to work together to control the budget.

 

Ebates

ebatesOne key aspect to a healthy budget is making sure your actual expenditures are kept as low as possible within your preferred lifestyle, especially since there’s always some must-have luxury item (https://beyondwords.life/7-best-pieces-jewelry-woman-can-buy/) out there. The easiest way to do that is to look for great deals, and one of the best deals is a cash back program. Ebates helps connect people with cash back options if they shop at online stores that are affiliated with the program. Some of the stores Ebates works with include Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com),) and  Target (http://www.target.com), to name a couple. The service connects you with tons of coupon deals, as well.

 

Cartwheel from Target
cartwheelAnother easy way to save money and stay on your monthly budget is to see what rewards apps your favorite stores have. If you do a ton of shopping at a few stores in particular, the savings could really add up. One example is Target’s Cartwheel app.  It’s basically an easy app that connects you to coupons and discounts at the store. Then you scan the related barcode off your phone at checkout. The more you save, the more badges you earn, and the more offers you unlock.

 

Apples2Oranges

apples2orangesIf you need a great way to stay on budget, buying in bulk could be your answer, yet sometimes that can involve some pesky calculations to see if the bulk price really is the best deal. Apples2Oranges is an app that takes the pain out of the process by helping you compare unit prices to see how you would save the most. It even helps you keep track of your calories by interpreting nutrition labels.

 

BillGuard

billguardIn an era when identity theft is constantly in the media, one of the best ways to stay in your financial sweet spot is to make sure your finances are protected. BillGuard is an app that helps you verify all your debit and credit card charges to make sure there’s no funny business going on with any of your accounts. It’s actually very easy and non-intrusive; the app flags any charges for you that others in the network have flagged as unauthorized or dubious. It even keeps track of where you shop and helps you analyze your spending.

 

Acorns

acornNeed an easy way to pad out your income so you can meet those budget goals? Rather than focusing on saving and keeping track of money, Acorns helps you invest money. The app takes the spare change from your purchases by rounding up to the nearest dollar and turns that change into investments. Your money is then diversified over 7,000 stocks and bonds. Feel like a wealthy investment tycoon with minimal effort.

Jane Goodall: the Woman Advocating for Endangered Species

“Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved.”  -Jane Goodall

 

Jane Goodall is best known for decades of studying chimpanzees in Tanzania, during which time she revolutionized the way scientists see primates and other animal behavior. Goodall went on to become a champion for animal rights and sustainability.

Today, in her 80s, she’s still active , and the Jane Goodall Institute is involved in some amazing conservation efforts for both people and animals. Read on to learn about this inspiring woman, her active legacy, and how you can get involved.

 

Jane Goodall: A Short Biography

Goodall, with roots in England, has a love of animals which started at an early age from reading books like “Dr. Dolittle” and “Tarzan.”

Goodall’s passion for Africa eventually sent her to a friend’s farm in Kenya where she eventually corresponded with the famous archaeologist and palaeontologist Dr. Louis Leakey. Leakey needed a primate researcher, and decided someone with a fresh perspective outside of academia was needed. In 1960, when Jane was 26-years-old, she went to work in Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania with Dr. Leakey.

It was there that Goodall’s dedication and passion as a researcher really stood out.  Back in those days, Goodall had only a notebook and a pair of binoculars. It took years of patience to gain the trust of the shy chimpanzees, but she emerged from the experience as the world’s foremost expert on primate behavior.

Without a strict scientific background, Goodall came to her research with truly unconventional methods for the day. She named the chimps, rather than numbering them, and closely observed the unique personalities of the animals. At the time, seeing personalities in animals was beyond the scientific doctrine. Yet Goodall observed all of it and used it to gain an inside view into the chimps’ social and behavioral structures.

Goodall is famously noted as saying, “It isn’t only human beings who have personality, who are capable of rational thought [and] emotions like joy and sorrow.” Goodall picked up on hugs, kisses, tickling, and patting backs among the chimps pointing to the stark similarities primates share with humans, not just genetically, but behaviorally as well.  Further, she debunked the old scientific beliefs that only humans could use tools and that chimps were vegetarians.

“During the first 10 years of the study I had believed… that the Gombe chimpanzees were, for the most part, rather nicer than human beings,” said Goodall in her book “Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey.” “Then suddenly we found that chimpanzees could be brutal—that they, like us, had a darker side to their nature.” Previously undiscovered behavior like that is what marked Goodall’s career as one that had a huge influence in changing scientific fact.

In 1961, Goodall started studying for a Ph.D. in ethology from Cambridge University, and stood as the eighth person to study for a Ph.D. at the school without a bachelor’s degree. She graduated from the program in 1966.

As Chairman of The National Geographic Society Gilbert Grosvenor puts it, “Jane Goodall’s trail-blazing path for other women primatologists is arguably her greatest legacy…Indeed, women now dominate long-term primate behavioral studies worldwide.”

Yet Goodall’s work goes far beyond the field of primatology.

 

The living legacy of the Jane Goodall Institute

Goodall first established the institute in 1977. Since then, the institute has gone on to have one of the most comprehensive environmental activism approaches.

One major threat to chimpanzee populations is poachers looking for bushmeat, or meat that is from non-domesticated animals, which is treated as a delicacy in some cities. This can cause the spread of tropical diseases, which easily migrate from primates to humans. On top of that is the desire for chimpanzees as exotic pets, meaning many chimpanzee young are abducted after poachers kill their mothers.

The institute runs the Gombe Stream Research Center to continue studying the primates and offering a sustainable, safe habitat. The institute also helps orphaned primates through the Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center. To spread knowledge about the threats to animal habitats, there are local billboard campaigns, school programs and community outreach.

Perhaps some of the most empowering work the Jane Goodall Institute does is to promote sustainable livelihoods. Programs in Africa help people live in such a way that does not damage primate habitats or require reliance on illegal bushmeat. One of the promoted efforts even involves supporting sustainable coffee production. Programs foster livelihoods that are not as dependent on exploiting natural resources, such as animal husbandry, tree nursery projects and permaculture.

The institute also helps women get access to education so that they can stay in school past puberty.

Visit The Jane Goodall Institution’s “Get Involved” page to donate.

 

Simple Volunteer Opportunities for Busy People

Want to make a difference, but life is just too crazy? We all hear that being a volunteer is good for the community and the soul. Maybe you’ve thought of volunteering your time, but life just got in the way. You heard about that great cause that sang to your soul, but then work, family, the laundry and the mounting DVR backlog struck, and you didn’t think about that cause for another two years.

Fortunately, there is a middle ground here. You can be involved in the community without sacrificing all of your evenings, weekends and lunch breaks. By thinking outside of the box, it’s easy to squeeze volunteering into your life in ways that may not even feel like you’re taking time out of your busy life. Below are several ways to make volunteering work in any time constraint.

Find limited special events

Volunteering can take as little or as much time as you want, and special events put that on display. One-day events run the gamut. The most popular are run-walks, where you can spend a day getting exercise outside while benefitting a cause. These are usually yearly events, so you’re not devoting nearly every single weekend to them, either.

5k race
a katz / Shutterstock.com

Run-walks usually require some type of fundraising to go along with the run, but many events don’t have a minimum fundraising limit. And with tools like Facebook, fundraising doesn’t have to take a ton of time.

Outside of run-walks, there are plenty of other events to look into that happen infrequently. Think about checking into events like humane society adopt-a-thons, trick-or-treating for a charity, events like the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, a dance marathon or work at a food kitchen on a holiday.

 

Volunteer on vacation

Admittedly, ‘voluntourism’ trips are on the more time-intensive side. You’re giving up a whole week or more to work for free, after all. But in certain situations, they make plenty of sense. Let’s say life has been so hectic you’ve amassed vacation time you’ve been unable to use up until this point. You could take one of those weeks and jam a year’s worth of volunteering time into a single week.

water purification puremadi
Travel to help with water purification | Image courtesy of PureMadi

Volunteering abroad is a great way to do some good while seeing a different part of the world. And rather than going to an all-inclusive resort that looks basically like any hotel you’d see in the Western Hemisphere, you’re getting elbow deep in another culture and its people.

 

Virtual volunteering

The newest trend in volunteering is virtual volunteering. That’s where you use your computer in some fashion to lend your skills to an organization or group. Think of it like telecommuting for a cause. And it can be as intense or easy as you want. One hilariously lazy way to volunteer is to essentially rent your computer space out to research programs that need a ton of power to crunch numbers. One such program is BOINC (Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing), a program you download that allows Berkeley access to your spare computing power.

woman at laptop

If you don’t like the idea of giving a university idle reign over your spare computing power, you can volunteer to complete digital tasks for organizations. Sites like Volunteermatch.org and idealist.org can link you to places that need virtual volunteers and offer resources to get started. Needs range from web design to social media help. And since it’s digital, you can fit it in during small chunks of time around your other responsibilities.

 

Send care packages

Really crunched for time? Take the 20 minutes it would require to assemble a care package. This is a volunteer opportunity that is easy to forget amid the myriad of basic donation options like drop-off sites. But care packages are needed by many people: disadvantaged families, soldiers and military families, cancer patients and hungry children, to name a few. An idea to get you started is packing a lunch for hungry kids. If you’re really short on time, Operation Gratitude has donation options through eBay.

143d ESC receives holiday cheer
143d ESC receives holiday cheer, from 143d ESC on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

 

Combine your hobbies and volunteering

Sometimes volunteering slips by the wayside because life is just full of so many fun potential hobbies. We mean to volunteer, but that novel calls or we’d rather be learning a new musical instrument. The way to fight that is to think of volunteering as synonymous with your hobbies.

Odds are, there are tons of ways to put your hobbies to use for others. DoSomething.org connects you to some of the top fun volunteer activities you can participate in. If you’re crafty, you can create dog toys. Use your love of reading to inspire literacy in others through reading games. Like art? Make a birthday card for a homeless .

woman crafting with dog

And it doesn’t stop there. Put on musical performances in health facilities through groups like Musicians on Call. If you like computers, you can code for a cause through groups like Code for America. Even video games are being used to help others through Games Done Quick, which is like running a marathon to raise money, but instead you’re finishing a video game extremely fast. It’s all a good excuse to practice your favorite hobby.

Do one good deed

The fact is, a lot of organizations know we’re all short on time. Volunteering means you give what you can when you can, and by looking for some of the most flexible options, volunteering might just be something you can fit in for as little as an hour a month, or even less. It’s certainly better than doing nothing.

Volunteer Opportunities for Animal Lovers

Do you wish you could spend more time with animals while making a difference? If you have a passion for furry friends and helping people, there are plenty of ways to get involved. Volunteering with animals is a great way to learn about animal-related careers and still give to the community in incredibly meaningful ways. Below are several often-missed ways to get involved with the philanthropic side of animal care.

 

Humane society opportunities 

The first place many people think of when wanting to volunteer with animals is the Humane Society, and it’s for a good reason. Most of them are always looking for help. But when many people think of volunteering at the Humane Society, they think of cage cleaning and kennel maintenance. And while these are necessary duties, if you’re not the mucking-about-in-filth kind of person, there are plenty of easily overlooked ways to put other skills to use with the Humane Society.

Wendy is a volunteer for the Humane Society.
“Wendy is a volunteer for the Humane Society.” from Jo & Joey on Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)


Many Humane Society locations will have the basic animal socialization needs, like cat cuddling and dog walking. These are great options if you just want some one-on-one time with some animals.

But there are also other programs like helping with mobile adoptions, where volunteers bring animals out into the community to show people what types of critters are currently up for adoption. This is a wonderful option for those who like to interact with the public as much as they enjoy working directly with animals. Along the same lines is helping with community events like run-walks and other fundraisers. Many shelters will also need help with animal training courses or may even need clerical help.

Your best bet is to call up your local Humane Society and see what they need.

Like most volunteer positions, you’ll most likely need to attend one or several training/orientation sessions, depending on which service you’re looking to help out with.

 

Foster and rescue care  

Want to work with animals, but would rather do it in the comfort of your own home? Starting a rescue or serving as a foster home for rehabilitating animals is perfect for those who have a strong caregiving streak for sickly, injured and healing animals.

Gouda
“Gouda. This the most ridiculously cute set of puppies my parents have fostered so far.” from Keith Kissel on Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Again, a great place to start is with your local Humane Society, many of which need people to take recovering or young animals into their homes to prepare them for adoption into permanent homes. The Humane Society will often support you with resources and training.

If you’d like to focus on a certain animal/breed it’s also possible to start running your own rescue out of your home, in which you take in animals and care for them until they can be adopted out elsewhere. This is a good opportunity for enterprising, organized people who prefer to work independently.

Granted, this is the most time-intensive and complicated option for volunteering with animals. With this, you’ll essentially be running a business. You’ll be connecting with others to find animals in need, possibly working with fundraising, getting the animals spayed and neutered and you’ll need to know everything about keeping animals healthy. You may have to pass state licensing requirements to become a nonprofit as well. This is often a graduated method of working with animals after you’ve had pets of the same type/breed and have worked with a shelter extensively.

If this is something you would seriously consider, start by learning everything you can. Talk to those who run rescues and research what it takes to run one.

 

Animal therapy programs 

Here we get back into something that’s less time-consuming. Getting your pet certified as a therapy dog is a rewarding way to work with your own pet and other people out in the community.

For those who have never seen a therapy animal, these are animals that are certified to go into facilities like hospitals, schools and nursing homes to visit with the patients, students or residents. Studies have found that interaction with animals helps with recovery and improves psychological wellbeing.

Norman West Therapy Dogs
“Norman West Therapy Dogs. Norman West showcased the various therapy dogs children can read to at the library.” from Pioneer Library System on Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)


To start this process, you’ll need to seek certification through courses offered by a therapy dog organization, many of which can run for about 12 weeks or so, though requirements vary. You can find a list of certifying organizations here. You’ll learn and be assessed on how to work with your dog and other people in the community in an effective, safe manner.

 

Zoo volunteer opportunities  

Want to work with exotic animals or help with animal education in the community? Check with your local zoo, if you have one. Many volunteers work directly with zookeepers to help maintain the zoo in some organizations, though not all.

New Heights
“Baby penguin climbing up Katie’s leg (before comically tumbling off).” from David Goehring on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)


A more common way to volunteer at a zoo is to become what many zoos call “docent volunteers,” in which people work with education programs and tours. This is a great option for those who love interacting with the public one-on-one, talking about animals and public speaking. Another common volunteer role is to work with fundraising programs to help directly raise money for a zoo.

 

Aquariums 

Aquariums are an often-overlooked place to volunteer, but many of them do need help. You may be surprised by what aquariums need from volunteers.

Miller & I
“Miller & I” from Stacina on Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

For instance, the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago has a number of volunteer positions that involve giving talks to school groups, gathering data about the guests who come to the aquarium though tasks like market research, helping with animal husbandry, working with the water quality or working in the library, to name a few. Experienced divers can even give presentations in the tanks to guests.

What Your Favorite TV Show Says About Your Personality

There’s nothing like settling down to your favorite TV show after a long day. You might not think your preferences are too telling about who you are as a person. After all, you just like what you like, right? You’re probably more invested in the plot than self-analysis anyway.

But your television or computer screen may actually be the window to your soul. What – did you think it was your eyes? Nothing’s more telling about who we are than what we’re into.

The Big Bang Theory

You’re chock-full of quirkiness. You probably relate highly to the characters for their unique interests and sometimes-bizarre personalities. Maybe you’re really into Bavarian history, read up on archeology, know everything about baseball statistics, play every role playing game released or know more about rodent breeding than your average Joe. People give you funny looks when you go off about your favorite obscure topic. But you’re also loveable for your quirks, loyal to your friends and not afraid to have a good time with your buddies, even if that means a chill night staying in and playing some video games.

Game of Thrones

You’re the fearless sort. Every time you turn on your favorite show, you get to stare death right in the face. Your favorite character (or six) may have died horrible, gruesome deaths, but you keep on trucking because nothing’s going to stop you from enjoying an intense story with tons of intrigue. You’re the type of person who picks up and moves forward quickly when things get sad and difficult. You’re not afraid to admit that life can get gritty, but you face it without fear anyhow.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

You resist being boxed into just one category, and you recognize that fitting into this category is extremely ironic. You sit down to the television or computer and you want it all: romance, spies, hackers, super heroes, humor, action, conspiracies and a red flying car named Lola. Just as this show can juggle it all, so can you. You’re the type who likes sports, comic books, nature and computers. You manage to fill many roles in life. You have friends across the spectrum, and something you’re unfamiliar with is just a new challenge waiting to be tackled.

House of Cards

You’re the serious type who likes to stay informed. You’ve got a head for politics, public policy and are a complete news hound. To you, there’s nothing better than being up-to-date on the latest election happenings, even if it’s for district alderman half the state away. You also veer on the intense side of things, and aren’t afraid of a good revenge story. Any day justice is served is a good day in your book, like the time you ate all your roommate’s food because they were hogging the bathroom too much.

Empire

You are very motivated by success. You love to watch it and love to root for those who are trying to manage it. Your favorite book might even be Lean In. Your greatest dream is to own a multi-million dollar company of some variety, if you don’t already. If you do, you’d like a second one. But success comes with its complications, not that you’re averse to facing those head on. You’re the strong, driven type who can meet any challenge. Your hobbies involve scheming to make your millions, and you’d totally make a great guest on “Shark Tank.” Whether you want to invent the world’s comfiest slippers or make it big in music, you won’t stop until you’ve lived your dreams.

Person of Interest

You love to solve problems and are the last person to shy away from complexity. Technology is second nature to you. But you also love “odd couple” dynamics and know the value of a team with diverse backgrounds coming together to solve the trickiest of problems. You may be the type who loves to hunt down crowdsourced technological, scientific and math problems, or at least highly respect those who do. You keep up on the latest science and technology news and have plans to build your own super computer one day. And it shall help police the world.

Designing the Perfect Home Office

If you have an office at home, chances are you spend a lot of time in it. As such, we all deserve something that plays to our natural work environment needs, has inspiring décor and allows us to be our most organized selves. Read on to find out how to create a beautiful and functional home office, whether you already have a home office that needs some TLC or you’re starting out brand new.

computer on desk
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

Choosing where to put your home office

If you don’t have a home office already, you’ll of course need to start with identifying where an office will work in your home. Any spare bedrooms may be an obvious choice if you have the room to spare. But when looking at the room, assess how it will work as an office by keeping in mind lighting, positioning and space.

For instance, if it’s a choice between two rooms, you may want the room with the most natural lighting to help keep you energized. Try to choose a room that’s more removed from living areas if you’re the type who needs quiet to work. A little self-analysis and forethought will go a long way in making sure you convert the most appropriate space into a home office.

home office
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

For those without a room to spare, keep in mind the natural nooks and crannies of your home. If there’s a set-in nook area by the kitchen, for instance, that can become a mini-office space through the addition of a small writing table. Other options involve using under-stair space and sectioning off part of a basement.

You can even place a small desk in a closet so that you can open the closet door and reveal your office. It’s the perfect option for urbanites who don’t have a ton of space to work with.

home desk office
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

The desk is key

Since your desk is what you’ll be spending all your time at while you’re in your home office, you’ll want to make sure you get the perfect one for your needs. Below are some of the most common desk styles and in which situations they work best.

computer armoireArmoire desk: These are a classic type of desk that fold out of a large cabinet. They’re perfect for space that requires multi-functionality in furniture due to aesthetic preference or space limitations. If you don’t have a specific room for a home office, consider an armoire that acts both as a desk and necessary storage. Here is a compact option available at Wayfair.com.

 

marco deskWriting table: Here’s a very basic option if you don’t need a lot of fuss, or are planning to stick a small table into a nook somewhere. These are just compact tables that are perfect if you do most of your work on a small laptop. For a minimalist approach, you could find something like this Marco Desk from Crate&Barrel.

 

broadstreet deskComputer desk: These desks tend to be sprawling and have multiple surfaces at different levels. They’ll usually have a keyboard tray, space for a printer and tons of space for papers and organizational files away from the computer itself. A must-have if you do a lot of work on a desktop computer. For a good amount of working space, look for something like this Broadstreet Desk from Office Depot.

 

ikea micke deskCorner desk: These are also more commonly known as L-shaped desks. They’re perfect for putting in corners if you’re working with a smaller space or if you like to face the wall to cut out distractions. Products like this Ikea MICKE desk are perfect for tight spaces.

 

 

cabinet deskCabinet-style desk: These desks come with a built-in filing system and shelf storage. They’re perfect if you like everything filed away and orderly. Here is one for maximum storage available at Sears.

 

 

 

restoration hardware deskExecutive desk: These high-end pieces make the home office look like an executive suite (hence their name). They come in highly polished wood materials and elaborate designs. These are perfect if you have a large spare room for a home office. They’re also great if you receive people for meetings and want to show a high touch of class. A chic option could be something like this St. James desk from Restoration Hardware.

 

 

Organizing your home office

You can stand around trying to visualize a space all day, but if you’re serious about getting the most out of your home office, your best bet is to find an online tool that helps you create a visual layout. These tools are even great if you desperately need to reorganize your home office.

computer on desk
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

You can find a downloadable program on Ikea’s website. There are also options like Sweet Home 3D and the purely browser-based West Elm Room Planner. With these tools, you’ll be on your way to the perfect office for your needs in no time, since you’ll be able to play with different storage, furniture and organizational options.

The Beginner’s Guide to Feng Shui

Have you ever walked into a room and everything just felt right? Like you immediately felt at peace with the world because all of your surroundings were balanced and the room had nothing but good vibes? With how hectic modern life is, don’t feel bad if you haven’t. We’re not exactly taught how to be at one with our surroundings.

living room

We can still learn to value and balance our surroundings. The ancient art of Feng Shui can teach us how to arrange our surroundings in ways that promote peace, relaxation and balance. The art can get a bit complex, but there are simple contemporary ways for anyone to get the best of this practice.

 

Keep out clutter

One of the main components of Feng Shui is getting rid of clutter. Traditionally in Feng Shui, clutter means stuck energy and being tied down into the past. Clutter is thought to prevent new opportunities, since you live with unproductive and outdated reminders of the past junking up your space in the form of old papers and expired food on the counter.

modern bathroom

In the modern home, it’s an excellent reason to get your space in order. Mercilessly clear out anything you don’t use or even like. Dump that old box of a new fiber bar brand you barely touched, get rid of those gifts where “it’s the thought that counts,” shred old direct deposit forms and purge anything else that is cluttering your life. With less reminders of the past, you may see new opportunities.

 

Bagua basics

Feng Shui Bagua

Another huge cornerstone of traditional Feng Shui is the Bagua Map, pictured above.  It’s a map you mentally place over your home. The map shows which parts of a home correspond to certain lifestyle attributes.

For instance, the center of the space, as the map shows, is devoted to health. The north part of the house is devoted to career, and all the way around the compass different parts of the home relate to different attributes.

front door
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

Now unless you are building a brand new home from scratch, you may not be able to align the attributes perfectly with the cardinal directions. To get a mental image of this map over your home, align the bottom of the map with the main entryway you use, so you’re entering through career, helpful people or wisdom. What this does is tell you which parts of your space correlate with different aspects of your life.

organized bedroom with patio

For a more simple approach, you can also do the same with a single room, putting the doorway at the bottom of the map. You can even apply it to your desktop, placing the bottom of the map where you sit.

What this means in terms of a modern and practical approach is that you can use those spaces to align your home and psyche with certain goals. For instance, getting the upper righthand corner of your home or room organized and appropriately decorated will remind you to value relationships or leave you more open to them. But what does it mean to get those areas “appropriately decorated”? That’s where Feng Shui colors and décor pieces come into play.

Feng Shui colors

Colors can carry some strong psychological associations, and the ancient art of Feng Shui is no stranger to the notion. Certain colors carry certain attributes for bringing your environment in line with your desires. Below is a basic guide on what colors mean in the framework of Feng Shui:

Green: Development, healing, harmony and vigor.

Yellow/gold: Happiness/peace.

Turquoise: Achievement and tranquility.

Dark blue/black: Truth, attention and contemplation.

Orange: Happiness, openness and completion.

Red: Motivation, action, accomplishment and passion.

Pink: Love, relationships and emotional fulfillment.

White: Clarity, focus and purposeful activity.

Purple: Thankfulness, plenty and leadership.

Living room with furnishings in a new house with nice wood floors!

Today, that translates into being mindful of what colors you paint your rooms and what colors you bring into the home in terms of fabric and décor. For instance, you may paint your dining room a shade of purple to represent thankfulness. Or your home office may be red to help you get in touch with your motivated, action-oriented side. Your sofa may have a pink throw over it to foster positive relationships. As such, all of these colors help orient your surroundings with the sort of life you’d like to lead.

Colors can also be used in relation to the Bagua Map. Going back to relationships, if you’d like to get that area in your life more aligned, you might paint a room at the upper righthand corner of your home pink or hang a pink painting in the upper righthand corner of a room.

 

Feng Shui décor pieces

One of the easiest ways to achieve great Feng Shui is to bring items that have what practitioners call good “energy” or “chi” into the home. In a modern sense, that translates into items of great personal value and beauty, like art or houseplants.

house plant
Image via Stocksnap under license CC0

There are a lot of complicated and ancient rules about how to arrange a home to attract love and money, balance a home and align a space with certain goals. From a modern, beginner’s standpoint, it’ll help to go off of intuition and personal preference.

plants
Image via Stocksnap under license CC0

In a corresponding Bagua area, place what personally represents the approriate goals you wish to achieve. For instance, in that relationship corner you could have gifts from a significant other or art depicting relationships.

The overall key to Feng Shui is to create a flowing living space that helps you live life to your fullest potential. At the end of the day, you should make your space meaningful for you.

Balance Trendy and Classic Paint Colors in Your Home

Between character-based colors, Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year and new color combinations that come in and out of vogue, there are a lot of color considerations to remember when painting your home. But many of us want a fresh look, and one that will last longer than a season when it comes to paint jobs. Read on for how to balance trends and timelessness when it comes to paint and color schemes.

paint can white
Image via Pixabay under license CC0

Use Trends as a Starting Point

Trends are a great way to get guidance in a fresh look. But it’s important to remember what trends really are: fresh ways to look at style. A newly painted room is a bit of a commitment, since you probably don’t have the time or inclination to repaint your house every season. So be sure to keep your own preferences in mind, rather than only chasing trends. You’ll ultimately be the one living with the color for a while.

Image via Stocksnap under license CC0
Image via Stocksnap under license CC0

To those ends, feel free to look at what’s hot and trending for new ideas and general inspiration at places like Benjamin Moore or Houzz. That will help you play with color combinations, in particular.

Combining colors is one of the joys of playing around with a home’s wall colors. Trending color combinations are also where you’ll draw tons of inspiration. For instance, high-contrast color combinations, two-toned walls and brown/white color palettes are huge right now. You’re bound to find fun ideas you haven’t thought of yet.

interior, lovely apartment, staircase view

Knowing What Each Color Conveys

One of the best ways to achieve timelessness in a color scheme is to know the general mood behind each color. Every color comes with its own associations; and depending on what mood you want to give a room, those will determine which color to choose:

green leavesGreen: This classic color is one of the ultimate soothing hues and is a great choice if you want a room to have a natural, relaxing vibe.

 

 

 

 

blue sky cloudsBlue: Pale to medium shades of blue will create a relaxing, fluid feel. Darker shades pack an intense, regal feel.

 

 

 

 

rain dropsGray: This is a neutral color that works if you don’t want to draw attention to a wall. It pairs well with accent walls.

 

 

 

peony up closeWhite: If you’re going for a clean or modern aesthetic, you’ll want to choose white walls.

 

 

 

charcoal blackBlack: Black walls are a great option for when you want an intense feel or a statement look in your home.

 

 

 

raspberriesRed: The ultimate power color. Paint your walls red if you want a room that is energizing and dramatic.

 

 

 

japanese cherry blossomPink: Softer shades give a sweet, innocent feel to a room. Saturated hues are great for bold, artistic styles.

 

 

 

purple crystalsPurple: Deep shades give off a regal and intense look, while lighter shades are relaxing and cheerful.

 

 

 

orange windmillOrange: This is a surprisingly versatile color. You can go with lighter shades to add a subtle warm feeling, a dark orange for a dramatic and powerful aura or bright shades for a wild, artsy look.

 

 

 

wood stumpBrown: This is a classic color that you can use to create a rich sense of coziness in its medium to dark shades, or use the lighter shades for clean and neutral.

 

 

 

lemons glassYellow: Here’s another versatile color. The lightest shades will give a bright, sunny feel without being too overwhelming. The deeper golden hues will pack a bright, energizing punch.

 

 

 

A note about ceilings: Unless you want a room to have a hyper-consistent, boxed feeling, choose a different color for the ceiling. Good options that will open up the room are basic white, lightest brown and medium gray. If your walls are already one of these colors, consider an opposite color, like light brown walls with a white ceiling.

brown painted wall with white ceiling

Choosing Colors Using Photos

If you still can’t decide on any colors, there’s another way to make sure rooms are reflecting the feel you want to give them. The Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap’s Snap It Button is a wonderful tool for getting any mood reflected in a room.

You simply find a photo that has a feeling or mood you wish to convey. It could be a beach photo, a forest scene, a photo from a vacation or just a photo of your bedspread that you want coordinated around the room. The tool then matches paint colors with the hues it registers in the photo and even suggests specific shades. And because you based your paint shades off of a beloved photo and mood, the look will be truly timeless.

phone over purple sky
Image via Stocksnap under license CC0

Another option is to use Benjamin Moore’s Personal Color Viewer. It lets you upload photos of your home, and then you can insert the colors you are thinking of painting your walls right into the photo. It saves you the hassle of having to sit around trying to visualize what a room will look like and allows you to get painting that much sooner.

Test Your Color(s)

Once you’ve picked a color (or several) that accurately reflects the feel you want a room to have, now it’s time to play. A simple method for testing a color is to hang a large poster board of that shade on the wall to see how you feel about it, which you can find at any craft store. Live with it for a few days, and if you’re feeling good about it, paint to your heart’s content.