- Kayley

How to Look After a Dog

 As with any pet, dogs need to be looked after properly. Some people don’t think about what it takes to care for an animal before they get one, sadly this often results in abandoned and neglected pets. Before you bring your new friend home, make sure to understand the basics of how to look after them!

Affection

Most dogs are affectionate creatures, and they do require a lot of attention from their owners. Unlike the independent cat, dogs like to be near you and can, at times, invade your personal space. If this sounds like it could be a little too much, then maybe a dog isn’t the right pet for you.

Training

If you are getting a puppy, then you must be prepared to dedicate time and energy to training it. Like all babies, they need to learn how to look after themselves. No one wants their dog peeing (or worse!)  all over the house, so train them while they’re young to behave properly in your home. This includes their behavior towards other people and dogs.

Exercise

Some breeds will need more exercise than others, usually the bigger types of dogs. Even so, you will need to be taking your dog out at least once a day for a walk. If this doesn’t appeal to you, then think twice about committing to a dog. Alternatively, if you don’t have the time to do this, consider hiring a professional dog-walker to help you out.

Day-care

If you have a job that obliges you to be at work all day, your dog might get restless and lonely at home without you. Like using a dog-walking service, doggie day-care is a brilliant solution for those who work a 9 to 5. Your furry friend will spend the day playing with other dogs under the watchful eyes of caring professionals, like heartandpaw.com. These services are a perfect way to make sure your dog is getting the proper care it needs while you’re being kept busy at work.

Food

Each dog breed is different, and as with exercise, larger dogs will likely need more food than little ones. You must understand what diet is better for the type of dog you own. Ensure your dog is getting the correct food and nutrition to avoid illnesses and expensive trips to the vets.

Insurance

Hopefully, your dog won’t get into any horrible accidents or develop any sicknesses. However, things can happen, and there might come a day when they receive a serious injury or fall ill. It is important to have pet insurance in place to help with costly vet bills; otherwise, you might not be able to manage to pay for the help your dog needs. No one wants to have to go through that heartache.

Pets are big commitments, due to their nature, dogs are one of the biggest you can make. Make sure that you understand what it takes to look after a dog properly before you get one.

- Kayley

What are masonic ties and why are they important?

For thousands of years ties have been used by people as a way of showing involvement within a workforce, team, club or organisation and Masonic ties are no different – ties have been a vital part of Masonic regalia for many years.

Freemasons are known to dress smartly, almost all lodges expect members to wear Masonic ties to meetings and formal occasions throughout the year. Masonic ties date back to the early nineteen-hundreds; Freemasons wore black ties to lodge meetings as a mark of respect for those that lost their lives in the Great War. Black ties became closely associated with Freemasonry.

However, by 2002 hundreds of thousands of Masons across England and Wales decided it was time for more colourful and distinctive ties to be introduced. Due to the traditional nature of the black tie, not all Freemasons approved the idea of changing the regalia – the black tie holds great significance. Nowadays, tie designs tend to vary between lodges.

Masonic ties as Festival merchandise

Masonic provinces organise fundraising initiatives known as a Festival. Festival appeals usually last around 5 years and aim to raise funds for charities through a range of events. Supporting a Festival can be demonstrated by purchasing traditional Masonic merchandise – this is often in the form of customised Masonic ties.

Masonic ties are one of the pieces of regalia used by members of the brotherhood to help create a unifying link of traditions. Dress code is particularly important when it comes to Freemasonry; this is to show that members are equal regardless of their background. Masonic ties hold historical significance within Freemasonry; they are an important item of regalia and a great way of showing support. Ties are a way of differentiating your lodge from others whilst continuing a tradition that is hundreds of years old. So, why not consider masonic ties for your lodge?

- Kayley

What are the different options when it comes to finding organic bags?

If you’re a retail store that has decided to take a step away from plastic bags, congratulations, you are half-way towards providing your customers with a way to carry their products in an environmentally safe manner.

However, there is still a decision to be made on the type of bag you buy. Here is our comprehensive guide on the different types of organic bags are available and which one is best for your store’s needs.

  1. Organic cotton bags

Cotton bags are by far the most popular organic bag on the market with more than half of shoppers now opting from them over plastic ones. This demand means there are plenty of different cotton bags to choose from and for many, they are the organic bag of choice.

We recommend going for this organic bag if you plan on printing an intricate design on it, the close-knit fibres make it the best option if you want to get your branding out there.

  • Organic jute bags

Jute is a popular material that is produced throughout many countries in South-East Asia including India, Bangladesh and Nepal. The thick fibres give this organic bag much more of a rugged natural appeal than a cotton or canvas alternative.

Jute bags are strong, and if you are selling a heavy product that requires a lot of support when carrying we recommend this organic bag as it provides the most protection.

  • Organic canvas bags

Canvas bags are popular in large due to their versatility. This is organic bag is made from either cotton or linen which is then formed with polyvinyl chloride. The conservative use of plastic in this type of bag adds to its strength without using too many non-organic materials. This organic bag is a great all-rounder, which is why we recommend it if you provide a diverse range of products.

Find the best manufacturer for your organic bags 

Whichever bag you go for unless you find the right supplier you will not be met with good service. To deal with this, make sure you consult with your organic bag supplier and ensure you fully understand their manufacturing methods and are happy with any concept designs you have discussed with them.

- Kayley

The top 5 benefits of serviced apartments

Whether travelling for business, leisure, alone, or with your family, a serviced apartment can be an ideal choice for travellers looking for an alternative option to a hotel or a B&B.

We’ve outlined some of the benefits of staying in serviced apartments below to help make your choice a little easier.

Location, Location Location!

Serviced apartments are usually located in central locations, making them the ideal choice for a city stay. 

Their central locations mean they offer a good location for shopping, dining, and exploring, as well as being close to a lot of transport links and business quarters for any work base travelling.

Freedom and Flexibility

In a serviced apartment, you are free to come and go as you wish and to make your own schedule. Breakfast can be when you choose, and you don’t need to worry about waking anybody up when you come back in of an evening.  

The availability of the facilities in the apartment mean you can cook your own meals when it suits you, work whenever you need to work, and even entertain in the living spaces at your leisure.

Serviced apartments aren’t just for couples or lone travellers. They can work well for families too, thanks to many luxury serviced apartment companies offering studio flats right the way to family sized apartments for larger groups.

Quality

Serviced apartments aren’t cramped rooms in a block of flats, there are an array of stunning apartment options to choose from which are decorated with high-quality furnishings and come complete with entertainment options and are fully equipped for your stay no matter how long.

Space

A serviced apartment gives you the room to relax, work, sleep, and have fun all in one space. However, they can give you around 30% more space than an equivalent standard of hotel.  A typical one-bedroom service apartment is around twice the size of the average hotel room.

Privacy

By their very nature, serviced apartments are private, self-contained accommodation which allow you to instantly make yourself right at home.  As well as offering all the privacy you could wish for, you will find that they’re complete with 24-hour CCTV, secure entry and often around the clock security staff to make your stay extra safe.

Serviced apartment stays give you the home from home experience with all of the benefits of a central hotel. So next time you’re booking some time away, consider booking a luxury serviced apartment.

- Kayley

4 activities to get you out of the rain in your boutique serviced apartment this autumn

One of the big mistakes that holidaymakers make when they are booking their trip is not matching the accommodation to the type of vacation that they are taking. There is no point booking a luxury serviced apartment if you are going to be spending the majority of your time exploring.  However, with the rainy season firmly upon us here are 4 good indoor activities to get you out of the rain if you have booked a boutique serviced apartment.

  1. Board Games

Try not to fall into the trap of being glued to your smart devices when you are staying in a boutique serviced apartment. Board games are a great way to engage with the rest of the family whilst also having fun. Some of our favourites include Cluedo, Risk and the classic Monopoly.

2. A Movie Marathon with a difference

Movies can be great but they can also be slightly unsocial in a boutique serviced apartment. We recommend watching a movie whilst coming up with some actions to perform. These can include saying phrases when certain characters are on-screen or performing certain actions when a character says something.

3. A night of fabulous food

If you are staying in a serviced apartment in a foreign country one of the ways you can experiment with foreign foods whilst saving money is hitting up the local supermarket and cooking up something yourself. You can get the whole family involved and tailor a meal to suit your specific tastes.

4. Balloon Badminton

Indoor ball supports can be a recipe for disaster, particularly if you are staying in a boutique serviced apartment. One of the ways that you can take the danger out of it is through using a balloon. You can play a range of activities from Badminton to football and even volleyball. All will keep the family entertained and out of the rain.

Get a boutique serviced apartment that has enough room for your family

Whilst we have given you a fantastic range of activities to keep the family entertained you will need to book a serviced apartment that has enough room for your needs.

The Beech House boutique serviced apartments are great examples of accommodation that offers both an intimate feel with enough room for activities. 

- Kayley

Why Should You Choose Cotton for Your Printed Shopping Bags?

There are plenty of things to think about when you’re choosing printed shopping bags, but picking the right material is absolutely vital. There are quite a few options available, but here are just a few reasons why so many businesses prefer to use cotton.

Completely Natural

It used to be that eco-friendliness was a marginal concern when picking out printed shopping bags, but customers and businesses alike are now increasingly aware of how the decisions they make impact the world as a whole. Cotton is a great choice if you’re looking to be good to the planet since it’s completely natural, incredibly durable, and very easy to reuse or recycle. Shoppers appreciate it when brands keep things eco-friendly, so choosing cotton bags can be wonderful for your business.

Long Lasting

Any business investing in printed shopping bags will want their customers to keep using them as long as possible; after all, the longer shoppers hold onto your bags the more they’re going to be exposed to your branding. Cotton is a very strong material, so people will be able to keep using your bags for months or even years to come without worrying about them coming apart. They can even be thrown in the wash to get them looking as good as new.

Fully Customizable

You’ll naturally want your branded shopping bags to stand out with excellent styling, and choosing cotton can help make sure that happens. Cotton takes fine printing well and ensures any bold colours really pop. You can also easily and inexpensively choose between different printing options and sizes to make those bags your own.

Quality Product

Finally, keep in mind that customers respond better to high quality packaging as well as high quality products. By using a strong yet soft material like cotton for your branded shopping bags, you’ll show you’re willing to go the extra mile if it means providing your customers with a superior shopping experience.

- Kayley

Who Should You Include In Your Auto Insurance Policy?

There were a total of 165,100 road casualties of all severity levels on UK roads for the year ending June 2019, according to a report by the UK government. While this number is quite sad, it can be even more disheartening to learn that some of the people involved in these road accidents weren’t compensated through insurance. If any of them had borrowed a car whose policy didn’t cover them, the chances are that they had to cater to the ad hoc damages. Read more

- Kayley

Looking for Musical Inspiration? Find Your Source of Passion

Are you looking for inspiration in your life? What about musical inspiration? If so, if you can tap in and find the source of your passion, you will find an endless well of potential for yourself to explore. Even if you are not necessarily a musician, you can still connect to music, and you can use that to your advantage to enjoy your life and find more meaning in your day-to-day activities.

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