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How To Cope When A Loved One Passes Away

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No amount of preparation can forestall all the emotions that you’re likely to feel. But if you do a little preparation, you’ll put yourself in a far better position to get through the grief and come out of the other side. If you think your loved one died and it wasn’t their fault, one of the first things you might want to do is reach out to a Parrish Law Firm Wrongful Death Lawyer. Here we take a look at some top ways to cope when a loved one passes away.

Host a beautiful funeral 

When planning a funeral for a loved one, it is essential to make sure that it is as beautiful and unique as possible. This can be a difficult time, but by taking the time to plan everything out, you can begin to move on. You can plan a funeral by: 


One important thing to consider when planning a funeral is the type of service you would like. Cremation services can be a great option, as they are often more affordable than traditional funerals. And cremation services can also be very personalized, so you can ensure that your loved one’s funeral is precisely what you want.

  • Making a budget
  • Choosing the type of service
  • Picking out the perfect location
  • Selecting the perfect music

Take Part In Rituals

While rituals might seem strange from an anthropological perspective, there are reasons why people engage in them. Things like funerals and burials help people to visually process what’s happened and achieve some level of comfort. 

While a funeral might sound like a sobering event, it can actually be the catalyst that allows you to appreciate your loved one’s life and what they brought to you. Taking part is an important step in moving forwards. 

Allow Your Emotions Out Of Their Container

Keeping everything bottled up inside might be the stoic approach, but most professionals don’t recommend it. If you don’t accept your emotions as they come to you, they will express themselves in other more dysfunctional ways. 

The best way to approach this aspect of the process is to give yourself permission. Many people put off grieving until the future because they are worried about how it will affect those around them. They feel guilty about it, or perhaps ashamed. 

If you can’t express yourself in front of certain people, find others for support. Even professional counselors can help in this regard. 

Get Resolution

In some cases, a person died from unnatural causes. Perhaps they lost their life at work because of their job or maybe they passed away after a car accident. 

Whatever the case, it is critical to get a resolution. You need to make sure that you wrap up any overhanging legal questions that might surround their death. 

Proving negligence takes skill so you’ll need to choose the right team. If you work with attorneys, look for professionals who have skills in this arena. Make sure that they have adequate experience. 

Start Talking About It When You Can

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If you can talk about what’s happened, it can sometimes make it easier for the emotions to flow. Sometimes, you’re not actually aware of the impact that death or bereavement has had on you until you discuss the situation with other people. 

You can talk to anyone you like. However, you are likely to have the best experience if you go to a counselor and discuss what’s happened with them. They generally have professional skills that can help you cope with events and learn how to process them in a healthy manner. They can’t take away the pain, but they can provide guidance so that you can reduce it long-term. 

In some situations, you won’t feel like talking at all. After a bereavement, many people feel numb and unable to process their emotions. 

If you’re experiencing this, don’t worry. Eventually, when your mind is ready, you’ll begin to feel again. 

Start Journaling

Many people like to journal after a bereavement. You can write down your memories of the person you’ve lost and honor them in some way. You might also want to create a poem or a story about their life so that you can create a record of who they were and what was important to them. 

Plant A Tree

Many cultures like to plant a tree in honor of the deceased. This is a symbolic act. It shows how new life can arise from even the most tragic of situations. 

Planting a tree is also a reminder that the person isn’t gone, they’re just in a different form. Whenever you see the tree, it can remind you of their life and how they were. 

Create Memories

You can also keep a box that contains items that allow you to remember the person you lost. Things like quotes, photos, and mementos are all good options. Choose items that have real meaning to you and help you process what’s happened in a healthy manner. 

Join A Local Support Group

In some cases, you may want to join a local support group. These are helpful for people who lose people in their family unexpectedly. For instance, if you lose a child. 

Here, you can spend time with other people going through similar experiences. 

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How To Put Your Green Thumbs To The Test This Summer

Gardening is more than a low-cost hobby. It gives you a chance to develop useful life skills, and can also assist you in transforming your home into a restorative place for your mental health. This is because “Seeing and being around plants help us feel more calm and relaxed, thus decreasing levels of anxiety.” Furthermore, when you become an expert green thumb, you can create stunning floral arrangements for your friends and loved ones! 

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With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to improve your gardening skills this year. 

  • Remember that gardening can be a year-round hobby. Gardening doesn’t have to be a seasonal hobby, it’s something that you can participate in year-round. For example, you could make your garden more than a spring fling by growing plants that thrive in different weather conditions, as opposed to only making an appearance when the sun is shining. Alternatively, investing in Greenhouses means that you can grow flowers and plants all year, without having to worry about adverse weather conditions undoing your hard work. 
  • Factor gardening into your budget. As gardening as a whole is a relatively low-cost endeavor, there are plenty of ways to garden on a budget. After all, the only thing you really need to pay for is a few tools (which could be bought secondhand) alongside seeds and sapling. If you want to learn how to plant something new, you can always follow free tutorials or guides online. 
  • Show your furniture some love. If you want to truly upgrade your garden this summer, you should also make sure that you show some love to the areas of your garden outside of its greenery, such as your furniture. For example, painted wooden furniture can quickly lose its luster during bad weather, causing it to fade or splinter. Luckily, this can easily be remedied with a fresh coat of paint and some varnish. 
  • Grow your own fruits and vegetables. Growing your own fruits and vegetables is a great way to cut down on your grocery budget, as you no longer have to spend money at overpriced chain stores. This is also a great way to improve your diet, as fresh fruit and vegetables can get notoriously expensive. 
  • Ensure your garden can be enjoyed day and night. While you’ll likely make the most of your garden during daylight hours, carrying out basic maintenance will give you the chance to enjoy the garden at any time, even late into the evening. For example, you could hang fairy lights along your porch, patio, or fence to create a romantic, evening atmosphere. Alternatively, you could build your own low-cost fire pit, providing you with enough warmth to keep the party going all night long. Fire pits are always crowd-pleasers, but they could come in handy if you were planning on hosting a dinner party or inviting friends and family around throughout the year. They also make for a great photo opportunity, and give you a chance to indulge in hundreds of smores!  
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5 Ways to Add a Water Feature to Your Garden

When you visit gardens or parks, do you instantly feel calm when you hear water run? For more people, it’s a definite yes! Have you ever considered adding a lovely water feature to your garden? This can honestly be a fabulous way to make your garden look as if it came straight out of a magazine. The main benefits of adding a water feature to your garden are that it will help you maintain a healthy and beautiful garden. In addition to this, you can also use the water feature as an aesthetic element of your garden.

You can add plants near the water feature and create an oasis-like atmosphere with the sound of trickling water. Sounds lovely right? Well, the good news is, it’s pretty easy! Sure, some landscaping maneuvering may be needed, but it’s not too hard to achieve either. Here are some fun ways to add a water feature to your garden!

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Showering Areas

A showering area can be used for both decorative and practical purposes. It may be a large fountain or an ornamental pool. This is something that’s more ideal if you’re going to have a pool, but, it can still look great depending on how you style it.

Fountains

Fountains are typically found in garden settings where they can be used for decorative or functional purposes. You can use them to cool off on a hot day or to provide an aesthetic touch in your garden. Since they come in various styles and sizes, you can find them that are guaranteed to fit your budget!

Bird Baths

Small, cheap, and super eco-friendly, having a bird bath is a great way to have a lovely water feature while helping out the birds. There are a variety of bird baths out there, some even include fountains for some extra flair!

Outdoor Pond

Having a beautiful outdoor pond or even multiple ponds in your garden can be perfect for achieving peace in the backyard. They sound expensive and different, but you’ll be surprised to learn how easy they truly are. Another option is to install a pond liner that can be filled with water. This can be done by filling the liner with ground granulated limestone or pea gravel. The liner will then need to be secured with rocks or bricks, which should not be placed too close together because they will create air pockets that will allow the soil to dry out and become compacted.

Pool

This is a fabulous water feature that can take center stage in your garden! Usually, pools are the focal point when present in a backyard. They’re great for having fun in the sun while still staying cool. There are more than enough pool options out there. Whether you’re wanting this in-ground or surrounded by a deck is completely up to you.

Overall, having a water feature in your garden just proves that this doesn’t need to be expensive or difficult to achieve. It just depends on what you’re going for and how you can nicely accommodate it in your space!

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Top Tips For When You’re Purchasing Your First Home

For most people, buying a home is the biggest financial decision that they’ll make. Depending on where you live, properties can go for hundreds of thousands of dollars. As you can imagine, this means that many people are nervous about purchasing a home, especially if it’s their first time. With such a huge expense, a lot of things can go wrong. Thankfully, there are some tips to help. 

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To Rent or Buy

The first decision to make is whether buying is the right move for you and your family. As with any large investment, you always face the risk of losing your money. Also, owning a home comes with other responsibilities and expenses. You will be tied to that property, and if it gets damaged, you’re the one who has to foot the bill.

However, there is a good reason why many people choose to purchase their homes. For starters, owning a property is arguably a huge part of the American dream. It provides stability and security for you and your family. Owning property can also benefit future generations, as it gives them something to inherit. 

Also, while purchasing a home has a huge initial cost, it can work out as cheaper in the long run than renting. Monthly or weekly rent payments are often much higher than you’d have to pay for a mortgage. 

The decision whether to rent or purchase a property depends largely on your circumstances and needs. If you want to settle down, then purchasing is a good option. However, if you intend to move around, then renting will provide you with more flexibility.

Finding the Right Property

One of the most important parts of purchasing a home is making sure that you’ve made the right choice when it comes to your property. There are several factors to consider when finding the perfect property. 

First, you should consider your budget and location. As mentioned before, house prices vary throughout the United States, so where you plan to live will heavily influence what you can afford. If possible, then it may be beneficial to move to a less expensive area so that you can have the option to purchase a home. 

Your budget will help you to determine what house you can afford as well. Every family has different needs and you should aim to meet them wherever reasonable. Larger families will benefit from larger homes and, if you work from home, then it will pay to find somewhere that can accommodate a home office.

You might not be able to find a property that meets all of your desires, so make sure that you know the difference between what your family needs and what it wants. 

Finding Funds

You can’t purchase a home without finding funds. If you can, then paying in cash is a great option for saving long-term, as you can buy the property and then pay nothing in mortgage fees. However, as a first-time home buyer, you will probably loan money in the form of a mortgage. In this case, you will need to pay a deposit and prove that you can afford to pay back the mortgage.

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4 Effective Ways to Save Money On Business Services

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Whether you’re running an online business or have recently opened your physical store in your community, saving money is crucial. When it comes to balancing the budget, many business owners can find it difficult. You want to offer the best products and services, but this isn’t always possible on a tight budget. What you can do, though, is focus on areas where saving money can benefit your business, so here are four elements to consider. 

Go Online 

Online businesses are more popular than ever, and they have made it possible for anyone to own a business. Over the past few years, you have seen how the traditional store or office is not always necessary, so operating a company that communicates with employees and customers entirely online saves you office and storage space. 

It isn’t just selling your product, though. You can also find better deals and policies by searching online. If you are looking for a business insurance broker, you would do well to seek this assistance online before anything else. The online benefit allows you to get in touch whenever and wherever making your company more effective in delivering its service to customers.

Remember that when you are going online with your business, you also need to make sure that you are keeping customer service as good as ever. The best way to do that is through live chat services, and it’s worth looking into some of the top live chat apps for Shopify for that purpose. As long as you keep people happy this way, it’s going to help a lot when you are taking your business online.

Automate Data 

Every business needs to look at data to improve. This data gives you the chance to identify popular products and hectic periods during the week so you can prepare for them in the future. However, getting the full answer from this data can be time-consuming if you use a team of employees or even take time out of your evening or weekend to do it yourself. 

Automating data is the answer to this. It offers a wide range of benefits, including reduced human error to providing concise and accurate information. From here, you can improve your business without needing to spend money on experts who, although useful, can drain your budget and make it difficult to operate. 

Consider Outsourcing 

Another useful way to save money is by outsourcing, which is a popular choice for small businesses that do not have the size or scale to hire dedicated teams or departments. You’ll find that the benefits of outsourcing are plentiful, and you can find a firm that offers everything you need, making things easier to work with. 

Common outsourcing solutions include copywriting and marketing, IT support, and accounting, so look at these options when searching for better ways to save money. 

Analyze Business Efficiency 

An efficient business is a successful business, yet it is not always obvious how your company achieves this efficiency. By analyzing your efficiency, you can identify when your team is most productive and make changes to ensure they remain productive throughout the day. 

These changes can involve improving breaks or offering flexible working which reduces pressure and allows for a better work-life balance. Once you have achieved peak efficiency, your business will be able to serve more customers, reduce complaints or returns, and generate more profit. 

Penny Saved 

Every penny saved is a penny earned for your business. With these tips, you can make your business financially stable and more efficient, which puts you in a stronger position for the future when you want to improve your business. 

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Tips For Choosing The Right Pet For Your Family

Bringing home a family pet is a big responsibility, double so if you’ve got kids. After all, a new member of the family can be tricky to settle in when there’s someone wanting to pet and play with all the time! And that’s why it’s so important to choose the right pet for your family. You need to take so many things into account here for the kids’ sake, and bringing home a puppy or a kitten on impulse is right out! 

But don’t let yourself worry too much about the decision; getting a pet should be an exciting and happy time in your life. And we’ve made this post to help you really pin down what pet your family will be able to care for. Here are the points to keep in mind when the kids are constantly badgering you for an animal and you’d love to bring a pet into the mix. 

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Think About Personality Traits First

The personality of the animal you bring home is much more important than the breed or coloring. As such, it’s best to start by thinking about what kind of pet would fit into your home in the best way. Whether you want a big pet like a dog or cat, or you’d prefer a smaller pet like a rabbit or a hamster, it’s all about their character! 

For example, if you want a pet that loves to cuddle and relax, an American Shorthair cat could be the one. Or if you’d like your dog to be friendly and energetic, sourcing your pup from a place like Lucky labs could be the perfect solution. If you’d like a small animal, a Dutch Lop rabbit loves to come and sit on your lap, which is great when there are kids involved! 

All in all, before you lock down on an animal type or breed, look into your lifestyle and into the way different breeds tend to behave. Only then can you start to narrow down your search to certain pets in particular. 

How Often Will Someone Be Around?

This is a huge concern you need to take into account early. The kind of pet you get will very much depend on whether or not you can meet its needs, and an animal like a dog won’t fare well if you’re never home. The same goes for cats, who are usually thought of as simply independent, outdoor animals. They still need you to be there for them, and not just to provide bowls of food! 

Adult dogs can be left alone for up to 6 hours, as a general rule. If they’re a puppy they can’t be alone for more than two hours, and an older dog could fare just fine for up to 6 hours as well. Cats can be alright on their own for around a day if you’ve left food, water, and clean litter for them to use. 

For smaller animals like rabbits and guinea pigs, and even birds, it’s going to be hard to leave them alone for more than 24 hours. If you know you’re going to be away for a weekend or more, it’s best to ask a friend or neighbor to look in and feed them to make sure they’re alright while you’re out. 

Consider Your Budget

The next defining factor in what pet you get is your budget. Bigger animals are going to cost more, in terms of dietary, hygiene, exercise, and insurance needs. Indeed, the average monthly premium for dogs sits at around $50 with cats coming in at nearly $30. If you consider the yearly costs, that’s upwards of $300 either way. 

And then you’ve got to consider food, beds, collars and leads, toys and accessories, and also litter if you want a cat. Pet owners can spend nearly $100 on these items in bulk per month, but if your pet gets sick or changes in some way, that cost is going to vary wildly. All in all, the budget is really where you have to sit down and think hard about what pet you can get. 

Talk to Other Pet Owners

Now it’s time to do a bit of research amongst your nearest and dearest. Talk to other pet owners that you know and ask them how they get on. What did they find challenging when raising their pet? What training routines do their dogs or cats respond to? And what positive experiences have they got out of it? Get a bit of advice from those you trust, rather than combing through message boards online, and you’ll be a lot more confident about bringing any kind of pet home! 

And to top it all off, even certain types of smaller pets can be tricky for the kids to care for. Hamsters are a good example here – they love to sleep during the day, and it’s rare to see them up and about when the sun is out. As such the kids might not see much of their pet when they’re also awake, and that can be hard when you just want to pet and play with the cute creature in your house! 

Even Small Animals Can Be Tricky for Kids

Keep this in mind before you get a small pet; a lot of families invest in them just to keep the kids quiet for the time being! But they’re still animals who need a lot of love and care and children can sometimes get bored if their pet isn’t as present as they are. On the other hand, however, not all rodents are the same. Gerbils, the hamster’s slightly smaller cousin, love to be up and about during the day! 

If you want to bring home a pet for your family, you need to think about your family first! What are you all like? How would a pet fit into your household? Take some time to think about this all together and make a decision that benefits all of you. 

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5 Ways to Save for the Wedding Items You Need

Are you getting married soon? If so, you’re probably starting to think about everything you need to buy for your big day. Between the dress, the flowers, the catering, and more, the cost of a wedding can add up quickly! But don’t worry – we’ve got five great tips to help you save money on the items you need for your wedding.

Add Items To Your Wedding Registry

Wedding registries are a common way for couples to request gifts from their guests, and they can be a great way to save money on wedding-related items. By adding items to your registry, you can ensure that you’ll receive the gifts you need and that your guests can feel good about giving you a valuable and affordable gift.

Of course, it’s essential to be thoughtful about what you include on your registry, as you don’t want to ask for too much or too little. By figuring out the best wedding registry site for your needs, you’ll end up with plenty of savings – and maybe even a few extra gifts.

woman holding red and white rose bouquet

Create A Realistic Budget

A wedding is a special day to remember for a lifetime, but it can also be a significant expense. To avoid going into debt or overspending, it’s crucial to create a realistic budget for your big day. Begin by making a list of significant expenses, such as the venue, catering, flowers, and dresses. Then, research the average cost of each item in your area.

Once you have a rough idea of how much everything will cost, you can start to allocate funds accordingly. It’s also important to build some flexibility into your budget if there are unexpected costs or you decide to splurge on something special. By being mindful of your spending, you can ensure that your wedding is memorable and affordable.

wedding preparation

Shop Around For The Best Prices

Anyone who has ever planned a wedding knows that it can be costly. There are many expenses to consider from the venue and catering to the dress and flowers. That’s why it’s important to be mindful of your budget and shop around for the best deals.

While it may take some extra time and effort, you’ll be glad you did when you see how much money you’ve saved. There are often great deals if you’re willing to look for them. So before you start booking everything for your big day, make sure to do your research and compare prices. You may be surprised at how much money you can save!

selective focus photography of silver colored engagement ring set with pink bow accent on throw pillow

Consider Renting Instead Of Buying

Many couples today are opting for a more budget-conscious approach to their wedding. One way to save money is to consider renting instead of buying certain items. For example, you might be able to rent your wedding dress instead of purchasing it. This can be a great way to get the designer dress you’ve always wanted without the hefty price tag.

You can also look into renting other items such as tuxedos, table linens, and even wedding decorations. By doing some research, you may be surprised at how much you can save by renting instead of buying. And best of all, you won’t have to worry about what to do with all those items after the wedding is over.

fine dining setting

Put Money Aside Each Month

One of the best ways to save money is to set aside money each month. You will have no trouble saving up for everything you need if you start early. Another great way to save money is to use planning tools like budget calculators and wedding cost estimators. These tools can help you determine exactly how much you need to keep each month to reach your desired wedding budget.

man and woman standing in front of brown grass field kissing each other

Final Thoughts

Wedding planning can be expensive, but there are ways to save. By adding items to the best wedding registry site, creating a realistic budget, shopping around for the best prices on everything, and considering renting instead of buying certain things, you can ensure that you have what you need without breaking the bank. Be sure to start putting money aside each month so that you can afford everything on your wish list. With a little bit of effort, you can have the wedding of your dreams without going into debt.

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