How to Prepare for a Ski Trip

Skiiing in a massively popular sport and pastime across the world. Europe in particular sees millions of skiers hitting the slopes every winter, eager to soak in the stunning landscapes, the resort atmosphere, and get some much-needed exercise. 

If you’ve got a ski trip planned for this winter, you’ll be brimming with excitement. However, to make the most out of your snowy getaway and ensure you have fun and stay safe, you will need to prepare properly. We’ve put together a guide to help you prepare for your upcoming ski trip, for both new and experienced skiers alike. Keep reading to find out more. 

Check the Weather

Snow sports like skiing and snowboarding are, obviously, highly dependent on the weather. Without the cold of winter bringing snow to the mountainsides, the sport couldn’t exist. While skiers rely on and hope for lots of snow fall each winter, the weather is a powerful, often dangerous force that should be respected at all times. 

Before your trip, look at weather forecasts for the destination you’re heading to. For example, if you’re heading to the Morzine area in the French Alps, check out Piste Pro, there you’ll find detailed forecasts and weather information for that location and for a comprehensive list of other popular global skiing spots, with weather projections for up to 15 days in advance. 

Keeping an eye on current and future weather conditions will give you a good idea of what to expect when you arrive, which can help you prepare properly and avoid any nasty surprises. 

Train your Body

Skiing is a physically demanding and challenging activity. While, to some, it may seem easy, cruising down the slopes and letting gravity do all work, the reality is that skiing is a fantastic workout for both the mind and body, utilising several muscle groups and requiring you to think quickly and be constantly aware of your surroundings. 

This means that you’ll need to be physically and mentally sharp ahead of your trip to ensure you’ve got what it takes to handle yourself on the slopes. Working on your cardio should be a top priority, activities like swimming, running, and cycling are all perfect ways to increase your fitness and endurance. When you’re taking those sharp twists and bends, you’ll need to be flexible too, work on this through things like stretches, yoga, and Pilates. 

Get Equipped 

For a skiing trip, you’re going to need skis. If you’ve got your own, great. If not, you can rent them from most ski resorts and locations. This can be pricey, but so can bringing your skis with you, especially if you’re flying. Draw up some price comparisons to make sure you’re making the most cost-effective choice. 

Your equipment list doesn’t end at skis, however. It’s cold up in those mountains, so you’ll need to be dressed for the occasion. Gloves, heated jackets, a hat, and a scarf can all be essential, and so are goggles to protect your eyes from both debris and glare from the sun. The sun can reflect off the snow and cause something called snow blindness, which can seriously impair your vision and lead to dangerous situations on the slopes. 

Conclusion

Properly preparing for your ski trip is the only way to make sure you have the best time you possibly can, while it will also guarantee that you stay safe taking part in what can often be a perilous activity. Check the weather ahead of time so you know what could be coming your way, train yourself to reach the required levels of fitness, flexibility, and strength, and double check that you’ve got all the necessary equipment and gear you’ll need. 

Avoid These Top Mistakes if you Want to Get the Best Price for your Home

Selling your home can be a time-consuming process. It can also be somewhat emotionally challenging too. You may feel as though it is an invasion of privacy, to have people come around and look at your property. That being said, if you want to make the most out of your home’s value and if you want to get the maximum price for your property, then this guide will help you to do just that, so you can make the best decisions possible.

Not Hiring an Agent

Sure, hiring a real estate agent can be expensive but at the end of the day, it’s not a good idea for you to try and avoid these costs by skipping out on their services. This is especially the case if you have never sold a property before. The main thing that you have to remember about hiring a luxury real estate agent is that they tend to have your best interests at heart, and they are always going to be fair in terms of their commission. They will also use their experience to get you the best price, while eliminating tire kickers who want to view your property, but who have no intention of making an offer.

Setting a Price that’s Too High

It doesn’t matter whether you are working with an agent or whether you are choosing to go at it alone because you have to make sure that you are setting the right asking price. Remember to do a competitive market analysis and also make sure that you determine a fair price for your home. Buyers will be doing this for your home, so as a seller, you have to make sure that you are always one step ahead of them.

Expecting the Price you Set

A smart buyer will always try and negotiate on the price. If you want to make sure that the sale goes through, then you have to make sure that you are willing to play ball. A lot of people list their home at a price which attracts buyers but they do leave a bit of negotiation room as well. This helps the buyer to think that they are getting a good price and it also gives you the chance to get the price you want for your home. Of course, you may end up with more or less, but at the end of the day, you should never ask for the price you want.

Selling During Winter

You may not realize this, but there is a right time for you to sell your home. Winter, especially in the holidays is actually a very slow time of the year for home sales. People tend to be busy trying to make social engagements and they are also trying to prepare their home for the festive season too. Fewer buyers are going to be looking, and this can make it take longer to sell your home. If you want to avoid this, then you need to take the time to make sure that you’re selling at a good time.

Tempting Tenants: Improvement Ideas That Get Property Rented Quick

Without a tenant to pay the bills, rental property is a liability instead of an asset. The rental market is competitive no matter where you are, with a fine line often drawn between the peak value of a downtown apartment and a suburban home. 

No matter what type of properties you have in your portfolio there is going to be lots of competition for tenants. You can give yourself an advantage over other properties with some of these property improvement ideas that will find you a renter quickly.

Make An Outdoor Lounging Space

It can be hard to make an outdoor space like a small yard or garden a feature worth paying more for. They are a nice thing to have and can be handy for storage, but renters rarely make full use of the space. By making an outdoor covered lounging space you give the garden a purpose that can be utilized and make it a destination. The space becomes a part of the home instead of being seen as outside of it.

You can make something stylish and cost-effective over a weekend, or pay a contractor to do it for you in a day or two. All you need is a couple of walls to offer some shelter from the elements and a roof. Make use of an exterior wall and you are a third of the way there already. 

Corrugated roofing is a robust and cost-effective roofing choice. The Corrapol-BT corrugated roofing sheets from Clear Amber are light, easy to handle and install, and there is a choice of colors. Made from bitumen, they are waterproof and offer UV protection too.

Supercharge Your Curb Appeal

In restaurants, chefs say the first bite is with the eye. The sight of a dish says a lot about it and gives you a first impression; a taste of things to come. When people are hunting for rental properties the pictures are often the first and last thing they look at. Your property's first impression is not just important, it is crucial to turning interested renters into tenants.

There may be limits to what you can do depending on the type of rental property you own and its location. Downtown apartments will not have many opportunities for upgrades as the entrance will be shared between multiple property owners. Making sure the area is clean and tidy may be all you can do here, but it will make a difference.

If you have more room to play with and maybe even some garden space, add color and texture with flowers and plants. Stick to a theme. Traditional flowering plants in planters and hanging baskets are a good option that works in most settings, but there are more cost-effective options. Choose hard-wearing and low-maintenance plants like palms, ferns, and bamboo to save money long-term while having a contemporary-styled front yard.

Upscale The Flooring

The floors in living spaces often get overlooked, but the right style and material can make a floor a feature that helps tempt tenants into your property. Hardwood or stone can be an attractive choice, in older properties, but an expensive one. When upscaling flooring your need to balance your budget concerns with style and utility.

Carpets are expensive and difficult to clean. This often makes them a less attractive feature to renters as they fear carpet cleaning charges may affect their deposit at the end of the rental. Choosing flooring that is easy to clean is a better option, especially if it creates an opportunity for a tenant to add their own rugs. This lets them imprint their own style on their living space, which is an attractive feature too.

Bringing the flooring up-to-date can make the rest of a room look brand new too, without any painting or redecoration. Though it does require some financial investment it can help get a renter in your property and will make them want to stay there. It also looks great in photos which will help generate interest.

Add New Appliances

This may sound costly on the face of it, but if you keep your eyes peeled for great deals and use some clever financing options you can give your rental property a range of modern features to tempt renters. A kitchen with a dishwasher is high on the list of must-haves for many renters, especially young professionals. If you rent out a family home consider updating the washer and dryer.

If you want to get a lot of attention quickly and you are ready to make an investment in your property consider adding a modern heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. These can save your tenants a lot of money in energy bills, which is a growing concern for many. It also reassures people that a reliable heating system is in place to see them through the winter.

The outside of the property presents an opportunity to add some low-cost appliances and features that can pull in potential renters. A barbecue is an obvious choice, especially in a family home, or an outdoor heater or fire pit for some warmth on cold nights beneath the stars. Simple features like these can make people fall in love with your rental property.

Create An Office Space

More people are working from their homes than ever before. Whether they work a full-time job remotely or have an online side hustle supplementing their income, many renters will need a home office. This can be a unique selling point for many modern rental properties, especially in cities.

This used to be a popular room in the home twenty or thirty years ago when the home computer needed its own space for its massive monitor and tower. They have now become popular again as people need a special space for Zoom calls. You do not need to find much space either, just a corner of a room can be enough.

Make sure there is access to natural light in the home office space. This will help people to get their jobs done and ensure their Zoom callers can see them on their webcam. Try to have some smart storage space available too for charging cables and other clutter.

Switch Up Your Lighting

You can have a massive impact on how a space looks by simply changing its lighting. This can be from overhead or from lamps. The hue or color of the light can be used in some spaces to great effect, depending on the decor. A classic, vintage amber light can really bring out the period details of an older property. Bright LEDs are perfect in contemporary, minimalist spaces.

Consider using smart lighting too. Intelligent home features that can be controlled from an app on your phone or even by your voice are a popular addition to rental properties. They are an inexpensive way to add a modern feature to the home and can be combined with other smart devices. Smart thermostats and doorbells are other futuristic features that you can add to the property for less than a hundred dollars.

It only takes a few of these tweaks to get your property off the market and some rental income into your bank balance. These small improvement ideas often add value to your property too, helping you to get a further return on your investment. Set yourself a budget and see which you can add to your rental property and watch potential renters beat a path to its door.

5 Ways to Ensure You Get the Right Employee

All businesses need to bring employees on board once they’re on the path toward success. After all, without a team of staff, there’s only so far that the company can go. However, it’s important to remember that you can’t just hire anyone and expect them to deliver success. For employees to be effective, they need to be the right employee. And getting those can be more challenging than you might expect. However, there are things you can do that’ll increase your chances of getting the right person. We’ll take a look at the five essential steps below.

Define the Role

You should try to transparently provide what they can expect to be paid for their time. Consider localisation when doing this too, so if you're hiring internationally, why not look at the average wage in brazil, You should expect to have to pay above the market rate if you want exceptional talent from all corners of the world, and consider offering a wage separate from their economy, not only will this mean a lot to them - but it won't be at any greater cost to you than if you hired someone domestically.

The more details you can provide on the role, the better. This will help potential candidates understand if they have the necessary skills and experience for the job. If you're unsure what exactly to write, reach out to professionals. An experienced Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) provider would know exactly how to define your job requirements and attract the right talent. Furthermore, an RPO provider can also help you with the next step in finding the right employe

Go Beyond the Resume

If you've developed your company properly, then you should have a strong understanding of the brand's identity. And with that, you can hire appropriate talent who fit in line with that identity through an effective recruitment strategy. For example: let's say you have a modern, innovative working environment. That wouldn't be appropriate for someone who's used to working in a more traditional environment, or, at least, it wouldn't be guaranteed. The right person for the role will be someone who fits in with the broader culture. In that regard, recruitment solution providers can help streamline this process, providing guides and resources like this talent acquisition blog to assist in identifying and attracting candidates aligned with your company's values and work environment. Leveraging the right recruitment tools and aligning your hiring practices with your brand identity can help you build a team that excels in their roles and also contribute to a cohesive and thriving organizational culture. 

One effective way to ensure you get the right employee is by collaborating with recruiting firms. These agencies specialize in identifying and attracting top talent, leveraging their extensive networks and industry expertise to find candidates that best match your specific needs. By using advanced software for talent hiring agencies, these firms streamline the recruitment process, ensuring a more efficient and targeted search. This technology aids in managing candidate databases, tracking applications, and utilizing predictive analytics to identify the most suitable candidates quickly. Partnering with a recruiting firm not only saves time but also increases the likelihood of securing high-quality hires who align with your company's goals and culture.

Dig Deeper

A potential employee will always put their best foot forward. But you should also know about their worst foot, too. To get that information, you’ll need to dig a little deeper. For instance, you can test them for the drugs on a drug test, follow up with their references, and conduct a criminal background check. You may also find it useful to search for their name online to see if anything unwelcome shows up. 

Successful Onboarding

Selecting a candidate to join your company is only the beginning of making sure an employee is the right person. To ensure that they hit the ground running, you’ll also need to successfully onboard the new member of staff. If you don’t, then even the most talented person in the world will struggle to make an impact.

Recruitment Evolution 

Finally, make sure that you’re always revising, tweaking, and updating your recruitment process in line with your results. If you’ve been hiring weak employees, then in all likelihood, there’s something wrong with your process. You may find it useful to have a consultant overlook your process — they’ll be able to spot weak points that you can’t.

5 Best CBD Recipes That You Can Try in Your Kitchen

5 Best CBD Recipes That You Can Try in Your Kitchen

Did you know cannabidiol (CBD) extracted from cannabis can enrich your diet and add a delicious twist to your recipes? CBD is mostly added to beverages, baked goods, sweets, and confectionery, but everything depends on your creativity. In this article, we share the five recipes with CBD that you can try at home. These simple recipes will diversify your diet and make cooking fun!

CBD-Infused Chocolate Chip Cookies 

Who doesn’t like delicious, mouth-watering chocolate cookies? This recipe containing CBD oil will help you elevate the baking art to the next level. It will also cover your need for something sweet if you don’t have CBD gummies near you. 

Ingredients:

• 150g of butter, softened

• 160g of sugar (white or brown, depending on your preferences)

• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

• 1 egg

• 225g of flour

• ½ teaspoon of baking soda

• 200g of chocolate chips

• About 10 mL of CBD oil

• ¾ cups walnuts (optional) 

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F 

• Mix the sugar and butter until smooth and creamy 

• Add the vanilla, egg, and CBD oil and beat for about a minute 

• Carefully add the flour and baking soda and stir 

• Add chocolate chips and walnuts

• Form small pieces and place them on the baking sheet (don’t forget about the parchment paper!); use the spoon or wet hands

• Bake for about 10 minutes (depends on your oven) until the cookies are brown at the edges but slightly soft on the inside

• Take them out and cool them off

Blueberry Banana Smoothie with CBD-Infused Honey 

Craving for a delicious antioxidant breakfast to keep you full and happy all morning? Check out this fiber-rich smoothie that is simply bursting with vitamins essential for keeping your energy level high!

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana, chopped

• 1 cup unsweetened milk to your choice

• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger

• 1 tablespoon chia seeds

• ½ avocado

• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

• 2 cups fresh blueberries

• 1 teaspoon CBD-infused honey

• 2-3 ice cubes 

Instructions:

Place everything in a blender to mix the ingredients evenly. No worries if you have frozen berries, they are just as healthy as fresh ones and have similar nutritional benefits. You can also replace blueberries with other berries of your choice and add some ice to make the smoothie more refreshing. 

CBD-Infused Eggnog

With autumn and winter coming, you are likely looking for perfect warming beverages to add some holiday spirit. This holiday eggnog may become your favorite heart- and body-warming beverage.

Ingredients:

• 8 eggs

• 1/3 cup sugar

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 4 cups milk

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon of nutmeg 

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ¾ teaspoon CBD oil

Instructions:

• Separate the eggs; you’ll need only egg yolks 

• Beat egg yolks with salt and sugar until light and smooth

• Infuse hot milk with cinnamon and vanilla extract

• Slowly add in hot milk and whisk further until smooth

• Whip up egg whites to stiff peaks and add them carefully to the beverage to make it fluffy 

• Add CBD-infused oil to each mug separately 

• Garnish with cinnamon or nutmeg 

Guacamole with a Twist 

Guacamole is the best snack you can come up with if you plan a party. It’s healthy, delicious, and doesn’t require much time in the kitchen. This recipe will help you prepare perfect guacamole with an exquisite, spiced flavor. 

Ingredients:

• 3 avocados

• 2 diced tomatoes

• ½ cup onions

• 1ml CBD oil

• 1 tsp minced garlic

• 1 lime

• Salt, cayenne pepper

• Fresh cilantro

Instructions:

• Mash avocados (they should be ripe)

• Chop tomatoes, onions, and cilantro; mince garlic

• Juice 1 lime 

• Mix mashed avocado with tomatoes, onions, and garlic, and add the rest of the ingredients

• Refrigerate and serve cold with veggies, tortilla chips, bread, etc. 

Mashed Potatoes Go Crazy 

Who would have thought that simple mashed potatoes could be cooked creatively? With this recipe, you’ll definitely surprise your family and friends. This mashed potatoes dish will go well with vegetables and meat or can be good as a stand-alone wholesome dinner. 

Ingredients:

• 8 cups mashed potatoes

• ¼ cup whipped cream

• 2 tablespoons melted butter

• 2 tablespoons salt and pepper each 

• ¼ cup parmesan 

• 15g CBD isolate powder

Instructions:

• Cook potatoes and mash them 

• Use a mixer to combine mashed potatoes, butter, parmesan, whipped cream, salt, pepper, and CBD isolate

• Place the mixture in a dish (e.g., casserole or deep pan) and top evenly with parmesan

• Put it in the oven and bake at 400F until the top gets crispy 

Final Remarks

As you can see, the given recipes contain different forms of CBD, from oil to isolate powder. You can experiment with forms and dosages to create your own recipes. However, please keep in mind that CBD-infused food and beverages are not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women. You also need to consult your doctor if you have chronic or acute diseases to ensure that CBD does not interfere with your prescription medications. 

How To Style and Accessorize a Henley Shirt?

If you don't have a Henley t-shirt, it's time to get one or the fall! It's perfect as a canvas for layering and looks stylish on its own too.

A Henley is a collarless tee with a button placket down the collarbone. The unusual neckline was initially created to provide comfort and ventilation for athletes. And while sports fashion has moved forward, the collar remains a fantastic design element. 

The t-shirt helps you stand out from the crowd and flatters the body, but if you're not sure how to wear it, worry not because we've got your back.

The best choices for the Henley

The Henley shirt can be long- or short-sleeved, and it's up to you to choose your preference. The key to looking good is the right fit and high quality. Fresh Clean Tees has some great Henleys in a variety of colors and fantastic fits, so make sure to check them out here freshcleantees.com/collections/short-sleeve-henleys.

Pair it with a laid-back jacket

With the cooler fall weather, there's no better way to wear your Henley than under a laid-back jacket. That can be anything from utility to denim to puffer to leather jackets. Henley tees are more casual, so they'll work perfectly with any of those garments.

If you're into versatility (like we are!), we recommend stocking up on a few neutral-colored t-shirts so that they work with any jacket color or pattern. 

These are some of the best men's jackets to go with a Henley:

• Utility

• Denim

• Leather

• Puffer

• Parka

• Bomber

• Suede 

Under a hoodie 

Another casual way to wear your Henley is under a zip-up hoodie. Hoodie adds extra warmth and is comfortable and laid back.

We love this look for running errands or grabbing weekend lunch at your favorite spot. Choose classic colors such as navy, olive, or maroon and pair them with simple gray, black, or white Henley, but feel free to experiment with something less common, like e.g., purple or mustard yellow.

We recommend opting for a tailored hoodie instead of an oversized one.

With a casual button-down shirt

A few looks are as classic as a Henley under a button-down flannel shirt. 

The look is casual yet sexy and stylish (hot lumberjack, anyone?) and will work for anything from meeting your pals at the pub to going on a weekend hiking adventure. 

Here are some of the best flannel shirt colors to go with a Henley:

• Plain 

• Checkered

• Red 

• Blue 

• Black 

• Green 

• Brown

Bottoms

Now that we've settled on the best tops to wear with a Henley tee let's move to the bottoms. 

Jeans 

Jeans are a classic and will look great paired with any of the tops mentioned above. 

Whether you style them with a jacket, hoodie, or flannel shirt, you will have the perfect outfit for any casual outfit.

The following types of jeans are the most suitable for the Henley:

• Straight leg

• Slim straight

• Relaxed slim

• Wide leg

Chinos

Chinos are the perfect alternative to jeans when you want to look a little more put together.

Go for slim fit or stretch fit, as they're the most flattering and, psst, make you look a little taller!

We recommend the following color options for maximum versatility:

• Navy 

• Beige 

• Khaki

• Grey 

• Black

Cargo pants

Cargo pants are back, and we love them in combination with a Henley. Opt for classic khaki or grey pants and wear them either with plain long-sleeved Henley or layer with a flannel shirt or a classic blue denim jacket

Accessories

One of the cool things about Henley tees is that they're effortless to accessorize. And no, you don't have to go full Johny Depp to have an effect! 

Your favorite watch will look great with a short-sleeved Henley or sleeves rolled up, along with leather or metal bracelets. 

And as the neckline exposes a little bit of your chest, it's perfect for minimalistic necklaces or pendants.