Flowering crabapple tree (Photo credit: Martin LaBar (on hiatus))

Flowers have been used in craft and decoration for a long time. From pressed flowers to candles, there is something for all crafty people. Just remember to pick flowers that are appropriate to the task you plan to undertake and don’t be scared to experiment. Trial and error can pay big dividends in the end. Here are some crafty ideas to get you started.

Dried flowers

These are very popular because you can let your creativity run wild. Not only that, but dried flowers are easy to make and can then be used in many different ways. Flowers can be dried by hanging them upside down in a wardrobe or cupboard for 2 to 3 weeks until ready. They can then be used in bouquets, arrangements or almost anything else crafty that takes your fancy. Don’t be scared to mix and match different types and colours together. Dry them as a bunch for the best results

Pressed flowers

Just like dried flowers, these are very simple to make. All you need to do is lay them flat between sheets of paper and leave them to dry completely before removing. They work best with some weight on them, so placing them on white paper in the middle of a telephone book would do the trick. Just be careful when drying flowers as some of the colour will come off. Don’t use one of your prized books for this task just in case. Dried flowers can then be used for all manners of craft, but one of the favourites is placing them in a picture frame.

Wreaths

Even though wreaths are often associated with funeral services or even Anzac Day, they can still be a cheery addition to your home. Start with a foam floral wreath base and saturate it with water. You can then add any fresh flowers you like to make your own individual creation by placing the stems into the foam. Leaves, such as those from a fern, also add texture and colour to a wreath that can be an explosion of colour or have a focus on just a few hues. The wreath can be hung (use florist’s wire or ribbon to do this) or displayed. To keep it looking fresh, simply place the base of the wreath into a container of water.

Candles

Candles are a beautiful addition to the table for a dinner party or just as a feature by themselves. But you don’t have to be limited by a plain white candle straight from the box. Stick dried or pressed flowers to the candle to create a stunning pattern, or even place the candle in a pot that has small flowers or even a moss growing in it. Experiment with native violets for a taste of both green and beautiful purples and whites.

Vases

Remember that it’s not just the flowers that make an individual floral arrangement. What they are placed in also has a big say in the final effect. Rather than use a traditional vase, think outside the square. Play with these ideas:

• Place individual flowers in bottles and then group them together;
• Hot glue coloured pencils to a vase for an amazing effect;
• Wrap a doily around a vase and stitch it in place – this looks great with white flowers;
• Stick family photos or your favourite images from a magazine onto a vase;
• Cover the vase in a variety of ribbons or even strips of wrapping paper to complement a colourful arrangement.

Botany, Sir Joseph Banks Park (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was a passion for botany which effectively shaped the modern history of Australia. Sir Joseph Banks was so intrigued with the flowers and plants he found at Botany Bay that it led to the colonisation of Australia. Joseph Banks was involved in the promotion of the idea of sending convicts to Botany Bay after he became so impressed by the geography and flora on his expedition with James Cook.

Sir Joseph Banks, an explorer and naturalist, played a key role in scientific advances made in geography and botany in the late 17th century. As an advisor to George III and President of the Royal Society and director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, he influenced the course of Australian social, agricultural and environmental history.  He also introduced important species to Australian agriculture and sent many specimens back to the Royal Botanic Gardens from NSW.

Banks Roses

The rose originated in Central Asia and it wasn’t until the late 17th Century that Sir Joseph Banks collected roses from China and introduced to them to Europe. The Chinese gardens of the Han Dynasty included the climbing rose that was double flowering and with more petals. Banks named the different types of wild roses he discovered in China with variations of his own name. All the different types of Lady Banks roses are said to have a perfume akin to that of violets and were named in honour of his wife.

Banks and Australia

Sir Joseph Banks accompanied Sir James Cook on the Endeavour Expedition in 1768. On the way around the world he discovered the Bougainvillea in Brazil and named it after his French counterpart before continuing on to Tahiti, Java, Australia and New Zealand. It was Bank’s botanical findings along the east coast of Australia that caused Cook to honour his work by naming their landing site Botany Bay. Banks was so interested in the flora of the east coast of Australia that he played a key role in the promotion of the first settlement.

The Banksia, Sydney suburbs Bankstown and Banksmeadow, and the Canberra suburb of Banks are all named in honour of Sir Joseph Banks. Banks advised the British government on all matters pertaining to Australia and was responsible for shipping many Australian botanical specimens to England. It was also Banks who introduced the Spanish Merino Sheep to Australia. Banks played a crucial role in the successful colonisation of Australia in matters of government, agriculture and trade.

Banks and the Kew Gardens

The Royal Botanic Gardens, also known as the Kew Gardens, have been a world heritage site since 2003. In 1778, Joseph Banks was Director of the Kew gardens and sent many botanists overseas to extend the Kew gardens collection. George III and Joseph Banks worked together to enrich the Kew gardens. The expedition to China that lead to Banks introducing the Rose to Europe also inspired a tall Chinese pagoda built in 1762 that remains to this day.

Botany Bay House was built in 1788 to accommodate the collection of NSW plants. As the collection grew, a greenhouse known as Australia House was built and, although its location has moved, it remains today. In the 18th Century, the Kew gardens were home to a famous collection of banksias.

The Kew Gardens interest in Australian botany was responsible for introducing Australian plants into Europe where they were well received.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

No matter what you think, trust or are told, there is simply no doubt that networks are vulnerable. By connecting your computer to a network, you are opening it to attack by creating a doorway through which information is allowed to travel. When running a business where numerous users are able to access the system, this becomes a real problem. Add to a Windows terminal emulator and a cloud-computing drive, and there is a veritable playground of entry points for a malicious hacker. There are, however, steps you can take to protect your systems without having to forgo the wonders of network technology.

Upgrade your OS

Many businesses still use Windows XP and it is clear why. The decade-old system is wonderful, but there really are some significant security flaws. Fixing these flaws was the aim of Windows Vista, but it wasn’t until Windows 7 that they got it right and Windows 8 is soon to follow with an excellent upgrade. Windows 8 will actually run on the same machines as XP, so you won’t even have to upgrade hardware technologies. The move may require the introduction of a terminal emulator for windows, but this system can be easily integrated into cloud computing and will probably actually improve efficiencies.

Reduce Administrators

Everyone is an administrator in their own home and because of this they all think that they should be administrators at work, too. Whilst they may be capable of installing their own software, providing admin status leads to far more problems than it solves. Reducing everyone to a lower level of access will improve security by reducing access points to your network.

Use Cloud

Cloud computing seems risky, but as long as you select wisely, the security of the cloud is likely to be better than that within your office. A more important reason for using cloud, however, is that it enables a vastly greater level of security on laptops. By using cloud there will be no reason for data and documents to be stored on laptops, which makes it far less serious if they are left on the train or are stolen. As long as automatic log-in to the cloud is disabled, this system will work excellently.

Pay Attention to Updates

Most updates are actually security updates. Paying attention to security updates is very important, because they always come in response to a threat. By installing the update, you will allow yourself to be protected, but by neglecting to do so you leave yourself open to something which is known to be a danger.

Disable Remote Administration

Remote administration is the easiest route into any system. Any malicious virus or person will use such a route to break through your systems and render any protection useless within seconds. Remember to keep the system as locked down as possible and have just a few key figures who are able to fix any problems within the company’s IT.

Use Strong Passwords

You will surely have noticed the rating system for password strength and it is worth paying attention to this. Integrating complicated passwords may be frustrating, but it will greatly improve the level of security within your company.

(Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

If you have some free time on your hands and are looking to get out of your comfy furnished apartment, take a vacation! The big question is – what kind of vacation will you take? For those who need help deciding which vacation will work best for them, here are some vacation styles that might suit you:

Nature Excursion

For those who love natural beauty and enjoy the outdoors, a nature excursion vacation is a great place to start. These vacations typically involve lots of physical activity and time outdoors, so prepare accordingly with comfortable shoes and plenty of climate-appropriate apparel.

For those able-bodied enough to endure hikes and climbs, a nature excursion can reveal some truly stunning vistas no matter where you travel.

Guided Tours

Many people go on vacation on their own, free of any guidance, winging it all the way. However, some people prefer to have some structure to their vacation in order to see everything they want to see and to have things like transportation taken care of.

Guided tours are great if you want to maximise your time. They can also show you local insider secrets that most unguided tourists may miss.

Family Vacations

For those of you with a spouse and children, a family vacation is probably going to be the best bet. A family vacation is filled with activities that everyone, no matter what age, can enjoy. You can spend one day relaxing on the beach, and the next at an amusement park.

Spa Holidays

Sometimes you just need to get away and pamper yourself. Call it a vacation from one’s own life. Spa holidays are often shorter than most holidays and are centred on some luxurious spot where people can get some peace and quiet. Beauty treatments, massages, and steam rooms are all essential in a spa holiday package so you can come home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Romantic Getaways

This style of vacation is just for you and the significant other in your life. Typical romantic hotspots are often located in a tropical setting, but a romantic getaway can be anywhere you want it to be. A great idea is to plan a second honeymoon, or a trip to where you first met, to bring your relationship full circle.

Travel Holidays

Some people travel just to travel, spending their vacation either on a cruise ship or a train. Opting for a vacation like this captures a sense of adventure and excitement, moving from stop to stop or port to port, always seeing something new and different. For those who don’t want to hunker down in a serviced apartment, opt for a travel holiday and see the world.

Planning a vacation will only be a burden if you let it. The first step you need to take is to figure out what kind of vacation suits you, and if you follow the tips in this article, you’ll be halfway to that dream destination. Good luck!

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Being mobile is becoming more important in the modern age, but having a high level of processing power is important too. It is often difficult to determine the key differences between a laptop and desktop computer that both run the Windows 8 beta, but there are significant variations. Deciding between a laptop and a desktop computer can be confusing, so here are some things to consider.

What do you do?

How you use your computer is a key decider in the buying process. If you often sit reading emails on a train or in a park then a laptop is obviously more ideal, but a mobile phone may well remain more convenient. Laptops are very useful for the travelling businessman or woman who often find themselves with time to spare. If, however, you are constantly driving between engagements, a laptop is realistically of very little use.

Who will be using it?

At the risk of sounding like a worrywart, it is important to consider who will be using the computer. If you are buying a family computer, then a laptop is a potentially dangerous item. They almost all include a video camera and a connection to the web, which could potentially be dangerous. A family computer should remain in an area of the house that has high traffic, and this becomes very difficult to police with a laptop.

What does it need to do?

If your computer needs to handle high-resolution video editing or very large spreadsheets with accountancy data in them, then a laptop is not suited for you. If, however, the highest demands are Facebook and your emails, a laptop with the free Windows 8 download installed will offer you a perfect machine with a tailored user interface which is perfectly suited for exactly that.

Where will you keep it?

Where you keep the computer makes a big difference too. If, for example, you want to leave your computer at an office, having a laptop is not a sensible idea. Remember that laptops are very easy to steal because they can simply be picked up. If you work in a human resources department, for example, this can become potentially dangerous to your company, because if it is lost then the data of potentially hundreds of employees will be lost too. In situations where very sensitive data like this is stored on the machine, a desktop computer makes for a far safer system.

What else do you own?

With today’s wide variety of technologies, it is actually very easy to end up owning multiple devices that are essentially the same. With the new Windows 8 OS it would be possible to own a laptop, desktop, tablet and phone that all run the same system. This is an extreme example, but buying a laptop when you already own a tablet is a potentially wasteful expenditure. In many cases it is worth investing in a higher powered and more sophisticated home or office machine simply because you can rely on a simpler device for the tasks you wish to complete while travelling.

keuken / kitchen (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We all know how important it is to have fully functioning appliances in our kitchen. With electric and gas appliances, you should make sure they are not only working at full capacity, but that they are insured as well. Having contents insurance on your kitchen appliances will help you avoid any unnecessary costs in the future.

Here is a short guide to insuring the appliances in your kitchen:

Warranties, Guarantees, and Insurance

When you first buy an appliance, you will usually get a warranty from a manufacturer for at least one year (the length of time will vary, depending on the manufacturer). If after one year you are no longer covered by a warranty, you can usually get an extended warranty. This can last a few more years but the coverage may be minimal.

The manufacturer may only be willing to meet the claim if the appliance malfunctions, and not if it is accidentally broken or misused by the homeowner. Therefore, getting insurance for your kitchen is probably the safest bet, especially in the long run.

How to Start

When you decide you want to insure your kitchen, you’ll first need to determine how much you are willing to spend. You’ll need to run an estimate of all the appliances you have in your kitchen. Take into account the manufacturer, the style, the year it was made, how old it is, if it has ever been replaced, and so on.

The good thing about getting your kitchen insured is that you can ask an insurance agent for help. An insurance agent will know the answers to your questions and what price to value your appliances at. However, if you do not have an insurance agent at hand, or are unable to obtain advice from one, here is how you can do it yourself.

How to Go about Insuring Your Appliances Yourself

When it comes to calculating insurance for your kitchen appliances, it can get tricky. First, you’ll want to go through a list of your appliances; refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, etc. When you look at insurance quotes, make sure that they cover all breakdowns, damage by accidents, leaks, and so on.

Refrigerator and Freezer

A joint refrigerator and freezer is very convenient, but unfortunately it can be subject to a wide range of problems, including leaks, power failures, and fan damage. A refrigerator and freezer can be insured for around $4 a month.

Oven

Ovens are essential in the modern kitchen. An oven can usually be insured for around $3-$4 per month.

Dishwasher

Dishwashers are big time savers, but they also take up a lot of energy. When looking to get your dishwasher insured, you’ll be looking at over $4 per month.

Microwave Ovens

Microwave ovens are a necessity these days, and they can be insured for as little as $3 a month.

Cooker Hood

The cooker hood is usually neglected when it is time to insure your kitchen. But if the fans break down, and there is no way to get rid of that lingering smell, you’ll wish you had insured it! Cooker hoods can be insured for $3-$4 per month.

Blue wooden bench. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Nothing is as relaxing as lounging in the shade with your favourite book and a cool drink. If you are looking to add a bench to your backyard, the good news is that you don’t have to purchase one that’s not exactly what you want. All you need are some power tools and timber in order to make one on your own.

Choose the Location

To start off, you need to decide where to put the backyard bench. The most important aspect in this regard is to place it under a shady spot. This way you’ll be able to enjoy your bench in both summer and winter.

Draw Up a Plan

Once you have chosen the perfect spot for your bench, take measurements and then hit the drawing board. Planning is the most essential step in this project, because you don’t want to waste your time or your resources. A well-thought-out plan will make the process easy and manageable. If you’re not great with conceptualising a plan on paper, you can always find plans on the internet.

Keep It Simple

Unless you have experience in building wooden objects, keep things simple when building a bench. The easiest design to make would be a simple wooden bench with four legs and a contoured or straight back.

Build the Seat

Once you have the design drawn up, it’s time to start putting the pieces together. You should start with the seat, since it is the largest part of your bench. Purchase 10–20 slats and a handful of supporting beams that will take the load of the slats evenly.

Use Beams

For benches longer than one metre, it’s a good idea to have a minimum of five beams in place to distribute the weight evenly. Place double beams on both sides of the bench and one beam at the centre.

Attach the Legs

After the seat is built, attaching the legs is the next step. The four legs should be made of strong material, like thick wood or even metal beams. After picking the right material for the legs, attach them to the bench by using screws and glue. Use a tape measure to check whether the legs are of equal length.

Complete the Bench with a Back

Once the legs have been attached, the final piece left to attach is the back. The back will also require a couple of planks or about five slats (depending on how large your bench is). The easiest way to attach the back is by using beams that are connected to the bench legs.

Test the Bench

Once you have completed the bench-building process, all that’s left to do is place the bench in your backyard and give it a test drive! If you have soft soil in your backyard, it is recommended that you pour some concrete under the legs to keep it locked in place.

You can get all of the supplies listed in this article near the pool supplies section of your hardware store. Once you’ve finished, you can sit back and relax on your comfy new bench.

Retirement (Photo credit: 401K)

Being able to cover the costs of your retirement will require careful planning and even better money management, but with the right approach, your retirement years can be the best years of your life. The following article looks at some of the ways that you can pay for your retirement.

Investments

If you have a decent-sized investment portfolio, one of the best ways to fund your retirement is by liquidating some of your investments. Having the cash on hand rather than invested in an extra car or piece of property will be far more useful to you as you set yourself up in retirement, and may even mean that you can afford to retire a year or two earlier. Lots of property or other investments are useless if you can’t afford to cover your bills, and by liquidating one here or there you may be able to cover all of your retirement wants and needs.

Health Insurance

As you get older, you are more likely to experience health problems, so make sure that you have adequate health insurance to cover anything and everything that may arise. Whether you need acupuncture, a heart operation or a new electric wheelchair, government insurance will never cover it all, so extra coverage can make all the difference. Good health insurance can also play a big role in helping you maintain your health in old age, by covering the costs of exercise classes, gym memberships and the like.

Funeral Insurance

One of the biggest expenses to be prepared for in retirement is your funeral, which can set you back anything from $6,000 and up. Even though you have your whole life to plan for your death, you never know when it’s going to happen, so make sure you are covered by your insurance, so that you can relax and know that everything will be taken care of. Some life insurance policies even offer to cover funeral expenses, though this is often only offered as an extra.

Savings

Nothing will provide you with more peace of mind in your retirement than having enough money in your savings account. As soon as you start your working life, you should start saving towards your retirement. If you end up living a long and healthy life, your retirement may cost you a significant amount of money, so make sure you will be able to live it up rather than struggle.

Making it to your retirement day is a big achievement in itself, so make sure you aren’t wishing your final days away, but that you are thriving in the later part of your life. The government won’t jump to your aid if you run out of money in retirement, so make sure that you will have the funds to pay for anything you may want or need.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Roses are ornamental flowers with a rich history. The rose is used for perfume and is popular as a cut flower. They are used as common imagery for literature and songs and have been used as inspiration for poets, artists and architects.

1. The Rose

The rose is commonly used as a cut flower or as an ingredient in perfume. These flowers originate in Asia, although some come from the United States and Europe. There are many different varieties of roses. They vary in colour and size and are very popular throughout the world.

2. Roses in Perfume

The rose is often used as an ingredient in perfume. The petals of the flower are distilled to produce an attar or oil. The aromatic oil is then used as perfume. Rose water, a product of the distilling process, is often used for scented cosmetics.

3. The Rose In Medicine and Food

Many countries use rose products as medicine or food. Rose water is often used in the Middle East and Asia as an ingredient in cooking. Rose syrup, made from the petals, is often used for marshmallows and scones in Western countries.

In medicine, rose hips are a useful source of vitamin C.  The hips or fruit of the rose are made into tea to be taken orally. Some parts of roses have been used to relieve stomach problems and cancer.

4. The Rose in Iconography

The rose is traditionally the flower of love. The flowers have been used since ancient times to represent love and passion. In Greek and Roman mythology, the rose was used as a symbol of Venus and Aphrodite, the goddesses of love.

In Christian iconography, the rose is often associated with Christian martyrs. Its five petals are often said to represent the five wounds of Christ.

5. The Rose In Literature and Song

The rose is a popular image in literature. It has been used since the middle ages to represent love. Shakespeare coined the common phrase, ‘a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet.’

The flowers have been used by poets such as Yeats and Robbie Burns. The rose is also a feature of the sad story of the ‘Nightingale and the Rose’ by Oscar Wilde.

6. The Rose As the Symbol of England

England has traditionally been represented by the rose. It is considered the country’s national flower. The origin of this has been traced to Henry the Seventh who adopted the red rose as the symbol of the House of Lancaster. The wars of the roses, with Lancaster represented by the red rose and York represented by the white, was a major historical period in English history.

The rose has many uses. It has been used as a symbol of love and its imagery pervades literature, song and art. The rose has practical uses as an ingredient in cookery, and as medicine. It is a beautiful flower with a sensuous scent and delicate petals. It will long remain a beautiful part of world culture.

Stock market of Brussels (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Since the beginning of the stock market, two fundamentally different technical trading strategies have existed: short-term and long-term investing. Short-term investors generally play the short-term market fluctuations to their advantage by buying shares and selling them quickly to make a fast profit. Long-term investors generally buy stocks and stick with them for the long haul, which can be over several years. Neither strategy is better or worse, but both can help you make great gains in the market when applied properly. By taking the time to explore the pros and cons of each investment strategy, you can determine which is best for you and your financial needs.

Short-term Investing

As a general rule of thumb, short-term investing is best left to the experienced investors simply because of the risks, even though the rewards can be significant.

Pros:

1. With short-term investing, you can make significant returns in a very short period of time.
2. You have more control over your money, and it never has to be out of your hands for too long, enabling you to make a quick comeback from any losses.

Cons:

1. Just like short-term investing can make you money quickly, it can take it away just as fast.
2. In order to make money, you must be on top of your stocks at all times. Diligently checking the status of your stocks every day is a requirement if you want to make any money from short-term investments.
3. This strategy also involves an intense amount of research into the company you are buying stocks from. Buying shares should never be a simple process!

Long-term Investing

Long-term investments are designed to last for years, with slow and steady increases leading to significant returns when you are ready to sell. With this strategy, you will be looking at the bigger picture for your investment, and thinking into the future.

Pros:

1. Since this strategy is much less complicated, less is riding on your ability to read into the ups and downs of the market. This is why the bulk of investors – especially new investors – choose long-term investing.
2. With this strategy, you money is safer than with short-term investing, and you can still make a handsome profit at the end of the investment period with far fewer risks.
3. You will generally experience less stress with long-term investing, as the daily fluctuations in the market won’t bother you, giving you more peace of mind throughout the investment period.

Cons:

1. You won’t get rich overnight with long-term investments, so if you are someone who has little patience for waiting, or need cash fast, then this isn’t the right strategy for you.
2. Since you are investing in the long term, market lows will be more drawn-out compared to the daily and weekly fluctuations of short-term investing. You may have to experience months or even a year of low stock value before you start to see improvement.
3. Your money will be out of your hands once you have invested in long-term stocks. This means you will have far less control until the investment matures, and, depending on the stocks, you may even be subject to penalties or fines for early withdrawals.