Month: December 2024

What will You do during the Winter Break?

Winter break is the perfect time to relax, explore new hobbies, spend quality time with family, and recharge for the year ahead. So, what will you do this period?

Have you tried exercise?  I mean like exercising your vocal cords?  I mean something you my dread, like small talking.   A student, especially an ESL student, is sometimes reluctant to do try this outside of a classroom. I get that.  However, with practice comes confidence.

What to talk about can be a roadblock if you are not prepared.  Not a big deal.  Check out the starters below to get some ideas and prepare appropriate questions to ask another person. It’s practice to become comfortable speaking English. More practice equals more confidence. And have some fun doing it!

A conversation starter.

 

5 Wedding Traditions that are still going Strong

As you plan your wedding, there are so many things you’ll be told you “have” to do, but the truth is, your big day is just that—yours. While we’re firm believers that you definitely don’t have to wear white, have bridesmaids, or cut a towering cake during the reception, we do think it’s worth at least considering some of the long-standing wedding traditions to determine if they’re right for you. 

Exchanging Vows

Personalized or traditional, exchanging vows remains a cornerstone of the wedding ceremony. Couples cherish this moment as the emotional highlight of their day, where they openly declare their love and commitment.

First Dances

The first dance is still a treasured tradition. Whether choreographed or spontaneous, it’s a romantic moment where the couple can share their connection with their guests.

This tradition continues to feel timeless and intimate.

Cutting the Cake

Even with new dessert trends, cutting the wedding cake remains a beloved ritual. Couples enjoy the symbolism of sharing their first slice as a married pair, and it’s often a photo-worthy moment.

Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue

This age-old tradition still resonates with many brides. Incorporating meaningful items into their attire is seen as a way to honor loved ones and bring luck to the marriage.

Toasts and Speeches

Heartfelt speeches from loved ones remain a highlight of the reception. Toasts allow family and friends to share memories and well-wishes, creating an emotional and celebratory atmosphere.

©Image Credit: DepositPhotos

Article source: msn.com©

Here Are 6 Things Retired Boomers No Longer Buy Because They’re a Waste of Money

The best part of retiring is spending your time and money how you want to. Whether that includes traveling the world or playing a couple extra rounds of golf each month, you have flexibility during this time of your life.

However, reassessing your spending habits is a great idea to keep your retirement stress-free and ensure you’re not overspending. This is exactly what one boomer did when he retired several years ago.

Expensive Vehicles

Extra Insurance Policies

Gym Memberships 

Unnecessary Subscriptions

College Loans

New Dream Home 

The Bottom Line

While there are many things that you may want or need in retirement, it’s important to examine your spending and ensure that it’s truly something you’ll make good use of. If not, don’t be afraid to cut it out of your budget and use that money for something else.

Retirement should be a time of enjoyment, not financial stress. Be wise with your spending, and you’ll have a much happier retirement.

Source:  GOBankingRates.com

Signs That Indicate A Person Has Lived a Hard and Challenging Life

We all know life is a rollercoaster, a rollercoaster with ups and downs that shape us in many different ways. Everyone’s experiences are unique, but there are signs that someone has gone through a lot of hard times.

By understanding these signs, we can develop empathy and create better bonds with the people around us.

Humor as a Shield

©Image provided by: Anna Shvets

Humor is often the greatest weapon of those who have been through adversity. Having a great sense of humor can be a powerful way to deflect pain and deal with difficult emotions.

People who have been through tough times are often the funniest people in the room and use laughter to connect to others and lighten their own load.

Frequent Apologies

©Image Credit: Kaboompics via pexels

Ever met someone who says “sorry” way too often? People with difficult pasts may over-apologize, even for things they don’t have anything to do with.

Often, this reflects a belief — internalized — that, in some way, they are responsible for the discomfort or inconvenience of others. It’s as if they’re carrying an invisible scoreboard, ensuring they stay on the right side of everyone’s expectations.

Remaining Calm During Crisis

©Image Credit: Pikwizard

Some people act strangely calm when the going gets tough, like a sea of tranquility in the middle of chaos. This is often the sign of someone who has endured many storms before.

After so much, they’ve come to not sweat the small stuff, and their calmness can either be a strength or a sign of desensitization to stress.

©Provided by: Craft Your Happy Place

Gift Jar Ideas for Christmas

Candy Cane Bark, Christmas Granola, Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows, dress up that holiday jar any way you like. Gifts in a jar are always a hit with neighbors, teachers, and your mailman.

Dressing up a holiday jar can be fun and reading the next few pages will make it easier for you.

Source: oldfarmersalmanac©

The most common passwords, many hackable in under 1 second

Bank accounts, social media profiles, streaming platforms and even smart refrigerators require passwords these days. Keeping track of a laundry list of passwords can be difficult and so can be creating new, unique ones.

For the sixth year, NordPass, an online password manager, has released a list of the 200 most common passwords − ones that should be avoided due to how easy they are to “crack,” or hack.

2.5 terabytes of data from 44 countries, extracted from publicly-available sources, including those on the dark web were analyzed.

Is your password ‘123456’? You should probably consider changing it

According to NordPass, the password “123456” has been the number one most common password five out of six years it has conducted its study. The six-digit, all-number password is even more popular than the classic, “password.”

How to create a strong password

NordPass encourages online users to create passwords that are at least 20 characters long, even if a platform only requires an eight-character password.

Passwords should be a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and special symbols, such as “%,” “!” and “@.” Stray away from using easily guessable information like names, birthdays and common words.

What’s the best way to save passwords?

Password managers, like NordPass, are the best tools for saving passwords, according to the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre. Password managers store passwords safely on a mobile device or computer. Once a user has logged into a password manager, it will generate and remember all passwords for online accounts.

Many web browsers will offer to save passwords for users. This is safe to do, too, as long as it is on a personal device.

Article by Greta Cross for USA TODAY©

Top 50 Most Common Passwords


 123456

123456789

12345678

password

qwerty123

qwerty1

111111

12345

secret

123123

1234567890

1234567890

123456

0

qwerty

abc123

password1

iloveyou

11111111

dragon

monkey

123123123

123321

qwertyuiop

0

Password

654321

target123

tinkle

zag12wsx

1g2w3e4r

gwerty123

gwerty

666666

1q2w3e4r5t

Qwerty123

987654321

1q2w3e4r

a123456

1qaz2wsx

121212

abcd1234

asdfghjkl

123456a

88888888

Qwerty123!

Qwerty!

112233

q1w2e3r4t5y6

football

Never reuse passwords either.

What exactly is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is the most significant online shopping event of the year, in which stores offer deals and promotions on their websites, apps, or other virtual platforms.

What makes Cyber Monday special is that it was intended to be an online alternative to alleviate the large crowds on Black Friday, originally reserved for in-store promotions. However, the line between the two days has blurred in recent years as more stores began to offer online deals days in advance of Black Friday, a trend that accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While it is true that many stores begin offering price specials starting in mid-November, Cyber Monday typically still marks a hard end for most deals. So, Cyber Monday remains a good option for those who prefer to shop from home and in their pajamas, providing a last chance to secure significant savings offered by many brands.

In general, Black Friday tends to have better deals for more expensive purchases like TVs or mattresses, while Cyber Monday offers greater savings on items such as small appliances, beauty products or clothing.

Here’s a sneak peek of Cyber Monday deals, only on Walmart.com: 

  • Crocs Baya Lined Clog – $29.98 ($30.01 savings)
  • Little Tikes Magic Workshop – $49.00 ($10 savings)
  • onn. 7in Kids Tablet – $39.00 ($40 savings)
  • GAP Pet Bed – $32.97 ($67.36 savings)

Who has the best Cyber Monday deals?

Some of the brands that are expected to have large, exclusive deals on Cyber Monday are Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy. Here is a roundup of some of the deals you can find.

  • Walmart: Cyber Monday sales at Walmart are set to start on Sunday, Nov. 26. During both the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, you can score incredible deals on smart TVs, Dyson vacuums, seasonal items, and more.
  • Amazon: The mega retailer is famous for offering best-of-web pricing on hot items, like Apple AirPods Pro, Revlon hair tools, and LG smart screens.
  • Best Buy: Best Buy always has incredible tech and home appliance deals, especially on Cyber Monday. Expect to see deals on kitchen appliances, smart TVs, headphones, gaming consoles, and much more this November.
  • Lululemon: During Cyber Monday 2022, the retailer had incredible specials on its cult-favorite leggings, joggers, tanks, and belt bags with plenty of ways to cut costs. Similar offers on activewear collections were expected to come out this year.
  • Samsung: Cyber Monday is the perfect time to invest in the brand’s best-selling gadgets without breaking the bank. This Cyber Monday was expected to bring discounts on Samsung smart TVs, Bespoke refrigerators, Galaxy smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets.

Happy cyber-shopping!

Source: finance.yahoo.com©