Own Your Creations with ClothingLabels4U

It seems like all kinds of people are starting their own businesses online. People are starting clothing companies, blanket companies and cloth diaper companies.  You can find really cute handmade products online.  If you are not a great sewer like I am, you tend to look to others to make those special gifts for friends and family.  I can’t sew at all. I can make giant stitches and even then it looks horrible.  I have purchased gifts online from small companies before. I remember when Noah was a baby he received a bunch of blankets from people. If it isn’t shipped to you or you buy it, you don’t know where it comes from if it doesn’t have a label in it. If you really like something and you want to order more of the blanket or cloth diaper, you need to know where to go for more. Maybe the person who gave you the gift forgot where they purchased it. A label is important. If you are making clothes to sell or blankets or cloth diapers, you need to include a label. A can of soup wouldn’t be sold without a label, neither should your clothes. You can buy really beautiful custom labels from ClothingLabels4U.

ClothingLabels4U sells many different types of labels. They sell Woven Labels which are your standard clothing label. They also sell printed labels which don’t stand up like woven labels do. ClothingLabels4U has clothing labels which are thinner longer labels which would be great in women’s clothes.  Heat transfer labels are like iron on labels that are a quick way to attach your label with ease. ClothingLabels4U also sells embroidered patches. Noah really likes patches. We have patches from all kinds of places.  If you have an event that you would like to hand out patches like they did at the Science Festival we went to a few weeks ago, you can get them from ClothingLabels4U.  Embroidered Patches are also a cost effective way to make uniform shirts for your business to stand out from your customer.  

Labels are important on your products just like it was important to write your name on your schoolwork.  People need to know who created this beautiful masterpiece so they can tell their friends and increase business.

For more information please visit ClothingLabels4U

Tips on How to Prepare for Retirement

When you get older, you start thinking about retirement. You start making bucket lists and start thinking about all the fun things you want to do.  The biggest question is "How am I going to afford it?" It depends on your employment if you receive a retirement check. You usually have to pay in to it out of your wages.  Many people have worked for most of their lives, some at the same job. My mom is a teacher and has been teaching for thirty six years. She was a teacher in Indiana for 33 of those years. So, naturally she has paid into it for a long time.  So, when she retires she will be fine. The amount of your retirement from your job will be less than your salary. It also depends on how much you paid in to it. Unless you have a high paying job that you have been at for many years, you won't be able to live on that retirement alone. I read an article on Fox Business about three insurance policies that can help pay for your retirement.

There is also Social Security. That too depends on your employment and how much you pay in to it. Social Security also isn't a big amount each month usually either. I know that some people opt for 401k's.  A 401k is retirement savings plan. The contributions are often partially or fully matched by the employer. There are also other private retirement savings plans you can save for your retirement on your own on before taxed income. Another option is an IRA which is an Individual Retirement Account. An IRA reduces your taxable income until you take it out when you are usually are in a tax bracket. You are saving for retirement and saving money by using an IRA. There is a limit of how much money you can put in an IRA a month.   I know this is all kind of confusing, thankfully my friends at Genworth has tons of information to help protect your nest egg.  Be sure to check out their Everything Retirement section.

If you are close to retirement or not, I don’t think you can be too early when you start planning. The earlier you start; the better off you will be later. Retirement is meant to be a happy and joyful experience, don't let finances take your joy away.

This post was inspired by Genworth and Brandfluential. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Importance of using Cartons

I have been teaching Noah about the environment. I think that it is important for him to know about how we have to protect our planet.  He has learned this at a young age. When he was five, he saw the palm trees being trimmed. He was very concerned. He decided to march around yelling “Save our Trees, Save our Trees.” He wasn’t accustomed to the fact that palm trees have to be trimmed for not only esthetic reasons, but for safety reasons.  I explained that they aren’t cutting them down; they are just helping them be safe.  I think when I read The Lorax to him; he really listened, even if he thought they were monkeys.  Recently, we were talking about rules, and he said, “You don’t have rules.” I explained that I do, I can’t litter. He told me I didn’t need a rule for that.  He knew that’s common sense.  I think I am doing a great job teaching him about saving the earth. We went to Boyd Hill Nature Preserve for Earth Day, and I know that the older adults were impressed to see a six year old know the answers to all their questions and could identify what trash items could confuse animals.  Noah is such a fantastic child.  We are an eco-aware family.

Noah loves to drink milk and juice. I have decided to switch from milk jugs to milk cartons, because not only does it keep the milk fresher, it also is better for the environment.  Milk jugs use a lot of plastic, and since cartons are cardboard they are easier to recycle.  Cartons are recyclable for more than 49 million U.S. households. Recycled cartons are used to make other paper products, including tissue, office paper and building materials. I prefer juices that come from cartons vs. concentrate.   I think there are better flavor options. When I use chicken broth I always buy the cartons because it’s more convenient and you don’t need a can opener.  You can also make really cute crafts out of milk cartons. I remember when I was in Brownies making a bird feeder out of a milk carton.  I would love to make all kinds of crafts out of milk cartons. I think that Noah would reuse anything he could.  Noah loves to plant things too.  We could use milk or juice cartons as planters.  I am sure that my adorable son would find a way to make something Star Wars out of a carton or maybe that he calls a Minecraft Craft.  Making this change will be awesome for the planet and an excuse to get out the craft supplies, not that we need one.

Do you drink milk and juice from cartons?