How to Protect the Contents of a Firebox

Fireboxes are in important storage piece for anyone who values their high dollar belongings or has important legal documents. Fireboxes are designed to withstand heat and fire up to a certain temperature. Be sure to check the firebox for its specific rating as they do vary in quality. Any document that proves ownership, status or…

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Working from Home Productivity Tips – How to Prevent Working Around the Clock

Working from home productivity tips related to preventing working 24/7 will be the subject of an upcoming article in Bloomberg Businessweek. The following are the two productivity questions a journalist posed, as well as my responses.​ 1. What is your best productivity strategy for keeping days short-ish? When you internalize the following concepts, you’ll build…

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Aviation American Gin

Gin and tonic has been one of my favorite summertime cocktails because it’s so simple to make, it’s refreshingly cool, and I enjoy the flavor. But three incidents have occurred which lead me to believe that I don’t actually love gin. Incident #1: My husband and I drank a flight of Dutch gin at a…

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Back to School Preparation for Teachers

Back to school preparation for teachers has been pretty standard in the past. If you’ve been teaching for a while, you know the drill. Your school district releases the next school year’s calendar in the spring, and you mark your first professional development date for the fall on your calendar. Once school is done for…

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Communicating Change During COVID-19

Last week, a business contact I communicate with almost daily sent me an email with a short but startling message: “Helene:  I am going to be out of the office for the rest of today and I’ll give an update later about tomorrow.  My husband was laid off today and it’s a long story but…

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English Garden Cocktail Recipe

Ingredients: 1 ½ TB Elderflower Liqueur 1 ½ TB Gin 5-6 oz Prosecco, super chilled Cucumber, thinly sliced Mint, torn into small sprigs Champagne flute, chilled Directions: Grab your champagne flute from the freezer or refrigerator. Pour the elderflower and gin into your glass. Fill the rest of your flute with prosecco. Add one or…

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Time Management Tips Uncovered in World War Z

When I watch movies, I’m in relaxation mode. But afterwards, my brain automatically goes into reflection mode. Call it a blessing or a curse – either way, I enjoy unpacking the different layers. Even though it’s Hollywood and make believe, we can walk away with lessons from what entertains us. The productivity mantra that I…

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