Will Employers Continue to Offer Health Care?
Today, the question of whether or not employers will continue to offer health care plans is up in the air. At this point, too many factors remain undecided. This includes the current legislation passed in order to create health care reform. However, statistics show the employers are voicing their concerns about whether or not they will be able to afford the costs associated with providing their employees and their families with coverage.
Uncertainty is a major concern for most employers. Many are hesitant to commit themselves to offering health care plans in the future because they have no idea what that will truly entail. It could mean policing employees to make sure that they are insured. It may mean setting up a system of financial calculations to make sure that they are within the guidelines that have been established. At this point, no one can be sure about what the future holds.
The job market just isn’t what it used to be. Employers don’t seem to be hiring as much as they were in the past. Some speculate that health care plans and their potential complications in the future are preventing employers from hiring the people they need. It tends to be a circle in which employers aren’t hiring because of their financial fears and more individuals are out looking for work because of their financial concerns. Where that cycle ends, no one knows.
In order to be able to offer health insurance to employees, there is a chance that the employees themselves will have to foot more of the bill. This has been the case for the past couple of years and employees have continued to pay higher premiums and then pay more for each office visit, prescription and even specialist’s diagnosis. Employees may choose to seek out their own health insurance independently or give up on the concept all together. (It is important to note that according to the health care reform legislation, those individuals could pay a fine for choosing to not insure themselves.)
Because a majority of people do depend on their employers for health care benefits, if this became a thing of the past, a serious meltdown within the insurance industry is possible. Just like offering health insurance to employees becomes a financial decision with employers, individuals will have to determine what they can and cannot afford when it comes to coverage.
For now, few business owners are making any decisions. Like many people today, they are forced to sit back and wait to see what the future holds. Some hang tightly to the traditions of the past and hope that things will remain the same. Others have concerns about what will be on the horizon for both their companies and their employees in the near future. Unfortunately, at this time, there are no clear answers about whether or not employers will be able to continue to offer health insurance benefits to their employees in the upcoming years. Everyone will have to be patient and await the outcome.
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Zoe is an ardent blogger and freelance writer from the UK, and she loves to share her health and legal knowledge through content on the internet. Feel free to tweet your thoughts on this article to @bloggingstyle.
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Printing your own Photo book
To someone who’s been taking photos the past 12 years, a coffee table photo book showing the best photos is but a dream come true. Well at least for me. In any case, a personal photo book of my kids is as wonderful as the real thing.
If like me, your hard drive (perhaps shoebox) is holding your photos (that’s digital and printed) for the longest time now, a photo book is a great way to have them out of the…box. A photo book, closely looked at isn’t just a book of photos, it’s a collection of the special moments and milestones of your life (and your kids) that you treasure. Later on, it will be a nostalgic remembrance of days past, also a funny walk down memory lane. Photo books are also great gifts to families and friends.
To make a photo book is like compiling a photo album but digitally, the photos get printed directly on paper and you don’t have to worry about the acidic content that photo albums are dreaded for. There are online stores that offer such services and your nearest photo printing shop might do it for you too. However, doing a layout online and by yourself will give your photo book a personal touch. You can include anecdotes, text and quotes to make the photos much memorable. So I tried making one with select photos and a few quotes via printluna.com. It’s an easy-to-navigate website that offers templates for users to choose from. You upload photos and layout them the way you want. They also have options to sell your books!
I made a sample photo book. Click to enlarge.
Consider the following when you set to have yours printed.
Purpose of printing the photo book. If you are a photographer, consider a professional layout that would pass as a coffee table book with the goal of being sold. If you are planning to give them out as gifts, consider the photos that would be included, those that are significant to the person who will receive it. If you are printing it for personal reasons, to compile for future viewing, a neat layout with notes of when and where the photos were taken, a little anecdote perhaps would suffice.
Size of photo book. Different websites offer different format and sizes. Choose what is appropriate for the purpose of your photobook. For personal bound copy of photos to brag, a 2×3, 3.75×2.5, 4×4 and 5×5 small book is recommended. This will appear as a flipbook which is now getting to be a popular wedding souvenir.
If you prefer a rectangular shaped book, the small rectangular 8 x 6 is perfect. This will only include photos sans text. If you want to include text to make a story book along with the photos, the 8×8 will be your option and this is the size that most photo book printers offer.
For a full use of page, get the 8.5×11 classic photo book size. This is the one used by professionals as it gives them the full option of layouting photos in different styles.
There are bigger sizes to choose from but I doubt if those would be practical to carry around or give as gifts.
Type of photo book. Would you like your photo book to be hard bound or soft bound? Would you like to have the pages glossy or matte? These are all taken in consideration as well as the cover that is to be used. Take time to think of your preferences.
Again, photo books will serve somehow as a vault of your fondest, funniest, most treasured memories. It’s time to start making one.
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Bunk Beds
DIY Bunk Bed via http://granddesignco.blogspot.com/2012/01/bunk-beds.html
That Pinteresting is addictive and totally inspiring is a given. I’ve been meaning to try the recipes I’m seeing there, to visit the places that are so picturesque and do the do-it-yourself home improvement ideas such as the one above. The bunk beds that would be wonderful for the kids’ room is one of those I aim to do. One bed for each with another to spare for a friend spending the night over. This is also a convenient alternative to traditional dorm room bunk beds we’re used to seeing. Bunk beds are space savers and give the kids endless playful ideas.
Here’s another one that is so inspiring and cozy-looking being integrated on cool, powder blue walls.
- Another one I found on Pinterest, wouldn’t this be a better sleeping environment?
If you are thinking of getting bunk beds then consider the option of doing it yourself with the help of many tips from bloggers around. I’m sure google would be a lot of help or hire professionals to do the job for you. If DIY is not your thing then there are a lot of websites selling bunk beds in designs that would match your taste.
Bunkbeds.net is one of those sites. They carry a wide range of beds and bunk beds designed to soothe one’s preferences. To help you in choosing a bunk bed, consider the following points.
Room Measurement. Consider the room that the bunk bed will be. Take measurements here and there especially the ceiling height. Consider at least 2 feet of extra height from the top bunk to the ceiling to avoid bumps.
Bunk Bed Features. They’ve evolved for the better through the years. Some have compartments under the lower bunk to maximize use space. This could also be a pullout bed so there’d be a third bed. There are also loft styles, which looks like an elevated bed with space under that can be used for other stuff. A desk or a small sofa or a small cabinet perhaps. There’s also those with integrated sofa beds. The bunk other is a sofa in the morning and could be turned to a full bed at night — serves a double purpose. Moreover, there are bunk beds that come with a set of desks, drawers, dressers and other furniture in matching color and design. Just like the picture on the right.
There will definitely be a lot of styles in the market, upon considering the above points it is still important to choose a style and make that will make you and your kids happy. Take his/her opinion in to consideration, her favorite color perhaps, her favorite movie character and incorporate a bit of those into what you will have to choose.
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Bridal Fair 2012 (Features dresses, cars, wedding cake toppers)
I got the chance to visit this year’s Bridal Fair and I was really charmed by the magic that surrounds weddings. A couple-friend and I were getting some ideas for their upcoming wedding…we looked at invitation designs, wedding decorations, wedding cake toppers and the cakes of course, dresses, hairstyles, souvenirs and every little detail concerning a wedding.
There were a few cars on display too and a lot of photographer booths! My favorite part I think would be, cake tasting! 
What’s missing at the fair though were flower girl dresses and I was actually looking forward to seeing those. My daughter would be one of the flower girls for my friends’ wedding and the motif is peach. It wasn’t so easy finding ready made gowns in that color and until now I haven’t found one. I am not so sure about having it done by a professional dressmaker because frankly, I don’t know one around. 
And I heard it’s not as cheap too!
The wedding is in May so I have up until a month to look for a dress. I’d probably look online if I don’t get to find one from the malls. Any ideas? Would appreciate them.
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Weddings and all that (apart from wedding decorations)
Weddings are not as easy as one may think. There’s the invitation to think of, the guest list, wedding decorations that corresponds with the motif, wedding dress, favors, food, cake and the list just goes on. That’s just the part that the couples are to prepare…how about the couples’ parents, bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls and ring /bible bearers?
It’s fun and certainly a proud moment if your kids get to be flower girls or ring bearers in the next wedding event you’ll be attending. As a mom, one has to prepare for this too. First, one has to coordinate with the bride and groom or the wedding planner. If they are to shoulder the expenses for the dresses then all you have to do is take your kid/kids to the fitting and when the dress or suits are finished, you just have to make sure it fits…make necessary adjustments by then. If this is not the case, one should know the theme and motif to be able to buy an appropriate gown or dress for little girls and suitable ties and matching shoes for little boys.
Second, you have to make sure that your kid is in good mood during the ceremony…kids could go fickle-minded at the last moment or agitated especially the younger ones so anticipate tantrums, hunger complains and that. Sure weddings are fun but it could be boring for little kids to wait so make sure you have something with you that would make them busy when that happens. Talking to them about behaving in a wedding would do wonders too but most of the time, they would anyway find it uneasy to stay seated for long. ^_^
My daughter was prim and proper during my brother's wedding.
My boys, littlest one was striding instead of walking...unexpected!
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