When a baby is to arrive, amidst all the excitement there is also the cost of logistics that come with raising a baby. The baby's birth is a time of celebration, yet it is also a time when maximum comfort and safety is required for both mother and child. In such cases, the expenses can be sky high with the setting up a nursery and other major purchases like cribs, bathtubs, clothing and much more. Apart from this you really don't know which products will suit the baby and it makes sense if you could try out a sample first before buying expensive products that your baby could be allergic to. There are many malls and marts that offer free samples of different products. Here're a few things that you could sample before buying. Lotions and Other Toiletries: Toiletries like soaps, lotions, rash creams and so much more can take quite a toll on one's pocket as these are things that the baby requires regularly. There are companies and malls like Baby Centre and others like Walmart which offer free samples. You can actually sign up and register before the birth of baby to receive a certain number of free samples of these products every month. Additional Supplies: Additional supplies like wet wipes and diapers can also be availed through free samples if one saves coupons and registers on time. It would be best to try free samples of a few diaper brands before you settle on the one that your baby is most comfortable in. When you register with such brands, you are bound to receive a free sample with your first online purchase. So, you may want to email and sign up for the same. Also, there are many brands that would offer free wet wipes with bulk purchase of diapers. Prenatal and Post natal Vitamins: Once you register with certain online portals for baby supplies and motherhood care, then you will also start to receive prenatal vitamin mix samples as well as post natal vitamin mix samples. These two kinds of mixes are extremely important because the nutrient and vitamin requirement of a mother during pregnancy and the same kind of requirement after pregnancy will be widely different. Usually, these are standard mixes that you should have during and after pregnancy so that your body gets all the correct nutrition for the growing fetus, and the right kind of health push and support when you are lactating and feeding the child. Both pregnancy and infant rearing can take quite a toll on the body, which is why these products are required. Before taking any free samples, you will need to speak with your doctor regarding the safety of the same, so that you know what you can and cannot have. Add Ons: There are a number of companies and brands that offer add ons when you buy products like cribs and bassinets as well as baby strollers, bath tubs and much more. Starting from samples of a musical mobile, to mattress pads for the crib and additional hoods for the strollers with trays too, you can avail many free samples of such add ons. Look for recommendations online when you are buying products too so that you know which add ons would be best.

Waking up in the morning and stepping on the floor of your choice is a luxury indeed. It is a luxury that makes you realize time and time again that you do indeed have a space of your own, your own path that you are walking as you brave the world and all the challenges that it poses. The floor is one of the most important aspects of a home, and one that should be planned with utmost care. In fact, it should ideally be given the same amount of care and thought that goes into the walls, windows and other such elements of the home. This is where you set your feet and this is where your family finds a ground where they can stand on. So it would be best to make it worth their while. Lowe's is a chain of hardware stores that runs all across the country with a presence that is almost synonymous with home decor and design as well as DIY projects. These stores are known to stock up a variety of hardware material from doors, windows, building material, flooring, to cabinets, countertops, appliances, bathroom hardware and much more. You can easily find a plethora of flooring solutions right here at the store. So here is how you can choose the best flooring from the nearest Lowe's store! • Know your preferences: There are many kinds of floorings and you would do well to know all the types so that you can make an informed choice. To begin with, there is the robust and solid option which is also a classic one - wood. Also, you now have many choices in terms of engineered wood which is the closest replica of natural wood. This is engineered with sawdust and in layers that make it an equally solid option. Then, you can also go for laminate flooring which is a more lightweight but sturdy option. This recreates many patterns like wood, swirls, and even stone. You can choose laminate for a number of coatings starting from floors to cabinets and even furniture. Furthermore, tiles and marble are also some of the more expensive but elegant options that one can avail. • Family: The kind of flooring that you choose will depend on the size of the family and the age of its various members. Stone and marble may not be an ideal choice for homes where there are old people and small children because it tends to get cold fast and can lead to heavy injuries in case of falls and spills. Wood is a warm option which also offers a better grip, while laminate and engineered wood are more easily replaceable and easier to maintain as well. • Theme: The kind of flooring that you choose will ideally also depend on the kind of look that you want in your home. For an ultra modern home, you may want to choose tiles or laminate in a quirky or industrial looking color, while a countryside and classic theme would look best with wood!

Colored contact lenses are specially-designed lenses enabling the users to change their eye colors. These are available in bothon-prescription (plano) and prescription forms. With prescription colored lenses, you can not only correct your vision (be it myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism), but also have fun with different eye colors. Plano colored lenses are designed only for cosmetic purposes and do not correct any vision problem. While it is nice to have an easy option to change one's eye color, there are risks associated with the use of colored contact lenses just as with the usage of any regular contact lens. Proper colored contact lens use and care Whether you want to use a prescription colored lens or a non-prescription one, you still need to follow all recommendations for proper use of lenses. Otherwise you risk contracting eye infections and causing damage to your eye.

• In some countries like the US, the sale of colored contact lenses with no prescription is illegal. So, it is very important that you first consult with an ophthalmologist even if you want to buy only cosmetic contact lenses with no power. Only buy colored contact lenses from places that ask for a prescription. When you consult with a doctor about using any kind of cosmetic contact lens, you are ensuring the safety of your eyes.
• During your consultation, your ophthalmologist can assess, if you are a good candidate for wearing contact lenses, if you have any existing eye infection that can become worse with your contact lens use and provide you with proper measurements for the right-sized lens. Your doctor can also guide you to proper care for your eyes and lenses to minimize the risk of infections and keep your eyes healthy.
• During your consultation, your ophthalmologist can assess, if you are a good candidate for wearing contact lenses, if you have any existing eye infection that can become worse with your contact lens use and provide you with proper measurements for the right-sized lens. Your doctor can also guide you to proper care for your eyes and lenses to minimize the risk of infections and keep your eyes healthy.

Always purchase colored contact lenses from licensed shops. Refrain from buying from online retail shop or any place not authorized to sell cosmetic contact lenses. After each use, thoroughly clean your lenses and store them properly in the lens case. Also keep the lens container clean by washing it with a sterile solution. Replace the case after a few months of use. Always store your cosmetic contact lenses as per the instructions of your doctor. Remember, you can't forever use your colored contact lenses. You may need to replace it as guided by your ophthalmologist. Neither share your cosmetic contact lenses with anyone else, nor borrow lenses from anyone else, even if it is for one-time use. In case, you experience any redness or pain in the eye during or after using colored contact lenses, seek medical help. These could be signs of an eye infection and may require treatment. For immediate relief from irritation or itchy eyes, remove the lenses and rinse your eyes with clean tap water. Don't wear your lenses again until you have seen a doctor. You can safely use colored contact lenses on a regular basis if you follow all care guidance diligently while using them.

The years of retirement are golden, provided that one has a portfolio with the right kind of investments. A growing number of individuals are opting for Vanguard funds as a fascinating investment option. Mutual fund statistics may not be an area of interest to many, while an advisor can be an expensive option to look at. Stirring away from the two, Vanguard funds prove to be a great choice for retired investors. The several funds prove to be extremely beneficial for individuals looking to save up for the years of retirement. Vanguard funds offer some of the most suitable low-cost yet no-load mutual funds to investors. Thus, they provide the best dividend funds which are a perfect option for individuals looking to generate retirement income.  As a retiree, one may be considered a long-term investor. However, it does make for a wiser decision to also invest in short-term options to fulfill the immediate needs. The portfolio must include a combination of growth and income-generating funds. Here are three of the 10 best Vanguard funds for a retirement portfolio. Dividend funds A less aggressive option in comparison with the other types of funds, dividend funds are commonly categorized in the value stock funds section. The risk factor is lesser and thus, this kind of Vanguard funds make for appropriate retirement options. Retired investors or individuals looking to retire in the near future would typically stir away from excessive risk. One can receive Dividend fund returns in the form of a source of income or employ the same to purchase more funds of mutual shares. However, a large portion of retiree investors opts for an income as a reliable and steady payment from their fund investment. The top dividend funds from Vanguard include Vanguard Dividend Growth, Vanguard High Dividend Index, and the Vanguard Utilities Index Adm among several other options. Conservative allocation funds Conservative investing is a smart retirement option in nature. It involves a strategy that combines low market risk while keeping volatility to a minimum. Amidst the same, it aims to achieve the returns which can outdo or match the pace of inflation. Conservative allocation funds are one of the best Vanguard funds for a retirement portfolio as they hold a combination of stocks, cash, and bonds that are low in terms of risk. Thus, when there is a great fall back or decline in the market, it does not have a great impact due to a diversified allocation. Two of the popular conservative allocation funds include Vanguard LifeStrategy Conservative Growth and Vanguard Wellesley Income. Bond index funds Vanguard offers the best combination of low-cost bond funds in the spectrum of mutual funds. Bond Index funds enable the gain of great performance in the world of mutual funds. Index funds come at a low cost due to the lesser operating expenses. All a manager must do us to employ time into tracking the benchmark index, while an active manager tries to beat the benchmark. Index funds bring the added advantage of lack of human mistakes. The reason behind the same is that the index fund is handled through passive management. This management eliminates the possibilities of a miscalculation of the economic conditions prevalent in the market. The popular bond index funds to pick include Vanguard Intermediate-Term Investment Grade and the Vanguard Short-Term Investment Grade. Every Vanguard fund holds a place of its own, however, there are some which may be a good pick for some individuals. The funds do the job and are inexpensive. All the three types of Vanguard funds require an investor to draw in a minimum investment of $3000. There are several other types of funds can prove to be extremely beneficial to the retirement portfolio. One must closely evaluate the several factors that are attached to the same and generate enough knowledge before taking the plunge.

Do you have a plain-jane bathroom that you want to revamp? Well, you’re not alone. Most people want to change up the aesthetic of their bathrooms, and if you have a smaller bathroom, then this becomes most essential. The quickest way to change the entire look of your bathroom is by picking the right paint colors for your bathroom. But this is probably something you’re already well aware of. What most people don’t know is that hues and shades matter a lot in how a room feels, and your bathroom is no different. Let's take your imagination for a spin and add a personal touch to your bathroom. Here are some paint colors for your bathroom.  Mellow arctic blue Blue is one of the most sought-after colors for bathroom paints- for obvious reasons. It’s calming and elevates your bathroom to an almost spa-like feeling. Of course, while the harsh jagged shades of blue don’t help, the arctic blue shade with grey undertones may just be perfect for those who like soothing shades. You can mute the interior additions to your bathroom to a subtle blue and grey shade as well. For those who like a pop of color in their bathrooms, you could add red or yellow bathroom accessories. Dramatic black This might come in stark contrast to what’s already been said about paint colors for your bathroom. If you’re all about sophistication and want to take a trip to the dark side, then black is the color you should opt for. This also allows you to add shimmery and reflective surfaces to your interior. The flooring can be subtle as this can make a world of a difference, so keep a special eye out for that. Minty mint Here’s a color you might not have envisioned your bathroom in. A cool green mint color is a great way to bring a calming effect, in a room exposed to a lot of sunlight. This can be extended to other rooms in your house too. This will make your home feel a lot cooler. These are only some of the bathroom paint ideas that you can draw inspiration from. Of course, you can go a shade lighter or darker and even experiment with various greens, metallics, blues, and pinks. Don’t forget to add various shades of paper towels to the mix, and stock up on toilet paper with toilet paper coupons.

Have you ever wanted to invest in something that can give you better returns for the future? Silvers bars are a good investment choice over gold bars and silver coins. Why? Because they have lower premiums than their coin counterparts, but that's not all. They are a lot easier to store as well. Here are a few reasons why you should buy silver bars over silver coins, and how to go about buying your first set. Lower Premiums As mentioned earlier, bars are a safer investment choice than silver coins. The main reason is that silver coins involve more money spent on the intricate designs carved on them. The premiums for coins are quite high, since you're paying for the visual appeal in addition to the value of silver itself. Easier Storage: The second big reason why silver bars are the better choice: for every ounce of silver, bars take up a lot less space, and are easier to store. Silver bullion takes up less space than a silver coin. The more you accumulate, the more you'll notice this big difference in storage space requirements. Liquid Assets: Silver bars can be sold easily, and are more widely accepted. Protection Against Currency Devaluation: The biggest benefit of getting yourself a collection of silver bars would be protection against currency devaluation. You can generate a regular income by buying and selling silver bars based on silver prices today in the market, which are steadier than currency fluctuations. You can buy them with the assurance of a long-term stable, viable investment. Silver Bar Buying Guidelines: A good rule to follow when buying silver bars is to buy those in the 10 to 100 ounce range. This is because not every layman can afford 1000 ounce bars; plus, bars below 1 ounce command notoriously high premiums. Also, 1000 ounce bars and higher ounce bars have higher chances of getting counterfeited since they are more pricey. The second thing to watch out for is whether you get your silver bars stamped. Usually, silver bars are accompanied by a branding stamp and a serial number. Quality stamping usually includes the bar's weight, purity information, manufacturer details outlining refinery details and finally, a serial number. Some bars don't include this, which could mean you aren't getting a pure silver bar, or that you're getting a low quality variant. Ensuring that your silver bars have this can safeguard you as a buyer, and even as a seller; people tend to trust bars with stamping, preferring them over non-stamped ones. These simple tips should give you the knowledge you need to make safe investments in silver bars today.