Win a $20 Amazon Gift Code in the Falling Into Leaves Giveaway Hop!

Welcome to the  Falling Into Leaves Giveaway Hop hosted by MamaTheFox. Enter below to win a $20 Amazon Gift Code!  Be sure to visit all the blogs in the hop for even more chances to win. This event runs 9/16/21 - 9/30/21. Open to WW. Good Luck!

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MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

Save on KILLABEE Big and Tall Robust Gaming Chairs! Use code: DP15 for $15 off ALL items!

Disclosure: Susie's Reviews receives compensation or products for the posts on this site. Our opinions are honest and our own.

KILLABEE is one of the oldest and most well-known manufacturers of gaming chairs out there. The company started out by making office chairs in 2001. But moved into gaming in 2013 after spotting a gap in the market for good quality gaming furniture at reasonable prices.

They are known for making gaming chairs with a special focus on big and tall gamers. The 8257 has been built to make the gaming experience more enjoyable for big and tall people.

This means everything about the chair, from the size of the seat to the overall height, has been designed for people looking for extra space.

To give you a sense of the proportions, the recommended height for this chair is between 5ft 8in and 6ft 2in. And it can take up to 400 lbs (200kg) in weight.

The design of a good gaming chair should be ergonomic. It means that a good gaming chair should have lumbar support, the adjustability, swivel base and breathable fabric. This chair can provide high-performance comfort when used during intense gaming sessions or long workdays in the office 

I love the full ergonomic set-up with a backrest, head support and lumbar pillow. It has a reclining function (90 to 175 degrees), a memory foam seat cushion and it’s described by Killabee as a “robust” gaming chair.

Use code: DP15 for $15 Off for all items; Valid until 10/31/2021

Learn more by visiting KILLABEE and be sure to follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

How Can You Stabilize and Streamline Your Business' Transport Sector?

With rapidly changing economic and political conditions in a globalized world, it is more important than ever to have a robust transport sector to keep your business stable. 

So, whether you're an entrepreneur trying to get your goods from point A to B or an organization looking for ways to increase efficiency and reduce costs—here are some tips on how you can stabilize and streamline your company's transport sector.

Take Stock of Each Vehicle Condition Before and After Purchase

Vehicles need to be well maintained and in good condition before they can be used. The car should also meet all the necessary safety standards for public transport, such as having a full insurance policy and meeting emissions regulations. This will not only improve your business' image, but it will also ensure that all drivers and passengers are safe during their journeys.

You also need to check each car's registration number against its MOT certificate so that you do not incur unnecessary costs if it turns out that certain parts are no longer safe to drive on public roads. So, whether you are buying a Honda van, 2021 RAV4, Toyota Siena, Kia Sedona and others, ensure you double check its condition. 

Have Your Finances and Accounts in Check

Don't lose sight of your financial goals. Keep track of all expenses and income, not just those related to transportation or logistics. As you grow as a company, so too will the amount of money that flows through your business--and it's easy for this cash flow to turn into chaos if you're not tracking everything properly.

Don't forget to schedule regular audits, even if you're just a small business. This is especially important for companies that handle other people's money or property on its way from one place to another--such as the airline industry and moving services like U-Haul and Penske Truck Rental. These businesses must be able to provide auditors with accurate financial records.

Have a Single Hierarchy of Approvals

It is vital to have a single hierarchy for approving processes. If the process requires that your manager and team members must have approval documents, you will create extra work and time spent tracking down those who have not yet seen the document or agreed with it. 

It is better for everyone involved if one person is responsible for signing off on the document, which then goes straight into the action. This way, you will save time and get things going efficiently. 

Look Into the Safety of Involved Parties

One way of improving transport security is to look into the safety of involved parties. This means that you should ensure that your drivers are trained on how to handle certain situations and monitor them closely, especially during peak hours or when driving through high crime areas. 

One more thing that can help reduce road collisions is a proper tracking system to make sure your drivers are sticking to the schedule. This will also come in handy if they are involved in an accident, and you can use the data to find out what happened.

The transport sector can be a complicated industry to navigate, but it doesn't have to be. With these tips in mind, you should now feel more confident about improving your business' transport division—and that's not something many other companies can say.

Fall Favorites from National Geographic Kids Books Giveaway! #FallFavorites

Disclosure: Susie's Reviews receives compensation or products for the posts on this site. Our opinions are honest and our own.

With Labor Day in the rearview mirror (how did THAT happen??)  I'm excited to turn the page and welcome a new season AND a new school year with a "Fall Favorites" giveaway opportunity from National Geographic Kids Books. Whether you are looking to add to your family's bookshelf, in need of quality resources to supplement distance learning, or starting on your holiday gift lists, these books are guaranteed to ignite imagination and bring the world to kids' doorsteps.

Ultimate Book of African Animals by Emmy Award-Winning Filmmakers Beverly and Dereck Joubert (ages 8-12, hardcover)

Ready for an adventure of a lifetime? With National Geographic photographer-filmmaker duo Beverly and Dereck Joubert as their guides, readers are transported to the plains of the Serengeti, the sands of the Sahara and the shaded nooks of the rainforest. Dereck and Beverly are eight-time Emmy award-winning filmmakers, National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence and wildlife conservationists who have been filming, researching and exploring Africa for over 35 years.  By sharing their stories of life on safari and Beverly's jaw-dropping photography, this dynamic duo gives the reader unique, behind-the-lens access to Africa's wildlife, how they live, play and hunt and how they have adapted to their wild, one-of-a-kind environments.  A big, beautiful guide to animals that roar, race and "totally rule," this gift-worthy book is overflowing with facts, stats and photos of animals of all behaviors, shapes and sizes -- including the tiny bombardier beetle, the sneaky desert viper, mischievous monkeys, elusive Ethiopian wolves, as well as fan favorites like lions, elephants, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, hippos, gorillas, rhinos, and so many more.   

Attention Percy Jackson/Greek Mythology Fans!

Zeus the Mighty Series: The Trials of Hairy-Clees (ages 8-12, hardcover) 

"Readers will appreciate the overlay of this mythological world atop the real-life operations of a pet rescue center and how Boyer manages to fit all the plot pieces together perfectly. Great characters, action, adventure, and lots of humor" -- School Library Connection

"A treat for proto–Percy Jackson fans.” — Kirkus Reviews

Welcome to Mount Olympus, a pet supply and rescue center that sits high on a hill in Athens, Georgia. The overconfident hamster Zeus, wise cat Athena, and other rescued pets live there under the watchful eye of their caretaker, Artie, who's obsessed with Greek mythology. The pets overhear her favorite podcast, Greeking Out, and believe themselves to be the actual megastars of mythology! Get ready to laugh, cheer, and learn with Zeus and his minions in their rollicking romps through Greek mythology and unforgettable adventures. Check out the Zeus the Mighty website for books, fun printables, games, fun Greek facts and episodes of the real life Greeking Out podcast.

Little Kids First Big Book of Rocks, Minerals and Shells (ages 4-8, hardcover) - This new addition to the wildly popular Little Kids First Big Book series introduces a fascinating variety of Earth’s rocks, minerals, gemstones, fossils, and shells -- from granite to gold, marble to malachite, and conchs to clams. Discover how rocks are formed, the three kinds of rocks, and the difference between rocks and minerals. Learn how rocks and minerals are used in art, architecture, industry, and science. Then journey to the oceans to explore seashells and the amazing animals that once inhabited them. Packed with more than 200 stunning photos, including closeups of each specimen, this colorful book showcases breathtaking natural sites such as the Giant’s Causeway and human-built structures like the Great Wall of China. Filled with fun facts, this book is designed for interactive learning, the Little Kids First Big Book of Rocks, Minerals, and Shells.

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2022 (ages 8-12, paperback) - The number one selling kids almanac on the planet!

'"...this gathering of upbeat, vividly illustrated, browser-friendly dips into topics ranging from black holes to blue-footed boobies to Bolivian street food is hard to put down, and the pop quizzes and research guides at each chapter’s end will give studious sorts a leg up, too." - Kirkus

The latest installment of the New York Times best-selling almanac features amazing animal stories, explorer profiles, and outrageous attractions that kids know and love, plus more of the incredible inventions, awesome games, and fresh challenges for curious kids who want to learn all about the world and everything that's in it.  Tons of fun facts, crafts, activities, and fascinating features about animals, science, nature, technology, conservation help kids keep up with our quickly changing world and is why this is the number one selling kids almanac on the planet.  There's a whole chapter full of fun and games, including activities, jokes, and comics and the colorful compilation also includes an Almanac Challenge 2022 — which inspires kids to reduce their plastic waste.  

NG Kids World Atlas 6th Edition (ages 10+, hardcover)

"No one does maps or atlases with as much panache and knowledge as National Geographic" - Washington Post

This Fall, the map experts at National Geographic debuts the sixth edition of their Kids World Atlas -- the perfect reference for kids to learn about lands close to home or oceans away. This title is an authoritative and well-designed with completely updated maps, stats, and facts about the people, places, trends, and developments of our world.  Highlights include the latest geographic and political information, a new map on global migration that introduces kids to the movement of people around the world, new graphics that present facts in an easy-to-read format, a place-name index with more than 3,000 locations, colorful photography that shows the beauty and diversity of our world and more than 120 maps, each one telling a story.   Now more than ever, kids need to understand the world from a global perspective -- this is an invaluable resource for using in the classroom or reading at home.

NG Kids Why?:  Over 1,111 Answers to Everything (ages 8-12, hardcover, 192 pgs) - The concept is simple. Got a question? Well now you have an answer! 1,111 of them, in fact. Want to know why your snot is yellow? Flip to the human body chapter. What's on the inside of a turtle shell? The animal section's got you covered. What's in the deepest part of the ocean? Why doesn't Earth just float off into space? Check, check, and check. With hundreds of topics ranging from silly to serious, this book has the expert information kids need in a fun and entertaining format that will keep them digging for answers. Sample spreads can be viewed here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4iojp4tfjhmlavl/AACm9F2U9TLKdXtSPHl4Cm9Ba?dl=0.

Giveaway

On behalf of National Geographic Kids Books, it is my pleasure to offer you the opportunity to win a “Fall Favorites Grand Prize Pack" which consists of all 6 titles listed above (total ARV $108).  U.S. only please. This giveaway will end on September 30, 2021.

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Cool Christmas Gift Ideas For Kids Of All Ages

Yes, we are now in September so you are more than likely planning ahead and starting to think about what the kids want and need for Christmas. Your children may have provided you with a long list of gifts they would like. It isn’t uncommon for children to go through catalogs and mark down everything they want so the list becomes endless. 

As children get older you should take the opportunity to explain about money and presents and the meaning behind them so they are not expecting big fancy expensive presents every year. 

When it comes to buying presents for your kids you should ideally follow the 5 step rule as a way of not spending excessive amounts of money. The 5 steps:

• Something they need 
• Something they want
• Something to wear
• Something to read
• Something traditional 

Here are four ideas for gifts if you are struggling to think of anything. 

Construction Toys

For the younger children, you could think about purchasing some form of construction-based toys, such as Meccano or lego. These are great for improving your child's fine motor skills and dexterity. You can buy sets that tell you what to build and how to build it or you can just buy a box so your child can use their imagination and build whatever they want. 

Construction toys can also be enjoyed by siblings or friends so it’s not just a solo toy, your child can build things with others while enhancing their social interaction and skills. 

Although not technically construction there is some building to be done. Wooden train tracks are great for kids, usually, from the ages of around 18 months they can run the trains around the track pretending to be drivers 

Imaginative Play

Children love imaginative play and there are many toys you can get to encourage this. Dolls houses and toys such as Sylvanian families are great for children to make up stories with. There may even be dolls and imaginative toys associated with your child’s favorite tv show. Marvel and DC have an extensive range of figures available for children to build up and play with. The new paw patrol movie is proving to be very popular amongst the younger and even older kids and better yet there is a huge toy range including Chase’s transforming car. 

Tech

Another option for gifts that never fails to impress is technology. Has your child been pestering you for a phone, saying the famous lines of ‘but all my friends have them’. Christmas might be a great time to surprise them with one if you believe they are sensible and grown-up enough to have one. You really need to make sure your child is mature enough to have a phone and understands all the dangers associated with having one. You should explain about the whole talking to strangers online and make them aware of cyberbullying and the harm it can cause. 

Your child might be older and traveling to school on their own so a phone might be a good idea so you know they are safe and on their way home. You could get them some cool wireless earbuds to go with them, even better noise-canceling ones. If they are traveling by foot or on public transport there can be a lot of noise around so noise-canceling headphones will save them from arriving at school with a headache. Make them aware that ideally when crossing roads they should take one earbud or both out so they can hear any oncoming vehicles traveling at speed. 

iPads or other tablets are great for children of all ages, especially older ones when they need something to do their homework on. They can use it to research for school or play games in their free time. Occasionally during the year phone companies might do offers where you get a phone and tablet together for a combined price. This is great if you have one child that wants a phone and another that wants a tablet. 

Consoles

Consoles are always a popular choice for Christmas presents, however, they are pretty expensive. You might want to pre-warn your children that if funds are tight and they ask for a console then that may be the only big present they receive. There are so many to choose from, some cheaper than others. Of course, the big sell-out console is the PS5 which Sony is still struggling to produce to meet the demand. You will be hard pushed to get your hands on one if your child has asked for one for Christmas. However, you can still get them on sites such as eBay but the price will be significantly higher than that of one purchased in-store. 

You don’t have to get a brand new console, the older Xbox or Ps4 consoles are just as good especially if your child is just starting out with video games. There is also the Nintendo Switch if your child would prefer that. A switch is great for all the family as multiple people can play awesome games such as Mario Kart and you can have family-friendly competitions.

Movie Memorabilia 

If your child is a huge fan of films then you could look into websites that sell movie replicas of props used. There is a great site that sells marvel replicas, for example, you can get Captain America’s shield or the infinity gauntlet for your kids to play with. If they don’t want to play with them the shield looks great when displayed on a wall. There is so much movie memorabilia available for movie fans. 

If your child or teenager is a fan of star wars you could get them a proper lightsaber, not like the ones they had as a child. They light up and play sounds when hit against things, if they have a friend who also has one then they could be having realistic lightsaber battles with each other. 

We hope this gives you some ideas as to what you can get your children this Christmas.

Does Running Your Business Feel Awkward? Here's What To Do

It’s only natural to run into issues when you’re a business owner. There are a lot of branding trends to follow, and many legal and social responsibilities to keep up with, and if you’re a one person team, you’ve got to manage this workload all on your own. In the end, you can feel like you’ve made no progress, and that your small business isn’t worth the trouble. 

But in this situation, it’s important to push through and refine your operating style for the better. There’s a lot you can do to make your job as a leader less awkward, and we’ve listed the most beneficial methods below. 

Take a Training Course

If you find it hard to manage a company on your own, it might be a sign that you’re not quite ready to take on such responsibility. But this doesn’t have to mean you won’t ever be ready! You just need a little guidance, and you can find that in a training course.

Whether you want to get a business management degree out of it, or you just need to pick up a few skills in digital marketing and customer relations, there’s a course for every kind of business leader out there. Don’t be afraid to invest in one, as you’re really just putting money back into the business here. 

Make Organization Super Simple

Organizing your files doesn’t have to be a time wasting task that you hate having to do. After all, you’ve got a lot of clients, and a lot of data to both store and keep safe, and it’s incredibly annoying to hand sort through it all. 

Which is why most companies turn to migrating applications to cloud servers. Storing data in the cloud makes it accessible, as well as much easier to alphabetize, categorize, and then access at a later date. All you need to do is tap in a search term, rather than go through draw after draw and waste your own time!

Rethink Your Success

How do you measure your success? Is it via goals achieved? Is it via a mixture of KPIs? Is it simply getting through each day and having a satisfactory end to each one? No matter how you define your company’s success, it might be time to rethink the definition in your mind. After all, this could be the very core of why it feels so awkward to be a business leader. 

You could be aiming too high, or you could be selling yourself short. You could be watching the wrong KPIs, and thinking you’re not doing very well because of this. You could be holding yourself back from chasing down the wrong leads. It really could be a number of things - you just need to review the way you look at your achievements, and adapt this for a smoother experience. 

Running a business can be challenging, but it shouldn’t be awkward. Make sure you know where you’re going and how you can change. 

How To Maintain The Highest Standards Throughout Your Brand

Running a popular brand can be a colossal responsibility, as there are so many different tasks to complete and members of staff to manage. As a result, it can feel near impossible to maintain the highest standards throughout your entire business - this can have a serious impact on your reputation and subsequent profit levels, so it's absolutely vital that you can figure out the most productive methods to implement today. Fortunately, there are just a few key steps that you can follow to ensure your brand can meet and surpass your expectations each day in every department, and it needn't be as difficult as you might expect to get started today. So, if you're interested in finding out more, then simply read on.

Encourage Constant Training

First and foremost, the best way to promote the highest standards throughout every aspect of your business is through constant staff training. Every one of your team members needs to know their role inside and out, as they have a responsibility to complete each task to the best of their ability as a certified employee. Forgetting key features of their role or regularly making mistakes on the job can have a serious impact on the quality of work that they are able to produce, yet regular training can help you to avoid such an occurrence almost entirely. Don't make the mistake of only training your employees when you first hire them, as constant updates and advances happen in every industry and it's your responsibility to keep your team in the loop. Reiterating just how important it is to maintain the best standard during your training sessions will ensure that this is always at the back of your staff members minds, so you can rest easy knowing that your team fully understands you, your brand and your goals.

Don't Be Afraid To Outsource

Unfortunately, there are bound to be certain tasks, projects or services that you and your employees don't have the time, skills or qualifications to complete to the best possible standard. Ignoring your inabilities by attempting such activities anyway will do nothing but drag your business down to the ground, as you need to accept defeat and make an effort to source a far better quality result elsewhere. You should never be afraid to outsource, especially as a large brand with so many different responsibilities to cover each and every day! Whether you lack technical skills and think could benefit from a fully managed IT service such as www.bcmone.com, or simply don't have the time or manpower to deliver your orders in-house so decide to seek an external professional courier service, you can free up some time and allow yourself and your team to focus more energy into the activities that they are genuinely good at. 

Maintaining the best standards throughout your brand has never been such an easy task when you can take the time to utilize some of the brilliant recommendations that have been described above.