Family

While it’s still summer, there’s no reason you should put off getting ready for Christmas. You don’t want to wait until Thanksgiving creeps up on you and realize you haven’t even begun thinking about what to buy your friends and family or how to decorate your home.

For families who celebrate, Christmas can involve a variety of events to attend, presents to buy, and seasonally appropriate meals to cook. When left until the last minute, it can be overwhelming and sometimes impossible to plan out the perfect Christmas. If you want to get a start on the holiday season but don’t know where to get started, continue reading for five easy ways to start preparing for Christmas now.

1. Write out a shopping list.

Making a list is one of the quintessential elements of Christmas, and it’s always best to start your shopping list early. No matter what the date on the calendar says, if you come up with a great idea, write it down. Even if you don’t purchase your gifts far in advance, you’ll have a list full of ideas ready to go for Christmastime.

2. Sort out your lights.

Everyone knows how important LED Christmas lights are when it comes to decorating your house for the holiday season. However, everyone is also familiar with the headache that often comes along with putting up Christmas lights. It’s always better to invest in a quality light set that you’ll be able to reuse rather than buying cheap Christmas lights from a big-box retailer.

Decide what areas you’re going to decorate and measure how many yards worth of string lights you’ll need. If you live somewhere with a homeowner’s association or have a landlord, make sure you check and see if there are any restrictions on the number of Christmas lights or the type of lights you’re allowed to use.

3. Create a menu and a guest list for your party.

If you plan on having a Christmas party, whether it’s a large on for all your friends or a smaller, family celebration, it’s a good idea to get started on your menu and guest list right away. Go grocery shopping early as well, though you have to be mindful of when certain food products will expire.

4. Take care of home maintenance.

Making sure your home is in great shape is essential if you plan to entertain. HVAC maintenance is especially important during the colder months. Regular maintenance for your HVAC system includes changing the filter every three months and having it inspected annually by a technician to make sure that it’s in good condition. If you like having company during the holidays, the last thing you want is to have a breakdown that requires costly repairs right before you’re expecting company.

5. Make a plan for decorating.

Decide early if you’re going to buy a real tree or use an artificial one, as your schedule and decorating plans may change. Don’t forget that buying a real Christmas tree involves keeping up with maintenance throughout the season. It’s a good idea to plan out what you plan to use in each room and find out early on if you need to purchase any additional decorations. You also don’t want to go shopping before you see what you have, you might need less than you believe.

Keeping track of all of the miscellaneous tasks and errands associated with Christmas is always difficult, so staying organized is key. Buying a planner to write down all your plans and ideas is a great way to make things easier. Even if you can’t get everything done in advance, even taking care of a few tasks like organizing your Christmas lights or taking care of your routine home maintenance can make a difference, and getting an early start is the best way to minimize holiday stress. Being proactive will pay off when December arrives and you’re completely prepared for the holiday season.

When buying a family car, a vehicle often needs to meet many requirements. Here are some things to look out for when searching for the perfect car for your family.

Economical – An ideal family car should have a good MPG, be fuel efficient and come with low running costs. Skoda is one of the most popular car brands for family cars, which is largely because of excellent fuel economy. The Skoda Octavia can be one of the best cars for this purpose. Peugeot is another brand that is considered to be a highly efficient family car. Especially the Peugeot 308 can be a great choice. However, there are many other brands to choose from and compare, such as Volkswagen, Ford and Vauxhall.

Budget friendly – family life comes with many costs. An expensive car doesn’t have to be one of these, buying a car second hand will save you money over buying new. You can adjust variables such as mileage and year to reduce the cost. Buying a car is also usually cheaper than leasing one and will enable you to sell later on if you choose to. You will also have the option to negotiate or find much cheaper prices when you buy outright rather than signing a lease agreement.

Practical – getting a car that can comfortably fit your family, has enough room, and provides plenty of seats for the whole family is ideal. Family cars are often a more expensive investment since they provide extra space and comforts for children and parents. Of course, you can also always upgrade a car by buying things that will make journeys with the whole family easier, such as car seat organisers/tables or tablet and drinks holders to keep children entertained. Just make sure that the boot is large enough for the stroller, the back can hold enough car seats and that the car isn’t too high to make it easy for kids to climb onto the seats themselves.

Efficient – getting a petrol car for short trips is more efficient, if you plan to do frequent long-distance trips then diesel is more efficient. In order to increase the efficiency of your car, pay attention to the proper maintenance. Making sure that tires are properly inflated, the oil levels are optimal, the engine is tuned, and oil changes are carried out regularly will make the car safer to drive and help reduce costs for repairs. This will also help make your vehicle more durable and increase its lifespan.

Safety – the safety of your car is crucial for a family car. Different vehicles have different safety ratings, with cars such as Tesla’s ranking as the safest. While Tesla’s Model 3 is considered to be among the safest cars according to several sources, there have been some violations reported by inspectors which have recently removed it from its top spot. Therefore, it’s important to always pay attention to the newest developments before purchasing a family vehicle. The more luxurious Audi A6 and the Alfa Romeo Giulia have received a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating and can also be great options when looking to buy a safe car. Volkswagen cars and certain SUVs such as the SEAT Ateca have also been found to meet important safety standards by Euro NCAP as well.

There are several things to consider when choosing a family car, including the right boot size, enough space for car seats, comfortability on long trips and other things that only parents can understand.

 

Green burials are becoming extremely popular in the present day and age. This sustainable means of burial is resurfacing as more Americans are pre-planning their funeral. This is a much economically sustainable way for holding funerals with eco-friendly means ranging from cremation urn to all other aspects.

Since this is a relatively new trend, there is much misinterpretation and misinformation regarding green burial. In reality, green burial is a set of procedures that include body preparation, burial practices, and the funeral in totality that allows the body to decompose naturally. While it is legal to carry out green burial, some rules and regulations are to be practiced.

Preparing a Green Burial

A green burial can be planted by someone who has been given authority over the dead body of a person. This person generally takes upon the role of a funeral director and makes all the arrangements for a green burial.

The best part about a green funeral is that it can be typically arranged without help from funeral homes. Since these are substantial money-making businesses, you will not find proper guidelines from funeral homes.

Green burials are becoming much more common in today’s world because of how inexpensive and straightforward they are. From preparing the body to performing the last rites, all can be done in a much controlled and easier manner.

Things to be kept in mind

With green burial, you can find an easy way for the body to decompose in natural soil. To make sure that this can happen without any problem, here are a few things to be followed:

• Make sure to cover the body with soil that is at least 10 to 24 inches deep. This helps in successfully creating a physical barrier that will keep unwanted scavengers away from the grave.
• Never bury the body in or near a wetland. Similarly, a body must never be buried anywhere close to a source of potable water.
• The body must always be buried above the high water table for the season.
• Make sure that the body is not embalmed before it is buried.
• Use biodegradable containers for this burial process.

Advantages of a Green Burial

There is no denying that a green burial has its advantages. The idea and execution of a green burial have simplicity in its heart. It is unpretentious and raw. In a way, it truly brings out the essence of death.

The burial homes have done a business out of death, and a green burial is a great way to find release from this hassle. You can return to the elements of nature at a much lower cost. Besides, green burials are called so because they conserve natural resources and give back to nature without creating additional waste.

A green burial is a great way to help your loved ones move on to the next life in a sane and natural way. For many people, it is more about the peace in death rather than the fancy processions. Get the best cremation urn and go ahead with a green funeral for your loved one!

 

The death of a loved one will inevitably take a toll on the family members. However, one of the essential tasks that follow the death of a person is the cremation procedure.

In the cremation procedure, the dead body is placed in a cremation chamber and exposed to high heat. The heat breaks down the organic matter and the bone until reduced to tiny fragments.

These fragments are then allowed to cool before they can be pulverized into a final consistency with the help of a cremulator. The ashes are then carefully collected and placed in a cremation urn and then given to the family members. The steps in detail are as follows:

The Body is First Identified

The identification procedure is essential so that you receive the correct ashes by the end of the procedure. Different facilities use various methods for this process to ensure proper confirmation of Identity. They generally place a metal identification tag by the end of the identification process.

The Paperwork Is Then Completed

Before moving the body to the crematorium, the authorized personnel must complete all the associated paperwork. The family members given over the dead body need to complete this process. Once complete, the procedure can be continued.

The Body Is Then Prepared

Preparation of the body is carried out by the individual facility and varies from one place to another. However, it generally includes appropriately cleaning and dressing the body. For cremation purposes, the body is not generally embalmed unless specifically requested by the family members.

During this procedure, medical devices, jewelry, or other mechanical devices are separated from the body to reduce the chances of unwanted reactions. The body is then finally placed in a combustible vessel.

Entering the Cremation Chamber

Once the body is ready, it is transferred to a cremation chamber which is the special furnace. It is where the body is exposed to high heat to break down the organic matter. By the end of this process, only ashes are left behind. The remains are then cooled entirely before being handled.

Besides direct cremation, the process of liquid cremation is also gaining traction. It uses alkali and other liquids to speed up the decomposition process. It uses much less energy as it is flameless. However, this is not accepted everywhere in the US.

Preparing the Remains

Once the body turns to ashes, it is further inspected to ensure that no metals or other such substances are left behind. It can be left from pins or prosthetics that were previously attached to the body. The metal remains are handpicked one by one to make sure that nothing remains. You may use strong magnets to get hold of any small metal fragments. These are then sent to be recycled.

Once purified, the ashes are further processed and pulverized. It leads to finer grains of ashes that are ready to be placed into a cremation urn.

Once the ashes are pulverized, they are ready to be returned to the family members. However, if some specific requests are there, that might also be considered depending on the particular crematorium.

 

Spending time with family has become a rarity. Kids and parents have so much on their plate in terms of work and chores that you don’t remember the last time you spent quality time together. A great way to remedy this situation is to include them in the tasks you have to do around the house. Doing this gives you multiple advantages.

Firstly, you’re teaching your kids essential life skills they will need as adults. Secondly, they see the hard work and effort it takes to maintain a house. And finally, not only are you spending time with your kids, but you are getting some of the things piled on your to-do list too! So let’s look at some of the memories you can make.

Painting Party!

Painting is an easy and fun way to engage your kids in family activities. Most painting projects usually take a few days to complete, and the tools and other equipment you need are all readily available. However, keep in mind that some paints can give off fumes, and make sure you buy the correct sized safety equipment for you and your family.

Another note to remember is that you should limit your painting projects to inside the house. Outdoor painting projects are subject to the weather, which can cause issues in the final finishing of this project. Click here to find how different weather conditions affect the exterior painting process. Exterior house painting should be done only under expert supervision to look flawless.

Gorgeous Gardening

Having a large front or back yard can be a huge advantage when you have kids. When the kids are a little older and going to school, you can utilize the space by planting a garden. You’ll need to tackle this project as a group, as tilling the ground could be pretty exhausting for your kids. However, if you have the tools at home, this project could be done for free!

If you don’t, search your local gardening store for the appropriate equipment and project-related supplies you’ll need. Then, plan the layout of your garden and what you’ll grow. Growing an edible garden is an excellent way to show your kids the hard work and effort it takes to put food on the table. In addition, you can turn your garden into an ongoing project if you save kitchen scraps and make it grow more food.

Build a Mailbox

If your kids are learning woodworking at school, this would be an excellent way to show them how to apply those skills in real life. Mailboxes are great projects since they won’t hold anything important and can’t injure anyone. Tables and chairs are also easy woodworking projects, but they carry the added risk of hurting people and possessions if they aren’t well constructed.

In case your family has very young children who are of school-going age but shouldn’t handle sharp equipment, you can decorate your mailbox instead. You can add a sign for your home on the mailbox or search for easy art decorations you can add to it. Use your creativity to find a way to create links with what they do in school to turn this experience educational.

Set Up Outdoor Seating

You can’t sit outdoors without some shade and some space to sit. This home improvement project would entail that you buy some paving stones or pebbles and adding a walkway to your seating area. You could pour down some concrete and make a stable seating area too. Search for patio-related equipment in your area for local deals.

This would take more than a weekend, depending on the size of the project you want to execute. If you have younger children, you can simply ask them to help you clear the underbrush and weeds from your outdoor space instead. Make sure your children are watched when near concrete as it is a hazardous substance.

Mirror Additions

Adding mirrors and simple things like hooks are an accessible introduction to using power tools in home improvement projects. As your children grow older, they have to be able to execute easy home repairs. You don’t want to end up sending them to college without any knowledge of home improvement or home-related repairs.

Mirrors are an easy addition because you most likely have to hang a hook, and that’s all. While it can seem scary to hand over a power tool to them, you have to start somewhere! Since putting in nails or hooks could result in minimal damage to your home, you can attempt to teach your children through this simple home improvement.

 

It can be challenging to choose the perfect gift for your child, given the number of options available on the market. Here are six suggestions for gifts your kid is bound to love.

Freedom Can Come in the Form of a Smartwatch

It can be difficult to be a parent. While you may not want to coddle your child and prevent them from developing life experience, it can likewise be hard to achieve peace of mind when your little one is out of the house.

If this is something you have struggled with, it might be worth considering a kids’ watch that will grant them more freedom to explore. This product will allow you to easily keep track of your child’s whereabouts and contact them without allowing others to call them. With this gift, your kid can go out and explore, and you can rest easy knowing that they are safe and reachable.

Outdoorsy Gifts Offer Independence

Such a gift could go hand in hand with the previous suggestion. If you have a child who loves being outside and exploring, a present like a tent or some walkie-talkies is a good suggestion. This has the added benefit of giving you a chance to bond with your child by taking them into the great outdoors.

Personalised Gifts are a Hit

As a child, it seems that anything is better if it has your name emblazoned across it. Even finding a keyring with your name on it at that age is thrilling (especially if you have an uncommon name)!

It is now possible to find all manner of gifts that you can easily personalise for your child to giving the present a bit of extra oomph. Finding something your child is interested in and personalising it to them is a surefire way to ensure they are content and often doesn’t cost extra.

Creative Gifts are a Great Way to Promote Development

There are many great gifts available that can help stimulate creative thought. Whether it’s building cities out of Lego or arts and crafts that interest your kid, you can help to develop their creativity by getting them a gift that will allow them to explore their imaginative side are a brilliant idea.

Video Games Appeal to Older Children

The idea that video games harm the development of young minds is fading. It is a more common belief nowadays that they can promote creative thought and problem-solving. These games also offer the opportunity to play online with friends or to lose yourself in fantastic stories. The main hang-up with buying games consoles as a gift is the cost, but consider that you don’t necessarily have to buy the newest model; often, kids will be content with secondhand, older consoles, for example, a Wii.

In Conclusion

Ultimately, choosing gifts for children can be tricky. Finding something that will help your child develop while also appealing to them is a challenge, but you might achieve both by considering the suggestions in this guide.

The birth of a new baby is always a wonderful and exciting time for both parents and relatives. However, as exciting as it can be, it’s also terrifying, especially for first-time mothers. Navigating through motherhood and the thought of being responsible for a whole new human can be overwhelming, and that’s normal.

Many mothers pass through these emotions and feelings and have shared their tips and tricks. So, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first-time mother, here are four tips every new mom should know.

1. Find savvy beauty shortcuts.

According to the Office on Women’s Health, 1 in 9 women experience postpartum depression due to the physical and mental changes that body and mind go through during and after pregnancy. The WHO lists low self-esteem as one of the moderate predictors of postpartum depression in new mothers.

After the birth, it’s easy for mothers and everyone around them to focus all their attention on the baby. Most moms struggle with doing even the bare minimum, like brushing their hair or putting on lipgloss. Stained tops and sweatpants become their go-to look.

While giving your child your full attention is understandable, feeling and looking good as a new mom is equally essential. Admittedly, getting out of the mummy rot can seem like wishful thinking. However, to feel good in your new mom’s body and keep your self-esteem from crumbling, there are savvy beauty shortcuts you can adopt.

For instance, don’t beat yourself up if your jeans still don’t fit. Instead, invest in a new postpartum wardrobe that includes at least a dress and pencil skirt that gives you a flattering silhouette. These clothing items will hide your beautiful baby bulge and have you feeling like a diva despite the sleepless nights you may be going through.

2. Try to gain new skills.

While there’s no set-in-stone rulebook to what’s expected from a new mother, it’s always advisable that mothers prepare themselves for the worst-case scenarios to ensure their baby’s safety at all times. For instance, choking is a common issue among children under the ages of five in the U.S., and a mom’s ability to react quickly and effectively react before the arrival of first responders can a long way in saving her child’s life.

The American Heart Association (AHA) reports that about 65% of infant deaths result from foreign objects, and moms who don’t prepare themselves for situations like these may inadvertently be putting their baby’s life in danger. How a mother reacts when a child starts choking will depend on her BLS or basic first aid training and skills. Therefore, as a new mom, you should enroll in a CPR course to learn about emergency cardiovascular care and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Admittedly, you may not have the time or flexibility to attend physical CPR skills sessions. However, some training centers like AHA provide online training. So you can register for CPR online classes with them and gain your CPR certification at your own pace.

3. Develop a routine that includes caring for yourself.

The arrival of a newborn can be a chaotic time for many new mothers, and without a routine, every day will pan out to be the same, and you’ll find yourself exhausted and overwhelmed by the whole process. Caring for a child is no easy fit, and like every challenge in life, you need to have a plan and routine to organize the chaos.

A routine allows you to control your time and helps free up time for you to engage in other personal activities. The best way to set a routine is by first tracking your baby’s feeding, sleeping, and playtime. You see, babies are creatures of habit, and they develop their patterns early, which is a good thing.

When you have mastered their timings, assign between 10 to 40 minutes of each day to yourself. You can use this time to respond to emails, check in on yourself by journaling or workout. As a pro-tip, ensure that you invest in comfortable maternity leggings or yoga pants that allow you to switch between these activities with ease. For instance, a comfortable pair of maternity leggings made with breathable fabric that provides belly support and has plenty of stretch room will make an easy switch from loungewear to gym wear.

4. Maintain safe sleeping practices.

Most new mothers understand that their baby’s safety is a top priority, and this is why they invest time and effort into babyproofing their homes. However, only a few understand the importance of safe sleeping and the dangers of potential safety hazards to babies. For the safety of babies, mothers must ensure that they maintain safe sleeping practices.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers avoid crib bumpers, plush toys, and smoking in the sleeping area. Also, don’t offer your baby a pacifier at night, and avoid sleeping with the baby in your arms. These practices will help reduce the risk of suffocation, overheating, and strangulation. With these tips, you’ll be in good shape.

 

There are many challenges you’ll likely face in life, and unfortunately, life doesn’t come with a book of instructions. For the most part you’ll have to decide for yourself what to do based on what is best for you.

However, when you have a whole family to take care of, those same challenges may become even more stressful. Not to mention there are also many unique challenges that only come up once you have a family. In order for you to be equipped to face these difficulties, it is best to be prepared and to know what to expect. Here are 3 of the most common challenges you may face with your family.

Retirement

Getting older is a part of life and while there are many unfortunate things that come with aging, one great thing is retirement. At some point you should be able to stop working and retire so that you can enjoy your golden years – hopefully with your family. However, there are also some less fun things that come with reaching retirement age. There may come a time when you are no longer able to fully take care of yourself, and you may have to consider selling your home to move in with family or even a retirement home.

These are all conversations you should have with your spouse, children, or grandchildren ahead of time so that everyone is aware of what you want and things go as smoothly as possible should that plan need to be put into action.

Financial Problems

Financial issues are extremely common in all different types of families in all different parts of the world, and they are nothing to be ashamed of. Unfortunately they can be embarrassing and stressful, and extra hard to navigate if you have children. Just make sure you talk openly and honestly about this stuff with your family so that everyone is on the same page.

Divorce

Divorce is extremely common, and most of the time it is for the best. Sometimes people just aren’t meant for each other and it is better for them to go through with a divorce than it is to try to force themselves to stay together. Of course, this can be an extremely sad and challenging thing to go through and when children are involved it presents a whole new set of challenges.

Open communication and keeping your kids informed of what is going on rather than hiding things from them is the best way to go about it in most situations. Even if they don’t fully understand what’s happening while they’re young, they will when they are older and they will thank you.

Life is full of challenges, but they are much easier to get through and often more fun when you have family to help you!

The pandemic has changed a lot in our lives, including our home life. It’s likely that since the first lockdown came in 2020, you’ve both been living and working together under one roof. This has forced many people to spend more time in each other’s company than they have ever done before. Unfortunately, when this happens, cracks can begin to appear.

According to research by divorce solicitors Simpson Millar, the stresses of living through a global pandemic in close proximity have caused many married couples to rethink their vows. With this in mind, what are some of the ways that you can keep your marriage healthy and on track now and post-pandemic?

Maintaining a routine

Although having a set routine can be monotonous, why not switch it up and add a regular date night or day to your usual schedule? You don’t have to spend a large amount of money to have a good time together. This could be to regularly schedule in a movie night at home where you drag your duvet onto the sofa and snuggle down together, or simply a coffee date in town!

Going outside and planning activities together

Let’s face it, with most people still working from home, it’s likely that you’re barely spending any time outside at the minute. A simple walk around town or where you live, can give you both time away from your desks and computers to talk about other things instead. Make a rule about not speaking about your working day and instead, ask each other what’s on your mind and have a good check in with your significant other. You may be surprised as to what’s on their mind at the moment!

Have a strong support system

Even though your husband or wife might be your best friend, it’s important to maintain as strong support system away from your household. It helps to alleviate some of the pressure on the other, especially if you regularly offload your emotions onto them. Having friends and family that you can speak to, whether that’s on the phone, Zoom or in person, can help to keep your relationship healthy.

Stay present

Staying present during any time of your marriage is crucial. Whether you’ve spent months on end together or not, being present, giving time and listening are key to maintaining a healthy and fruitful relationship. This could mean putting your phones away as you enjoy dinner together or making sure you finish your working day on time and switch off, all of these things can make the world of difference.

Be intentional with the time you spend together

Whatever you do, don’t frivolously waste the time you have together. If you have children, it can be easy for couples to neglect each other, as the focus is likely to be on them. Once you’ve popped them to bed, why not light some candles and create your very own date night. You could cook a meal together, play a board game or even just sit and chat.

Are you looking to hire a babysitter? Are you stranded on the questions to ask to get the babysitter you want? Worry no more. Through research, writers from Write My Essay Today have created an article that will ensure you ask the right questions to get the perfect babysitter. Hiring a babysitter is a task to be taken seriously since your child will be spending a lot of time with the babysitter.

• Ask personal questions first-hand

It might seem like invading the persons’ privacy but remember you are trying to build a trust bond. Remember, you will be entrusting your child to the person, so trust is a key factor to consider. Ask them about how they spend their leisure time. Also, ask questions about the persons’ family, do they have a brother or a sister? Ask about their close relatives and so on. You can also ask them about their extracurricular activities, which games they like, the team they support, and so on.

So as not to make this session awkward or so formal, make it flow conversationally. Share as much as they do, talk about your family and the games you like. Such a conversation creates a great bond between the both of you. It also helps you know if you can trust the interviewee with your kid. Getting to know your babysitter better helps you find ways to make both your babysitter and child enjoy time together. For instance, if they like watching movies, you can schedule movie days for them and your child.

• How experienced are they?

You do not want a person with no babysitting experience to handle your child. To avoid such occurrences, ask about their babysitting experience. Ask them how long they have babysat. Ask if they have young ones at home. Have they studied the art of babysitting? Can they perform first aid in case of an emergency? Are they trained to perform CPR? Such questions will help you know how good they are at handling a child.

Present some scenarios and listen carefully to the way they would handle them, pay attention to their body language too. It will help you identify the way they could handle such situations in the future. References from other families that the person might have babysat for will help you get to know the person better. Make sure you ask them about their payment rate to make sure you can afford it.

• Determine how much they can handle comfortably

Ask them what task they can commit to comfortably. They might not be comfortable doing some chores. You can therefore decide on whether you are comfortable with the persons’ conditions before you hire them. As you end your interview, ask them which part of babysitting they presume to be the hardest. You can then look for red flags from their answer before you offer them the job. Also, ask if they can babysit while you are home which will help you observe them as they babysit.

Conclusion

Babysitters play a crucial role in the character molding of a child. You should therefore make sure you select the right one. If you follow all the guidelines offered in this article, then you can be sure to choose the best babysitter for your child.