by Mrs C | Dec 16, 2019 | Blog
If you’re struggling to decorate a space, remember that it’s OK to leave some spaces bare while you decide exactly what needs to go there. It can be tempting to load up on low-cost pieces that don’t really serve you. Instead, decorate slowly and enjoy the beautiful results.
Use What You Have
Tossing a pretty blanket or quilt over the back of a worn chair can turn it from shabby to sumptuous, especially if you love to cuddle up and read. Smoothfoam explains how easy it is to turn an unused nightstand into a side table with a small cloth to cover or a mirrored tray to define the top. A wooden crate turned on its side can serve as a display shelf and a small bookcase, or it can give you space for a stereo and speakers.
DIY Decorations
A healthy plant can provide a tremendous focal point and only takes time, water and a little fertilizer. You can also find picture frames second-hand, take out the artwork and either discard it or repurpose it, and paint the frames all one color before hanging them in a grouping on the wall. As recommended by SouthGate, you can find materials to make your own decorations at second-hand stores, flea markets, and other inexpensive shops. Show your creativity, but also find a balance in the amount of decorations you add. Again, decorate slowly as you find the spots that really need attention.
Put Paint to Work
An elegant gray paint job can turn an empty room into a striking space. If you really don’t have the time or resources to decorate, painting the room in a classic color can make leaving the walls blank a great idea. In addition, you may find pieces of furniture that will fill your needs but don’t match your decor. A bit of fine sandpaper and some elbow grease can turn mismatched pieces into an elegant grouping once you’ve added spray paint. Be sure to invest in good quality spray paint for the first coat. For example, if you want to spray side tables white, use a hearty stain-blocking paint for the best coverage and great cling. If you want to add a gloss paint on top of this, you’ll be much more satisfied with the finished product. Be patient with yourself and leave things blank for a time. When you need a spot to collect magazines, set a teacup or arrange books, it’s time to do some shopping and some DIY work. Once you really know what you want, you’ll have an easier time committing the resources and the time to your project.
For more tips, tricks, and advice for how you can take care of your home on a budget, look no further than our health and household section where you’ll find more low cost tips like these!
by Mrs C | Dec 15, 2019 | Blog
One of the greatest joys of parenthood is watching your child grow from the cute, adorable toddler who is totally dependent on you into a self-sufficient teenager. Soon enough, your teen will reach the age where he or she wants to drive and this will surely make you a little nervous. However, you can minimize the stress of purchasing your teen’s first car by keeping a few things in mind.
Type of Car
Sport-utility vehicles are popular among young people, but this is not to suggest you should head to a dealership and purchase the largest vehicle you can find for your teenager. There are many things to consider when considering the vehicle type and size for your teenager. Larger vehicles offer more protection than compact cars but are often more difficult to drive for inexperienced drivers. It’s important to consider the benefits of a standard size car, it you think something in the middle would be a better fit for your teen. You should also keep in mind your teen’s lifestyle. A teenager involved in sports or other activities that requires hauling a lot of equipment might need a slightly larger vehicle than other kids their age.
Cost
The cost of a vehicle is another extremely important issue for parents who are looking to purchase a vehicle for their teen. Cars are expensive purchases, but there is no need to break the bank when searching for one for your son or daughter. Once a budget is established, you and your child can sit down and discuss cars that can be purchased for this price. Just remember not to skimp on safety just to save a dollar or two. This mistake could be a costly one later down the road.
Distractions
Young drivers are easily distracted. For this reason, it is a good idea to purchase a vehicle that helps to minimize these distractions. For example, a car with hands-free capabilities will help to prevent your teen from texting while driving or taking his or her eyes off the road to change the radio station. Cars can also come with built-in safety features like sound limits for music whenever the ignition is activated.
Reaching the legal age to drive is an exciting time for teens but can be stressful for parents. There are many things to consider when finding a car that fits the needs of your teen, and you will no doubt be determined to make the correct decision. The three considerations above are a great place to start when choosing your young driver’s first car.
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by Mrs C | Dec 13, 2019 | Blog
Tea has been around for centuries, and many people rely on it to help them stay healthy. This simple drink is easy to make and things can even be added to it. However, in order to reap tea’s benefits, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind.
No Sugar
To fully take advantage of all the benefits tea has to offer, you can avoid introducing additional, less healthy ingredients like refined sugar. Sugar is almost physically or psychologically addictive, and it does not offer health benefits. The best way to drink your herbal tea is without using sugar as a sweetener. It’s also important to purchase tea that hasn’t already been sweetened. The lack of sugar makes tea a low-calorie beverage. According to Red Blossom Tea, drinking tea can assist in weight loss, but adding sugar obliterates this benefit. Plus, sugar isn’t good for your body in general. You can still benefit from drinking tea when you add sugar, but you are also creating problems when you sweeten up your drink.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants help your body fight off illness, and certain types of tea contain a ton of them. Though you are probably used to hearing about the antioxidant power of fruits and vegetables, tea can contain up to ten times the amount found in these foods. Some varieties of tea offer an even greater amount of antioxidants, especially when the entire leaf is utilized. According to Matchaisland, matcha tea is one such tea that uses the entire leaf so you receive all the nutrients the plant has to offer. Antioxidants in tea can help your body fight free radicals, lessen the signs of aging, and detoxify your system. Vitamins C and E are essential for your mind and body to function, and tea can offer these in one simple cup.
Temperature Control
You may imagine a steaming hot cup when you think of tea. While it’s true that you need hot water to get the most out of your tea, you do not need to consume your drink while it is still burning hot. According to Inverse, doing this can increase your risk of esophageal cancer. Get your water plenty hot before putting your tea bag or leaves in, but let it cool to a reasonable temperature before attempting to drink it. If it burns your throat on the way down, it’s too hot. You want to reap the health benefits of this amazing drink without harming your body in the process.
The right kind of tea can offer a multitude of benefits that boost your overall health. Pick a kind you love that tastes best to you. Enjoy at least a cup a day of tea at just the right temperature as part of your wellness plan.
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by Mrs C | Dec 5, 2019 | Blog, Seasonal
The outdoor temperature might drop in the winter, but it’s not a season where your whole family has to be stuck inside the house. There are many outdoor winter activities to share with your family that don’t cost a lot of money. Plus, you will make memories that your kids will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Camping
With preparation and the right gear, your family camping adventures don’t have to end in the winter. With the latest innovations in clothing and camping gear, you can still enjoy the great outdoors comfortably in the wintertime. Make sure to dress for the weather by wearing layers. Have sleeping gear that is made to handle the temperature in your area, and make sure you know how to start a fire for warmth. Winter camping gives your family a chance to see the world in a completely different way. Unlike summertime camping, blazing heat won’t tire you out when you hike and play. Winter could become your family’s favorite time to camp.
Ice Skating
Ice skating is a fun activity for the whole family that is best followed by steaming cups of hot chocolate! Outdoor rinks often offer discounts if you bring your own skates. It’s also possible to find frozen ponds to ice skate on for free, but you need to ensure the ice is solid enough to hold everyone before skating. The physical endurance required to ice skate makes it a great workout, and it’s also fun whether you are good at it or not. Kids love to watch their parents on the ice, and it’s a great opportunity for bonding.
Snowshoeing
Few activities require less equipment or skill than snowshoeing. Just grab your snowshoes and layer up in warm clothes. If you want walking poles for support, feel free to use them. Then, you simply head out on a beginner’s trail to enjoy a laid-back workout that will give you a chance to explore the snow-covered world. If your family enjoys snowshoeing, you can learn how to go up and down hills and try more advanced trails. Even just sticking to easy paths will offer opportunities for your family to observe nature in winter and have time together.
The arrival of winter doesn’t mean you need to stop enjoying outdoor activities. As long as you wear the right clothes and bring the right equipment, you can enjoy all that winter has to offer. Best of all, your whole family can enjoy and grow together.
For deals and discounts on winter activities for your family, check out these resources!
by Mrs C | Nov 21, 2019 | Blog, Christmas
The holiday season is a great time for getting together with family as well as eating some delicious food that you may not normally get a chance to eat. Another awesome thing about the holiday season is all of the great shopping and deals. With so many stores offering amazing prices, it can sometimes be difficult to decide which one to choose. Here are some tips to help make your shopping this holiday season go as smoothly as possible.
Wait for It
Although you may see that new gadget you’ve been wanting so bad marked down 30% off, don’t jump on it just yet. The closer you get to the day of the holiday, the better the offers will get. November tends to be the best month to shop if you want to get the biggest discounts. Shopping on weekdays during this time of year will probably get you the most bang for your buck. On the other hand, there are lots of deals that happen after the Christmas holidays as well. So, unless the items you want are going to be given as holiday gifts, you may be able to catch an amazing deal by waiting until after the holidays.
Watch Out for Scams
Nowadays, shopping has never been easier since virtually everything can be purchased online. However, when it comes to online shopping during the holidays, just as with traditional shopping, you have to be extra cautious about getting ripped off. Knowing how to protect yourself online is important as scammers can go under the radar during the holiday season. If a deal seems too good to be true, then, in most cases, it probably is.
Comparison Shop
As tempting as it may be to grab an item that is listed as the last one or available for a limited time only, don’t do it. Instead, do some quick price checking first to make sure that you are actually getting a deal after all. Some companies tend to hike up the price so that when they offer you a supposed discount, you are actually paying full price, or close to it, anyway. By checking around first, you may find that you not only get a better deal, but you also find a better product than the one you were going to buy in the first place. There are lots of different apps and browser extensions out now that you can install to help you comparison shop without even leaving the website that you are on. However, you should still double-check the price yourself because these extensions may not have all the best offers that are out there.
Even if you plan on shopping at the last minute to catch the best deals, it is still a good idea to comparison shop. This helps you get an idea of what the actual prices are so that you don’t get sucked into the holiday-sale frenzy and end up overpaying. Sales happen all year long, so be mindful, be cautious and, most of all, be merry.
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by Mrs C | Nov 20, 2019 | Blog
With the rise of social media as an integral part of life, children are jumping into this habit earlier than ever. Before you let your kids run their own social media accounts, it is vital that you educate them about using this medium responsibly. Failure to harness the power of social media for good can have lasting negative consequences on your child’s life and future opportunities. Here are three reasons why you need to teach your child about social media safety.
It Lasts Forever
Many kids erroneously believe that social media posts are temporary and fleeting. As a parent, you need to make sure that they understand that what they put out on the internet may last forever. Posting something inappropriate can come back to haunt them later if a potential employer or college admissions officer begins to dig around. Before you let your child engage in social media, you need to teach them that their reputation is at stake with every click of the button. This reputation needs to be protected at all costs.
What You Put Up There Matters
In addition to the social implications, there are a host of additional considerations that are not often taught. Did you know that social media posts can even impact your insurance claims? Because it is controlled by you personally, social media information gives a snapshot into your life. For this reason, it is important to carefully guard what gets released to the public to see. Prioritizing privacy and keeping everything that you allow your child to post on lockdown will help to ensure that it never gets into the wrong hands.
Understand That It’s Not Private
Many kids post with abandon, not considering that people other than the ones with direct access to their accounts will see the pictures and text. It is important to tell your kids that just like you monitor their account, other parents are checking out what their children and their contacts are posting. Before posting anything, your child should ask themselves if this is something that they also want all of the parents to see.
It is never too early to begin teaching your child about safe social media habits. Modeling this behavior for them will help them to see how to use this medium responsibly so that it does not ever negatively affect their life.
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