5 Ways To Protect The Health Of Your Family At Home

September 13, 2017 By Marijean

In a world full of surprises, it isn’t always possible to be certain of your family’s safety. This may result in you spending a lot of your time worrying about your loved ones. However, it is much easier to take control when you are at home. Your home should be somewhere that you can go to in order to feel safe and relaxed. It should be free from all of the stresses and strains of the outside world. If you want to do everything in your power to ensure that your family are happy and healthy, you will need to read on. Below are five ways that you can protect the health of your family, when you are at home.

Hire Exterminator services

If you are struggling to deal with pests, you should turn to the professionals for help. This is the best way to be certain about the results that you will receive. You can find pest control near Mathews NC. This service will provide long-lasting solutions for problems with pests like termites, bed bugs, mice and rats, cockroaches, spiders, mosquitoes, and many more. This is an essential step for you to take, if you are looking to protect the health of your loved ones. Pests can spread harmful bacteria and diseases. It is a terrible idea to let a pest infestation get out of hand. When you find yourself in this situation, it is vital that you act immediately. You should also trust a company that provides a service which is suitable for children and pets. You don’t want to be replacing one worry with another. In order to avoid this, you need to hire a company that doesn’t use chemicals that will be harmful to your family.

Invest in health insurance

When thinking about the health of your family, you need to look to the future. Don’t wait for problems to come your way, try to pre-empt them. Investing in health insurance is an extremely wise move to make. This investment will ensure that you get the best health care in the event of an emergency. It will also help you to be certain that you can afford any necessary treatments that could cover doctor’s consultations in a reputable facility that has top-of-the-line equipment such as medical oxygen sensors, patient monitors, and the likes. Instead of having to face the burden of an illness, and a huge bill, at the same time, health insurance will help to remove the pressure of paying your family’s medical fees. Good quality medical insurance will also allow you to schedule in regular health checks. This is the best way to ensure that all of your family are fighting fit. Of all the areas that you could be investing your money, health care is by far the most responsible. Don’t spend your days worrying. Instead, take control of the situation and introduce a strong backup plan.

Purify your air

Clean air is hugely beneficial for the health of your family. Why not invest in an air purifier? Or in a shop air filtration system, if you enjoy doing some woodworking at home. This is a great way to benefit your respiratory system. If any members of your family suffer with severe allergies, an air purifier will provide welcome relief. It will also allow you all to get a good night’s sleep, as it helps with snoring, wheezing, and coughing. If you aren’t in a position to invest in an air purifier, you should take the natural route. Try to open up your windows, and doors, as much as possible. One of the worst things for your health is to live in an environment that is filled with stale, and stagnant, air. You should also try to arrange family hikes. Not only is this a great opportunity to explore the great outdoors, it will also help you, and your family, to breathe in some fresh air. Alternatively, you could spend time together in your back-yard. Whatever you do, just try to find some clean air to enjoy.

Put together a medical kit

Every home should have a medical kit. This is the best way to be prepared for emergencies. In the case of an emergency, it is important that everyone in your family knows where to go. If you have a medical kit, fetching it will become an instinctive step. Make sure that you do your research in order to find out what items should be stored in your kit. You should also be certain to replenish your stock on a regular basis. It is always the one thing that you’re missing that you need the most. If anyone in your family has specific medical requirements, it will be hugely beneficial to keep their specialist equipment in one place. For instance, if one of your children suffers from asthma, they will need to have a back-up inhaler. If this inhaler is constantly being moved around your home, it will be difficult to find it in an emergency. However, if it is stored safely in your medical kit, everyone will know where to run to. You should also consider having a second kit in your car. This is especially important if anyone in your family likes to take part in outdoor activities. Make sure that you always have the tools that you need.

Create a healthy diet and exercise plan

It is vital that you encourage your entire family to embrace a healthy attitude towards diet and exercise. One way to do this is by putting together a clear plan. Don’t just take this on alone, make sure that your entire family gets involved. Work together to make your household as healthy, and happy, as possible. You could work out together, take it in turns to prepare healthy meals, and even get up early to do yoga as a family. It might feel a little strange at first, especially if you’re not all used to such a healthy approach, but eventually you will begin to see the benefits. By working together you will the constant motivation to keep going. You could even make it a competition to see who can make the most positive changes to their lifestyle.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

Carer’s Considerations – 7 Tips For Getting Your Home Baby-Ready

September 13, 2017 By Marijean

Carer’s Considerations – 7 Tips For Getting Your Home Baby-Ready

If there is one true statement you can make about babies, it’s that once your back is turned, they seem to develop super human abilities. A three-month-old baby who hasn’t yet learned to roll can magically appear on the other side of the room. Keeping babies safe when they are infants is one thing–by the time they start crawling and then walking, watch out!

For those soon to be blessed with the joy of a little one in their home, preparing ahead of time will save you headaches in the long term.

Firstly, let’s take a look at some of the risks and solutions surrounding safety issues for small children, both immobile and mobile.

Equipment

Organising your travelling equipment is a priority because simply getting your baby home will involve transportation of some kind. The key point here is to buy new. Australian safety standards have changed over the years and using secondhand equipment which doesn’t meet those standards is both dangerous and illegal.

Many people don’t realise that strollers and prams are also covered by Australian safety laws. Purchasing from a reputable company with quality brands will cut out the guesswork. For those looking for the peace of mind of buying from an award winning supplier, you can shop for a huge range of prams here and find assistance with fitting car seats and harnesses.

The above information can also be applied to:

Car seats
High chairs
Cots and bassinets

Corner protection

Babies are poorly designed. They have large unwieldy heads, out of proportion to the rest of their bodies and, until such time they grow into it, they are prone to falling. Through the use of simple rubber corner protectors, you can negate or minimise injury incurred through falls.

Cupboard, drawer, fridge and window locks

Whilst preventing baby from accessing places where dangerous goods may be stored–the ideal solution would be to also ensure, where appropriate, poisonous, sharp or hazardous items are stored away from the home in a locked shed.

Within the home, the use of baby and child safety locks on doors, drawers and windows is a godsend. There are a number of effective options on the market including adhesive and magnetic types.

Curtain cords

The hanging danger caused by long curtain cords is a very real one. Ensure long cords are tied up high and kept well away from cots and bassinets. Better still, if possible, replace the blinds completely with cordless operating mechanisms. Keep this issue in mind when visiting or having small ones baby sat by friends and relatives.

Stairs and doors

The stair guard has evolved and developed over the years but the basic design is still effective. Have a guard at both ends of the staircase to prevent littlies from climbing up the stairs and tumbling down. Stair guards are also effective at zoning off your home–confining children to rooms where they can be safely monitored.

Baby walkers and anything with wheels should be restricted to downstairs and within a confined, flat area.

Stove

Ideally, keep small children out of the kitchen unless they are confined to a high chair. As a precautionary measure, make a habit of turning pot handles towards the back of the stove. Oven locks are available but since the glass of an oven heats up when in use, it is more effective just to keep them clear of the kitchen when cooking.

Bath time

We all know babies and small children should never be left unattended in the bath due to the risk of drowning. However, we can often forget there are other hazards involved in bathtime including:

Slipping and falling
Flicking on or touching the hot tap. (Modern flick taps make this easier than the old turn knob handles)

When using flick mixers, always move the handle on to ‘cold’ when not in use. Have your hot water system thermostat set to a lower heat setting.

Unfortunately, the above list is far from comprehensive but it is a place to start. Taking the time to audit and rectify your home safety is time well spent. Providing little ones with interesting, interactive toys can go some way to keeping them engaged and safe. Don’t leave it until it is too late to protect the most vulnerable members of your household.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

The Break-Up Bible: 10 Commandments Of Amicably Ending A Relationship

September 13, 2017 By Marijean

The Break-Up Bible: 10 Commandments Of Amicably Ending A Relationship

Image via thinkstockphotos.com.au

Breaking-up is not an easy thing to do. The emotional, mental and physical toll it can take on the involved parties is enough reason to put off ever having ‘the chat’ in the first place. The following 10 tips are designed to help you get through the process, without the vitriol or doom.

1: Do The Right Thing

When the time comes to have the all-important conversation, tell the truth.

Make sure you make an effort to listen to how the other person feels and to respond in a sensitive, direct way. Keep the conversation civil (as civil as possible) and keep it realistic. If you’re intending on making a clean break, don’t lead the other person on.

2: Keep It Professional

Once you’ve made the decision to separate, it’s time begin untangling yourself from your former partner.

This can be a tricky process (especially where there are children or significant assets involved), so it’s wise to arrange for the help of a trusted professional.

An excellent way to simplify the process is enlisting a family lawyer in Melbourne. A qualified family law specialist can help you navigate the legalities involved in dissolving your relationship, while ensuring a trouble-free settlement for you and your former partner.

3: Turn Down The Heat

A barbed remark can appear from nowhere in the heat of the moment, causing further damage between you and your former partner. To stop this from happening, write out and outline what you would like to say beforehand, and then stick to your talking points. Keeping yourself in-check is a useful way to create mutual respect and productive dialogue in an otherwise tension-filled process.

4: Neutral Mutuals

This point can not be emphasised enough: don’t poison mutual friends against your former partner.

Keeping any mutual friends neutral is important if you’re ever likely to attend the same gatherings as your former partner, or if you keep a similar social circle. When speaking of your relationship to mutual friends, keep your comments free of vitriol or spite (no matter how tempted you may be to speak otherwise).

5: Take Your Time

While it may be tempting to try to heal yourself by moving on quickly, jumping immediately into another relationship can be a bad idea for many reasons. First of all, it can send the wrong message to your former partner. They may assume that you don’t respect their feelings, or that you’re trying to hurt them.

If and when you do decide to become involved with another person, consider whether it’s necessary to let everyone know immediately. Details like these are best introduced slowly, and with sensitivity for any feelings it might bring up between your former partner and yourself.

6: Space & Time

Giving your former partner space and taking space for yourself is another way to help create an amicable environment.

Do not force your way into their private space without an invitation. If you know that they enjoy being at the gym at a certain time, wait until later to go, The same goes for other social routines. Make your own way.

7: Disconnect & Reconnect

Resist the urge to track or stalk your former partner on social media. It may be the ideal time to take a sabbatical or temporarily deactivate your accounts if you can’t control the urge to sneak a peek.

Why not try instead to take the opportunity to reconnect with friends and family. Invite friends to enjoy a meal or a drink, and visit your relatives. Some human contact can help to reinstall and reset your mind into your community outside of your newly-ended relationship.

8: Child’s Play

If there are children involved, make sure to include and explain to children how they will be affected by any changes. As with mutual friends, don’t succumb to the temptation to be negative about your former partner in front of your children.

9: Be Present

A simple way to make sure you’re not fostering any resentment in your former partner is to conduct any important conversations in-person.

Face-to-face communication is the most respectful, immediate way to have a conversation with someone you’re in a relationship with. When the time comes to dissolve this relationship, there’s no reason why this too shouldn’t be handled face-to-face.

Above all else: don’t be the person who initiates a break-up via social media or digital messaging. It’s cruel, and won’t be easy forgiven or forgotten.

10: An Even Split

Finances, bills and other regular payments may also need to be carefully meted out.

Make sure to agree to split these evenly, and to create a payment schedule. If it’s possible, transferring shared accounts and bills to a sole account holder may help when one party has to find new living arrangements.

It’s not impossible to amicably end a relationship. With enough care, sensitivity, and mutual respect, you can maintain a sense of trust and friendship with your former partner, making your life (and theirs) less complicated in the future.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

4 Reasons to Visit Canada in the Summer

September 13, 2017 By Marijean

When you see pictures of Canada, they are normally ones with snow covered mountain tops which evoke that winter feeling. Yes, Canada is a popular place for travelers to visit in winter, but the fun doesn’t stop once spring rolls around. In fact, it is a year-round destination that has plenty to offer whenever you decide to land in this diverse, enticing country.

With that said, and as the title spotlights, this article will be focusing specifically on the summertime in Canada. After all, it is the direct opposite of winter – so it is the ideal way of pointing out why the country isn’t just a one-off seasonal stop each year. Read on for four reasons to visit Canada in the summer.

Warmer weather for exploring

Firstly, it is important to start with the most obvious aspect of visiting in the summer: the warm weather. While Canada is a popular place to visit in winter, that doesn’t mean every traveler is comfortable with going on holiday during cold temperatures and snowy conditions. If you are in that situation, going during the summer is the perfect solution – the snow might not be so prominent (you’ll still find it atop the most elevated mountains), but everything else that makes Canada so special remains.

Countless things to do

UNESCO World Heritage sites, 42 national parks, museums, wide-open spaces ripe for exploring, wildlife to observe – there’s so much to do in Canada, that you will probably regret not booking a longer trip! As for summer-specific things, you obviously have the chance to participate in more outdoor activities. While hiking is still possible during the winter, the summer allows you to do things like biking, rafting and playing a round of golf in comfort.

Affordable prices

Perhaps surprisingly, Canada is a country that is amongst one of the most inexpensive places to visit on the planet. Sadly that doesn’t include airfare if you are traveling long distance, but the price of entering attractions, going to festivals, and so on is usually an inexpensive affair.

Plus if you are keeping a close eye on your finances, why not book a self-catering accommodation option like Tremblant Sunstar in Mont-Tremblant? That way you can cook in your very own kitchen, helping to avoid eating out for every meal during your journey. If you’re traveling across the country, the option of camping is also a possibility – which is not something that would be all that viable during those freezing winter conditions.

Summer festivals

During the summer months, there are plenty of Canadian festivals to choose from. Of course, festivals rarely pop up during the winter months, however, when the sun and warm arrives so does the music, art and culture.

When it comes to these annual festivals and events, there are many of them that are suited for visitors of all types. This is an ideal point if you’re traveling as a family. Plus these shows and celebrations are diverse in what they offer, with everything from the well-known Montebello Rockfest music extravaganza to Freezer Burn – the latter being a Burning Man-sanctioned, artistic expression of freedom.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

Color Me Mine Studio Opens at Avenues Mall on August 30th!

August 25, 2017 By Marijean

Color Me Mine at The Avenues Mall, Jacksonville, FL

The highly anticipated Color Me Mine Paint-It-Yourself Ceramics Walk-in Studio soon opens on Wednesday August 30, 2017 at The Avenues Mall, Jacksonville, FL. Grand opening is planned for Saturday September 23, 2017.

This walk-in studio will boast well over 400 ceramic items to choose from, including Disney licensed pieces and many other Color Me Mine exclusives, a Design Center featuring 22,000 images and over sixty colors to paint with! Customers will design and paint their pieces however they like. Staff members will be ready with painting tips, tricks, and techniques. Color Me Mine is a perfect outing for families, date night, or even solo. It’s great fun to relax and paint, and even more fun to take the glazed and fired work of art and enjoy it forever!

Color Me Mine is great for birthday parties, showers, handprint keepsakes, fundraisers, Scout events, school programs, and much more! It’s a great way to spend quality time while creating gifts and masterpieces that will last a lifetime. Everyone’s an artist at Color Me Mine!

For more information about Color Me Mine at The Avenues Mall, please visit: www.jacksonville.colormemine.com and on Facebook.

For groups of less than 6 – NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED!

About Color Me Mine Inc.: Color Me Mine is the leader in the paint-it-yourself ceramics industry with 136 studios franchised throughout the world. Each location is an upscale art-as entertainment studio offering unfinished ceramics and other craft media. Customers enter a relaxing environment, choose one of 400 unfinished ceramic pieces, and spend an hour or two painting it to explore their own artistic vision.