Achieving a Better Work/Study/Family Balance

January 26, 2018 By Marijean

As you are already probably well-aware, being a parent on its own is challenging enough without fitting in other things! Perhaps you are running your own home business at the same time or you have decided to go back to studying again. When you are trying to juggle different responsibilities at the same time, there is no doubt that things can get very challenging, very quickly. But it is possible, and this blog post is here to give you five tips that will hopefully show you how.

Organisation is Vital

First and foremost, you need to be very organised to make sure you are devoting enough time to all your different priorities. Keep a timetable of what your different family members will be doing during each day of the week. Next, find a block of time that you can devote to working or studying. Perhaps there is a time when your kids can be looked after by your partner, they are at school or a club. When you have the time available, you need to make sure that you are making full use of it.

Study Online

Online studying helps to give you a lot more freedom when you can fit in the time to learn. Rather than having fixed class times, you get much more of a sense of balance. And there are so many different options from language courses to a masters imc that there is bound to be something for you. Of course, there are still likely to be deadlines, so you need to ensure that you are organised enough to hit them.

Make a Work/Study Spot

Ideally, you will be able to find a spot in your house where you can close yourself off and devote some time to working or studying. This way, you can signal to your family that when you are here, you are to be disturbed as little as possible. Your mind will also come to naturally associate this place with work. If you can’t get a whole room, a corner of an existing space will work as well.

Recruit a Study Buddy/Business Partner

If you are struggling to get the motivation that you need, a study buddy or business partner can help to keep your mind on track. You can find people online if you don’t know anyone in person. Take the time to coordinate your schedules so that you can spend time working on your goals together.

Remember to Give Yourself a Break

Photo Credit

Don’t be too hard on yourself if there are times when you don’t get as much done as you wanted during your study time. There are also likely to be occasions when something crops up and throws your schedule out of whack. Remember, it is all about the big picture. Keep your goals n mind and you can get things back on track again 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.

5 Reasons To Keep Your Establishment Pest-Free

January 19, 2018 By Anne

5 Reasons To Keep Your Establishment Pest-Free

Nobody wants to see insects and other pests in their environment, especially in a commercial establishment. But, due to the nature of our ecosystem, eliminating them may not always be possible or beneficial for our planet. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t control pests and creepy crawlers and keep your business property free of infestations that can be unhealthy and destructive.

Below, we’ve outlined several reasons to consider hiring a professional pest control service regularly to keep your commercial establishment pest free.

Pests are Unhealthy for You and Your Property

Pests aren’t just irritating; they also carry a wide range of infestations and disease into your business environment. From bugs and rodents to ticks and mosquitoes, a variety of pests carry serious health risks. In environments like hotels, for instance, Hotel Bed Bug Treatment is especially important to protect both guests and your reputation. Implementing proper treatment methods not only helps eradicate infestations but also prevents them from recurring, ensuring long-term protection. This highlights why controlling both indoor and outdoor pests is crucial for maintaining a safe and healthy environment.

Pests are Highly Destructive

Many rodents and other pests can be destructive and ruin your property and possessions. If you have an infestation of termites, they could begin to do some serious damage to the premises of your business. If your infestations do get that far, you’ll need to hire a Phoenix pest control service, or one that operates in your city. Other pests can cause a nuisance too, and while they may seem harmless, carpenter ants for example can destroy countless objects placed around the property.

Pests Get into Food

Arguably, one of the worst things about pests is that they just love to target food. Whether you have a kitchen in your office premises or you’re running a restaurant, if pests can find their way in, then they’re not only going to eat everything in sight, they’ll also get you into hot water with food inspectors or health and safety authorities. Be sure to hire a team of professional pest controllers to ensure that your perishables are pest-free and safe and to ensure all possible points of entry to your establishment are properly sealed.

DIY Measures

While you may think that getting rid of an infestation is as easy as buying a couple of traps and chemicals from the store, think again. Even though pesticides are sold in supermarkets, it doesn’t mean they are safe for you and those who visit your establishment. If you operate a commercial establishment, chemicals do not create a healthy work environment at all. By the time you invest in such products, you’re likely to end up spending a small fortune when you should seek expert help to begin with.

It Shouldn’t Be a Worry

As a business owner, there’s a lot for you to deal with – from managing your business to motivating your staff. Pest management should not be one of your stresses. A pest management company will give you peace of mind that your establishment is pest-free, minus the harsh pesticides and chemicals.

By far, the best way to keep your commercial establishment free of pets is to prevent infestations in the first place. Tick it off your to-do list by enlisting the help of the professionals as well as quality pest control products to keep your premises free of pests.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

“ALIENS ATE MY HOMEWORK” AVAILABLE ON DVD, DIGITAL AND ON DEMAND MARCH 6th #AAMH

January 18, 2018 By Marijean

GOLDEN GLOBE^® WINNER WILLIAM SHATNER LENDS HIS VOICE

TO THE DELIGHTFUL INTERGALACTIC ADVENTURE

FROM UNIVERSAL 1440 ENTERTAINMENT

ALIENS ATE MY HOMEWORK

AVAILABLE ON DVD, DIGITAL AND ON DEMAND MARCH 6, 2018

Universal City, California, January 10, 2018 – Unexpected extraterrestrial guests team up with a pair of middle schoolers to prevent the destruction of the planet in Aliens Ate My Homework, coming to DVD, Digital and On Demand on March 6, 2018, from Universal 1440 Entertainment, a production entity of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. A humorous and suspenseful intergalactic adventure, Aliens Ate My Homework follows the whimsical members of the Galactic Patrol on the trail of an evil alien criminal hiding out on Earth.

Based on the first book in prolific author Bruce Coville’s globally renowned “Galactic Patrol” series published by Aladdin Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, Aliens Ate My Homework features the voice of two-time Emmy Award winner William Shatner (“Star Trek”) and comes from director Sean McNamara (The King’s Daughter). The film also stars Jayden Greig (The Shape of Water), Lauren McNamara (“Summer of Dreams”), Kirsten Robek (The Edge of Seventeen), Dan Payne (Star Trek Beyond, Watchmen), Ty Consiglio (Wonder) and Alex Zahara (“The Man in the High Castle”).

Aliens Ate My Homework is a suspenseful family comedy which follows the adventures of sixth-grader Rod Allbright (Greig) and the extraterrestrial lawmen known as the Galactic Patrol. When a tiny spaceship flies through his window and lands on his science project, Rod and his cousin Elspeth (McNamara) meet a group of friendly aliens, including Phil, a talking plant (voiced by William Shatner). The earthlings quickly join the aliens’ adventurous mission to help defeat an evil alien criminal. After discovering the evil alien is disguised as a human – someone he knows all too well – Rod and Elspeth race to save the world from total planetary disaster.

BONUS FEATURES on DVD and digital

Not of This World: Creating Alien Life Forms – A look at creating some of the film’s Alien characters, showcasing the work of Emmy-winning visual effects maestro Todd Masters and his creature effects team. Viewers will get a peek at what it takes to bring the creatures to life on-set through the magic of prosthetic make-up, as well as practical effects techniques like oversized sets and puppetry.
Aliens Ate My Homework: From Page to Screen – This piece will give viewers a peek at the process of turning the novel into a film – from concept to production and visual effects. Featuring behind the scenes footage plus interviews with the cast, filmmakers, and author Bruce Coville.
On the Set with Bruce Coville – The beloved author gives viewers a peek at life on the set of Aliens Ate My Homework while providing details on the origins of the Galactic Patrol book series.
The Galactic Patrol Wants You! – A closer look at the members of the Galactic Patrol featuring Grakker, Madame Pong, Rod Allbright, Elspeth, and Phillogenous Esk Piemondum, aka Phil. In this featurette, the intrepid crew of the Starship Ferkel will reveal details on their current mission and will inform viewers on what it takes to become a member of the Galactic Patrol.

Aliens Ate My Homework will be available on DVD and Digital.

DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.
Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.
Movies Anywhere is the digital app that simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing consumers to access their favorite digital movies in one place when purchased or redeemed through participating digital retailers. Consumers can also redeem digital copy codes found in eligible Blu-ray^TM and DVD disc packages from participating studios and stream or download them through Movies Anywhere. MOVIES ANYWHERE is only available in the United States. For more information, visit https://moviesanywhere.com.

Website: http://uni.pictures/AliensAteMyHomework

Trailer: http://uni.pictures/AliensAteMyHomeworkTrailer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliensAteMyHomework

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AliensAteMyHW

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliensatemyhomeworkmovie

#AAMH

FILMMAKERS:

Cast: Jayden Greig, Lauren McNamara, Kirsten Robek, Dan Payne, Alex Zahara, Ty Consiglio, Sean Quan, William Shatner, Tristan Risk

Casting By: Jackie Lind, _CSA

Music By: Brandon Moore

Edited By: Tony Dean Smith

Production Designer: Bob Bottieri

Director of Photography: Adam Sliwinski

Co-Producer: Todd Masters

Executive Producers: Harvey Kahn, Sean McNamara

Produced By: Roger Lay Jr. and Eric Carnagey

Based on the book series ‘Rod Allbirght Alien Adventures by: Bruce Coville

Screenplay By: Judith Reeves-Stevens & Garfield Reeves-Stevens

Directed By: Sean McNamara

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD:

Street Date: March 6, 2018

Selection Number: 63187246

Layers: DVD 9

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen

Rating: PG for some rude humor, mild action and thematic elements

Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French Canadian, French European, Latin American Spanish

Sound: English, French European, and Latin American Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1

Run Time: 1 hour, 29 minutes

About Universal 1440 Entertainment, LLC:

The Universal 1440 Entertainment banner develops and produces live-action and animated non-theatrical productions directly for distribution in all media worldwide. Since its formation in 2005, the group has assembled an exceptional roster of animated family fare, including the Daytime Emmy^®-winning Curious George television series for PBS Kids and Hulu; as well as the beloved The Land Before Time film series and the all-new animated family film Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You. The group also has successfully built upon some of Universal’s highly celebrated live-action, comedy and drama franchises, Scorpion King, Jarhead, American Pie, Honey and Bring It On as well as the terrifying Chucky movies. Projects currently readying for release include the newest installment of the epic sci-fi adventure hit Tremors, the next chapter in the gritty action franchise Death Race and an exciting new film from the popular Honey franchise.

Universal 1440 Entertainment is a production entity of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (www.uphe.com). Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios. Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Marijean

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

6 Reasons Teeth Turn Yellow

January 17, 2018 By Anne

6 Reasons Teeth Turn Yellow

Have you realised that your teeth aren’t looking as white as they used to? Are they remaining a shade of yellow even though you brush regularly?

There are several factors that contribute to the colour of your teeth. Some you can control and others you can’t.

Reasons Teeth Turn Yellow

Smoking

Smoking makes your teeth yellow since the nicotine, tar and chemicals that are carried in the smoke seep into your tooth enamel’s pores, staining your once pearly whites. Studies have found that smokers tend to have not-so-bad to severe levels of discoloured teeth in comparison to just over 12% of non-smokers. Studies also show that smokers tend to be less happy about the state of their oral health.

Poor Oral Hygiene

If you start to notice a yellowish build up on your teeth, it could be tartar or plaque. Plaque tends to form when bacteria from drinks and foods aren’t cleaned efficiently from the teeth. Over time, the plaque hardens and becomes tartar, which can only be removed by a hygienist or dentist. If your teeth are stained, you may want to consider teeth whitening Brisbane professionals are offering.

Your Diet

What we put in our mouths can impact the colour of the teeth. If your teeth are yellow, it could be as a result of consuming the following foods:

Curries
Red wine
Tea and coffee
Beetroot
Berries
Tomato sauces
Balsamic vinegar
Soy sauce
Fizzy drinks
Sugary foods
Sports drinks
Juices and citrus fruits
Artificial sweeteners
Alcoholic drinks

By rinsing your mouth after consuming these items, you can help to minimise damage from any acid from the foods and drinks.

Genetics

If you seem to have had yellow tinted teeth all your life, you may be able to blame your genes. Genetic variances can actually affect enamel porosity and tooth colour. What’s more, more porous enamel tends to be more liable to stain.

Ageing

Aging is bad enough, but did you know it’s relatively normal for our teeth to yellow as we get older? That’s because the protective layer of enamel that we all have on our teeth becomes thinner with age, and it reveals the yellow dentin below the surface.

Illnesses and Medication

Some antibiotics, for instance amoxicillin and tetracycline, can affect the shade of your teeth, particularly in younger children. Medications prescribed for adults with high blood pressure or allergies are also known to have this side effect. If you’re concerned that your medication is leading to yellow teeth, be sure to discuss this with your doctor.

There are also some illnesses, especially those that affect the liver, that can result in your teeth discolouring. Patients that undergo radiation and chemotherapy treatment for cancer may also find that their teeth begin to turn yellow or even brown.

Fortunately, with advanced teeth whitening treatments, you can go from yellow gnashes to pearly whites once more. Treatments are quick, easy and painless. You can talk to your dentist or hygienist about professional teeth whitening that is designed to last a long time and bring back confidence to your smile.

Anne

Great Ideas For Your Kid’s Birthday Party

January 17, 2018 By Anne

Great Ideas For Your Kid’s Birthday Party

Once upon a time, a child’s birthday party was as simple as music, funny games, party food, and, of course, cake. These days, however, it’s likely that your child will want something a little more exciting. The good news is, if you’re looking for a different take on a birthday party for your kid, there are lots of out-of-the-ordinary ideas to choose from. However, before you start to book venues and events, it’s important to work out your budget. That way you’ll know exactly what you can achieve, and you won’t have to scale back after you’ve already booked. You’ll also need to take into account how many children are attending and plan accordingly. As long as you know what you are doing in advance and the entire duration of the party is covered, you should have a group of happy, tired children by the end of it. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Teddy Bear Party

Every little child has their favorite stuffed toy, the one they want to take everywhere with them. If you use that idea as the basis for a younger child’s party, you’ll have everyone enjoying themselves immensely. Work out a teddy bear’s picnic-themed meal and think of some games that the little ones can play with their toys such as ‘pin the tail on the bear’ and hide and go seek. You can even set up your home or a hired room to look like a forest or some other kind of fanciful toy town. Using picnic blankets on the floor, everyone can sit around and play fun games. At the end of the party, as a thank you, you can present each child with a brand new bear. You might even want to make this a game, like a treasure hunt.

Chocolate Making Party

All kids love chocolate, and it’s not something they get every day, so a chocolate making party is a real treat. It’s cheap too; you just need to invest in some plastic molds and baking chocolate as well as some lollipop sticks and other candies to decorate the chocolates with. It’s a task that will keep the children occupied for quite a while, and you can play music while they work, to keep them focused. Afterwards, everyone can enjoy snuggling up to watch a chocolate based movie, or if the weather is nice enough, they can go outside and do a chocolate hunt for more goodies.

Make Your Own Carnival Party

This idea might appeal more to those with a bigger budget, and more space to spare, but if you can pull it off, it’s a huge amount of fun. You’ll need to spend a few weeks planning and thinking about which games you can easily set up and play. You can make a backyard bowling alley, mini golf course, ring toss, have bikes and go-karts set out for racing, bring out a trampoline (or borrow one) for some jumping skills, and much more. The kids will be active and love the variety of games they can play. You could even put them into teams and make it all a competition. In addition, you can have popcorn and cotton candy stands, hand out balloons, and offer face painting.

Escape Room Party

An escape room party is a newer idea, but it’s something that no one is going to forget in a hurry. Escape rooms are organized puzzles, where participants are locked in a room, and they have to work out how to escape. Working together as a team, your children and their friends can solve puzzles and find clues that will help them. There is a time limit too, so they have to work fast (and that also means you know exactly when to move onto the next part of the day). Escape games can be the perfect way to entertain a group of older children. Afterwards, take them out for pizza and ice cream, and they can talk about how they managed to escape (if they did!) and how much fun they had.

Craft Party

Kids love to make things, and it seems that age and gender offer no particular barrier to this. Organizing a craft party is a great way to ensure that everyone has fun, and has something to take home with them at the end of the party. You can hire a professional to host the party, and they will bring all the tools and materials that are required, but if you prefer to do things yourself and you’re looking at a way to lower the cost, you can easily skip the professional. Simply buy some unpainted pottery, plain picture frames, design-free tote bags, and similar. Go to a craft store and buy the right kinds of glue, paints, and accessories to make these things look great, and let the kids go wild!

Scavenger Hunt Party

Scavenger hunts are exciting for kids of any age. The important part is to take your time when organizing the hunt so that it is just difficult enough to hold everyone’s attention. Too easy and it will be over in a flash, too hard and no one will want to keep at it. You might choose to give every child a different, personalized clue, and have them work against the clock to find the treasure. They could also work in teams, or you could make sure there was a gift for everyone so that they all take turns in finding something. An extension to this party idea is a geocaching party. A geocache is something that you need to use GPS to find, and you can download an app to do it. Follow the route, and you should come across a Tupperware box or similar, within which sits a notebook or piece of paper. Sign the paper and put the cache back where it came from for the next person to find. There are many caching routes that you can take, and it can be a truly fun hobby!