Rebecca Alston, Author at Mamas Like Me

How To Manage Your Kid’s Anxiety For The Dentist

Good dental habits are important to establish in children early. This can be difficult, because many children today fear going to the dentist. Dental anxiety is so common among children that it is being labeled a major public health concern. As a concerned parent, you might feel uncertain how to handle your own child’s anxiety. It is obviously unpleasant to see your child worrying about it. Your kid needs to get used to going to the dentist though. If they don’t, they are likely to stop going as an adult and their oral hygiene will suffer accordingly. Fear not, there are effective ways to manage the anxiety and encourage a lifelong habit of good oral hygiene. Here are tips and tricks how to manage your kid’s anxiety for the dentist.

Be Upfront And Honest

Convince your child to visit the dentist through honesty. Let the child know well ahead of time that they are going to the dentist. Don’t lie to them about where they are going or say it is just an annual health check. Be candid about they should expect. If they have questions answer them honestly and to the point or encourage them to ask the dentist. Lying to your child will always come with a consequence. Don’t make the dentist seem worse by indicating you have to lie about it. Your child will remember that, and it will color how they view the experience. Like most things in a child’s life, honesty is the best policy.

Focus On Oral Hygiene

When discussing the dentist with your child, make sure to focus on why they must go. This is important to establish good oral hygiene for your child. Encourage them to view their healthy teeth as the reward for the dentists. If your child looks at it this way, they are more likely to carry on going to the dentist as an adult. It will make your child think of the dentist as a needed service, rather than a resented obligation. The same can be done for brushing teeth and flossing. It’s important with young children to emphasize cause and effect. If they understand why dentist visits are important, they’ll start to resist the anxiety. And for those looking for a reliable dentist, you can solve your dental woes with this family dentist in greenville.

Choose A Child-Friendly Dentist

Taking your child to a dentist who works regularly with children can also help their anxiety. A children’s dentist already has experience dealing with anxious children and has worked out procedures to handle them. They will know how to use distraction to keep children calm during the most uncomfortable parts of the procedure. A dentist in Atascadero, Dr. Farr explains, “I know many people have anxiety in coming to the dentist, and it’s my great pleasure to help ease their anxiety.” These sorts of things will mean everything to your child, even if the medical outcome is the same.

Reinforce A Positive Attitude

When talking about the dentist with your child, focus on the positive. This doesn’t just mean the positive of the child’s experience. Make sure you avoid referring to your own dental experiences as painful or unpleasant. A major reason many children have anxiety over the dentist is that many adults also have this anxiety. They see the adult around them express fear and anger about the dentist and draw their own conclusions. Your child can pick up on that sort of thing, even if your trying to hide it. Make sure you give them the impression you have no anxiety over the dentist, and they will soon learn to copy you.

Start Early

To avoid anxiety in the first place, start taking your child to see the dentist early. You should bring your child in no later than their first birthday. If you start routine visits that early, your child will be familiar with the dentist’s office before they start developing lasting memories. This may prevent dental anxiety all together. Most of this anxiety is the product of the unknown. If your child has always known what’s in store and the dentist’s office, they won’t get the anxiety in the first place. Starting this early is also good for oral hygiene and will put your child on a path to lifelong healthy teeth.

Your child’s anxiety about the dentist is common and quite easy to manage. Make sure you always tell them the truth about their visits to the dentist and what will happen. Present the dentist’s office as a part of good oral hygiene and important for white teeth. Make sure the dentist you take your child to is good with children. Reinforce a positive outlook on the dentist, in your child and yourself. Start taking your kid to the dentist early. These tricks will ensure your child grows up knowing that dentist appointments are an important part of their lives.

How to Plan the Perfect Birthday Party for Your Child

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For a parent, their child’s birthday party is often more important than their own. We want them to have a good experience and make the day really memorable, take some great happy birthday images, and there’s no way we’re letting our little ones have their special day ruined with poor planning. So, how can you make sure that the birthday party is fun both for kids and the parents who bring them over? Take a look at some of our tips and you can start planning.

Set a budget

This is the first thing to do because it will help manage your costs and give you a better idea of what kind of things you’ll have at your disposal. It’s not necessary to make your child’s birthday party into a grand spectacle, so don’t worry about having to spend too much. They’ll have fun as long as there are good food and their friends show up, so relax and realize it’s supposed to be just a simple, fun party.

Involve your child

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After all, it’s their own birthday. Feel free to let them pick a theme they’ll enjoy the most, and you’ll already have a good idea of what the whole event is supposed to look like. But it’s not just about having them point their fingers at the things they want—let them help. You could make some easy crafty ornaments together and let them prepare snacks with you, and this will help them feel like they’re more in control of what gets to happen at the party.

Send out cute invitations

This is yet another thing that you can help them make at home and put a personal touch, and it also makes them practice their handwriting. You can find a few templates to help you out, or you can order invitations online if your kid isn’t all that crafty or just wants invitations with a specific cartoon character.

Put emphasis on good food

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This is important both for children and adults. Imagine a party with bad food where all the kids are commenting on the yucky taste. Don’t worry though, simple things like mac and cheese balls, hot dogs, pizza, and taco cups are more than enough to please them. Also, to avoid spending several days stuck in the kitchen, you can rely on good catering companies to make delicious finger foods for adults at the party. Those delicate hors-d’oeuvres are tricky to get right if you’re inexperienced, so save yourself some time and feel free to let professionals take care of that.

Bake an easy cake

If you’re a good baker, it’s always more charming to bake a cake of your own and let your kid decorate with frosting. You can certainly order one to save yourself some hassle or in case your child wants some very specific decorations, but if you like to cook then find a nice recipe and you’re bound to bake something delicious.

Figure out entertainment

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It’s not very difficult to get kids to have fun, but they do need some direction and planned entertainment for everything to run smoothly. Hiring an entertainer is an easy way to deal with this part, and you can get anything from face painters and clowns to magicians, storytellers, or even DJs.

Bring in some board games

If you don’t want an entertainer, then board games are a great idea as well. Things like Dixit, Sushi Go, and Codenames are wonderful picks, but you can also stick to simple party games like Musical Chairs, Charades, Pictionary, Hot Potato, Pin the Tail on the Donkey, or Treasure Hunt. Another fun thing you can bring in is a piñata.

Prepare cocktails for adults

Some simple cocktails are a great way to get adults to relax a bit, but make sure to include non-alcoholic versions for those who are driving. A little booze can help everyone warm up and talk to each other instead of anxiously staring at their kids and fretting over their safety.

When the party day comes, make sure to enjoy yourself and show your kid how happy you are to be celebrating with them. Good mood and smiles are infectious, and seeing you cheerful will make them feel even more excited about the whole event.

Vital Tips for Mastering a Perfect Family Holiday

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A trip with the youngsters can either be a nightmare or a dream-come-true depending on how you approach the planning process. Every parent knows how hectic a holiday can turn out to be if you don’t have a fun schedule planned ahead for the kids to enjoy and be occupied, while you also need to factor in some alone time with your spouse, you know, to stay sane for the duration of your holiday!

Without further ado, let’s see how you can make your family journey more adventurous, relaxing, and stress-free both for you and your little rascals.

Snack up for the road

If your kids are adventurous little earthlings, they are probably already ecstatic you’re heading for a week of camping in the woods or exploring natural reserves in the vicinity of your hometown. However, what can make kids more irritable than anything else is a lack of energy sources that are both delicious and accessible.

For brave parent souls who do embark on a road trip with their offspring, make sure you prepare, pack, and divide snacks for your little ones. They’ll get cranky after spending hours on the road; if the weather isn’t perfect, they might be tempted to throw a tantrum or two, but well-packed, healthy snacks paired with road trip games can be life-savers.

Photo by Simon Rae on Unsplash

Do your homework

Whether you’re headed to a beach resort, a mountain ski resort, or you’re more of urban travelers, you need to be informed beforehand. The old saying that knowledge is power truly comes to life when you become a parent, and you get flooded with questions as you’re unpacking in your hotel abroad.

For example, a trip to Paris makes a wonderful choice both for you and your spouse, plus it hosts a wide range of fun activities for kids – it’s up to you to find them, and book them in time because these get snatched up pretty quickly! If you’ve been saving up, a trip to European Disneyland is a must, of course.

Other options are going to Quebec, you can check out this guide here for tips.

Photo by Juan Cruz Mountford on Unsplash

Be the early bird

We love them to bits, but raising kids in this day and age comes at a hefty price, from getting new clothes as they grow, all the way to covering their various interests and hobbies. That’s why every parent soon becomes a skillful budget manager, and booking early flights, accommodation, and looking for discounts is a significant part of this travel endeavor.

While in search of a perfect family cruise with reliable consultants such as Barge Travel Connection, you can take your kids on an all-encompassing, educational adventure of numerous European hotspots. Looking into such offers early on will give you a head start to plan your budget and save up a decent sum to invest in other aspects of your holiday, or something entirely different for that matter!

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Include the youngsters

Unless they are really young, your kids can be the best go-to peeps for finding the right activities and excursions for your holiday. In fact, they might come up with some of the most appealing options for the entire family that you or your spouse would never think of, simply because they’re in the right frame of mind for the adventure.

Have a talk with them, read through available options you can afford; see how they feel about cruises, beach holidays, winter vacations, or an urban getaway. Then, you can do some research together, collect the most interesting activities and create your itinerary with your kids by your side, so that everyone will know what to expect.

Photo by Xavier Mouton Photographie on Unsplash

Think all-inclusive thoughts

Sometimes putting less thought into something is the best solution you could hope for! Some of the finest resorts and cruises out there come with a package of entertainment options for all age groups, including kids, and they’ll make sure that your little ones are constantly busy and engaged.

Plus, you won’t have to worry about food and snacks, which is one less worry for your list of to-dos. If you create a list of pros and cons, you might be surprised to discover that for certain destinations, these all-inclusive options can turn out to be more affordable than those where you’d have to have a separate budget for food and fun.

Ladies’ Gym Ideas

If you haven’t watched the episode of “The Simpsons” when Marge decides to open a gym for ladies, you should. She realized that a regular gym was not meeting the needs of “ordinary” women, so she took the matters into her own hands. This is just one of many examples where fiction reflects reality.

It happens all too often that women find themselves in awkward and unpleasant situations in a gym. They are often mansplained, looked down on, hit on or even touched inappropriately. For all those reasons, it makes perfect sense for some gyms to allow only women members. Still, that poses some problems when it comes to equipping such establishments.

It should offer various amenities

Gyms that accept only women often make a mistake and specialize in what is perceived as “feminine” workouts, such as Pilates or yoga, but not all women want that. If such a gym was to be a resounding success, it should also offer weightlifting and high-intensity interval training, for example. Although the main focus may be shifted to other types of exercises, it’s the variety that attracts more customers.

It should be run by a woman

No matter how successful and experienced a man entrepreneur is, he can never understand the needs of women as well as a woman can. Who can provide better service than a person who knows exactly what is required and desirable? This is also important when it comes to purchasing bathroom supplies. To most men, women products are a mystery they’d rather have nothing to do with, so you can’t expect the same level of service and care from them.

It should stand out

Needless to say, a ladies’ gym should have all the best gym equipment available and hire the most skilful and devoted instructors, but it still may not be enough to attract enough members. In order to make it unique and more appealing, some small touches are needed. For example, the gym might feature a space where clients can socialise when they’re not working out and where they can treat themselves to a glass of wine or some other beverage.

It should cater for special requirements

Religious reasons might prevent some women from working out and staying fit or removing some items of clothing in front of men. Should they be confined to their living rooms to get the benefits of exercising? Of course not. Also, women who have just had a baby or have certain health issues might feel uncomfortable in the presence of pumped up men. Should they give up on their needs? Of course not.

It should show that you think outside the box

Long gone are the days when we had a pretty clear distinction between activities for men and women. It may have been unimaginable until some time ago that women would be interested in boxing, weightlifting or Krav Maga, but the situation is quite different today. Some women take up such activities in order to learn self-defence, while others simply experience sheer joy when venting their energy (and frustration). Whatever the reason, a modern gym for ladies should have all the necessary equipment and trained professionals who can cater to such requirements.

If you are looking to market your new ladies gym make sure you make a flyer related to your gym offers so that you can put your word out easily.

As you can see, there are a lot of reasons why women-only gyms make perfect sense. This, of course, shouldn’t be interpreted as some exclusive feature available to a certain group of people, but merely as an attempt to provide services that an increasing number of clients are interested in. Finally, it is important to equip such a gym with the right kind of equipment and staff it with professionals who are able to respond to the needs of women. Only then does the idea become successful and sustainable.

Checklist for Your Wedding

Months and months of planning can make you completely overwhelmed and, due to all that, you may forget some more or less important details. And trust me, you sure don’t want that type of stress on your wedding day. So in order to avoid that, I’ve created this ultimate checklist you can follow.

Vendors

Make sure you confirm the arrangements and make sure everyone has the exact directions and the cell phone number to your official contact person.

Final payments

A good idea would be to pay your vendors ahead of time. This way, you don’t have to try to remember what you owe to whom on the day of your wedding.

Insurance policy

When you give the final payments to the vendors, have each of them sign a document that indicates they received it. So if anyone tries to claim they weren’t paid, you will have proof against them.

Tip envelopes

If you are planning on tipping someone such as the DJ, wait staff, banquet captain etc., make sure you prepare envelopes with their names on it and fill them with the correct amounts of money you are willing to give.

Some extra cash

Speaking of tips, you might want to show your gratitude to someone who has gone beyond his call of duty. This is why a good idea would be to carry some extra cash with you on the wedding day.

Luggage

If you are staying in a hotel overnight before the reception, make sure you drop your luggage off the night before, or have someone such as a friend or family member drop it off the morning of the ceremony.

Honeymoon packing

Speaking of early packing, make sure to pack your honeymoon luggage as well as all the required documents and passports earlier. This way, you will have one less worry.

Wedding items

Things like wedding favors, cake knife, toast glasses etc. should be delivered to your reception site 2-3 days beforehand so the employees can prepare everything and set the tables on time. A smart move would be to find a trusted friend or family member to get everything to the ceremony site beforehand as well.

Car hire

You should ask around to see which companies are trustworthy and check whether the car you hired is only for the bride or for both of you. For my fellow Aussies, I would definitely recommend Queen street wedding & car hire because they are the best around.

Naming the tunes

Your favorite song may already be covered or remade by thousands of different bands or DJs, so make sure you double-check with your band or DJ whether they have the version you want.

Discussion with the photographer

You shouldn’t leave anything to chance. Give the photographer a list of people you want to be photographed together and also talk to them about the type of photos you want to have – vintage style, candid, classic, black and white etc.

Photography schedule

This way, you will ensure that everything goes smoothly. If you and the bridesmaids, for example, have your photos scheduled at 2 pm, be at the location at 1.45 fully dressed and made up. And make sure everyone takes this seriously.

Prepare for the rain

If you’ll be having an outdoor ceremony, make sure you have the tent set up and umbrellas for all the guests just in case.

Gift caretaker

Designate someone to take presents home in advance and give them the house key so you have everything there when you return from the ceremony.

Supervisor

Have someone well-organized arrive early to the ceremony and ensure everything is in order.

Legal documents

Give those to someone responsible in order to ensure nothing gets lost. Some honeymoon locations may give you special perks if you prove that your trip is actually a honeymoon trip.

The end time

Double-check the end time with the venue and give this information to vendors and guests to prevent unnecessary costs of overtime fees.

Finally, a good idea is to also pack an emergency kit for your big day including: hairspray, bobby pins, lip gloss etc. for last minute preps, as well as pantyhose, umbrella, stain remover, tissues and backup copies of your desired music just in case.

6 Alternative gift ideas everyone will love

Dare I say it…but Christmas isn’t too far away. Now that summer is a distant memory, so many of us are already spotting Christmas displays in our favorite stores, seeing hints of the festive season on our social media timelines and even the occasional Christmas film being shown on our favorite TV channels! Even if you’re not interested in Christmas cheer just yet, many of taking pride in having everything planned and sorted by the time the festive season really begins. So, if you’re already worrying about what you’re going to get your nearest and dearest for Christmas – fear not!

While it’s easy to find the right Christmas ecard, read on for 5 alternative gift ideas that everyone will love.

The gift of trees

What do you get for the person who has everything? Well, how about a little piece of nature? Giving plants and flowers is quite a common occurrence for something like Mother’s Day and Birthdays, but why not step it up a gear and gift trees from The Tree Center? Adding a tree to someone’s garden will add color and depth to their outside space and if it’s a tree that bears fruit? Even better!

Delve deep into your family history

If you’re struggling for a gift for a family member, then why not step back in time and give them the gift of your family history? There are plenty of online resources as well as free information available in local libraries to help you trace your family back from just a few decades to even hundreds of years. Piece together certificates, photographs, dates, and details and you’ve got an incredible portfolio of the past that they’ll just love to show everyone!

Make something

Sometimes, it doesn’t matter what the gift is, it’s just knowing the time and effort that’s gone into it is what makes it really special. If you’re a creative type, or you just want to try your hand at some homemade gifts then check out some online tutorials or head to YouTube for some inspiration. From scented candles to cookies, cakes, and delicious bakes, photo frames, toys, dolls even clothing! You can do it!

Custom Bobbleheads

Personalized gifts never fail to touch the hearts of the receiver. Especially when it’s nicely done and fully customized like these bobblehead figures. You can make it look like a loved one and add specific details to it for an affordable price. Visit a manufacturer’s site to learn more on how to order a custom bobblehead.

Give the gift of learning

For the younger recipients, why not give the gift of learning. Don’t worry, I don’t mean filling their arms with heavy books. You could give the gift of some music lessons, or lessons in a particular sport that they want to take further. Survival lessons, even fishing or jewelry making classes – whatever the little one is into, you don’t just give them the gift of learning, but the gift of your time by going with them. It’s a win, win.

Special Memories

Who says that gifts have to be physical things? Why not treat someone to a trip somewhere you’ve both always wanted to go. The National History Museum, tickets to see their favorite comedian, a trip to see a show on Broadway or in the West End, ice skating, or a hike through a National Park? You could even take it one step further and book nights away in a particular city. The possibilities are endless!

Buy a Zip Line Kit for their Family!

Certainly uncommon and needing parental approval first, a zip line is a
unique gift for any family. It provides hours of fun and encourages kids
to be outdoors instead of on their smartphones. Zip line kits are safe
with proper monitoring and you’ll always be remembered every time it’s
used

Those summer plumbing problems

Every so often the summer brings with it joy and merrymaking. However, there are times when it might bring with it some bad news, like bad plumbing issues. You might find yourself with plumbing emergencies of various kinds. The first thing you should do in such situations is not to panic. There are many plumbers, such as the team at Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling (summersphc.com/la-porte/services/plumbing/plumbing-repair/), who will happily and quickly solve your problem for your restoring your summer to the default state of joy it should be in.

Once you call a good plumber, they should be able to give you some practical advice on what you can do to mitigate the situation before they arrive, based on the name and address that you have provided them with. That said, they should be able to solve the problem as soon as they arrive and even prevent it from ever occurring again. If you determine that the specific emergency you are facing with your plumbing is especially serious or even life-threatening, then it is a good idea to call the plumbing service’s emergency number at once for a much quicker response. You should also call 911 for the case where the plumbing emergency poses a threat to human life.

That said, the right plumbers should be well-trained individuals who can handle all kinds of plumbing and other emergencies, such as gas leaks, whether your emergency is at a residential or commercial property. They should be able to arrive in a minimum of time and solve the problem in the most professional manner. If you figure that the plumbing or other emergency poses a danger to you or those around you, then you should make an effort to keep both yourself and your belongings safe.

If the plumber instructs you to turn off your electricity at the meter, then please ensure you do so. You might also be asked to turn off both your water supply and your gas supply. Please do not hesitate to do so. Never try to solve a plumbing emergency by yourself or to carry out any inspection or repair procedures alone. The professionals have been trained hard and long to do exactly the kind of thing you are trying to do by winging it, so it’s obviously not a very good idea. Call your nearest California plumbers to come and handle the situation straight away. That said, here are some of the common emergencies you might face in the summer.

Gas Leaks

This is usually as a result of normal wear and tear. When your gas system has been around for long, then the seals in your gas appliances or the joints in gas pipes may wear down to the point of leaking. Gas leaks can be dangerous if you do not attend to them immediately.

Luckily, it’s typically very easy to detect a gas leak. The first sign is the smell. While the kind of gas you use in your home is naturally odourless, a certain chemical is added to it by packagers to make it easily detectable. If you smell gas in your house, especially near the meter or a cylinder, then waste no time in calling in a plumber on their emergency number. If you happen to smell the gas in an area that is heavily populated or, God forbid, have already witnessed an explosion or fire due to a gas leak, then you should act immediately. Call the local authorities and the emergency numbers of Santa Clarita plumbers or other nearby plumbers. Meanwhile, you should make an effort to help as many people as you can to evacuate the vicinity.

Hot Water Issues

Sure, this isn’t an exclusive summer issue, seeing as summer is hot by nature and it might seem counterintuitive that you would want hot water in the summer. However, people do have their preferences, and they cannot be held against them. There may naturally be a problem with your hot water supply so that the water coming out of your hot water faucet is always cold. In that case, it means there is a problem with your hot water system, and it either needs repair or a complete overhaul.

The first thing to do in such instances is to check that the pilot light is still on, in case your hot water system runs on gas, and the circuit breakers, in case your hot water system runs on electricity. Sometimes they’re just off and need to be turned back on. However, sometimes it could also be a more serious problem requiring the complete replacement of your hot water system. In that case, a good plumbing service (such as Gresham water heater repair, to name one example) should give you plenty of options as far as water heating solutions are concerned, including gas, electricity, and solar options, all being eco-friendly, of course.

If your water supply has been cut off, there is a high chance that it has been cut off by the local authorities. You should call your local authorities to find out if they have any planned maintenance activities in your area and also ask when the water supply is likely to be restored.

Blocked Sewers

Blocked sewers can be very frustrating, especially when the effluent begins to back up into your toilet and the foul smell fills up your house. This tends to happen when sewer lines have been blocked, such as by tree roots. You will see the warning signs long before the effluent actually backs up into your toilet. For example, you will hear a gurgling sound when you flush the toilet and notice the water taking longer to drain than usual. The best thing to do when you witness these signs is to call your local SoCal plumbers or, if you’re out of this area, someone like Morris Jenkins, out immediately to fix the problem.

Good plumbers should have the right tools to inspect the sewer system and rectify the problem that led to the blockage as soon as possible.

In the event that a blocked sewer occurs at your commercial premises, it is especially important that you call an emergency plumbing service to rectify the problem immediately as it could severely interfere with your normal business operations and make your customers uncomfortable. It could even ruin your products and floors.

Remain in a Good Shape Beside Work, Family and an Active Social Life

As a millennial, you are already living quite a busy life. You choose experience over possessions, and therefore you are usually spending more than you earn, which requires working more and more from month to month. And after work, there are hobbies, there is your social life that has to be maintained, etc. It is logical that remaining in shape seems nearly impossible when your life is so fast. However, with these simple tips and tricks, you will be able to live your life normally and manage to stay in shape. Take notes.

Planning ahead

You are already aware of the fact that you are super busy all the time. In other words, when you want to incorporate something new into your lifestyle, efficient time management is simply essential. Make the most out of every single moment. This, of course, doesn’t mean you should spend every spare minute you have working out, but a couple of squats and pushups while you are waiting for your lunch to finish cooking is perfectly fine.

Stop making excuses

If you keep telling yourself things like “I’m too busy to start today, I’ll start next week,” before you know it, weeks and months will have passed and you will not be able to get round to it. The hardest part about exercising is starting it, so don’t think of it as something optional, but rather a priority that is too important to be canceled.

Make your workouts flexible

Not all of us have easy access to a gym or swimming pool, and when you throw in a busy lifestyle into that equation, staying in shape seems nearly impossible. However, there is a solution for everything. If, for example, the weather is too cold for you to ride your bike around the neighborhood, you could check this exercise bike out and put it in your home for your indoor workouts. You can do many other workouts that don’t involve any equipment as well. Exercising at home is a great alternative for those of you who simply don’t have the time or the opportunity to visit the gym or workout classes.

Diet

Staying fit isn’t just about exercise, it also involves diet. Of course, it must be really tempting to make it easier for yourself and simply grab a quick (processed) ‘meal’, but you are not doing yourself a favor by it. Instead, start off with small dietary changes such as a snack-swap, for example, where you will replace your junk food with a healthier option such as fruit. Furthermore, try eating stuff that will keep you full for much longer and provide you with more energy, like lean protein, for example. After workouts, eat something rich in potassium, such as banana, in order to replace all that potassium that was lost during the workout. And finally, no matter how busy you are, never skip meals. Prepare them in advance if you need to, but never skip them.

H2O!

Even the birds know how important it is to be hydrated. Our body is 70 percent water, which means we need around 10 glasses of water DAILY. So, instead of drinking a bottle of coke, try replacing that with a bottle of water. It is both healthier and will make you feel much more energized and stronger.

Sleep

With all those obligations, it can be quite hard to give your body the rest it needs and deserves. However, being sleep deprived can lead to poor physical health and it can affect your brain by decreasing concentration and social interaction and problem-solving skills. So, in other words, make sure you always have at least 7 hours of sleep every night.

Have fun

Last, but not least – have fun. If it is not fun, you won’t be doing it, so the key is not to think of working out as a chore, but rather as a time for you to detach yourself and eliminate all the stress you are going through. Listen to motivating music, find a workout buddy, do everything you can to make this experience the best it can be.

As you can see, remaining in a good shape is not that hard. All it takes is quality time management and some inspiration, and you will get the results in no time.

Safety is the Priority: Renovation Tips for A Safe Bathroom for the Whole Family

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Keeping a house safe isn’t as easy as it sounds. Your home itself can be dangerous for your family if you’re not careful. In the UK, around 6,000 deaths occur in the house. Children under five years old and elderlies over sixty-five are more prone to accidents. In Australia, 16% of injuries acquired by children aged five to fourteen years old occurred inside their home.

Out of the rooms in the house, the bathroom is considered one of the most dangerous places where accidents are prone to happen. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conveyed in 2011 that 235,000 people (15 years old and above) go the hospital annually because of injuries which happen inside the bathroom.

Assess your home if it’s a safe place for your family, mainly your bathroom. If you see some areas which need improvement, maybe you should consider a bathroom renovation. Before you begin, here are some tips to help you renovate your bathroom and turn it into a haven for your family.

Get a walk-in tub

This type has the same function as the usual tub, but it’s designed to be a safer, more comfortable, and more convenient. Some models come with a walk-in door, which means that you don’t have to step over the side of the tub. Easier access to the bathtub implies that there are fewer chances of you losing your balance or slipping on the floor.

Add a shower

If you have a regular tub at home, consider installing a showerhead, so it’s not difficult for you or other family members to take a bath. If you have enough space, you can add a showerhead instead of replacing your tub. Ask for advice from designers from renovation companies Melbourne or London has and tell them your plans. They can help you achieve your goals.

Remove the stairs

If there’s an elevated part of your bathroom which comes with a short flight of stairs, consider removing it for safety. It will make your bathroom look sophisticated, but both kids and adults are prone to slipping on stairs. If you don’t want to remove it, you should add handrails to make the area safe for use.

Install grab bars

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Grab bars can save your life inside the bathroom because it can break your fall, keeping you safe from more severe injuries. You can get a vertical pull bar which has a length-bar that you can adjust and a curved grab bar. The horizontal grab bar is the most common type, which you should install horizontally or vertically, but never at an angle.

Choose rounded edges

When you’re choosing your bathroom fixtures like the sink or tub, avoid those with sharp edges. It can be dangerous if ever someone slips in the bathroom and hits any part of the body on these edges. Go for those with rounded corners because even if you get bruises, it won’t cut your skin open.

Put skid-proof mats on the floor

Get safety bath mats to help your family avoid slipping on the slippery bathroom floor. You can buy the non-skid type, and if you want total comfort, look for products which have soft and quick-drying features.

Improve the lighting

Some accidents occur because people can’t see where they’re going, or maybe they don’t notice that the floor is wet due to poor lighting. Make sure that you have adequate lighting fixtures in your bathroom.

Add recessed lighting for overall illumination, and have at least two lights in the shower and tub area. Light the vanity area so you can see your reflection clearly as you prepare for a busy day ahead.

Keep dangerous chemicals out of your child’s reach

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If you store your medicine and a first-aid kit in the bathroom, make sure that you place it somewhere safe that your kids can’t reach. Kids can get curious sometimes, and it’s dangerous if they get hold of medicines which they might ingest.

If you also have cleaning agents in the bathroom, put it in a safe place as well. Your wandering child might mistake it for something edible, or spill it on his skin.

Takeaway

Safety is essential in the home. Keep your house as safe as possible, mainly in the bathroom. Renovate if you have to and ask an expert to help you out. Check every detail and add accessories and fixtures which will help keep your family safe as they stay inside your home.

Best Gas Efficient Family Car – AUDI A4 Or Honda Fit?

Of all the ten thousand factors to look at when choosing a family car, fuel economy should be right at the top of your checklist. Since low fuel price is just a dream, it’s wise to consider a car that’ll not blow a ton of money on fuel. The best part – you could still say that you’re on a SAVE THE EARTH mission!

Back in the day, fuel-efficient family cars used to have a reputation for being small and underpowered, but with modern technologies, automakers offer best-in-class comfy cars without compromising space, performance, and practicality.

With quite an array of choices, how do you choose a stylish gas sipper for your family? Here is our best bet.

Honda Fit 2018

Why should you buy a Honda Fit: Incredibly reliable, superb fuel efficiency, plentiful cargo space, and fluid steering to name a few.

Honda Fit MPG: 36 mpg

Why we chose the Honda Fit: Now that’s a question! This vehicle is a solid proof that an all-around fun, the comfy daily driver can offer good fuel efficiency and uncompromising style. Remember the famous ‘never judge a book by its cover’ quote? It’s absolutely true with this hatchback – the 2018 Honda Fit comes with a surprisingly roomy cabin with spacious legroom in the back.

The Fit has smaller engines and provides better fuel efficiency. In LX models outfitted with the CVT, the Honda Fit achieves 33 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway – one of the highest ratings in the subcompact category. In the manual transmission, gas mileage is said to be 29 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

The subcompact family car has a sharp and fluid steering and fine-tuned suspension. The Honda Sensing Suite – automatic high beams and lane departure warning system – is another biggest reason why we love the 2018 Honda Fit.

Audi A4 Ultra

Why should you buy Audi A4 Ultra: Because this family hatchback ticks most boxes on the car buying checklist.

Audi A4 Ultra MPG: 31 mpg

Why we chose the Audi A4 Ultra: Thanks to the technological sophistication and luxurious appeal, Audi A4 Ultra was able to make the cut in the end. It offers a combined EPA of 31 (27 mpg in the city, and 37 mpg on the highway). Like all Audi models, the Audi A4 Ultra has a stylish interior that promises a comfortable daily commute

Despite its focus on gas mileage, it has best-in-class security features to keep the passengers and pedestrians safe and sound. The pre-sense system is what that makes Audi A4 great. Speaking of the tech-savvy side of the Audi A4, we can’t ignore Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and ‘Virtual Cockpit’ display.

Light steering, plenty of visibility and parking-aid features, and quick response to dabs of the throttle make Audi A4 better than its rivals in ensuring a smooth drive around the city with family.

To wrap up, we do not want to get into ‘Which is the best among two’ debate as both the models have pros and cons. So, it’s up to you to select the best gas mileage car suiting your requirements.