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Get Your Pre-Baby Body Confidence Back In A Few Simple Steps!

We all know that pregnancy isn’t always a walk in the park. For every woman who blossoms through her pregnancy a la Demi Moore on her famous Vanity Fair cover, there are two more women who just feel grumpy, heavy and downright miserable. The pressure to appear ‘glowing’ and permanently joyous in our pregnancies is something that our modern day culture has created. Unfortunately, this has expanded past the pregnancy and into the first few weeks of your baby’s life. One key factor that plays a role in this is the expectation that we just snap back into our pre-baby bodies – no questions asked. However, this is far from true. Whilst for some women it doesn’t take much to get back into shape, who actually has the time to work out when you’re taking care of a newborn? The important thing is to relax and not let the pressure get to you. But once you are ready to get back in shape again, here are some different ways you can do it so you feel confident again.

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Low impact exercise

Let’s face it: your body has been through alot in order to bring your new baby into this world. Heading into a fierce workout routine straight away doesn’t give yourself any time to recover. Plus, lose weight too quickly after having your baby and you may find that it is all too easy to put it back on. The important thing is that you focus on building up your fitness level at a pace that is right for you. In order to not damage yourself, start with low-intensity exercises – you can still break a sweat, but don’t exhaust yourself! Pilates and yoga are great examples of classes you can take at your local sports centre, so do some research and see what is going on.

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Surgical procedures

Sometimes, exercise just isn’t enough to get your body back to where you feel truly happy with it. Excess skin post-baby is a common issue that many new moms suffer from, and unfortunately, no amount of sit ups is going to get rid of it. For these instances – or, if you just want to get quicker results – it might be worth consider a surgical procedure. Find a trusted surgeon by looking into companies such as MakeoverHQ.com. You will be able to arrange a consultation where you can discuss any problem areas you have and can learn about what can be done to get you looking and feeling your best again.

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Eating well

As a new mom, you’re probably used to running on a few hours sleep per night. Yep, they might be cute – but babies are tiring! With that in mind, you are probably reaching out of an instinct for sugary, high carb foods to keep your energy levels up. Whilst this isn’t too bad every once in awhile, it is much healthier to eat foods that release energy slowly. Snack on bananas and nuts which will give you that energy boost without the subsequent crash or sugar low. Adding natural carbs to your meals, such as wholegrain rice and pasta, will also help you to keep going even when you’re sleep deprived.

3 Easy Steps to Creating a Pest and Bug Free Home

Whatever your feeling about bugs or household pests, we can all agree that they belong outside. They can create an unhygienic environment, as well as literally being a pest! How annoying is it to hear buzzing or to get an itch bite on your leg? There are so many different kinds of bugs around, depending on where you live. So for many, it can feel like a bit of a losing battle. So if you have a way of knowing why these bugs are coming to your home, you can do something about it. Luckily I’m here to shed some light and help you with those reasons why.

keeping your home bug free

Keep Doors and Windows Sealed

If you think of bugs like an intruder, then it can help to shed some light. If you think about how an intruder might get in your home, then it can be if there is an opening for them. If a window or door is left ajar, it makes it easier to pry it open. The same goes for bugs. If the seals on your door aren’t the best, then bugs can find their way in. In summer months this can be more of a problem, if you don’t have air conditioning. You will leave windows open to cool the house down. But with cooler months coming up, you need to think about the seals on your windows and doors. Otherwise, you might get plenty of unwanted bugs coming in for somewhere that is warm and dry.

Keep the House Clean

If there is food for the bugs, then they are likely to keep coming back. Think about things like rats or mice. Even things like cockroaches and ants. If they know that they can get scraps of food or crumbs, they will keep coming back. Especially if there is a gap for them to get in. So keeping your home as clean and tidy as it can be, can help massively. The kitchen and dining areas should be kept especially clean. As these are the areas that are more likely to have food waste and crumbs lying around. Then you can keep pests and bugs at bay. If you find you have a recurring problem then it might be worth seeking a pest controller. There are specific ones for each pest too. So think about whether you’d need cockroach, rodent or ant control, for example.

keeping your home bug free and clean

Keep on Top of Your Yard and Trash
If your yard and garbage cans are a mess, then it is just an open invitation for bugs and pests. If they are that close to your house, then the chance of then getting in is much more likely. For example, mosquitos and fleas like to have water to be able to breed. So if you have pools of water in your yard, it can entice them. So get rid of them after a rainstorm as much as you can, and clear any guttering if water gathers. Move piles of leaves and garden waste, as it can be a hug attraction for bugs and rodents to stay in.

Detoxify and Purify Your Life With These Easy Ideas

From highly processed foods to pollution and toxins and pathogens to the stress of the modern world, there are many negative things we come into contact with every day. Because we have gotten so used to them, it can be extremely difficult to rid ourselves of these toxins. So to make a start, here’s four easy ways to begin detoxifying and purifying your life the simple way.

detoxification

Image credit: Pixaby

Dark chocolate

Carbonated drinks, certain meats and foods jam packed with sugar can all be harmful to our bodies. When we take in too many of these toxins, our body can be overwhelmed and react with feelings of lethargy, weight gain and muscle and joint pain. So if we want to detox our bodies we need to eliminate as many of these foods as possible. But then what, I hear you ask, can be our sweet treat? Well, we have the answer! Dark chocolate happens to be good for our bodies. Hallelujah! It is jam packed with polyphenols which assist in protecting the body from free radicals. This, in turn, can reduce your risk of certain cancers and also heart disease. When we talk about dark chocolate though, we are talking about raw cacao. So only buy the best!

Image credit: Pexels

Water Filter

We all know the benefits of drinking water for your health. But are you ever worried about whether your water is clean and healthy enough? Using a device such as the big berkey water filter will ensure your water is as pure as it can be. A filter will remove fluoride, viruses, iron, mercury, uranium and more. By removing things such as chlorine and bacteria, your water will taste and smell better. There are many toxins found in water, and a filter flushes them out. So if you want to purify your own and your children’s lives, definitely invest in a water filter.

Image credit: Pexels

Organic Fruit and Vegetables

The trouble with buying fruit and vegetables is that pesticides can be found in them and on their skin. If you are eating a lot of fruit and vegetables, it is always best to buy organic. Fruits such as strawberries and apples can be contaminated with pesticides, which can cause all sorts of problems. Organic food is processed in a different way by farmers. Organic farmers use only natural fertilizers to feed their soil and use mulch or crop rotation to get rid of weeds. When buying organic always make sure your food has the the USDA certified label. Organic fruit and vegetables are free of harmful chemicals. And we simply don’t know the long-term effects of such chemicals in non-organic food. Organic foods also taste better and contain more nutrient value. For a purer way of life, always opt for organic.

Image credit: Pexels

Keep House Plants

Our last tip for a purer life is to keep some house plants in your home. Not only will they make your home look nicer, but they also function by breathing in carbon monoxide and breathing out more oxygen for your home. They will provide purer, fresher air inside your home which is beneficial for better health. But remember that if you have pets, some plants can be toxic to them. So do your research to find the best super plants to have in your home to keep fresh air circulating.

Getting Environmentally-Friendly in the Kitchen

Environmental Kitchen

Wikipedia

Homes are producing a lot of waste these days. One of the most concerning areas in the average home is the kitchen. If you want to start living your life a little greener, you should make the kitchen a focus area!

Recycling

Recycling seems like such an obvious point that it’s not really worth going into too much detail about it here. You’ve heard it all before, right? Make sure you have recycling station, in the form of a bag, can, or bucket, in which recyclable materials can be placed after use.

Using things that will last

It’s amazing how many households use disposable cookware and utensils. You probably wouldn’t have thought it was that common a practice. But for a long of people, it makes more sense. They’ll buy things that they can throw away after using them to prepare and eat meals just so they don’t have to wash the dishes afterwards. This is a practice you shouldn’t be tempted to get into. It creates so much unnecessary waste. Some people may think that it saves on water, but the benefit there simply isn’t big enough to justify this.

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This doesn’t only apply to disposable items. You also need to think about the general quality of the items you use in the kitchen. Dishes and pans that are built to stand the test of time will save you money in the long run. It will also reduce waste.

Garbage disposal

If you believed everything you see on TV, you’d think that everyone in America has a garbage disposal unit. Actually, the majority of homes don’t have a garbage disposal unit. A lot of people aren’t actually all that keen on having one. They wonder how such a unit could possibly do you any good in the kitchen. (They also probably don’t think much of the grinding noise!)

Pixabay

But garbage disposal systems are actually great for the environment. Food scraps make up between 10-30% of the waste in your average household. For the most part, that’s all sent to landfills. But a garbage disposal unit turns food scraps into liquid, getting rid of it through the plumbing. It reduces landfill usage and saves on the emittances of waste transport. If you’re interested in one, why not try here?

Invest more in fresh food and home cooking

Way too many of us are buying frozen meals and using various methods of defrosting and cooking them. This results in an enormous amount of energy usage. You also have to consider all of the plastic and cardboard materials that come with these things. Not only that, but producing these meals also requires a lot of energy in manufacturing and transport. Takeout meals suffer from the same problem.

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It’s important that you start buying fresh foods and start cooking meals yourself. Not only is this healthier, but it’s also so much better for the environment. Sourcing the ingredients yourself means you can keep a close eye on the overall processes that result in your meals. If you really want to take it to the next level, you could try growing your own fruits and vegetables. Not everyone has the time for that, though!

The Pencil Grip: Kwik Sticks

kwik sticks

I recently had the pleasure of working with a company called The Pencil Grip, let me start by saying that this company has some awesome products. What does the pencil grip do? “The Pencil Grip was invented in 1992 by Dr. Lois Provda, a prominent educational therapist. Two decades later, the company has grown to offer hundreds of unique and innovative products for the home, school, and office. The Provda family is incredibly grateful to the millions of parents, teachers, and therapists who have put their trust in The Pencil Grip, Inc.’s products” (Thepencilgrip.com, 2016).

All of the products on their site are geared to meet the educational needs for little ones. As a mother, I struggled with the writing process with my kids and these products can truly help. The pencil grip offers a great tool that helps child learning to write grip a pencil. This is something that attracted me to this company. I had searched far and wide to find something to help my son.

So not only did I get to review this awesome pencil gripper, I also received the Kwik Sticks. What are kwik sticks? They are paint sticks, the look and feel like a marker and write on like a paint.

pretty rainbows

Here are a few things I love about this product:

Mess free paint (Little to no clean up)
Large enough for little hands
little hands working hard
Bright vibrant colors (Perfect for teaching the basics)
Dries in 90 seconds (great to display art work immediately)
Perfect gift for teachers and educators

These sticks are a great tool to have my kids and I loved trying them out. I look forward to see what future products they put out there. This product is definitely mom approved. The great thing is that you can purchase the pencil gripper and Kwik sticks on amazon.com and their products are available through amazon prime shipping.

I am so excited to share these products with you, because they work. I am not only a mom, but an advocate for early childhood development and these tools will help kids develop the skills they need and ultimately have fun doing it!

easy to use and grip

Below are the links for their website and amazon be sure to check them out! I hope my review encourages you to check out this awesome site. Thanks for stopping by and let’s continue to strive for mommy success!

http://www.thepencilgrip.com

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=the+pencil+grip&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=70591540485&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16376938166664340692&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_18iylt2cly_e

8 Crucial Tips For Home Renovations

8 Crucial Tips For Home Renovations

Attribution Post

Home renovations can add character and value onto a property when they are taken care of properly. If they are not taken care of properly, you can end up out of pocket and in quite the mess. These 8 crucial tips for home renovations should steer you in the right direction:

Make Sure It’s Adding Value

Make sure that whatever you plan on doing to your home, it’s adding value. If it doesn’t add value, then you’ll lose out when it comes to sell your home. If you never plan on selling your home, adding something that doesn’t add value and maybe even lowers the value might not seem like a problem. For example, a pool might seem like a luxury, but many people can’t be bothered with the maintenance and upkeep. This means you’ll get lower offers if you ever come to sell, especially if you’re selling in an area where the other houses don’t match yours.

Make Sure It Suits The Way You Live

Any renovation you make to your home should suit the way you live. If it doesn’t, you’ll only regret making this change to your home. Always think of the way you live before making changes. It should be lifestyle first, aesthetics second.

Home renovation projects

Make Sure Your Family Agree

Your family should agree with any renovations you plan to make. You all have to live there, so it only makes sense that you’re all happy. Have a meeting with them to discuss changes before anything becomes concrete.

Make Sure You Get A Professional When You Need One

You won’t be able to perform home renovations all by yourself. You’ll need to get a professional at some point. Whether it’s for great looking crown moulding or something more complicated, a professional can make sure the job is done properly. If you don’t, you might end up spending more in the long run getting shoddy jobs fixed.

Make Sure You Include Other Important Expenses

Include other important expenses when making home renovations. If you have to have the mains switched off for a while, it might be a case of staying in a hotel or buying dinner somewhere. Consider all of the expenses when adding things up.

Make Sure You Treat Your Contractors Well

Make sure you’re a good boss to your contractors. They’ll do a good job anyway, but you should be good to them regardless.

Make Sure You Get A Detailed Contract

Get a detailed contract from your contractors so you know exactly what to expect and what you’ve agreed to.

Make Sure You Protect Your Valuables

Protecting your valuables is a must. Make sure you put them out of the way, somewhere they won’t get broken or devalued. You can’t expect your contractors to avoid these things by default. Accidents happen!
Use these 8 crucial tips next time you want to make home renovations and you’ll have a much better time. The job will get done to a high standard, and you won’t need to worry about much at all!

Simple Updates For Your Home That Are Stylish and Affordable

If the time has come to update your home once again, you might be stressing about the cost. It’s no secret that household design and decor doesn’t come cheap, which can make updating your home a real struggle. Money, sadly, doesn’t grow on trees, which means that sometimes we just can’t do the things that we want to do when it comes to our homes.

Of course, not all home updates have to be expensive. If you’re smart about how you makeover your home, it’s easy to keep the cost of updates low. So even if money is a little on the tight side, that doesn’t mean that you can’t transform your home. It’s just a case of being smart about how you go about it.

Swap out your accessories

Updates and upgrades for your home

The simplest and most affordable way to update your home is by swapping your accessories for new ones. If you’re home is decorated in neutral colors, you can choose whatever accessory designs you like. If, however, your home has a certain color scheme to it, you’ll need to be more selective about the pieces you choose to implement. You could always opt to re-decorate. However, this may be too pricey. If you do want to switch your color scheme for neutrals, you can pick up low-cost paint at budget-friendly home stores.

Update your furniture with a coat of paint

Is your furniture looking a little worse for wear but you can’t afford to replace it? The best option is to revamp it with a coat of paint – you would be amazed at how much difference this can make. Obviously, not all furniture can be painted. To revamp material items you would need to recover them, but for wooden pieces, it’s a great option. For minimum stress, use chalk paint as this doesn’t require any sanding or priming, it can just be painted straight on. Plus, it’s affordable to buy and comes in a lovely range of colors.

Switch your fitting and fixtures

Door Knob Upgrades

A simple way to make your home more stylish is swapping your fittings and fixtures. Believe it or not, things like door handles, light fittings, and shelving are all incredibly cheap to update. They might be subtle changes but they can make a big difference to the look and feel of a space. If you’re going to swap your light fittings, go for LED lights from a lighting and ballast supplier. These are better than normal lights, as they’re cheaper, more energy efficient, and look more modern. For door handles and other fittings, the best place to shop is Etsy – nothing beats unique decor.

Move items around

If you can’t afford to buy new pieces of furniture and are bored of what you have in each room, move them around. Swap items to different rooms to give your home a fresh, stylish feel. Sometimes, moving furniture about and rearranging it, can be all it takes to make your home look a little nicer. Give this a try and I promise you, you’ll love the results.
Want to make your home more stylish but can’t afford to spend a lot? Take the above tips on board and you can update your home without going over budget. Who said home makeovers have to break the bank?

Art Is Good For Kids: All the Facts You’ll Ever Need to Know

We live in a world that prefers science over art, thought over expression, gadgets over sculptures. In education, there is a strong preference, at least among policymakers, for education to be science-based. After all, that’s what they think will most benefit the economy of the future.

In their minds, it’s a simple equation. The future is high-tech, and so in the future, we’re going to need more technical skills. That means buying more science books and computers, and fewer paints, drawing boards and glue guns direct.

Art and Children https://pixabay.com/en/art-road-painting-london-1011410/

They’re wrong.

In the future kids are going to need more creative skills. By the time most kids in kindergarten today get a job, machines will be the technicians. To put them to use, they’ll need humans with creative talent and flair to put them to use. Economists predict that by 2030, 80 percent of jobs will be better done by machines. What about the remaining 20 percent? They’re the jobs that rely on creativity. They’re jobs that involve developing new products and ideas, like product designers.

So how can doing art now help prepare children from the world just around the corner?

Art Helps Children Do Better In Science And Math

We tend to impose a rather artificial divide between science, math, and art. Many people don’t think that they’re related. But, they are, in fact, complements.

Doing math in isolation isn’t actually the best way to do math. Including art alongside math can, in fact, boost math scores.

Art Is A Way For Children To Express Themselves

Whereas science is all about finding the right answers about the physical world; art is a way to learn about yourself.

When pushed, children can be very expressive in the art that they produce. And it can be a great way for them to find out what interests them.

Art Develops Motor Skills

One of the reasons art is so difficult is that it relies on impeccable coordination between the hand and the eye. Developing this capacity can help set children up for life.

Art Develops Grit

Most parents think that if their child gets a technical education, they will be successful. But this is only part of the story. Success is very poorly correlated to technical competence. Rather it is linked to a person’s grit and determination to succeed.

And that’s where art comes in. Learning to paint or to play a musical instrument is incredibly difficult. It’s so hard, in fact, that it’s nearly impossible to do once you’ve become an adult.

This high level of difficult foster a sense of perseverance and grit in children. It’s that grit that they develop that is just as important to their future as learning science and math for their future success.

They Learn Collaboration

Art is something that is often done in groups. Just think about the school choir.

Performing Arts
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northwestern_High_School_Concert_Choir,_All-Choirs_Spring_Concert,_May_2013.png

Art encourages children to work together to produce something amazing. And when you think about it, this is ideal training for the future. In almost all businesses, adults have to work together to get the job done.

Awesome Ways To Make Your Home More Secure For Your Kids’ Sake

As a parent, it is your job to keep your kids safe. When you are out and about, you constantly think about their security. Why? You do it because you think they are in more danger. However, you and your family will have to deal with danger at home also. Although it isn’t a very nice thought, there are thieves out there looking to make a quick buck. And, they will happily break into your home where your kids sleep if they get the chance. As you can see, it is vital that you secure your home for the sake of your kids. But, how you do achieve that goal?

Remove The Hidden House Key

Almost every homeowner thinks they are thinking outside of the box with this one. And, because you have young kids, you are more likely to hide a key under a plant pot. After all, they need a key if you are stuck at work. But, a burglar will use this key to their advantage. They don’t even have to any heavy lifting because they can literally walk through the front door. Any thief worth their title will check for a second key. Take it away and they won’t have the opportunity.

Remove The Hidden House Key

Hold A Meeting

The best way to keep them safe is to educate them on the subject of security. Then, they can take measures themselves that will promote their security at home. For example, you should let them know that they need to close the windows and doors when they are home alone. Not only do they need to close them, but they also need to lock them shut. And, they should only open them to people that they know or trust. Otherwise, that door stays firmly shut. Get everyone in the household together for a meeting and tell them their jobs.

Invest In Security Measures

Every house needs an alarm system – that is the minimum requirement. But, you also need other security measures to assist it for the best results. Think of it like brushing your teeth. Brushing alone isn’t enough, which is why you need to floss and mouthwash. With that in mind, consider buying security cameras. Or, you can buy a fake security camera if you prefer. They are expensive, which makes the dummies a good choice. Either way, they stop burglars from trying their luck. Burglars can’t tell if they work or not, so they can’t take the chance.

Home

Change The Locks

Kids lose keys on a regular basis. If that key gets into the hands of the wrong person, they can use it to enter your home. However, a lost key has less significance if it doesn’t fit the lock. By changing the locks every couple of months, you increase your home’s safety. It is like a computer system that consistently resets the passwords. You should also change the locksmith every time. If you stay with the same one, there is more chance of a breach of information.

Your home is your and your kids’ castle. And, with these tips, it will stay that way.

Hold A Meeting

alarm system

Invest In Security Measures

Keys and locks for home

Your home is your and your kids’ castle. And, with these tips, it will stay that way.

Is It Time To Switch To Solar Power?

If you’re on the lookout for ways to save money, you may be considering your options when it comes to your energy provider. Changing companies can save you money, but have you thought about changing the type of energy you use? With tax breaks and incentives on offer, now could be the perfect time to switch to solar power.

solar panels in your home

What exactly is solar power, and how does it work?

Solar energy is an umbrella term, which relates to the use of the sun’s rays to generate heat and power. Specially designed panels capture the rays and use advanced technology to convert energy from the sun into energy you can use at home. Solar power uses photovoltaic systems, which are also known as PVs, to turn sunlight into electricity. Although the systems are more effective on sunny days, they also work under cloud cover.

Once you have electricity from the sun, you can use to power your household appliances, heat your water and fuel your central heating system.

PV cells are designed to absorb the sun’s rays. They usually contain silicone, which has the ability to conduct electricity. When the cells are exposed to sunlight, they create a blanket electric field across the panels. This produces electricity. The brighter the sunshine, the more electricity the panels produce.

In most cases, solar power is generated using panels, which are fitted to your roof. However, it is also possible to get innovative solar roof tiles.

What are the advantages of solar power?

There are many advantages of solar power. Firstly, at a time when many of us are on an economy drive, solar power can save you money. Once you’ve paid the initial cost of installation, the running costs are very low. You may also be eligible for installation grants from the government. It’s worth researching online to find out more about affordable solar energy for homeowners. Solar power is also a form of renewable energy, so you’ll be lowering your carbon footprint by investing.

In some cases, it may be possible to generate money by using solar power. It’s not a universal system as yet, but in some countries, you can sell the electricity you produce back to the national grid.

If you’re interested in solar power, and you’d like to find out more, contact some local energy firms and arrange a visit. You will be able to ask questions about how solar panels work and how much money they could save you. You can also get a quote, and find out if your roof is suitable for panel installation. Before you sign up with a provider, investigate whether any government incentives apply to you.
If money is tight, and you’re looking for ways to cut monthly bills, it may be worth considering switching to solar power. You may be eligible for help with installation costs, and you’ll find that your energy bills fall almost immediately. You’ll also be contributing to the effort to reduce carbon footprint and create a greener, cleaner environment.

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