Month: July 2017

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Home tips and tricks

Home: What To Watch Out For In Your Aging Home + Their Quick Fixes

home, tips and tricks, home renovation, home improvement, safety at home

More than a few of us are owners of an aging home that’s already started to show the signs of time. A settling foundation can be one such sign. Often, as a result of settling, cracks start to form in your foundation. These cracks deserve your attention although they may be the last thing you want to think about. These cracks are linked to an important area of your home, the foundation. Its ability to protect the structural integrity of your home is compromised when the foundation becomes structurally unsound. A crumbling foundation affects many things, even the functionality and structural integrity of your home. This includes how well your doors close and your windows open, for example. This is why it’s wise to know what to look for and do something about it.

Drywall Damage

All cracks aren’t created equal. However, cracks in your drywall can be signs of a serious foundation problem. Although non-serious cracks can be the result of the natural settling of an older home, some can indicate more serious problems with the foundation. The determining factor is based largely on the size of the cracks. Small hairline cracks generally represent the natural settling of a house. On the other hand, wide cracks reveal more than just the signs of natural settling and should be addressed asap. If not, those wide cracks will only become larger with time, becoming more expensive to fix. Cracks that occur as a result of natural settling can often be fixed by simply sealing the cracks to prevent moisture issues. Even your stretched canvas painting will look curiously out of place on cracked and damage drywall.

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Home

4 Quick + Easy Home Improvement Projects

home, tips and tricks, home improvement, home renovation, home repair

Despite what you see in those house flipping shows online, most home improvement projects are far simpler than taking out walls or installing new cabinetry. You can improve aspects of your home’s comfort and looks with easy projects that will fit into your weekend plans. Whether you want the outside or the inside to be a little better, these home improvement projects are doable even for DIY novices.

Paint Your Front Door

A very simple way to improve curb appeal is to paint your front door. Check your HOA for any off-limit colors, then have fun choosing something bright. Many homes painted simple colors like white, beige, or brown look great with a blue, green, or even red front door. Replacing your front door is another home improvement project. It’s a little more complicated, but if you’ve got a helper you can replace that door in an afternoon. Paint the new door a fun color or get an attractive wreath to hang on it. Voila, you’ve improved your curb appeal with very little effort.

Improve Your Air Quality

When people think of home improvement, a home’s looks come to mind first. Air quality is just as important to comfort. Spend a home improvement day doing little projects that will improve your indoor air quality. First, get a MERV 10 or higher HVAC air filter. Change your filter, then mark your calendar each month, so you remember to change it again. Then get some house plants like spider plants and peace lilies known for improving air quality. If you love candles, make sure only to burn beeswax candles, since they lack the harmful chemicals other candle wax contains.

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mum inspires

Thankful Thursday: Of Gratitude + The Present

 

A post shared by Mumwrites (@mumwrites) on

Despite the gloomy weather, there are still so many things to be thankful for today. Mine include:

1. The pitter-patter of rain outside, such beautiful music
2. A mug {or, in my case, two!} of coffee to start off the day
3. The 21-Day Meditation Experience with Oprah & Deepak ?
4. Kisses from my little one before I send him off to school

Life can be oftentimes challenging and draining but having a grateful heart makes a world of difference. What’s on your ThankfulThursday list, mums?

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health tips and tricks

Cravings, Nutrients, +Portion Control: A Guide To Eating Well During Your Pregnancy

health, tips and tricks, health and wellness, pregnancy, healthy eating, women health

Eating during a pregnancy can get quite complicated: are you wondering about quantity and/or worrying about those weird food cravings {seriously, can it get weirder than Palmolive dish soap on a burger? Oh the joys!} you might have? It’s normal for all future moms to have numerous questions about how being pregnant might affect their diet and lifestyle in general. Fear no more though and get ready to expel some of the myths around pregnancy and food: here’s our short but essential guide to eating well and healthily during this tricky but wonderful time of your life.

Do you have to change and adapt your diet even when you are healthy?

Doctors don’t recommend to drastically change your diet when pregnant – especially if you were eating a healthy, balanced diet in the first place. You should simply make sure that you eat healthily and don’t skip any meals. Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn’t eat for two during your pregnancy. You will gain on average between 26 and 34 pounds: 4 pounds during the first trimester is actually a good indicator, to keep you in check weight-wise. That’s hardly enough to get you booked for a liposuction on Harley Street as this weight will disappear on its own rapidly after the birth of your baby, even more so if you’re breastfeeding.

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online resources for mums parenting 101

Free Online Parenting Courses For Mums

online resources for mums, parenting 101, motherhood, fun things to do online, free online parenting courses, parenting website

The pressure to be a great mum causes a lot of us gals a bit of stress, particularly with this new trend in parent shaming across social media. One of the best ways to counter stress is improving your self-esteem and raising your self confidence, and there is no better way than arming yourself with some knowledge, skills and learning. We’ve compiled a list of online courses (all free) for mums who are feeling a bit ragged dealing with kids who don’t sleep or cry all the time. We’ve also concentrated on courses that face parenting challenges in mental health, autism, tantrums and development delays.

online resources for mums, parenting 101, motherhood, fun things to do online, free online parenting courses, parenting website
image via kidsmatter.edu.au

www.kidsmatter.edu.au

KidsMatter is an Australian mental health and well-being initiative in preschools, kindergartens, day care centres as well as primary schools. While their extensive website has a number of free courses, eBooks and video resources for educators it also has an extensive section for parents.

Supporting your children to develop resilience is a very important part of motherhood and their library of resources for parents begin with the basics of understanding mental health issues in early childhood. You can learn how to teach kids mindfulness as well as developing resilience. Other topics surround schooling issues like bullying, getting along with other children, learning difficulties and managing kids who refuse to go to school. The content on the website is useful not only for kids who are having mental health issues but also for teaching parents how to pro-actively guide their children into good mental health. For education courses with formal qualifications, check out https://www.courses.com.au/education.aspx.

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parenting 101 tips and tricks

What To Look For In A Great Parental Control Application

Today, parents have more worries than ever before. Teens are experimenting earlier and earlier. At the same time, the Internet is undeniably frightening for modern parents. As soon as your child gains access to a computer or cellphone, you have to worry about their online activities. Are they up to no good? Are they chatting with someone, who may be up to something nefarious? To quell your worries, it is a good idea to install a good parental control app on your child’s phone. Below, you will learn about some of the features that are absolutely vital.

Call And Text Logs

Teens today have a wealth of communication options. They can chat with their friends through conventional phone calls, but many prefer using text messages or instant messenger applications. It is easy for your child to get into trouble through any of these methods. This is why you should choose an application that is capable of monitoring and logging phone calls, text messages and chats from instant messaging programs. Doing so will ensure that you do not miss anything.

Restrictions

The Internet is wonderful in many ways, but it also has a dark side. Certain websites are over-saturated with hideous content that is simply unsuitable for teenagers and young children. You need to prevent your child from accessing these sites at all costs. The best way to put a restriction on your child’s Internet usage is by using a parental control app, such as the one available at https://kidgy.com. You cannot monitor your child twenty-four hours a day. You have work and numerous other responsibilities to juggle.

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