Lilac City Momma

Lynn

Moving Made Easy: The Ultimate Tips

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Moving can be one of the most stressful experiences you’ll face this year, especially since it can be hugely expensive, and times of tension can really test your relationships. Moving can take months to plan and eventually execute, and you usually can’t feel entirely settled again until you’re set up in your new home.

Three Female Friends Carrying Boxes Into New Home On Moving Day

If you want to make this transition as smooth as possible, you should start planning as early as you can. Take the time to measure furniture, collect boxes for the move, get possessions in order, and fix any damages or wear and tear around your old home.

Book Your Move

Before you do anything, book your move with professional movers so that you can relax and take some of the pressure off yourself. Be sure to book with a reputable team with sound testimonials. Movers in Charleston, for example, offer a full local service and can assist during both residential and commercial moves.

Conduct some research to find out how experienced the team is, and whether they’re licensed and insured to move heavy and valuable goods. Also, make sure to read reviews as you need to know that your belongings will be safe in the hands of each member of the moving team.

Packing Up

This part of the process can go one of two ways. Packing up can either go seamlessly, or it can be the worst part of the move entailing lost items, broken possessions, and inevitable strain.

To relieve some of the difficulty, you must begin packing up early. This doesn’t mean starting a week in advance; this requires you to start packing the items you infrequently use a month before the move. A handy tip to get this process started is to store three or four boxes in each room for objects that you won’t necessarily need. This will lighten the work you’ll have to do in the week before the move, and you’ll be able to get some understanding of just how many belongings you have hidden away.

Give To Charity

Another reason why packing up your home early is beneficial is that you’ll have enough time to make a pile of items that you no longer need and give them to charity.

Doing this will lighten your moving load too, as you don’t want to be transporting the objects that you don’t want to keep at your new place of residence, and you’ll cut down on the number of boxes you’ll have to cart from one home to another. Ensure the items you give away are washed and all in good working order. For items that don’t quite make the grade, see if you can repair them and if not try and recycle them.

Bag Of Essentials

Keeping a bag of items you require each day close to hand is going to save you hours of rummaging and annoyance. Each member of the family should carry a holdall sized bag of everything they’ll need every day until the move. This bag should contain the likes of toiletries, kitchen roll and sanitary wipes, a hairbrush, toothbrush, underwear and socks, a mobile phone charger, a book, spare cash, and some high protein snacks.

To read more on topics like this, check out the life hacks category.

Reasons Why Your Bedroom Looks Messy

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When you enter your bedroom, do you feel inspired? Does it make you feel at home? If no, it might be due to the mess. You do not want a messy bedroom since it is your safe space. Everywhere you go, there is chaos. The only place where you can feel safe and comforted is your bedroom. These are the reasons why your bedroom looks messy and what you can do about it.

Unmade bed

Before you leave your house in the morning, you need to ensure that you make your bed. It only takes a minute or so to do the job. When you get home after work, you will see your made bed, and it will entice you to sleep right away. You can purchase a duvet that you can pull up in a snap and hide the mess.

Exposed cables

Due to the gadgets you use and other appliances inside the bedroom, there are cables all over the place. Of course, you cannot do without these things. Just make sure you keep the cables out of sight. Find a way to conceal them. You can place them behind storage areas or in your laundry basket. Be creative in hiding the cables since they are messy.

Lack of theme

Of all the places in your house, the bedroom needs to have a cohesive theme. Unless you strive in chaos and mess, you want your bedroom to have a clear theme. Once you step inside, you want to feel transported to a different dimension. The absence of it will make the place look messy.

Absence of curtains

With the right curtains, your bedroom will immediately look organized. The good thing about curtains is that they can hide everything. When you feel like you need to get connected with nature, you can pull the curtains to the side. At night, when you want to feel secluded from the chaotic outdoor environment, you can use the curtains. When you are not yet ready to face the sun, the curtains are also useful.

Misaligned frames

Even if you are not a perfectionist, you might feel irritated when there is misaligned wall art that seems distorted due to the way someone hung it. Make sure that you fix these problems right away.

Debris and paper on the floor

You might also use your bedroom as your workspace. You also have the attitude of throwing pieces of paper away when you hate your ideas. Before you know it, the room looks messy because of all the pieces of paper you threw on the floor. The dust and dirt that gathers also makes the area difficult to maintain. As such, it is crucial that you always clean the floor and tidy things up.

Apart from these tips, you might also consider buying new bedroom furniture. It could change the whole feeling of the room. If you check out the best queen sets here, you will have a bedroom like no other. You will feel excited about going home each day because of it.

To read more on topics like this, check out the life hacks category.

5 Family Fun Restruants In Portland, Oregon

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Deciding where to go out to eat might seem stressful, especially when you have young kids. The restaurant you choose should have food that your kids will love, even if they’re the pickiest eaters. You’ll want to avoid any restaurants that aren’t very welcoming toward children. And you know that kids can get bored if they’re forced to just sit quietly the whole time. You need a family fun restaurant everyone can enjoy.

Luckily, there are plenty of options throughout Portland that are not only accommodating to families, but that also offer an enjoyable experience for kids. Whether you’re a Portland resident or just visiting the area, these five restaurants will be fun for the whole family.

1. Hopworks Urban Brewery

Also known as HUB, this family-owned brewery allows you to grab one of the craft beers Portland is famous for without having to leave your kids at home.

This family fun restaurant includes play spaces sponsored by local toy stores, with items such as games, books, and train sets that can keep kids entertained for hours. So this restaurant really does have something for everyone in your family.

Kids and adults can enjoy burgers, pizza, and quinoa bowls. And for the youngest members of your family, you can order organic baby food. The service is very friendly, catering to families and willing to accommodate any requests your kids might have. It’s also a short distance away from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, so you can plan a full day of family fun!

2. Laughing Planet

Laughing Planet is a restaurant that prides itself on being very environmentally friendly, winning a Portland BEST Award for its sustainable business practices. In keeping with the planet theme, the restaurant is filled with dinosaur toys, which your kids will love playing with.

The restaurant uses local organic ingredients, so you know you and your family are getting the best quality food. The kids’ menu includes both mini- and tween-sized burritos, mini quesadillas, and kid-sized smoothies. The family fun restaurant also makes sure to include information on which of their menu items are vegan, gluten-free, or contain nuts, in case of any dietary restrictions.

Prices are fairly reasonable, as all of the items on the kids’ menu are around $5.50 or less. The service is also quick, so you don’t have to worry about anyone getting impatient.

There are locations in different areas throughout Portland, so you can go to whichever one is most convenient for your family.

3. Mother’s Bistro & Bar

Mother’s Bistro & Bar is a very popular, well-loved spot in Portland. It’s especially a favorite choice for Sunday brunch. For kids, the restaurant features a play area with toys and books.

The menu is full of traditional comfort foods that everyone will love. For instance, the kids’ menu features pancakes, grilled cheese, meatloaf, and chicken dumplings. The main menu has a wide variety of choices, and for adult beverages, they have wine, beer, and a number of delicious cocktails. The food also comes from recipes by actual mothers!

This includes the special “Mother of the Month” items. Every month, a mom is highlighted and honored with her recipes appearing on the menu. You can find more information on this and even nominate a mom on their website.

While it’s great for kids, this restaurant also has chic décor that adults will really appreciate. And everyone will love the incredible family-friendly service. This is the perfect restaurant for a nice family outing that still lets your kids have fun.

Because of its popularity, it would be in your best interest to make a reservation ahead of time, especially if you’re going for a weekend brunch.

4. Mississippi Pizza

Pizza, of course, is a favorite food for people of all ages! And at Mississippi Pizza, there are many, many toppings you can try, including making your own pizza. Vegan and gluten-free options are also available.

Throughout the week, this restaurant hosts family fun entertainment. This includes live music for kids, with artists such as Mr. Ben and the Alphabeticians, and other events, like spelling bees and family-friendly trivia. Be sure to check the schedule on their website to see which events are coming up.

The shows are usually at 4:00 or 5:00 p.m., so you don’t have to worry about them being too late for kids. You can also reserve a space for parties or special occasions. The restaurant itself has a great atmosphere and is part of an exciting neighborhood.

5. Bullwinkle’s

Here at Bullwinkle’s Entertainment in Wilsonville, you’ll find delicious food, an arcade, and plenty of attractions. We have both indoor and outdoor activities for all kinds of weather, which means there are different possibilities for fun all year long!

For instance, our mini golf is open rain or shine. In the warmer months, check out our bumper boats. Kids will love the indoor four-story play area, Kidopolis Playland. While kids are playing on this, adults can be nearby and keep an eye out in a sitting area, which also has free Wi-Fi.

Other attractions include go karts, a zip line ride, and laser tag. And keep a look out for our 16-lane bowling center that will be coming soon. There are enough options for everyone in your family to have a full day of fun and to keep coming back for more!

The restaurant in the family fun center has food items that both kids and adults will love, like specialty pizzas, wraps, BLTs, and cheeseburgers. We can also be a venue for kids’ parties and offer special birthday packages. You can find out more about Bullwinkle’s and purchase tickets on our website.

As you can see, there are many family-friendly options for food and entertainment throughout Portland. This is one of the many reasons why the area is such a wonderful place for families. Whether it’s for a special occasion or just an everyday meal, you’re sure to have a great time at any of these family fun restaurants.

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Easy Hacks For a Fresh And Clean Home

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All moms around the world know just how tough looking after children and bringing up a family can be at times. Of course, it has many more amazing moments to make up for it along the way! One great idea all moms can use is picking up valuable life hacks to help them out. Knowing some cool hacks can help you feel less stressed and keep on top of everything in the simplest way. One area these hacks come in very handy for is looking after the family home. If you are needing some cool ideas on making your home that bit fresher and cleaner, read on.

Keep your air ducts in good condition

Whether you decide to call in the professionals or have a go yourself, cleaning your HVAC air ducts is a simple way to freshen up your home. Over time, the air ducts in your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system can collect dust and other rubbish. This not only stops them from working to their maximum potential but can also spread any dust or debris inside around the air in your home. For advice on how to clean air ducts yourself, check out this air duct cleaning guide by a home warranty company for more information.

Add some flowers and plants

Another great tip to make your home feel bright and clean is to use houseplants and flowers in various rooms. Be careful not to overdo it – you don’t want to end up living in a florist! Instead, just have a vase of flowers or a houseplant in key rooms like the lounge, kitchen and bedroom. This will not only add vibrant color and visual interest but also clean the air for a much more pleasant feel.

Think about repainting the walls

Once you have had the same paint on the walls for a while, it can start to fade and also pick up dirty marks. This can make your home look less fabulous than it otherwise would over the years. A great hack to avoid this is splashing some fresh paint on the walls in key rooms to help brighten everything up a bit. Doing this will really give your whole home a new lease of life and give you a chance to inject a new interior design feel every few years.

Hire a carpet cleaner

If you have carpets in your home, then you will know how much grime they collect over time. The problem is that regular vacuuming will not get it all out. To make them look like new and really add a great feel to your home, hire a carpet cleaner to sort them out. This will not cost a lot and will really impress you with the end result.

Keep your home looking fantastic with no fuss

As the above shows, making changes to your home so it feels better and more enjoyable to spend time in does not always involve big projects or lots of money. All the above hacks are inexpensive and really work to provide superb, instant results. If you want to make your home feel as fresh as a daisy, they are worth trying out.

 

Wonderful Places To Visit Just Outside of Central London

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If you’re planning a trip to London in the coming months, then you’ve likely got a long and expansive list of all the landmarks you want to see, as well as large city parks, markets, and galleries. If it’s your first time in London then, of course, you need to gaze up at The Shard, peruse the national galleries, and walk along the South Bank, but there are loads to see just outside of central London too.

The benefit of traveling just outside of the capital is that you avoid some of the hustle and bustle for some of the duration of your trip. You can enjoy a more relaxed pace and take things a little easier than you can amid the crowds. If you’re not overly keen on spending your vacation being jostled about on the tube every day, then consider escaping to a greener area that can promise cleaner air, some respite, and relaxation.

Windsor

Widely recognized for its royal heritage, Windsor is a must see if you enjoy visiting places brimming with history and steeped in heritage. The most obvious reason to visit this place is to see Windsor Castle itself; however, there’s plenty more to do while you’re here.

Consider spending two or three days in Windsor, so that you have ample time to see inside of the castle, explore in search of the deer in Great Windsor Park, and walk from one end of The Long Walk to the other.

When it comes to food, there’s no shortage of great eateries to dine in Windsor – you need only take a stroll alongside the river. When you come to plan your visit in more depth, look at eating at thecornerhousepub.co.uk and decide what you’re going to choose from a delicious menu in advance.

Epping Forest

If it’s green space you’re after, then you can’t go wrong with a visit to Epping Forest just a short journey away from Walthamstow, East London. Impressively, there are some oak trees that are over 1,000 years old there, and there’s also some diverse wildlife as well. You can find voles, weasels, hedgehogs, and birds of prey such as kestrels, buzzards, and sparrow hawks.

Egham and Surrey

Although there isn’t a whole lot to do in Egham high street itself, you just need to take a short walk up the hill towards the university campus, and you’ll be astounded by areas of natural beauty and fascinating structures. The university itself boasts of The Founders Building – an enormous chateau-style red brick building that will, quite simply, take your breath away.

A further walk or short taxi ride away is Virginia Water – a large Royal park that has deer and a large picturesque lake in the center. Consider grabbing a bite to eat in the pub that rests beside the entrance to the park or take a picnic to enjoy at the lakeside.

Less than a mile away from the campus is Englefield Green, where you can find the Air Forces Memorial. The memorial is dedicated to some 20,000+ men and women lost in air operations over World War II.

To read more on topics like this, check out the travel category.