Lilac City Momma

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The 4 Best Podcasts of 2019 for Moms

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As a busy mom, sitting down to watch TV isn’t always an option; you’re too much on the go for that. Between dropping off the kids at school, picking them up again and taking them to different events, any music or knowledge needs to be acquired through the audio medium. Podcasts are one of the best ways to do this because you can listen in the car, at home, or running errands.

Here are the best four podcasts in 2019 for busy Moms.

Atlanta Monster

To give you a bit of a mind twisting thriller, Atlanta Monster, covering the Atlanta Child Murders, have raised their game for 2019. Now they’re after the Zodiac Killer in their Monster: The Zodiac Killer podcast. Matt Fredrick is the host with Payne Lindsey as executive producer.

The Zodiac is infamous as an unidentified criminal who killed couples on lovers’ lanes in the 60s and 70s. He sent cryptic messages and ciphers some of which have never been solved to this day. Many people have been suggested as the Zodiac, but despite his DNA being on file, the crime remains unsolved.

Dare I Say

The Dare I Say podcast is designed to bring together a couple of BFFs who happen to be celebrities and listen in. The likes of Jane Fonda, Oliva Wilde (she’s the host) and Rosario Dawson let loose on a range of interesting topics. Some of these topics include various types of activism, the taboo subject of sexuality and the more accepted ‘body positive’ perspective.

When you’re listening in, be sure to catch every word by using quality headphones. You can find the best headphones reviewed here to decide which ones to pick up.

The Mom Hour

The Mom Hour is a good podcast for mothers who need a bit of focus or encouragement. There are plenty of stories from other mothers who share their experiences dealing with their own children and when they were babies too. Other subjects like health scares that sent them off to see their doctor are covered as well; they don’t only talk about the pleasant topics.

They also think beyond taking care of children with their ‘More than Mom’ episodes which is now an ongoing series, and they discuss other topics like future careers and more. It is a well-rounded podcast for busy moms.

Murderville

With the catchy title, Murderville rides the wave of true crime dramas that are taking over TV and podcasts. Gripping eager listeners keen to learn about a cold case, this podcast followers that trend. It was originally only available to Stitcher Premium subscribers but now anyone can listen to Jordan Smith and Liliana Segura investigate the slaying of Donna Brown, a night manager at Taco Bell. One person, Devonia Inman is already incarcerated for the crime that happened in Adel, a town with a population of only 5,000 people.

We hope you like our selections. Two are specifically mom-related and the other two are true crime, which is all the rage right now. What are your favorites? Maybe you can recommend some to our readers?

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

What To See And Do in Macau: A Travel Guide

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There is a place in China called Macao where fado is heard and wine Port is drunk while incense flies over Taoist temples on the mountain. The fog scored a sister on more Portuguese land in the Far East. For more than four centuries and until 1999 Macau belonged to Portugal as a Portuguese colony abroad. This important port on the spice track and in the expansion of Christianity in China now lives in its own presence, preserving its historical footprint on the one hand, while on the other hand it does not stop growing to see tomorrow. The Special Administrative Region also has something from Las Vegas with a clear commitment to casinos, five-star hotels, entertainment, and luxury Asian offers.

Rúa da Felicidade in Macao

The most populous city on the planet, winking at its neighbor Hong Kong, has become one of the strongest destinations in Asia. But without forgetting that one day it was part of Portugal and that there would always be more from the country navigator than the colonial helmet of a historic World Heritage Site. Tourists have many things to see and do in Macau and from here we will give you instructions to maximize Portuguese-speaking Chinese.

Where is Macao? How to get there?

Macau is on the south coast, or more precisely southeast, China. Strategically it is always considered a key point on the south side of the Pearl River Delta, where the Portuguese settled in the mid sixteenth century to maintain a very important port in China. The Macao-Malacca-Goa axis is very important for Lusitanian interests in the spice route. It was a colony until 1999 when Portugal was completely cut off into the Chinese Special Administrative Region. A capitalist bubble in a supposedly communist country where, among other things, it is permitted to be played. Therefore, this is an authentic casino in China and its annual turnover in this concept far exceeds Las Vegas. But of course the global gambling industry is still dominated by online gambling platforms like onlinecasinodeutschland.com.de and other famous ones.

Casa del Mandarín in Macau

In front of Macau is Hong Kong, which usually functions as a gateway to the area (and from there guided tours to Macau for 1 day). Constantly, ferries from various companies depart from the Hong Kong – Macau terminal at the central port. There are also ships to Macau which are brought at the Hong Kong International Airport itself. If you reserve a place first, they will even pick up baggage from the airport ribbon and return it to you at the Macau ferry terminal. The approximate price of one-way travel is around 20 euros and the duration of the trip is a maximum of one hour. Turbojet and Cotai Water Jet are some companies that offer more frequency.

Macau situation map

While it’s true that it can be flown directly to a small international airport in Macau, this is only done by companies based in Asia. There are connections mostly from cities of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia (there are Air Asia flights from Kuala Lumpur). But for Europeans, the main entry point is still Hong Kong, with whom they formed a binomial that fully justifies travel on both sides of the Pearl River Delta.

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

Dog Crate 101- Top Benefits and Important Features

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Your dog may be your best friend, but using a crate for them is far from being cruel. Crate training is considered to be one of the fastest and least stressful ways to teach certain behaviors, and it alleviates a number of other problems that an unruly dog can run into. In other words, it can keep your trusty companion happy and stop you from worrying all the time.

Benefits of a Dog Crate

Also known as flight kennels, a dog crate is usually made of plastic or any collapsible metallic pen that can accommodate a small or large dog. Keep in mind that the pen you choose should have enough room to allow your dog to move around and turn in. Remember, the crate is NOT a punishment – it’s just a place where your pooch can hang around in without supervision. Read on to learn more about the benefits this simple pen can have for your furry companion:

Potty Training Made Easy

Potty training can be a messy affair, especially for inexperienced dog owners. According to the American Kennel Club, crate training is the best way to reduce that mess and make sure that your pooch can indicate when it wants to go. This is especially beneficial for puppies since they have little to no control over their bowel movements.

Before using a crate to potty train your dog, there are some things you should be aware of. If you have an adult dog, it can go up to 8 hours without peeing, but those numbers can differ according to its age. Puppies that are younger than 6 months should not be kept in a crate for more than 3 hours or they will poop or pee in it.

A Safe Space for your Dog

Your dog goes through a roller coaster of emotions when it is afraid or feeling stressed out. Dogs can feel anxious at your absence when you leave them at home for a while, get scared of the vacuum cleaner, and stress out if there are too many people around it. When we feel these emotions, we deal with them by isolating ourselves. A crate can give your dog that space to calm itself down and return to a peaceful state.

To ensure this, make sure that your dog has a comfortable crate to retreat to. The crate should have a soft and cozy blanket or a comfortable dog bed and some toys for the dog to distract itself with.

Stress-Free Travel

Contrary to popular belief, not every dog loves to travel in a moving vehicle. Even if your furry friend loves to go on long drives with you, allowing it to roam around the car while you are driving can lead to a serious accident. By crating them in the car in the back seat, you can prevent that from happening and still make your pooch happy.

A crate is also a good option for plane travel, but make sure that it is big enough to make your pet comfortable. Get a bigger one if your dog has outgrown the crate you have before traveling anywhere.

Modify Bad Behavior

A crate should never be used as a prison! If you make your dog stay in it each time it acts out, it will create a fuss and make your life miserable as well. Even though dogs love to snuggle up in comfy corners, if the crate makes them feel confined, they will try to avoid it at all cost.

To prevent that from happening, give your dog treats and speak to it calmly before taking them into the crate. Use it only when the behavior is completely unacceptable (such as barking at all hours of the night) or if you want to make sure it does not run around in fear during a thunderstorm.

The bottom line is that besides being a home for your dog, a crate can be a safe haven for it. Whether you want to confine it for a while for its own safety or to make it calm down, it is a pet-friendly option compared to a shock collar, for example.

What to Look For in a Dog Crate

Depending on the size and age of your furry friend, you have a range of crate options to choose from. Shopping for one for the first time may be overwhelming at first because of the varieties on offer. There are basically 3 you can choose from namely wire, plastic, and fabric crates.

If you plan on traveling with your pet, you should go for a crate that is made from fabric. These are ideal for unsupervised confinement and are quite comfortable. However, if you want one for your home, go for the wire or plastic varieties. These are sturdier and ideal for long-term confinement.

Of course, this does not mean you should get the biggest you can get your hands on! Your dog might use the extra space as its own personal bathroom. It should only have enough space for it stand up in, make a complete turn, and lounge in.

The bottom line is that the crate you choose for your dog should be its happy place. Introducing it to the pen aggressively or confining it even if it struggles to get in will only backfire. To make the crate a safe and comfortable place for your best friend, toss a treat inside and allow it to go in on its own to get it. Make the space more tempting by placing its favorite toys and a comfy dog bed in there. You can also place its feeding bowl in there to make the space more appealing.

A crate can be a second home for your dog and a safe space that you won’t stress out leaving it in when you have friends over or when you have to run a quick errand. However, make sure that the one you choose can fulfill your dog’s emotional and basic needs. That way you won’t suffer from buyer’s regret or feel guilty.

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Four Tips for Helping Children with Allergies

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Many people suffer from allergies, and it can be a source of frustration, irritation, and pain. While adults understand the effects of an allergy, it can be difficult for children to cope with. Take hay fever, for example. It produces itchy, watery eyes and sneezing due to the body trying to fight off pollen grains as if they are attacking the immune system. Adults will know that they should avoid rubbing the eye area as they may swell and become even worse. However, for a child, scratching the area can be impossible to resist. Similarly, conditions such as eczema are made worse by scratching the dry areas of skin.

While prescription and over-the-counter medications are the first port of call for severe allergy sufferers, if you have children who suffer from minor allergies, these tips may be helpful to relieve symptoms.

1. Apply Cool Packs

When an area of the body swells through inflammation, such as puffy eyes, applying something cool may help to reduce the effects. You can buy cool packs to keep in the fridge or freezer that are designed for skin application, or you can use a small bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel. Never apply directly to the skin without wrapping first as it can cause ice burns.

2. Dry Laundry

If you dry your laundry outside, you may be trapping pollen grains and other allergens within the fibers. Try drying your children’s clothing and bedding inside to reduce their exposure to allergens in the outdoor environment. However, if your allergies are caused by indoor factors, such as dust, drying laundry indoors could make some allergies worse.

3. Keep a Food Diary

Get into the habit of writing down what your child eats throughout the day. This helps to build up a picture over time so that when you notice their allergy symptoms are worse, you are able to look back through the food diary and see if there are any foods that could be triggering an allergic reaction. For example, you might notice that cow’s milk is always present in the diary on the days when your child develops a rash. Once you have singled out a problem food or drink, you can cut it out of the diet or replace it, such as getting milk from a camel milk farm instead of the grocery store.

4. Talk to your Children

If your child has an allergy that stops them from normal activities, like playing outside with their friends, it can be a source of frustration and upset. Keep an open dialogue with your child so that they understand what is happening in their body, and that it is ok to feel angry sometimes. Try to have other things for your child to do instead, or have play dates at home where allergy symptoms are more manageable.

It is not nice for any parent to see their child’s quality of life being affected by an allergy, and although they can often be managed by medicines, it is not ideal. One positive thing is that childhood allergies often become less severe as they get older. In the meantime, help them manage by following the advice from your doctor and trying out some of these tips.

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6 Things You Should Consider when Buying a Boat

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Buying a boat for the family is a major expense and one you’ll have to deal with for years to come. For many people, this might be a lifelong dream, and they might overlook some details just so they can realize it. However, if you go in uninformed or ignore a few important things and rush your decision, it could rapidly turn into a nightmare. Smart buyers are informed and have a clear checklist of things they should be looking for before making any purchase. Here are some of the most important points to consider when buying a boat.

Pre-Owned or New?

When buying a boat, you have the choice between a brand-new boat and a pre-owned one. Just like a car, both have their set of pros and cons.

If you have the money for it, and it’s really not an issue, then it’s always better to go with a new one. The main reason why going for a new one is usually a better decision is because of the warranty. Repairs on a boat can get pretty expensive and knowing that you’ll be covered will give you some extra peace of mind.

However, note that new boats lose a lot of their value after their first year and many people prefer buying a pre-owned boat for this reason. Pre-owned boats are considerably cheaper, and they don’t always have a lot of wear and tear on them, so some used boats are just as good as new.

What Size would be the Best?

When choosing a size for the boat, there are a lot of things you’ll have to take into consideration. First thing you should think about is where you’ll be using it and how. If you’re going to be using it on lakes or rivers, anything between 18ft and 40ft should have everything you need for a day on the water. However, if you were thinking of using the boat as a sort of second summer home where you can spend the night, you might need something a bit bigger with more amenities, like a cabin and a galley among other things.

You also have to consider how many people will be on the boat at any given time. Do you expect to have friends over in addition to your family? Do you want an extra room if you plan to entertain? Or do you simply need something simple where you’ll be able to get some quiet time?

Your budget will also dictate how big a boat you can actually afford. And we’re not only talking about the price of the boat. There are tons of other things you’ll have to consider like moorage, cleaning, drydocking, maintenance, gasoline, boat insurance, cleaning and winter storage, all things that will be affected by the boat’s size.

Sail or Motor?

The choice here usually boils down to preference. However, sailboats will have more of a learning curve and are dependent on the wind. But a sailboat might be perfect if all you need is a boat for gentle cruising or quiet fishing. But if you want to do some water-skiing with the kids, then you’ll have to go with a boat with either an outboard or inboard engine.

What will the Boat be Used for?

If you still can’t figure out which type of boat would be the best for you, there are a few questions you can ask to make the choice easier. Do you want to put it on a trailer? How much experience do you have? Do you want to impress people coming over or business contacts? Is it going to have multiple purposes? How much money can you actually afford? This should give you a clearer view of what boat you should go for.

Financing

There are tons of different options available if you’re looking for financing for a boat. Loans on boats will usually have longer terms, and you’ll be able to repay within 10 to 20 years in most cases. Some lenders will only work on bigger, more expensive boats, and others with boats costing $30,000 or less.

However, if you have poor or no credit, your options might be a bit more limited. In these cases, you’ll often have to offer the boat as collateral for the loan. So, if you can’t repay on time, the lender will be able to seize the boat. You could also use your home equity to get a loan. Or you could look for a personal bad credit boat loan.

Services like Bonsai Finance can connect you to hundreds of different bad credit boat loan providers, so you can pick the right one for you. These people will be less concerned with your credit score, but more with your ability to actually repay the loan. However, if you’re concerned about getting rejected, you could ask a friend or relative to endorse you. However, know that they’ll bear some of the responsibility as well.

Insurance

Insurance is also very important when buying a boat, and it will need to be insured first if you intend to finance it or buy it with cash. While most people will start looking around, it’s always better to work with a reputable agent who works with underwriters who are familiar with boats. Agents will usually have access to much better deals than the average buyer since they already have long-standing relationships with many insurance companies.

The size, value, and age of the boat will all have an influence on how much you can expect to pay. In the case of a used boat, a survey will have to be performed first to assess its condition.

Conclusion

Buying a boat can be a dream come true, but make sure that you take the steps necessary to make sure that you buy the right one. Also, make sure that you’re aware of the responsibilities of owning a boat before you make your decision.

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