Lilac City Momma

Lynn

3 Ways to Make Your Vacation Even Better

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Vacations are wonderful things. They’re a chance to break out of your daily routine and leave your stress and worries behind. They’ll expand your horizons, improve your health, and leave you feeling rested and recharged. Long after you come home, you’ll still treasure the memories that you made when you were on your big trip.

Hopefully, you’re already looking forward to your next vacation. As you’re planning your trip, you should think about these three ways to make your next vacation safer, more memorable, and all-around better than your last.

Keep your planning materials in one place

Vacations reduce stress, but planning vacations can increase them. Plus, even once you’re at your destination, you may find that juggling appointments and finding reservations that you made months ago can be frustrating and take you out of that wonderful vacation mindset. So streamline your vacation planning and keep everything in one place. That can mean using a spreadsheet or a folder, or it can mean downloading one of the many handy mobile apps that exist for precisely this purpose.

When you can tell at a glance where you’re supposed to be next and when, you’ll be able to relax and actually enjoy the moment. Plus, keeping things in one place will be a big help during the planning phase, because you’ll be able to tell easily which things you’ve already booked and worked out and which things remain to be planned. Since planning a vacation is easily the most stressful part of the whole vacation process, every little bit helps here. While you’re at it, try to remember to start planning early. The more time you give yourself, the less stressful your planning will be.

Share photos securely and wisely

For many people, a vacation is a chance to post fun photos on social media. You need to be careful about this, though, because the wrong post could put you at risk. Crooks know that their potential victims have a weakness for advertising their vacations on social media, and they keep an eye out for hints that you’re out of town. If you post a bunch of photos of yourself on the beach in Florida, you may come back home to find yourself a victim of a break-in.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t post photos on social media after your vacation. And, in fact, it doesn’t even mean that you can’t share photos with friends and loved ones in real time — it’s just that you need to be smart about it. The best way to share photos online privately is to use cloud photos storage solutions. Using cloud photo storage is also a great way to back up your shots, so that you won’t lose all your wonderful vacation photos if you drop your iPhone in the water during that sunset cruise.

Do something you’ve never done before

When you’re heading off on a relaxing vacation, it’s easy to focus on the simple and familiar. What will you do at the beach? Ah, you’ll relax; you’ll lie on the beach, swim a little, and maybe dine by the waterside. That’s all well and good, but why not do something totally out of the ordinary?

Why not go jet skiing in West Palm Beach? Why not go parasailing off of the Florida coast? Why not take a surfing lesson or a scuba-diving lesson? With the time that you have off from work, you have the chance to do something meaningful and memorable. Add a little adventure to your vacation and, not to worry, you’ll still have plenty of time to lie on the beach.

How to Create a Child-Friendly Home

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If you have young children, then you know only too well what trouble they can get into. Toddlers like to explore, and this can mean exhausted parents who are constantly trying to prevent them from hurting themselves. Thankfully, there are measures we can take to make our homes safe for little adventurers, as well as easy ways to keep it clean, and this guide shows you how.

Cupboard Locks – this is important as we often keep many hazardous items in kitchen and bathroom cupboards. While products such as bleach and cleaners present an immediate hazard, even cosmetic products can make a child ill if ingested. Keep locks on low-level cupboards to stop children accessing them and keep dangerous chemicals in high cupboards if possible.

Slip Hazards – Bathroom flooring can become slippery when wet, and this can be dangerous for young children. There may also be sharp corners from baths, cupboards, and sinks. If you are thinking about changing your bathroom, see beautifulbathroom.net for designs with smooth, rounded edges that are better for children. Consider putting bathroom rugs down to prevent slipping.

Wipeable Paints – Children can be messy, and many of us have found some expressive artwork that has found its way to a wall. Or, you might find some grubby areas where children grip onto the wall in some areas. Rather than having to redecorate invest in some child-friendly paint that can easily be wiped.

Storage – kids often have plenty of toys. There is also likely to be paints and crayons, paper and other fun stuff to make and do. Keep your home neat and tidy by having closed storage options, such as drawers and cupboards. That way everything can be put away and the doors closed to keep your home looking tidy.

Garden – a fun garden is where children can play safely, and parents don’t have to worry about them getting hurt. When you have young children, avoid having ponds. If you like fish, save the ponds for when the children are old enough to not slip in unintentionally. Keep all gardening tools and chemicals safely out of reach in a shed.

A flat area of lawn is a nice space where children can play and run around, while raised beds make it easy to keep on top of weeding and you can grow interesting flowers, fruits, and vegetables with your children’s help.

A child-friendly home isn’t just about it being a safe, clean environment, it is about creating a space where the whole family can relax and enjoy spending time. Getting rid of major hazards will help you relax as a parent and allow your children the freedom to explore their home. There will be hazards present in the home no matter how safe you make it, but when there are some minor hazards to contend with it helps children learn how to stay safe themselves. Make your home a child-friendly space by following these ideas, and you can raise your kids in a fun, relaxed environment.

Taking Small Kids To London: How To Maximize Your Budget

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Taking small kids to London can be an expensive day out. Taking them to the biggest attractions, shows, and entertainment venues can really take a hit on your wallet. However, equally, you don’t want them to miss out on everything that this ancient city has to offer. So, if you want to give your kids a vacation to remember, here are some ways to ensure they see the city at the best without breaking your bank.

Make your money count

If you want to maximize your budget while in London, the easiest way to do this is save some money for the biggest and best sites. Asking your kids what they want to see in London will also help you gain a sense of what you should be prioritizing in terms of paid exhibitions. Obviously, places such as the Tower of London will be ticketed, as will some parts of the Natural History Museum. However, even some of the biggest attractions have free exhibits – the Natural History Museum is largely free. They may also want to stand on London Bridge – also an entirely free attraction.

Enjoy interactive exhibits

While some kids are inquisitive and patient enough to go to museums where you are required to stop and read, some children benefit from interactive or immersive experiences. London’s Planetarium is just one example of this; it’s not only educational but perfect for kids who want to expand their imagination. Museums such as the National Maritime Museum specialize in entertaining children and have plenty of hands-on exhibits.

Picnic or get it to go

Picnics are one of the most cost-effective ways of enjoying a meal in London. Packing sandwiches and a drink before you head out could save you plenty of money on restaurant meals. Alternatively, ordering a noodle box from nedsnoodlebar.com will give you the special feeling of a meal you didn’t have to make, without having to pay the cost of a sit-down meal.

Just in case

Walking around with children all day can be incredibly tiring – both for you and them. Packing useful items in advance will not only prevent you from having to buy them while you’re hitting the pavements, but it will also make your day much easier. Here are a few items to pack to save you time and money:

  • Reusable water bottles: staying hydrated all day is important. Packing water bottles that you can re-fill at venues at the hotel will cut the cost of constantly buying plastic equivalents.
  • Raincoats and umbrellas: while Britain does enjoy warm summers, let’s face it, it could still rain. Umbrellas are incredibly expensive to purchase new, so packing them will save plenty.
  • First-Aid kit: plasters, painkillers and antiseptic wipes are all safe and useful to keep on the go.

Maximizing your budget with kids isn’t always easy. You will need to stay fed, hydrated and entertained for the whole day, which will always come at a price in a major city. Finding smart alternatives and packing a bag before you go will help you to make the most of what’s in your wallet while keeping everyone happy.

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

A Guide To Improving Your Child’s Health

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Every parent wants their kids to be happy and healthy, but this is something that will require planning and effort. This is particularly true in today’s day and age, where many kids spend a large amount of time sat inside attached to a screen, but there are a few effective steps to take which should help them to be healthier. Making health a priority from a young age should encourage them to continue looking after themselves into adult life and provide a solid foundation for them to lead a happy and healthy lifestyle. Read on for a few suggestions for improving your child’s health.

Diet

Diet is, of course, a major part of good health, but despite this childhood obesity is a major problem in the USA and other places around the world. You can improve your child’s diet by making sure that you are eating healthy meals together throughout the week in the evening and by making them a packed lunch to take to school. Additionally, you should educate them on how to eat healthily, and you could even get them to help you in the kitchen so that they know how to make healthy and delicious meals.

Encourage Sports

Encouraging your child to play sport is a smart idea because it can be terrific for their health, allow them to pursue their interests, and often sports will be highly social. Do not force them into a sport that they do not want to do and instead allow them to choose something that they have an interest in.

Increase Walking

If you worry that your child is not getting enough exercise or fresh air, then you should look to increase the number of steps that they take each day. You could do this by walking to school instead of driving (also a great way to reduce fuel costs), and by taking your dog for walks with the family in the evenings or weekends.

Take Them To The Dentist

Dental health must not be overlooked as problems with your teeth can be expensive and impact many areas of your life. It is for this reason why you should find a dentist that has expertise in kids dentistry, like Dainty Dental Care, and one that they feel comfortable with – it can be scary going to the dentist but a good one will help a child to feel relaxed and show them how to look after their teeth properly.

Set A Good Example

Children tend to follow in their parents’ footsteps in many different ways, including their approach to food and fitness. Make sure that you are setting a good example by exercising on a regular basis, eating a healthy diet, avoiding too much alcohol and junk food, and by getting enough sleep. You should also communicate openly about health and make sure that it is a priority for the whole family.

Every parent needs to take action to make sure that their child leads a healthy lifestyle. The above are a few ideas which should help them to be healthier and encourage them to make this an important part of their lives going forward.

How To Spend More Quality Time With Your Children

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Being a parent is one of the biggest joys and greatest honors you can have in your life, but it also comes with its fair amount of responsibility. You are there to help teach your children how to be independent adults one day, and to do this means that you need to have a strong relationship with them. Spending time together is the best way to cement the bonds you already have with your children and ensure that you build a relationship with them that will last well into their adulthoods.

Finding the time to do this can be tricky around working full-time and dealing with the day to day responsibilities of owning a home, but it is essential you do find the time. To help you out, this guide is going to give you three great ideas for spending more time together as a family, as well as some practical guidance for making it happen.

Take up a sport together

As a parent, you will want your children to be happy and healthy as they grow up and try to teach them well so that they will keep themselves healthy as adults. A brilliant way to do this while getting to spend some time together is to consider taking up a sport together. You can find some ideas on the best sports to play with your children easily online to get active, but a great idea is to teach them how to ride a bike.

Not only is this a useful skill to have and a right of passage for children, but it will mean that you can go on little adventures together over the summer and at the weekend.

Always be involved with important events

One of the most important ways of spending time with your children is making sure that you are there for all the crucial events in their young lives. Using some of these tips of encouraging your children will help them to grow into confident young adults, but the simple act of being present at parents meetings with their school, turning up to plays and sports days they are involved in, and even just helping them see friends by giving them a lift to places, are all things that are going to help you bond with your children in a meaningful way in the long-run.

Find the money to make it happen

Spending time with your children should not have to cost a lot of money, however there may be some experiences that you’d like to share with your children that require a bit of investment. While saving the money can take some time, and you may feel inclined to put in more work hours to earn more – it is important to understand that time itself is valuable. If a large expense such as a family vacation or excursion is appealing to you, you may consider financing the trip. Even with bad credit, a loan can allow you to make invaluable memories with your children without sacrificing previous time. Keep in mind that your loan must be repaid, so only borrow the amount you need and be sure that your repayment schedule is within your means.

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