Lilac City Momma

Lynn

How to Create an Enjoyable Garden Space for Your Family

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Having a great outdoor space for your family can benefit their quality of life and mental health, as well as give them a wonderful place to play in and get some much-needed vitamin D. If your garden is currently looking under the weather, or if you are struggling to get your kids off the sofa and outdoors, here are some of the best steps that you can take to create a garden space for everyone to enjoy.

Create an Outdoor Living Area

The trend for outdoor living spaces in 2020 is particularly loved by families due to the fact that these can add additional practical areas that your family can use, giving their homes more space. To create an outdoor living area that can bring you closer to the wild, you should invest in outdoor furniture, such as a dining table and chairs, so that you can eat and sunbathe outside.

Build a Summer House

If you want to add an extra room to your house without extending your main building, you should also consider building a summer house. This can allow you to create a space where you can get away from the rest of the family and relax during the summer months. Alternatively, you could use it as a play space for your children.

Install an Outdoor Fire Pit

To extend those summer evenings and create a central feature in your garden, you should install an outdoor fire pit for all of your family to huddle round all year round. Outdoor fire pits can not only add a luxury touch to your garden, but they are also ultimately practical through their variety of uses, from keeping warm to cooking dinner. To find wood burning outdoor fireplaces that your family will use again and again, Stonewoods has a large selection that can suit every household.

Add Decking or a Patio

To get out into nature without having to journey into the wilds of your garden, you should consider building decking or patio onto your home. Not only will this allow you to venture into your garden without getting your feet dirty, but they can also be great places on which the children can play, and you can sit and sunbathe throughout the warm weather.

Spruce up Your Borders

The most important factor of a perfect garden is its natural beauty and, if your garden is sorely lacking flowers and shrubs, the most effortless way to maintain these is to spruce up your borders. By creating clearly defined flowerbeds and weeding these often, you will be able to create a low maintenance space where you can transform your garden into a natural beauty space.

Add a Vegetable Patch

However, your garden should also be practical, and the best way to combine beauty and usefulness is to add a vegetable patch onto your garden. A vegetable patch can help you to grow food for your family, save on groceries, teach your kids about nature and food, and create an ongoing project which the whole family can take part in.

 

Five ways you can help to reduce carbon emissions

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With levels of CO2 emissions rising globally, and congestion in cities continuing to rise, cities are becoming ever-more toxic environments. Fewer cars on the road equal lower carbon emissions and congestion. Here are five ways you can leave the car at home to help reduce carbon emissions.

 

 

Using public transport

Due to the continuing coronavirus pandemic, you might dismiss public transport as an unhygienic hotbed of germs. However, there are steps you can take to make your journey on public transport as comfortable as possible. Wear a face mask and cotton gloves, which will keep you safe from any germs in the atmosphere or lingering on surfaces. Use antibacterial gel once you have disembarked from any public transport and keep antibacterial wipes handy—these are a lifesaver if you are sat on a seat that seems less than sanitary! By following these tips, you can reduce your carbon footprint while safe in the knowledge that you are protecting yourself.

Scooters

Scooters, being smaller than cars, are more fuel-efficient and produce fewer carbon emissions. They have the added benefit of generally being more affordable and cheaper to run. Being compact, lightweight, and more easily maneuverable than a bulky car, with mindful driving scooters can help you to beat the congestion. With plenty of scooter brands and dealers for you to check out, for instance, Peugeot scooters dealers, you are sure to find a scooter you like that fits in with your lifestyle.

Carpooling

Carpooling is sharing car journeys with other people going to the same location, reducing the amounts of cars making the same journey. This works particularly well when commuting to and from work, and in fact, many employers have now introduced carpooling schemes for their employees. Additionally, websites such as BlaBlaCar are building a global network of carpools. So why not give carpooling a go? You might make some new friends!

Bikes

Want to have your daily workout without paying for a gym? Cycling is the perfectly good method of transportation, ensuring that you arrive at your destination without producing any carbon emissions while also getting a rigorous free workout. With cities such as New York, who have dedicated to building more than 250 new bike lanes, focusing on improving road safety for cyclists, using a bike could soon become one of the most common forms of transportation.

Only using a car for essential journeys

If driving remains your preferred method of transportation, a meaningful way to reduce your carbon footprint is to assess the way you use your car. Do you jump in the car for every journey? Could some of those journeys be made using other transportation methods, like walking or cycling? After assessing your car use, make an effort to use your car only for essential journeys. So, use your car when you are stocking up at the supermarket, but cycle to your local shop to pick up a few essentials. Simple lifestyle changes such as this will reduce your carbon footprint while increasing your overall health.

 

Tips for Finding 420-Friendly Roommates

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If you are reading this article, chances are, you are a Cannabis user, looking for a roommate that is going to be okay with the fact that you use it. If you key in “420-friendly” roommates in Craigslist’s search engine, you will find thousands of listings with that phrase attached to them. With more people smoking weed now more than ever, finding the perfect”420-friendly” roommate won’t be too much of a challenge. That said, living with a stranger just because both of you use marijuana is more complex than it seems.

People are surprisingly good at hiding their true nature, and if you have ever shared any living space, you can attest to this. If you are a first-time renter, a “bad roommate”, will ruin your mood every time they are around, especially if they abuse Cannabis.

Below are some pointers to follow if, in your quest to find the perfect “420-friendly” roommate.

Ask Your Friends

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This is the first place to start. Although living with a friend can be tricky at times, you may find out you two are pretty compatible as “420-friendly” roommates. If none of your friends needs a roommate, their co-workers may be in search of one and they may fall under your specifications. The goal is to find a trustworthy roommate and asking your friends and family for recommendations is a good starting point.

Look for A Responsible Person

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As a Cannabis user, you want a roommate who will have the same vibe as yours. Even though they use Cannabis, it does not affect their lives. Using marijuana-based products should not prevent them from building their careers and succeeding in life. Find a roommate who is responsible enough not to be controlled by hash. People who smoke a lot of weed more than often are not concerned about paying the bills or reality for that matter.

Are they going to roll their joints in every corner of the house or use prerolls? Are they going to puff all day till the house is full of fumes? Do they party more than just occasionally? Thoroughly vetting the person will give you these answers.

Always Run a Background Check

Regardless of whether you are looking for a “420-friendly roommate or not, running a background check is essential. You need to know who you are going to live with. Scrutiny of the person’s past will bring into light their real character. You can start with their social media and advance from there. Sites that allow you to search people free of charge are numerous.

Do a people search to reveal some personal information, such as previous arrests and incarcerations. All you need is to enter is their first name and last name. You never know what you will find and the search results are bound to shock you at the same time prevent you from harboring a fugitive!

What Form of Cannabis Do They Use?

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Do they use CBD based products from the hemp flower or the everyday pure marijuana smoked in glass tubes or tinctures? Of the different strains, which do they prefer, Indica or Sativa? The form of Cannabis people use has the potential to become a deal-breaker when you are looking for a “420-friendly” roommate. CBD is becoming a major hit in the United States, and people are turning to it because of its numerous benefits. If you don’t like the feeling of getting high on marijuana and prefer a pack of CBD prerolls and cigarettes, you will want a roommate that falls along those lines.

Carefully go through all the applications you get from potential “420-friendly” roommates. If you are a student, the type of roommate you have will reflect in your sanity and grades. Conduct thorough interviews to find someone who meets your expectations!

3 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Getting Divorced

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No two divorces are the same. Each one has unique circumstances that cause each couple to end in divorce. Because of this, there is no one right way to go about a divorce. There are all sorts of variables that can throw people for a loop and cause them to make mistakes.

Unfortunately, some of these mistakes can lead to serious problems down the road. It’s in your best interest to learn from others’ mistakes so that you can avoid them yourself. Here are some of the biggest mistakes to look out for if you’re going through a divorce yourself.

Failing To Hire The Right Lawyer

 

Many couples make the mistake of believing that they don’t need a lawyer to help them through the process of divorce, or it doesn’t matter who they hire. However, the truth is that even if you plan on divorcing amicably, a good lawyer is necessary to help you navigate the ins and outs of the process.

Hiring the right attorney for the job can completely change your experience of divorce. It’s not necessary to hire the most expensive attorney out there; however, you should hire one that specializes in family law and has your best interests in mind. Hire an attorney because you know that they’re the right person for the job. Don’t hire an attorney based on price alone.

 

Taking Unsolicited Legal Advice

 

During the divorce process, you’ll hear all sorts of advice coming from friends and family. Perhaps they have a friend who did things one way or they think that things should be carried out another way. However, it’s important that you listen to your lawyer first and foremost. Don’t take legal advice from people who are not professionals. Even though friends and family may be well-meaning when they give you advice, unless they’re a professional, it’s only hearsay.

 

Allowing Anger To Be Your Guiding Force

 

Divorce is incredibly emotional, whether it was your choice to divorce or not. It’s easy to let your feelings get the best of you, and in many cases, allow anger to be your guiding force.

Litigation can bring out the worst in people, and lead you to take actions based on revenge. However, all this will do is hurt you in the end, particularly if you have children. The longer that you drag out a divorce, the more money and energy it will cost you.

Rather than allowing anger to be what guides you, focus on resolution and moving on in your life. Think about what it is that you ultimately want to accomplish and focus on that rather than shortsighted ambitions of revenge. Focus on the right details rather than the petty ones.

 

 

 

How Do I Choose the Best Joint Checking Account

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Are you looking into opening a joint checking account? It’s important to first understand what a joint checking account is. A joint checking account is essentially the same as a standard checking account; however, instead of the account belonging to just one person, it belongs to multiple people. All of the people on the account have access to the money and can deposit money, withdraw money, or use the money in the account.

Because of this, a joint checking account is extremely common for people who are married, people who are in businesses together, parents and children, and adults with aging parents. This is ideal, as it easily allows couples and people in business to use the shared account to cover the expenses they share, parents are able to monitor their children’s spending habits, and adult children are able to help their older parents manage their finances if that has become a struggle for them.

Joint checking accounts are important and efficient, and they work. However, you need to make sure to choose the best joint checking account for you and your family or for you and your business. How do you go about choosing the best joint checking account? Here’s how.

Do Your Research First

Different credit unions offer different incentives and fees when it comes to all forms of banking, and joint checking accounts are no different. It’s important to do thorough research first to see what these are. For example, if an account requires you to keep a certain minimum balance and you’re unable to do that, choosing that account might not be the best joint checking account decision.

Take a step back and think about the monthly income you’ll have going into the account, think about all the bills you’ll be paying that account, and so on. Once you’ve figured all of this out, find a credit union that will work for you and not leave you paying high fees.

Use an Online Comparison Tool

Doing your research is extremely important but can be overwhelming. There are so many different credit unions and options and numbers and incentives being thrown at you. How do you know which one really is the best joint checking account for you and your needs?

To make things easier for you, there are some online comparison tools you can use. It’s important to remember that these comparison tools do tend to show the larger, national credit unions rather than smaller, regional credit unions. However, it’s a good place to get a lot of information, side-by-side, in one place.

Find a Credit Union That Offers Joint Checking Accounts with Little Fees

One of the perks of having a joint checking account is that it usually results in fewer fees than having multiple accounts. However, joint checking accounts do still have fees, just as any sort of account can. It’s important to research different credit unions’ fees to see if they’re something that can potentially apply to you.

If there are fees associated with the account, see if there’s any way that it can be waived (e.g., by having a direct deposit go into the account). There are some credit unions that offer zero fees, so if paying a potential fee is a worry for you, you should look for one of these credit unions.

Choose a Credit Union You and Your Partner Trust

If you have a credit union you already know, trust, and have accounts with, it may be worth looking there first to see if they offer a joint checking account that fits what you’re looking for. A lot of credit unions offer incentives for members—new and established—who are looking to open an account with them.

If you have a credit union you already work with, reach out to them personally and tell them you’re looking to open a joint checking account and see what they can offer you. Explain the needs of the joint checking account (i.e., business, newly married, aging parents, etc.) and see what they recommend or if they can better assist you. Credit unions like to support their members, so it’s worth reaching out to a credit union you’re already working with.

Consider Everyone’s Needs and Ask Questions

Just like when it comes to any type of banking, it’s important to do your research before committing to anything. It’s important to keep your needs and what you need to get out of this new account in mind. This will better your finances overall. When it comes to a joint checking account, it’s important to consider the needs of all of the parties who’ll have access to this account. Remember, anyone whose name is on the joint account will be able to use the account at their liberty. That’s an extremely important component to remember when choosing the best joint checking account for you and your spouse, partner, or family member.

As always, it’s important to ask a lot of questions and to talk about the options with everyone who’ll be named on the joint account with you. If you’d like to speak to a professional, once you’ve narrowed down your best joint checking account options, visit with a representative at each potential institution about your needs and what you’re looking to get out of your joint checking account. They can guide you in the right direction.

Still have questions? Please feel free to give Rivermark Credit Union a call today or fill out our contact form, and one of our professionals will be able to help you out. If you’re in the Portland, Oregon, area, and near one of our branches, please feel free to stop in to speak with us in-person. Remember, what works for one person financially may not be the best for another. Let us help you figure out what’s best for you.