Lilac City Momma

Lynn

Fun Activities to do as a Family

by

Spending time together as a family is a great way to build close bonds and create a supportive family unit. Luckily, there is an excellent variety of exciting activities that you can do together as a family. This includes a great selection of affordable activities, such as family walks or other outdoor activities. To give you some ideas, here are a few of the best activities to do as a family.

Camp in a National Park

Camping in a national park is a cheap and fun activity that will bring your family closer. It will also give your family the chance to get outdoors and immerse themselves in nature. Spending time in natural surroundings is a great way to relax and deal with any family stress. Plus, you will have the opportunity to take part in lots of fun outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, sailing, and outdoor adventure sports. According to national parks.org, the US has an impressive 419 national park sites. This means that you have an excellent variety of national parks to choose from. Many of the parks offer campsites with excellent family-friendly facilities such as swimming pools and BBQ areas. Make sure you book early if you are planning on visiting a national park during peak season or school holidays.

Fun activities at home

There are plenty of family activities that you can do together at home if you don’t fancy traveling. For instance, you can watch movies, have a family games tournament, or bake cookies. Doing a craft project is another fun way to spend time together as a family. You can get the supplies for your craft project by visiting a textile shop in London and stocking up on materials such as paint and fabric.

Go bowling

Bowling is another fun activity that family members of all ages will enjoy. If your kids are young, then you can put the lane barriers up to stop them from becoming discouraged from too many gutter balls. You can split your family into teams and have a bowling tournament for a bit of fun family competition. Many bowling alleys offer great family discounts and promotional deals if you visit on certain days of the week. They also tend to have a variety of other fun activities on offer, such as arcades, laser tag, and fast-food restaurants. This means you can easily turn a trip to the bowling alley into a full family day out.

Visit a working farm

Visiting a working farm can be a fun and informative activity for the whole family. Many farms offer interactive tours where children can learn about farm life and interact with farm animals such as donkeys, goats, and sheep. They may also be able to ride on a tractor, harvest fruit, and vegetables, and learn about sustainable living. There may also be an onsite restaurant serving healthy, organic food grown on the farm. You can find farms open for visits by searching online or calling local farms to arrange a visit.

 

 

3 Tips For Having a Great Retirement

by

When it comes to planning for retirement, it’s in your best interest to start planning sooner than later. The longer that you wait, the harder it is to reach your goals. The more that you start building together a plan with plenty of time to spare, the less likely you are to come across roadblocks that throw your retirement plans for a loop.

After all, you’ve been looking forward to your retirement for your whole life, why not make it as great as possible?

From your health to your finances, take a look at some of the best tips for having the best retirement possible.

Plan for Your Health

As much as we might like to believe that our health will be perfect for the rest of our lives, it’s not realistic to expect. When planning for your retirement, it’s critical to take your health into account when planning for your future.

You should consider whether you want to live in an assisted living facility, or whether you’d prefer to have an in-home caretaker. In some cases, you may be able to plan with family members to take care of you in your old age.

Make sure that you have the right kind of insurance coverage to take care of any sort of health issues that may come along as a senior citizen. The most valuable thing you have is your health.

Take Care of Your Body Now

The better that you take care of your health now, the more that you’ll be able to make the most out of your retirement years. Your retirement won’t be much fun if you spend it in the hospital, ill or injured.

Make sure that you’re focusing on getting enough physical exercise as well as eating a sensible diet. The more that you take care of your body now, the less you’ll have to worry about in your senior years.

Create a Strict Budget

Once you’re retired, you’ll no longer be able to rely on a steady income. Therefore, it’s important that you know how to budget to spend only what you need with what you have. Overspending will lead to all sorts of problems.

The only way to fully enjoy your retirement is by being financially responsible. If you’re not sure where to get started in budgeting for your retirement, then you should consider talking with a financial advisor. They’ll be able to give you the best tips on how to stay on track financially.

By following these tips and planning ahead as much as possible, you should have a fabulous retirement that you’ll be able to enjoy for years to come. Why have it any other way?

Mickey and Minnie Themed Birthday Party Ideas

by

If your kid is all about Disney–and whose isn’t at some point?–this mouse-themed birthday bash is a party planner’s dream. First of all, you’ve got resources galore. Anything you want you can find, and if you can’t find it there is someone on Pinterest who will show you how to make it. Second, every child knows who Mickey and Minnie are, so the little merrymakers will instantly fall into the party vibe without you having to explain it to them.

Now’s the time to sit down with your little one and let the excitement build by allowing them to make a few choices. Don’t randomly Google with them sitting there, though, or they may be expecting someone to build them a Mickey treehouse or something. But after you’ve picked what you’re willing to buy or make, bookmark those sites and let the birthday boy or girl have some say.

Party Favors

Remember what I said about resources galore? Well, let’s start with mouse ears. On Amazon, you can pick up a dozen Mickey/Minnie ears for less than ten bucks. At least they were that inexpensive when I wrote this blog, and people raved about the quality. Apparently, the adults enjoy wearing them, too. And check out the “You may be interested in …” section at the bottom of the page with gobs and gobs of decorations. Personally, I’d go with the giant balloon arch because one huge decoration is better than lots of tiny ones when it comes to the ”wow” factor.

However, consider springing for a fancy pair of ears and a mouse dress for Minnie or a boy’s hoodie for Mickey from Presley Couture The birthday child deserves to stand out! And there are so many mouse ears to choose from. Seriously. Four pages of mouse ears!

You can make bags for goodies, or buy them on Amazon. I’d go with some favorite candy and Mickey party favors from Oriental Trading Company, if the children aren’t too young. With the ears, I think you’re good to go party favor wise.

Entertainment

This will depend on the age of the children. If they’re really young, but can jump around, I’d do a Disney dance party. If they’re not the age that’s willing to dance, there’s still pin the dots on Minnie’s dress, musical chairs to Disney songs, Disney limbo–you get the idea. Any party game can be Disney-fied. Figure out the games you want to play for their age range, and Mickey it up!

While you’re waiting for parents to pick their kids up at the end of the party, you can put on Mickey and Minnie cartoons while the party-goers, hopefully, unwind.

The Cake

If you want to make your own, there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube and ideas on Pinterest. If, like me, the thought makes you want to cry a little, talk to your local bakery. They can make the cake for you. Or you can order the edible ears and bow on Etsy and stick it on a normal cake. But I’d talk to your local bakeries first. The less stress, the better.

Good luck! There are so many ways to make this a memorable occasion. Take lots of pictures and send them to the parents, because this party is going to be super adorable.

 

3 Ways To Look Younger Than Your Age

by

There are all sorts of different ways that people feel about age. Some people are horrified at the idea of getting older, while others couldn’t care less. One thing’s for sure; however, as you get older, your appearance starts to change whether you like it or not.

Depending on how you treat your body, you may end up looking older or younger than your actual age. If your ultimate goal is looking younger than your age, then there are a few tips that are proven to be quite effective. Take a look at some of the best ways to look your best at any age.

Exercise

One of the biggest indications of your age is your body’s composition. In order to keep your body looking young, you need to take care of it by keeping it strong. Improve your body whenever possible by engaging in a regular exercise program. The great news is that it’s never too late to start.

Try to start incorporating at least 30 minutes of physical exercise every day. Even something as low impact as walking can make a significant difference in how much you age. A fit body won’t just make you look better, but you’ll feel better.

Stress Less Sleep More

Stress is something it can start to show itself on your face over the years. The more that you allow yourself to sweat the small stuff, the more that your face will start to look rigid and old.

Life can be stressful from time to time, however, life’s stresses shouldn’t keep you up every night. Try to take whatever measures possible to reduce the amount of stress in your life.

The less you stress, the more you sleep. The more you sleep, the more that your body can regenerate itself every night.

If you have a problem getting enough sleep, then you should start forcing yourself to go to bed earlier. Experts suggest getting at least 8 hours of sleep every night in order to fully regenerate your system.

Take Care Of That Face

The wrinkles on your face are usually a telltale sign of how old you are. The last thing you want to do is look older than you actually are because you neglected your face. It takes more than just a simple moisturizer to stay looking young. You should also consider anti-aging products like retinol or liquid exfoliants.

Most importantly, you should be applying sunscreen every single day. Don’t make the mistake of believing that sunscreen is only when you’re in a sunny environment. The sun’s harmful rays can also get through even on cloudy days.

So make sure to include sunscreen in your regular face care routine regardless of the weather.

Perfecting Parenting: 6 Beauty Tricks to Look Effortlessly Beautiful

by

Busy parents often struggle to find time to wash their hair, never mind applying makeup and embarking on an extensive skincare routine.

While you might not have time to pamper yourself from head to toe, there are actions you can take to both look and feel more attractive each day.

If you want to care for yourself while raising your kids, here are six beauty tricks that could make you appear effortlessly beautiful.

1. Highlight Your Lips with a Nude Gloss

Rather than applying a lipstick that can highlight a lack of makeup, use a nude gloss instead. It will accentuate your lips and complexion, which can give you a burst of confidence. If you don’t like neutral, opt for a natural shade, such as a peach or pink tint.

2. Hide Dark Circles with a Brightening Concealer

If you’re raising small children, you may experience many sleepless nights or early mornings. While a cup of coffee might wake you up in the morning, your dark circles might be left behind on your skin. Rather than allowing them to damage your appearance and self-confidence, you could fake a good night’s rest by applying a brightening concealer. It will hide dark, puffy rings around your eyes while brightening your skin. It could help you to look more awake than you are.

3. Add Long-lasting Lash Extensions

Lash extensions have replaced false lashes, as they are long-lasting and can add volume, length, and curl. If you use the right eyelash adhesive for lash extensions, they can typically last between four to five weeks without the need for a retouch. So, you can wake up every day with long, curly eyes that will transform your appearance and boost your self-esteem.

4. Use a Texturizing Hair Product

If you have long locks with limited natural movement, create beachy waves with a texturizing product. Apply it onto damp hair to create relaxed, natural waves that will make you appear effortlessly pretty. It will require minimal effort and could transform your appearance.

5. Appear Polished with the Right Accessories

Accessories can add a touch of luxury and glamor into the dullest of outfits. Don’t allow your busy lifestyle to stand in the way of style by wearing jewelry that will make a statement each day, such as an attractive ring, a pendant, or a pair of classic stud earrings. You’ll appear polished and stylish when wearing jeans and a t-shirt or a summer dress.

6. Wear Confidence-Boosting Clothing

The demands of parent life could lead to you pulling out the comfiest items in your closet, such as sweatpants, a sweater, or an old tee. While they might be cozy, they could be damaging your confidence. Grow your self-esteem by wearing more confidence-boosting clothing that complements your lifestyle.

For example, ditch the sweatpants or leggings for a stylish pair of skinny jeans. If you want to wear a comfortable dress that will look great when shopping, visiting friends, or on a family day out, a wrap dress will never let you down. Find comfortable, stylish items that will boost your confidence and match your hectic lifestyle.