Lilac City Momma

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4 Money Saving Tips on Home Improvement Projects

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Ask any homeowner, and they’ll tell you the same thing: there’s always room for improvement. However, even with the benefits of comfort and additional value, few choose to pursue upgrades for their properties because of the high costs that it usually entails. The good news is that these types of projects don’t necessarily need to be expensive undertakings. To this end, here are just a few money saving tips for home improvement projects.

1. Carefully compare all available options

When tackling a home improvement project, you’re likely to need equipment, materials and specialist services like furniture removal. Before you make a decision, however, it’s a general rule of thumb to always to do research and carefully compare all available options first. Tedious and time-consuming as this might sound, you’ll be surprised at how much it can help minimize your expenditure and save money on the project by acquiring inexpensive alternatives.

2. Don’t take on too many projects at a time

As much as we would like to improve our homes in their entirety, it just isn’t feasible or economical to do so. Instead, focus your attention on one project at a time. In this way, not only will you be able to speed up the process of its completion, but you’re far more likely to stay well within your allotted budget, giving yourself more financial wiggle room to move for when it is needed.

3. Limit yourself to what you can do

These days, it’s not uncommon for many homeowners to take the do-it-yourself approach with improvements and upgrades. After all, why spend money if the task can be accomplished on our own? But while this practical strategy isn’t wrong, some jobs may require the expertise that only a specialist can provide. In these cases, it’s best to invest in their services rather than do it on your own. Doing so will not only make the task more comfortable, but you’ll prevent any mistakes that can be potentially costly to rectify.

4. Find ways to repair and make use of old items

While it may be easier to replace old items like furniture and fixtures, it can cost a lot to buy them brand new. If possible, it’s good standard practice to find ways to refurbish and reuse the items rather than simply replacing them completely. Since they can take a good portion of the budget, this approach will allow you to save a lot more money, minimizing the project’s expenses even further.

Regardless of the scope and scale of the home improvement project, the expenses towards any changes and upgrades can spiral out of control and break the bank if left unchecked. As such, it makes sense to tackle these types of projects as economically and pragmatically as possible. By keeping these tips in mind, not only are you far more likely to complete the project in a timely fashion, but you won’t have to spend a small fortune in doing so.

Filed Under: DIY

The Benefits of Botox

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You may be aware that botox can help you achieve a youthful, radiant complexion you may not be aware of all of the benefits which botox has to offer. If you are looking for botox injections in Perth, and are interested in finding out more benefits of botox simply contine reading below!

The benefits of botox:

1. Undergoing regular botox procedures can help you turn back the hands of time

If you’d love to be able to reverse signs of ageing such as the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, undergoing regular botox procedures will help you achieve the youthful, healthy appearance that you so desire. Botox can safely be used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles on your face and your neck and is especially effective in reducing the appearance of wrinkles on your forehead and around your mouth.

2. You can use botox in order to prevent your brows from beginning to sag

As people get older their eyebrows begin to sag a little, which can cause individuals to look tired or sad, when they’re fully alert and rested and are in a pleasant, happy mood. So if you don’t want to look constantly tired or irritated you’ll love the affect that injecting botox into your face will have on your eyebrow area.

3. Botox can help prevent excess sweating

Another bonus of using botox is that botox canoe safely administered in order to help prevent and treat excess sweating.

So if you often sweat when its cold or when you’re not exhausted and find summer months unbearably embarrassing, you may find that undergoing botox will change your life dramatically.

As you finally will be able to socialise in summer without worrying about sweat dripping down your face or soaking through your clothes.

4. Botox has also been known to prevent and reduce migraine symptoms

If you often suffer from painful migraines, you may find that you’ll be able to reduce some of the symptoms of your painful migraines, using botox. So if you’ve tried using a wide variety of migraine treatments and haven’t found an option which has decreased your migraine symptoms to a reasonable level, you may want to think about using botox to treat your migraines.

5. You may find yourself squinting less

If one or both of your eyes twitches or squint on a regular basis which annoys you, you may find that by undergoing botox treatments that you’ll squint less and that your eye or eyes won’t twitch as often.

6. Botox has been known to prevent the onset of new wrinkles and fine lines

Not only can injecting botox into your face reduce the appearance of the wrinkles and fine lines which are already prominent on your face but did you know that injecting botox into your face can also help prevent new wrinkles from forming on your face. Especially if you start injecting botox into your face in your twenties and thirties.

Although you can still prevent wrinkles from appearing prematurely in your forties and fifties. In fact, if you look at women in their sixties who have used botox for over a decade, you’ll be surprised at just how youthful and radiant they look!

So if you’ve been seriously considering undergoing your first botox treatment, it’s well worth going ahead and booking your first botox consultation.

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

 

How To Fight Your Way Through a Speeding Ticket

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If you’ve recently been handed, mailed or emailed a speeding ticket, you may be under the impression that you have no choice but to the pay the fine which you’ve been dealt. However, it pays to remember that you do have options and that you can try and contest a speeding ticket which you think is unfair. If you’re interested in fighting a speeding ticket, simply continue reading to discover a few handy tips and tricks.

How to fight your way through a speeding ticket:

1. Check whether or not the policeman or woman who issued you a speeding ticket have evidence that you were driving over the legal speed limit

It’s well worth writing back to whoever issued you your speeding ticket, to ask to see proof that you were in fact driving over the legal speed limit. An example of proof could include a photo from a speed camera which clocks you at a speed which is several miles over the legal speed limit, for the area which you were driving in. As obviously the legal speed limit infant of a school will be lower than the legal speed limit on a long open road.

If the police are unable to provide you with proof that your car was speeding, you’ll easily be able to contest your ticket by writing back to the police and informing them that they have no proof that you were speeding. In most cases the police department will then cancel your speeding ticket as it’s not worth the police department’s time to chase up individual speeding tickets. Especially when they don’t have legal proof that you were driving over the legal speed limit.

2. Make sure that any pieces of photographic evidence have proof of your car’s licence plate

You’d be surprised about the number of times the police department issues tickets to the wrong driver and wrong number plate. So if the police show you a photo of your car speeding but your number plate is obscured you should be able to get off, without paying your speeding ticket.

3. Seek legal counsel in order to avoid paying an unfair fine

If the police department who issued your ticket have some form of evidence against you, it’s well worth ringing your lawyer’s office or contacting Marsh Blom

to see whether your lawyer believes that you have a case against the police department. As experienced lawyers are skilled at finding legal loop holes, to get you out of paying an expensive speeding fine.

Even if you’re okay with paying a speeding fine, you may want to contest your speeding fine in order to avoid getting demerit points against your name.

At the end of the day you should only consider paying a speeding fine in full if you don’t think that you have a shot at contesting your speeding fine. As if you collect too many demerit points you may end up temporarily having you licence suspended or revoked.

So what are you waiting for if you’ve recently been handed a speeding fine it’s well worth trying to contest it as soon as possible!

Join the discussion on this topic with Lilac City Momma by visiting our contact page.

Time for a Spring Clean: Wardrobe Edition

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Spring cleaning is good for the home, and it’s good for the soul. When the area you are cleaning out is your wardrobe, however, it’s good for your sense of style as well. Far too often we hoard old clothes that don’t fit us or that we don’t wear ever. Doing so bulks up our closets, and yet can actually make you feel like you have nothing to wear. You need to clean thoroughly and gut your wardrobe so that you can get to the diamonds in the rough, and so that you can make smart shopping decisions in the future.

How You Know You Need to De-Clutter Your Closet

Not every spring warrants a full clear out of your closet, but you should consider doing one if:

You Never Feel Like You Have Anything to Wear

This is a huge sign you need to audit your wardrobe. Having plenty of options and not feeling like wearing any of them is not a good sign. Clear out what you don’t wear to make room for the items you love.

You Have Clothes That Don’t Fit

If you have something that doesn’t fit and hasn’t fit for years, get rid of it! It doesn’t matter if that is your goal weight and you are keeping it around for “motivation.” This strategy is toxic and not helpful, and it clutters up your wardrobe.

Your Wardrobe is a Mess

Having a well-organized wardrobe brings peace of mind and the ability to see all your options easily.

Steps to De-Cluttering

If you have decided it is time to de-clutter your wardrobe, you will want to:

  1. Take Everything Out
  2. Sort Through What You Have
  3. Organize Your Closet with Your Keeps
  4. Donate, Sell, or Recycle the Rest

What to Look for When Buying New

When buying new, you want to choose clothes that suit your body type and shape, invest in quality fabrics, and know what pieces will be the most versatile in your wardrobe:

Choose Clothes That Flatter Your Body Best

The online world has given women of all sizes the ability to shop for great clothes that suit their needs. From ethical fashion to plus size fashion, the best place to search for your next great wardrobe staple is online. For curvy women, for example, you can find great options from every day to wedding-appropriate online at Froxx.co.uk. Even if you can’t go in store to try things on, you can call them or email them with a purchase request and have it delivered right to your door.

Know About Fabrics and What They’re Good For

Learn the basics about the most popular fabrics that are in use today, and if you come across something new, look it up before you buy. Some materials are terrible for summer months, others are bad for winter, and some are just unwise all year round. By knowing your fabrics, you can make future purchases work better for your lifestyle.

Be Creative When it Comes to Styling

By choosing clothes that work together, you open up styling opportunities. This way you can be more creative with your options and express yourself more fully than ever before.

 

How To Talk To Your Children About Drugs and Alcohol

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Being a mother or a father is stressful. It can be very hard to keep up with the dangers and risks kids face every day in order to try and protect them. Nowadays, children are more exposed to drugs than ever. They see them on t.v or in the movies, where they are often portrayed as normal, or even fun. There is not enough talk about how drug addiction is a disease, and that far from being cool it is actually very dangerous. Studies show that 78% of US teenagers have tried alcohol, and over 42% have used illicit drugs. Many years ago, I was one of those teenagers.

I started drinking alcohol when I was just a child, only 9 years old. Then, I became acquainted with drugs at 13. At first it was marijuana, but soon enough I was consuming more hardcore drugs. Even though there were some pretty evident changes in my behavior, it wasn’t until I was years into drug abuse that my family talked to me about drugs or alcohol. It was a big taboo back then, and my parents were scared about how to deal with it. I don’t blame them for my addiction. They did the best they could with what they had. But now that I am 10 years sober I realize the importance of talking to kids about drugs from a young age. It can make a big difference in preventing them from being in a dangerous situation.

It is important to give your children the right information regarding delicate topics such as this one. Talking openly to them about drugs and alcohol can help build trust between you and they will feel more comfortable coming to you if they have any questions. If you’re planning on having the “drug talk” with your children, take a look at these tips on how to do it the best way.

Do Some Research

The first step before talking to your children about drugs is to educate yourself on the matter. Do some research about different types of drugs and their effects on the mind and the body. You can’t tell your children that drugs and alcohol are dangerous if you don’t know why. Understanding the differences between each type of drug, what they look like, the consequences it may bring, etc, you’ll be prepared in case your kids have any questions.

After stating the facts about these substances, it is important to be clear on your personal view of drugs. Explain why you think they should not use illegal drugs, why you think this would be irresponsible behavior and discuss the harms drugs can cause. Avoid scare tactics like telling them that “marijuana will kill you”. It will be more effective to discuss drugs realistically and share actual facts with them.

Keep it Age Appropriate

An important factor you should take into consideration when talking to your children about drugs and alcohol is their age. The way you approach them and the terms you will use will vary depending on how old they are.

Ages 4 to 7

This is the age when you start teaching them about the importance of self-care. Talking to them about nutrition and personal hygiene can lead to the topic of drugs and other behaviors that can be bad for them. For example, when you give them a vitamin you can explain to them that it is important to take it because it makes them healthier and stronger. But also tell them that they should only take what you give to them because there are other drugs that can harm them. If they get curious about any medicine you take, explain that you should only take medicines that have your name on them or that your doctor has chosen for you. If you take medicine that doesn’t belong to you, it can make you sick.

Ages 8 to 12

This is an age in which kids tend to give their friend’s opinion a lot of importance. It is also the time when they start questioning their parent’s views and decisions. A good way to start the conversation is to ask them what they think about drugs and alcohol in a nonjudgmental way. Show them that you value their opinions and that you are open to any questions. If they have false information about drugs, gently give them the correct facts. Explain that it is easy to come across wrong information, but they can always check with you. Starting a dialogue with your children at this age helps keep the door open as they get older, more curious about the world and less inclined to share their thoughts with their parents.

Ages 13 and Up

Adolescence can be a difficult time to communicate with your children, but it is the most crucial time to do so. Kids this age are likely to know other kids who use alcohol or drugs, so you have to be prepared to answer more specific questions about these substances. Try to understand your kid’s feelings about drugs, but also use these conversations to explain the dangers and legal issues of consuming these substances. Be straightforward about your expectations of them and how you want them to behave in situations that involve alcohol and drugs. Let them know that your main concern is their well-being and that you are always available to talk about any questions or thoughts they may have regarding this topic.

Talking to your children about drugs from a young age can help them make better decisions throughout their life. When I was growing up I didn’t have access to any reliable information regarding this topic, and maybe if I had I wouldn’t have struggled with addiction all those years. If you don’t talk to them about drugs and alcohol today, you may have to talk to them about drug and alcohol detox and recovery tomorrow. And, trust me, if there’s anything you can do to avoid that, you should.

Do you know any other tips about how to talk to kids about drugs and alcohol? If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a comment below.