Lilac City Momma

Life Hacks

How to Properly Maintain Your Vinyl

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Whether you have come into a sizable collection of vinyl records or you were merely curious about them as they seem to have risen in popularity, it is important to realize that vinyl is a very different substance than what you might be used to with CDs, DVDs or, if you really fancy your retro media, laserdiscs. While the previously mentioned forms of digital media are all composed of a polycarbonate plastic, vinyl records are made from polyvinyl chloride that has been made flexible through a plasticizer; this means that vinyl records are significantly more at risk of warping from high temperatures than digital forms of media, as well as being more prone to developing a static charge.

Upkeep and Repair

In the decades since the introduction of vinyl records, several tools and techniques have arisen to preserve their quality by doing it yourself. The previously mentioned issue of attracting a static charge comes from the relationship of dust particles and vinyl. The occasional “pop” or “click” generated from playing a well-worn record is the result of the needle passing over statically-charged dust that has settled into the natural grooves of the record. While some vendors may carry vinyl cleaners in their inventory, your best bet is to use a record-safe brush that will collect dust particles with minimum damage to the record’s shape, a plastic-safe cleaning solution and a soft towel to gently work through the grooves.

Approaches to Storage

Unlike with CDs and DVDs, that can safely stack up in a pile, the physical construction of vinyl requires that collectors put in a bit more work to maintain their personal record catalogs; piling them up like a traditional CD spindle will result in a warped mass of PVC that will produce nothing but noise when played on a turntable, if even that. Invest in a tall multilevel shelf that can accommodate the width of your records-vinyl should always be stored vertically so as to avoid warping-and that can be positioned well out of the way of solar exposure; ideally, you want to keep your record library in a location that is free of heat and moisture. Furthermore, you should always keep your records in their slipcases when not in use; slipcases are the best way to protect your vinyl from dust and sunlight.

“What is a Warped Record and How Did It Get That Way?”

Because of its plastic-like nature, a record warps when its shape has been maligned through heat, regular pressure or both. While you can play a record that has been slightly warped, the sound quality will suffer. In addition to the warp-inducing pressure generated from stacking vinyls like they were plates, records can also become pressure-warped from being tightly shrink-wrapped within their album covers. Fortunately, you can avoid this problem by looking into which venues practice this bad habit and shopping elsewhere.

While some say that you should fight fire with fire, using heat to soften and mold a warped vinyl record back into alignment is a horrible idea! While you may succeed in leveling out the physical record, the grooves responsible for making music are going to be even worse than before. Records that become sufficiently warped may be known to “skip”-the player’s needle will be pushed backward, resulting in an audio loop.

The Importance of Thickness

Thickness is a common listed detail with most records. The thicker the disc, the more resilient it is to long-term use. Even though new records are created with a thickness of 180 grams, every play session slightly erodes a record’s durability.

Jessica Kane is a writer for SoundStage Direct, the number one online source for the best vinyl records and turntables.

Best Family Roadtrips

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Driving can be a brilliant way to enjoy the sights and explore a landscape with your kids and entire family. Renting a car on vacation and taking off as a team, in order to inspire you for some quality family time is a great way to spend your time off. I both advise using Avis coupons and have selected several of the best countries to roadtrip in.

1. Austria – Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse

The High Alpine Road or the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse how the locals call it, passes through the Hohe Tauern National Park. The landscape is stunning. As the road climbs to 2,504 meters, it is offering seemingly limitless views over the range of 37 mountains. You can combine a fly-drive trip and use a car rental from the airport in Salzburg. As the road soars through the ever changing landscape, there is plenty of variety that can keep the passengers happy.

There are barren and dramatic rocky cliffs, pine-clad hills, penetrating the mountain peaks of the Alps, lakes and glaciers, and verdant meadows. The route is difficult in winter and is closed from November until May, being best driven in late spring and summer. It is recommended to check the weather forecast before starting your journey, because visibility can be affected by dense fog even when the route is open. It is also best to start early in the morning in order to avoid the hordes of tourists.

2. France – Verdon Gorge circuit Provence

This road is well known as one of the most attractive regions of France. You can experience it at its finest with a road trip. The Verdon Gorge circuit rises at first gently, then sharply to villages like Tourtour. Higher yet are Europe’s version of the Grand Canyon, the Verdon gorges. They provide Europe’s most dramatic driving, with drops of 2,000 ft. As you slip back south, the road is more gently around Sainte-Croix lake and down to Thoronet Abbey. Keep the kids occupied during this time with games and books.

It takes around four hours to do the Verdon Gorge circuit non-stop. However, that would be pointless as these hill roads require care and frequent stops. It is recommended to allow all day for your roadtrip. The circuit is best driven in early autumn, late summer, and late spring. You need to be careful in high summer, as the gorges can get clogged.

In order to save rushing later on, you have to start early in the morning. Also ensure to start with a full tank from Lorgues because gas stations are scarce elsewhere. You may use some car rental coupons and rent a car from the Nice airport.

3. Iceland – Route One

Iceland’s spectacular volcanoes, waterfalls, ash deserts, lava fields, hot springs and geysers make for an amazing road trip. The Route One road circumnavigates the island. Among its highlights are included the rocky vistas of the south coast, the north-east ash fields, the whale-watching at Husavik and hot springs at Myvatn on the north coast.

4. Romania – The Transfagarasan

“Dracula’s country” provides a great budget roadtrip, as well as “world’s best driving road”. The Transfagarasan highway is an extraordinary feat of engineering, packed with viaducts, tunnels, and bridges. The road stretches over more than 50 miles, through the scenic mountain passes of the Southern Carpathians. The Transfagarasan is a most scenic drive, ascending the mountains in hairpin bends through forests.

How to Stay Sane During Your Trip to Disney Land

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To start with, you do not stay cool at Disneyland – because it is Disney land! Growing up watching Disney movies, fantasizing yourself as Disney princesses and planning a Disney themed birthday party every year – Disney was an essential part of our childhood. And when you know that your next vacation will be at Disney Land, you just cannot keep your sanity intact, after all, it is indeed a wish come true.

Do not leave dinner reservation for the last minute

People travel from all across the globe just to have a vacation at Disney land. Disney land starts taking reservation 4 months prior to actual visit date. If you are planning a trip with your family and you do not want to be left with crying toddlers and grumpy teenagers, make sure you get your dinner reservations made at least 2 months prior to your visit. It is very unlikely that you will get any free slot to have dinner at a fine dine in Disney land on the spot, and you will realize how much difference advanced reservations would make. Thanks us later!

Get the Fast passes – they make a huge difference

In case you are not familiar with fast pass, it is the best thing you can have in Disney land when it comes to tickets. Fast pass system lets you have a ticket with a return time on it for select Disney attractions. You can return to selected rides within the specified time limit without having to wait in long queues. However, you can hold only one fast pass at a time, so the earlier you get back to your ride, the earlier you will have it.

Download the Disney app

Disneyland has its own smartphone app – and it is very cool. It allows you to book online tickets, confirm show timings, route maps, restaurant timings, menus and deals. Moreover, if you bought your tickets through the app, you will only have to show the barcode at the entrance when you arrive.

It is better to stay in Disneyland hotels

Accommodation takes up most of the family’s budget however, what you get in return of the cost is unmatchable. You will be staying at Disney’s Grand Californian, Disney Paradise Pier or Disneyland Hotel. Staying on site will allow you an easy access to the parks, without having to travel all the way. The free transportation service offered to those staying at Disney hotels is a lifesaver. Moreover, it lets you experience the magic hour, which is indeed very magical.

On designated days throughout the week, the park opens up one hour early in the morning and stays open for 3 hours after its closing time, for the onsite guests of Disneyland. This is the best time to enjoy rides and various attractions without having to wait in lines or feel stuffed by the crowd. You can also have mid daybreaks during rush hours to enjoy later if you are staying on site.

 

 

5 Tips to Keep Your Kids Occupied When Travelling

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Planning to take that family vacation you have been dreaming of for ages? Before you get too much excited and start packing, take a look around because the two rambunctious packages currently creating chaos in your living room will make your flight unbearable if you don’t have some tricks up your sleeve.

Kids are a blessing when they are asleep and your own personal hell when they are awake. What people don’t realise is that unlike a moody 16 year old teenager, kids are easily distracted. All you need to do is hold them in a fascinating conversation and they will listen to you with rapt attention. You might be subjected to an airport runner, the yeller or I-want-what-you-are-drinking but other than that, everything will be – peachy!

Every kid is different and a mother knows best how he or she can be handled. While you might not get those glory days back of drinking wine and watching a movie under the blanket with your hubby, you sure can get some rest with these 5 tips when travelling with your kids:

1. Bring Out the Technology

At home, there might be a curfew on watching TV and playing games but when on flight, let your kids loose. If the arm rest has that little screen, then flip it out and let them watch a movie. If you have an iPad, download some games, so that when they get bored from watching a movie, they can play on it. The extra screen time will eventually exhaust them and they will go to sleep.

2. Outfit Them in Footie Pyjamas

A long flight and stuffy clothes can irritate kids to the point that they won’t sit anywhere for long. To make it easy on you and them, dress them in footie pyjamas, so that they can enjoy the flight comfortably. Moreover, in case of a diaper outburst, you will only have to replace only one soiled clothing item.

3. Load Up On Anti-Bacterial Wipes

At one point or another, your kid will surely touch something gross that will have you cringing with disgust. Instead of using a single cloth wipe over and over again, load up on those individual anti-bacterial wipes. You don’t know what the bathroom situation will be and these wipes will feel like a godsend when a sticky situation comes up.

4. Only One Carry On Allowed

Now that you are a mother, it’s all about the kids. The carry on you are taking with you, must contain all the essentials your kid might need. Do keep a t-shirt or two for yourself for those unexpected vomits but other than that, make sure everything in it belongs to them. Plus, a single carry on will give you the freedom to hold your kid and navigate through customs easily.

5. Bring Snacks

Food served in airplanes is not necessarily to every kid’s liking. They may taste the food in the excitement of unwrapping those small bowls and plates but it’s possible that they might not eat it after taking the first bite. For situations like these, do bring along snacks that are approved by the customs and airport authorities.

Most parents leave the discipline at home while travelling with kids. Yes, it’s time to let your kid a little loose but not so much that they start disturbing the other passengers and flight attendants. They might give them indulgent looks but nobody likes a kid running down the aisle and creating chaos. Try these tips and you will be able to keep them calm, and enjoy your flight in peace.

4 Pretty Hairstyles for Busy Moms

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When you are a wife and a mother, life is very busy. In the morning, you tend to your kids and then in the evening and then again, in the afternoon. After they arrive, pretty much your first 6 to 10 years are all about them. In the middle of this, when dropping them to school, going to Church or when attending your kid’s soccer game, you need to look at least socially passable. After all, you can’t go looking like a hag with messy hair and in Pj’s, and risk embarrassing your kid.

So, to help you look like the most attentive and put together mom, we bring you 4 hairstyles that are simple and pretty:

Hairstyle #1

Top Knot

You can never go wrong with a top knot. It’s every woman’s go-to hairstyle whether going out shopping or strolling. We are not talking about the messy bun but an elegant top knot that makes you look like a “mom”. Here’s how to make it:

  • Gather all your hair at the top of your head by throwing your head forward.
  • Use a thick black pony and tie your hair as high as possible.
  • Now, slowly circle the hair around the pony and create an open knot.
  • Secure the ends with pins.

Hairstyle #2

Topsy Tail

This hairstyle looks best on women with straight or natural loose curls. A great hairstyle for short hairs, it allows you to sweep every hair strand from your face and secure it in a unique ponytail. Here’s how to make it:

  • Tie you hair close to your neck.
  • Now, loosen the pony a little and insert two fingers under the pony to separate your hair from the head.
  • Flip your ponytail in this gap.
  • Make two flips to create visible twists.
  • If your hair is silky, apply some hair spray, so that the twists don’t open.

Hairstyle #3

The Blair Waldorf Look

Who can forget the iconic looks of Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl? That girl had some taste and apparently a great hairstylist, who we never saw on the show. One of her best hairstyles in the show was the twist and turn pony tail. Here’s how to make up:

  • Take a lock of hair from the right side edge of your head, twist and turn it to the back, and tie it with a rubber band with a lock of hair from the middle.
  • Repeat this on the left side and then tie both the ponytails together.
  • Now, part your hair in threes, leaving the pony tail and bring two in front on either side.
  • Now twist and turn the parted hair, bring it back from above the ponytail and tie it.
  • Repeat it on the other side and secure all the ponytails with a thick black pony.

Hairstyle #4

Simple Chignon

The ultimate mom look that all kids have been guilty of mimicking to look like their rock star. This one’s pretty simple and elegant. Here’s how to do it:

  • Twist and turn a lock of hair from the right side, bring it to the back and secure it with a pin.
  • Repeat it on the left and remove the pin.
  • Tie your hair in a ponytail and part it in the middle from above.
  • Flip the ponytail inside and roll your hair inside the pony.
  • Secure the wayward strands with pins.

So, next time, even if you are taking a stroll in your neighborhood, try these hairstyles and be the cool mom on the block.