Archives for 2020

Gardening with your kids can be a fun and exciting journey for both of you. And giving your kids their own space to grow their own food is a great way for them to see where their food comes from whole teaching them about how to live a zero-waste lifestyle.

When gardening with your kids, you want to choose plants that germinate quickly. Not only do they have to germinate fast, but short attention spans also require the ability to see growth. And if there’s a reward at the end in the form of food, all the better.

Luckily, there are a lot of edible plants that you and your kids will have fun caring for. The best part is, they’ll learn the responsibility of tending the garden while reaping nutritious food they grew themselves.

Prepare Your Space

In order to have a garden, you need to have a little space. The good news is, if you don’t have a lot of space in your yard, you can still make room for plants. Think about using small raised beds or containers for your child’s plants because most of these plants don’t require a lot of room.

Then, just add soil to your space and map out where you want to grow your plants so they don’t crowd each other out.

Green Goodness

If you’ve ever had trouble getting your little ones to eat their greens, a good technique is to have them grow their own. A quick-growing plant with a deliciously sweet result is the snap pea plant. Snap peas begin to germinate in as little as 10 days, they grow quickly, and your kids can pick them off the vine in under 60 days.

Here are a few other green plants to try:

• Green beans

• Lettuce

• Cucumbers

• Zucchini

Edible Flowers

Growing edible plants doesn’t have to be limited to traditional fruits and veggies because flowers can be a beautiful and delicious addition to your child’s garden.

One flower that’s fun and easy to grow with your kids is the sunflower. The seeds germinate within 7 to 10 days and will tower over your little ones in under 3 months. The best part is once they mature, you can harvest the seeds to eat and to grow another crop.

A few other edible flowers to add to your garden are:

• Marigolds

• Nasturtium

• Johnny-Jump-Up

Underground Mysteries

Sometimes, when you are dealing with limited space, you might feel like you need to be an expert in logistics optimization to grow a healthy garden. However, if you’re willing to get creative, you’ll find you have all the space you need. One way to save space above the garden floor is to go below the ground.

And just because these edible plants grow under the surface doesn’t mean they can’t be just as engaging for your child. In fact, once they mature, pulling up and digging out the fruits of their labor will become an exciting treasure hunt.

The fastest underground edible plant for your child’s garden is the radish. They germinate in as little as three to four days and mature in less than a month. You won’t find a vegetable maturing any quicker than that!

Here are some other food choices for your child to add to their garden:

• Potatoes

• Carrots

• Beets

• Onions

Let Your Garden Grow

Giving your kids the responsibility of tending to their own garden can be rewarding. They’ll follow their plants from seed, and they’ll water and nurture it until it comes to full maturity. It teaches them the power of following through and gives them an appreciation for every bit of food they consume.

It can also be a powerful bonding experience for both of you because once they harvest, you can head to the kitchen and experiment with some recipes together. And all it takes are some seeds, commitment, space, and a little TLC.

Active kids are more healthy, happy, and energetic. But in today’s world, it can be difficult to break them away from their electronic devices long enough to get them moving. And as obesity and health issues continue to play a role within our youth, it is vital that kids are active on a daily basis. Consider these helpful tips to increase the level of fitness within your own children.

Cut Down Leisure Time

Sometimes you have to cut down in one area in order to make time for another. For example, if your child spends their days chatting away on the telephone, limit their talk time to one hour per day. Putting time constraints on electronic devices will also free up time for physical activity.

Enroll Them Into Sports

Sports teams are a godsend when it comes to keeping children active. Unlike professional sports, parents can get their children involved by simply signing them up and possibly paying a reasonable fee. There are various teams to choose from, including basketball, football, cheerleading, and tennis, and the list goes on. Each sport comes with a unique set of rewards, and children tend to take a lot of pride in becoming a part of a team effort. Organized play is also a great way for kids to learn social skills. What’s more, coaches are motivational by design, giving parents a break from having to force their children to participate.

Purchase Them a Bike

Bike riding is a genius method for convincing a child to work out as it is so entertaining that they could easily ride for 45 minutes without even realizing it. Biking is not only a strength builder, but it is also a means for getting a healthy dose of nature. Just remember to consult a bicycle size chart before buying bikes for your kids so that you don’t risk their safety.

Play Exercise Videos

Kids love a good follow along. Exercise videos are perfect for children who are shy, lack physical confidence, or feel more comfortable in private settings. It is also a budget-friendly option that allows viewers to get expert training from the comfort of their own homes.

Make It a Family Event

Child fitness is just as important as adult fitness. That said, combining workout efforts is like tackling two important chores at once. And as we all know, kids aspire to be like their parents and older siblings and will mimic them in various ways. Implementing a family exercise schedule is a great way to bond while achieving physical health. You can also sign up for classes together or become one of the coaches of your child’s sports team. Having you close by will encourage them to stick with it and try their best to gain your ongoing support.

Invite Their Friends

Most children are social butterflies or have at least one friend that they would travel to the end of the world and back with. This is why including their friends will make for a better turn out. You can simply make a trip to the local park, host sporting events, or even ask their friends to join them as they complete their activity session.

Kids are equipped with the energy levels that most adults would die for, and it is up to parents to introduce active lifestyles to their children, no matter how challenging the task may be. If your child doesn’t like basketball, try soccer. If that fails, try gymnastics. You can start your child out by looking at some gymnastics practice mats. Be willing to switch and bend until they find something that interests them as the reward for remaining active is invaluable.

A new build property is an enticing prospect. Everything is brand new, there are no repairs needed, you can personalise aspects, there is warranty cover, and being the first owners is an added emotional high. Still, the buying process should be meticulous and attention to detail supreme.

Why? Because, unfortunately, new build properties have their own share of horror stories ranging from poor construction to failed warranties. If you are set on buying a new build property directly from the developer, here are some questions you should ask:

1. What other properties are in your portfolio?

This should help get a feel of the previous homes built by the developer. The style of building construction and the state of them years down the line should educate you of their workmanship skills.

2. Can you provide references from your previous buyers?

Reviews are always enlightening whether it’s a product from Amazon or your next home. Scout around for opinions from present homeowners regarding their experience with builder, contentment with their homes, and process of handling complaints.

3. What does my new build property include?

It is very important to understand and document everything the property includes. Things like white goods, garden landscaping, parking space, etc. Make sure you know the basic features on the base price and what upgrades are priced additionally so that you can list the additions and calculate the cost.

4. What are the specifics of the warranty provided?

Asking the developer about the warranties available to you and on what things will clear the picture. New build property is ideally covered for the first 5-10 years of their life. This can differ for materials, fittings, utilities, etc. It is vital to understand the dynamics of the warranty policies including insurance, your maintenance obligations, etc.

5. Are modifications allowed?

In a property that is still in the construction phase, sometimes alterations are allowed with upcharges. However, in a ready-to-move-in new build the developer might not allow any extensions. On the other hand, minor modifications without structural changes such as fixtures, counter tops, etc. could be permitted. Clarifying this will avoid confrontations later.

6. How much will maintenance cost?

You need to have an idea about the running costs of your new home. Council taxes, energy bills, utilities bills, service charges, ground rents should be listed and accounted for in your final financial consideration. Clarify about financial incentives or schemes from the developer.

7. Who will help in case of complaints about property?

Just because it is brand new doesn’t mean it won’t have problems. If there are issues with your property, there should be someone to contact if only to clear out warranty limitations. Be sure about the clear chain of access.

It all boils down to one fundamental fact: The home should be right for you. This checklist help you ask the questions that matter to figure out if a property is indeed suited to your needs.  Highly regarded developer Frank Carioti understand that persistent questions are related to happy owners. They are courteous and thorough about all concerns related to new build property.

Are you proactive about your health? The healthcare industry has learned about the benefits of proactive care. It means they focus on preventing illnesses rather than just curing them. However, don’t leave it all up to the doctors. After all, if you make changes now, you won’t need as many doctor’s visits.

Instead of worrying about your life expectancy, be proactive about your health. Ditch the junk food for healthier snack options. Ensure you’re getting enough vitamins. To stress less about future emergencies, double-check your life insurance policy. Consider viatical settlements to avoid future financial hardships. Check your family history of chronic illness. Ask a financial planner to help you sort through your health and life insurance policy. And, if all else fails, research CBD and anxiety; perhaps CBD could help you to manage your stress and stay calm.  Here’s a Lazarus coupon. Read on for a few tips to a more proactively healthy life.

Pick healthy over health trends.

Are you staying healthy, or are you buying into health trends? Switching from one fad diet to another is as bad as no diet at all. And, a lot of those exercise trends may not be right for what you need. If you want to be proactive about your health, you need to be healthy all the time.

It’s not as difficult as it sounds. A few tweaks to your diet are better than a binge and purge routine. Pick natural ingredients and wholesome food. Cut out or balance your intake of junk food. Don’t cut out all your favorite treats—balance how much you consume instead. Get a little activity every day, rather than a few intense sessions of a trendy exercise. Make it a habit instead of thinking about it as a chore.

Don’t leave anything to chance.

Do you have the right health insurance? What about life insurance? Do you need a group policy? And is your insurance company the best one? Being proactive about your health means continually updating your records. And, of course, your insurance policy.

As you age, you may want to look into things like a viatical settlement. If you’re not particularly wealthy, the cash value of your life insurance can be valuable. A written agreement for a viatical settlement can help you out here. It can even help your family with a death benefit in case of sudden death or terminal illness. A good viatical settlement company or a broker of viatical settlements can help you negotiate the best viatical settlement contract. You can also check rates on a third party website.

Also, make sure that you have savings for health issues like a chronic illness. Check whether your premium payment on insurance will rise in such a situation. Try to negotiate instead of taking the insurance company quotes at face value. Read the yearly report from companies with which you have signed a legal document. To be the most proactive, double-check, and update policies every few years.

Get regular checkups.

Do you know if you’re at risk of certain diseases? When was the last time you had a cancer screening? It’s important to get checkups in any case. However, ensure that you know your family history and get checkups accordingly. Knowledge of family history alone won’t determine how long a person lives. It can, however, help you to prevent known risk factors. The best way to be proactive about your health is to take preventive measures. So, don’t skip doctor’s visits.

Focus on more natural remedies.

Do you know everything about all the medication you take? It’s easy to pop a pill every time you feel ill. However, some people can have an adverse reaction to over-the-counter drugs as well. And, taking too many prescription medications can be risky.

If you’re trying to cut out all the medication, but still need some remedies — try CBD. You can get the highest grade non-GMO hemp, oils, tinctures, and pills. Of course, pick a trusted company to buy it from, like seralabshealth.com. With a trusted brand, you can ensure you get the highest quality CBD and the purest organic CBD extracts. Why pick this over medication? CBD products have natural ingredients. And, they help with everything from mental health to physical pain.

And CBD has all your proactive skin health-related products covered too. Pick from CBD facial toner and CBD body butter. There’s CBD facial cleanser, and other CBD formulations made to target these issues. With the purest hemp and highest quality CBD, you can reduce anxiety, depression, and acne. You even alleviate symptoms of diseases like cancer.

Keep health records of your own.

It’s a good idea to visit a doctor instead of ignoring the symptoms of an illness. However, it’s an even better idea to record your symptoms regularly. If you have a chronic illness, you probably already do this. Keeping a record of niggling aches and pains can help in the future. Don’t become a hypochondriac—be proactive by listening to your body more.

Try not to ignore small signs of discomfort. You don’t have to run to the doctor every time you have a tummy ache. However, if you journal every change in your body, you will learn to control your health. You can track how food reacts to your system. Or, see if certain products you use don’t agree with you. Also, keep track of all your medication, vitamins, and treatments.

If you live in a rainy area, or have a young family and have to do multiple loads of washing daily, the chances are that your clothes dryer is one of the most important machines in your home. As a result, it’s essential to choose the right product for your household’s needs.

You must also care for the appliance over the years, so you get the most value for money from it. Doing this will help to ensure it continues to perform well every time you need it. Follow a few simple steps to set yourself up for warm, dry clothes today and beyond.

Your Family’s Needs

The first thing to consider when you buy a new clothes dryer is your family’s specific needs. The size of the dryer you choose comes down to how many people are in your family, how often you wash and therefore need to dry clothes, and also if you have access to an outdoor clothesline or indoor drying rack.

If you have a large family, it pays to choose an oversize dryer that is at least 29 inches wide and has a drum size of seven cubic feet or more. This sized appliance will dry your large loads nice and quickly and is also suitable if you regularly wash bulky, oversized items. On the other hand, if it’s just you, or yourself and a partner or housemate, you can probably do with a smaller appliance, such as a 24- or 25-inch model.

Available Space

The space you have free in which to position your dryer will also make a difference to which product you buy. If you have very little room in your house, you may need to opt for a single washer-dryer unit that both washes and dries your possessions. If you have plenty of space and a full laundry, you can select a freestanding machine that can be moved around as needed.

Another option, if you don’t have a dedicated laundry room, is to integrate your dryer into your kitchen or bathroom. There are integrated products designed to be installed within kitchen or bathroom units and hidden behind matching cupboard doors, for instance. These tend to be around the same height and width as traditional freestanding products.

There are also semi-integrated tumble dryers. With these machines, the drum gets hidden behind a door, but the control panel remains visible. When working out how much space you have to work with inside your home, keep in mind that you need enough clearance to open the dryer’s door. Plus, dryers also need some breathing space, so ensure there’s a couple of inches of space around your machine for air to circulate adequately.

Type of Dryer

The next decision is the type of dryer you want. Vented models pump air out from the drum to the outside via a flexible hose. They, therefore, must be positioned next to a window or wall with a permanent vent. Condenser models can be placed anywhere in a home that’s well ventilated as they don’t connect to any exhaust hoses. They instead condense internal steam and turn it into water that’s collected in a removable reservoir that needs emptying every so often.

The more expensive products, and also the newer ones and most user-friendly, are heat-pump dryers. These use modern technology to dry laundry via hot air that extracts water from the contents you place inside for drying. This water then evaporates in a tank.

Machine Features

Today’s clothes dryers also tend to come with a variety of features that you’ll need to consider when choosing your appliance. For example, think about your desire for the following:

– Energy efficiency

– Sensor technology and multiple programs

– Shoe-rack accessories

– Child locks

– Time-remaining displays and delayed-start features

– Reversible doors for more flexible positioning in your home

– Warning LEDs

– Reverse drums to aid drying and reduce creasing

How to Care for Your Dryer

Once you own your dryer, it’s essential to look after it properly. Install the machine correctly, so it’s level, and if you ever have any issues with it, call in a dryer repair person ASAP to examine the unit and make necessary repairs. On a day-to-day basis, always remove the lint regularly, such as after each time you use the machine.

Don’t store things on top of the appliance or let items go inside it that shouldn’t be there (e.g., coins or pens that might damage the drum). Also, keep the machine clean and don’t overload it as doing so will make it work harder than it should.

A clothes dryer is an excellent device to have on hand, especially when you have to do multiple loads of washing weekly. Follow the above suggestions to set yourself up in this area for the coming years.