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How to Have a Happier Family Life

How to Have a Happier Family Life

Whether your family life is already blissfully happy or you feel like you have room for improvement, it is always worth thinking about what you could do to bring harmony and happiness to your home. There are no downfalls to having a happier family life. Instead, you will find that it makes your home life blissful, which is something everyone should strive for.

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Ways to Have a Happier Family Life

Improve Your Work-Life Balance

It can be tough to find the right balance between work and family commitments, but it is something worth trying. The less stressed and burnt out you are, the happier you and your whole family will be at home. This leads to more quality time you will be able to spend together.

How do you achieve a better work-life balance? Start by looking at your schedule and crossing out at least one commitment that isn’t really essential. Use the spare time you’ve created to have a family movie night or a trip to the park.

Do this every month and soon you’ll have a more streamlined schedule and a better work-life balance.

Live Healthily

Looking after yourself and your family is vital for everyone’s happiness. That means making a real effort, as a family, to eat healthy nutritious meals, exercise, and spend time talking about your feelings.

If one of you is going through a tough time healthwise, you should all band together and offer support. This might include having family therapy sessions, looking into sober living homes, or just clearing time to be together non-judgementally. The healthier you are, the happier you will all be.

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Practice Discipline

Discipline is important in families. Children need to be taught boundaries, not just for their own sake, but for the sake of the family as a whole.

Discipline can seem like a scary word, but it really isn’t about punishment – it’s about knowing what is expected of you and learning how you can stay calm, keep the peace, and do the right thing.

Disciplining your children in this way will give them healthy boundaries and healthy boundaries will lead to a happier life. When children know what is expected of them, everyone will be happier.

Listen to Each Other

As a family, it is important that you all take time to communicate with each other in the good and bad times. Listening, in particular, is a really important skill to learn.

The more your family feels heard and respected, the more they will open up and the easier it will be for you to solve your problems together. Of course, it’s also important to share your triumphs and revel in each other’s joys, too.

Be Flexible

When you have a busy family life, it’s important to be flexible if you want to avoid arguments and live a life with less misery, If you’re too rigid and inflexible, it will cause many arguments and end up with no one doing what they want.

Obviously, some commitments can’t be moved, but if it doesn’t need to be set in stone, don’t put it there. This will make life much easier and happier for everyone.

With all of these tips, you are well on your way to having a happier family life. What are some of the ways you create a happier family life? Tell me about it in the comments!

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Family Activities Learning Life Our Family

3 Ways Going Remote is Good For Families

going remote

As much of the world has employees working from home and children learning virtually, life seems to be a bit uncertain. Whether you are enjoying the remote lifestyle or you’re hating it, it is something we are all dealing with. Luckily, there are a few reasons that going remote is good for families.

Location is a primary concern when it comes to choosing workplaces and schools. In fact, it’s not uncommon for families to consider moving for work or school. Living closer to places of interest can give parents and children a better chance of finding high-quality education and employment. Now, however, location doesn’t seem to be so important.

Some parents were already familiar with the advantages of remote schooling by enrolling their children in online charter schools. Online charter schools have been integral to the homeschooling experience for many families, even before the pandemic.

Unlike the unexpected digital teaching approach that many traditional schools have had to implement in 2020, online charter schools have already mastered the art of providing high-quality digital education. They provide access to some of the best teachers in the world, making the location of staff and students irrelevant.

Consequently, they have become more popular during the covid crisis since safe and effective schooling methods have been essential. It has been a rocky road for most of us, but going remote isn’t all bad. There’s much to gain for families who choose to remain in digital work and school environments.

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How Going Remote is Good For Families

1. It Fits into Your Lifestyle

According to a survey, most Americans want to keep working from home. This includes even after covid vaccines are safely rolled out to the population.

Working at home makes employment and education an integral part of your lifestyle, without causing disruptions. For many parents, their kids’ school schedule is one of the major issues when it comes to maintaining a full-time job. When parents have to see their children off to school and then be there when they get home, it is hard to work full time.

With going remote, however, parents can work in the morning before their kids leave (or start their virtual school work). Plus, parents can continue working after they get the kids home for the day. This gives parents the opportunity to work more hours while still being an active, supportive parent.

Think about it this way – if you aren’t remote and have to go to the office every day, are you able to be there for your kids while still working full time? You may be able to, but the majority of Americans are struggling with this. Going remote can change that, however, because you can be there for your children WHILE bringing in a full-time income. Win-Win, for sure.

While flexible work arrangements are available in some places, it’s easy to see how digital technologies can eliminate disruptive schedules for parents and children. 

If you are a work-from-home parent, read this post for Easy Tips on Working From Home With Kids.

2. It Helps Separate Households Share Custody Rights

When families do not live together, such as divorced or separated parents, it’s tricky to make everybody’s schedules fit. More often than not, one parent gets most of the custody rights, ensuring the safe continuation of education for their children.

However, when you replace physical schools with online institutions, both parents can share custody rights equally. It’s a new challenge for family lawyers, but many are willing to embrace it for the sake of families.

Additionally, it can also change the approach to the whole settlement process – you can see more about it here to understand how going remote can make the transition easier for children. In a remote world, there’s no need to worry about changing jobs or schools when one parent moves out. 

3. Going Virtual Makes Time to Explore Together

Families that travel together stay together. It is a silly statement, but one that is true. Sharing memorable experiences with your partner and children strengthens your bonds.

In the past, traveling has been extremely limited for families due to time constraints. Children only get so much time off school, and adults get even less time off work. This makes it difficult to plan long trips or to truly explore the world.

With going remote, however, there is no need to plan trips around school breaks and week-long vacations from work. Plus, when you travel during school breaks, tourist areas tend to be expensive and crowded. If your family is remote, you can plan these trips anytime of the year.

Of course, you will still have to work, but if you can take a longer trip, it wouldn’t matter if you had to spend time working during it. So, in this case, going remote is a good thing! It doesn’t matter when you embark on a trip, which saves you money and unnecessary stress! 

There is still a long way to go for families to get used to going remote for employment and education. We are only at the start of the path! But, there are already plenty of advantages that could improve our lifestyles and family lives.

We are on a learning curve to make our world safer and better for all, and perhaps digital workplaces and schools could play a significant role in that. If you have been against going remote, I hope these reasons that going remote is good for families will help change your mind!

What are some of the reasons you think going remote is good for families? Tell me about it in the comment section!  

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Adulting For the Home Home How To

How Can You Keep Your Home In The Best Condition Possible?

Keep Your Home In The Best Condition

Keeping your home in the best condition possible is important for a number of reasons. The first is that it means you aren’t going to have to spend a fortune and a bunch of time sorting it out later on. This will be helpful if you want to move or if something gets damaged. The second is that it will make your home a much nicer place to live.

Keep Your Home In The Best Condition

While it may seem like a daunting task that you would rather ignore, it is best not to. You’ll be happier that you have a nice home, and it won’t be such a headache later on. Luckily, there are some easy things you can do to keep your home in the best condition possible.

How to Keep Your Home In The Best Condition

Fix What Is Broken

Keep Your Home In The Best Condition
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If something is broken, you need to fix it. It might not always be possible to do this right away, but there should be some kind of solution in place. For example, if there has been some flooding or other water damage, a company such as Delta Restoration Services will be able to provide the solution that you need.

Or, it might be something else such as a problem with the roof. You might be able to fix it yourself, or you may need to call a professional depending on the extent of the damage.

The same goes for things such as the washing machine or dishwasher. As long as you have a plan in place, then you’re on the right path to keeping your home in the best condition possible.

Keep It Clean

Keep Your Home In The Best Condition
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Another thing that you need to do is to keep your house clean. You never know when you are going to have unexpected house guests, so your home should always be clean.

It might feel like a nightmare in the beginning, but once everything is clean, you will feel better. Make sure you keep up on it to avoid having to spend hours on it again later.

Clean up often, make sure nothing is left lying around, and vacuum or sweep once per day. Of course, there are other things like shampooing the carpets that can be done less frequently. 

It’s the little things that are going to make a big difference. When you keep up on the little things, you are doing yourself a huge favor.

Make sure that everyone who lives in the house is helping out, though, and this includes the kids. When only one person does it, this is where the downfall usually happens. One person cannot be responsible for keeping everything clean.

Make Cost-Effective Improvements

Finally, one of the best ways to keep your home in great condition is to improve it in a way that keeps things efficient. Using a Solar Panel Company is a great way to do this. Generating your own energy can help you to run your home at a better cost, and you’re doing your part to be renewable too.

How Can You Keep Your Home In The Best Condition Possible

If you follow these tips, you are sure to keep your home in the best condition possible. By fixing things when they are broken and keeping your home clean, you are sure to have a home that you love. If you have already done these things and are looking for decor options, check out this blog post for home decor lovers.

What are some of the ways you make sure that your home is in the best condition possible? Tell me in the comments!

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Adulting Decor For the Home Home How To

6 Easy Tips for a Happy, Healthy Home You Will Love

happy, healthy home

We all want to create a comfortable and relaxing home for our families, whether it’s interior design hacks or eco-friendly changes. There are many ways to create a happy, healthy home, to enhance both physical health and mental well-being. All of these tips are simple and inexpensive changes that you can use to improve your lifestyle.

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***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Tips for a Happy, Healthy Home

1 . Cleanse the Air

To create a happy, healthy home, the first thing you should do is improve the quality of your air. First, keep your home well ventilated, opening doors and windows often.

Next, invest in an air purifier or Air Scrubber, which can remove harmful toxins and allergens from the air. There are many different types of air purifiers out there, which is why it’s best to check out a few reviews, such as this Bissell review.

Alternatively, house plants can also cleanse the air inside, removing chemicals such as trichloroethylene and benzene.

2. Remove Excess Clutter

A little clutter never hurt anyone, but an overwhelming amount of clutter can contribute to feelings of stress. This makes it difficult for you to relax at home.

To banish the clutter from your life, go through your items, and keep only things that you actually need or love. To embrace the minimalist lifestyle, these resources may come in handy:

3. Recycle Food Waste

To create a healthy and environmentally friendly home, try recycling your food waste by creating a compost pile. When you recycle your food waste, you’ll be contributing less waste to landfill sites.

Any efforts you make to go green can help you to create a healthier home for you and your family. Whether you shop second-hand or use water-conserving devices, every little bit helps.

4. Create a Vegetable Garden

Growing your own vegetables can help you live a healthier lifestyle. You’ll learn new skills and get nutritious food. Plus, gardening is very therapeutic.

To help you learn how to create a lovely vegetable garden, try using apps like Veggie Garden Planner, or Garden Plan Pro. 

5. Banish the Chemicals 

To make your home a little bit healthier, take a look at the products you use, and banish the chemicals from your life. Choose non-toxic eco candles, or replace conventional cleaning products with eco-friendly cleaners.

You should also pay attention to the products you use on your skin. Many of them contain chemicals, which should be avoided.

When choosing your cosmetics products, use apps like ‘Think Dirty’, to help you make healthier and greener choices.

6. Decorate to Boost Well-being 

When you’re decorating your home, try to make changes that will boost your well-being. Choose artwork that depicts the natural world, helping to create a calm atmosphere.

When painting your rooms, choose calming colors such as muted greens or rustic greys. Hang up photographs of your family and friends, and choose soft furniture for maximum comfort.

happy, healthy home, happy home, eco-friendly, easy tips for home

Taking these steps to ensure a happy, healthy home for your family will make all the difference. Even if you can’t implement all of the ideas, trying a few of them will help immensely.

What are some of the ways you create a happy, healthy home for your family? Tell me about it in the comments!

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Adulting For the Home Home How To

2021 Designs That Will Complete Your Kitchen And Home

2021 designs for the kitchen, 2021 designs for the home, 2021 designs, home design 2021

Upgrading your home often takes time and money. You could troll through pages of inspirational content but sometimes, you just can’t find what is going to be right for you. There are ways you can figure out which 2021 designs to adapt to your kitchen and home, however.

With a custom home builder, you can make decisions that do fit you perfectly. Let’s say you are looking to upgrade your kitchen to modern appliances and give it a general fresh feel. It’s important to know the types of tones and styles that you like the most. It may be hard to pick exactly, but here are some ideas to get you started.

2021 designs for the kitchen, 2021 designs for the home, 2021 designs, home design 2021
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2021 Designs To Adapt To Your Kitchen And Home

A Work Triangle

In the kitchen, it is important to have a work triangle – refrigerator, sink, stove. Comfort and accessibility between the elements will create comfort at work. Drawer for pots under the stove, our spice rack close and available, cutting knives and the like.

Make sure that all the things you use will be arranged in a convenient and accessible way within easy reach. The lighting should also be arranged in a functional way. Continuous lighting about one foot from the end of the cabinet line will make it so that when you open the drawers, you will see exactly what they contain.

Plan According to Your Exact Needs

Just before starting kitchen design, it is most important to understand your needs. Consider whether you cook a lot or a little. Is life lived in the kitchen or is it used for food only? What are the needs in terms of storage, characterization of the seating, and other important things? Figuring these things out ahead of time will give you a space that will meet all your needs.

Make it an Exciting Experience

Today, design and cooking are a social experience in themselves. You likely don’t want to be in an enclosed space, so the kitchen design changes and it is part of the whole house. It should be open and appealing to everyone, and also allow everyone to enjoy the cooking experience. So, design the kitchen in an open and inviting way.

2021 designs for the kitchen, 2021 designs for the home, 2021 designs, home design 2021
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2021 Designs are Taking Hold For the Home

In recent years, the concept of ‘power wall‘ has become a very strong trend (literally) in the field of interior design. This means investing in one prominent and central wall leads to the creation of a special atmosphere in the space. But this trend, it seems, will give way in 2021 to something more fluid, more integrated, and more inclusive.

In 2021, you will see more and more uniformly painted spaces, and not just one prominent wall. Life in Corona times has left us at home and pushed some of us into harmony. 

One of the most prominent trends that was born in the pre-Corona period, but intensified greatly thanks to it, is a return to nature. This includes an understanding of the importance of using natural and recycled materials, alongside a growing discussion on sustainable design. A sustainable design is a simple design, accessible to all and not very sophisticated.

This trend has evolved from raw materials, which have been perfected over the years into combinations that fit the everyday lifestyle. Green and eco-friendly materials that are simple and unsophisticated such as straw, which started out in rugs and baskets, now go into elements on walls and textiles. These elements are found in the natural plaster, recycled wood cladding, and more. It is these materials that bring us home and comfort us.

Has Covid Shaped Our New Design Trends?

Another trend that will be seen in the 2021 designs is the use of calm and peaceful shades. This has a direct connection to the Corona Virus Pandemic, and to the mood and optimism we so desperately need at this time.

Pastel pink, for example, transmits a delicate and sensitive optimism. It connects to natural materials and vice versa – wood and iron for example – and together they form a complete and harmonious look. This harmonious look brings with it both softness and innovation.

A narrative of simplicity, serenity and convergence will be expressed in both materiality and color. This is achieved by using basic raw materials (wood, straw, terracotta, bamboo, jute, and rattan), recycled materials, and a great deal of DIY.

One color palette that reflects peace is earth tones such as a sand color, aqua shades with an optimistic and hopeful saturation, and shades of green that will symbolize environmental trends in the world. Add in some bright colors that will stand out even when things seem dreary to symbolize happy optimism.

2021 designs for the kitchen, 2021 designs for the home, 2021 designs, home design 2021

Using these tips and following the new trends for 2021 designs, you can create a peaceful space that you love. Make your home a place you always enjoy, and a place that helps you forget about your problems.

What are some of your favorite ways to design your space? Are you changing things up for 2021? Let me know in the comments!

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Adulting For the Home Home Life

4 Easy Ways to Make Your House Feel More like a Home

make your house feel more like a home, house feel like a home

As the old saying goes, “there’s no place like home.” In many ways, our homes are the places that we turn to for comfort, rejuvenation, and even inspiration. Our homes are where we spend some of our most cherished moments with the people closest to us, and they are where we refine our sense of who we are. For these reasons alone, you must make your house feel more like a home.

make your house feel more like a home, house feel like a home
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Taking care of your home is so important, and there are many things that can contribute dramatically to making your home feel more like a home. You can make it the kind of place where you enjoy spending time, and where you and your family can thrive.

Perhaps you have just moved into a new home and haven’t quite settled yet. Or, maybe you just aren’t quite happy with how you relate to your existing living space. Either way, taking steps to help make your house feel more like a home is essential.

How to Make Your House Feel More Like a Home

1. Get a Pet

There are many brilliant upsides to getting a pet – especially for families with young kids.

For one thing, getting a pet such as a new Labrador puppy, from a responsible breeder such as https://chocolatelabradorretriever.ca, can immediately fill the home with a rich sense of innocent, jubilant energy, while simultaneously allowing every member of the family to participate in the wonderful aura of enthusiasm that results from this.

For another thing, pets – for many families – symbolise the real solidification of a home. They complete the “white picket fence” dream of what a family home should look and feel like.

In addition to all of this, pets can teach all sorts of valuable lessons to all members of the family, but especially to children. Lessons concerning things like responsibility, to give just one example.

2. Personalize Your Home with Things that have a Personality and a Story

There is certainly a kind of allure connected to the simple and streamlined aesthetic that you will find in many home décor catalogs these days. But, there are setbacks to filling your home with this type of furniture.

The things you fill your home with will dramatically affect how the place feels to you, how you perceive it, and how capable you are of relating to it. If everything in your home was mass produced in a factory, there’s a good chance you will feel alienated from your home.

This is because for a living space to really feel like a home, it has to feel like something that you have a relationship with. Something that has character, personality, and that is personal and relevant to you – rather than just being something broadly utilitarian and pretty.

The more you can ensure that the objects in your home are more than just “objects,” but that they have a story and personality – or, at least, can develop a story and personality over time – the more your house or apartment will come to feel like a home.

3. Get Your Home in Order and Keep it That Way

No matter how great your house may be or how many meaningful items it contains, it will be hard to feel comfortable in your living space if it is messy, and chaotic.

While “comfort” isn’t exactly the same thing as your house feeling like a home, it is at least a significant factor to consider. If you find yourself in this situation, it can be difficult knowing just where to start. You may even struggle with getting the energy and momentum to step forward and begin the process.

Despite those obstacles, the best thing you can do for transforming how your home feels overnight is to dive into the cleaning and organizing process. Make sure that there is a place for everything, and that everything gets put away.

From there, you will be able to see, feel, and appreciate the unique and beautiful features of the place that had been obscured before.

4. Develop Routines to Create a Sense of Happiness and Meaning Each Day

Your home is much more than a place where you simply sleep and eat in between going to work or school.

It’s meant to be a place where you flourish, and where you can get in touch with yourself and appreciate some of the small pleasures of everyday life.

One thing you can do to make your house feel more like a home is to come up with routines that can introduce a sense of happiness and meaning on an everyday basis.

This might mean having a family breakfast each morning at a beautiful dining table, or it may mean sitting on your porch with a cup of coffee before starting the day properly. It could even be as simple as enjoying a good book in your favorite chair.

Your home is supposed to be a special place where you can truly let go. You should be able to relax and enjoy the time you spend at home. This means finding a way to make your house feel more like a home is essential.

What are some of your tips for making a house feel more like a home? Do you have any simple daily routines that help you find pleasure in your home each day? Tell me in the comments! I’d love to hear about it.

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Classroom Family Activities Learning Toys and Games

5 Educational Board Games To Play With Your Kids

Educational Board Games To Play With Your Kids

Playing board games with your kids can have many benefits. Board games can get your kids away from the screen and allow you to enjoy some family bonding time. On top of this, many board games can have educational benefits while still being very fun.

Educational Board Games To Play With Your Kids

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Best Educational Board Games to Play With Kids

Chess

Chess is one of the oldest board games that is still played today. It’s a great game for teaching problem solving and strategy skills. In order to win, you need to keep track of all the pieces on the board while planning your moves ahead.

On top of traditional chess boards, there are chess boards available in all different themes from Harry Potter chess boards to Disney chess boards. You can teach chess to kids as young as 6 as this guide explains, although older kids are likely to appreciate the game more. Chess is a 2 player game, making it better suited to one-on-one time. 

*If you are looking for board games for younger kids, check out this post: 12 of the Best Games For Kids

Scrabble

Scrabble encourages players to earn points by forming words. On top of being a great game for expanding your child’s vocabulary, Scrabble helps kids to develop math skills through adding up points and forming patterns. Plus, it helps with teaching forward planning.

You can play Scrabble with up to four players. As with chess, older kids are likely to appreciate Scrabble more.

If you run out of word ideas, don’t worry. There are lots of tools online that can help you play scrabble better such as this word unscrambler tool.

Monopoly

Monopoly encourages players to buy property around a board until one person owns all the property. It’s a great game for teaching kids money management because in order to win, you need to be able to budget well and take calculated risks.

On top of the classic version of Monopoly, there are now many other versions themed around everything from Star Wars to Pokémon. You can play Monopoly with up to eight players, making it ideal for large families.

Qwirkle

Qwirkle is a game that involves matching colors and shapes using tiles. On top of helping to build logical skills through patterns, Qwirkle is a great game for teaching strategy much like chess or Scrabble (in fact, it’s a bit like a combination of chess and dominoes).

The game is easy to set up and can be played by all ages. Up to four players can play Qwirkle at a time. 

The World Game

If you’re looking for a game to teach geography skills, The World Game is the perfect option. Players compete to find the strongest fact about a country and win.

In doing so, players learn trivia about various countries from capital cities to flags. The game also teaches map orientation, helping kids to work out exactly where countries are in the world. It’s suitable for players of all ages and can be played with up to five players. 

Educational Board Games To Play With Your Kids

Learning doesn’t have to be boring, and you don’t have to force it on your kids. By finding the right ways to help them learn, you can have fun and bond while doing it. Board games are the perfect thing for that because they are fun and educational.

What are your favorite educational board games to play with your kids? Tell me in the comments!

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For the Home How To

5 Cost-Effective Ways To Insulate Your Home

Insulate Your Home

It is winter once again, and the heating bills will soon be staring you in the face. Insulating your home for the winter season is a sure way of spending less on heating, plus it can protect you and your home from other issues, too. Luckily, there are ways to insulate your home better to keep the heat inside and the bills lower.

Insulate Your Home
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Tips to Insulate Your Home

Insulate Crawl Spaces

Crawl spaces are a cause for great concern for homeowners. This is because it is prone to moisture and can deteriorate easily.

Because crawl spaces are close to the ground, they naturally become damp. This dampness creates a thriving environment for pests, and that makes your home a potential breeding ground for them. The dampness in crawl spaces may cause mold, which can easily spread all over your home. 

In cold climates, dampness can lead to the destruction of floor joists and other supporting constructions that keep your home together. You should seriously consider insulating your crawl space and installing a vapor barrier to provide a safe and healthy environment for your home. Improve the natural airflow of your home; you can visit https://www.insulatekansascity.com/crawl-space-insulation/ to find out more.

Use Weatherproofing to Cover Air Leaks

Using weatherproofing strips and caulking to cover and seal air leaks is a great way of insulating your home. Pay special attention to doors and windows. Check for the slightest sense of draft, and use weatherproofing material to seal up air leaks.

Use Thick Curtains

Thick curtains can help insulate your home, especially if you do not have modern windows that help with insulation. Also, consider going for darker colors as they keep warmth longer than lighter colors.

Another option is to use cheap liners and add them to the curtains you already have. Remember to keep the curtains open during the day so that natural sunlight can stream into your home and add some heat. Then, close the curtains at night to maintain the warmth.

Use a Door Snake for Drafty Doors

Door snakes are anything used to seal off the small spaces under doors. They can be made easily with things you probably already have.

Your home has an abundance of materials that can be transformed into a door snake. Old socks, popcorn kernels, and even pillow stuffing can be used to make door snakes.

Or, if you aren’t very good at DIY, you can buy one that is already made. There are many options, and you can get one to fit any door.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

When Not in Use, Plug Your Chimney

Plugging your chimneys when they are not in use is another cost-effective way of insulating your home. According to a study, the heating bills of homes increased by 30% if there was a fireplace damper missing or damaged.

You may be losing a lot of useful heat through your chimney if it is not blocked, and you can easily plug it using a chimney balloon. You can create a simple chimney balloon by covering a large-sized balloon with laminate and inflating it once it is inside the chimney. This should provide an adequate seal and keep the heat in your home.

Of course, you can purchase a chimney balloon, instead. There are different sizes and types, so you’re sure to find one that works for you.

Seal Attic Air Leaks

Hot air rises, so your attic may serve as an escape route for hot air. You should consider sealing air leaks in your attic or redesigning it.

You can use regular reflective foil material as a cheaper alternative to using foam as insulating material. Staple the reflective foil sheets to the rafters in the attic, and the heat will stay in your home and reduce your heating bills.

Follow these simple tips to reduce your heating bills and keep your home safe and warm during the winter season. It can help with other issues, too, as mentioned in the section about the crawl space. What are some cost-effective ways you reduce your heat bill? Leave a comment and let us know!

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Big kid fun Family Activities How To Infant/Toddler Learning Learning Parenting Toddler and Preschool Age Fun Toddler and Preschool Age Learning Toys Toys and Games

What Are Some Of The Ways You Can Encourage Imaginative Play?

imaginative play

Encouraging your child to use their imagination is very important. After all, this is an essential step in their learning process as it helps them develop skills and learn. The best way to get your child’s imagination working is through imaginative play. After all, if something seems fun, then your child will instantly be more responsive and involved.

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Luckily, there are quite a few imagination-based toys available in stores and on the internet. Even better, many toys for imaginative play are popular with young children. You’ll be able to find the perfect one for your kiddo that they will love.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Click these links for a few ideas for pretend play that your kids will love:

There are also online play options and virtual school assemblies. This means that you are not faced with a shortage of options to choose from.

This blog post aims to give you a helping hand with this by simply providing you with some tips and suggestions regarding the promotion of imaginative play.

Figure Out What Type of Imaginative Play Your Child Likes

The key is to try out a few different things to discover what type of imaginative play your child likes. Stick with things that let them use their mind to unlock the door of their imagination.

There are lots of great toys available that are based around role-playing. One of the most popular options to go for is a kid’s kitchen. This gives your child their very own area of space where they can pretend to cook and create different meals.

This helps them because they will be able to become more familiar with different kitchen activities. Plus, they can use their imagination to create different scenarios.

Buy a Dollhouse

Another good option is to buy a dollhouse. These are great because they promote creativity as well as imagination. Your child will be able to decorate the rooms in the house and think of different scenarios between the dolls. Plus, this helps the child learn about family dynamics, the roles of different individuals, and the makings of a household.

Encourage Imaginative Dress-Up

There are lots of different dress-up costumes available from toy stores, and it is another good option to go for. After all, what better way to let your imagination run wild and get into true character than dressing up as something? The choices for dress-up are never-ending, and it is a good idea to let your little one pick which outfit they likes best.

Consider Other Play Home Items

If you are looking for something which is smaller or more affordable than a play kitchen, then there are lots of scaled-down sets. These sets encourage kids to learn different life skills. You can get cake baking sets, laundry sets, coffee making sets, and much, much more.

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As you can see, there are several different ways in which you can get your child’s imagination working. Hopefully, the tips to promote imaginative play given in this article will have provided you with some ideas and inspiration. What are some ways your kids enjoy imaginative play? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Adulting Decor For the Home How To Life

5 Easy Ways to Create a Cozy Living Room You Will Love

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There are certain times of the year where you just want a cozy living room to enjoy. The winter is one of those times, but how can you make your living room as cozy and relaxing as possible, with minimal effort? Well, here are some quick tips for making your living room as cozy as possible.

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How to Quickly Create a Cozy Living Room

1. Clean Up

No one can be genuinely cozy in a place that needs to be decluttered. Most people tend to clean during the winter and again in the springtime. So if you’ve been putting off your winter clean, it’s time to get it started. 

Declutter as much as possible, though you’ll likely do this to make room for a Christmas tree or some sort of festive decorations, anyway. The more you eliminate, the better you will feel as you cuddle up on your couch to read a book or watch your favorite show.

2. Add Texture

Some textures are super comforting during the winter months. Look for textured fleece blankets, chenille sweaters, or warm fluffy socks to keep nearby. If you already have them, it’s time to grab your most comfortable blankets and have them ready on the couch. This is one of the most important things you can do to get that cuddly, cozy feeling in your living room.

Having a soft fluffy rug will also help to keep your living room warm and insulated, as well as add extra texture to the living room too.

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3. Consider the Lighting

If you want to create some specific atmospheres, then lighting is the way to do it. One of the best things you can do is to add fairy lights to the space around your living room. Wrapping fairy lights around shelves, around your Christmas tree, or around windows to add a festive twinkle to your living room. 

Then, when the sun sets early in the winter months, you can turn the sparkle up. For an extra cozy feeling, you might want to keep the overhead lighting off and let the rest of the twinkling lights work their magic. 

4. Make Sure It’s Warm

Part of being cozy is being warm, so make sure your living room is well-heated. If you haven’t had your boiler checked out for a while, now is the perfect time to do it. Many people find themselves in need of a water heater repair just as winter hits. 

Plan ahead so that you don’t get stuck in this situation. If you have a fireplace, consider getting that checked out, as well. There is no way to be cozy if you aren’t warm, and you don’t want to get stuck this way in the middle of the night.

Before switching on the radiators in every room in the house, read this handy guide and how you can save money on your heating over autumn and winter.

5. Fragrances

Some fragrances just remind us of the winter. Spiced apple, cinnamon, pumpkin and Christmas cookies are all great scents that can make a room feel extra cozy. If you don’t want to have open flames, then reed diffusers can help bring comforting smells to your living room. 

Many fragrance brands have brought out specific holiday-themed fragrances, which means you can recreate that cozy Christmas feeling all year around. You can also opt for a simple plug-in. 

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So, once you have created a cozy living room, it’s time to get settled in. Put on your favorite comfy clothes, get a cup of coffee, and grab a blanket before hopping on the couch.

I always like to watch Gilmore Girls when I have a chance to get cozy on the couch. What do you like to do when you’re cuddled up on the couch in the winter? Tell me in the comments!