Tag: How to

Categories
Adulting Mental Health Parenting

4 of the Best Confidence Hacks For New Moms

Confidence Hacks For New Moms

Throughout your life, you’ll encounter various situations that will cause your confidence to take a hit. As we get older, our confidence can be impacted by professional and academic success. Furthermore, while welcoming a baby into the world is joyful, this could also harm your confidence. Your confidence decrease is due to the simple fact that babies bring a lot of change. Your body will look (and feel) different, your emotions will fluctuate, and you’ll find yourself questioning every decision you make for your baby. As a result, it’s hardly surprising that many moms report a distinct drop in their confidence once their baby arrives. These confidence hacks for new moms will help you overcome those feelings.

Confidence Hacks For New Moms
Source

Confidence Hacks For New Moms

Attend all health appointments.

Health, happiness, and confidence are often much more intertwined than you may think. While you may focus on taking your babies to all of their postnatal appointments, it’s also essential that you keep your health in check. Keeping your health in check includes making the most of dental services and dental appointments that you may have put off during your pregnancy. 

Embrace your mom-bod. 

As mentioned previously, your body will go through many changes during pregnancy, including weight gain. While this is perfectly natural, it’s also understandable that your relationship with your body and confidence will change slightly during this time too. To feel confident once more, you must learn to love yourself and your reflection. Remember, your worth isn’t defined by the figure on the scales. Whenever you find yourself thinking negatively about your body- commend yourself on your strength and the fact that you brought life into the world. 

Develop a healthy routine.

Unhealthy habits are easy to slip into – whether you grab the takeout menu instead of cooking fresh meals or watch your favorite Netflix show instead of exercising. However, unhealthy habits can also hurt your confidence because they stop you from taking proper care of yourself. As a result, you should develop a healthy routine if you are looking to feel more confident. You can start by following a healthy diet and participating in mom and baby workouts.  

Know that it’s okay to ask for help.

One of the biggest mistakes that new parents make is believing that they have to do everything alone. However, this is not the case. It’s okay to ask for parenting help when you need it. Raising children means that you’ll deal with surprise after surprise – many of which aren’t in the pregnancy books you read. The people around you can provide you with the insight you need to thrive as a new mom. Plus, voicing your concerns to others will also help you settle your anxieties, letting you know that you are doing your best. 

Confidence Hacks For New Moms

Having a baby can interfere with your confidence levels, but these tips can help. Do you have any other confidence hacks for new moms? Leave a comment and let us know!

Categories
For the Home Home How To Parenting

2 Easy Ways to Put Together a Budget Nursery for Your Baby

Having a child is expensive, and there’s no getting around that. However, there are many ways to save money on some essentials while still offering your child a comfortable, healthy life. You don’t need to go cheap, but there are many ways to stay frugal so that you can maintain your financial situation. Learning the best ways to put together a budget nursery can make all the difference right from the start.

Budget Nursery for Your Baby
Source

How to Put Together a Budget Nursery for Your Baby

Use Hand-Me-Down Items

Hand-me-down items are common for the baby’s nursery because you really only need them for a few years. Your baby will grow up faster than you think, and those items you bought for your baby are going to be useless. So if you’re spending a lot of money on something like a crib, remember that your baby won’t need it for long.

So when you become a parent, put your pride aside and accept when people offer you hand-me-down items. Using these items is a great way to save money, and you can get some fantastic deals. Some people give out baby items for free, or you can find ads on websites that offer free baby items that are still in perfect condition.

Buy it All From One Place

One of the best ways to save money is to buy all of your baby-related items from one store. Since you’re likely to have it delivered, many stores offer free delivery or they’ll add in some discounts and bonuses. Taking advantage of these benefits is a brilliant way to ensure that all of your items arrive on time. Plus, you get to save money since you’re not paying for multiple deliveries.

Check out stores such as Foryourlittleone that offer a complete selection of baby-related items and furniture. With a massive selection like this, you can get baby car seats that you’d typically need to buy from a specialist vendor. It’s convenient, inexpensive, and can help save a considerable amount of money.

Making a Budget Nursery for Your Baby

While having a child is expensive, there are many great ways to stay on a budget. Do you have any other tips? Leave a comment and let us know, we’d love to hear them!

Categories
Adulting For the Home Home

4 Important Things to Consider When Looking for Your Next Home

Looking for Your Next Home

Looking for your next home signals the beginning of a new chapter in your life, but it’s no easy task. With so many properties to look at, you might become overwhelmed by the choices available. Here are some factors to consider when deciding on what you want from your new home:

Looking for Your Next Home
Source

Things to Consider When Looking for Your Next Home

Type of Property

Deciding on the type of home you hope to move to is an excellent way to narrow down your choices. Without a clear idea about the kind of property you want can make your search take a lot longer and more stressful. Thinking about the style of property that will best suit your family is a critical decision.

Do you want to look for apartments near me so that you can enjoy the convenience of apartment living? Or maybe you want a large house with lots of outside space. Once you have thought about your family’s lifestyle and the type of property that will best suit the way you live, it will be so much easier to find the right home.

The Right Location

Location is everything when choosing a home, as it is one aspect of your new home that you cannot change. Finding the perfect home is especially essential when you have kids to consider. Looking for a property in a family-friendly area with good schools and lots of amenities will make family life so much easier. Drawing up a shortlist of family-friendly locations is a great way to start narrowing down your options. Once you have your shortlist, researching each of these areas in more detail will help you decide on the best place to live.

Focus on Size

Size is a significant consideration for many people when choosing a new home. If your home is too small, it can make family life stressful and impact your quality of life. However, living in a too-big home can create issues regarding increased running costs and maintenance. Thinking about how much space your family needs is the best way to choose a home that is comfortable to live in without overspending.

Turn-Key Property or Fixer-Upper?

Choosing a property that requires some work is an excellent way to get a better home for less money. However, taking on a renovation project is not something that everyone enjoys. Thinking about whether you want the challenge of fixing up a property to transform it into your dream home or whether you want a home you can move straight into is an important consideration.

Looking for Your Next Home

When searching for your new home, there are many things to consider, but thinking carefully about what you want from your new property before you even start looking is a great way to secure a home that perfectly suits your needs.

Categories
For the Home Home How To

3 Easy Ways To Make Your Bed Extra Cozy

Your bed likely isn’t as comfortable as it could be, even if it is comfy enough. Most of us have basic beds with just a mattress cover and sheets. We don’t often think about how the materials make us feel, just as long as we’re warm. But being warm in bed isn’t hard to do, and you can easily keep your body temperature high enough to be content and cozy. However, we need to consider the whole bed, not just what you cover it with but what you could put on it to make it more than just a basic bed. Here are three ways to make your bed extra cozy.

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

Make Your Bed Extra Cozy
Source

How to Make Your Bed Extra Cozy

Why cotton and not wool?

If you want to fall asleep without trouble, you shouldn’t be too warm. Our body temperature needs to drop for the body’s sleep routine to kick in. With this being the case, avoid using wool bedding. Instead, opt for cotton, which will help regulate your body temperature.

Plus, cotton is more versatile and more affordable. Consider the best kind of cotton, such as Merino Cotton and Egyptian cotton. The thread count should be between 800 and 1200 so that it’s soft enough to avoid creasing and becoming rigid when washed. Anything lower than 800 will be too coarse, and above 1200 will be a little too fragile.

Eco-friendly bedding

Everyone agrees that global warming affects the planet, and we need to prevent it from worsening. The way you can help is to change the way you think about what you buy. Instead of choosing synthetic sheets, you should consider cotton, wool, or even bamboo sheets. Bamboo sheets are very soft and still durable, unlike what you see in cotton and wool. This plant-based material is rigid at first, but after it has been threaded and treated, it becomes very flexible and luxurious. 

More on top 

Don’t just consider how you cover your bed or pillows, but also think about what you could put on top of the bed. Can you put a smaller pillow to plug any gaps? Maybe you can put a throw on the bed to give your feet some extra warmth should they pop out from the bottom by accident? Consider using an Oxford pillowcase for supporting pillows as these have extra material, providing you with more comfort.

You can also consider a bolster pillow for your arms, feet, or neck. A bolster pillow can help improve your lumbar spine health if you feel the need to sleep facing up.

Make Your Bed Extra Cozy

These are just a few ways to make your bed more comfortable without busting the wallet or purse strings. Consider investing in wool or cotton at first for your bedding, but bamboo if you want something luxurious and more modern.

Categories
Adulting Decor For the Home Home

6 Easy Ways To Make Your Bathroom Feel Luxurious

The bathroom is a functional space in most homes, but many of us dream of having it be a space with a touch of luxury. Whether you’re inspired by the bathroom in your favorite hotel or you want more luxury in your life, these ideas can help make your bathroom feel luxurious.

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

Make Your Bathroom Feel Luxurious
Source

How to Make Your Bathroom Feel Luxurious

Upgrade The Fixtures And Fittings

Depending on your budget, you can upgrade the fixtures in your bathroom. If you have more to spend, then something like smart toilets by Trone or free-standing tubs instantly add a touch of glamour to the bathroom. 

If you’re on a tighter budget, then you can make more affordable upgrades, like swapping handles on any drawers or cabinets for something that looks more expensive. Consider switching out your old mirror for something new and larger to add some luxury. 

Tile Diagonally

Diagonal tiling, rather than tiling vertically or horizontally, looks more expensive. It makes the bathroom look larger too, which is essential if it’s a cramped room. Diagonal tiles make the bathroom feel more custom and unique. You could also cover a whole wall in tile, from floor to ceiling, to add more sparkle and dimension to an otherwise flat surface. 

Choosing the right materials is essential, but how you use those materials is just as important. Adding tile only to a small area doesn’t show off the materials to its best advantage. Tiling can be expensive, but you could tackle it yourself to save some money.

Use Large Light Fixtures

One good trick to make your bathroom feel fancy is to use a large-scale light fixture, like a flush-mount chandelier. These make a big impact but don’t take up too much of the room’s space. Remember that open space can be the biggest luxury.

Use Plants to Make Your Bathroom Feel Luxurious

Lush plants in attractive planters can help draw the eye where you want it in the bathroom, making the space feel a little larger. The bathroom might not seem like the most obvious place to keep plants, but some plants thrive in a humid environment. Try aloe vera, ferns, or orchids.

Upgrade Your Containers

Buy yourself a bathroom accessory set that has a matching soap dispenser and toothbrush holder. Don’t forget the rest of your toiletries, though. Pour your products, like your shampoo, body wash, and lotion, into beautiful glass containers. Getting rid of your plastic containers and opting for something beautiful will instantly make your bathroom feel more luxe and thought-out. Nobody will know your toiletries are cheap if you keep them in gorgeous containers, either.

Upgrade Your Towels

On a similar line, upgrade your towels. Throw out any that have seen better days and buy some new ones. Look for towels with some luxury details, such as embroidered edges, ribbon trim, and monogramming. Choose plush options too. Turkish towels are a great option, as they dry quickly but have a luxe, lightweight feel. These towels will look better hanging up in your bathroom and will be nicer to use too.

Make Your Bathroom Feel Luxurious 

It can be easy to make your bathroom feel luxurious. If you aren’t doing a full bathroom makeover, implement one of these tips at a time. Do you have any other ways to make your bathroom feel luxurious? Leave a comment and let us know!

Categories
Health Healthy Living How To

4 Guaranteed Ways To Help You Stay On Top Of Your Oral Health

Staying on top of your oral health is as important as maintaining your physical health. It will help to avoid any health complications and achieve optimal health overall. Getting lazy with your oral health routine can quickly cause your teeth to start to deteriorate. These tips are guaranteed ways to help you stay on top of your oral health.

Stay On Top Of Your Oral Health
Source

How to Stay On Top Of Your Oral Health

Join a local dental practice

It is easier to stay on top of your health checkups if they are close by and convenient. You won’t want to drive or walk for miles if you have other things to do. Using local dental services will ensure that you don’t have to go out of your way to attend routine checkups. 

The appointments will be much more convenient, and you’ll have less of a reason to cancel them. Staying on top of your routine appointments and not delaying them will ensure that you maintain the best oral health and avoid any teeth or gum complications.

Eat the right foods

Surprisingly, many healthy foods can make your teeth look brown. Foods such as berries, beets, and soy sauce can change the color of your teeth. Although this color may disappear when you brush your teeth, it won’t if you lack a regular brushing routine. 

It is best to eat the right foods if you want to avoid your teeth from looking brown. Good foods for optimal oral health include:

  • Apples
  • Cauliflower
  • Pears
  • Cheese 

Should you eat foods that discolor your teeth, make sure to brush them as soon as possible to avoid staining. 

Use a fluoride-rich toothpaste

Although many of us might think that using any toothpaste will strengthen our teeth and make them look white and pearly, they aren’t all as effective as each other.

It is best to use fluoride-rich toothpaste as the ingredients will strengthen enamel and keep teeth in their best condition. Fluoride-rich toothpaste will also help your teeth stay white, which is essential to maintain your smile. 

Floss regularly

Along with brushing your teeth, it is essential to floss too. Some toothbrushes and brushing routines might not be effective enough to remove all plaque and food remains. The floss will loosen it and remove it from your mouth. A build-up of plaque or food can deteriorate the teeth as well as the gums.

Make sure to floss once a day and do it before you brush so that you can loosen anything that needs brushing and washing away. Taking it in your bag with you will also help you dislodge anything that gets stuck, which can deteriorate your teeth throughout the day. Or, you can use it to stay on top of the condition of your teeth and gums. 

Stay On Top Of Your Oral Health

Using these oral health tips can help you optimize and maintain the health of your teeth. Make sure to develop a good routine and check in with your dentist to avoid any oral health issues.

Categories
Health Healthy Living Mental Health

4 of the Best Tips To Protect And Improve Your Mental Health

Most of us know that eating well and moving more can benefit our bodies, but you should know that you can also take steps to protect and improve your mental health. It’s not always possible to prevent psychological illnesses, but it’s beneficial to reduce risks. These simple tips can help you nourish your mental well-being. 

Protect And Improve Your Mental Health
Source

How to Protect And Improve Your Mental Health

Identify Triggers

Conditions and issues that affect our mental health are common. Many of us are prone to bouts of stress and anxiety, and 1 in 5 US adults are diagnosed with a mental health disorder in any given year. Try to identify triggers, which make you feel stressed, anxious, or low, and avoid them where possible. Perhaps checking your phone and reading work emails prevents you from sleeping, or scrolling through social media makes you feel anxious or worthless. 

Cut out actions, repeated behaviors, and activities that have a negative impact and try to be proactive by finding solutions. Speak to your boss about your workload if you feel like you’ve got too much on your plate. Or, set detox periods when you don’t use your phone. Simple strategies can have a dramatic impact on your well-being. 

Be Honest About How You Feel

Many people brush symptoms of mental health disorders under the rug, and we try to deny that anything is wrong. It is natural to experience emotions, reactions, and responses to different situations and scenarios. But, you must distinguish between a bad day or a bout of anxiety caused by a test or an interview and a prolonged period of feeling helpless, on edge, nervous, worried, or low.

If your symptoms have gotten worse, you’ve experienced long periods of feeling anxious or depressed, or you’re struggling to feel calm or switch off, be honest about how you feel and accept that you might need help. Most of us wouldn’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with a doctor for back pain, headaches, or a broken leg, but we’re reluctant to talk about mental health. Reaching out can make a hugely positive difference. There is help and support available.

Seek advice

If you struggle with your mental health, it is beneficial to see your doctor or visit a therapist or counselor. There are treatments and self-help techniques that could help alleviate or control symptoms. Reach out if your symptoms get worse or you find it tough to cope in the aftermath of trauma or difficult life events. Treatment options like rapid resolution therapy are designed to help those dealing with the effects of traumatic events. 

It’s also advisable to understand and recognize the benefits of talking, even if you don’t have a mental health disorder. Everyone can benefit from speaking about how we feel and having a shoulder to cry. It also helps to have a friend or relative to offer advice or reassurance. 

Devote more time and effort to your happiness

Many people rush around, trying to balance work with looking after other people. We don’t always have time to do things or see the people that make us happy. Try to manage your schedule so that you can socialize with friends, colleagues, and family members. Plus, you should make time to indulge your hobbies and enjoy time out to relax and recharge. 

Protect And Improve Your Mental Health

These tips can help you protect and improve your mental health. Do you have any other ideas? Leave a comment and let us know. 🙂

Categories
For the Home Home How To

4 of the Best Tips For The Perfect Yard Makeover

When your home is calling out for some love, it’s easy to focus on interior renovations. However, it’s also essential that you keep your yard in good order. Even in the winter months, having easy access to a nice outdoor space can be a mood booster. Plus, it can make selling your home easier, with recent research suggesting that nice yards are a priority for many buyers. With that in mind, here are some of the best tips for the perfect yard makeover.

Best Tips For The Perfect Yard
Source

Best Tips For The Perfect Yard

Install New Fencing

While you may want to grab your watering can and try planting flowers, there’s more to your yard than what grows. Transform your yard by switching up your Residential Fencing. Not only does this look great, but it also adds structure to your space and enhances your privacy, meaning that you can keep your home secure and safe. When choosing new fencing, don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles and colors. For example, white fencing can make a small backyard appear much larger than it is. 

Know Your Limits in the Garden

Gardening is a skill that doesn’t always come naturally, meaning that you’ll need to work on your abilities over time. When looking to transform your garden, start by focusing on plants that are easy to grow for first-time gardeners. You can develop the skills you need without overstretching your abilities or tending to a garden full of dead plants. Do plenty of research to choose plants that are well suited to your home environment (weather, temperature, etc.). 

Create the Illusion of Space

If your yard is small, don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to make the most of the space. For example, you can create the illusion of having more space by introducing different levels to your yard. Consider installing raised wooden decking or hanging plants across the walls and fences.

Put Together a Gardening Routine

Unfortunately, you cannot simply spend one day taking care of your yard and then leave it to fend for itself. Much like having a cleaning routine for your home, you should also have a routine for yard work. Some plants will require daily watering or maintenance. Other duties, such as mowing the lawn, can occur weekly. Remember, you don’t have to do all of this yourself – as gardening is a great way to teach your kids responsibility. Plus, if everybody wants to spend time in the yard, they should help take care of it.  

Best Tips For The Perfect Yard Makeover

Do you have any tips for the perfect yard? Leave a comment and let us know. 🙂

Categories
Family Activities How To Parenting

2 Ways to Support Your Little Ones As They Grow Up

As soon as you learn that you’re bringing a child into the world, your attitude and priorities change. Rather than focusing your whole world around yourself, you begin to center it around someone else. You want the best for your child, and you’ll do whatever you can to achieve this. Of course, knowing what’s best for your child and what you should do to provide them with the best upbringing can be difficult. Nobody receives a book or guide on how to do this, and often, most people find that it’s a matter of trial and error and finding their own way to do things as best as they can. Of course, there are a few key things you can consider and work on to support your little ones and provide them with the best upbringing possible. 

Supporting Your Little Ones, Support Your Little Ones
Source

How to Support Your Little Ones As They Grow Up

Prioritize Their Health and Wellbeing

Children can’t take care of themselves. They don’t have the emotional or mental capacity to create a healthy and positive environment for themselves to grow up in. Instead, this is your responsibility. Taking care of your child’s health and wellbeing ensures that they are physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy. 

If your child experiences a major injury, you’re going to take them into urgent care. But it’s also essential to focus on small and less severe situations and conditions. If you notice that your child has an ongoing issue, such as skin complaints, wheeziness, or anything else, take them in to visit a general practitioner who can diagnose any issues and recommend a course of treatment. Make sure to take them for regular checkups with healthcare professionals like doctors, dentists, optometrists, and audiologists. Tackle any problems about mental health following medical advice and with the support of charities and support groups. Doing these things can all benefit your children greatly.

Provide Them With a Good Education

Education can be one of the most influential factors in a child’s life, direction, and future. Good quality education can open up all sorts of doors and opportunities that provide your child with potential and a better quality of life down the line once they become dependent on themselves. Of course, the unfortunate truth is that all schools aren’t equal, which means you have to look into the best schools in your area and do your utmost to get your children into them. 

Remember that education doesn’t begin and end in the classroom. There are all sorts of educational activities you can carry out with your children at home out of school hours. Nature walks, visiting museums and art galleries, and encouraging creativity through arts and crafts are just a few examples.

Support Your Little Ones As They Grow Up

These are just a couple of areas of focus, but they’re important ones. Hopefully, they’ll be able to kickstart your journey towards providing your little ones with the best upbringing possible.

Categories
For the Home Home

4 Easy Ways To Keep Your Home Dry All Year Round

Keep Your Home Dry

No matter what kind of home you live in, it is essential to keep it dry all the time. While this is easier said than done, it is necessary and for many good reasons. Allowing the home to become damp can lead to property and foundation damage. It can also lead to mold, which is a severe health hazard. Avoiding these issues is important, so you must ensure that you keep your home dry all year round. Here are some tips.

Source

How To Keep Your Home Dry

Extractor Fans

One of the first things to look into is whether or not your home has an extractor fan. You will need one of these in the kitchen at the very least. When you cook, you create a lot of steam and, if you don’t allow this steam to exit the home, you end up with a damp environment. Extractor fans are even a legal necessity in many parts of the world. If you don’t have one already, get one installed soon. It will make a world of difference.

Vapor Barriers

You might not have heard of vapor barriers, but they are useful, powerful things you should consider having in your home if you have a basement or crawl space. The crawl space can be a handy place to store items, but it is also prone to dampness and mold. The solution is simple: a vapor barrier installation that stops moisture from collecting under the house and allows you to use it to keep the whole space dry. If you don’t have one of these already, take a look today.

Dehumidifiers

A dehumidifier is a really handy and quite simple tool. It does exactly what the name suggests, which is that it removes humidity (water) from the air. You might not even be aware of how humid your air is in the home until you go to remove it with one of these. Modern dehumidifiers come with a digital smart display to tell you what percentage humidity the air is, and they are very effective at removing it as and when it might be necessary. Dehumidifiers are affordable, and highly effective, so definitely worth looking into if you are keen to keep your home dry.

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

keep your home dry
Source

Fans

If you have a basement, you can keep it dry without a dehumidifier. The simple, old-school solution is to have a fan installed. Ceiling fans keep air moving around, and they will also have the bonus of keeping you cool in summer and warm in winter. Modern fans are highly effective and more affordable than you might think, so it’s worth considering.

Keep Your Home Dry All Year Round

As you can see, there are some great ways to keep your home dry all year round. It’ll protect your home and health, making it an essential issue to consider. Do you have any other tips for keeping your home dry? Leave a comment and let us know.