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10 Steps To Preparing Your Home for a Newborn Baby

When it comes to preparing for a baby, it’s no exaggeration to say that new parents have a lot on their minds and even more on their must-do lists, from a safe place to sleep to an unending selection of bottles and baby toys. If you can relate, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed by the financial responsibilities that come with parenthood.

Preparing your home ahead of time will assist you to avoid becoming overwhelmed later. There are numerous products that need to be accommodated in your home. Plan out where all of the items will go and how you’ll get them there at least a month before the baby arrives. This way, you’ll be prepared when the baby decides to arrive. Furthermore, you can see everything and it is a good time to try things out this way. You can make suitable changes if anything doesn’t work or if your mind changes. You may not have or utilize certain products right away, but it’s a good idea to think about them and plan for where they’ll go.

10 Steps to Preparing Your Home for a Newborn Baby — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

It’s never too early or too late to begin making preparations for your new baby. You will be better prepared for your future financial demands if you create a solid foundation before bringing your bundle of joy home.

Before you start planning for your child, you should assess your financial status. If you haven’t already, make a list of your income, expenses, debt, and other financial commitments and begin to assess them. Maintaining a personal budget will help you figure out how you’ll pay for the new baby’s costs and where you should start saving. Don’t forget to set aside emergency savings in case of unforeseen bills or problems. The focus of your personal financial audit should be ongoing over your assets and obligations.

So, let’s get prepared your home for your newborn baby with these 10 steps.

Organize Your Baby’s Room

In the first year of life, a newborn goes through so many stages and changes. At different ages, babies begin distinct stages. So you want to think about and prepare each room in your house for a baby.

The baby will require a place to sleep, store their belongings, and change their diapers. Although the infant may not spend much time there at first, the baby will eventually use its own room.

You need to prepare a room for it, paint the walls, make some renovation and order furniture for your family new member.

Initially, you may want to keep the baby in a bassinet or in your room. It’s all up to you. As long as the infant is safe, do what works best for you and the baby.

In the nursery, prepare the crib. If you need to put one together before the baby arrives, do it well ahead of time. Then, in the crib, place the mattress, waterproof mattress pad, and sheet, and you’re done.

Prepare a Changing Station

Prepare and stock the nursery’s changing table with a variety of things, including the following:

- Diapers
- Wipes
- Cream for diapers
- Hand sanitizer
- Blankets
- Q-tips
- Changing table covers
- Ointment or healing lotion
- A few toys to keep them occupied during the transition.

You may also have another diaper changing station, depending on your home structure.

Prepare the Baby’s Wardrobe

Onesies, pajamas, socks, pants, and outfits should be stored in closets and dressers. Prepare a couple of each item that has been washed and is ready to be worn by the infant. However, because you don’t know what size the baby will be when he or she is born, don’t go overboard with the newborn clothes. It’s a good idea to have a few baby outfits on hand just in case, but retain the tags on a few of them so you can return them if you don’t need them.

5 Important Factors to Consider for Baby Onesies — .

Prepare the Feeding Area

A newborn eats frequently throughout the day, particularly in the beginning. As a result, multiple feeding spaces may be beneficial while preparing your home for a baby. A feeding station in the living room, nursery, and bedroom is required. You can feed the infant in the nursery if he or she wakes up in the middle of the night. You’ll feed them in the living room for the rest of the day.

Items to have on hand at a feeding station include:

- Comfortable chair
- Table
- Boppy to support the baby and make nursing more comfortable for you
- A number of burp outfits
- If necessary, use a nipple shield or other feeding accessories
- Kleenex
- A full jug or cup of water
- Snacks
- The remote, a book, your phone, or something to do while the baby eats, etc.

Prepare Area in the Living Room

With a new infant, this is the location where you will most likely spend the most time. It is the location where the infant will eat, sleep, play, and relax. A swing, floor or play mat, bouncy seat, jumperoo, pack n play, and different toys may be found in this section. Use the information below to create a comfortable space for you and your baby.

Prepare Area in the Kitchen

When it comes to preparing your home for a baby, the kitchen is another place where the baby will require a lot of space. If you’re utilizing bottles, you’ll need to set aside space for the bottles and parts. Your kitchen counter will be taken up by bottle drying racks and grass.

Then there’s the matter of finding storage for bibs, spoons, bowls, cups, baby food, and formula in cabinets and drawers. Made-to-order bottles and food will necessitate some refrigerator space. You’ll need space for a high chair and/or counter space for a bumbo or tabletop seat once your kid is ready for solids. Place items on hard, level surfaces away from the edge and any other potentially dangerous items that the infant might come into contact with.

Prepare Area in the Bathroom

You should maintain a baby tub, baby shampoo/soap, towels, and wash cloths in your bathroom for when the baby needs to be cleaned. When the baby becomes older, he or she will need something to do in the bath, so keep some bath toys on hand. A kitchen or bathroom sink can be used as a baby bathtub as an alternative to a baby bathtub. It simply lacks the necessary backing.

Prepare Area in the Garage

Another area to think about while preparing your home for a baby is the space required in a garage, porch or patio, or outside storage facility. Again, you may not have all of these goods right away, but they will be available soon. Strollers, small cars, toys, bikes, and a wagon will all require transportation.

Ensure Baby Safety at Home

Always consider safety first when preparing your home for a newborn baby. Things should be kept away from window blinds or shades with strings that could suffocate the baby. Place items away from windows where the infant could be exposed to the sun, as well as décor and furnishings that could harm the baby. The kid will not be mobile immediately away, but it will happen quickly, so it isn’t a bad idea to plan ahead.

Things that babies could get into and damage themselves with, such as diverse décor and knick-knacks, vases, and sharp furniture, should be moved and/or put away. Installing locks on kitchen cabinets, covers on outlets, and latches on drawers are some more useful safety precautions. Babyproofing kits for your home are available at stores.

Organize and Clean Your Home

Now that you have all of your baby stuff set up and ready throughout the house, give it a thorough cleaning before the baby arrives. With a new baby, you won’t have the opportunity to do this for a long. Clean up any messes or heaps and return everything to its proper location.

Then, restock on toiletries, paper goods, and other home things as needed. Be sure to stock up on diapers, wipes, and diaper cream with the arrival of your kid.

Preparing your home for baby in advance will make things simpler for yourself during this period. Do not put off getting ready, because he or she might arrive sooner than expected. Rather than panicking near the end of your pregnancy, be prepared and feel in command before the baby takes over.

Author Bio

Bianka Andrews is a financial professional at Instant Loan Online who enjoys writing and photography. Besides creating educational content on her personal financial blog, Bianka is a mother of two who likes to share her experience and challenges of daily parenting life.

Knock Out a Kitchen Spring Cleaning With This Ultimate Checklist

Spring has finally arrived, and with it comes fresh weather, open windows, and plenty of sunlight to fill your rooms. But there’s a catch—the sunlight may show the grime and dust that has accumulated over the winter months while your kids hibernated. A kitchen spring cleaning is all about refreshing your home to get it ready for the bright and exciting months ahead. If you need to make your kitchen sparkling clean, make sure you hit all the areas that need a deep clean.

In this post, we’ll provide you with a kitchen spring cleaning printable checklist so you can make sure that you’re doing everything correctly. We’ll also mention the supplies you need, and talk about how different areas of your kitchen will need different cleaning methods.

Kitchen Cleaning Checklist Printable

How many times have you set aside time in your day to clean only to realize later that night that you forgot a certain area? This happens to the best of us. By working through your kitchen and following a printable, you can tackle every nook and cranny without that dreaded feeling of realization at the end of the day. You can find the printable here.

Kitchen Spring Cleaning Supplies

Not all kitchens are built the same, but it’s possible to clean all kitchen surfaces and appliances by using a few supplies that you can find at your local grocery store. A bucket, mop, warm water, and gloves are essential to cleaning your kitchen floor, as well as a vacuum cleaner with a hose that can reach into the pesky corners underneath your cabinets.

Soft cloths, sponges, dish soap, baking soda, and vinegar are all sustainable options for cleaning other hard surfaces like countertops, cutting boards, cabinets, appliances, and sinks.

Sometimes, to get your kitchen in working order for the busy summer ahead, you may have to fix some things around the room. In this case, you should always have a screwdriver, hammer, screws, nails, and other practical items on-hand for your spring cleaning day.

Kitchen Areas To Clean

As a busy parent in the modern world, it’s easy for things to slip your mind. Follow this list of areas to clean and how to clean them to ensure that your spring cleaning day runs smoothly in your kitchen.

Appliances

Your fridge, freezer, dishwasher, stove, oven, and other appliances should be top of mind when you start your kitchen spring cleaning. Keeping these sanitized should be a priority to not only keep them running smoothly but to also prevent mold and odors from becoming a distraction.

Ideally, you should deep clean your refrigerator every six months (“fall clean” doesn’t have the same ring to it). It’s also important to defrost your freezer to prevent ice buildup.

Most modern ovens have a self-cleaning feature that’s very handy in your kitchen cleaning process. These ovens can heat to extreme temperatures to incinerate grease and residue. But if your oven doesn’t come with this feature, you might have to put in some physical labor to remove the grime.

Countertops

Let’s be honest — your kitchen can’t be clean with a cluttered and stained countertop. It only takes one spill to dirty your kitchen with bacteria. When deep cleaning your countertops, the materials you use differ from the type of counter. For granite, soapstone, and wood, use bleach to disinfect. Use a disinfectant spray for laminate marble and stainless steel countertops, and rubbing alcohol for engineered stone and quartz.

Cabinets

Sometimes, your kitchen cabinets can start looking a little grimy or dull. By cleaning your cabinets inside and out, you can brighten your kitchen while getting rid of odors. Focus on often-used cupboards and pantries. The cabinets above and below your stove and sink also tend to accumulate the most gunk.

Spring is the perfect time to give your home the TLC it deserves. You can replace your countertops if there are stubborn distracting stains, or upgrade your cabinets with new styles and colors in a huge kitchen revamp. Whatever the case may be, you are all set to put your spring cleaning plan into action.

Author Bio

Michaela Wilbanks is a San Diego-based content marketing specialist with experience building and promoting lifestyle brands through high-quality, unique content. She believes the best posts are the ones that inspire, educate, and entertain.

4 Things to Do with Outgrown Baby Clothes

Your little one’s wardrobe lives up to the motto “out with the old, in with the new.” As your baby enters new stages, you have to decide what to do with their outgrown clothes. There are many useful ways to repurpose your baby’s outfits. Here are four things you can do with outgrown baby clothes.

Save Clothes for a Future Child

If you’re planning on having another child in the future, consider saving pieces that are in good condition and will keep your child warm and covered. If the clothing is something the baby will wear only around the house, some stains are fine.

Store the clothes in containers under a bed, in vacuum storage bags, or even in diaper boxes. Organize the clothing by size and label the containers so that it’s easy to find the right clothes when you need them.

Keep a Few Pieces for Nostalgia

You might want to keep a few items so that you can look back on specific moments in your baby’s life. Consider keeping clothing associated with important memories, like a fun playdate or get-together with family, or something especially significant, like your baby’s first outfit.

You can store these clothes in a memory box and pull the box out when you want to look at them. Or you can display them in a shadow box with some other sentimental photos or items. Don’t feel compelled to treasure everything your precious baby has ever worn—photos can do the trick, too!

Give Them to People You Know

You can give baby clothes to friends, family, and acquaintances. Seeing a friend’s baby in the clothes your baby once wore can bring you joy, making this a great thing to do with your outgrown baby clothes.

If you need baby clothes again in the future, the people you’ve helped will probably be happy to return the favor. Swapping clothes like this keeps well-loved, functional pieces in the mix while filtering out old clothes and introducing new pieces with minimal cost.

Donate Items to an Organization

You can donate clothes to a charitable organization, nonprofit, or church. These groups will pass on your high-quality items to families in need. While you should check the requirements of your specific donation site, you can also look at general recommendations for donating.

Donate clean clothes in good condition, free of rips and stains. Your facility can also tell you their donation procedures and whether they have a greater need for a particular type of clothing.

Keep It Up!

Like many aspects of motherhood, going through your baby’s outgrown clothing is a task you’ll do more than once. There are many useful places you can send your baby’s old clothes. You’ll avoid getting overwhelmed with clutter by periodically going through your baby’s wardrobe. Ultimately, this will help you reclaim space and focus on your baby’s current adventure.

How To Keep Your Children's Closets Organized

Author Bio

Christina Duron is a writer living in the Chicagoland area. Her passion for writing and mental health help create thought provoking and engaging pieces and hopes to use them to empower mothers and women to embrace the beauty of motherhood.

Reaping The Benefits Of A Peaceful Backyard Oasis

Does the stress of the day have you longing for an outdoor escape? Instead of obsessing over your next vacation, consider unwinding in the peace and security of your own backyard oasis. Having a serene open-air space mere steps away can provide sunshine and fresh air for the whole family.

Studies have shown people who spend time in nature are less likely to suffer from depression or anxiety. Even if you happen to be short on room, however, it’s more than possible to transform a deck, patio or courtyard into a beautiful place of refuge. Here are some words of advice to create a stress-reducing garden getaway.

Create a Backyard Oasis by Decluttering

The first recommendation is to declutter. While starting with a totally blank canvas isn’t necessary, bringing a backyard oasis to life takes a tidy work area and some planning. Begin by pruning any overgrown trees and hedges, donating unused play equipment, and clearing away any waste.

Plan out Your Ideal Space

Once the space feels bare, take stock of its natural elements, and formulate a plan for anything you want changed. Do you want a water feature, a swimming pool or an outdoor dining area, or do you want to emphasize being one with nature? Whatever your vision, be sure to keep relaxation first and foremost.

How to Decorate with Natural Elements — .

When it comes to furniture, you’ll want to opt for deep seating, lounge chairs and other patio furnishings that encourage everyone to stretch out and relax. Choose textured fixtures designed to withstand the elements and in the colors you love. Another handy tip is to invest in deck furniture that can double as storage, such as an ottoman or bench. This way, pads and pillows can stay clean longer.

Personalize your Backyard Oasis

How else can the space be made your own? Simply decorate it with pieces that speak to you. Whether you prefer unique planters and bird baths or colorful artwork and décor, the space ought to reflect your personality while coinciding with the beauty of nature. Hanging string lights and other outdoor lighting is another great way to set the mood. However, be careful not to overdo it on the décor, as it could upset the flow and make the yard look smaller.

Aside from adding a water feature or sculpture as the focal point, try planting favorite flowers, natural foliage and other plant life. Greenery can help boost moods and doesn’t need to be big to make a major impression. For instance, container gardens are a simple option for small spaces, and they are inexpensive and easy to maintain.

Get Help From a Pro

You can also invest in landscaping. Hiring a professional service to survey property lines, design your backyard oasis and install a perimeter could produce a result far exceeding your expectations. From landscaped hedges, shrubbery or privacy fencing, the possibilities of transforming your outdoor living area are limitless.

For more ways to create the backyard oasis of your dreams, please see the following infographic.

Author Bio:

Danny Rodic is a co-owner of Apex Land Surveying and Mapping LLC. Rodic has over 28 years of experience in the land surveying industry, providing a broad range of land surveying services to clients. Rodic is a licensed professional land surveyor in Colorado and Wisconsin.

Home Wellness for Your Personality and Zodiac Sign

Whether you turn to a hot bubble bath after a long day or hit the gym when things get overwhelming, self-care comes in many different forms. Everyday responsibilities can take a toll on us all, even if we may not realize it. Juggling work and home life can be tricky, so it is important to find home wellness additions that work best for you.

If you think that you could improve your self-care routine, take a look inward. Your personality and astrological sign may align closely with your home life. Understanding your values, needs, and priorities will allow you to create an optimal home wellness routine.

Home Wellness For Your Personality and Zodiac Sign — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

How Personality Shapes Home Life

Believe it or not, your identity has a large impact on your time spent at home. Maybe you prefer working from an organized desk with a color-coded calendar. Or maybe you thrive in a messier, more spontaneous environment where you can be creative. Regardless of your style, practicing wellness for your mental health is essential for a happy home life.

Have you ever considered how you can better meet your home needs? There are tons of ways to get organized so that you can feel comfortable and confident in your home. If you identify with some of these signs, it may be time to incorporate wellness additions into your home.

- You tend to feel anxiety or depression while spending time alone at home
- You are not relaxed at home
- You have trouble falling asleep or sitting still in your home
- You do not have the motivation to complete important tasks at home
- You dread returning home while out running errands

Consider Your Zodiac Sign

You might be a skeptic of zodiac signs and their abilities to predict the future, but recognizing your zodiac personality traits may help you discover what wellness tactics work best for you. There are twelve zodiac signs that are split into four elements with three signs per element. In other words, a sun symbol, which is commonly known as your sign, is associated with your birthday.

Earth signs include Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces, and Fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. The tendencies of our signs allow us to feel understood and even help us when we need to resolve a problem. As each sign differs with interests and qualities, staying in tune with what your sign may need will help you achieve wellness in your home life.

Home Wellness for Myers-Briggs Personality Types

Are you shy when it comes to social settings or do you love being the center of attention? If you are unfamiliar with the Myers-Briggs Personality test, this assessment is a questionnaire that helps people to comprehend their viewpoints of the world. Myers-Briggs allows for different types of personality questionnaires that can help identify the characteristics of your mind.

Whether you just moved to a new neighborhood, are feeling submerged in tasks, or need to switch up your usual routine, consider how your personality could benefit from changes at home. Understanding your personality allows you to take the first step in creating an environment where you can practice good mental health and wellness.

Putting your wellness and mental health first is important when it comes to home life. As a parent or full-time employee, it is easy to get wrapped up in all of your responsibilities and forget about your own needs. Implementing a self-care routine will not only make you feel relaxed but also organized and ready to take on the tasks of each new day. For more information on how to practice wellness at home, visit this graphic from Hippo.com.

Author Bio:

Lauren McDermott is a lifestyle and wellness writer who enjoys inspiring others to live their best lives and achieve their personal and professional goals

Oven Cleaning Hacks for Busy Moms

Are you looking for some easy oven cleaning hacks to take the misery out of this unpleasant task? It is a chore many of us dread. We can help, whether you want fast-acting oven cleaner detergents to natural products, we have some tips.

*This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust.

Why You Need to Clean Your Oven

Cleaning the oven can be the last thing on our minds because we forget about it as soon as we close the door. I’ve written about “hidden” household cleaning needs before like this article about cleaning your washing machine. And just like with washing machines, it’s essential to clean your oven regularly so as to reduce germs from food residues and stop contamination from spreading. Germs can spread and infect the food you are cooking and, ultimately, your family. Plus, when caked in grease and grime, the oven will not work as efficiently. Consequently, knowing how to clean an oven quickly and effectively is crucial.

Best Products To Use When Cleaning Your Oven

There is no doubt the best oven cleaning hacks are chemical cleaners simply because they work fast and strip away dirt, grease grime, and burnt-on residue. These specific products need to be used with care and proper ventilation, but they do take the hard work out of the oven cleaning process. There are a lot of different cleaners on the market, a massive choice claiming to be the “best oven cleaner” or “easy to use.” Some of our favorites include this Goo Gone for grill and rack cleaners or this Easy Off! spray.

Oven Cleaning Hacks

Best natural products for oven cleaning

Obviously, many families prefer not to use chemical-based oven cleaning products. Ultimately, more of us are turning to natural alternatives. This not only protects the planet, but they are also safer to use. Luckily many greener cleaning options are in our very own kitchen store cupboards. The typical natural-based oven cleaners in the home are baking soda and vinegar. Yes, these are just some of the simple, inexpensive ingredients that can be turned into excellent cleaning solutions.

How to make Homemade Oven Cleaner

Now that we have discovered most of us have the ingredients on hand to clean an oven, it’s time to get started! This method is just so easy and can be done at any time. To use baking soda and vinegar as an oven cleaner, simply make a paste. In a bowl, combine the two ingredients and add a little water if needed. This paste will fizz at first, but that is just the reaction and is not dangerous. The paste can be used on the oven parts with no danger or harmful aromas. Now you can have a clean oven all of the time.

Oven Cleaning Hacks

Overall, we have learned that it is vital to have a clean oven regardless of how we do it. The best suggestion is to clean the oven after each use, but this is not always possible. However, it really must be on the list to do at least weekly. Of course, it doesn’t just stop at the oven; there are other parts to take care of. Here are some top oven cleaning hacks to help with those awkward areas.

Oven Cleaning Hacks

Hacks to Clean Oven Racks

So do you want some tips on how to clean oven racks? First, invest in a rack and grill cleaner that literally dissolves the burnt-on grease and grime. These products are effective, but it is essential to read the instructions, as they contain hazardous chemicals. Alternatively, fill a big tub (or bath) with hot water, add a few cups of baking soda and immerse the racks, and leave for at least 8 hours.

Hacks to Clean the Oven Glass

To keep glass cooktops clean and shiny, make sure you keep on top of the grease and grime. A good tip is to wipe up any spillages as soon as they happen. Leaving them will make the job more challenging. But, for keeping your glass hob in good condition, there are safe formulas to buy that help remove the baked-on mess and ultimately save the surface looking brand new.

Oven Cleaning Hacks

Hacks to Clean the Bottom of Oven

A significant factor to a dirty oven floor is food spilling over when cooking. Therefore, not overfilling a dish is vital. But, if you have burnt food on the oven floor, here is our simple oven cleaning solution. Using soapy water and a steel sponge or oven cleaning pad and scrubbing hard will work. But, for tricky burnt-on bits, cover with baking soda and sprinkle vinegar, let it fizz, and then scrub again. An excellent way to prevent this is to use non-stick oven liners.

How to Clean an Oven Door

A dirty glass oven door is a giveaway that the entire oven is not clean. The best oven cleaner for baked on grease is hot water, baking soda, and tin foil scrunched in a ball. This method involves wetting the glass with hot water, coating baking soda, and scrubbing it with the foil ball. The dirt will strip away, so have an old cloth or paper towel to hand to clean off the excess. Alternatively, shop-bought glass and hob cleaner will do the trick.

Oven Cleaning Hacks

Oven Cleaning Hacks FAQs

Q: How do I get burnt stuff off the bottom of my oven?

A: The fastest solution to removing burnt foodstuff from the oven floor is a hand held scraper.

Q: Can I steam clean an oven?

A: Steam cleaners are the answer to how to clean an oven quickly. They work fast but are expensive. Care needs to be taken using steam cleaners, but top the best cleaning hacks.

Q: How to remove baked-on grease from my oven?

A: Concentrated white vinegar in a spray bottle will cut through the tough grease in an oven. If hardened grease, revert to sprinkling with baking soda and scrub until clean.

Q: Can I replicate a steam appliance for oven cleaning?

A: You can use replica steam using hot water in a container at the bottom of the oven and leave for 30 minutes until the dirt softens and remove with an old cloth or paper towel.

Q: Can you purchase self-clean ovens?

A: Some ovens come with various self-cleaning actions, either in the form of self-cleaning or steam-cleaning. These work fast and effectively. But, the con is they are more expensive to buy and operate.

Is Decluttering the Secret to Less Stress and Better Mental Health? — .

Conclusion

Regardless of chemical or natural oven cleaning hacks, it is crucial to have a clean oven for hygiene and safety. We all love to eat, but we don’t want reminders of the meal from the day before, so ensuring the oven and hob are pristine clean is of the utmost importance.

Author Bio

The NY Melrose Family is a lifestyle site full of healthy recipes, fun baking and craft projects, and cleaning tips all geared toward busy moms. We have been writing some of the best content on the web since 2011 and have expert writers from all over the country and the world. Be sure to follow us on social media!

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Things You Must Not Forget When Moving Out

Moving out is a huge process. You have to remember so many different things, and you can’t forget anything, or else all your hard work will be for nothing!

You want to ensure that you prepare for your big move by getting things in order right from the beginning. If you plan on moving house, here are things you must not forget. Hopefully, they should help you prepare for this significant change in your life.

*This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate and/or paid links which means that if you click on one of these links and buy a product, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Rest assured that we only recommend products that we love from companies that we trust.

Hand in Your Notice on Time

Handing in your notice on time is your responsibility. However, this can be tricky if you are not sure of the date. To avoid confusion and potential problems, make sure to talk with your landlord or real estate agent about when they would like you to vacate the property.

If you give notice and your landlord decides to sell the property or wants it back for themselves, it will help to seek legal advice.

Book a Removals Company

A removals company refers to a company that provides services to transport and relocate people and the goods they own. When you are moving out, it is good to book your removals service early because there might be less availability at the last minute.

In addition, hiring professional help will save time you can spend on other activities such as packing or unpacking boxes. It’s also vital that you get insurance for damages before signing the contract with them, so nothing unfortunate happens during the transportation of your items! While at it, you may want to consider removal services from Allied Van Lines.

Moving to A New Home During or Shortly After Pregnancy — .

Think About Your Kids and Pets

Your pets and kids are likely to be affected by the move. If you have children, take them with you when shopping for a new home and choose a kid-friendly one. If your kids are not going to school yet, try enrolling them in local schools as soon as possible or let it be known if they will continue their education at an educational facility outside of the area where you live now.

Take good care of your pets during this time because moving can affect animals too, but also remember that some dogs do better than others. For example, those who like routine and know all their smells and spots might feel uneasy about moving into a new house (and even forget things), while other dogs may not adapt quickly. Consider what’s best for yours before deciding how much attention to give them.

Contact Your Utility Supplier

You won’t be able to live in your new home until you have the utilities transferred over, so make sure that you do this as early on in the moving process as possible to avoid any problems with gas or electricity services later down the line.

If you are unsure of how best to go about it all, speak with a professional instead who can help walk you through what needs doing and when precisely these things need to get carried out.

In conclusion, if you don’t want to find yourself spending a lot of money on moving costs and stressing over things that could have been taken care of by following this simple guide, make sure not to forget the points mentioned above.

Tips for Keeping Playtime Engaging for Kids

When the kids are young, you spend a lot of money buying various toys. What’s perfect for a baby isn’t always as entertaining to an inquisitive toddler. Toys are educational—children learn about the world by playing. With some tips for keeping playtime engaging for kids, you can keep the house organized and make playing entertaining.

Get On Their Level

When it comes to playtime, let your child take charge; they own the imaginary world they created. Playing alongside your child, especially toddlers, is healthy because it gives them the experience of playing with others. And remember to allow your child to experiment and figure things out on their own.

Rotate Toys Out

If you’re looking to fight boredom, start switching out what toys your child has. Too many choices make things overwhelming, and playtime is about having fun. There are many benefits of rotating a child’s toys, including:

- Increased creativity
- More resourcefulness
- Improved behavior

Set up a schedule that works for you, whether it’s once a week or monthly, and swap out toys—this doesn’t have to include the favorites. Rotating toys is a great way of keeping playtime engaging for kids. It makes old toys feel new because they don’t always have them lying around.

How Children Will Benefit From Owning Dogs — .

Add-In Activities

Kids need more than toys, but you could also get them books and various activities to entertain themselves. Adopting a love for reading at a young age is important. You could start by making a trip to the library together to see what books pique your child’s interest.

Likewise, you could try out different activities. For example, Play-Doh allows a child to engage their senses and create. If you’re looking for something less messy, then choose an activity or coloring book as both heighten creativity.

Clean up Together

Another tip for keeping playtime engaging for kids is to teach them to respect their toys so they last longer. Young children don’t always understand the value, but they do know to follow you, so set an example for your little one and clean up together. When toys have an established space, they’re less likely to get lost or broken.

You could keep toys in a specific cabinet or cute toybox for easy storage! What’s important is your child takes care of the clean-up with you. This teaches them responsibility as they learn about the value of their toys. And toys last longer when treated correctly.

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No matter their age, toys are essential for keeping kids engaged while they play. From rotating them out to keeping them clean, you can help nurture your child’s education through playtime. When keeping playtime engaging for kids, remember to let them have fun, even if that comes along with a mess.

Author Bio

Self-Care Tips During A House Move

Moving to a new house is something that will take a lot of energy and can be stressful. You might feel overwhelmed, and at the very least, you will be emotional – such a big change will always cause these feelings, whether it’s positive or not. It’s crucial, therefore, that you don’t forget to practice plenty of self-care during a house move.

This is especially important if you have children to take care of; they will need you to be at your healthiest and happiest if they are to stay calm and de-stressed during this strange time. With all this in mind, here are some self-care tips you can enjoy during a house move which should make the process a smoother one.

Self-Care Tips During a House Move — *This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate and/or paid links which means that if you click on one of these links and buy a product, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Rest assured that we only recommend products that we love from companies that we trust.

Focus On Something That Excites You

Having an expert removal company such as North American Van Lines Canada to help you with your relocation is an excellent way to stay calm – they will take on a lot of the hard work and all the heavy lifting for you. However, there will still be other things that take up space in your mind, such as the cost of your new mortgage, new schools, finding new friends, and much more.

So instead of thinking of these things, why not think of something that excites you instead? What is it about the house you’re moving to that you love the most? Perhaps it’s a balcony where you can drink your morning coffee, or maybe it’s the fact that it’s close to the sea, or perhaps your commute will be cut in half. How are you planning to decorate it, will you have a dedicated self care space or well lit window for your houseplants? Think of the thing that excites you the most and focus on it. This will help to reduce your anxiety and give you a more positive feeling.

Don’t Forget To Eat

With so much packing to do in the days leading up to the house move, the move itself, and then the unpacking, not to mention trying to keep up with work or helping your family, and exploring your new neighborhood, it can be days before you eat properly once the process starts. Whether this is because you are too stressed, you don’t have the time, or you’ve packed your kitchen up (or not yet unpacked it at the other end), you’ll feel unwell if it goes on too long, and you will have mood swings and many other physical responses too.

No matter what, don’t forget to eat. Having takeout and microwave meals isn’t ideal, but it’s better than nothing, and ensure that you get your kitchen ready as soon as you can so you can start being healthy again in your new place. The longer you are out of your usual routine, the harder it will be to feel comfortable getting back into it again.

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Go Outside

One of the best things you can do to make yourself feel better and enhance your wellbeing is to go outside. This form of self-care means that you not only breathe in the fresh air, but you also have to slow down and even stop what you’re doing, leave the house, and go out.

Even if you’re only in the fresh air for a few minutes, your mind will start to calm, your breathing will be deeper, and you’ll feel instantly more relaxed. If you can go for a walk, that’s even better. When you go back in, you’ll feel much more energized and ready to pack (or unpack) another box.

How to Achieve an Allergy Safe Spring

While the spring season brings with it beautiful flowers and warmer temperatures, you may need to brace for seasonal allergies. Your allergies shouldn’t keep you from being able to enjoy the spring. Here are a few tips you can use to have an allergy safe spring.

Watch the Weather for Windy Days

Pollen travels on the wind. Plants rely on the wind to scatter their seeds and pollinate them across the area. For those who suffer from allergies, that means windy days are going to be terrible.

You should start your day by checking the weather forecast. Most weather organizations will include some form of pollen report. This is useful information in determining just how badly your allergies may be affected on a normal, non-windy, day.

It’s windy days that you need to pay special attention to, however. Pollen without wind doesn’t travel far. It has less of a chance of sticking to your clothes, car, or entering your home as a result. Windy days give pollen the momentum it needs to stick to your car, clothes, and find ways within your home.

On those days, you should prepare appropriately in order to have an allergy safe spring. That might mean taking your allergy medication or carrying it with you. It might mean staying home completely. It may just mean that you need to wash your clothes or hair a few extra times. By knowing when it’s going to be windy, you can take the necessary precautions.

Close Windows and Doors

While it may be tempting to keep your windows and doors open to allow warm temperatures into your home, this also invites pollen. You should keep the windows and doors of your home closed. This is the case whether it’s windy or not.

The same goes for your car when you’re traveling. It may feel nice to roll down the car window and feel the breeze in your hair. However, you’re also inviting pollen into your car. It can stick to your face and hair. You then bring it home with you.

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Avoid Using Fans

Electrical fans can circulate pollen. If your fan is designed to remove hot hair from the home and push it outside, then this is problematic as well. Even though it’s sucking the air out of the house, there’s still some blowback. It will pull pollen into the home, then circulate it through the air.

To enjoy an allergy safe spring, use your AC instead of a fan. However, your AC should also be equipped with a fresh filter. It doesn’t hurt to invest in a good filter either. This can keep pollen from passing through the filter and entering your home. The only air that should enter your home is clean, purified, air.

Wash Your Clothes and Yourself

Whether it’s a windy day or not, if there’s heavy pollen in the air, then you need to wash more frequently. Any time you come in from outside, you should immediately place your clothes inside of the washer and wash them. Try not to jostle your clothes too much when removing them. This can push the pollen from the fibers and wind up floating through your home.

Washing your clothes isn’t enough. You also need to jump in the shower to remove any pollen sticking in your hair or against your skin.

Visit Your Allergy Doctor

Visiting your allergy doctor in Hudson Valley is always vital to be prepared for allergy season. They can help you find the right allergy medication you need for the upcoming season. With the right medication in hand, you may find that you have nothing to fear from the spring season.

They can also offer other tips on how to safely deal with your allergies. In the event that you need to stay home, they may even be able to provide you with a doctor’s note for work.

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Clean the Home’s Interior

Spring cleaning can lead to an allergy safe spring! It’s just as important to clean the interior of your home as it is to clean your clothes. Pollen can enter your home through the door, ventilation system, and windows. Even if you wash the pollen from your body, it may still linger in your carpet and on other surfaces.

Cleaning your home with disinfectant can kill pollen and remove them. Sometimes it’s better to have someone else do the cleaning for you. Exposing yourself to pollen can cause a lot of problems. Relying on your partner, a friend, or even a cleaning crew can keep your home pollen-free without risking your own health and comfort.

Avoid Collecting Old Leaves and Branches

Spring is the time when most of the magic of gardening occurs. Seeds must be planted and yards must be cleared of old leaves and twigs. Unfortunately, old leaves and twigs may be harboring mold spores that can seriously impact your allergies. Even handling them with gloves and a mask may prove futile.

The best solution is to have someone else clear up the old leaves and branches in your yard. With those items removed, you won’t have lingering mold spores triggering your allergies or asthma.

Avoid Fertilizers and Pesticides

Certain fertilizers and pesticides may also trigger your allergies. If you can, then you should always choose organic fertilizers and deterrents for pests. Mulching with your clipped grass can be a great way to stimulate plant growth and nourish the soil. Certain plants, or even a fence, may keep pests from entering your garden. Avoiding chemical fertilizers and pesticides can reduce your allergies.

Install an Air Purifier

There are a ton of air purifiers on the market, but not all of them are that effective at removing pollen and other allergens from the air. You’ll want to look for an air purifier that has a high-quality HEPA filter. These filters trap small particles from passing through its membrane. Some even kill the particles on contact.

With an efficient air purifier in your home, allergens can be reduced. Some can even be attached to your AC to further purify the air coming into your home.

Author Bio

Dr. Ran Y. Rubinstein is the founder of the Hudson Valley Sinus Center. Dr. Rubinstein is one of the leading ENT and facial plastic surgeons in New York. Throughout his career as a facial surgeon and ENT sinus specialist, Dr. Rubinstein has performed thousands of ENT surgeries and has become an expert on diagnosing and treating nasal and sinus problems.