9/13/19

5 Tips to Make Moving Out Less of a Hassle

Are you looking forward to settling into a new home but dreading the process of moving? You’re not alone. Packing up and moving out makes even the most Zen homeowners feel a little stressed. Follow these simple tips to make transitioning into your home as enjoyable as it should be.

Hire a Professional

Let’s face it, sometimes you just don’t want to do all the work yourself. And you don’t have to! Moving and storage companies Tampa FL are a great resource to have on hand when you’re relocating. An extra set of hands never hurt anyone, especially when they are trained in handling heavy and delicate items. Don’t want to move all your belongings to the new spot? Most moving companies have storage options available that you can take advantage of

Start Early

Saving tasks until the last minute can only add to an already stressful event like moving. You may not realize how much stuff you actually have and leaving ample time to sort through it all can save you from losing sleep the night before the big move. Having everything packed and ready to go ahead of time leaves you with some wiggle room in case things don’t go exactly as planned.

Consolidate Your Items

Using the items you own cleverly can decrease the number of trips to and from the moving van. For instance, pack rolling suitcases with heavier items so they’ll be easier move. Using extra sweaters and towels to wrap delicate items in can protect your breakables better than paper and lessen the quantity of clothes containers you’ll need to carry to your new home.

Pack the Truck Skillfully

If you have limited space in your car or only enough money for one moving van, it’s crucial you utilize your space effectively. It’s usually best to pack furniture and heavier goods first followed by boxes and bags from largest to smallest. This way you’ll be sure to fit your largest items and be able to nuzzle smaller items in between.

Prioritize Your Tasks

While some of your possessions may need some extra attention, there are some items you may just be able to throw in a bag and mark it complete. For example, breakables like dish sets, vases, and the like may need to be wrapped diligently and carefully. Meanwhile, clothes can often be tossed into garbage bags and then organized and folded once you reach your destination.
The only thing standing between you and your new home is the moving process. Whether you want to speed it up or just make it less stressful, these tips can make nestling into your fresh abode an easy and pleasant experience.

9/10/19

Is Your Child’s Playground Safe?

Play time is an important part of a child’s development process, as it is when crucial life skills are learned that will help the child have a happy and productive adult life.
For play time to be effective, however, there needs to be a space where children can enjoy, explore, and experiment while having minimal risks of injuries—this is what playgrounds are for.

Cuts and Bruises Are a Natural Part of Childhood

As much as injuries are a part of growing up, it is our job as adults to make sure that we provide our children with a safe environment. Since we already understand how children need play time, the best that we can do is to make sure their playgrounds are an ideal place for them to nurture their natural curiosity and wonder.

Parents must also learn to accept that it simply isn’t possible to control everything. Taking first aid and CPR courses is a good way to prepare for any medical emergencies that might happen on the playground.

How to Evaluate a Playground’s Safety
Almost 80% of playground injuries are caused by falls. Realistically, many of these fall-related injuries are caused by rough or careless play, especially in crowded playgrounds.

Elevated areas such as platforms should always have guardrails around the edges to prevent children from falling. Additionally, the spaces between these rails should be well-designed. That means that there are no head-entrapment spaces or wide gaps that children can slip through.

Other potential dangers to look out for:
  • Poor maintenance of activity areas and equipment
  • Pinch points and sharp edges
  • Protrusions and tangling hazards
  • Trip hazards such as loose cables or ropes
  • Overcrowded areas
  • Contaminated items
  • Broken bottles and sharp cans and lids
  • Slippery surfaces that don’t have proper flooring
  • Vandalism or graffiti (a sign that the playground has been neglected)
Other considerations when choosing a playground for your kids:

Grounds or Flooring

A playground’s flooring should be made of rubber, artificial grass, or any non-toxic material that makes the surface slip-resistant. Play sand or pea gravel is also good for children to run around and play with.

Make sure that there are no rocks, glass, or sharp debris at the base of slides. These can make it dangerous for a child that’s landing at the bottom. Also, the cleared area at the front of the slide’s bottom should at least be equal in distance to the slide platform’s height to give enough space for children to stop without running into obstacles.

Appropriate Age Ranges

Parents should find out whether a playground is age-appropriate for the child. In fact, manufacturers are required to label equipment according to three age groups: 6-23 months, 2-5 years-old, or 5-12 years-old.

If a child is forced to play in a playground with activity areas meant for older kids, there’s an increased chance that the child will sustain injuries from improper use or from falling.

Moving Parts and Nets

Merry-go-rounds, suspension bridges, and seesaws can be risky for younger children without the presence of an adult to supervise. It’s important to check that moving parts are well-lubricated and that net openings aren’t big enough for your child’s head to go through.

Metal and Wood Surfaces

Metal rusting can cause the structure to become weakened or develop sharp edges over time. Additionally, metal surfaces can heat up fast under direct sunlight, which can cause contact burns on your little ones. Wooden equipment, on the other hand, can also deteriorate and become splintered, which is dangerous for both kids and adults.

Regular and Proper Playground Maintenance is Crucial for Children’s Safety

One of the best ways to tell if a playground is safe is to check if it’s been well-maintained. There should be someone who regularly inspects the condition of the equipment and hears out the concerns of parents.

It is possible to let your children play and explore in a safe environment. Using the information in this guide, you can easily evaluate whether your child’s play area is a place where you can let them be as adventurous as they want to be without worrying.

9/9/19

Protecting Yourself from Emotional Predators Book Spotlight

Today, I am featuring a self help book from Steven J. Wolhandler with a book spotlight!  Learn about the book and the author--and be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post!




Meet the Author

Steven Wolhandler, JD, MA, LPC is a psychotherapist, mediator, arbitrator, custody evaluator, national consultant and retired attorney. He has decades of experience dealing with, and learning from, difficult and manipulative people, and helping their victims with penetrating insight, effective solutions, warmth and humor. He lives in Colorado, consults with people internationally through www.creativeresolutions.org.

Connect with the author: Website​    Facebook   
    
Book Tour Schedule

 
Sept 9 – A Mama's Corner of the World – book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 9 – Just Another Reader – book spotlight
Sept 11 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sept 12 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sept 13 – Books for Books – book spotlight
Sept 16 – Celticlady's Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sept 16 - Phy Roselle – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sept 17 – 100 Pages A Day – book spotlight
Sept 18 – Library of Clean Reads – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Sept 19 – Sefina Hawke's Books – book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 23 – JBronder Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Sept 24 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 25 – #redhead.with.book – book spotlight / giveaway
Sept 26 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
 

Enter the Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

9/8/19

Uncomfortable Lens? : Here’s What You Need to Do to Restore Your Eye Comfort

Lenses are an easier, more straightforward, and an obstruction-less solution to the run-of-the-mill eyeglasses. They are naturally designed to enhance the comfort of the user by eliminating the bulky and obstructive nature of the glasses.



Lenses are an easier, more straightforward, and an obstruction-less solution to the run-of-the-mill eyeglasses. They are naturally designed to enhance the comfort of the user by eliminating the bulky and obstructive nature of the glasses.

Lenses provide a multitude of benefits other than just providing a thinner and lightweight option. However, one of the primary concerns you will have to undertake when you buy contact lenses online is that they can be sometimes uncomfortable. You are most likely to encounter this phenomenon if you're a newbie to contact lens, or in some cases, even long-time users can experience this.

In many cases, there are certain remedies you can undertake to restore your eye comfort, as opposed to rubbing your eyes vigorously.

Contact Lens Discomfort and its Remedies

Generally, contact lens discomfort can be due to the prolonged maintenance negligence and improper replacement schedule as well. In such cases, the lens can become uncomfortable and cause eye irritation as well. Some of the most common symptoms of eye discomfort to look out for are –
  • Burning or stinging sensation
  • Abnormal eye secretion
  • Extensive light sensitivity
  • Blurred vision
  • Redness of the eye
  • Abnormal feeling of foreign particles stuck in your eyes
  • Excessive tearing in your eyes
  • Dry eyes 
Some of the most common causes of lens discomfort can be –
  • Inaccurate lens fit
Often, your eye shape and your lens may not be perfectly compatible. Different people have contrasting eye shapes and sizes. Hence, your contact lens must also be unique in order to obtain the ideal fit.
  • Dry eyes
One of the primary conditions to keep your eye lens working perfectly is to keep it moist and lubricated. This is one of the main reasons why professionals suggest regular lens cleaning only with the specific liquid solution. In the case of people with dry eyes, they may not be able to produce enough liquid (tears) to keep the lens moist. This inability to maintain moist lens can cause irritation and discomfort as well.
  • Environmental allergens
The optimal working condition of the contact lens relies heavily on environmental influence. Environmental allergens such as dander or dust particles can seriously affect the proper working principle of the contact lens. It is advisable to refrain from wearing contacts in dusty areas or even on windy days to avoid such complications.

Remedies –

In case you notice any of the above symptoms, you should immediately proceed to undertake some remedial measures.
  • Remove your lens
The first and the most crucial step towards eliminating such discomfort phenomenon is to remove your lens as soon as you experience any of the related symptoms. Many people continue wearing eye lens even after such conditions leading to some severe eye damage later on.
  • Inspect your lens
If the symptoms vanish immediately after you remove the lens, check if your lens is damaged in any way. If damaged, put it away and contact your ophthalmologist, and get a new pair. In case, it is not damaged, look carefully for any foreign or dirt particles. Clean it thoroughly using the unique cleansing liquid solution and put it back on. See if the irritation continues. If yes, then remove it and contact your professional eye care.
  • Not the lens?
If the irritation continues even after you remove your lens, the infection may be due to your eyes. Conditions such as corneal ulcer, iritis, or possible infection may cause such eye discomfort. In any case, do not put your lens back on. Instead, seek professional help immediately and refrain from using lens unless suggested by your ophthalmologist.

9/5/19

Making the Most of Your Kitchen Storage Space


Picture this. You’ve already moved into your new home, unpacked your items, and even made the rounds across your neighborhood, checking your list of the nearest gas stations, groceries, and schools. But what you might not have prepared for is the sudden shortage of storage in your new home. You might have relocated to a house that’s bigger than your previous one and jettisoned some of the useless clutter, but why couldn’t your new things just fit?



Louisiana long-distance movers are aware of the phenomenon, but it can be chalked to simply because you haven't had the time to maximize the tiniest corners of your new home. Nowhere is this storage and placement more critical than the kitchen, where most of the action—as far as homemaking goes, anyway—happens. It simply won’t do to have a kitchen that’s overstuffed that you barely have room to do whatever you need, let alone move.

In terms of laying out your items in the kitchen, you want to make sure that you have enough room to keep all your essentials in, but you don’t want to end up with a cramped space. Here are some storage ideas you can try if you’re short on cabinets.

Behind Doors

Every door in your home has a space behind it that’s waiting to be used. You can cover it with a functional shelving system to organize your kitchen supplies and spices. Alternatively, you can install hooks on them and hang your large pots and pans to clear up closet space.

You’re not just limited to the doors of your house—the back of your cabinet door is a great storage place, too! You can fashion a storage space for your measuring cups and spoon as well as a chalkboard guide with measuring equivalents for easy access and use.

Backsplash

While the backsplash is usually considered an aesthetic element, it can also be practical by doubling as an unexpected storage element. Show off your kitchenware by displaying them on your backsplash. This not only makes them more accessible, but they can also serve as decoration.


Counters

Large cookware and bakeware can take up too much space in your kitchen. Keep them off the shelves and in a handy space by hooking them on the ends of your kitchen counters or island. This style creates a rustic appeal that would complement the look of traditional kitchens. You can also hang bags in these hooks and store your cookbooks and magazines inside.

Walls

Your walls are another unused space that’s just waiting for the right type of ingenuity. You can turn it into a pegboard, where you can hang pots, pans, cooking utensils, or anything that can strike your fancy. You can indeed use the wall to hang another shelf, but why bother with a limited imagination? A pegboard can be the answer to flexible storage, as you can hang and store items on it as you see fit and your needs change.

A few tricks can make your new home feel more like home, and maximizing each corner is an excellent way to start. Plus, it won’t feel like home until it feels like every nook and cranny has a story, right?

Cebu City Food Crawl for Beginners

If the only thing that you know about Cebu City’s culinary heritage is the lechon, you’re in for a delicious surprise. The Philippines’ second largest metropolitan area is home to some of the best dining destinations in the country. In fact, the city was even featured in an episode of the Netflix documentary series “Street Food.” As such, it’s perfectly understandable if you hopped in an airplane to Cebu just for a food crawl experience. Here are a few must-try food stops for when you visit this this popular Visayan destination for the first time.

Sugbo Mercado at the IT Park

Start your food crawl with a bang by booking a room at one of the hotels in Lahug Cebu City. After you’ve had your post-plane ride beauty rest, head over to the Sugbo Mercado for a very long and sumptuous dinner.

Touted as Cebu’s largest weekend food market, Sugbo Mercado takes place at the Cebu IT Park every week from Thursday to Sunday. It opens at 5AM and closes at 2AM the following morning. The number of food stalls here may vary, but rest assured that your taste buds won’t run out of options.

Stalls at Sugbo Mercado offers everything from traditional Cebuano specialties and Asian options to western dishes and fusion cuisines. Aside from serving typical fare, the market often features experimental dishes and new food concepts that you can’t find anywhere else. Indeed, Sugbo Mercado has become quite a testing ground for food stall owners to see what new dishes would work for the Filipino palate.

Larsian sa Fuente

Larsian is Cebu’s first street food and barbecue hub. No Cebu food crawl will be complete without you gorging on mysterious meats on sticks and coming out of Larsian smelling like the smoked barbecue you just ate.

While the newly renovated Larsian now comes with a proper roof, clean tables, and more organized vendors, the old charm of the place still remains. When going in, be prepared to get verbally persuaded by different vendors to try their grilled specialties. As many of the stalls serve almost the same meats-on-a-stick options such as pork BBQ, chicken innards, and seafood, the competition for customers is quite fierce.

Dimsum Break

When Cebuanos are craving Chinese dimsum, Dimsum Break is the place to go. While the typical hakao, siomai, steamed rice, and more are served in Dimsum Break, the taste and quality of the food here is far from the regular Chinese fast food everyone is used to. In fact, their offerings are comparable to those served by more high-end Chinese restaurants, but at more affordable prices.

Dimsum Break branches are found everywhere in Cebu City. Unfortunately, their attempt at expanding to other parts of the country didn’t pan out, so whenever you are in Cebu City, this is a must-do food stop.

Carcar Lechon

It’s almost a crime to not eat lechon while in Cebu City. As the lechon capital of the Philippines, the city has a dizzying array of restaurants specializing in this roasted porky goodness. However, if you want the whole authentic experience of picking out your slice of lechon among a market full of vendors, the place to go is Carcar public market.

While most of the customers here take their lechon home, you can actually dine in and eat your chosen portion of lechon in the nearby “carenderia” (eatery). There, you can enjoy this classic Cebuano delicacy with a side of traditional “puso” or steamed rice in a coconut leaf pouch.

Sunburst Chicken

Before Cebu City was taken over by more globally recognizable fast food chains, it already had Sunburst Chicken. It’s one of their most beloved restaurants that stood the test of time. The restaurant is worth a visit since there are no branches outside of Cebu City.

The specialty of the house may seem simple—fried chicken—but the taste is distinctly Cebuano. On the side of every chicken are rice, coleslaw, and sweet potato fries with banana ketchup for condiment. It might sound a little strange, but the combination has worked since 1971.

These 5 food stops are just some of the essentials for a proper Cebu City food crawl. With the endless food options in the city, it would probably take a lifetime to taste them all. And that’s not a bad thing at all—just another reason to keep coming back to the Queen City of the South.