Karissa Tunis

Saving Money Worksheet for Kids (FREE Printable)

It is so important that we help to teach our children the value of money – how to save, when to spend, and the thought process behind it all! We have created this free saving money worksheet to help your kids save up for that special thing that they have been wanting 🙂

Taking the time to have a genuine conversation with your child can be so much fun and so insightful! It also helps to build up a great family bond. So don’t wait until your kids are going off to college to start the conversation. Begin now, and talk to your kids about ways to save their money.

SAVING MONEY BEYOND THE WORKSHEET

No matter your salary or job situation, families are always looking for ways to save money in some area of life. By saving more now, it allows you to adjust your budget and spend more later. Perhaps you are saving for a new car, a new house, or a big family vacation. Maybe you are saving for a private school or a college fund. No matter your goals, saving money is always a nice bonus! So start saving and investing now, even with as little as $5 – because it will add up quickly overtime! Check out this Stash review, or look for other sites that will help you make small investments now to help your future.

Also, check out our free resources on Adore Them that explore painless ways to save money, how to start consigning & consignment sale tips, 9 ways to afford organic food, decorating your home on a budget, paying for your kids adventures, how to speak to your children about money, explore how you can make money from home, and so much more! All of this can be found for free at adorethem.com/saving-money. Enjoy!

And for more on this topic, check out the full Saving Money collection

Pet Information Kit – Free Pet Printables for Your Family

January 21, 2022

Pet Information Kit – Free Pet Printables for Your Family

Pets quickly become additional members of our families. So it’s no wonder that we prioritize their needs just as we do our own children! But there is so much more to caring for a pet than just giving them food and water; it involves playtime, grooming, training, and so much more! That is why we put together this free pet information kit. Whether you just adopted a new pet, or you have loved your fur baby for years, these free printables can help! Now all of your important pet information will be organized and in one convenient spot, making it easy to share details with anyone else involved in their care

Are you getting ready to travel with your pet for the first time and don’t know what to pack? Or are you ready to leave them home with a pet sitter for the first time? Perhaps your children want to (or should) get more involved with the daily tasks your pet requires. Either way, we have you covered with these free pet printables. Below you will find an important pet info sheet, vet appointment notes, pet sitter instructions, what to pack – pet travel list, vaccine tracker, a pet responsibility chart, a new pet supply list, and so much more!

While we can’t snuggle your pet in person, we can help you be prepared for almost everything that comes along with caring for your dearly loved furry family member. Best of luck and enjoy that special bond!

Created by Karissa Tunis
For more on this topic, check out the full Family Pet collection

Free Pet Printables

What’s included in this pet information kit?

In this free download, you’ll find a variety of resources to help your family care for you pet!

There is an important pet information sheet to keep up to date records for your pet. The pet sitter notes will help ensure great care of your pet while you’re gone. Included is a pet care form that can help you figure out what your pet might need. Fill out a pet profile that outlines the basics of caring for your family pet. Use the pet travel checklist before you leave for your next trip.

Fill out pet shopping lists so that you don’t forget anything at the pet store. Keep track of important medical care for your family pet with the vet appointment tracker, pet vaccine tracker, and pet medicine tracker. Stay on budget with the pet expenses worksheet. Encourage independence and help your children care for their pet with the pet chore chart for kids. Make sure your pet is getting the nutrition they need with the pet feeding schedule. And if you’re bringing a brand new pet home to the family, be sure to use the new puppy checklist and new kitty checklist.

*Scroll back up to the email form above to gain access to all of these great free pet printables!

For more on this topic, check out the full Family Pet collection

Co-Owner: Karissa Tunis

Karissa Tunis is the co-owner of both the parenting website Adore Them and the family event company Milestone Family Expos. Through these ventures she is able to share inspiring, heartfelt insight with large audiences within local communities and across the country! As a work-from-home mom of four children, Karissa understands the need for family-focused organization and time management. She consistently provides insight into child behavior that has helped fellow parents achieve their goals of calmer, happier homes. Karissa also makes it a priority to soak in all of the southern specialties that Charleston, South Carolina, has to offer with her husband and their children.

Contact: Karissa@AdoreThem.com

Navigating the Love Languages

If you have not read the book “The 5 Love Languages”, I would highly recommend it! Not only does it shed light on your romantic relationships; but it can also open your eyes to other relationships with special people like your kids, friends, extended family, etc. But let me summarize for you my favorite points, and offer you my own guide to navigating the love languages.

Basically there are 5 love languages. They include:

Words of Affirmation
Receiving Gifts
Quality Time
Physical Touch
and Acts of Service

Every person is stronger in one of these areas, and this is how they truly feel loved and appreciated….

6 Signs You Should Get A New Car

Is it time you traded your current car for another vehicle? Getting a new car can be exciting, but it can also be a lot of hassle. For this reason, some of us put off buying a new car until we have no choice. Below are just a few signs that now could be a good time to buy a new car.

For more on this topic, check out the full Travel Tips collection

No Longer Practical

Your car is no longer practical for your needs.

Over time, our needs can change. You may start to realize that your current car is no longer practical. For example, a small car may be perfect for commuting alone in a city. But if you decide you want to go on a roadtrip, or decide you want to start a family, you may need a bigger car. Contrastingly, you may find that a large car becomes impractical when moving to a busy city where parking spaces are limited.

Lots of Miles and Issues

The car has done over 120,000 miles – and problems keep occurring.

Most cars have an average life of about 120,000 miles. It’s around this point that the wear and tear starts to become a problem and parts start to fail one by one. If your car has done roughly this amount of miles, and you’re starting to notice frequent problems, it could be time to get a new car before the repair costs start mounting up.

Repair Costs

The repair costs keep mounting up.

If you’ve already got to the stage where you’re constantly spending money on repairs, it could be worth making your escape now. It’s likely to be cheaper to cut your losses and buy a new car, than to keep pouring money into repairs on your current car. The odd car repair may be nothing to worry about. But lots of repairs in a short period (particularly expensive repairs) are not something you should put up with. This Washington Post guide explains more on when to repair your car and when to trade it in.

No Bond

You can’t seem to bond with your car.

After buying a new car, it may take a while to get used to the way it handles and operates. However, if after several months, you still find it awkward, difficult or boring to drive, it could be worth looking for a new car. Not everyone enjoys driving. However, you should at least feel comfortable in your car.

Afford New Car

You can afford a new car.

Before you think about buying a new car, it’s worth considering whether you can afford it. Assess your needs and then see if you can find any cars within your budget. Sites like Edmunds allow you to search listings by price and can even help you to calculate estimates on finance. Don’t try to buy a new car on finance if you’re already struggling to pay off previous loans.

Fallen Out of Love

You’ve fallen out of love with your car and yearn something new.

A car you once loved may one day start to feel unexciting. You may find yourself constantly yearning for a newer model with better gadgets. Or you might find yourself wanting a high performance car, or perhaps something a bit more quirky. Once this happens, it could be a good time to consider buying a new car.

For more on this topic, check out the full Travel Tips collection

A Guide To Helping Your Child Transition Into Child Care

A Guide To Helping Your Child Transition Into Child Care

Starting child care can be a difficult transition for children. But with the proper preparation, it can be a smooth experience. It’s important to note that this experience can be greatly influenced by how prepared you are as a parent. Here are some quick tips on how you can make the transition easier for your little one.

For more on this topic, check out the full Childcare Options collection

Maintain Good Communication With The Daycare

As we all know, communication with other people is important in helping us to feel less alone and more comfortable. This rings especially true when it comes to talking with the staff at your child’s daycare or preschool. As seen at Story House Early Learning, relationships with families and the community are key to supporting children and helping them reach their potential.

You should also visit the school with your child before they start. This will help them to feel more comfortable and safe at their new home away from home. It will allow you two to bond with the staff of your child’s daycare. Once there, don’t be afraid to ask questions about the program. How are children organized? What is expected of children? What is the learning environment like? These are all great questions to ask.

Prepare Them With A Good Bedtime Routine

Teaching your child how to transition into their new bedtime routine ahead of time will make them more prepared for when they fully enter their daycare or preschool. Making the bedtime routine extra special by including their favorite pj’s and blanket, a new stuffed animal for them to cuddle with at night, or preparing a meal they love for dinner can help make the transition easier. If you follow this advice and let your child enjoy some time before bed exploring their play area, they will likely sleep easier during their first few nights at their new school.

Be Patient With The Transition Period

While preparing your child to transition into a daycare or preschool is important, it’s also important not to push them too hard when the time comes. Yes, it’s important to be supportive and encouraging in helping them adjust. But if your child seems upset or distracted during the first days of their new daycare, don’t pressure them. This could only make the transition process more difficult and raise your anxiety levels as a parent.

Allow Them To Express Their Feelings Without Judgment

If your child is having a difficult time transitioning into their new home away from home, it can be very helpful to allow them to express their feelings without judgment. Try to let them know that it’s okay to be sad or scared about this big change and that you are there to help them adjust. This is a very important time for your child to bond with you as their caregiver and learn how to trust others, so try not to get angry if they seem upset.

[Read: What Are My Child Care Options?]

Transitioning into a daycare or preschool can be difficult for children. But with the proper preparation and support from their parents, it can be a smooth process. By maintaining good communication with the staff at their new school, preparing them ahead of time with a bedtime routine, and being patient during the transition period, your child will likely adjust well to their new surroundings. It’s also important to let them express their feelings without judgment and to provide emotional support during this time of change.

For more on this topic, check out the full Childcare Options collection

An Easy Guide To Choosing The Right Paddle Board

January 17, 2022

An Easy Guide To Choosing The Right Paddle Board

Paddle boarding is a great way to get out and enjoy the water. Not only is it a fun activity, but it’s also a great workout. However, before you can enjoy paddle boarding, you need to choose the right board for you. There are many different boards on the market, so how do you know which one is right for you?

In this guide, we will walk you through the process of choosing the right paddle board. So whether you’re a beginner, or an experienced paddle boarder, read on for tips on how to find your perfect board.

For more on this topic, check out the full Summer Safety & Activities collection

Consider The Board’s Weight

The weight of the board is very important. The lighter the board is, the easier it will be to carry around and enjoy on your travels. A board that’s too heavy is not only hard to transport. But it will also be harder for you to paddle with. If you are planning on carrying your board to and from the water, or if you’re going to be traveling with it, we recommend getting a lighter one.

If you will not need to carry your board around very much, then you can go for a sturdier board that is more durable and easier to use in various weather conditions.

[Read:Water Safety for Kids and Families]

Know The Different Types of Boards

There are four different types of boards available for purchase. These include mini, all around, inflatable, and touring.

Mini Boards

The first type is the mini board. This is one of the most basic models that you can get. They are generally very cheap, and are designed to be used by children under 5 years old. And they are also great for beginners who are still learning how to use them.

Mini boards are only about 20 inches long. This makes them very small and easy to transport. If you’re traveling with your board or storing it in a smaller place, then the mini board is perfect for you as it is much easier to carry around than most other types of boards.

All Around Boards

An all-around board is a medium-sized board that’s generally used by people who have some experience using paddle boards. If you’re an experienced user and you need a board that can be used in all kinds of water conditions, then this is the right choice for you. These boards are generally between 30 and 36 inches long. Which makes them a great fit for most people.

Inflatable Boards

The next type of board is the inflatable one. This type of board is also very easy to transport as it can be deflated when you’re not using it. You can easily put it in the trunk of your car or store it away in a closet. But you need to be certain of its SUP life expectancy before purchasing. If you need to store the board when it’s not being used, then this is definitely the right type for you. Especially since most other boards are very hard to fit into small spaces.

Touring Boards

Touring boards are much larger than the inflatable board and they’re also sturdier. This type of board is usually designed for heavy use in all kinds of water conditions. They can handle a lot of weight and they provide much more stability than other types. That makes these boards perfect for people who plan on using their boards every day.

What’s The Size?

There are different sizes of boards available. Some people think that the bigger the board, the better it will be. However, this is not always true.

If you are a beginner, you should start with a smaller board which is easier to manage for less experienced users. Paddle boarding is an intense workout. So you don’t want to go with a large board if you’re just starting out. Keep in mind, however, that a bigger board is generally sturdier and will give you more stability than a smaller board would. Remember that size matters when it comes to choosing the right paddle board. And you should always be aware of what size is right for your experience level.

Balance and Board Width

Another thing to consider is the board’s width. The wider a board is, the more stable it will be, and the easier it will be to balance on. However, this also means that your paddling technique will have to change as well since you won’t be able to paddle in a straight line with a wide board.

If you’re a beginner, then we recommend going for a board that’s not too wide as it will be easier to maintain your balance on this type of board. If you feel like you have enough experience and would benefit from a wider board, then go ahead and choose one if this is what you want.

Board Length

The final thing to keep in mind when choosing a paddle board is its length. How long the board is will change how easy it is to turn. For example, if you want to go fast, then your board should be shorter as this will make it easier for you to paddle forward at full force.

If you are looking for something that responds quickly and that is easier to turn, then we recommend going for a board that’s longer. If you don’t know what kind of board you want and which features are more important for you, then go ahead and choose one at random as most brands make both types of boards.

This article was a comprehensive guide to choosing the right paddle board. We hope we helped you find the perfect one for your needs.

For more on this topic, check out the full Summer Safety & Activities collection

These 6 Tips Will Make Parenting Young Kids Easier

Raising young kids can be a lot of work. But with the right tips, it can be a lot easier. If you establish a routine and stick to it as much as possible, keep things calm and positive in your home environment, and make sure you set boundaries for your kids, they will likely turn out well-behaved and happy. Follow these 6 tips to get started!

For more on this topic, check out the full All About Toddlers collection

Establish a Routine and Stick to It

Establishing and keeping to a routine is key in parenting young kids. Kids crave consistency, and they don’t care what the routine looks like as long as there is one. If you fall into a pattern and stick with it, your children will learn what to expect next. And they will be more likely to adapt their behavior accordingly. Routines can include meals, bedtime, playtime, and any other scheduled activities. Making sure that your routine is consistent will make life easier for you as well as your children.

Top tip: Be flexible! Every kid is different. So what works for one child may not work for the next. Keep an open mind to feedback from your kids (but don’t let them dictate your routine).

[Read: Creating a Healthy Home Environment]

Keep Things Calm and Positive

You want a happy, calm home environment so it’s best to keep things light and positive. This can be a challenge with a young child. But, according to katherinerosman.com, there are some things you can do to achieve this. Don’t expect too much from your kids – give them time to process their emotions before you expect them to act on them. If they can’t do what you ask immediately, don’t snap at them (and certainly don’t hit them). Give your children some space when necessary and try not to sweat the small stuff with toddlers; it’s easy to get angry over spilled milk. But in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter.

Top tip: Minimize and eliminate stress triggers and negative stimuli. Restrict access to TV, tablets, gadgets, and other electronics. Keep things calm and positive in the home environment so your children will be happier.

Set Boundaries

Boundaries are important for kids, especially when they’re young and still learning social norms. If you give your child the boundaries, they will know when and where things are appropriate. Of course, you don’t want your child to be a complete pushover; it’s OK for them to express themselves if they’re not hurting anyone (and it’s OK if other people think what they’re doing is weird).

Top tip: You should expect that your child won’t be able to stick with their boundaries perfectly, but that’s ok. If your child is being overly disruptive or disrespectful, gently remind them of the boundary you have set and help them work towards sticking to it.

[Read: How to Set Expectations for Your Kids and Improve Child Behavior]

Remember What Being a Kid is Like

You were a kid once too, and you probably did stupid things that your parents weren’t happy about. We all make mistakes because we’re young and still learning the ropes. However, many of these mistakes can easily be avoided with some common sense tips to parenting. Of course, every child is different, but everyone has to start somewhere. This can help you raise a child who will grow up to be responsible, conscientious, and well-behaved.

Top tip: Don’t compare your kids with other people’s kids; every child is unique!

Lead by an Example

If you want your kids to behave a certain way, then you need to lead by example. Kids learn not just from what we say (or don’t say), but also from what we do and how we act towards one another. If you want your children to be kind and respectful of others, make sure that’s the standard in the home. If you want your children to be curious and excited about learning, make sure that it’s a priority in your household.

Top tip: Even little kids are watching how you behave all the time – make sure they’re watching you do things right!

Give it Time

You’re not going to get everything right on the first try. Your kids are still learning what is expected of them, and you are still learning how to be a parent. Forgive yourself for making mistakes because it’s all part of the process. With time, patience, and commitment you will raise well-behaved kids that respect others.

The most important thing is to pay attention to your children; do what they are telling you to do. If they’re being disobedient, try to figure out why before you punish or reprimand them. Kids don’t understand complex sentence constructions so keep it simple. Remember that your children are small and still learning how the world works. They don’t need to be perfect, they just need to learn.

Top tip: Don’t sweat the small stuff; kids make mistakes and if you give them room to mess up (within reason) they’ll feel more comfortable trying new things.

Raising kids can be a lot of work, but it’s definitely worth it. By following these six simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to having well-behaved and happy children. Remember to relax and take things one step at a time – raising kids is a marathon, not a sprint!

For more on this topic, check out the full All About Toddlers collection

What Is A Keto Diet?

It’s the start of a new year. And that means many of us are surveying different aspects of our life, looking for areas of improvement. One area that many of us like to focus on is our diet. Over the course of the year, many of us slip into bad habits. Eating junk food, takeout, and ready made meals for the sake of convenience. But oftentimes we are failing to do things as simple as eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. If you’re looking to change your diet to kick start a healthier lifestyle, you might have heard a lot about keto diets. Here’s more information on the subject to help you decide whether this could be a good option for you!

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

What Is a Keto Diet?

Let’s start out by explaining exactly what a keto diet is. Keto diets revolve around the concept of fasting and restrictive food types. Overall keto is a practice that has been practiced for centuries. The general concept is abstaining from food for set periods of time, and only eating specific food when you do eat, which often results in weight loss. This is because you place yourself into a calorie deficit. As your body isn’t receiving the fuel that it usually does and starts to draw on supplies that have been put away, such as fat supplies.

If you are currently at a healthy weight, there’s no point engaging with a keto diet to lose weight. Although some people say the recommended routines make them feel better over all. Just be cautious of not losing weight that you do not need to lose as this can be unhealthy.

However, if your doctor advises that you lose weight, it is still important to remember that extended periods of fasting are inadvisable too. You need to make sure that keto is practiced properly and as recommended by a healthcare professional.

How Does It Work?

So, we’ve highlighted the general premise of keto above. But how does it actually work? Well, when your body doesn’t get food for periods of time, or is restricted from certain foods, it will naturally enter into a state of ketosis. This is where the name of the keto diet comes from. During ketosis, your body uses fat supplies for energy rather than the carbohydrates that you’d usually eat on a day to day basis.

Of course, you can’t simply starve yourself by not providing your body with any fuel. This is hugely detrimental to your health and overall wellbeing. It can also cause your body to hold onto fat supplies, using as little as possible in an attempt to prepare for potential long term lack of food.

Instead, by following a keto diet, you can ensure that you’re still providing your body with what it needs while tapping into fat supplies. This is where keto can work. Keto is short for “ketogenic” and the concept of this diet is to consume a low calorie and carb diet with high levels of fat. Your body will learn to burn the fat from your diet and then move onto reserves of fat. This will give you energy at the same time as helping you to lose weight and fat.

Meal Ideas

Of course, adopting a keto diet will mean completely having to change the meals you’re used to making. Here are a few different ideas that should act as inspiration and get the ball rolling.

Keto Quesadillas

A key difficulty people face creating keto meals is replacing carbs. But this doesn’t mean you have to cut out tasty dishes like quesadillas. Instead, you need to simply find a replacement for wraps and other carb sources. Keto quesadillas craft the wrap from a cheese, making the meal delicious and perfectly keto friendly.

Keto Butter Cake

You’ll be glad to know that following a ketogenic diet doesn’t mean having to cut out dessert. Unlike many other diet plans, keto diets do allow for desserts. So you don’t have to say no to after dinner treats. Why not try keto butter cake? This cake is a delicious, fluffy, indulgent vanilla butter cake that is naturally low carb and perfect for those following a keto diet. Whether you’re craving something sweet or looking for a birthday cake that won’t throw your diet off track, it’s definitely worth giving a try.

Of course, you should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before making any significant changes to your diet or lifestyle. They’ll be able to consider your individual needs and determine whether a keto diet could suit you well. If they say that this could work for you, hopefully, some of the information outlined above should help you along the way to a healthier diet!

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

DIY Birthday Gift Ideas Everyone Will Love

15 DIY Birthday Gift Ideas Everyone Will Love

For better or worse, we now live in the age of abundance. There are tools for everything, and stuff for everyone. That is why it is getting harder and harder to look for birthday gifts. What if the birthday boy or girl already has it? What if they simply don’t need it. So if you don’t want to find yourself in some big box store looking for pointless material things, consider going DIY. A handmade birthday gift will always be a good idea! After all, it is unique and thoughtful. If you don’t have many ideas for DIY birthday gifts, we have got you covered. Today, we’ll share with you 15 awesome and doable gifts that every birthday celebrant will love. Let’s dive in.

For more on this topic, check out the full Gift Giving and Party Planning collections

15 DIY Birthday Gift Ideas

Photo Mugs

Who doesn’t love a good mug? Mugs are the embodiment of coziness and chillout time. And if you put a lovely picture on one – it will also be a perfect gift for a loved one. You can decorate the mug with touching family photos, inspirational banners, or popular culture icons – it all depends on the recipient’s age and taste.

Photo Blanket

The birthday boy or girl loves to get cozy? Then surprise them with a custom made photo blanket. Adorn it with pictures that are significant for the gift recipient – these can be family photos or shots from memorable vacations. A photo blanket is both a good way to keep warm on winter nights and a lovely keepsake that shows how much you care.

Birthday Photo Collage

Want to create a DIY photo gift, but can’t cull just one picture? You don’t have to! Make a photo collage out of several images. You can go with a regular grid or a jumbled option or even make a heart-shaped or letter-shaped collage. Don’t have that much inspiration for the gift? Then scout for birthday collage ideas and you’ll be able to make the perfect photo present.

DIY Pendant

Know how to handle epoxy resin? Then here’s a gift idea for you. Create a custom pendant – or any kind of jewelry – with some important picture. Just put the picture into a form, pour the resin over it and let it sit overnight. Whoever receives this gift will be proudly flaunting it for sure.

Photo Magnets

Did you know that you don’t need any print shop to create photo magnets? You just need a bunch of photos, regular magnets, glue and unused mason jar lids. Simply cut out the photos so that they would fit inside the lid, use glue to secure them inside and to fix the magnet on the other side. Just a few minutes and a lovely-to-look-at gift is ready.

Memory Game

Here is a gift idea that is simple as it is fun. You’ll need pictures of all your family members (two copies), scissors, glue and some wrapping paper. Make two cards for every family member, then play a game where you lay all the cards on the table face down, then try to find every picture pair by flipping the cards in turn. Now this will be a memory exercise for all the participants.

Photo Coasters

Someone you love is a bit of a clean freak? Then they’ll love DIY coasters with great pics on them. These better be done by a professional print shop, which still won’t coast you that much. Make sure to pick the right images – those that would always bring a smile on the gift recipient’s face.

Photo Box

It’s like a jack-in-the-box, but with pictures. You can easily create a funny DIY gift if you have a little time and a wooden box. Just connect your images so that they would neatly fold into the box like an accordion. So whenever you pull a string, you’ll see a thread of photos that would cheer even the gloomiest person up.

DIY Photo Calendar

Your loved one isn’t an organized person? A custom photo calendar can fix it. Design a planner with pictures that you know your friend or relative will love. Make sure to leave plenty of space for personal notes and scheduled events. Such a photo calendar will be an awesome thing to look at and to manage your time with.

Candle Holders

Candles give such a feeling of coziness that they will never fail to be one of the best presents. You can make them even better if you add your favorite pictures to candle holders. So each time your dear one lights the candle, they will see the pictures that bring so many sweet memories.

Photo Wall Hanging

Feel like frames are old news? Then how about a minimalistic way to hang pictures of the wall? Create a unique gift by sprinkling a bunch of pictures on a yarn then tie them to wooden planks. This gift might be tricky to unwrap, but it will be a marvel to look at.

Christmas Ornaments

In case you are looking for a Christmas present rather than one for a birthday, DIY Christmas ornaments are the way to go. These can be awesome orbs with photos inside or some flat craft pieces on a string – it all depends on your artistic aspirations.

Photo Letters

What’s in the name, right? Or rather in the initials? Make a huge letter out of wooden blocks, spray paint it, then glue lovely pictures all over its surface. A photo monogram will be an awesome home decor for our loved one’s place.

Lego Photo Puzzles

Both kids and adults love building with those plastic blocks. And how about using them to build a heart-warming photo? Get yourself some oversized Lego pieces and glue part of an image to them so that they would turn into a slightly perplexing puzzle that would be fun to solve.

DIY Photo Clock

Wouldn’t it be cool if your friend or relative could see their favorite picture each time they checked the time? You can make this a reality. Make them a custom photo clock. Make sure to add some significant quote to the design to help them keep their cheen constantly up.

Now that seems like quite a handful of gift ideas, right? And the best part is that these are all easily doable. So ditch those gift cards and beaten present ideas, and give in to creativity and DIY craze. A hand-crafted gift is one in a million. It will be appreciated for sure.

For more on this topic, check out the full Gift Giving and Party Planning collections

Useful Tips On How To Get Rid Of Hard Water

January 14, 2022

Protecting Your Family From Hard Water And How To Get Rid Of It

Hard water is an issue faced by many houses throughout the world. Water is the source of life. But it may happen that sometimes there are certain elements in water that make it excessively harmful for human health. There are two types of problems associated with hard water; physical and chemical problems.

The physical problems arise when excess calcium and magnesium present themselves in water causing difficulty while washing clothes or dishes. The other problem is caused by chemicals, like chlorine and lead, which can cause damage to lungs due to inhalation. It can even be hazardous to one’s health if it enters through any open cuts on the skin. Below this article discusses how to get rid of hard water.

For more helpful resources, check out the full Home Safety collection

Water Filter

Water filters are highly effective and often recommended. Especially for people who want to get rid of hard water without spending too much. These filters contain a bed of crushed rock or pebbles which absorb water and release minerals back into the system after purification. All reputable guides for healthier water will tell you that a good home filter should remove all hardness through precipitation. Thereby reducing it to zero percent. Some important points about effective filtering are given below:

One must ensure that the filter is installed at the beginning rather than at the end of the pipeline. This reduces the wasted amount of water during rinsing. The filter must also be rinsed once every two weeks with vinegar in order to prevent any calcium buildup inside the media bed. Lastly, filters are available in different sizes and shapes. They can easily be fitted under the sink. And they should be replaced after one to two years according to usage.

Distillation

Distillation is among the most efficient ways of getting rid of hard water. It involves boiling water. Here steam is produced, and is later cooled down for producing purified water. Distilled water is free from any solid particles as they are left behind once the liquid evaporates into steam. This method can be employed on a large scale by big companies. However, it has been found to be too costly for small households. The heat involved in this process may also prove hazardous as human skin cannot stand more than 45 degrees Celsius, which is the temperature at which boiled water releases steam.

Water Softeners

Water softeners use ion exchange technology to get rid of hard water. This works by replacing heavy metal ions with sodium or potassium ions so that the water becomes soft. The ideal way to use a water softener is to work it on a continuous basis. This can be achieved by running the salt solution back through the system. Example is when it gets discharged from the washer, thereby saving costs on both salt and electricity.

When choosing a water softener for your residence, the key factor to consider is its capacity which directly affects how much water can be purified at one time. In order to know what size of a softener you need in your house, you must first calculate the daily water usage. And then add about 30% to find your answer.

Washing Soda

Washing soda, or soda ash, is primarily used in laundry soap to soften hard water before washing clothes in the machine. One cup of washing soda must be dissolved in two gallons of hot water. It should also be stored in a plastic container. The container should not contain any metal parts as these cause corrosion once combined with washing soda. Washing soda is commonly used for removing stains from clothes. And it should be used in lower concentrations when washing delicate fabrics like silk which can get damaged due to excess alkalinity.

Enzyme Cleaners

These are among the latest methods of getting rid of hard water. It is also widely used by people who have sensitive skin, which may react adversely to chlorine present in water. These cleaners also prevent the build-up of harmful contaminants on shower curtains and tiles caused by hard water. This is because they contain enzymes that capture minerals before they deposit on glass or fabric surfaces leaving them sparkling clean. If used correctly, there will be no residue or damages caused by chemicals or hardness. Which is then released into the environment after breaking down into carbon dioxide and oxygen gases at a later stage.

Hard water is a common problem faced by many households and offices. It is essential to keep an adequate supply of soft water in order to avoid its harmful effects on the skin, clothes, vessels, and other surfaces made from metal or ceramic. Hard water has a high mineral content which makes it unfit for consumption as it may lead to health problems such as digestive complaints and kidney stones. So be sure to get your water checked, and figure out a plan to tackle any hard water you have today.

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