Karissa Tunis

Great Outdoor Space Project Ideas To Get Your Place Prepared For Fun Summer Nights

May 2, 2021

Summer is almost here. And that means it is time to get your place looking great for all of the fun that will be happening. Whether you have a lot of space in your yard, or just some room on your roof, making sure these outdoor spaces are ready is important! Especially since this summer will surly be filled with amazing memories. The article below will give you ideas to get your outdoor space ready for summer fun.

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

Build An Outdoor Kitchen

There is no better way to spend a night than outdoors cooking with friends, family, or even by yourself. There are many Outdoor Kitchen Project Ideas to choose from. Whether it be a full-time outdoor kitchen with gas lines, or cooking over a grill. Informally preparing your meal, while spending quality time in the great outdoors, is a great experience!

When it comes to creating an outdoor kitchen, the discussion on whether to choose paradise grills or RTA outdoor living kitchens will quickly come up. A paradise grill can give you all the amenities of a complete outdoor kitchen, and with a sleek stainless-steel look and feel. According to an rta outdoor living review, the other option of an RTA outdoor living kitchen, will provide you with a more rustic charm that is perfect for any backyard patio. Therefore, regardless of your preference, you will be able to find a paradise grill or RTA outdoor living kitchen that is ideal for the space, budget, and your outdoor dinning area.

Create An Outdoor Dining Room

While outdoor seats are functional, creating an entire dining space outdoors will make your backyard the place to be. Utilize an outdoor rug. Hang some string lights. And add a few plants to create an inviting atmosphere for you and your guests. If you have enough space, consider adding an outdoor dining table with chairs. – As this can be a wow factor for any get-together!

Add a Pool

Summers get hot. What better way to cool off than by taking a dip in your very own pool? Not only will this keep you entertained all summer long, but it will also provide an excellent place for guests to gather. If you don’t have space available, or the budget for an in-ground pool, consider installing an above-ground pool instead.

You don’t necessarily have to spend your savings on a new pool. You can get creative with your space and create a pool using less traditional methods. For example, if you don’t want to dig out your backyard for a full-sized in-ground pool, consider installing an above-ground wading pool instead.

Install Proper Lighting

Nights spent on the outside need proper lighting. This is to prevent any accidents and risk of injuries. But also for safety purposes when you need visibility outside in the dark.

There are many ways to light up your outdoor space. Such as different types of lamps that can be used on a table, lanterns hanging from trees or walls, candles (if there is no wind), torches, etc. You only need to find an attractive idea and replicate it throughout your garden. And remember to keep everything uniform for a stylish look!

Bring In Some Greenery

It’s time to get your hands dirty and bring in some greenery. The benefits of adding plants to your outdoor space has been well documented over the years. Not only will you be making a beautiful environment, but plants can also help improve air quality and provide homes for small animals!

A few examples of great plants include:

Lavender

The flower from this plant produces a beautiful scent that has been proven to reduce stress levels by calming people down.

Rosemary

This herb is very easy to grow. It makes an excellent addition because it has properties that kill off bacteria in food, and purify the surrounding area around its roots.

When adding greenery like these two items mentioned above, be sure they are placed in areas where their aroma can reach freely. Keep in mind though that not everyone enjoys lavender or rosemary scents. So be sure to allow space around these plants.

Get a Hammock

Summers are great for spending time outdoors, and there’s no better way to enjoy the warm weather than by relaxing in a hammock. If you don’t have one, now is the perfect time to get one! Not only will it make your outdoor space more enjoyable, but it’ll also come in handy when you want to take a break and unwind.

Preparing your outdoor space for the summer is something that everyone should do. It is fun to be able to enjoy your backyard or even head out on the deck for some quiet time during those hot summer nights! This article mentions some great project ideas that will help you get your outdoor space ready for summer.

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

Free Printable Mindfulness Activities + Tips to Create a Zen Space

Free Printable Mindfulness Activities + Tips to Create a Zen Space

Meditation has grown in popularity all over the world, with a global increase in meditation by 2,900% from March to September 2020. Given the pandemic, many people have opted for meditation in their own homes.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom or a working mom, meditation can be extremely beneficial. Especially when it comes to reducing stress, depression and anxiety. You can even meditate as a family to facilitate healthy, long-lasting habits. Creating a calming meditation area in your home where everyone can practice doesn’t have to be a big task. we’ve compiled a list of tips for a zen yet cost-effective meditation space. For more information on how to create a serene meditation room, check out our visual and fun printable resources below.

For more on this topic, check out the full Self Care collection

Declutter Your Space

For a soothing meditation, decluttering your space will result in a minimalist room to work with. Try purging as many nonessential items as possible so that you can utilize organized storage. It’s also a good idea to clear any electronic devices so that you can hone in on your meditation practice. This will allow you to mentally unplug and focus on what you’re there to do.

[ Learn More in the Get Organized Collection ]

Invest in Proper Lighting

Lighting is incredibly important when it comes to meditation because it can energize or relax you, depending on the type of meditation you choose on a particular day. For the best of both worlds, consider hiring an electrician to install dimmable light switches so that you have the flexibility to meditate in dark or light environments. Conversely, if you prefer an energizing meditation practice, take advantage of natural light through windows and sunlight for lots of brightness.

Invigorate Your Sense of Smell

Meditation can involve all the five senses, one of which is your sense of smell. Aromatherapy has become an increasingly popular method of soothing relaxation through the use of essential oils. It’s important to note that different essential oils can have different effects on the body; for example, peppermint oil is an invigorating scent while lavender is a calming one. Try your hand at burning incense or using an essential oil diffuser for an aromatic meditation practice.

[ Read: What Type of Self Care Do I Need? ]

Why Breathing Exercises Are Key to Meditation

One popular meditation technique is mindful breathing, where you focus on your breath as the epicenter of your practice. As a parent, juggling childcare with your personal life can be stressful; this is where mindful breathing can be extremely helpful. Some of the benefits of mindful breathing include lowering blood pressure and improved regulation of your body’s physiological stress response. Check out this resource for mindfulness activities.

Parents have the unique responsibility of caretaking while also facilitating their own well-being. By utilizing meditation, you can improve your physical and mental health as well as setting a good example for your children on how to manage stress and hardship in their lives. For more information on how to create a serene meditation room, check out our visual and fun printable resources below.

Free Printable Mindfulness Activities

Breathing Activities & Mindfulness Worksheets

Free Printable Wall Art

3 calming designs to choose from

How to Create a Serene Space at Home

Infographic created by HomeAdvisor

School Headphone Buying Guide

School Headphone Buying Guide

Schools are a special place to so many people. It is where you go to learn. And it is also where you make lots of friends. Schools are getting more and more technologically advanced as the years go on. So keeping up with what a school needs, and what you should get for your school, can be tough. There are so many different things that your students will need for school, and it can be hard to know which options to choose. Things like computers, whiteboards, and even chairs all need to be selected for a school and ordered in.

For more on this topic, check out the full Back To School collection

Why Are School Headphones So Important?

Another thing that is very important for schools are headphones. With the amount of students now in school, the noise level is also significantly higher. And if a student does not have headphones, it makes listening and learning much harder. Also, there are many students and schools who are now taking advantage of online learning. In these cases students need the best headphones to make sure that the students can learn without hindrance due to the technology being used.

The problem with headphones is that there are so many different options for you to choose for your school. Not only are there different connection types, but there are also different types of headphones. You will also need to consider how they fit your student’s ear and head. Because of this it can be tough to know the exact ones that would work for your school and your student. Continue reading below to learn how to decide what you need, get an idea for what is available, and find out what is best on the market. Check out the great infographic below to help you out.

School Headphone Buying Guide

Infographic Designed By Learning Headphones Buying Guide

For more on this topic, check out the full Back To School collection

How To Take Care Of Yourself As A Parent

It goes without saying that parenting is tough. Though children bring an unexpected amount of joy into their lives, they also bring a lot of responsibility and pressure along with them. This is because, as a parent, you will always want to ensure you are doing your absolute best for your children. As a result, you will often attempt to hold yourself to certain standards which are unrealistic in the long run.

For example, you may begin to neglect your own needs so that you can continue to put your children first. While this is perfectly understandable, if you can’t take care of yourself, you’ll begin to find it harder to take care of others.

With that in mind, here are some simple and straightforward ways that can start taking better care of yourself as a parent.

For more on this topic, check out the full Self Care collection

Don’t avoid your problems; face them head-on

Whether you are feeling isolated or dealing with some form of addiction, it will always seem tempting to avoid problems instead of addressing them. This is because we often mistakenly believe that ignoring a problem will make it go away. This isn’t true. The problem will only continue to grow and spiral if you give it permission to do so. As a result, you can begin taking better care of yourself by addressing these issues sooner rather than later.

For example, if you feel like you are dealing with an addiction – reach out for support today. Whether that means you speak to a trusted friend, or family member, or sign up for professional help and support. Try not to worry too much about the associated cost. There are plenty of affordable rehab copays available to you that can help reduce the price of rehab. Furthermore, it is an investment into your future health and happiness – meaning that it is definitely worth the price tag.

Make time for self-care

When you’re raising a family, it often seems as though there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get through everything you need to do. Nevertheless, no matter how busy or overwhelmed you may feel, you must find time for self-care. Studies suggest that self-care can lift both your mood and confidence, helping you tackle any problems that come your way. It can also reduce stress and anxiety by a considerable amount.

Remember, self-care comes in many forms. It doesn’t have to be spa trips and face masks if that kind of thing doesn’t interest you. Instead, focus on spending time doing something that brings you joy. Whether that means you head out for a game of golf or simply spend a little time alone in the house.

Don’t sweat the small stuff

Whenever you feel more stressed than usual or notice that anxiety is taking control of your day – take a step back and try to see the bigger picture. Will the thing that you are worried about still matter tomorrow? Or in a week? A month? A year? Asking yourself these questions can help you realize when you are simply worrying for the sake of worrying. It can also provide you with the tools and coping mechanisms you need to make it through tough times.

For more on this topic, check out the full Self Care collection

TikTok Tips to Get Started – How I Grew to 100k Followers in 3 Months

April 21, 2021

TikTok Tips to Get Started + Free Printable

I gained over 100,000 followers and 1.8 million likes on TikTok in 3 months! I found an incredibly fun and interactive community. And agencies began reaching out with high-value brand deals.

There is so much opportunity on this platform. And I highly encourage you to start creating there today!

So how do you get started? Check out the free printable guide below…

On this TikTok account, I post fun kid activity ideas. However, I set myself apart by doing crafts based off of popular characters from YouTube, video games, shows, and movies. I always make sure that the ideas I post feel doable to my viewers! I want them to be able to watch a fun video, and then go give it a try for themselves. They are all affordable and approachable!

It is also important to remember that you’re are going to have to put out a lot of content! What are some things that you could post about every single day?

Check out the free printable below to help you get started on TikTok!

TikTok Tips to Get Started

Download this free printable to help you build your platform as well!

Follow Us on TikTok

@Sharidini – @AdoreThemParenting – @KarissaTunis

And check out more Free Printables!

Free Printable Placemats for Kids

Free Printable Placemats for Kids

Meals offer the perfect time for togetherness. Whether we’re recapping our busy days over dinner or sharing fun stories during Sunday breakfast, families always come together over food. These are the times when we share milestones, have tough conversations and build our relationships.

But what about our young ones who may not be interested in mom’s new promotion or big sister’s fight with her best friend? We’ve got just the solution! Try these fun printable placemats the next time you dine out or have a meal at home to make sure your youngest are having fun at the table. With word scrambles, mazes and word searches, the whole gang will enjoy themselves during the next family meal.

Whether you cook dinner at home or go out for a kids eat free deal at a local restaurant, be sure to take a moment and reflect on how wonderful your family is. These are the moments that our kids will remember through time — and you will, too!

Free Printable Placemats for Kids

Also read…

How to Choose a Kid Friendly Restaurant

What makes a great kid friendly restaurant? Where can I take my whole family out to dinner? Which restaurants let kids eat free? How do I help my kids behave better at restaurants? I’ll be covering all of this and more so that your family restaurant experiences will be much more enjoyable for everyone!

Eating out with kids is doable, and can even be enjoyable! You just need to know how and when to best plan for a meal at a restaurant with kids…

LEARN MORE

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

Preparing For Reopening During Covid

Now that restrictions are easing and more businesses are preparing to reopen, it can be hard to know where’s best to start. You can’t just get back to being open as usual without taking into account everything that might have changed while you were closed. Whether you’re ready to transition back from remote management, or are planning to wait a little longer, here are tips that can help. What steps do you need to take to keep your customers safe? Continue reading below to learn more about preparing for reopening during COVID.

For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection

Do A Final Deep Clean

First you will need to take steps to protect customers who are returning to your business. Complete a deep clean before you open the doors again.

Let your customers know that you are taking this step, and doing it properly, to ease any worries that they might have about coming back. Post photos of the deep cleaning on your social media platforms like your Facebook, or Instagram stories. Share the other steps that you’re taking for extra safety, like adding sanitizing stations (read Zylast reviews here). This way customers can see the commitment you’re making to their safety.

This might seem like a straightforward and quite obvious tip. But it can easily be something that gets forgotten about in the rush to get your business ready for the grand reopening. Make sure to follow this step before you open the doors to any returning customers or clients, to keep everyone safe.

Prepare Your Customer’s Service Outlets

Get ready to be asked a lot of questions by customers and clients! Make sure that your team is prepared to answer any questions in calls, emails, and in-person. Consider your answers ahead of time from changed opening hours, to your Covid precautions.

You can use chatbot technology, or designate specific team members to handle the digital responses. But however you choose to answer them, be prepared for all sorts of questions, and get the right customer service resources in place.

Remember that your team will need to be understanding with your customers too, and aware of the extra concerns that they might have.

Be sure that all of your employees are ready to respond in a timely, professional, and positive manner to customers. How they respond will directly impact how the community embraces your re-opening.

Update Your Google Listing

Some things will probably have changed, like your operating hours. Once you have decided to reopen, your new hours and information will need to be updated. Make sure that it is easy for your customers and clients to find your new details.

Put these updates on your Google business page, your Facebook page, Yelp page, and anywhere else where you display your opening hours and other business information.

Create Cleaning And Safety Protocols

One of the most important things to commit to if you’re reopening is keeping a very clean and safe environment for your customers to shop, and employees to work in.

As a way to get back into opening up and making sure your customers feel comfortable and safe, think about carrying on some of the precautions you were taking while your business was closed or running more limited services.

For example, deep clean more often. Have your employees wear masks and gloves while they’re working. And be sure that everyone is doing their part to keep staff and customers safe.

For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection

Top Tips For Financing A Property Purchase

April 13, 2021

A property is probably the most valuable item that you will ever buy. Unless you are lucky enough to be able to afford the whole purchase price, you will need to borrow a substantial sum of money to be able to buy a home. Continue reading below for top tips for financing a property purchase.

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

The Mortgage

Most buyers will need to arrange a long-term loan in the form of a mortgage, unless you have another way to raise the cash, such as choosing to sell annuity for cash. A mortgage can be obtained through building societies and banks. The lender will charge interest on the loan and this, along with the sum borrowed, is repaid over time.

There is a wide choice of mortgage schemes and the market is competitive. It’s always changing and the options can be confusing.

While you can choose to do all the research yourself, it’s better to talk to a qualified financial adviser.

The Financial Adviser

There are financial advisers who only give advice on a limited range of lenders. And there are some who can give unbiased advice on a whole range of financial products from all the different lenders.

Most banks have Restricted Advisers, but some have IFAs. Your real estate agent will be able to suggest a financial adviser.

This advice might be given free of charge at first, and the adviser must inform you of any later costs. Some will charge a fee for arranging a mortgage, but others are paid by the lender.

Working Out How Much You Can Borrow

There are lots of factors that will influence the amount that you can borrow, and though there are a lot of online calculators. These don’t give an absolute answer to the question.

It all comes down to your personal circumstances and the property that you want to buy. Think in terms of the maximum borrowing being around four times your annual salary. It’s important to stress that this is a very general multiplier and you shouldn’t be surprised if the actual amount is different.

What Can You Afford To Repay?

A mortgage is a long-term commitment that you will have to pay off every month over a number of years.

When you apply to a lender for a mortgage, they will ask a lot of detailed questions about your earnings, savings, and outgoings so that they can be sure their money is safe and that you are able to meet the monthly repayments.

Make a list of all your monthly expenditures. Include everything, including your phone, gym membership, fuel costs, childcare, groceries, socializing, clothes, and so on. Also, include any savings and debts you have.

As well as assessing your financial position, a lender will look closely at your credit rating. Even something as seemingly innocuous as a missed credit card payment months ago could mean that they won’t consider you for a mortgage. Check your credit rating, and have any errors corrected before you try to get a mortgage, to give you the best chance of getting approved.

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

Teaching Your Kids To Save the Planet One Habit at a Time

As parents, we have a duty to ensure that our planet is healthy and taken care of. It’s our job to leave the planet in a better state for the next generation and we can do this by practising green habits. Lowering your carbon footprint is a great start because it means we can treat the environment with respect. It ensures that we’re not wasteful. It also helps to save the local community from being polluted and slowly destroyed.

However, it’s also equally important to teach our kids how to save the planet as well. After all, we need to educate our kids on how to take care of the planet as we did. So this means passing on the good habits that we’ve learned throughout our life and ensuring your kids stick with them for the rest of their lives too.

For more on this topic, check out the full Helping Others collection

Teaching kids how to protect the planet

One of the best ways to keep your family safe is to teach them how to protect the planet and lower their carbon footprint. After all, the planet benefits if humans learn to lower the amount of waste they produce and to be more frugal with things like electricity. If you teach your children greener habits, then they’ll be able to protect the planet just like you did.

We need to focus more on raising the next generation to be more mindful about how they spend electricity and how they plan to protect and improve the planet. If we don’t teach them these better habits at an earlier age, then they might grow up neglecting the planet.

[Read: Earth Facts for Kids; Educational Planet Earth Infographic]

Important lessons to teach your kids

There are loads of important lessons that you should teach your kids. When they’re old enough to understand some basic scientific concepts (or roughly around the age they start enjoying science fiction!) you could teach them about all of the initiatives and projects around the world that are helping to save the planet.

A great example is telling them about solar energy. Websites like https://www.choosesolar.com are a great place to start because it teaches you all the facts and figures about solar which you can then pass on to your kids to show them just how beneficial it is to adopt renewable energy sources. If you’re going to teach your children about less wasteful habits, then you’d better prepare some facts and statistics too!

[Read: 10 Simple Ways Kids Can Help the Earth]

Some final thoughts

Most parents would just leave it to schools to teach their kids about saving the planet. But the reality is that our children are far more likely to listen to us and use us as inspiration. If we teach them good habits to adopt on a daily basis, then they’re more likely to stick. Not every school shows that they care about the planet either, so it’s best if your kids hear these important lessons from you instead of their teacher. It’ll stick better and they’ll be genuinely curious about how to protect the planet they live on.

[Read: 50 Simple Ways to Help Others]

For more on this topic, check out the full Helping Others collection

4 Things You Need When Bringing Your Newborn Home

4 Things You Need When Bringing Your Newborn Home

A bouncing baby is a source of joy to a family. When you are planning for bringing your newborn home, there is a need to make the necessary arrangements for that warm welcome. Get all the essentials to keep the baby comfortable. It is possible as a family to make the ushering of your bundle of joy as memorable as possible.

There is plenty to prepare for from the diapering, feeding, and bathroom essentials among many others. Since the body of a newborn is still developing, there is a need to make the living conditions as friendly as possible. The room needs to offer enough warmth and comfort. Here are some essentials to have when giving your baby grand welcome to your place.

For more on this topic, check out the full Baby’s First Year collection

Bathing Essentials for Newborns

The joy of your baby means the whole world to any parent. Think around the bathing time whereby you will invest in all necessary cleaning supplies. Due to the small size of the infant and soft skin, there is a need to be excellent with what you choose. Luckily, there are tubs specifically developed for infants.

This makes the bathroom much easier for you. Some thrift stores provide such items and some are in the right conditions. What you need afterward is doing proper sanitation. Have some packs of washcloths, baby body wash, cotton swabs, and some hooded towels.

[ Read: Answers for All of Your Common Newborn Concerns ]

Baby Changing Mats

The changing of diapers is frequent when you have an infant. Doing the change on time is significant for the health of the child’s skin. Therefore, always be prepared even when you are on a journey. A perfect way to ensure this is through buying a baby change table mat as these products are made to work on almost any surface. They are also durable due to the high quality they exhibit.

This offers a proper place for placing the child as you change the diapers and concerning hygiene, these mats serve you well. The treated foam used in making them is effective in repelling disease-causing microorganisms such as bacteria and microbes. Most of them are washable hence making your child’s health safeguarded.

[ Read: How to Get Through Your First Year of Motherhood ]

Wellness Supplies for Newborns

A child’s growth and development need to be highly focused on. This is why doing proper feeding is significant. Consult with a nutritionist on the right meals for the baby at different times of the infancy stage. Look for ways to make this happen by buying basic wellness supplies.

Have some digital thermometers for monitoring his or her body’s temperature. Early detection of fever is an indicator of an underlying health issue. Consider procuring a bulb syringe as this helps in the suction of mucous.

[ Read: Developmental Guide to Buying Baby Toys ]

Newborn Clothing and Blankets

The baby’s environment should be comfy and cozy. One way of making this happen is by availing of the much-needed warmth. Buy cotton-made clothes, and choose blankets that will keep baby warm – especially during the winter months.

Welcoming a newborn into the family brings joy. This is why doing all the necessary arrangements is necessary. Consider buying all the relevant supplies such as diapering, clothing, bedding, wellness products, and many more. In all of them, go for the quality.

For more on this topic, check out the full Baby’s First Year collection