Use a different messenger on your smartphone just for them. Texting your partner and getting messages from work is certainly irritating, so, think about dividing the space.
Why owning an air conditioner is important when you have kids
The importance of having clean, breathable air within one’s household can not be overstated. According to the World Health Organization, diseases caused by household air pollution are responsible for the premature deaths of more than 3.8 million people around the world. Such diseases include pneumonia, lung cancer and stroke.
The most common indoor air pollutants are soot, pesticides, tobacco smoke and asbestos. Most people consider their homes to be a “safe space” because they provide protection against beasts, burglars and harsh weather conditions. However, these people disregard the quality of air within their household. If you’re looking for a quiet air conditioner to install in your house, you can get accurate reviews at aquietrefuge.com.
Here are the 4 reasons why owning an air conditioner is crucial when you have kids:
1. Lowers the risk of getting asthma attacks
A/C units are commonly used to lower the amount of humidity within the house. Excessive humidity creates a damp environment around your home, creating the perfect milieu for allergens such as mold, mildew and fungi to grow. These allergens could trigger asthma attacks among children, posing a significant risk to their health. Installing an air conditioner helps to eliminate mildew, pollen, dust mites and an array of elements that thrive in humid environments.
2. Reducing pests, parasites and bugs
There are many creepy-crawlies that thrive within our homes, especially if you own a pet. Other than constantly washing your pet with shampoo and vacuuming the carpet, it’s important to install an air conditioner inside the house. A/Cs are effective at filtering the air and reducing parasites that normally attack pets. Dogs often bear the brunt of flea attacks because of their large fur coats. These fleas could spread over time and affect the entire family, kids included. Therefore, getting an air conditioner will protect your children and pets from parasite attacks.
3. Eliminating heat stress
If you thought that excessive heat only affects adults, think again. Babies experience heat stress when they’re young, causing new parents to worry a lot. To prevent incidences of heat stress, it’s important to place your child’s crib in a room with an A/C. Your baby will sleep soundly as a result of the cooler air brought about by the air conditioner. Apart from causing dehydration, overheating can trigger lethargy and discomfort. It’s also important to avoid clothing your child with tight-fitting attire during hot temperatures to reduce the risk of getting heat stress.
4. Reduced noise
Environmental noise often seeps into homes via open doors and windows, interrupting the comfort of parents and kids alike. Loud sounds that emanate from lawn mowers and ice-cream trucks can disrupt children and prevent them from studying effectively. Installing an air conditioner inside the house allows you to close off the doors and windows. Consequently, less noise from outside penetrates into the house, allowing residents to enjoy the resulting calmness and tranquility. The kids can improve their concentration while learning or interacting with their friends.
Owning an air conditioner certainly improves the quality of air within the house, allowing your kids to thrive in a safe environment.
10 Reasons to Invest in Affordable Blinds
Blinds are used for several purposes including privacy, fashion, and light control. They come in very styles, designs, and colors. The cost also varies. You will not fail to get blinds that fit your budget. Windows are the focal point of any room. https://www.makemyblinds.co.uk/roller-blinds.html has a significant collection of blinds to keep out the light, ensure privacy, and be a part of your home or office decor.
You will save money
This is probably the first thing you will notice when you buy affordable blinds. When you compare the price between the affordable screens you purchased and the expensive ones, you will see that you made significant savings.
You can change blinds as frequently as you would like
If you love changing the appearance of your house frequently, it makes sense to buy affordable blinds. This way you are encouraged to make the changes you would like, as often as you would like, without feeling like you are spending too much on blinds.
Blinds for every season
As seasons change, you may want blinds that suit your needs at the time. During winter, you may wish for blinds that allow in more light while in summer, you may want to reduce the intensity of light coming into the room.
Easy to clean and maintain
Standard blinds can be cleaned at home. The cleaning process is not complicated and does not take up much time.
Variety of colors
Producers of affordable blinds are quite creative when it comes to the use of colors. You will find neutral earthy tones as well as bold colors. These blinds are in high demand, and they have been designed to meet the diverse interests of consumers.
They are safe
If you have children in your home, you may need to buy streamlined cordless blinds. The less complicated the screens, the safer they are for children.
Blinds influence your mood
You will see your blinds every day. You need to know that you made the right choice when you picked them. If they were affordable, you would feel like you struck gold because of how well the blinds sit with your home decor. If on the other hand, they were expensive but didn’t look as great as you had hoped, all you will remember is how much you paid, and just like that, your mood will be ruined.
Affordable blinds are functional
If you have a tight budget and are looking for blinds that serve your primary purpose, cheap blinds will still do what they are designed to do. They will provide you with the privacy you need, reduce the lighting, and come in the right window size.
They are long lasting
Many people assume that if you buy something cheap, it will not last. However, affordable blinds last a long time if they are not mishandled. By the time they are due for replacement, they would have served you for months or possibly years.
They do not look cheap
Sometimes an item that was bought dirt cheap can be identified by its appearance. Affordable blinds do not look that different from the expensive ones unless the material used is visibly different. To many people, screens are more functional than anything else.
There are many reasons for you to invest in affordable blinds. Since they come in different styles and colors, you can still enjoy yourself when selecting the best ones for your home or office windows.
Kicking Off 2019: The Week That Was
New year, now post. It’s been a while since I’ve had any non-sponsored content here, because, hello busy-ness!
But anyway, I thought that the start of this new year would be as good a time as any to start writing again. So, hello! How are you all?
Truth: I really planned on starting my year slow. You know, more sleeping in and more naps. I’ve been wanting to spend less time online and on my phone, and instead, be able to read and watch movies with the boys, while eating all the delightful junk food we’d accumulated over the holidays. None of that hit-the-ground-running-new-year-hustle for me.
Our 2019 started out nice and quiet, literally. It was a rainy NYE, so there weren’t that many firecrackers set off in our area. The only sound heard well into the night was the music coming from our next-door neighbor. They like to party. We don’t.
So the boys and I actually went to bed a little after midnight, as we usually do on New Year’s Eve. We slept in, too, as planned, and did nothing but relax at home all day on January 1st. Nougat included. Ang sarap!
Poor MrC had to go back to work on January 2. I (as always) have a million and one things to do at home, but because school doesn’t start until next week, I’ve been stuck on vacation mode, along with The ManChild. So we’ve basically been hanging out at home and at the mall, him with his friends, and me with my mom and sister. Yes, he goes out with his friends now. Can you believe that?
Just when I thought I could get away with dodging all my responsibilities on the first week of the year, work got in the way and I had to go do some important things on the 4th. But, there is a silver lining. Every time I need to be out of the house for work, my day ends with dinner somewhere with The Husbandry. It’s a little workday ritual that he and I have established over the past few months, and one that we really look forward to.
Now that I’ve gotten the quiet first week that I wanted, I think I’m ready to get on with things. I already know how busy 2019 is gonna be for us, so I’m really bracing myself for what’s to come. I hate being busy, but you gotta do what you gotta do, right?
How has 2019 been treating you so far?
3 Tips to Finding a Vet in the UK
Just as you need medical care, your pet does too. It is crucial for you to identify a vet you believe to be the best for your pet. It is advisable you identify the vet long before your pet needs one. Your pet needs regular checks. However, it will be frustrating attempting to find a vet when you have an emergency. If you move to a new area, it is essential for you to find out of any vet services near you. For example, if you have relocated to the UK, take a look at Vetsend.
Identify Vets specialized in taking care of your pet
Choosing the vet best suited to take care of your pets or animals can sometimes be a daunting task, especially if there are several vets in your area. Although vets are generally expected to take care of animals, some are more specialized with specific breeds. For example, many vets are conversant with the care and treatment of companion animals such as dogs and cats. However, they may not be as comfortable taking care of horses or exotic animals such as rabbits.
If your pet is suffering from a pre-existing condition, you need to find out if the vet is specialized in monitoring the disease. If not, you could request for recommendations. This will save you the time you would have spent looking for a vet who understands your pet’s condition.
Get recommendations from your friends and family
If you have just got your first pet or moved to a new area, it is essential to find out about vet services in the area. The best source of information, sometimes, is from family, friends, and neighbors. When you are out walking your German Shepherd, ask other dog owners where they take their dogs for regular checks or when they need treatment.
Once you have information on at least three vets, visit their facilities to determine which one you find more appealing. It would be best to consider distance when determining which vet would make an excellent choice. You do not want to drive a long distance in case of an emergency.
Join an online community of pet owners in your area
With social media, it is now easier to form community networks. There are several communities online of people with similar interests. Find out if there is a community with shared interests in your locality. If you find none, you could start one. This is an easier means of getting information from a significant number of people in the shortest time possible. This makes decision making easier especially when you are torn on which vet to use.
It is normal to be wary of a vet you have never used. However, there are so many qualified and registered vets who are capable of providing the services you need. You should visit the different establishments and ask the vet any questions you may have. It will be easier to make a decision based on how comfortable you are with the environment and the feedback you get.
The Top 5 Radio Resources to Have Saved To Memory
Mitigating the damage caused by a catastrophe is possible if you have the right resources. These resources are instrumental in warning you of imminent danger. Radio is the ideal resource for you if you are living in a disaster-prone area. For example, tornadoes stay on the ground for 12 minutes on average in the Tornado Alley. In other areas, they stay on the ground for five minutes or less. Go for a radio resource if you live in a disaster-prone area. Here are the top 5 radio resources to have saved to memory.
1. Midland WR400
The Midland WR400 is a desktop weather radio. Many people consider it as the best NOAA radio in the market. Filtering alerts are one of its most incredible features. For example, filtering sea-based warnings is possible if you live in the middle of mainland America. Another reason why remembering this radio station is an excellent idea is that it can serve several functions. For example, it works as an alarm clock. That means you can replace your current alarm clock with a device that has several uses.
2. The Midland ER310
The Midland ER310 is an emergency radio. That means it will help you reach other people if you find yourself isolated from everyone else. Usually, that happens in case of a power outage or a significant emergency. Save it to memory because you never know when you will need it. This radio keeps working even when power sources are unavailable because it has a broad range of safeguards. That includes a rechargeable Lithium battery, six AA batteries, and solar power. You can power it using a USB cable connected to a computer. Hand cranking it is also possible.
3. The Midland WR120EZ
The Midland WR120EZ is an inexpensive desktop weather radio. It has a public alert certification like the Midland WR400, but it can display weather alerts in three languages, unlike the Midland WR400. These languages are English, French, and Spanish. Keep it in mind if you have family members or colleagues who speak any of these languages. The Midland WR120EZ is also ideal for multilingual areas in the US and Canada. These areas include Quebec in Canada and California in the United States.
4. The Eton FRX5BT
The Eton FRX5BT is an emergency radio. Many people consider it as the best hand-crank radio in the market. Interestingly, it has the largest crank or any hand crank emergency radio in the market. Therefore, turning the crank and charging the radio is a quick and straightforward process. However, it has other sources of power as well including a 2000mAh Lithium Battery. This battery is rechargeable. You can charge the Eton FRX5BT with energy from the sun or a USB cable connected to a computer.
5. The Sangean CL-100
The Sangean CL-100 is a weather radio that doubles up as a clock and AM/FM receiver. More specifically, the CL-100 has FM-RBDS. Remembering it is an excellent idea because it seems to be the only weather radio with FM-RBDS. Unlike the Midland WR400, among others, the Sangean CL-100 relies on DC power. It has four AA batteries. This also has an interesting feature known as an HWS, which stands for a Human Wake-Up System. In this system, the alarm sound increases until you wake up because you cannot bear it. Buy these radios so that receiving information from a radio weather station is easy despite the conditions that you are facing.
4 Benefits to Using a Flat Fee Listing Service to Sell Your Home
People face different challenges when they are trying to sell their home. Some of these challenges include evaluating market conditions, choosing a realtor, and preparing the home for sale. Another one is having the patience to wait for the right buyer. Listing your property would help you overcome some of these challenges. For example, the right buyer will come to you as soon as he sees your listing. You can list your property through a commission or flat fee service. Here are 4 benefits to using a flat fee listing service to sell your home.
1. Direct Contact with Potential Buyers and Real Estate Agents
A flat fee means that the individual who did the listing has no interest in what you discuss with other people. That happens because this individual already got what he wanted. More specifically, he received the flat fee that he charged you. In contrast, commission-based listings have a continued interest in the discussions you have with other people. Their principal aim is to protect their commission so they limit what you can discuss with potential buyers and real estate agents. You cannot talk to them at all in many cases. Work with a flat fee listing company so that you can have the freedom to talk to anyone at any time.
2. Flat-Fee Listing Tilts the Power of Negotiation Tilts in Your Favor
Negotiation skills are critical when you are trying to sell a home. They help you arrive at a price that is acceptable to the buyer and favorable to you. Developing these skills takes time. A number of factors influence your negotiating ability as well. Communication is one of these factors. You cannot negotiate effectively unless you have unfettered access to the other party in the negotiation. Negotiating is also difficult when a third party has an interest in the negotiations because they are still waiting for their commission. Flat-fee listing removes these impediments for you shifting the negotiation power to you because you are one seller dealing with potential buyers.
3. Flat-Fee Listing Helps You Keep as Much Money as Possible
Sellers sell their home for various reasons. Perhaps they are moving to another area. Some of them need the money for settling debts or handling emergencies. However, there is one common thread among all home sellers. This thread is the fact that home sellers want as much money as possible on their properties. Unfortunately, commissions received by commission-based listing services reduce their potential income substantially. That is not the case with flat fee listing services. People who run these services ask for a specific amount. The payment owed to them does not increase with an increase in the resale value of the home.
4. Flat-Fee Listing is a Straightforward Process
Selling a home is a complex legal process especially when it comes to changing the title of your home. Remember, a single missing detail means that the homebuyer cannot take a loan on the property until he sorts the problem. Therefore, everything must be perfect. At the same time, third parties who played a role in the selling process should receive compensation for this role. The sooner they receive it, then the less complicated the selling process is because it only remains with two parties. Companies offering flat fee MLS receive their cash and go. That leaves you and the seller even though you are still on the listing site. However, commission-based service providers never leave complicating the entire process for as long as the negotiations persist.