Dec29

Keeping Your Child’s Teeth Healthy

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Keeping Your Child’s Teeth Healthy

Raising a child with healthy teeth is no easy feat. There are so many different things that can go wrong and cause problems in their mouth, but there are also plenty of ways to prevent them from happening in the first place. Here are some great tips for raising your kids with healthier teeth to keep their smile bright and healthy:

Make an Appointment with Your Pediatric Dentist:

Having your child checked by a specialist regularly is essential to maintaining their oral health. In addition, a pediatric dentist will be able to provide you with tips and tricks on how to keep your child’s teeth healthy, as well as advice on diet and general hygiene.

Regular dental checkups are essential for young children, who may not properly brush their teeth yet. In addition, early diagnosis of any problems can help prevent them from becoming more severe down the road. For exceptional dental services tailored for children visit https://www.smilemesa.com/ and be sure your child’s needs are taken care of.

Incorporate Healthy Fats To Their Diet:

Kids need healthy fats for their overall health and development, including oral health. Omega-rich foods like salmon, avocado, nuts, and seeds are all great options to provide your child with the nutrients they need. Finally, make sure your pediatric dentist knows about any dietary restrictions or allergies your child has so they can provide appropriate dental care.

Give Them Plenty of Water:

Offer your children water instead of juice and pop. Water is the best option for keeping their teeth healthy and strong. It also provides these benefits:

  • Maintains regularity and prevents constipation
  • Prevents kidney stones
  • Boosts energy levels without caffeine or sugar crashes
  • Hydrates skin from the inside out
  • Cools the body down on a hot day
  • Helps with headaches and migraines

Supply Magnesium for Their Needs:

Magnesium is a mineral found in many dark green leafy veggies and beans. It also comes with whole grains, nuts, and seeds. Magnesium helps kids maintain healthy teeth as it boosts the growth of tissues, bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels found inside the mouth. A lack of magnesium can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral health problems. When looking for a good source of magnesium, go for food sources instead of supplements, as they usually have more nutrients that are beneficial to overall health.

In addition, kids need about 80 mg/day of magnesium, which is easily achievable by including magnesium-rich foods in their diets regularly. Some good sources of magnesium include:

  • Spinach
  • Swiss chard
  • Beet greens
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts

By following the simple tips listed in this article, you can help your child have healthy teeth and avoid common dental problems.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Dec29

4 Tips To Improve Your Customer’s Experience

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4 Tips To Improve Your Customer’s Experience

The comfort of your customers matters, this also goes for your targeted customers as well. Tending to the things that will improve the overall experience of your potential customers and clients will keep people returning to your business. Returning customers will help your business boom as they are also more likely to recommend you to others. Start with the following to make working with you the best experience possible:

Know your target audience:

In any business, it’s important to pick a niche because that’s where the money is at. You need to know exactly who your target audience is. Never try to be broad when targeting your audience. If you’re trying to sell something such as a joint case, then you need to know exactly the type of customer who will buy that. You don’t want to make people, even those who are not your target, uncomfortable as this can damper your business’s reputation. Know your target demographic, understand that niches are fine, and don’t be broad.

As you get to know your target audience better, you will be able to form an idea of where these potential customers are located. You might find that you have a large following in a different time zone, which can make doing business difficult. Solutions like an after hours answering service can be most helpful in making your business accessible no matter the location and can grow your clientele even more.

Have a professional website:

Maybe it’s high time that your business gets a website makeover. Every few years a business should get one in order to combat looking outdated and unused. Even in web design, trends change and it can be a good thing to try out those new ideas. Getting regular updates can also help with keeping your security on your website tight. Many scammers and hackers will target unprotected and even unprofessional websites to leak data or even put up malware. If you are already overwhelmed, fear not as there are plenty of resources to help make your website the best it can be. A great place to start is by checking out this article on phased web design and working on the tasks that you know you can complete on your own.

Have a professional online appearance:

Just like you’ll want to have a professional looking website, you should also look into having a professional appearance online as well. This is going to include creating a LinkedIn account for yourself and your business, and regularly being active on it. This should go for other aspects of social media as well. If you don’t already have a Facebook page for your business, you should do that. The same can be said for Instagram and Twitter. Just make sure that you keep the appearance strictly professional. This means not picking a fight with naysayers!

Part of being professional online means offering excellent customer service on websites and social media platforms. This is crucial for encouraging the loyalty of long-lasting customers as well as attracting new ones. If customer service is something that you wish to improve, you might want to seek help from a CX agency. An agency like this will provide you with tips and tricks to boost your customer service as well as the data to see which techniques are working or need some attention.

Be open to customer testimonials:

Customer reviews and testimonials are how many people will base whether they’ll buy from a business or not. So just make sure that you don’t have this closed off. Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts and opinions based on their own experiences. Plus, it’s going to look suspicious if you have nothing but perfect reviews. It’s also important to track what people are saying outside of your own website and social media. You can Get the best product insights at Five Star Customer Reviews. From there, you can see the thoughts of other people about your products or similar items so you can constantly be improving.

Help your business reach its potential with the tips above. Making sure the customer experience is excellent is the best way to start.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Dec29

LEGO Hogwarts Chamber Of Secrets Completed Set

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LEGO Hogwarts Chamber Of Secrets Completed Set

Hello! During our holiday break, Johnny and I completed the final set from our LEGO haul, which means that it’s time to buy more! We spent about three hours building the Hogwarts Chamber Of Secrets from Harry Potter and it turned out great. With fun surprises everywhere you looked and awesome extras like Chocolate Frog cards, glow in the dark pieces, and a golden Voldemort, this might be one of my favorite builds yet! Check it out:

Johnny and I are frequent builders of LEGO and I can tell that our skills have improved. Considering the size of this set, it didn’t take us too too long to complete it. We were so pleased with our handiwork! Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets is one of my favorite books and movies in the series and this set definitely did it justice.

While the builds for Hogwarts in itself are always really neat, the Chamber Of Secrets gives it a wonderful contrast. I love how you can make the basilisk move in and out of the chamber just like in the movie. It also includes a slide for the Minifigs to go down and the snake adorned door to enter the depths of Hogwarts. I wish that there was a set just of the Chamber because I would be all over it. 😀

My favorite part of this set is, easily, the pictures of Gilderoy Lockhart and I laugh every time I look at them – they are so funny! Expertly placed Chocolate Frogs and Cornish Pixies are also much appreciated and I can’t wait for my niece to come over to see if she can find them all. She is our future LEGO Master!

Johnny and I are fresh out of LEGO now but I already know which sets I want next, as always. I have my eye on the Astronomy Tower and Hogsmeade Village and I can’t wait to get them!

What do you like to build with LEGO? Did anyone receive any LEGO sets for the holidays? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

 

Dec28

Lil Red’s Book Club: Confessions On The 7:45 By Lisa Unger Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Confessions On The 7:45 By Lisa Unger Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! Last book club meeting, we discussed Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger and today we will be talking about another one of her books called Confessions On The 7:45 – without giving any spoilers away, of course! Before we begin, I’ll be placing a trigger warning on this book for general violence. Let’s get to it:

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Selena Murphy is a hard working mother and wife with two beloved sons and a husband trying to get back on his feet after he was laid off. Between her husband, Graham’s, job hunt and her long hours, Selena decides to hire a nanny to help tend to the boys while they’re away. On the outside, the Murphys appear to be the picture perfect family. But, we all know that that’s never the case in a thriller!

After an unfortunate discovery at work of her husband’s infidelity with the nanny, Geneva, (such a cliche!) Selena finds herself stuck on the train home deciding what to do next. While maintenance to the train is happening, a beautiful stranger notices Selena’s less than sunny disposition and offers her a mini bottle of vodka.

Over drinks, Selena and her new friend, Martha, share their dark secrets. Martha’s being that she is having an affair with her married boss and Selena confessing of her husband’s infidelity. The conversation takes a dark turn when Martha asks Selena if she wishes that all of her problems could go away – stating that bad things happen all of the time. Then, the train begins to move and their chat ends.

Selena thinks that she will never see Martha again after their meeting but she ends up getting a lot more than she bargained for with strange texts from her. And, oh yeah, the nanny is now missing. In the ultimate game of cat and mouse, it is up to Selena to pick up the pieces because her and Graham are at the forefront of the missing person investigation. Will Geneva be found dead or alive? And what did Martha have to do with it? Read Confessions On The 7:45 to find out!

Although I didn’t enjoy Confessions On The 7:45 as much as Last Girl Ghosted, it was still pretty good. Maybe it’s because I figured out the grand reveal way before it was going to happen! However, I definitely consider it a book worth reading if you are a fan of suspense novels, like me.

As always, I love a book with multiple narrators which this one had in spades. Confessions On The 7:45 went between Selena, past and present day Martha, Geneva, a private investigator, one of Selena’s sons, and her mother. This interwoven tale kept me reading “one more chapter” for hours on end and it all blended together seamlessly.

I will admit that I didn’t think that the story line was the most original but it made for a good read all the same. How often have we read plots of a less than honest husband, a mysterious stranger, and a police investigation added to the mix? There were some fresh spins in the book, though, that held my interest and Selena was a powerful main character who I was rooting for.

I am going to rate Confessions On The 7:45 with a six out of ten stars. Was it something that we have all heard before? Yes. But, there was enough unique plot points that kept me turning the page and is worth a read. Or not. That’s your call!

Who is one of your favorite authors? What are you currently reading? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec27

5 Ways To Make Moving Day A Breeze 

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5 Ways To Make Moving Day A Breeze 

Moving is exciting. After patiently waiting for the inspections and paperwork to be completed, you’ll probably want to settle in as soon as possible. It’s important to take your time and make sure everything is in order before you move in. To help with that, here are five things you should do before you move into your new house:

Complete the checks:

When you buy or rent a new house, you need to make sure that the necessary checks are completed. You do not want to live in a home that does not provide safety and security. You could find yourself in danger or facing a hefty financial burden.

This includes ensuring that your electrical systems are safe and functioning properly. You can get an EICR on the internet from reputable providers. Before agreeing to the deal, you can request a demonstration and inquire about price on the website. Make certain that you have an EICR so that you can be confident that your electrics are safe and in proper functioning order.

Keep your documents safe:

Before you move, you’ll need to fill out lots of paperwork. Those signed documents must be preserved and stored in a secure location. Moving includes a lot of pacing, which may cause you to lose track of your belongings in the process. Make sure to keep your documents in a safe location before dealing with your personal things. You may want to look at DFW safes for sale to keep everything safe in your new home. Your signed paperwork is far more significant than your washroom towels, so keep an eye on it.

Get rid of the clutter:

It is important to clear all of the clutter from your new home in order to guarantee that the area is ready to be occupied. Rather than relocating your belongings and juggling two activities at once, you can begin unpacking immediately. Managing and completing tasks will be considerably simpler if the environment is clean. You’ll be able to put your stamp on the new house and turn it into a home much more quickly.

Decide when to move:

You’ll need a definite moving date so you’ll know exactly when you can take possession of the property. You could not have a place to dwell if you don’t have a specific date. Making a mutually agreed upon moving date with the sellers will guarantee that you sell and load up your old property at the same time as you move into your new one. You won’t want to have to deal with two properties at the same time and you won’t want to be without a place to live, either. As soon as you have a for sure move in date, do not wait to schedule with a moving company. Start your research now for a well reviewed team of professionals by entering a search for “Charlotte movers” (or your local area). Then, you will already have a company or two in mind when you have a concrete move in date.

Create a first-night kit:

You will most likely be surrounded by boxes when you move into your new house. There is a chance that you will finish moving late and not have the energy to go through all of the boxes to find new clothes and toothbrushes. To help with this, putting together a first-night kit will ensure that you have everything you need for your first night in your new home and that you will not have to worry about unpacking boxes.

Moving will always be stressful but you can make it simpler with the tips above. Good luck!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Dec27

All For The Gram

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All For The Gram

Hello! Lil Red is truly skyrocketing into the twenty-first century with my new(ish) smartphone. I have so enjoyed using it to take OOTD pictures for lifewithlilred and *gasp* I have made an Instagram! For the longest time, I avoided making any new social media accounts because between my blog, Facebook (Sarah Mushenheim), and job I have my hands full enough as is.

However, during my little holiday break, I figured that there was no better time than the present to give Instagram a try. I will admit that it is not my favorite form of social media because I am, first and foremost, a word girl. But, if you are interested in exclusive content from yours truly that doesn’t make it onto lifewithlilred or my Facebook page, give me a follow at @lifewithlilred94 . You can also see my Insta posts on the side bar of my blog too!

I would love to have some more followers on THE GRAM and, of course, I’ll follow you back. And, eventually, you will be able to shop my OOTD styles on there so do keep it posted! ❤

What is your favorite social media platform? What is your favorite thing to post pictures of? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec26

TJMaxx Haul: Wit & Wisdom Jeggings Edition

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TJMaxx Haul: Wit & Wisdom Jeggings Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to the last edition from my TJMaxx Haul! Today, we are going to wrap things up by discussing some new jeggings by Wit & Wisdom. And surprise surprise – they’re a taupe snakeskin pattern rather than my traditional black skinnies! These jeggings were a great buy at thirty dollars compared to its original eighty and I am loving them. Check it out:

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While my husband is extremely partial to all things cheetah print, I am a huge fan of anything and everything snakeskin. To me, there is nothing chicer, edgier, and sexier than a snakeskin patterned clothing or accessory. It’s mysterious and sleek while still adding the touch of punk rock that I adore and I can’t get enough of it.

As you all know, these new jeggings are a bit of a branching out for me because I pretty much exclusively wear black skinnies. In fact, I can’t remember the last time that I wore anything differently! I actually love the idea of patterned pants but I have always found that they made me look bottom heavy. When ordering these jeggings, I wasn’t expecting them to work so well but here we are!

Had this Wit & Wisdom number been adorned in bright flowers or polka dots, they definitely would have been a no go. However, the muted pattern spoke to me and I know that it will make a statement even paired with a simple black sweater and ankle boots. Also, how fun are the side zippers? 😀

The pattern is, of course, what sold me on these jeggings but the fit is nothing to sneeze at, either. They are SO comfy and it also features an elastic waist for additional wiggle room. My new jeggings will be perfect for being on the go and running errands or going to work and it offers the potential to be dressed up or down. I am so happy with this purchase!

My TJMaxx Haul accomplished exactly what I set out to do when I began my shopping – expanding my work wardrobe that could double for play. I can’t wait to begin wearing all of these pieces after I return to the outside world from winter break!

What is your favorite animal print? Which brand has the best jeans? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec25

Merry Christmas!

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Merry Christmas!

Hello everyone and Merry Christmas! To those who celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful day filled with joy, good company, and holiday cheer. For those who don’t celebrate – I hope the same for you! I will keep this post short and sweet so everyone can get prepared for their festivities but I just wanted to say how thankful I am for all of you. ❤

With the pandemic, everything feels crazy and scary. Writing on my blog every day brings a much needed touch of normalcy to my life and I hope that everyone tuning in feels that way too. My audience has turned into such dear friends and I love you all. I love your insights, your kindness, and the happiness I feel to have you in my life – even if it is from the computer screen.

For Christmas and every holiday celebrated, I encourage all of you to take proper safety precautions to keep things merry and bright for everyone. I can’t wait to hear how all of you spend your day and thank you for being you!

Merry Christmas!

Much love. -Sarah

Dec24

TJMaxx Haul: MaxSport LA Dress Edition

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TJMaxx Haul: MaxSport LA Dress Edition

Hi! Other than the new clothes, the best part about shopping at TJMaxx is the prices, of course. I revel in a good deal and there is nothing better to me than getting name brand prices for the low low. Like the MaxSport LA dress that we will be discussing today, for example. The suggested price on its original tag was two hundred and forty dollars and I paid ten bucks for it on clearance. Talk about an amazing score! Check it out:

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During my online shopping, I saw my new dress and wasn’t so sure about it. I really liked its pattern and balloon sleeves but the tent shape was questionable for me because I prefer something a bit more form fitting. However, when I saw it’s ultra marked down price, I thought that it couldn’t hurt to add it to the cart. If it worked, I got a new dress for a crazy cheap price. If not, no harm no foul and I could return it.

While I do love online shopping more than words can say, I tend to go with “safer” options so I don’t have to go through the hassle of making returns. So, I pick clothes and accessories in shapes and styles that I know will look good on me. Ordering this dress was a caution to the wind buy because I was so uncertain of it. In store shopping gives you the luxury to experiment with styles and adjust sizes. Online? Not so much.

Nevertheless, I was really excited to try this dress on and was so pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. The tent shape, which I was the most ambivalent about was sweet rather than oversized and combined with the pattern, it felt like the perfect nod to all things retro. I cannot wait to pair my MaxSport number with my knee high floral boots from ModCloth for a three seasons student teacher chic look in the fall, winter, and spring!

Due to the pandemic, a majority of my shopping has turned online. This dress encouraged me to branch out of my “safe” styles when scouring my favorite sites and I am itching for my next haul to throw caution to the wind some more!

What is your favorite style of dress? How would you style this dress? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Dec23

Preparing Your Backyard For Parties

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Preparing Your Backyard For Parties

After being tucked away from the cold this winter, it’s only natural to be daydreaming about warm weather, outdoor activities, and parties hosted from your own backyard. Not only are outdoor get togethers a lot of fun but they are much safer from a COVID perspective too. If you have hosting an outdoor gathering on the mind, think about the following as you make your preparations:

Set The Space:

If you don’t already have a patio in the backyard for lawn furniture, this could be a great project to undertake. Stone or terracotta tiles set in a pleasing arrangement can provide the perfect space to set up an outdoor dining arrangement for your cookouts. If you’re not keen on doing this yourself, there are sure to be lots of local professionals who can make this happen. Getting the driveway interlocking services will greatly elevate the curb appeal. It’s a win/win situation!

Outdoor Activities:

Enjoying the great outdoors with your friends is a good way to get active so take advantage of it! Badminton, volleyball, cornhole, croquet, and bocce ball are all sure to be a hit. Hosting tournaments for some friendly competition will definitely get you moving! If you and your guests have green thumbs, you could have a literal garden party and plant flowers or veggies together. Don’t forget the lemonade and finger food to snack on.

Add A Fire Pit:

Your new patio will also be a nice space to set up a fire pit for an evening get together. Roasting marshmallows and hot dogs while the sun sets is always fun and will provide a touch of warmth during those chilly summer nights. A fire pit can also serve you well in the wintertime too to sip hot chocolate and munch gingerbread cookies around.

Keep Pests At Bay:

There is nothing worse than getting bit up by mosquitos during an outdoor gathering so a supply of citronella candles will go a long way. You also might want to consider calling in local experts if you have a lot of burrow holes on your lawn. You don’t want anyone tripping and spraining an ankle during your volleyball tournament!

Spring and summer activities are not as far off as we might think! Put your daydreaming of fun in the sun to good use by preparing your backyard soon.