Tag Archives: family

Jul1

U2 Concert Excitement!!

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U2 Concert Excitement!!

Hey everyone and happy weekend!! I am starting the month of July off with a bang because I get to see one of my favorite bands live for the SECOND time – U2!! It’s a very exciting time to be a Lil Red because not even two weeks ago, I got to see my other favorite band in concert, AFI. I have loved U2 ever since I was a kid (so a real Lil Lil Red!). Having two parents that simply live for them instilled a deep love for U2 in me from a young age.

Lyrics from “Beautiful Day” was the first thing that I got tattooed on me the day that I turned eighteen and it will always remain one of my favorite songs until the day I die. I was lucky enough to see U2 in Pittsburgh a couple of years back for their 360 tour and I had the time of my life. Best believe I ugly cried the whole time. Anyways, when my family heard that a 30th anniversary tour for The Joshua Tree was happening, it wasn’t so much as a need than a must to see them again – especially since they’ll be in Cleveland!

OneRepublic will be the opener, and although I’m not their biggest fan, they are sure to put on a fun show. But to see songs from U2’s iconic album live and in the flesh will definitely make tonight one to remember! I’M SO EXCITED!!!!!! Definitely check back for my concert review and think of me if you happen to listen to U2 today. What concerts are you attending this summer? Who else is a major U2 fan? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Live Nation

Jun29

EducHate – Why Does Your Kid Hate School (& How Can You Fix It)?

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EducHate – Why Does Your Kid Hate School (& How Can You Fix It)?

Most children will fool their parents into thinking that they’re ill at one point or another. Moreover, most kids will probably experience the fear of going to a certain lesson after forgetting to do their homework. These things are natural. What isn’t right, however, is when a child wakes up dreading to go to school on a daily basis. If this situation has crept into your household, you must find a quick solution.

The root of those problems could come from one of many sources. Pinpointing the reasons behind your child’s fear will soon give you a far better chance of rectifying the problem. Here are some of the most common troubles, along with a suitable solution:

Struggling With The Work: School isn’t supposed to be a walk in the park, and it’s good that your child needs to work for positive results. However, if they’re falling behind, it can leave them fearing the worst. Not only will it stop them from getting good grades, but they could fear it’ll upset you, too. Being supportive is key.

Different children learn through different methods. While some learn by listening, others need a more active approach. Alternatively, your child might retain information that they’ve read. Appreciating those methods is vital. Meanwhile, write my essay for me services can help your child transform their knowledge to paper in a more technical manner. In many cases, just taking one step to accommodating their learning style can make all of the difference.

Struggling To Make Friends: Education isn’t all about academic progress in the classroom. Human interaction and the development of key communication skills are equally important. Unfortunately, some kids struggle to ever master this aspect of their school life. Worse still, the effects can be quite catastrophic.

At the worst end of the scale, your child may be getting bullied. Knowing how to help your son or daughter through this difficult period is essential knowledge for all parents, especially since no kid is immune to it. Most situations can be solved, but you shouldn’t rule out the possibility of changing classes or schools if that’s something that the child wants. A positive learning environment is something that everyone deserves.

In many cases, though, it’s simply a lack of confidence that has disrupted a child’s ability to make friends. Help them find a hobby that enables them to gain friends outside of the classroom, and the results should influence their school life, too.

Struggling With The Long Days: For youngsters, the school day can be tiring. However, it shouldn’t be so knackering that they cannot function properly. If this has become an issue, a few lifestyle upgrades should get your child back on track.

The importance of sleeping patterns cannot be emphasized enough. Encourage your child to get a better quality of rest, which will ensure that they wake up with far greater energy levels. Meanwhile, improved nutrition and hydration can also work wonders. As they say, a healthy body breeds a healthy mind.

Every child can agree that school isn’t their favorite sometimes but helping to make their school days easier can make a huge difference in their experience.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jun29

Important Steps For Preventing Obesity In Dogs

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Important Steps For Preventing Obesity In Dogs

Most people pay close attention to their weight, and with the modern prevalence of obesity, that’s hardly surprising. The dangers of obesity are huge, and the condition affects much more than just our looks! Unfortunately, standards in pet care have also meant that this is a very real concern for dogs, as well. If you’re worried about your dog’s weight, here are some important steps for making sure that they don’t become obese:

Knowing Their Healthy Weight: Keeping tabs on your dog’s weight may seem a little excessive to some pet owners, but it’s extremely important if you want to minimize their chances of obesity. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through the challenge of getting them to sit still on scales regularly, and mapping this on a chart. Checking a dog’s weight by ratio is fairly easy, barring a handful of breeds. Their ribs should be easily felt, but not visible most of the time. They should also have a fairly well-defined waist. There are many handy guides that you can find on the internet for judging your pooch’s weight.

Changes to Their Diet: In many cases, you won’t need to change the food that you’re feeding your dog. Sure, if one chicken dog treat has less additives than another, then switch to the healthier option. Aside from that, sudden changes to their diet will usually just lead to an upset stomach. The portion sizes you’re giving them are usually the thing that you should be paying more attention to. Try to avoid tossing them scraps from the table, and make sure that you’re keeping an eye on the amount of treats that you’re giving them when you’re trying to decide on a healthy portion size.

While there are a lot of guidelines out there for this, remember that they are only guidelines. You should be trying different combinations with your dog, keeping in mind their weight ratio, and figuring out what’s best for them. All dogs, even of the same breed and age, have different body types and levels of activity. These factors need to come into play when you’re working out the best portion sizes for your dog. If your pooch is acting hungry when you know they’re getting enough to eat, try adding some fresh, steamed greens. These have very few calories, and are a great source of fiber.

Getting Enough Exercise: Finally, try to make time to ensure that your dog is getting enough exercise. Exercise is not only essential for your dog’s mood and mental health, but also a big factor in their physical health, as well. This needs to be more than a walk around the block, depending on the individual dog. Slow, leisurely strolls are nice when you’ve had a stressful day, but if you really want your dog to keep at a healthy weight, you also need to get some more vigorous exercise – power walking, running, and so on. This will be beneficial for you and your dog’s weight! Even an extra 15 minutes can make a big difference to your dog’s weight, so get out there!

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PUPPER!!!

A slim dog is a happy dog (as my vet says). Although chubby puppers look adorable, it’s not healthy or fair to them. Manage your dog’s weight for a longer and happier lifetime with your doggo.

Featured Image By: Max Pixel

Jun27

Cool Ways To Bring Your Neighborhood Together

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Cool Ways To Bring Your Neighborhood Together

We all want to live in a better neighborhood; it is one of those inherent wants we are all born with. Of course, what makes a better neighborhood is entirely subjective. Some may want a neighborhood that feels safe like they used to feel, where kids can play outside until the sun goes down. Others may say that they want somewhere that does its part for the earth. Everyone is different. Whatever the case, though, creating a better neighborhood is all about coming together as a team to strengthen your community. Awwww. How lovely would that be? :*)

To help you achieve your ambitions of living in a little slice of utopia, we have come up with a list of ways in which you can make your neighborhood a better place to live:

Sharing Is Caring: Sometimes it’s the old cliches that ring truest, and that is certainly the case when it comes to sharing is caring. Why not set up a community that is more geared towards helping one another out. Start up a tool library and a toy library, and, yeah, a book library too. Start a neighborhood vegetable patch where you all chip in and reap the rewards. Not only will these ideas bring you closer with your neighbors, but they’re all fun and helpful!

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So. Many. Tools!!!

Eco-Awesomeness: We all wish that we could be a little greener in our community, but buying solar panels isn’t exactly cheap, although they are getting cheaper. Anyways, to avoid the big overheads, why not pool together and buy solar panels collectively to enjoy a big bulk buy discount. As you can see at oregonlive.com this is a trend that was started by communities in Portland with amazing results.

Emergency Excellence: If you can be prepared for an emergency as a community, you are going to thrive as a community. It could be that you all chip in to buy a couple of automated external defibrillators from foremostequipment.com, or it could go even further and have a full blown emergency network in place. What better way is there to strengthen your community than to have members take on various roles, have certain supplies ready, and be prepared for the worst as a neighborhood.

When shopping for emergency supplies, do your research. For example, if you buy Heartstart FRx AED from AED Leader, is it something that can be used easily? Will you have a few designated neighbors who have been trained on how to use it, or will you all go to a course? AEDs are life-saving pieces of equipment so it should be a discussion you have with all your neighbors (especially with those most vulnerable) and trained emergency staff.

Nice Nights: Building your community starts with doing things together. It could be getting together for a block party, holding storytelling evenings, serving different street foods, getting together for fireworks displays, having the children put on a theater event, and whatever else takes your fancy as a community. Whatever your summer bucket list is made up of, do it as a neighborhood. Have a calendar event that you all do once a month, where everyone knows that the second Saturday is neighborhood night.

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Partayyy

Front Yards: You are never going to bump into your neighbors if you only ever use your backyard. So, instead of this, why not move your normal backyard activities to the front and make yourself more visible and friendly to your neighbors. Sit out on the porch and say hi to everyone that goes past. Make a big jug of lemonade and invite them in. It’s only a slight tweak to your life but it can make a huge difference when it comes to getting to know your neighbors and building a better community.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jun26

Bully-Proof: What to Do If Your Child is Being Picked On

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Bully-Proof: What to Do If Your Child is Being Picked On

When you first have kids, you like to think that you will always be there to protect them from any negative situations that may arise. But when they start school, that is a big part of the day where you can’t be there to supervise them.

Some school issues are minor and can be dealt with in a single conversation while others are more serious and may require an education lawyer. Bullying is certainly one of the trickiest problems to handle, but it is something that a lot of kids go through at one time or another (I did!). Here are a few steps to take if your child is going through a bullying problem:

Listen to Your Child: The first thing to do is to listen to your child about what has been going on. Sometimes, they won’t come to you directly, but you should look out for any signs of emotional distress, like becoming particularly quiet and withdrawn. When you are listening to them, try to avoid becoming too emotional, but instead you should try to calmly reassure them that this is not their fault. Of course, some action needs to be taken but you need to think about the right thing to do before rushing in headfirst.

Things to Avoid: The reaction that most kids dread is that you go immediately to speak to the head teacher or the bully’s parents. And you should also avoid telling them to hit or call names back as this can cause the problem to quickly escalate. And definitely avoid dismissing the experience as just something they have to go through when they are growing up. School should be a safe haven for kids, not somewhere that they dread going because of being bullied.

Helping Your Kids Deal with the Issue: Many bullies are looking to draw a reaction out of the kids they pick on, so try to encourage your child to appear confident even if they don’t feel it. If your child gives the impression that they aren’t bothered by what is being said, the bullies are more likely to get tired of it and move on. Encouraging your kids to join some social or sporting activities can help to boost their confidence when they are at school.

Getting Support From the School: If the issue continues, it may be time to get support from the school. The anti-bullying policy varies from place to place, so you should look up what your child’s school is before taking action. You should always make an appointment with the teacher you want to see rather than turning up unexpectedly. Find out how they think is best to proceed and make sure to follow this up to see how successful they have been.

Dealing With Your Own Feelings: You will probably have a whole range of emotions going through your system, so you should try talking with people who are close to you and get advice from a range of different sources. If you know parents whose kids have also gone through this issue, they may be a good place to start.

A child’s education is so important and a bully standing in the way of that is something that should never be tolerated!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jun22

Great Ways To Get Your Kids Outdoors This Summer

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Great Ways To Get Your Kids Outdoors This Summer

Summer is upon us, and with it comes great opportunities to spend time outdoors with the family. However, try as you might, you may find it difficult to pries the smartphones from your children’s hands as you try and get them to do something different. When you mention the idea of getting some fresh air, their solution of opening another window is not going to help your cause. But don’t despair! There are some great activities for families to enjoy, and none of them require an internet connection. So while your kids may kick up a fuss initially, it is possible to get them out of the house and into the fresh air. Bribery is entirely optional! 😉

Go For a Family Bike Ride: For some reason, children hate walking almost as much as eating their green vegetables. But suggest a bike ride, and you may see their faces light up. Go somewhere as a family, such as a nearby place of beauty and spend the day on two wheels. While out, there may be the perfect opportunity to point out things of interest, such as different aspects of nature. Don’t make it too educational, but turn it into a fun activity, such as a scavenger hunt. I love those. :*)
Do Something Exciting: The one thing children seem to say more than anything else is “this is boring”. As a parent, you probably want to scream every time you hear them utter those immortal words, but let’s be honest, maybe the activities you have planned for your kids really aren’t that interesting. You might think going for a walk is a good idea but your children certainly won’t.

Look online and find activities near you that are going to give your children new and exciting experiences. Many leisure centers and parks have great summer activities. Giant hamster balls, also known as zorb balls and inflatable zorbing balls are now all the rage. They can be used on land and on the water, but make sure your kids don’t have their lunch before getting in one. There may also be rock climbing activities nearby or water based sports such as canoeing if you live near water. Do your research and plan your day so that boring isn’t an option.

Turn Your Garden Into a Play Area: You don’t need to venture far from home if you have an adequate garden space for your kids to play in. From water games including slip ‘n’ slide mats to giant games of Jenga, there are many things that you can purchase to make your garden a fun place to be. Your children may benefit from one other thing while outdoors. No, we aren’t talking about ice cream, though you really should stock your freezer. You are the important factor in your child’s fun. If you have the capability and the energy, get outside with your kids and have some fun playing with them. Build a den, play tag, or throw a Frisbee around. These are precious moments so make the most of them.

Summer is a time for new adventures and experiences. Brain storm for an evening and help give your kids the best summer ever!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jun22

Boost Your Health To Increase Your Chances Of Pregnancy

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Boost Your Health To Increase Your Chances Of Pregnancy

A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that as soon as you start trying for a baby, that it’s bound to happen. But in reality, it can be very different. In fact, some couples can take over a year before they manage to conceive, and they are left confused as to why it’s not happening for them. While there can be lots of factors as to why it’s not happening so quickly, you do need to turn your attention to your health – which can sometimes be to blame if you are struggling to get pregnant. But, a lot of women don’t know how to turn things around. Here are some ways that you can boost your health to increase your chances of pregnancy:

Try Losing Weight: If you are overweight, it can cause hormone imbalances in your body, which can result in problems with ovulation. In fact, you might be releasing fewer eggs every month if you are over a healthy weight range, which reduces your chances of getting pregnant every month. That’s why it can take longer for people who are overweight or obese to conceive.

Overhaul your diet so that you cut out any high-fat and sugary foods which are causing you to struggle to sustain a healthy weight. You might want to talk to a nutritionist who can give you further tips on a good diet plan. If you are consuming your five-a-day, you are bound to get back into shape quicker. And make sure that you are doing plenty of exercise in your life. If you are spending at least 20 minutes a day getting active, you are bound to shed the weight quickly! And once you are back to a healthy weight, you will find that you are likely to become pregnant quickly, too.

Decrease Your Stress: It’s easy to get stressed in your life. Work, family, mental health, and the actual process of trying to get pregnant can leave you feeling the stress, especially if it’s taking longer than you thought to conceive a baby. But if you are stressed out, it can affect how long it takes to get pregnant. For one thing, it can affect the gland in your brain which regulates your hormones which tells your ovaries to release eggs. So you may struggle to ovulate which will significantly reduce your chances of getting pregnant.

To get pregnant, you need to be as relaxed as possible. In fact, a lot of people find that as soon as they release some of their worry, they get pregnant! So work on decreasing the stress in your life. It might be that you head for a spa day or you might want to go to a class like a yoga or Pilates session, which are also ideal for relaxing your body! You could even go to see a fertility doctor, who is sure to have other suggestions on decreasing your stress levels.

Get More Sleep: We all know that it’s important to get a good amount of sleep at night to help us stay in good health. But you might not realize that it could help boost your chances of getting pregnant if you ensure that you get enough zzz’s every night. If you are currently suffering from sleep deprivation, it can put stress on your body which will affect your immune system. And with a lower immune system which is not working properly, it will have an effect on your reproductive cycle. You are more likely to start missing periods, which will then reduce your chances of getting pregnant. You will have less chance of conceiving as you might not be ovulating regularly. Try going to bed earlier at night if you want to increase your chances of getting pregnant. And make sure that it’s quality sleep. Try and get super comfortable, so that you don’t keep waking up in the night!

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Pixabay Image

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jun20

Puppy Talk: How To Keep Your Pet Happy This Summer

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Puppy Talk: How To Keep Your Pet Happy This Summer

Have you just adopted a puppy for your family? Would you like to make sure it’s as happy as possible this summer? Then, you just need to use some common sense and the information from this article! Today, we’re going to highlight a foolproof plan for ensuring that your new dog has the best life possible. At the end of the day, canines are simple creatures. In most instances, they just want to feel loved and get your attention. The tips below will help to ensure that you leave no stone unturned when caring for your pet. Just put them into action from today forward, and your furry friend will have everything that he or she needs for a super fun summer:

Make sure they spend a LOT of time outdoors: If you’ve bought a dog, you should have a decent-sized garden. That means that there is no excuse for leaving the animal cooped up in your home. Instead, you should adjust your outdoor space so that it’s suitable for your pet. Specialists from Pet Education say that’s essential. For instance, you’ll need to make sure that there is a shaded area where your pooch can get out of the sun. You have to remember that they are wearing a thick coat all of the time and can’t exactly take it off! So, it’s possible your pet could overheat or become ill if you don’t give them somewhere to hide from the sun. You also need to always have a water bowl outside. There are dripping devices that you can purchase to guarantee that the water never runs out. Handy!

Get them some toys to bust the boredom: All dogs love playing with toys. For that reason, you should head out to your local pet store and get literally every single toy that there is. 😉  You should also check online suppliers, because sometimes you get better deals. Experts from Fast Dogs and similar firms say that you’ll also find a better selection on the internet. There are mechanical toys that can make playing “catch” a little more exciting. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have the time to throw a ball over and over again. Those products will perform the action on your behalf. So, they’re perfect for when you’re having a busy afternoon.

Walk your pooch twice every single day: Walking your dog is one of the most important responsibilities that you have as an owner. You should ask your children to help out as much as possible, too. Your pooch needs as much exercise as possible during its first few years. That is because it will have a lot of energy that needs burning off. You should aim to walk your pup at least twice every day. Do it in the morning before you leave for work, and then again when you return home. If anyone can stop by on their lunch break for a third walk, that’s a bonus. Each time you go out of the house, you should aim to find a route that takes between a half an hour to an hour. A sleepy pup is a happy pup!

Dogs are fantastic pets. However, they have needs just like every other animal on the planet. If you’re going to keep a canine at home, make sure that you provide everything they require. Also, enjoy the summer!

Featured Image By: Flickr

Jun19

Monday Update: Canine LifeLine Edition

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Monday Update: Canine LifeLine Edition

Good morning everyone and happy Monday! I had a lovely afternoon yesterday with my mom and sister. We all volunteer for the rescue group, Canine LifeLine, and each of our schedules worked out so that we could go together and walk some of the pups that are up for adoption. It was a beautiful, dog-filled time and it was nice to be able to walk the puppers all together for the first time in the years that we’ve been volunteering.

Canine LifeLine is the rescue group that both of my sweet pups, Gem and Ollie, were adopted through. CLL brings dogs up from rural shelters (both of my dogs are from Kentucky) and provides them with medical treatment and a new shot at life in Ohio. I believe so strongly in the work that this group does and it only makes sense to try and give back to them as often as we can since they made our home complete with our two beloved pets.

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^^^ My babies! ❤

If you are located in Ohio or have family and friends here that are yearning for a rescue pup, please direct them in Canine LifeLine’s way! There is sure to be a sweet dog for you and you might just run into yours truly! And, of course, if you have no Ohio relations, then we always accept donations too. 🙂 #shamelesspromotion

So there you have it, this week’s Monday Update: Canine LifeLine Edition! Do you have a beloved pet at home? Who else is a proud dog mom or dad? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun19

Paws For A Moment: 3 Simple Checks For Dog Owners

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Paws For A Moment: 3 Simple Checks For Dog Owners

Everyone wants to make sure that their dogs live the best lives possible. Indeed, that is why we spend a fortune on the best food and veterinary care. However, most owners don’t perform health checks at home. It’s vital that all of us get into the habit of performing these checks during the summer months when our animals spend a lot of time outside romping around and exploring. Failure to do that could mean that you don’t spot issues before they become severe. That could result in your dog suffering from something avoidable. You’re not going to feel like a good owner if that happens. So, pay attention:

Check your dog’s paws every time they come inside: The last thing you want is for your dog to get an infection in their paw. That can happen when the animal stands on something dirty that pierces the skin. In most instances, you will notice that your canine walks with a limp when that happens. That is because the injury can become very painful for the animal and it can make them ill. To ensure that your dog’s paw doesn’t become infected, you need to check them every time your doggo comes into your home. A quick two-minute assessment will put your mind at ease. If there are any injuries, you have to call your vet. Dealing with the issue early could limit the chances of an infection.

Spend time checking your dog’s coat for fleas: Nobody wants their dog to bring fleas and ticks into their home. If that happens, you might end up getting an infestation (Yuck!). That could result in you having to leave your property while the exterminators clean your home. It’s an expensive and disrupting situation that you should always aim to avoid. You can check your dog’s coat using just your eyes and fingers, but there are also specialist combs that you can purchase. Also make sure that you’re keeping the best flea and tick medicine for dogs at home. That way, you can treat any outbreaks before they spread. If you’re unsure of what to buy, just ask your vet.

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 PUPPER!

Take a look at the inside of your dog’s mouth: It’s vital that all dog owners get used to checking the inside of their canine’s mouth. That is because this area is prone to infection and other issues. At the end of the day, your dog doesn’t have opposable thumbs (It would be cool if they did, though!). That means that they use their mouths for almost everything. Common problems include bee and wasp stings, cuts, and bacterial infections. When you get used to looking inside of your dog’s mouth, you will be able to stop any problems early. You will notice when something has changed. Again, if you have any concerns, book an appointment to see a professional. It’s always better safe than sorry.

This summer, remember that dogs are more prone to becoming ill when there is hot weather. So, you’ll need to ensure that your pet always has enough water when they spend time outside. You’ll also have to place extra emphasis on performing the checks mentioned on this page for the next couple of months. LONG LIVE DOGS!!! ❤

Featured Image By: Flickr