Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Staying Fit As a Busy Parent

woman carrying baby

Even if you have a strict fitness routine, all of this can go out of the window once you become a parent. It doesn't take long for the body and fitness you've worked so hard for to slip away, and in addition to the toll it can have on your physical state, your mental state is also at risk. 

Truly dedicated fitness buffs always manage to find a way, though. However, not everyone is as in-the-know as others. So, if you've recently had kids or if you're looking to get back to your fitness routine but don't know how to juggle it with busy, buddy parenting responsibilities, here are some useful tips to consider. 

Make Use of Every Free Second

It may feel like you never have a free moment as a parent, but whenever they are eating their lunch or taking a quick nap is your chance to complete a quick workout. You don't need to run 5K, but a few sit-ups, pushups, or a set on your free weights are better than doing nothing.

If possible, you can also take advantage of the times where your kids aren't distracted. Resistance bands, hand strengtheners, and step machines are all easy to use and multitask with, whether you're playing or just watching TV together. 

Find a Gym With You in Mind

Most gyms cater to the young, single, and childless crowd. However, if you can find gyms that put a focus on affordability, such as Fitness 19, you might be able to get a quick workout completed without missing out on any precious moments in your child's life. 

The affordability means you don't need to adjust your budget too much. Furthermore, if you can get there before it gets busy, such as just before you need to pick the kids up from school or their sports clubs, you'll feel much better about staying on the healthy track, even when it feels like you can't find the time. 

Wake Up Early

One of the keys to maintaining a healthy lifestyle even when you are a busy parent is to make some changes in your lifestyle. One of these changes is to wake up a little earlier and go for a run, lift some weights, or do yoga or even bodyweight exercises. 

It might be hard at first to miss out on that extra 15 or 20 minutes, but once you're up, then you will feel much better for it. Conversely, if you do find it too much of a struggle (or if you think you literally cannot get up any earlier), consider going to bed a little later. However, make sure you don't overdo it, as the rise in your heart rate could make getting to sleep difficult. 

Staying Fit

It's never as easy as it seems to stay in good shape, especially with kids. Still, as long as you know the little tricks to make it possible, you can find ways to exercise anywhere you look, and soon enough, there won't be any obstacles you cannot overcome. 

5 Ways to Improve Your Family's Finances

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels

Raising kids is expensive, and just about every family needs to stick to some kind of budget to be able to afford everything they need. If your money is a bit all over the place and you need to do something about it, here are some ideas. 

Get your debt under control
Getting out of debt is one of the best things you can do for your family's finances. Sell what you don't need to raise the cash to pay down balances, or if your debt is out of control then speak to a debt charity who can give you advice based on your situation. 

Start saving
Once all of your accounts are paid and closed and your debt is paid off, start saving up. One of the best ways to do this is by automating things- set up a standing order to transfer money from your current account to your savings account on the day you get paid. You won't have to think about it and can let it just save for you, over time your savings will build and build. 

Earn more money
Having a variety of ways to earn money will help you to save faster and will also help you to feel more financially secure. If for any reason you lost your job, you know that you’d have other methods of earning money that you could rely on until you were back on your feet. Blogging, freelancing, home businesses, tutoring and trading are all ideas. Find out the safest place to buy btc and do some research and you could get started with it right away. 

Save money on days out
Going on days out can be a fantastic opportunity for you to make memories together and spend quality time. However, tourist attractions can be really expensive. You might not be able to afford to go to the zoo, a theme park, a boat ride or an adventure day every weekend but there are plenty of other ideas. Parks, farms, museums and galleries are all cheap or free, most have exhibits for kids to keep them interested. Check out local Facebook pages for your area for events at libraries and community centres as there are often free things for kids and families to do. You could just take a picnic and go on a walk or bike ride if the weather is nice, it’s all quality time spent together. 

Spend less on food
Food is more than likely one area you’ll be able to cut back on. Most of us buy too many fresh items that don’t get used in time, or items that look good in the shop that we don't really need. If you buy ingredients in bulk you can batch cook meals and freeze them, otherwise menu plan and only buy what you need for that week. Have a store cupboard stocked with essentials, that way you have what you need for most kinds of recipes.

Monday, March 16, 2020

Three Unique Baby Gifts to Give


                    
One of life’s most exciting times is the expecting and birth of a new baby. If you have a loved one or friend who is anticipating the arrival of a new baby, consider one of these three unique gifts for the new parents and your gift will surely be remembered for years to come.

Personalized Book


One of the greatest ways for parents to bond with their babies and small children is to read to them. Long before their little one can truly understand what they are reading, the emotional attunement and bonding of reading together will last a lifetime. One fun way to give a book that is surely unique to them is to give a personalized ABC book with their child’s name involved on each and every page. As their child gets older, they will delight in having a book that includes their name on each page.

Why Hire the Professionals for Electrical Work?


If you have a blown lightbulb or if a circuit trips in your house, there's a good chance you can handle the problem on your own. However, with electrical matters that are more complex or involved than this, hiring professionals is highly recommended. If you aren't convinced this is a necessary action, keep reading to learn about some consequences that may occur.

The Danger

The fact is, electricity is dangerous - especially if you don't know what you are doing. Even electricians have to use care to ensure they aren't putting themselves, their customers, or the home or structure where they are working at risk. Without proper training and experience, you may find that the work you do isn't only unsafe, but it creates the potential hazard of a shock or electric fire. By hiring a residential or commercial electrical contractor Murrieta, this is a non-issue as you can feel confident the service provider will use the proper safety precautions to keep everyone safe.

Understanding of What to Do

Another reason you need to hire a professional electrician for service, repair, or new component installation is that they know what to do. A licensed electrician will have the proper training, skills, and ability to handle any job, regardless of how complex it may seem. This is going to reduce the likelihood that the wrong repairs are made or that the wrong parts are replaced, which are issues commonly seen with DIY repairs.

Do You Need Electrical Services?

Have you noticed an electrical problem in your commercial building or home? If so, now is the time to contact the professionals and schedule an appointment. They can evaluate the problem and make a recommendation regarding what needs to be done to fix the issues. With these services, you no longer have to worry about a possible electrical hazard.

               

3 Unique Food Ideas to Make Your Party a Success


                    If you are in the planning stages of a party, what food to serve has likely crossed your mind multiple times. Food is an integral part of a party's success, and many consider the refreshments served to be the most important part of the entire soiree. If you are stuck on what to serve at your party, here are 3 unique ideas that will make your special event stand out.

Breakfast Any Time


No matter when the party is occurring, serving breakfast food is a unique (and inexpensive) way to please a crowd. Serve simple things like bacon or hash browns, or go a bit more wild and have a breakfast sandwich station or some type of frittata or delicious quiche. Almost everyone likes breakfast, so your spread is sure to be a hit.

A Taco Station  


Another creative idea is setting up a create-your-own taco station. If this seems a bit involved, consider hiring event catering Richmond KY to help with the setup and cleanup. Provide different types of shells (soft and hard options) as well as different meats and vegetables so that everyone, even those who are gluten free or vegetarian, feel included and have something to eat. Include toppings such as queso, sour cream, and fresh guacamole, and everyone will be satisfied.

Finger Foods


Another fun party food idea is simple finger foods. This is great because guests won't have to deal with awkwardly holding utensils while they stand and socialize, and they can just grab food little by little whenever they choose. Popular finger foods such as pigs in a blanket, deviled eggs, or even baked brie bites are great options.

Throwing a party does not have to cause anxiety. Offer some interesting and easy food options, and all of your guests will be singing your praises.