Is Halloween Cancelled in 2020?

That's ridiculous. Who is going to cancel it? Who is going to keep me from walking alongside my kids in a neighborhood while they attempt to collect candy? Who is going to keep me from passing out candy, with or without a mask on? The police maybe, you say? Trust me, the police don't want to ruin Halloween either.

One of my neighbors posted this, and it's fantastic (keep in mind I live in the country):

CDC advised against trick or treating. So we won't be participating this year.

However, we are protesting in our driveway between 6pm and 9pm-ish. Children who are attending are encouraged to wear a costume to conceal their identity and to bring a bag or pail to loot candy. Pups also can loot some dog treats! Adults in attendance.... please wear a mask to conceal your identity as well; however, it’s not mandatory.

Logic:

1. Most kids are already wearing some sort of mask anyway. Consider putting on your own mask and coughing up the candy. 

2. Your interaction with the kids as candy-giver is minimal. Toss the candy from afar. Make into a sort of Candy Basketball game.

3. If you are not handing out candy, for the love of all that is holy, please turn off your porch light. I respect your right to stay inside and stay healthy and safe and all that, but TURN OFF THE LIGHT!

4. Afraid your kid will catch a virus trick or treating? Odds are extremely low, and all the experiences I'm hearing about are that a kid doesn't feel well for like ONE DAY while adults are more like a week or so. If you don't know that numbers have been fudged from the start as far as cause of death, etc., you aren't paying attention! The kids are fine, but you need to probably stand on the sidewalk and cut the chit chat with the neighbors this year. Or not. 

5. Gather in smaller groups so you aren't freaking people out.

6. Back to #4, um, did you know your kid is exposed to all sorts of stuff ALL THE TIME? Who remembers that H1N1 thing from 2009? Not me, and I was pregnant at the time. It was also a pandemic but we did not shut down and ... oh, never mind. You are already either with me or against me and this blog post won't change your mind so in conclusion ...

1. I respect your right to NOT celebrate Halloween in a traditional way this year. I still love you and hope you will respect my right to cling to the Old Normal.

2. TURN OFF YOUR PORCH LIGHT if you are not handing out candy or you will be super annoyed all night by the ringing doorbell and knocking. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

*If this post annoyed you or made you interested to read more, check out these posts:

10 Fun Halloween Traditions

Greening Your Halloween

Handle Those Halloween Hecklers

Children's Halloween Costume Ideas Inspired by Books

5 Tips For Returning To Education

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There is an old saying that we learn something new every day. But the fact of the matter is, that when we leave education, our skills and ability to adapt and learn will go into remission somewhat and we don’t get to flex our learning muscles as often as we like. 

You may be drawn back to education, and you may have a strong urge to learn, but returning to college after a time away can still be very daunting, even if we have that passion for learning.

So, when it comes to returning to college, what can be done to make life easier for you while you adapt? 

In this article, we’ll take a look at returning to education as an adult. We’ll share some of the best tips to help you get the most out of your college course. 

1. Involve The Right People In Your Decision Making

When it comes to getting support on deciding which college course to take, school leavers will get help from their teachers, but who is there to help older students who are going back into education after a break?

You are not alone in your decision making. Talk with friends and family, reach out to the college or university, or speak with your current employers. There are people who will be able to offer you support and advice so that you know that you are making the right choices with the courses that you are applying for. 

2. Understand The Support That Is On Offer 

Speak with the college or university and find out what type of student support there is on offer. There may be a special department that aids mature students who are returning to education 

3. Start Studying Before The Term Begins

Don’t wait until your course starts to get into learning. Often, you’ll be able to get copies of the reading lists before lecturers even commence. Get a head start and begin reading these. You could also use online resources such as UWorld to start revising your subject area ahead of the commencement of your course. 

When learning in college or university, the focus is very much on self-directed study. Get into this habit early on and don’t wait to be told what to read or study. 

4. Connect With Your Tutors Online

Before your course starts, you could get in touch with your tutors via email. Talk to them about any apprehensions that may have about your course or studying. Tutors will have allotted time to devote to connecting with students in this way, so don’t feel as though you are a burden for getting in touch. 

5. Connect With A Wide Range Of Other Students 

It is essential that you don’t just rely on your tutors for all of your academic contact. Connect with other students on your course, and on other courses. Your fellow students may well be future professional contacts. Don’t write off time spent building connections with them early on. 

Stress-Busting Tips To Help You On Moving Day

 

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Moving day can be stressful, but thankfully, there are ways to make life easier for yourself. You don't have to suffer a meltdown because of all the tasks you will need to get on top of, and you shouldn't need to book yourself in to see a counselor after moving day is over. By following the tips below, the big day should go by relatively smoothly.

#1: Give yourself plenty of time

When you are dealing with the realtor and discussing the time you will be moving into your new home, don't arrange a morning move. As excited as you will be to get into your new house, you should leave it until late afternoon, as this will give you more time to do everything you need to do. You are then less likely to panic when you realize you can't find the cat (see the next point) or when you discover you have forgotten to pack something vital. You will have more time to breathe, and when it comes to your stress levels, that can only be a good thing.

#2: Re-house your children and pets for the day

Especially when you have young children, you might find it best to re-house them for the day. By which we mean finding them a childminder, as you will then have one less thing to worry about when you're getting ready for the move. The same applies to your pets. Your goldfish will be perfectly fine, but if you have cats and dogs that love to go wandering, you might want to hire a pet sitter to look after them to ensure they don't get lost before the move. You will have more peace of mind when your kids and pets are being looked after, so consider the option.

Check out our other essential tips for moving with kids.

#3: Enlist as much help as you can

Other than finding a pet sitter and childminder, there are other tasks that you might seek help with. These include house cleaning, the packing and moving of boxes, and any last-minute repair tasks that need to be completed before you shut the doors of your old home for good. Enlist your family, friends, and neighbors if you think they will be willing to help. And when looking for a removal service, opt for a company that will help you pack too. Allied Van Lines is just one example. Many hands make light work, or so the saying goes, and your day will certainly be an easier one if you have that extra help.

#4: Think positively

Despite taking steps to make life easier for yourself, you might still experience worry. You might start to wonder if you're doing the right thing by moving, and you might start to feel emotional at the prospect of leaving your old home. These feelings are normal, but to reduce your emotional stress, think positively. Remember why you're moving and list the benefits in your head, as you should then feel excited and glad instead of anxious and sad!

We hope these tips were useful to you, but let us know what you think. And if you have any other stress-busting tips for our readers, be sure to share them in our comments below.

What Are The Biggest Threats To Your Home?

 Your home is an investment. After all, they’re not cheap; a significant portion of your income will be used to pay for your home. As such, it’s important that you ensure the property’s value is moving in the right direction. This isn’t difficult, necessarily. It’s all about being aware of the threats to your property, and taking steps to nullify those threats. It’s about more than the home’s value, though. Making sure your house is watertight will also make it more comfortable and enjoyable overall, too.

Here are the threats to your home you need to be aware of.

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A Lack of TLC 

It’ll be in your interests to learn the basics of home DIY. They’re much easier to learn than you might think! And once you have those skills, you’ll find that it’s much easier to keep your home in tip-top condition. It doesn’t matter how old your home is; they’ll always be issues that need addressing. While you should leave the big jobs to the professionals, you can handle the small tasks yourself. The issue with these small jobs is that homeowners can often overlook them, because they believe they’re no big deal -- but if you have many small issues, then you’ll soon have one big issue. 

Creepy Crawlies

You’ll want the only guests in your home to be the ones that you have personally invited. Not the ones who take up space in your home without being welcomed through the front door. Yet that sometimes happens. We’re talking about pests. Insects and rodents can find they’re way into your home if you invite them in other ways (for example, not plugging up any gaps or leaving food out). The good news is that freeing your home of pests is pretty straightforward, but you will want to do it as soon as possible, since there could be structural damage if the problem goes on too long.

Water Damage

If there’s one thing that can cause problems in the house, it’s water. This can be responsible for a whole host of issues, including mold and structural problems. So it’s recommended to periodically check that your property is as watertight as it should be. One particular area to check is your home’s crawl space; this can be a magnet for water! If you need a little help to seal it up, then check out the products available from the Crawlspace Depot. The only water in your house should be the water that comes out of your taps.

Mother Nature

Depending on where you live, you might find that one of the biggest threats to your property is mother nature. The instances of extreme weather have been on the rise in recent years. Areas that were previously fine are seeing flooding and increasingly stormy weather, which can cause a lot of damage to properties. While you may not yet have been affected, it’s important that you’re aware of potential threats, and that you take steps to protect your house while you can. 

Can You Claim Spousal Maintenance After a Separation?

Sometimes known as alimony, spousal maintenance is paid by one spouse to another after a divorce. However, you don’t have to formerly dissolve your marriage in order to be able to claim spousal maintenance. If you are legally separated, as opposed to divorced, you could be entitled to maintenance.

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If the separation is amicable, both parties may be able to come to an agreement regarding the division of property and the amount of spousal maintenance to be paid. However, it’s important to seek legal advice before you agree to any arrangements.

In most instances, separating couples ask the court to decide how much should be paid to whom and for how long. When calculating spousal maintenance, divorce laws state that various things should be considered, such as:

1. The Length of the Marriage

How long you’ve been married will affect the divorce settlement. If one party came to the marriage with significant assets and the other didn’t, for example, a short marriage will not necessarily equate to both parties receiving similar settlements. In general, the longer you’ve been married, the more likely you are to be awarded spousal maintenance. Additionally, the amount of maintenance you’re awarded is typically higher if you have been married for a long period of time.

2. Earning Capacity

Each party’s earning capacity will be taken into account when spousal maintenance is addressed by the court. It’s important to note that your current income is not the same as your earning capacity. Voluntarily giving up your job to lower your income prior to divorce won’t be viewed positively by the court and your earning capacity will remain relevant.

There are various factors that can impact your earning capacity, including your education, prior job roles, your health and wellbeing, as well as whether you’ve given up work in order to support your spouse and/or your children.

As this area of law is complex, you’ll want to seek advice prior to submitting your earning capacity to the court. By consulting a law firm which specializes in divorce law, such as M. Sue Wilson Law Offices, you can access the advice and representation you need. What’s more – getting legal representation will ensure your rights are protected throughout the separation or divorce process.

3. Contribution to Marital Estate

The contribution each spouse has made to the marital estate will also affect a spousal maintenance award. However, it is not only financial contributions which are taken into account. If one person gave up their career to be a stay at home parent, for example, their contribution would not be ignored simply because they were not generating financial income.

Understanding Your Rights

Divorce laws in the U.S. are notoriously complicated, which is why it’s essential to understand your rights before agreeing to a settlement. Furthermore, an acrimonious separation can mean that one or both parties are unwilling to divulge critical information. By obtaining legal advice and representation, you can ensure that your claim for spousal maintenance is dealt with appropriately and efficiently.