Easy Labor Day Table Decor

 Can you believe that labor day is right around the corner? It seems like the summer really went by faster than ever. Now that school is in session, why not send summer out in style and welcome fall with open arms? These festive and oh so easy table decorations are perfect for a party, and they look nice long after the patriotic holiday season.

This is an easy project, and chances are, you have everything you need to make a few in your pantry!

This easy candle project is perfect to make with the kids. We used leftover dyed rice from a sensory bin and tossed a battery operated candle into the mix, and BOOM! There is a cute as can be way to decorate for the day. For FREE!

If you don't already have dyed rice laying around no worries, it is so easy to do! You can get the complete dyed rice tutorial here.

Start by putting a little red, a little blue and a little un dyed white rice into a mason jar. Shake it. Add more of each color, making sure to shake in between colors, until you fill about 3/4 of the jar.

Add a battery operated candle. Repeat as needed. Decorate tables, patios, walkways and more with these.

Find more wonderful rice ideas here.

Reader favorites include Homemade Rice Pudding.

Sushi Sensory Bin

Age Gracefully and Celebrate Menopause- the Transition to a New Life

 For Western women, mentioning the word "menopause" is associated with fear and dread. Women in this culture are brought up to believe in relishing youth. Menopause, on the other hand, sadly is a part of the ageing process, and menopausal women are labelled 'old' and 'grumpy'. 

But are these stereotypes realistic? Of course, not!

Many women tend to suffer from physical pain, anxiety, and hot flashes as a part of menopause. They're also expected to cope with social and cultural labels. Nevertheless, it's miserable that these immoral beliefs aren't even close to who they are or what they've been experiencing. 

The truth, however, is that menopause is a natural and bodily cycle, which marks an end to the childbearing and mensuration era. It's a start to the new chapter in a woman's life, which owes celebration and enjoyment. 

What is it About Celebrating Menopause?

Did you know that Mayan and Greek cultures look forward to menopause? This fact has undoubtedly come as a surprise to you! 

Women in these regions indeed look forward to this time. And, why not? It relieves them of the responsibilities of giving birth. The women in this culture believe in menopause as a new phase in their life. 

Yes, it's a phase in which they can re-focus on their dreams and aspirations. It's so exciting for them that they wait for a more fulfilling and satisfying sex-life post-menopause. 

Changing Cultural Attitudes- Is that even possible?

Menopause comes with a world of benefits- both mental as well as physical. So, why is it vital to suppress a completely normal womanly condition? Well, here's what requires a transition- a change of thought. But, how would you do that? 

Well, given below can be some starting steps. Let's get going with knowing what these are:

• Bring About Minor Lifestyle Changes:

There's a taboo about menopause primarily because of the symptoms that come with it. Women tend to experience pain, mood swings, hot flashes, anxiety, among other conditions. And that's when they feel the urge to give up.

However, that's not what it should be? It is always worth bringing about small changes to your living. For instance, you can eat one slice of whole-grain bread and a white toast for breakfast instead of two pieces of white toast. 

Or, you can eat an orange instead of drinking orange juice. Considering natural supplements for menopause also can go a long way in alleviating pain and bringing about a sigh of relief and comfort. Also, add fibre to your diet and explore hands-on a Mediterranean diet. 

Try indulging in more workouts and open your mind by reading more and manage your finances to prepare yourself for the older age. 

All these lifestyle changes help you in thinking with an open bent of mind. By doing so, you'll be able to relish life and open windows of opportunities for promising health and wealth. 

• Talk Openly about Menopause:

Menopause is part and parcel of every woman's life. By valuing each other's voices and learning from shared experiences, women have the capability of educating and empowering one another. 

The Bottom Line- Cheers to Menopause- the New Beginnings- 

Menopause adds to the challenges of a woman's life. Yes, it's the hormonal fluctuations that significantly cause havoc on your life. 

It is a new life stage, and every woman has a unique experience. For some women, the process can be increasingly physical, while others encounter increased emotions. So, it is always worth doing your homework for undergoing symptom-free menopause. 

After all, it's all about making a difference in this new yet exciting phase of your life. 

How to Keep Your Patience as a Parent

 How to Keep Your Patience as a Parent 

Your children will test your patience. Even if you love them, there will be a time when they will push you to the limits. But, of course, you don't want them to feel bad because of your reactions. So, try your best to stay patient. These tips can help. 

Don’t allow things to pile up

There are times when your children will hear your outrage and not because you had it with them. You have already encountered too many issues during the day, and you suddenly took it out on them. They are the last straw that pushed you to the edge. However, it's unfair for them to be on the receiving end of your anger. Therefore, you can't allow things to pile up. Take issues separately, and don't let them build up. 

Find a way to relax

You’re also angry because you feel like you’re doing everything for the family. You’re too busy balancing too many things, and you have no time to relax. It’s possibly the reason why you always lose your cool. It’s on you to find a way to relax. Start by investing in a shower cabin. It helps you to stay relaxed at home. It also makes you forget about everything that happened during the day. You can also talk to your friends and express your frustrations with them. 

Write how you feel 

You love your family, but you can’t always open up to them. Sometimes, they’re the cause of your frustrations. The best way to express your emotions is by writing how you feel. The goal is to release your feelings and not let them build up. Things will be better when you learn how to let go of your emotions. 

Always remember your children’s good side

When you think about screaming at your children, remember their good side. They might be hard to deal with at times, but they’re also kind and loving. They’re children, and you have to understand that they will misbehave. Use the opportunity to teach them what’s right. Screaming at them or hitting them won’t change the negative behaviour. If anything, it will push them to be angry at you. It could damage your relationship in the long run. 

Spend time with your children

You hate it when your children misbehave, but you don't even spend time playing with them. This is because you're too busy with work, and you couldn't follow their growth. Their misbehavior is a result of your lack of guidance. Therefore, even if you're too busy, you should spend time with them. They need you during their formative years. You will also know how to deal with their behavioral issues if you get to know them deeply. 

Hopefully, you stay patient even if your children try to test you all the time. It can be a challenging dynamic, but you can do it. There’s no formula to be a perfect parent, but you can learn with every opportunity that comes along. 

Home Improvement 101: Tips on How to Increase Property Value

Purchasing a home is undoubtedly a significant achievement. However, it's also a significant financial investment for your future. While making regular payments to your mortgage will allow you to build home equity over time, certain changes and upgrades can make the property more desirable in the real estate market and lead to greater returns if or when the time comes to sell. With that said, here are some tips on increasing the value of your property.

1. Give your home kerb appeal

There’s a reason why many real estate professionals stress the importance of kerb appeal. After all, first impressions can have a considerable impact on the sale of a home. They say that you should never judge a book by its cover, but many prospective buyers will base their decision on how the house looks. By investing in some affordable landscaping as well as other modest enhancements on your exterior, you’ll be able to elevate its value to both aspiring homeowners and appraisers alike.

2. Update your bathroom and kitchen areas

Few spaces can influence buyers' decision to purchase a home more than the bathrooms and kitchen. Unfortunately, they're also the areas that can quickly become dated, like old appliances, faded finishes, or antiquated decor. For this reason, you must make these areas the first places to upgrade. For example, you can add an air of luxury to your home with the addition of a whirlpool bath in one of your bathrooms. A modern wall oven or microwave can also give you a good talking point to stick as close as possible to your asking price. 

3. Don’t forget about energy-efficiency 

Most homebuyers tend to emphasise eco-friendly features, not only to kerb their carbon footprint on the environment, but also to save themselves money in their utilities. So, if you're looking to upgrade any existing equipment in your house, it's usually a good idea to invest in equipment that is more energy-efficient. Doing so will make the property desirable and reel in more buyers than you otherwise would have.

4. Create the illusion of space 

No one can deny that spacious homes are generally more expensive than smaller ones. However, just because it isn’t always possible to increase the square footage of your house, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t make it look bigger than it is. By letting more natural light into your home, adding mirrors in key areas, and taking down a wall or two in specific locations, you can create the illusion of space and make your home look and feel more inviting to potential buyers.

Bottom line

There are many things that homeowners cannot control regarding the value of their properties, from the demographics to government policies. But that's not to say that it's impossible to improve its worth in the market. And with these tips, you'll be able to enhance its value and give yourself better returns than you would have gotten as a result.

Parenting Guide: How to Deal with Notorious Kids Smartly

 

"Your kids require you most of all to love them for who they are, not to spend your whole time trying to correct them."

• Bill Ayers 

For once, you may think of agreeing with this thought, but what if you notice your naughty one playing mischievous plays with you? Well, as a parent to a naughty child, your tolerance level will be tested several times a day. When kids behave impossible, kids scream out their lungs just to get their favorite toy in their kitty. At such times, you may feel the urge to lose your temper and scold your child. 

But wait, such incidents can make things worse and impossible for you to handle further. So, what is the ultimate solution then? Well, it seems like you need to look through some interesting options to deal with your kids' mischievous behavior. 

Let's not wait anymore and explore how to manage a naughty child at home. 

#1- Manage the overwhelming emotions - There are times when your naughty child may feel the urge to express those powerful emotions, including - frustration, fear, and sudden sadness. Rather than feeling tired and irritated about this behavior, prefer to calm down and support your baby. This indicates understanding their weird mood swings, which is common to witness during childhood. 

#2 - Find ways to burn off their energy - Kids have an extensive amount of energy that needs to be burned off wisely. Otherwise, it may lead to many issues for you and your family. When their energy is not utilized properly, they may end up indulging themselves in a notorious activity. Rather than this, keep them occupied in hardcore physical activities like - running, cycling, playing outside, and much more. In no time, your child will start feeling exhausted, which will help him/her fall asleep quickly.

#3 - Find alternatives to everything - You need to be smart enough to deal with their trouble-making plays. For instance - if you are fed up buying new cosmetics and lipsticks that are often ruined by your little one, then go for sturdy child-resistant packaging bags that secure everything stored in it. Other examples can be - covering sharp objects in towels like - knives, blades, gardening equipment, etc., which often become a toy for naughty kids. 

#4 - Cook favorite meals - Making your kids eat nourishing meals is one of the daunting tasks almost every mother goes through. Here, the solution is to blend superfoods and nutrient value containing vegetables or fruits in their favorite meals. For instance - prepare multiple fruits-enriched smoothies for breakfast, mix and blend different vegetables in slurry or soups. This is the best way to ensure the intake of all grains and nutrients required for the child's development. 

The bottom line is that - 

Your child's behavior is the ultimate result of your behavior at home. Therefore, make sure you behave ideally to give your child enough good habits to learn and follow. Having restrictions on the child is a good idea to control wrong behavior but ensure it does not turn out to be negative on his/her behavior.