Sweet Silly Sara

INTERSTATE MOVING – 5 TIPS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Long-distance moving can be an exceedingly strenuous process. From deciding your budget to choosing what items to pack, there are numerous things to consider for interstate travel.

But what if we told you it doesn’t have to be this way? That with a few golden tips and tricks, your life can be made much simpler. Continue reading to know a few of those tricks and the secrets to a stress-free interstate move:

· Declutter

Arguably, one of the most stressful parts of a move is deciding what’s worth keeping in your new home. Especially considering the cost of interstate moving, you’d want to reduce clutter and unnecessary objects as much as possible.

Therefore, we recommend looking through all your current possessions. This includes checking through all your kitchenware, computer accessories, clothes, equipment, and other items. Then selectively choose to sort them into one of three piles: sell, toss, or donate.

When an item has marketable value, you can add it to the "sell" pile and use apps like Facebook Marketplace and eBay to get some extra cash.

· Be Prepared

Interstate travel is definitely not something to be left to the last minute. It requires a minimum of weeks or months of planning. And, aside from initial decluttering and planning, the day or the week of the shift also requires a series of tasks.

. These could include the following:

· Defrost your freezer a couple of days before the move

· Watering any house plants in advance, as they could end up without water or sunlight for several days

· Ensure that fragile objects are appropriately packed in the original packaging they came in, or you can ask your movers for a specialized plasma carton to ensure their safe transit.

· If you have the appropriate tools, get a head-start on dismantling heavy furniture, such as tables, bed frames, or couches.

· Get Several Estimates

When undergoing long-distance moving, you’d want to ensure that you can trust the team that’s transporting your beloved belongings over hundreds of miles.

Thus, a rule of thumb is to never settle on your first recommendation. Ask various friends and family members for references. And then, when you have around 3-4 trustworthy and reputable options, you can start comparing quotes.

Similarly, you should ensure that the quotes are detailed and well-written from a fully insured and licensed mover. The last thing you'd want for any move is to go over the budget at the last minute; be sure to account for any unconsidered expenses such as those from bulky items, extra packaging, or transit duration costs.

· Have Insurance For All Items

As brushed upon earlier, you need to exclusively opt for movers that offer insurance on items. Though it may be pricier, it's definitely worth it, considering how easily deliverables can get damaged during long-distance moving.

Moving insurance works by guaranteeing that you’re always fully reimbursed for unexpected loss or damage, ensuring ease of mind for safe transit and storage. Usually, there are additional charges. However, they vary depending on the items you'd be paying insurance for. If the mover you opt for is professional and reputable, they'd happily provide an honest quote for an item’s insurance and information regarding its exact coverage.

· Leave It All To The Movers

There’s no doubt that moving is stressful, especially when it’s done across states. So, why put yourself through the trouble of worrying? After packaging everything and getting the right item insurance from a trustworthy moving company, simply leave the work to the movers.

Most professional services take everything into account to ensure the safety of your deliverables. They usually cover a variety of services, from including safe packaging of vehicles to the care and maintenance of pets.

With all that being said, if you follow all of these simple tips, we guarantee that you wouldn’t need to worry about moving ever again. So what are you waiting for? Go forth and enjoy the pleasures of a stress-free move!

Christmas Tree Process Art

This is such a fun way for kids to paint, without using any brushes! It creates a lovely work of art that adds just the right touch of kid made cheer to your space!

My youngest and I love to paint together. We are always thinking of things to paint, without turning to a paint brush. We came up with this adorable process art using only a cork, a pencil eraser, and some paint. This is the perfect seasonal art project for kids.

Supplies:

Paint in green, red, yellow and brown

A pencil with an eraser

A paper plate

A cork

Paper

Directions:

Pour a little squirt of each color of paint on a paper plate.

Offer your child a pencil with an eraser and a cork.

Encourage your child to form the tree shape by stamping in the green paint, then adding one stamp to the paper.

On the next line, make two stamps.

On the third line, stamp 3 times. You get the idea.

After the tree is formed, using the eraser, dip into the other colors of paint, and start decorating the tree.

Use whatever colors you like for the ornaments. We used red, blue and yellow.

Next form the tree trunk with brown paint.

Allow to dry and display.

Isn't this such a cute holiday process art idea? Preschoolers and toddlers might enjoy this too!

You can find all of our Christmas crafts here.

Reader favorites include:

Gnome ornaments

Finding Boys’ Gifts to Match Your Child’s Interests

If you’re low on inspiration when buying presents for the boys in your family, it’s not as difficult as it seems. By basing the gifts around their interests and the latest trending gifts, you can get them something they’ll love.

Finding Inspiration

Before you choose a gift, looking online can help. You can make sure your gift is right for your child’s age. So, if you search for toys for 8 year old boys, you will find suggestions, from fashionable odd socks and interactive glow t-shirts to logic-based games such as Dog Crimes. This presents the players with ‘crimes’ such as who ate the homework and lets them work out which dog is the culprit.

Science gifts

Science has become more popular with boys, so recent gift recommendations can reflect that. Kidzlabs Kitchen Science has six child-friendly experiments which can be carried out at home. Alternatively, if your child prefers to read about science, The Science and Inventions Creativity Book still has plenty of activities to help him learn and be creative at the same time.

Science gifts can spark an interest that stays with your child as they get older and have to decide what subjects they want to pursue. If nothing else, they can show him science doesn’t have to be boring and can cover a variety of topics. So, he will enjoy learning about or trying out different things.

Drawing or Crafting gifts

If your child prefers to focus on being creative, How to Draw Animals – Made Easy, does what the name suggests and can help him draw animals by following simple instructions. It’s also a fun activity for the whole family to try.

Or you could combine science and creativity, with Archi.Tech Smart House. This lets your child use his creativity to carry out experiments and design a house, equipped with various gadgets and accessories.

It’s important for your child to explore his creativity and for you to encourage any educational interests he has. These can benefit his education, or help with problem-solving skills later in life. Creativity may not always be encouraged in schools, but it’s important to develop.

Outdoor gifts

For outdoor and sporty types, the ideal gift is something that encourages them to pursue their favorite activities outside. Dodgetag is a less aggressive version of dodgeball. Wearing vests with a target on, players have to try to dodge the soft balls from the other players. These are much smaller than those used in dodgeball.

Alternatively, Smart Ball is great if your child wants to practice his skills and improve his sporting stamina and skill.

These and other sporting gifts can help your child improve social skills. Many sports are team games, so by practicing they’re more likely to build up their skills and get chosen for school sports teams if they want to try out. If not, it’s still a good way for him to get exercise and spend time with friends.

If you find the right gift, your child can learn to improve his social skills or learn something useful from it, while having fun at the same time.

How To Choose Must-Have Products For Your Little One

First time parents are always anxious and overwhelmed. They don’t have the correct information as to what products to buy, for their precious bundle of joy. Don’t get confused. First, make a list of basic yet important stuff.

Kids need lots of stuff. Categorizing items into must-haves is crucial. There are some things which make your job, as a new parent, quite easy. Be sure to have these products ready at home, when you bring your little one.

Clothing

Baby clothes range in age, usually. But that’s not the case with every brand. Some brands make their clothes according to size as well. Since babies grow quickly, buying clothes in larger sizes can be a good idea.

Also, buying second-hand clothes or accepting hand-me-downs can prove to be great, since the material is worn before so it's super soft and you get more options to choose from. Always look for clothes that are made from breathable material and are durable.

Diapering

Firstly, you need to know that your baby will go through 10 to 12 diapers in a day. So, choose carefully whether you want to buy cloth, disposable or another kind of diaper.

You can buy all kinds of diaper creams, diaper bags, and other essentials as well. A reliable diaper pail will make sure your house smells amazing all day.

A changing table can always go a long way in providing you comfort since you are going to change diapers most of the day.

Baby Gear

There is a new addition to your family. You have to make sure that you feel comfortable at all times, in his new home. Wearing your baby in a sling or a carrier means you can snuggle close to your little one. It will also give you two free hands to work on something.

Choosing the right stroller can make your life a whole lot easier since you can carry your baby in and out of the house carefully and conveniently.

You can buy a play yard. A play yard can come in handy in all possible situations. It can be a safe, contained space for your baby to play, either at home or while traveling.

Bathing

A good bathtub will make bathing time for your baby fun and easy. Always look for tear free baby shampoo and soap that are soft on the baby’s skin and eyes.

If you don’t want harsh baby products, don’t go for products that list fragrance as an ingredient. Make sure you buy towels that are hooded and completely soft so that your baby can be wrapped in them, and dry properly.

You can encourage your baby to indulge in some fun activity with toys that can float around in bathtubs.

Conclusion

Being a new parent comes with a ton of responsibilities but the joy that your baby brings is unmatched. As a parent, you have to be positive that your kid is completely comfortable as the beginning phase is very crucial for a baby to grow in the right manner.

Keep all the things handy as you never know what product you would need next. Having a stash in the house is always preferable to running out to the store every time your baby needs something.

How To Turn Your Las Vegas Trip Into An Adventurous One

When it comes to looking for reasons to visit Las Vegas for your next trip, there is no falling short of reasons. Sin City, America's Playground, the Entertainment Capital of the World are just some other names for this adventurous hotspot.

Photo Credit: Canva.

Las Vegas is one fun and lively place that has so many things to offer that you can never fathom the full fun and frolic of this place in just one trip. It is safe to say that Las Vegas has it all! From amazing food to the best attractions and plenty of top-rated accommodation near the strip.

Take a day trip to hike the Grand Canyon, feel the thrills on the Stratosphere, see incredible shows, sit back and relax in the luxury resorts, eat at Michelin-starred restaurants, and so much more! Visit this place with your friends, family, and kids and it has something for everyone.

Now, if you're looking for a little guide on what to do and where to go while you are in Las Vegas, let's get that sorted for you. Here's a list of things you can do and places you can go to in Las Vegas:

Kayaking while exploring the Canyon Wildlife

A half-day kayak tour is one of the most enjoyable things you could do while visiting the Black Canyon. Black Canyon is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Las Vegas and has multiple things to offer for its tourists.

Kayaking through this place gives you glimpses of everything that this beautiful place has to offer. You’ll get to see the native wildlife, including desert bighorn sheep. The flora is also very beautiful and colorful and you’ll get to see several beautiful landscapes, such as the Emerald Cave.

The water is cold and once you reach the middle of the sea, the views that you get to see around you are surreal.

Try the Thrilling Escape Room

Finding your way through escape rooms is always a thrilling and nail-biting experience. If you are in Las Vegas with a group of friends then these escape rooms are a very good activity to test your bond or to just have quality time with your friends.

These confusing yet interesting escape rooms put your puzzle-solving and communication skills to the test. This game will require you to think strategically with your team to try to escape a room before running the clock strikes zero or you'll lose.

This is also a fun game to do with your family as kids. There are multiple levels so get your brain cells working before you set your foot into this thrilling experience.

Have a real-life view of the Underwater Wildlife at the Reef Aquarium

A lover of the Underwater World? Make a place on your list for the Reef Aquarium. This huge aquarium had almost 15 different species of sharks just centimeters from your face and the experience was almost too good to be real.

This aquarium is home to almost 2,000 creatures of the Underwater World and is, therefore, one of the most massive tanks in North America. There is a huge range of fish and underwater wildlife that you get to see here.

Experience the adventures of skydiving

Photo Credit: Canva.

Skydiving is one thrilling experience and if you are in Las Vegas, then the excitement and thrill of it are only heightened.

Jump off from the plane in a tandem skydive over the Grand Canyon and the experience will be one you can never have again. The speed of this can go up to 220 km/hr while you get to see the most surreal views of your life.

Ride The LINQ

The LINQ? The tallest Ferris wheel in the world is in Las Vegas and riding in this humongous ride is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As scary as it can get, the thrill of the ride is unmatchable. While you are on the top, you can get the beautiful view of the Strip illuminated by night lights.

The High Roller is 550 feet (167 meters) high and includes 28 enclosed cabins that move at slow speeds, so you can ride the ride for over 30 minutes and give you time to enjoy the panoramic view.

The LINQ also offers you to try the adrenaline-pumping zipline. The Fly LINQ zipline is located adjacent to the Ferris wheel and is the only zipline on the Las Vegas Strip.

Madame Tussauds - The Must Visit

Who has not heard about the master place that Madame Tussauds is? So while you are in Las Vegas there is no way you can miss going to Las Vegas and getting selfies with almost real-looking celebrity statues. The statues are uncanny.

The Museum has wax statues Of of world-famous celebrities like Elvis Presley, Leonardo DiCaprio, Shahrukh Khan, Muhammad Ali, and everybody's favorite 'The Avengers'.

So, while meeting your favorite celebrity remains to be a wish for a lot of people, Madame Tussauds gives you an almost similar experience. The museum also has fun activities that can be formed along with the status of your favorite celebrities.

Enjoy a fresh and fun day at Wet’n’Wild

If you are looking for a child and a relaxing day while you are on your trip to Las Vegas, Wet’n’Wild should be your one-stop destination. This fun water park features multiple water slides and swimming pools for adults and kids.

Your day will majorly be occupied with exciting water activities like Tornado, Desert Racers, Paradise Falls, Royal Flush Extreme, etc.

The Spark also has multiple places for you to grab a bite and to shop a little after you're done with your adventures. This exciting water park should be on your list if you are in Las Vegas with your family and kids.

Ride the ATV

Looking for that one extreme and breathtaking adventurous experience; then las vegas atv is the perfect activity for you. Neither you need to be an experienced rider nor you need a license.

Riding these rides is adrenaline, mixed with the beauty of nature few get to experience. Explore the beauty of the Nevada desert in one of these rentals and you can enjoy most of this part of your journey.

You get to see the stunning landscape, the wildlife, and experience an unforgettable adventure. These rides make your visit to the deserts all the more happening and exciting.