Family

5 Ways to Make Moving Less Stressful

July 10, 2018 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

You’ve finally found the right house in the right neighborhood with the right schools, and the best mall in the state right next door. You navigated the mortgage minefields and managed to get a fairly decent interest rate on your loan without completely destroying your credit score. The negotiations were tough, but you finally got the seller to agree to fix the heat pump and the compressor and knock 15% off the price because of the roof that hadn’t been changed in 22-years. Now, you are ready to make the big move from apartment dweller to homeowner where instead of calling the landlord to fix the garbage disposal; you go to a big box store, buy an In-Sink-Erator and watch the YouTube how-to about 5 times before you finally call a plumber to install it. But, at long last, it’s time to move in.

1. MAKE A PLAN AND STICK TO IT

If you are moving locally, say within a 15-mile radius, you want to plan very carefully so that you get all of your ‘stuff’ out of one home, and into the other, within one day. This is definitely doable – if – you plan your day carefully and intelligently. This also means that all of the pre-packing of boxes, and labeling of said boxes, has been done beforehand. That way, you’ll be able to estimate pretty accurately how long it will take to pack the moving van. Unpacking it will take about one-third to one-half less time than packing because you aren’t mentally organizing the various objects to fit inside the truck.

But if your new home has narrow or complicated entryways and elevators to deal with – those impediments could increase unpacking time significantly. That’s why it’s a good idea to actually visit your new home, with a representative of the moving company, if possible, days before the actual move, so that you can both survey your new home’s location and pre-plan for any impediments that might be there.

2. KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING

Another benefit of surveying your home before your moving day would be to take the time and effort during this scout day to discover the very best route between your old house and your new home. That means driving the route at approximately the same time that your moving van will be doing so on your moving day so that you have some idea of what the traffic will be like. For example, it might be wiser to use surface streets for part of the drive, instead of a freeway because a factory near that freeway changes shifts at the time your van will be traversing that part of your route. Google Maps or Mapquest can be very helpful in your route planning because of their ability to help you change the route and offer alternatives.

3. PAINT BEFORE YOU MOVE IN

If scheduling allows, it is always a good idea to do repair, paint and remodeling tasks before you move into your new home. Also, paint takes many hours to dry completely and the odors and chemical residues during the drying process can be nauseating. But a good paint job is so important not only for the beauty of your home, but also for its durability.

If you are going to paint your home before your moving day, why not consult with a professional stylist to help coordinate your home’s colors to give it a coordinated look. The money you spend on a designer could be more than made up for if you end up changing your mind and re-painting several rooms multiple times.

4. WATCH OUT FOR THE HIDDEN COSTS

Different moving companies use all sorts of different methods for determining the costs of your move. Make sure you pin the company sales rep down on his/her estimate before your moving day commences. It is always a good idea to get an Outline of Moving Costs from any moving company that you involve in the bidding process for your move. You don’t want a big $urprise at the end of a day in which you have been going full-force for 12-to-14 hours and are, consequently, too tired and stressed to even consider haggling about prices.

5. BE PREPARED

In spite of all of your pre-planning, moving days, by their very nature, can be filled with unexpected disruptions. We can all certainly apply Murphy’s Law to any enterprise, like a moving day, that utilizes so many people and consists of so many moving parts. So, be prepared for the ‘wheels to come off’ some time during your moving day. If you’ve anticipated this, and planned prudently, you’ll be able to handle that disquiet with composure and poise so that it doesn’t spoil your day and you can eventually get back on track.

Judy Lees is a super-connector with Photographers In Islamabad who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, Photography, branding and networking. He frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing, digital photography.

3 Companies that Protect the Environment while You Travel

September 27, 2016 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

It doesn’t make much sense for companies that profit from helping people travel the world to neglect that world in the process. A few companies in the travel industry understand that they owe a debt to the planet and try to give it respect it deserves. Companies like JetBlue, Southwest, and Park ‘N Fly are among the best at also protecting the environment while getting you to your destination.

Image via Flickr by eastleighbusman

JetBlue

JetBlue has shared detailed information on its social and environmental impact every year since 2006. In its 2015 report, JetBlue devotes an entire section to its environmental sustainability efforts. The company acknowledges how much its affordable flights depend on natural resources and the beauty of the earth, which is why the company takes a proactive approach to reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint by minimizing pollution and waste.

To evaluate that footprint, JetBlue looks at its emissions footprint in revenue ton miles (RTM), which is a common environmental metric in the airline industry. This number reflects the weight in tons of cargo and customers carried multiplied by the number of miles flown. The company compared the metric tons of carbon dioxide emitted per 1,000 RTM. Since 2009, JetBlue has shrunk this ratio, also known as the Scope 1 emissions intensity ratio, by 3.7 percent.

The company has also incorporated recycling into virtually every aspect of its business. For example, since 2013, JetBlue’s recycling tracking system estimates that the company has recycled more than 60 million bottles and cans. Similarly, JetBlue donated the 110,000 pounds of food waste that it collected from JFK airport in 2015 to an upstate New York farm for conversion to organic compost.

Park ‘N Fly

Park ‘N Fly’s business concept helps protect the environment by offering travelers off-airport parking. Rather than having to ask someone to make two trips to drop them off and pick them up, travelers can park in a conveniently located lot and share a shuttle to their destination gate.

Park ‘N Fly has also created a foundation of the same name devoted to natural disaster preparedness and relief. The company is also a subsidiary of BCD Travel, which earned the top Corporate Social Responsibility rating in 2016 largely due to its environmental sustainability efforts.

Southwest Airlines

In an effort to maximize efficiency, Southwest has developed an independent climate change strategy in addition to its standard business strategies. In 2014, the airline signed a contract to purchase 3 million gallons of low-carbon, renewable jet fuel each year from Red Rock Biofuels. Red Rock refines the fuel from the residues of Oregon’s forests.

The company has also managed to boost its RTM efficiency by 29 percent since 2005. Additionally, the company maintains a commitment to local sourcing to reduce transportation costs, receiving 39 percent of its construction materials from sources within 500 miles of the site.

Without a beautiful planet to explore, the travel industry won’t experience much demand. These three companies have incorporated that principle in their ongoing efforts to respect and reinvigorate the environment.

Top 5 Ideas to Stay Active with Kids

January 12, 2015 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Living in a family with kids means they are always your center of attention. But should prioritizing kids come at the cost of your health and general well being? Not at all. As you will learn in this article, it is perfectly possible to take care of your growing kids without neglecting your physical (and psychological) well being. After all, the whole family suffers if your well being, physical or otherwise, is undetermined.

Typically, having a family with kid’s means you always find yourself overwhelmed with chores: taking kids to school, attending their school events and meetings, taking care of housework – all of this on top of your own work. Thankfully, with some smart planning, and lots of determination, you can make sure that your desire to live an active lifestyle isn’t compromised.

Follow the 6 tips mentioned below to start your journey towards a healthy and active lifestyle.

Transform your daily chores into exercise: One of the key reasons that prevents so many people from taking care of their physical fitness is lack of time. Having kid’s means you simply aren’t getting the time to follow through on a structured exercise regimen. The good news is that calories aren’t burnt only on a treadmill. Indeed, non-exercise activities are a bigger determinant of healthy lifestyle than time spent in gym. This means you can take small steps like going on a walk with your kid in the stroller, standing up and moving about ever so often, taking stairs instead of the lift on your way to work etc can help a lot.

Condensed workout: Your workout doesn’t have to last 60 minutes. Lot of evidence is emerging that shorter, but more intense, workout are in fact better in maintaining peak fitness. Go for a High intensity interval training for 15 minutes if you cannot find time for a full hour workout in your daily schedule.

Develop a social support network: This could be in the form of your relatives, or if that isn’t possible, then a support network of parents. Cultivate friendship with other parents and look after each other’s kids a few times a week – it will allow you some precious free time

Join yoga or dance classes: The time you spend in front of TV or surfing the web, or even the time you spend with your kid at home, can be better spent if both you and your kid can sign up at your neighborhood yoga, aerobics or dance classes together. This will ensure you not only get to spend quality time with your kid, but also take care of your fitness and inculcate a love for active lifestyle in your kid. A truly winsome proposition.

Plan outdoor or DIY activities with your kids: Nothing is quite as wholesome as a great family outing. Not only is it great for fun and entertainment, but also excellent for bonding and physical wellbeing. The outdoor activity could be anything – from a camping trip to a hiking or biking expedition. Similarly, do it yourself (DIY) projects are excellent both for you and your kid.

The internet is full of amazing websites and tutorials on DIY home improvement projects. Get your hands dirty with these projects and involve your kids in the same. Such projects challenge your mind, and bring out the creative best in you. CSA contact should be initiated if you find yourself in need of support for your kid’s needs and requirements.

Ruby Andrew’s author bio: Ruby Andrew, a visitor essayist and blogger by calling lives in Bristol, UK. Since for quite a while, she has an energy for composing and she could compose on any point. Her ranges of investment incorporates travel, Health, wellness, Automobile, Fashion, innovation and wedding. At present, she acts as a visitor blogger for CSA contact.

HISTORY: How Life Has Changed for the Working Woman

July 23, 2014 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

This is a guest post…

A look at how life has changed for the working woman over the years

As horrible as the World War II was, that was really a turning point for women. With the men off at war, women needed to step in and work the factory jobs to keep getting supplies created. Once the war ended, many women enjoyed not just working, but the sense of importance that came with it; so they fought to keep these rights.

The feminist movement gained a lot of victories for women, and from there women have never looked back. Obtaining higher education, working full-time jobs; no matter what was placed in front of women, they kept on moving forward.

Today a working woman’s life is quite different than even just 20 years ago. Here are some of the major differences that women in the modern era face, compared to those before them.

Employment

One of the most positive changes for women living in 2014, is that the employment of women in the workplace is higher than ever. In the last 60 years employment rates for women have rose from 31% to 62%, while males employment rate has dropped from 89% to 75%. These are some very drastic numbers, which has led to quite a few changes for the working woman.

While many families before could be supported with just a single parent working, nowadays most families rely heavily on a woman’s income to help support family life. Majority of working women are putting in 40 hour weeks, before they even begin to think about making dinner and spending time with their husband and children.

The extra income from working is obviously needed for most families, however this has led to a few changes. Families are eating out more than ever, with the need for child care rising dramatically.

Meals

Due to the time constraints of work schedules on both parents, families are now resorting to eating out more than ever. In the 1930s, when it was normal for a woman to stay at home with the kids; every meal was taken care of by the stay at home mom.

When women started working 20 hour weeks and just joining the work force, meals were still being prepared by a man’s wife each night. Yet fast forward to the modern day era, when sometimes a woman puts in more hours of work each week than her husband; this is where something has to give.

Parents are either stuck at work, stuck in traffic, or running around taking their children to after-school activities; so they simply do not have enough time to go home and put together a well thought out meal. The result is more families stopping at fast food restaurants on the way home each night which has lead to increased levels of obesity across the board here in the United States.

Child Care

Possibly the biggest change for working women is paying for premium child care while they are at work. Instead of being able to stay at home and watch the kids throughout the day, parents are forced to send their kids to child care.

If you are lucky, you have a close relative (grandma, mom, dad, etc…) to watch your children as they are young. If not, you are looking at paying quite a bit to ensure your child is taken care of during the day. Working women have had to adjust to this, which is a main factor in why women are waiting longer than ever to have their first child now. Some families have actually adjusted to this by having dad stay at home with the kids, while mom goes to work.

While so much has changed over the years for working women, I’m sure there will be even more milestones crossed in the near future. I could easily see the first woman president taking office within the next decade. The world will keep on progressing, and I cannot help but wonder what women 30 years from now will think of the working women of 2014.

Ideal Vacation Holiday Destinations for the Whole Family

May 23, 2014 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

This is a partnered post…

A family holiday is the perfect way to relax and unwind away from the pressures of the modern rat-race. All inclusive family holidays are becoming more prevalent nowadays because of the number of people who want to bond with those who are dear to them and enjoy quality time with each other.

Why choose an all-inclusive deal?

Taking your family away on holiday can be an expensive business. Not only do you have to think about the flights, accommodation and meals, but extras such as drinks or children’s activities, can rack up the cost alarmingly quickly. You don’t want the hassle of counting your pennies every time the kids want a drink, so an all-inclusive deal gives you the peace of mind of knowing exactly how much your holiday will cost.

Holidays in Africa

There are many destinations in Africa which are ideal for families. For example, an all-inclusive holiday in The Gambia guarantees unbroken sunshine and glorious temperatures. Only six hours flying time away, and with no jet lag to worry about, Gambia has beautiful beaches, luxurious hotels, and plenty of interesting excursions to offer.

Holidays in Brazil

A holiday in Brazil is an unforgettable experience. The modern city of Rio de Janeiro has the iconic Copacabana and Ipanema beaches to enjoy. For a more traditional feel, Salvador boasts colonial architecture, as well as stunning beaches. And of course, the natural beauty of the untamed jungle, with its breathtaking hosts of wildlife, is sure to delight any family.

Holidays in The Caribbean

With sun-kissed tropical beaches and crystal-clear seas, the the Caribbean is a matchless family destination. Luxury hotels offer wonderful facilities including pools with panoramic views, water parks, kids clubs and much more. Sports activities, cocktail bars, and buzzing nightly entertainment are all provided, so you can be sure that adults and children alike will have a fantastic time.

Holidays in Costa Rica

With all-inclusive deals to suit every budget, Costa Rica is the ideal spot for families wanting sun, sea and sand. Surrounded by a unique volcanic landscape as well as tropical rainforest, this is a great choice if you are looking for somewhere a little unusual. With all the facilities you would expect from family hotels Costa Rica is hard to beat.

So if you are looking to build a store of family memories, why not opt for an all-inclusive holiday that your family will remember for years to come?