As a parent, it can be difficult to adjust to a new routine with your kids. Summertime can really throw routines out of sorts, but it could be a really cool summer if you get ahead of things and focus on some planning. If you are a parent, you can take charge of the interruption in the routine and set some boundaries all while making sure this is the coolest summer your kid ever had. Follow these tips for managing summer at home with the kids.

Decide On The Plan

Summer can be a great break for both parent and child alike, you can sleep in a little longer, hang up your carpool status, and just enjoy some freedom. However, it’s important that even in the summer you maintain some structure for the kids. For example, about 30% of parents planned on sending their kids to summer camp in 2020 according to a survey in Parents Magazine.

Camps are a great opportunity for kids to have a fun time with other kids. There are camps that focus on specific things like improving basketball skills or science and math skills. There are also camps that cater to children that are handicapped or that have autism. About one out of 44 children are diagnosed on the autism spectrum according to the CDC.

If you are not sending the kids to camp this summer, it’s a good idea to come up with few-day trip plans or other travel plans to spend time together. You also want to be sure if you are a working parent that you arrange childcare for the kids as soon as possible. Slots fill up fast. Choose a daycare that offers fun summertime activities to ensure the kids are having a good time this summer.

Get the House Ready For the Summer Break

About a week before the kids get out of school, prepare your home for a fun summer. Break out the swim gear, floats, inflatable pool, and sprinklers. This is also a great time to do some home maintenance. A hot house is not a fun house for the summer, especially not for the parent of the kids. Have your AC checked just to make sure it’s ready for the season. According to the experts, if your AC is 10 years old or older you can save between 20-40% on energy costs by replacing it with a newer energy-efficient model. If you replace your system you can stop badgering the kids to turn the lights off to save energy.

Plan On Having Fun Outdoors

One of the best things about summer is all the things that a parent can do with their kids outdoors. You don’t need a huge yard to pitch a tent and gaze at the stars. There are plenty of parent and kid-friendly things to do for free, like strolling through your neighborhood park, hitting up the community pool, driving to a nearby fishing hole, and fishing. Museums are almost free. There are plenty of ways a parent can keep a child busy and engaged all summer long that will not break the bank.

Schedule time for family picnics, hikes, and some fun in the sun. Spend rainy days indoors crafting or doing homemade science experiments. The summer is the perfect time for a parent to really get to know their kids and spend quality time together. Once the stress of school is out the door, kids tend to be more interested in just sitting around with a parent and talking.

Plan a cool summer for your kids and you can make it happen. Some of the best memories for a child and their parent are made during the lazy days of summer when the world seems to move a little slower and there’s a lot more free time. Enjoy this summer with your children and be the parent that is remembered for making great summertime memories.

Getting a new puppy is an exciting time for any family. But before you bring your new furry friend home, it’s important to do some preparation to make sure both your home and your family are ready. You’ll spend approximately $1,000 in the first year of dog ownership, but the return on investment is priceless. Here are five ways to prepare your home and family for a new puppy.

1. Create a Safe Space for Your Puppy

Before you bring your puppy home, it’s important to create a safe space for them. This means puppy-proofing your home by removing any potential hazards. That includes things like loose wires, small objects they could choke on, and toxic plants. You’ll also want to lock away any cleaning supplies or medications that could harm your puppy.

It’s also important to create a designated area for your puppy in your home. Outfit this space with everything your puppy will need, including a bed, food and water bowls, and toys. This will be their safe space to retreat to when they need some downtime or a break from the excitement of their new home.

2. Choose the Right Food for Your Puppy

Puppies have specific nutritional needs, and it’s important to choose a food that will meet those needs. Talk to your veterinarian about what type of food is best for your puppy, and make sure to avoid any foods that could be harmful, like chocolate or grapes. It’s also important to stick to a feeding routine. According to experts, splitting your puppy’s daily food intake into two or three smaller meals rather than one large meal is best.

When you first bring your puppy home, they may be hesitant to eat. This is normal, and there’s no need to worry. Just continue to offer them their regular food, and they will eventually start to eat when they’re hungry.

3. Train All Family Members on Puppy Care

Before you bring your puppy home, it’s important to train all family members on proper puppy care. This includes things like how to pick up and hold your puppy, how to properly clean their ears and eyes, and how to trim their nails. Everyone in the family should also be aware of the basic rules for living with a puppy, like not feeding them table scraps and giving them plenty of exercise.

If you have small children in the family, it’s important to teach them how to be gentle with the puppy. They should know never to pull on the puppy’s tail or ears and always to wash their hands after playing with the puppy. This will help prevent the spread of germs and keep your puppy healthy. Remember, as the primary caretaker, it will be up to you to ensure everyone in the family follows the rules. But with a little patience and consistency, everyone will soon be on board with proper puppy care.

4. Fence in Your Yard

If you have a yard, it’s important to fence it in before bringing your puppy home. This will help keep your puppy safe and prevent them from running off. When choosing a fence, make sure it’s tall enough that your puppy can’t jump over it and that the gaps between the slats are small enough that they can’t squeeze through. You should also consider adding a gate to the fence to make it easy to get in and out of the yard.

If you have a pool, make sure it’s also fenced in. Remember, puppies are curious by nature and may be tempted to investigate the pool, even if they can’t swim. A fence will help prevent any accidents.

5. Keep Trash Cans Out of Reach

Puppies are curious creatures, and they’ll want to investigate everything, including your trash can. To prevent your puppy from getting into the trash, it’s important to move all garbage cans out of their reach. This includes both inside and outside trash cans. If possible, put them in a cabinet or closet your puppy can’t access. If that’s not possible, ensure the lids are secured so your puppy can’t get into the trash.

These are just a few of the things every potential pet parent needs to do to prepare your home and family for a new puppy. With a little planning and preparation, you can make the transition smooth and stress-free for everyone involved.

Father’s Day is next weekend! There is still time to shop for that PERFECT gift for dad.  I want to share some ideas that I might have that your dad will LOVE…

For the dads that love to COOK, you can surprise dad with a variety of TASTY seasonings from Casa M Spice Company. Anyone that loves to cook likes to have plenty of seasonings on their spice rack.  The Casa M Spice Co Mini Ranch Pack would make a great gift idea. It includes 3 10 ounce stainless steel shakers of Cattle Drive, Free Range and Whole Hog, seasonings designed specifically for beef, chicken and pork. When you first visit their site, take advantage of the popup to SAVE 15% OFF your first order.

For the dads that drink lots of WATER, surprise him with a Cirkul which makes water much more flavorful. I recently purchased one from Walmart that comes with 2 flavors and ended up going online and ordering about 20 more! The website has 40+ flavors including coffee!

For the dads that TRAVEL & love WINE,  you can give a FANCY suitcase that allows him to carry multiple bottles of is favorite wine along for the ride. The VinGardeValise by FlyWithWine is a line of tough suitcases that are gentle on glass, thanks to dense foam inserts created to cradle wine bottles. The VinGardeValise Piccolo doubles as an anytime, anywhere airline carry-on piece of luggage or as a checked wine travel case to travel safely with up to 5-bottles of wine – with room for your clothes and belongings on the other side. You can also create a photo book using their travel pics with the help of mixbook.com.

For the dads that are STAR WARS fans, be sure to check out the high end screen accurate officially licensed helmets from DENUO NOVO including The Mandalorian, Luke Skywalker X-Wing, and The Force Awaken Han Solo Leather Jacket!

These are just a few ideas that I wanted to share! Feel free to leave a comment if you have any gift ideas you want to share.

While a proposal is only one-half of the lovely event that’s a wedding, it sets the stage, so it’s good to do it in the most memorable way possible. There’s no wrong or right way to propose to your loved one, but you can take some steps to make it truly special. Here are a few tips to help you plan the best surprise engagement for your loved one.

Get a Good Engagement Ring

Find out what your partner likes and get them something that you know they will love. This should be something of great quality that will last for a long time in good shape so it can keep alive the memories of your proposal. Check online to see what options are available for you, and set your budget accordingly. If you know their favorite stone, metal, and other details, all that remains is finding out their ring size. You could go for a diamond if they say that it’s their favorite stone, noting that it ranks 10 on the Mohs scale. This means it’s the strongest mineral on earth and the most concentrated form of pure carbon that exists in the natural world.

Plan The Details

While you want it to be a surprise, you don’t want it to be a flop. Find out important details such as whether they have marriage on their mind so that you know you’re on the same page as them. If you want to have a party afterward, plan for it and pick the venue so that everything is ready. Hire a professional photographer to capture this moment and store it for you so you can look at them and reminisce in the future. You can even hire a helicopter, if they want something extravagant, as the number of civilian helicopters has grown by 38% in the past ten years. With a solid plan in place, you can relax and focus on wowing your loved one by telling them what’s in your heart.

Find Out What They Prefer

Since you’re trying to make this moment for them and about them, you need to know exactly what they like so they can enjoy it fully. In the period that leads up to it, you should find out whether they’re more into a big event or would prefer a small and private one. Knowing this early on will make it easy for you to set a budget and make the right plans that won’t disappoint. Either ask them in a way that’s not obvious or get a friend to fish for this information on your behalf without letting them know. They may want a small party that will be in line with social distancing measures. These, from March 2020, alongside concerns about hospital capacity as well as fears of contracting the COVID-19 virus, led to extreme declines in spending on health care, according to recent health studies.

Make it Special

Finally, don’t just copy and paste a popular engagement event layout, but look for a way to make it special and meaningful to your loved one. You’re about to ask them to stay by your side forever, so make the effort to personalize it, as you know what will put a smile on their faces. If you’re having a hard time coming up with creative ideas, find out from their friends, family, or even a parent what types of things they enjoy and look for ways to patch them up together for the event. At the very least, don’t rely on a speech you downloaded online to woo them as there’s a chance that they’ve heard it used before. Even if it’s a single sentence, it will mean a lot more if it’s original.

Use these tips to plan an amazing surprise engagement that your soon-to-be spouse will remember for a long time to come. They will appreciate the effort and reward you with showers of gratitude, and, most likely, a resounding yes!

Anybody can find the car shopping process to be hectic and overwhelming. This is because of the different factors that you must take into consideration. You should understand that shopping for and buying the right car goes a long way toward making your life easier. As a mom, you must think about your home and your children when car shopping. For this reason, learning what to consider when car shopping as a parent is important. This guide explains more.

Safety Ratings

Every time you drive as a mum, you want the journey to start and end safely. Therefore, checking the vehicle’s safety rating you wish to buy becomes vital. By checking the safety ratings, you determine the crash tests and how safe your child can be during an accident. Note that you lower the accident chances and costs by checking the safety ratings. With accident costs ranging around $15,000 on the lower end and $63,000 on the higher end, ensuring your family’s safety becomes vital. However, this average cost depends on the accident’s location, as the figures from the New York State Department of Transportation show. Checking the safety ratings gives you confidence in your car shopping process.

Car’s Size and Space

As a mom, you want to comfortably move around with your child or family. For this reason, shopping for a car that can accommodate your family becomes vital. Before choosing the car at the dealership, consider the number of kids and other family members in your home. You should also understand that the car size and space can influence the buying price and the budget you make. Let the car dealer take you through the car options before choosing according to your family’s needs. Before deciding, you should also be keen on the features present in the car, including car seats, child lock, and safety belts.

Your Budget

Like any product you want to buy on the market, have a realistic and sustainable budget when shopping for a car. To a larger extent, your budget determines the car you will drive home at the end of the day. Check your monthly payments and consider your home needs as you assess your budget. Talk to the car dealer to compare and understand your options. Also, compare the different models and brands to determine your budget. Did you know that the valuation of Mercedes Benz’s brand was at 23.36 billion U.S. dollars as per 2019 statistics? You should also compare the prices of the cars at the dealers and consider one within your financial means.

Your Home Needs and Wants

Your needs and wants should be the first things you keep in mind when shopping for a car as a mom. You should choose and buy a car that will serve your family’s immediate and future needs. While you will come across different brands and models of cars that suit your needs in the market, only consider one that suits your family’s needs. As a parent, you should be realistic about your needs. Consider your daily routines and how the car you choose can help make them easy. Understand that your needs determine the roles the car you choose will play. While other factors are vital, evaluate your immediate and future needs and wants before purchasing.

The Repair and Maintenance Needs

As a mom, you want to drive and use the car for as long as possible before handling any repair and maintenance needs. You should, however, note that this depends on whether you want a new or slightly used car. You should bring along an expert to help you evaluate the possible repair and maintenance needs before deciding. Mechanical and auto body repair needs are what you should prepare to handle. With the demand for powder coating expected to increase by 7.6% more than from 2014 to 2020, when the industry dominated in industrial and automotive coating, ensure you learn the repair and maintenance needs. Your mechanic should help you know more.

Choosing and buying the right car when shopping for one as a mom can be a long process. Choosing the right auto insurane can also be complicated, as you find yourself asking many questions. Which insurance is cheapest in my state? What auto insurance companies offer the best roadside assistance? Does my insurance cover accidents?

However, learning what to consider makes the process easy and productive. As a parent, you should follow the above tips to find and buy the best car for your family’s needs.