Archives for August 2019

What To Do If A Family Member Gets Into A Car Accident

August 30, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

For anyone, hearing that their family member has been in a car accident can be a traumatizing experience. It’s important to understand the best way to deal with such news, so you can be there for your family member and support them in the best way possible. It won’t be solved overnight, and may require a fair amount of time to sort out.

Here is a step-by-step guide on what to do if your family member gets into a car accident.

Stay calm and collected

Both you and your family member should stay calm and collected. Focus on your breathing, and get it back on track by taking deep breaths in and out.

Once you are more level headed, think about what just happened. If your family member is calling you and letting you know that they were in an accident, things could always be worse. You’ve heard about collisions where people wound up in comas, or worse, and your loved ones are speaking to you on the phone.

Check for injuries

The chances are that you will be driving to the scene of the accident as soon as you receive the phone call. Once you arrive, you should check for any apparent injuries.

Even if the accident was minor and you don’t notice anything right away, you should still visit your doctor for a check-up after the fact, as an extra safety measure.

Take action and contact the right authorities

The police should be contacted right away when you arrive at the scene of the car accident. They can draft a legal report about what happened, and your family member will need this when they are sending a claim to their insurance company.

Your loved ones should also use this opportunity to get the contact information and vehicle registration details from the other party and contact a car accident lawyer.

Talk to your family member about the accident

An accident of any form can also cause people trauma, and you must demonstrate to your family member that you are there for them during this time. Even if they don’t show it, they are likely still in shock over what happened.

Communication between family members can reduce stress and increase happiness. You will even walk away from this situation having formed stronger bonds with one another.

Contact a lawyer

If your loved one became severely injured as a result of an accident that wasn’t their fault, and they now have to pay hefty hospital bills, it’s time to contact a lawyer. A lawyer can ensure you get the appropriate compensation for your injuries.

Your bank account shouldn’t have to suffer, and you shouldn’t go into debt because of a car accident that wasn’t your family’s fault.

No one wants to be in a car accident, but it may happen to you or someone you know at one point in your lifespan. The key is to be adequately prepared when you are faced with this situation.

Enjoying a family vacation to the United Kingdom: top tips

August 30, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

If you consider your family to be the adventurous-type or those who love soaking up the history of an old town, then the United Kingdom is the ideal vacation destination for you. With a temperate climate, countless historical sites and endless hiking and walking trails, you won’t be stuck for activities. So, if you’re not keen on spending your summer vacation lazing on the beach in Ibiza, but would prefer to spend some time in historical Europe, here are some top tips.

Find a balance between history and activities

Kids will love finding out about medieval villains and ancient kings and queens, but they only have a finite attention span. After all, kids need to be entertained as well as distracted. While adults could spend all day walking through the Natural History Museum, children might get a little bored after the dinosaurs. Be sure to find a theme park or adventure playground nearby to break up your educational endeavors.

In Sussex, for example, you will find a happy balance between both history and activity. You can visit Battle for walks around the sites of the Battle of Hastings, as well as views of the English countryside. Not too far from that, you will also find Blue Reef Aquarium Hastings – complete with lizard and underwater tunnel exhibits.

Bring the wetsuits

Just because the United Kingdom doesn’t enjoy a Mediterranean climate doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the outdoors. In fact, if you find yourself based along the coast, you should absolutely make the most of potential activities such as swimming, surfing, and paddle-boarding. Truth be told, however, the British sea isn’t exactly balmy in temperature. If you have little ones who are more acclimatized to warmer temperatures, then ensure you either bring or rent wetsuits.

Rent when possible

Family schedules never run according to the time they were originally destined. Children refusing to go to bed, too much time in the bathroom and hectic breakfast times mean that we often find ourselves rushing out of the door at the last minute. It’s for this reason that renting a cottage to stay in will make your trip to the UK much easier. After all, Britain is renowned for its quirky and quaint cottages, which are ideal for basing yourself when you have small children. If you were planning a trip to Sussex and the South Downs, for example, Amberley House Cottage Holidays would be able to find you a place to stay. You can hunt through tons of images and features until you find the place that is right for you and your family.

Don’t be afraid to be spontaneous

Thanks to its dramatic scenery, but mostly tame wildlife, the UK is a cozy country to go exploring in. For example, if you were driving through Scotland’s glens, you would find plenty of brown road markers detailing nearby hikes and monuments. While your children might not be down for climbing a cliff face, you will still find plenty of easy-to-moderate walks to explore – and you might find these by pure accident.

Family vacations are all about balance. It’s about getting up when you want to, exploring, discovering, but providing plenty of downtime to enjoy your well-earned time off. When visiting the United Kingdom, you will quickly learn that you can happily strike a balance between fun and education, as well as adventure and relaxation.

Secret Life of Pets 2 – More Action, More Laughs

August 25, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

About the Movie

The perfect movie for everyone arrives home this summer with the irreverent yet heartfelt sequel to the blockbuster sensation in The Secret Life of Pets 2, debuting on Digital August 13, 2019 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray^™, DVD and On Demand August 27, 2019. From Illumination, the studio that brought you the original Despicable Me, Minions and Sing franchises, the highly anticipated follow up to the hit animated film led by a star-studded comedic cast reunites all of our favorite Pets and their growing families in a new chapter that explores the deep bond between them and the humans that love them. The 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray^™, DVD and Digital versions of the film are packed with more than 90 minutes^* of bonus content only when you own, including two brand new, laugh-out-loud funny mini-movies – Super Gidget, featuring the film’s adorable Pomeranian Gidget and her best friend Max and Minion Scouts, starring everyone’s comical little helpers, the Minions. Additionally included are deleted scenes, DIY and drawing tutorials as well as a special interactive Captain Snowball Motion Comic allowing viewers to direct our boisterous bunny hero on his next move exclusive to the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray^™ versions! As the dog days of summer come to an end, join this endearing cast of four-legged friends for a quality movie night of family fun with the film that uniquely reminds us of why we love our own pets and what makes them so very special.

The Secret Life of Pets 2 explores the emotional lives of our pets, the deep bond between them, the families that love them and answers the question: What are your pets really doing when you’re not at home? Terrier Max (Patton Oswalt) is coping with major life changes after Katie’s marriage and the arrival of a toddler, Liam. Meanwhile, Gidget (Jenny Slate) tries to rescue Max’s favorite toy from a cat-packed apartment with a little help from her feline friend, Chloe (Lake Bell), who has discovered the joys of catnip. And Snowball (Kevin Hart) believes, despite the other pets’ teasing, that he’s a superhero after his owner starts dressing him in superhero pajamas. But when Daisy (Tiffany Haddish), a fearless Shih Tzu, shows up to ask for Snowball’s help on a dangerous mission, he’ll have to summon the courage to become the hero he’s been pretending to be.

The film features an all-star voice cast including Patton Oswalt (TV’s “A.P. Bio”), Kevin Hart (Ride Along Series), Eric Stonestreet (TV’s Modern Family), Jenny Slate (Despicable Me 3), Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip), Lake Bell (TV’s Children’s Hospital), Nick Kroll (Sing), Dana Carvey (Wayne’s World), Ellie Kemper (TV’s “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”), Hannibal Buress (Neighbors series), Bobby Moynihan (TV’s “Saturday Night Live”) and Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones franchise) in his first ever role in an animated film as new farm dog, Rooster.

BONUS FEATURES ON 4K ULTRA HD, BLU-RAY^™, DVD & DIGITAL

Mini Movies
- Minion Scouts – When Margo, Agnes and Edith return from Badger Scout camp, three of the Minions are entranced by the girls’ merit badges. Their own attempt at scout camp results in attracting a bear, eating poison berries and eventually blowing up a dam, creating a massive flood. But, when they arrive back home, the girls share their badges, encouraging the rest of the Minions to try their hand at scouting.

*DVD format includes over 75 minutes of bonus content

Super Gidget – When Max is kidnapped by an army of squirrels, Super Gidget is the only one who can save him. It turns out that Max’s captor is a flea with the power of mind control. Gidget must use her pluckiness, strength and smarts to save her one true love…until it turns out it was all just a dream.

The Making of the Mini Movies – Every Illumination film is accompanied by mini movies that are a production all their own. Each film’s directing partners will explore how the mini movies were made.
Deleted Scenes
- Wake Up – Max and Duke have a new morning routine with Liam.
- Duke Explores the Farm – Duke has a funny interaction with a goat.
- Snowball Karate – Snowball does his superhero warm up.
- Secret Confessions – Dogs gather to talk about their deepest secrets
A Tapestry of a Tail: The Making Of – The plot of The Secret Life of Pets 2 involves multiple storylines ultimately coming together to create a larger than life tale. We talk with the filmmakers, editor and cast about the delicate dance of juggling multiple narratives in one movie.
How to Draw – Hosted by Head of Story, Eric Favela, follow the step-by-step tutorial to learn to draw Max, Snowball and Chloe
Frame by Frame: How to Make a Flip Book – In this DIY-style vignette, Head of Story Eric Favela will teach viewers about the essence of animation and how they can create their very own flip book animations at home.
Character Pods – Get a closer look at your favorite characters of The Secret Life of Pets 2 with these delightful character pods that might just give away a few more pet secrets.
- Patton Oswalt – Max
- Kevin Hart – Snowball
- Eric Stonestreet – Duke
- Jenny Slate – Gidget
- Tiffany Haddish – Daisy
- Lake Bell – Chloe
- Nick Kroll – Sergei
- Dana Carvey – Pops
- Bobby Moynihan – Mel
- Harrison Ford – Rooster
A Party Fit for a Pet – Using stop motion animation, this step-by-step guide teaches you everything you need to know to throw the very best party for your pet!
Pops’ Puppy Training School with Kevin Hart – Join Kevin Hart as he shows off his dog training skills.
Pets Yule Log – Sit back and relax in front of this exclusive The Secret Life of Pets 2 themed animated ‘Yule Log.’
Lyric Videos
- ‘Panda’ Lyric Video
- ‘It’s Gonna Be A Lovely Day (The Secret Life of Pets 2)’ Lyric Video

EXCLUSIVE TO 4K ULTRA HD & BLU-RAY^™

The Further Adventures of Captain Snowball (Interactive) – This animated ‘Motion Comic’ expands the world of our furry hero, Captain Snowball. Using a ‘superhero’ comic book style and custom animation, we discover more about the secret world of our caped crusader with a little help from our viewers. At key moments in the story, the viewer is presented with a choice: left, or right? Fight or flight? Their choice determines our hero’s next move!

EXCLUSIVE TO 4K ULTRA HD & BLU-RAY^™ & DIGITAL

My Buddy and Me – We interview the Illumination cast and crew talking about The Secret Life of Pets 2 while holding (or trying to hold) their pets.
Pets with Jobs: A Documentary – We find and profile animals with special jobs – a service dog that detects when its epileptic owner is about to have a seizure; ponies that provide comfort to children with cancer; police dogs that go the extra mile to catch the bad guys. Meet some of the many animals who make the world a better place every day!
Relax the Cat: The Secret Life of Pets Massage – A professional pet masseuse shows the cast how to read signs of tension in their pet and use massage techniques to keep their furry babies relaxed and happy!
Production Pets – It takes hundreds of people to make an animated movie and a lot of those people have pets that can’t wait for them to come home. This piece is dedicated to all those faithful companions.

The Secret Life of Pets 2 will be available on 4K Ultra HD in a combo pack (4K Ultra HD+ Blu-ray^TM + Digital Code). Bonus features on the 4K Ultra HD will all be delivered in stunning 4K resolution.

4K Ultra HD is the ultimate movie watching experience. 4K Ultra HD features the combination of 4K resolution for 4X sharper picture than HD, the color brilliance of High Dynamic Range (HDR) with immersive audio.
- The Secret Life of Pets 2 4K Ultra HD is available with HDR10+™, providing a premium HDR picture quality. HDR10+ transforms your movie watching experience with incredible brightness and contrast for each scene, delivering brighter brights and deepest darks.
Blu-ray^TMdelivers a pristine HD picture and theater-quality surround sound.
Digital lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download.
MOVIES ANYWHERE is the digital app that simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing consumers to access their favorite digital movies in one place when purchased or redeemed through participating digital retailers. Consumers can also redeem digital copy codes found in eligible Blu-ray^TM and DVD disc packages from participating studios and stream or download them through Movies Anywhere. MOVIES ANYWHERE is only available in the United States. For more information, visit https://moviesanywhere.com

Transform yourself into the absolutely adorable Captain Snowball with your very own pair of DIY Captain Snowball Ears! Download the instructions now at http://bit.ly/SecretLifeOfPets2Craft THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2 is On Digital Now! On Blu-ray™ & DVD August 27

My Take on the Movie

We loved the first Secret Life of Pets and we wondered if this movie would be as much fun as the first movie. In watching this I have to say that it was as funny as the first in my opinion. There were some great new characters and you will find yourself laughing out loud (or at least I did) a number of times throughout the movie.

There are some great characters that are new to this movie, but there are also all of your favorites too. This was truly action packed and you will love seeing the growth that happens in the character of Max.

If you did not see this before, you should. If you have seen it before, definitely see it again!

Getting Clean Dishes With the AutoAir™ Bosch 500

August 25, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

When it comes to the things that I have to do on a weekly basis, washing dishes is one that is important to my whole family. With the amount of dishes my girls go through I need a dish washer that can hold up to not only the amount of dishes but the dirt and grime that come with the dishes that we do have.

I was at my local Best Buy the other day and as part of this we were looking at dish washers as we have been considering a new one with some other kitchen work that we have been doing. One of the dish washers that stood out to me was the AutoAir™ Bosch 500 Series dishwasher.

There were a few things that I was impressed with when it came to the AutoAir™ Bosch 500 Series dishwasher. First was the how large this dish washer was. With this dish washer there’s room for up to 16 place settings. Plus, 5 wash cycles including five-level wash, 5 options like Extra Dry, and a concealed heating element.

Another things that was unique with this dish washer is that it has a flexible 3rd rack with adjustable tines that can create the right fit for deep, tall, or uniquely-shaped items. What I love about this is that is that we love to make casseroles and lasagna, so being able to take care of the pans from this is so nice as a lot of time it takes a ton of time to scrub and clean these dishes, so this was a great addition.

On top of this the AutoAir™ Bosch 500 Series dishwasher has a EasyGlide™ rack that allows you to load and unload smoothly and it is easy to adjust and move the racks, even while they’re full of dishes. Also, the RackMatic® gives you the ability to fit it all, every time. With 3 different height levels and up to 9 possible rack positions, you can customize each load for your needs.

This dishwasher also protects from leakages. It has a 24/7 Aquastop® system that is a 4-part leak prevention system that uses sensors to detect and stop leaks, and can even turn on by itself so that your floors are protected.

I was also talking to the people at Best Buy about how loud this dishwasher was and I was impressed to hear that this has a 44-dBA noise level rating which will allow you to wash dishes in peace.

One of the things that I hate doing with my current dishwasher is remembering to open the washer to vent out the heat. This dishwasher has an amazing feature called AutoAir™ which automatically opens the door at the end of the drying cycle to let moisture escape and fresh air circulate for better drying results.* (*Compared to Bosch Dishwashers with PureDry).

The AutoAir™ Bosch 500 Series dishwasher looks like the perfect dishwasher that would work well for my home. I love the new technology and I know that so many of you would love this as well!

Plan Out Your Tech Solutions With a Best Buy In-Home Consultation

August 25, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

I love technology, but that does not always mean that I understand technology. This is why there have been times in the past, and I am sure that there will be others in the future where I will need to partner with someone to help me figure out what I need and how it will all work together. If you did not know this, Best Buy offers a cool in-home service to help you visualize or build solutions for your space. Best Buy will show you what’s possible through this in-home consultation service and will get you ready to buy just the right things for your own home.

When you get a in-home consultation you will get Best Buy’s expert advice, in your home, for free.

Best Buy will come to you, at your convenience, with answers and advice to all of your tech questions. Best of all (I will repeat) it’s free. What do get in this visit? You get highly trained Best Buy In-Home Advisors meet consumers in their homes and answer questions about Wi-Fi, smart home, appliances, home theater, and more. They come to your home and provide recommendations and a personalized plan for the right solution to improve their homes and lives through tech. Consumers can choose what works for them, and Best Buy will coordinate deliveries and installations.

Sign up for a free consultation!

For my own home, I am all about making the house work for me. I want my technology to be smart and to work throughout the house. Some of the things I think I would talk to the Best Buy consultant about would include things like installing a Eero Mesh Wifi System. Never heard about this? The Eero Mesh Wifi System comes with three eeros and is made for homes with 3-5+ bedrooms (Just like mine). Each eero is tri-band and uses TrueMesh technology to enable great WiFi performance and reliability no matter how many devices you use in your home. And with eero’s app, you can set up your system in under 10 minutes, share your network with guests, and manage family screen time from anywhere.

Beyond this I have been really intrigued by the Ring Video Doorbell 2. I have seen what this can do at other people’s home and even at my church and I love the peace of mind that this can give you. The Ring Video Doorbell 2 lets you see who’s at the door and monitor your home when you’re not there with this video doorbell. The 2-way audio lets you listen and talk to anyone on your property, right from your mobile device. Plus, you can easily recharge the battery with the included power pack.

Finally, I think that I would continue to examine whether I could get a GE Profile Wall Oven installed into my home. I love how this looks and think it would be a great addition to our kitchen area, but I cannot complete visualize whether we have the space to make this work or not. I really like the GE Profile Wall Oven because it allows you to cook a meal for a whole family in its 30″ built-in convection double wall oven. Each oven provides 5 cu. ft. capacity with true European convection to prepare your large dishes in optimal conditions. Use a 7″ touch display to simply program the oven with precision cooking modes that provide simple instructions, then automatically adjust the temperature and cook times to deliver perfect results

4 Smart Ways to Finance Your Travel Plans

August 25, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Is your wallet restricting your wanderlust? You certainly aren’t alone. Most of us end up setting travel plans aside because we haven’t saved enough. And while saving for travel should definitely be your priority, there are times when sudden or unexpected trips are simply unavoidable.

So what can you do when you have to travel, but don’t have the money for it? Should you take a travel loan or personal line of credit for travel? Are there any other options available, and which is the best one? We’ll answer all these questions for you!

Here are four instant funding options you should explore:

Personal Loan for Travel – Smart travelers often choose this option when they have to travel unexpectedly. Rather than taking money out of your emergency savings or high-yield investment portfolio, using a holiday loan, personal loan or personal line of credit to fund travel expenses helps you keep your finances on track. Of course, you need to make sure you can repay the loan on time, so make room for the EMIs in your monthly budget!
Travel Credit Cards – You could opt for a travel credit card, or use a credit card with an option for converting expenses into EMIs for travel funding. Credit cards allow you anywhere from 20 days to almost two months for repayments, interest-free. If you can convert spends to EMIs, you get even more time for repayment. Travel credit cards, on the other hand, are set up specifically for travel-related expenses, so they may be more competitive than regular credit cards.
Payday Loans – A payday loan is very similar to a personal loan, except that the interest rate is higher, with a shorter repayment period. Payday loans may be approved faster than travel loans and personal loans, so these can be a good option when you need funds urgently. However, you need to make sure you can repay the loan amount quickly, since the tenure for these short-term loans is generally between 3 months to a year.
Travel Operator Financing – Many travel operators partner with banks and NBFCs to offer financing schemes, where you can pay for tickets, stay, meals, sightseeing and other planned or unplanned travel expenses after your trip. Interest rates for these schemes are comparable to rates for personal loans, and repayment may be spread out over 1-5 years. There is typically an upper limit for how much these schemes will cover, though, so keep that in mind.

Remember, dipping into your savings or investments should be your last resort, unless you have set aside a separate fund just for travel. Even if you have saved enough, learn how to travel on a budget. And when you need to make last-minute plans, such as attending a wedding in the family or traveling for medical treatment, take some time to compare prices and select a loan option that really works for you!

Getting your fitness in as you get back into school schedule

August 23, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Tara Zimliki, founder of Tara’s Bootcamp, is no stranger to finding time for fitness. As a mom of 4 children, she has the art of balancing back to school with her workouts. Below are some of her favorite tips for those looking to maximize their time for fitness:

Growing up, I remember the lazy days of summer which included sleeping in with no real priorities, staying out with family at the beach all day and heading to the boardwalk in the evening. A midday nap to recharge was not uncommon in preparation for an evening out with the family. When my sister and I woke up my parents took us to the boardwalk for hours of arcade games, roller coasters and the evening usually ending with ice cream, yes, life was good. On our day trips out to museums, water parks or family vacations; one or both of my parents were always there to supervise. Naturally, I just assumed this was loads of fun for them, as it was for my sister and I. I mean how could parents not have a blast as the squeals and laughter of children would indicate. But as a mom of 4, I now realize things are not as simple as it seems. Sure, us moms have fun but the summer is also a great deal of work trying to find time for self care activities like fitness. As we head back into the fall schedule with children’s sports activities, managing completion of school work we naturally get back into a routine. And as much as it can be tough managing time, it is somewhat easier having a schedule to follow by. But be sure to include exercise in your back to school schedule. And to get on track to success follow my back to school fitness tips:

1) Early bird gets the 6 pack

The earlier you rise, the more you get accomplished. Get up an hour or two earlier so you can squeeze in your workout before you even get the kids off to school. This is not only a good example to your children but you will also be amazed in how this sets the stage for a more positive and productive day. As a personal trainer for over 14 years, the majority of my dedicated clients exercise in the wee hours of the morning. Why? The best time for no excuses, other then I am tired is in the AM. And the only regret you will ever have is the workout you may have missed. So make sure to not hit that snooze button and get out of bed sleepy head!

2) Exercise after the kids head off

If you find the mere thought of exercising at the crack of dawn to be daunting, find the best time that works best for you. Some prefer exercising after the kids head off to school. If you have time to do so before heading to work, go for it. But be sure to make this a tip top priority so you stay on track to your goals. When scheduling your kids activities be sure to schedule your workouts.

3) Workout during the kids activities

Instead of standing on the sidelines while your child practices soccer, go for a run or walk around the park. Do not be a bench warmer, warm up your body with a super sweaty session. In just 45 minutes to an hour several days a week you can get in better shape while feeling world’s better. Who knows?! You may even begin a fitness trend that all the other team parents adopt also.

4) Midday workout can transform you

Break out of your afternoon slump, and awake your senses with a workout. As your children are back in school you may find the free time in the afternoon to squeeze in a workout. This will give you a surge of energy to fuel the remainder of the day when the kids get home.

So as the kids head back to school, schedule your routine for regular exercise. Design a plan that works best for you and stick to it. As fall begins, it is time for you to fall back into fitness. I promise you that you will not regret it. And you will have an established routine to help you manage your time best!

About Tara Zimliki

Tara is a Certified Personal Trainer, Boot Camp Instructor and a mother of four. She has competed and trained with top athletes at the University of South Carolina where she was awarded a full cross country scholarship. Tara has a degree and specializes in fat loss and nutrition. She is passionate about helping people change both body and mind, believing positive results stem from positive attitudes. She helps clients maintain this attitude with fun, challenging and rewarding workouts. Tara’s love of fitness started as a child when she began running at the young age of 7. She played numerous sports but running was her passion. Tara enjoyed it so much that she continued running right up until she had children, completing the New York Marathon 8 months pregnant with her 2nd daughter and the New York Marathon 6 months pregnant with her 3rd child and 4th child and even ran 1 mile the day she gave birth to her first daughter and 3 miles the day she gave birth to her second daughter and taught and participated in two bootcamp classes before she went to the hospital to deliver her third healthy and happy child. Tara has completed 36 Marathons and hundreds of races worldwide. In addition, she has won many 5Ks and placed top in many long distance runs. In 2008, Tara placed in the top 500 women for the NYC Marathon. Recently, she won the USATF New Balance Long Distance Grand Prix for women 34 and under for the 5th consecutive year. Tara’s practices what she preaches in all aspects of fitness and health and for this reason she is a trusted trainer that produces results. For more information, please visit

www.tarasbootcamp.com

Tips for Prepping Your Kid’s New Room

August 22, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

However much you don’t want them to grow up, there’s inevitably going to come a time when your kids are going to want to swap their pink painted walls or Thomas the Tank Engine cabin bed for posters of their favorite bands and furniture that isn’t painted in primary colors. Much like ripping a plaster off a wound, it’s often best to go in and do a makeover on their bedroom, transforming it all in one go rather than replacing things piecemeal.

Don’t reject their ideas

Tweens and young teens often have very clear ideas about what they want their grownup bedroom to look like, and the chances are it’s not going to be an exact match for what you have in mind. Rejecting their ideas out of hand isn’t the answer; instead, you need to be prepared to compromise, which will also give your child some useful knowledge on using negotiation skills.

As an example, one of the common points of contention between parents and children is when the child wants their room to be painted black. Unless you’re a bit of a goth yourself, you probably don’t want your kids to be living in a room that resembles a gloomy cave. However, there’s no reason why they couldn’t have a black feature wall that would be easy enough to paint over when they got tired of it, or they could choose soft furnishings in black, which will look stylish anyway but are easy to change when the time comes.

Think about the layout

When you and your child are designing the layout, make sure there’s space for a full-size bed and a study area. If they like their games, you could make a separate gaming area or simply design the study area, so it’s dual purpose. Decide on the bedroom essentials first, then see what space you have left for other features. There are some extremely clever space-saving storage solutions available now that can give your child everything they need even in a small bedroom.

Involve your child

Make sure your child is involved at every stage, from planning and design to starting work, decorating, and getting everything back in. For one thing, they’re more likely to appreciate the effort involved, and for another, they need to feel invested in how their room looks. It’s important that your child likes their room and feels safe and secure. They’re just starting out on some of the most testing few years of their life, and having a sanctuary is going to be very important for them.

Declutter

Once you’ve decided on the layout and décor, you can start taking everything out of the room ready for the makeover to begin. This is a great opportunity for some serious decluttering, but make sure you work with your child, so you don’t throw out anything particularly precious! Toys and clothes that they’ve grown out of can be donated to charity, or you could try selling them to help fund the makeover. Give the empty room a thorough deep clean, and then you’re ready to begin.

10 Reasons Why Becoming a Nurse is an Ideal Career Path for Dads

August 22, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Traditionally, the nursing sector has been overwhelmingly populated by females, as even in today’s world of equal opportunity employment, more than 90% of nurses are women. Although only about 9% of nurses are males, that doesn’t mean that there’s anything that disqualifies a dad from becoming a nurse. In fact, any man who is willing to go against the societal stereotype could easily become a highly favorable candidate because hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities are always looking to hire male nurses in an industry-wide effort to level the undeniable gender inequality that clearly still exists within the profession by any statistical measure. With that said, here are ten reasons why becoming a nurse is actually a great career path for dads:

1. The Ability to Study Online in Your Spare Time

The very phrase “spare time” brings joy to dads who have their hands full between their family and work lives. The idea of working on your education amidst all of that can seem impossible, but online nursing degree programs can be completed from anywhere and at your own pace. You can take the slow approach and work on it 1-3 hours per day, or put in long hours on the weekend to accelerate towards graduation. Plus, once you’ve earned a degree, you can continue to advance your career into other areas of expertise to make yourself eligible for higher-paying nursing jobs. For example, you could work towards becoming a family nurse practitioner to earn a salary of $100k-$150k+ by completing RN to NP programs online.

2. Additional Parenting Skills

Some of the skills and techniques that you’ll learn on your way to becoming a nurse could also come in handy in your role as a dad, as many of the same methodologies that apply to patient care also applying to parenting. All kids face mishaps and injuries from time to time, so having a nurse in the home can always be a benefit for the wellbeing of the family. There aren’t that many jobs that directly improve your parenting skills, but nursing is one of them.

3. Knowledge of First Aid Application

Of course, one of the reasons why nurses are such great parents is because they know how to apply all of the components of a first aid kit. Obviously, such a skill could come in handy during an emergency and in rare scenarios could even mean the difference between life or death; all healthcare professionals are required to learn CPR – a resuscitative technique that can save lives in the event of a near-drowning incident, car accident, or other form of trauma. Likewise, you’ll know the Heimlich maneuver well enough to reliably prevent children from choking, and the list goes on.

4. Stable and Steady Employment

Being able to provide a financially stable and comfortable lifestyle for your children is always going to be one of your top duties as a dad. Becoming a nurse puts you in an ideal position to do that because you’ll never have to worry about finding a job due to the incredibly low unemployment rate in the industry – approximately 98% of qualified nurses are employed.

5. Appealing Salaries

Nursing salaries are typically quite desirable when you consider the relative lack of challenging physical labor involved. As a standard registered nurse (RN), you could start out making anywhere from $47k-$90k, and as you gain experience or advance into other specialties like FNP, that figure can increase to $150k+.

6. The Option to Relocate

The ability to travel and move to other parts of the country or world is always a great advantage for a dad to have because it lets you give your kids a cultured and interesting upbringing. Even if you don’t opt for the nomad-friendly field of travel nursing, you can almost always relocate as any kind of nurse and have a very good chance of finding gainful employment in your new home town.

7. Plenty of Room for Income Improvement

Many careers have very straightforward salary limits and a small amount of job positions that can be pursued after graduation. Nursing, on the other hand, does not have such rigid limitations because there are so many fields that you can expand your skill set into, each with increasingly higher salaries. At the top of the ladder, you’ll find high-paying nursing jobs like Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) which pays up to $240k+ per year.

8. Helping to Alleviate the Nursing Shortage

The healthcare industry not only has a shortage of male nurses, it’s facing a widespread shortage of nurses in general. Thus, dads who become nurses have the chance to help correct the profession’s gender inequality and fill the overall gap that is being left by waves of retiring baby boomers who are leaving thousands of nursing positions open every year.

9. Optimal Job Benefits

Of course, whenever you work for a healthcare facility, you’re going to have access to top-notch benefits like various forms of insurance, vacation days, rewards card programs, and desirable overtime pay rates. Nurses who work for hospitals and clinics often report having better benefits than the perks offered by their previous jobs in other industries.

10. Building Experience in the Medical Field

Finally, pursuing any kind of training or certification in the medical profession is always a wise career path to take because it qualifies you as an eligible job candidate wherever healthcare services are provided. In general, the industry as a whole has one of the lowest industry-wide unemployment rates, so whether you decide to stay a nurse or eventually become a physician, you should always have a great job waiting on you.

A Relatively Quick Educational Path

As an extra consideration in closing, when you compare the 2-year path to graduation that an entry level nursing degree program provides, it becomes a much more appealing option than many other fields that can require anywhere form 4-8 years of education before you can get your first real pay check.

Packing For A Vacation

August 20, 2019 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

When it comes to your packing for your vacation, a bit of pre-planning can be an incredibly wise move. Leaving your suitcase planning to the last minute can result in over-packing, and filling your suitcase with too many unused items. Anyone who has had to wear half of their suitcase on the plane to meet the baggage limit will understand this common mishap. If you’re stuck for ideas on what to pack, or what you should keep your suitcase limited to, here are a few tips.

Make-up

If you are going to spend your days in and out of the ocean or pool, you don’t want to carry around an extensive make-up kit. Using makeup products that come with a wand attached to the lid, or simply roll-up like a lipstick will save increase the bag space you have. Not only do you need to consider this, but finding a lipstick that is suitable for the beach is also vital. Mented lip gloss for dark skin is brilliant for wearing on the beach and re-applying throughout the day. The wide range of colors available will ensure you have a product you can actually work with through day and night. Remember to keep any liquids you pack close to the top – you may need to put them in a separate bag when you reach security.

Swimsuits

One of the best things about swimsuits is they take up relatively little suitcase space. If you’re going to over-pack anything – opt for swimsuits. You can switch up your look on a daily basis without having to find your hotel’s laundry facilities.

Daywear vs. Nightwear

Shoes are perhaps the worst offenders for taking up room in your suitcase. As annoying as it may be, you might have to find a way to limit how many shoes or large items you will need to take. Finding one pair of daytime shoes that will take you on any walking expeditions and will tolerate a number of terrains will save you from over-packing.

A handy tip for a day or nightwear that’s light in color is to pack it inside out. This means that any substances that could rub or transfer onto your pale clothing and create a stain are less likely to show on the outside – genius.

Light cotton garments

Cotton garments are ideal for traveling. Why? They save so much space. Not only are they far more breathable in hotter countries, but they can be tucked and rolled into your luggage. You could make use of packing cubes to help you stay organized but if you don’t have any packing cubes to hand, rolling your clothes could save you loads of space.

One hat

By packing a simple hat into your luggage, you can instantly transform an outfit with just a single item. By just packing one, singular hat, you will save plenty of space, and also give yourself vital UVA and UVB protection.

Packing for a summer vacation requires a bit of clever strategy. Anything small and light can be packed in abundance, but larger, bulkier objects will require some frugal thinking. By prioritizing your lightest and best garments, you will keep a stylish suitcase that doesn’t compromise on wardrobe options.

Sunglasses

You cannot forget to make sure that your eyes are protected in the bright sun during your vacation. At SmartBuyGlasses you can find a wide variety of eyewear, from trendy sunglasses to prescription eyewear at good prices.