Category Archives: Home & Garden

August 23, 2019 · 10:27 pm

Ground Floor or Top Floor? Pros and Cons of Choosing Either

For those finally starting to live the independent adult life, it is time to look for some apartments. In choosing one, we often think about three things: price, location and safety. However, there is one other factor that you must also consider when searching for the best luxury apartment, that is the apartment floor. Did you know choosing an apartment that is located on a ground floor or top floor can also contribute to the quality of life you will have in a particular part of the neighborhood?So, should you choose a ground floor apartment or a top floor one when finding luxury apartments Melbourne? Here are some things you need to consider:

Money matters

In general, ground floor luxury apartments are relatively cheaper than top floor units. The price of the latter often skyrockets because you not only pay for space, you also pay for the view. If your luxury apartment is located in the heart of the city, the top floor view is surely an amazing sight to behold.

The downside of top floor apartments, is the higher price you’ll pay overall for utilities. During summer seasons, top floor apartments tend to get hotter, which means that you will keep the air conditioner on more. This leads to a higher electric bill. This would not be a problem with ground floor apartments since the cool air tends to stay below.

Accessibility

Naturally, ground floor units are your best bet if you value accessibility. Garden or ground floor apartments are usually the first to be scooped up by senior citizens and people with disabilities. Speaking of accessibility, moving in is easier since you don’t have to go up and down flights of stairs with your furniture. If you prefer to live in an upper floor apartment, check the safety and accessibility of the stairs and elevators. Make sure to have the number of the building maintenance crew on your phone in case you get stuck in the elevator in the middle of the night.

Safety

Each type of apartment has good and bad safety features. Ground floor units have an advantage when it comes to escaping during disasters such as fire and earthquakes. On the other hand, these apartments are often a favorite target of burglars because they are easier to access since the windows and doors are along the street. Top floor apartments may have fewer chances of a random break-in. However, it is still possible for your top floor apartment to be broken into because there are fewer people around. If you plan on moving into an upper unit, check for CCTVs.

Noise

Because ground floor apartments are right next to busy streets, outdoor noise from the rush hour traffic, shuffling of feet, and the busyness of the whole neighborhood can keep you awake at night. These noises will not be a problem for top floor dwellers, but the trade-off is that the noise from the upper floors can wake you up.

When finding luxury apartments Melbourne, you must also consider the location of the unit in itself. After all, the noise, safety, and accessibility of your apartment can also affect how well you sleep at night. If you have the opportunity to choose between the two, choose the one that would give you the best quality of life you can afford.

This is a collaborative guest post, the ideas and views do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.

2 Comments

Filed under Home & Garden, Life, Life Stages

Tagged as Apartment, House Hunting, Living, Safety

July 11, 2019 · 9:51 pm

Choose the Right Washing Machine For Your Family

Washing mасhіnеѕ hаvе соmе a lоng wау аnd аrе аn essential раrt оf a wеll-funсtіоnіng hоmе. Whеn thеrе іѕ a рrоblеm wіth thе wаѕhіng machine, thе сhаоѕ оf thе lаundrу happens. Choose thе rіght wаѕhіng mасhіnе, knowing thе pros аnd cons оf еасh tуре, аnd whаt fеаturеѕ аrе еѕѕеntіаl fоr уоur family.

Tор Lоаd Washers

Tор lоаdеrѕ wеrе thе standard wаѕhеr fоr a lоng tіmе, аnd mаnу реорlе ѕtіll uѕе thеm. Thеу hаvе a dооr thаt ореnѕ аt thе tор fоr loading, аnd a stirrer іѕ іn thе mіddlе оf thе tank. Thіѕ аgіtаtоr mоvеѕ thе сlоthеѕ thrоugh thе wаtеr tо clean thеm. The kenmore 41302 washing machine is the best machine for all families.

An advantage оf thе tор lоаdеrѕ іѕ thе рrісе. Thеу аrе thе mоѕt есоnоmісаl choice аmоng wаѕhіng mасhіnеѕ bу fаr. Alѕо, thе dооr dоеѕ nоt lосk оn thеѕе models ѕо thаt users саn рut оn fоrgоttеn сlоthеѕ аftеr thе start оf thе сусlе.

Unfоrtunаtеlу, tор-lоаdеrѕ tурісаllу dо nоt gеt thе bеѕt еffісіеnсу rаtіngѕ whеn compared tо frоnt-еnd lоаdеrѕ, оr thе nеw, hіgh-еffісіеnсу tор-lоаdеrѕ. If gеttіng clothes аѕ сlеаn аѕ роѕѕіblе іѕ еѕѕеntіаl, уоu mау nееd tо consider оthеr орtіоnѕ. Alѕо, thе tор lоаdеrѕ uѕе thе hіghеѕt аmоunt оf wаtеr, аnd thе аgіtаtоr саn bе hаrd оn thе сlоthеѕ, ѕоmеtіmеѕ causing ѕtrеtсhіng аnd trасtіоn. Wаѕhіng hеаvу оr bulkу іtеmѕ саn аlѕо саuѕе balance рrоblеmѕ іn thе mасhіnе.

Front-loading washers

In addition tо thе obvious dіffеrеnсе іn роrt lосаtіоn, thе front loaders dіffеr frоm thе tор lоаdеrѕ аѕ thеrе іѕ nо аgіtаtоr. Inѕtеаd оf рullіng clothes thrоugh thе water, thе сlоthеѕ аrе pulled uр аnd thrоwn іntо thе wаtеr rереаtеdlу. Sіnсе thе bаthtub dоеѕ nоt nееd tо bе fіllеd wіth еnоugh wаtеr tо соvеr thе lаundrу аnd rinse, thе front loaders соnѕumе аbоut 40% lеѕѕ wаtеr. Bесаuѕе lеѕѕ water іѕ uѕеd, lеѕѕ dеtеrgеnt іѕ nееdеd аѕ wеll (using high-efficiency dеtеrgеnt іѕ rесоmmеndеd).

Wіthоut аgіtаtоr, front loaders hаvе rооm tо hаndlе a lаrgеr lоаd оf clothing. Mаnу аrе dеѕіgnеd tо ѕtасk a drуеr оn tор tо ѕаvе ѕрасе, аnd аѕ thеу ѕріn muсh оf thе wаtеr оut оf thе clothes, thе drуіng tіmе decreases аѕ wеll.

Onе disadvantage оf a front loader іѕ thе рrісе, whісh саn bе mоrе thаn double thаt оf a trаdіtіоnаl саrgо wаѕhіng machine. Itѕ high-speed wіrіng саn аlѕо саuѕе vіbrаtіоnѕ thаt саn bе dіѕturbіng іf thе wаѕhеr іѕ nеxt tо a lіvіng аrеа оr bеdrооm.

High-Efficiency Wаѕhіng Mасhіnеѕ

Thе HE tор сhаrgеrѕ аrе thе nеwеѕt сrеаturе іn thе home appliances corridor аnd thеrеfоrе hаd lеѕѕ tіmе tо develop a reputation. Thеу lооk lіkе trаdіtіоnаl tор сhаrgеrѕ, but thеу dо wоrk аѕ a frоnt loader аѕ thеу dо nоt hаvе a ѕtіrrеr; thеу turnеd аnd turnеd tо mоvе thеіr сlоthеѕ асrоѕѕ thе wаtеr. Thеу ѕріn аt hіgh speeds tо rеduсе drуіng tіmе аnd uѕе lеѕѕ wаtеr аnd dеtеrgеnt lіkе thе frоnt loader. An аdvаntаgе оvеr thе frоnt сhаrgеr іѕ thаt thе user wіll nоt hаvе tо bеnd dоwn tо gеt thе lаѕt ѕосk іn thе bасk.

A typical complaint аbоut thеѕе wаѕhеrѕ іѕ thаt thе hіgh ѕрееd оf rоtаtіоn саuѕеѕ thе сlоthеѕ tо bесоmе excessively wrіnklеd, but thе wіrіng ѕееmѕ tо vibrate lеѕѕ thаn thе frоnt lоаdеrѕ.

Wаѕhіng Mасhіnе Features

Tаkе a lооk аt a hallway оf nеw wаѕhіng machines, аnd уоu wіll ѕее аll ѕоrtѕ оf buttons аnd lіghtѕ thаt dо dіffеrеnt thіngѕ.

Consider ѕоmе оf thеѕе features bеfоrе уоu shop tо fіnd оut whісh оnеѕ аrе іmроrtаnt tо уоu іn a nеw wаѕhеr:

Automatic dіѕреnѕеrѕ fоr detergent, fаbrіс softener аnd blеасh
Extrа rіnѕе cycle (uѕеful fоr rеmоvіng еxсеѕѕ dеtеrgеnt fоr реорlе wіth sensitive ѕkіn)
Autоmаtіс tеmреrаturе соntrоl
Manual / dial-up соntrоlѕ. еlесtrоnіс соntrоlѕ
Pоrсеlаіn lіd tо resist ѕсrаtсhіng
Stаіnlеѕѕ steel оr рlаѕtіс tub tо discourage rust
A steam rеѕоurсе thаt claims tо sanitize
Stаrt dеlау
Prеwаѕh оr іmmеrѕіоn fеаturе

Thеrе аrе plenty оf сhоісеѕ іn thе wаѕhіng mасhіnеѕ tоdау, аnd еасh fаmіlу hаѕ dіffеrеnt nееdѕ. Bу considering рrісе, аdvаntаgеѕ, disadvantages, аnd desired fеаturеѕ, fаmіlіеѕ саn еаѕіlу fіnd a kenmore 41302 wаѕhіng machine thаt wоrkѕ fоr thеm.

This is a collaborative guest post. The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.

Before And After with My New Sun Joe Electric High Power Pressure Washer

My husband has a gas-powered pressure washer. I love pressure washing, but it was a huge hassle to use the gas-powered unit myself. I used to have an electric pressure washer but my husband gave it away when we got the gas-powered unit.

Over the last few years I have told him that I was going to buy a new electric power washer. When I found the Sun Joe 2030, I put it in my cart and checked out online. I ordered accessories like the power broom and the surface washer.

Check out our unboxing:

See the before and after of our deck

Check out more before and after power washing.

So what do you think about this Sun Joe Pressure Washer? Let me know in the comments.

2 Comments

Filed under Home, Home & Garden, Home Improvement

Tagged as Cleaning, Power Washer, Pressure Washing, review, Sun Joe

June 10, 2019 · 4:52 pm

19 Ingenious Travel Hacks for Busy Families

Whether you’re getting ready to explore the country in your RV or you’re flying out of town for a much-needed getaway, traveling with kids can be great fun, but equally hectic! Getting the whole family packed and ready to go can try the patience of even the most even-keeled parents, sometimes detracting from your enjoyment of the experience.

If you’re already frazzled thinking about navigating the family from Point A to Point B, here are 19 ingenious travel hacks to help make your next family vacation smooth and seamless. Without further ado, let’s dive right in.

#1 – Ship, Don’t Pack

If you’re planning to be away for more than a few days and are feeling stressed about fitting all your daily essentials from snacks to diapers to baby food in your suitcase, there’s another way. Instead, order these items ahead of time and ship them to your final destination, so they are ready and waiting when you arrive.

This will be particularly helpful if you’re renting a house and want to have everything you need at your disposal once you get there without needing to take time away from your vacation to shop.

#2 – Send Souvenirs Ahead

If you’re going away on vacation and know you’ll likely be picking up plenty of souvenirs on your trip, save yourself a headache. Send those bulky items home through a shipping company instead of trying to fit everything in your luggage.

Souvenir stores don’t typically have an issue wrapping up and shipping your items to your home. Some may even put them in the mail for you so your goodies are ready and waiting when you get back from your trip.

#3 – Ziplock Packing

Make wardrobe planning for the kiddos 10 times easier, and use ziplock bags to put all their outfits together ahead of time. Each day, they can simply grab a fresh bag with shorts, a shirt, undies, socks, etc. No need to worry about mismatched socks this time!

#4 – Stockpile Games and Activities

Whether you’ll be going on a short or long trip, always plan ahead by bringing a bunch of games and activities to keep the little ones occupied—at least for a few hours. Check out the dollar store before your trip for things like coloring books, craft supplies, puzzles, card games, and other fun activities you know your kids will love.

#5 – Send Yourself Mail

A special way to commemorate your vacation is to mail postcards or notes to yourself back home as you travel to various destinations. Just throw some envelopes and stamps in your suitcase before you go.

When you visit a museum or other nifty spot, buy a postcard, have everyone sign it, and mail it back home. Those post-vacation blues won’t seem so bad when the kids have mail to return to, postmarked from all the cool places they’ve visited.

#6 – Make Copies of Everything

If you’ll be flying anywhere on your trip, whether domestically or abroad, scan and copy your driver’s license, ID card, passport, itinerary, and so forth. Email yourself a copy of everything and print out one of two paper copies of each (one to store in your luggage and the other to keep with you). That way, if luggage gets lost or someone steals your purse, all your essential documents will be safe.

#7 – Lists Are Your Friend

Don’t stress yourself out trying to remember every little thing you need to bring in your luggage. Instead, make your own ultimate packing list, print it out, and keep it with you to use for this trip and ones in the future. If you do forget something one trip, be sure to add it to your list so you remember it for the next vacation.

#8 – Safety First

If you’re traveling with kids, particularly young ones, one simple safety measure is to write out your name and number on a piece of paper, business card, etc. and put it in their pocket. You can teach your little ones to show that card or paper to a law enforcement officer or another dependable adult.

Staying at a hotel on your trip? Take the hotel’s business card at the reception desk and write your contact information on the back. In the event you and your child get separated, they’ll not only have your name and number but the hotel’s contact details.

#9 – Buy Travel-Size Hygiene Items

Don’t lug big bottles of shampoo and tubes of toothpaste on your next trip. Instead, purchase travel-size hygiene and personal items ahead of time (i.e. mouthwash, body wash, shampoo, toothbrushes), that you can easily throw away when you’re done and ready to go home.

#10 – Use Backseat Organizers for Road Trips

If you’re going on a road trip, whether for a few days or a week, backseat organizers will be your (and your child’s) new best friend. Organizers like this one are a great way to keep everything from snacks and drinks to games and tablets easily accessible and orderly.

#11 – Make Your Own First-Aid Kit

Just in case anyone gets any scrapes along the way, put together your own first aid kit with all the essentials like bandaids, antiseptic wipes, Tylenol, etc., to ensure you’re prepared for any unanticipated boo-boos.

#12 – Listen to Books

Listening to audiobooks is a fantastic way to keep everyone in the car occupied on long road trips. From gripping stories to educational content, books on tape can be a dual-purpose learning and entertainment experience for the kids.

#13 – Movie Time

If you’ve listened to your favorite book for a few hours and the kids need a change of pace, pull out your laptop and play their favorite show or movie. You can set up your laptop on the car console so everyone can enjoy.

#14 – Plan Ahead

Whether you’re catching an early morning flight or hitting the road before the sun comes up, plan to download and pack up your kids’ game and movie entertainment the night ahead. You’ll likely be running about the morning of the trip attending to last minute details.

Make sure your iPad or laptop is finished downloading and ready to go, and you’ll have one less thing to worry about.

#15 – Use a Vacuum Seal Bag

When you’re going on a lengthy getaway, it can be daunting to figure out how to fit all your clothes into your luggage. This is where vacuum-sealed bags can save the day. Put your clothes in the bags, seal them with your vacuum cleaner, and voila! The bag has shrunk down to a minute size, giving you much more room in your carry-on and suitcase.

#16 – Pick Up Some Quirky and Bright Baggage Tags

As fun as it is playing the waiting game standing at the luggage carousel, straining your eyes to pick out your suitcase amongst the sea of other identical baggage, why not simplify things? Before your trip, pick up some bright and colorful tags for your baggage to jot down your contact information on. Not only will you have an easier time spotting your luggage right off the bat, but the kids can compete to see who can find their quirky baggage tag first.

#17 – Pack Empty Water Bottles to Fill Once You Get Through Security

Pack a couple of empty water bottles that you can refill after you get through airport security. Not only will you save a little money, not having to purchase airport bottled water, but you won’t have to worry about thirsty kiddos on the plane after the drink cart rolls off.

#18 – Fix Some Meals In Your Hotel

If you’ll be staying in a hotel, consider booking a room with a kitchenette featuring a few kitchen essentials that you can prepare some easy meals in. Not only can you stretch your budget a little further, but when the kids are hungry or in dire need of a snack, you can easily whip something up.

Check out the grocery store nearest your hotel to pick up a few favorite food items for the whole family. Your hotel room coffee maker can easily do double duty to make some instant oatmeal and ramen for those last minute snacks.

Need to stretch your legs after the long car or plane ride? Check out these 5 tips for family fitness to keep everyone active and help the kids release some of that pent up energy.

#19 – Navigating the Airport With Ease

Okay, so this final hack is really three rolled into one.

First, if you’re trying to get seats with your family on the plane and are unable to when you book the flight, continue to reach out to the airline in the week, 48 hours, and 24 hours preceding your departure. Airlines have been known to reserve seats just for families, then release them a week before the flight. Once you hit the 24 and 48-hour point, elites frequently upgrade, which opens up more seats in economy.

Second, skip lengthy airport security waits by heading to the family lane at TSA. The majority of major airports have family lanes to streamlines the process for travelers with children. Finally, do yourself a favor and pre-book an airport transfer both to and from your accommodation. You’ll save money on airport parking and have one less component to worry about.

This is a guest post, the ideas and views are not necessarily those of Mommy Ramblings.

Rachel Warren is a Research Analyst and Writer for CarInsuranceComparison.com. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal Studies from the Liberty University School of Law. Rachel leverages nearly a decade’s prior experience in the legal field and her diverse digital marketing background to create data-rich, informative, engaging content for readers regarding car insurance, legal, finance, career, and lifestyle topics.

1 Comment

Filed under Family, Home & Garden, Life, Travel

Tagged as Life Hacks, Tips, travel

May 29, 2019 · 10:41 pm

Your Smile Health = You Body Health – Oral-B Giveaway #SmileHealth

Your smile says so much about your personality, but do you know it speaks volumes about your health? It’s not only what we put in our mouth that matters, but how we take care of it, that leads to a healthy heart, mind and body. Good oral health can limit your exposure to heart disease, stroke and memory loss. This is why it’s so important to start taking care of your oral health early, a healthy mouth equals a healthy you!

From a young child the importance of not eating too many sweets, making sure to brush and floss morning and night, see the dentist twice a year for cleanings and take care of any problems immediately. I remember when I had braces, that the importance of brushing effectively was stressed by my orthodontist.

The people at Smile Health Dental Plans know this and they have come up with one of the most simple and affordable Dental plans on the market today! Smile Health Dental Plans would like to know how you take care of your oral health and what you do to ensure a healthy smile! Check out their website at https://smilehealth.com.

About Smile Health Dental Plans:
Smile Health Dental Plans are an affordable alternative to traditional dental insurance. Members pay an annual fee to receive discounts all year-long. And with Smile Health Dental Plans there are no hidden costs, just savings of 20% or more on many preventative, restorative and cosmetic dental treatments. You get immediate benefits, no health restrictions, no waiting periods, no claims, no maximums, and more!

We tossed our conventional toothbrushes years ago. Instead we replaced them with electronic versions from Oral-B. Our teeth and gums feel so much cleaner and healthier, we have never looked back.

Giveaway:

Exciting news, you can enter for your chance to win a “Your Smile Health = Your Body Health” Care Kit. Check out below for all it includes and then enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Your Smile Health = Your Body Health” Care Kit for you and one to giveaway to a lucky reader that includes:

1 – Oral B Vitality Electric Toothbrush
1 – Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste Travel Size
1 – Oral B Glide Floss
1 – Crest Pro-Health Multi-Protection Oral Rinse
1 – Smile Health = Body Health PDF pamphlet

You can see our video unboxing below:

Your Smile Health = Your Body Health” Care Kit Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Each household is only eligible to win “Your Smile Health = Your Body Health” Care Kit via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.The prize will be sent via FedEx or USPS. No P.O. Boxes please.

Continue reading →

37 Comments

Filed under Giveaway, Health, Home & Garden

Tagged as giveaway, Health, Teeth, Toothbrush

May 24, 2019 · 1:38 pm

Tips and Tricks For The Best Kid’s Birthday Parties

Juicy Juice, Kid's Birthday Parties

As the mother of young children, children’s’ birthday parties are big on my mind. If you stress like I do over planning your children’s birthday parties, you are not alone. Kids’ birthday parties can be a finicky feat, but there are plenty of tips and tricks that parents can incorporate to make their kid’s celebration a success and avoid any birthday blunders. Birthday parties can carry expenses that are often overlooked but can quickly add up. In fact, according to the 2018 Juicy Juice Family Occasions Survey, nearly 60% of parents spend up to $500 on each child’s birthday every year.

For parents looking to save some green and avoid any mishaps and misunderstandings, try the following DIY activities (that double as decorations or favors!) and big-batch recipes to help you throw an amazing party without breaking the bank. Perfect for party-goers and parents, incorporate these ideas from Juicy Juice as you plan your next event, or keep the kids refreshed with new, organic offerings.

Check out these ideas below for you next summer birthday party.

Backyard Bug Hunt

Cute activities and recipes inspired by the creepy crawlers in your very own backyard.

Bottle Cap Ladybugs

Magic Firefly Bottle

Juicy Juice Bottle Planter

Juicy Nightcrawler Cup

Juicy Spider Eggs

Bullfrog Fruit Bowl

Outdoor Adventures

Gear up for summer birthdays with these adventurous outdoor activities and refreshing sips and snacks.

Rainbow Sherbet Punch

Juice Bottle Bird Feeder

DIY Outdoor Summer Slime

Cap Toss Game

Juicy Juice Bubble Blower

Homemade Fruit Juice Gummies

Water Works

When it gets hot, count on these aquatic activities and icy snacks to keep cool.

Juicy Juice Bottle Cap Aquarium

Juice Box Octopus

DIY Sailboat Race

Juicy Juice Sorbet Sandwiches

Cherry and Cream Bomb Pops Juice Pops

So, did you find some good ideas? I bet you did, let me know in the comments.

3 Comments

Filed under Entertaining, Family Fun, Home & Garden, kids

Tagged as Entertaining, Juicy Juice, Kid's Parties, Tips, Tricks

May 19, 2019 · 8:11 pm

Book Brush Lets Authors Create Winning Promotional and Social Media Images #BookBrush

Are you a blogger? Have you written an eBook? So many are these days. Today it is easier than ever to write and publish your own ebooks and sell them online. Designing a captivating cover or promotional graphic may not come as easy. You might think you need to settle for a generic, boring book cover. I am here to tell you, that is not true. Book Brush makes it simple for authors to make advertising and social media images. No more struggling with converting a book from a 2d image to a 3d image. Book Brush can also be used by Bloggers to easily create images for their blog posts and giveaways! Here are some of the features you will love….

✔️ Book Brush can create ads with 3D cover images (30+ templates) in minutes

✔️ Book Brush will let you choose pre-made templates for Amazon ads, BookBub ads, Facebook ads, and more…

✔️ … which you can create with over 1 million royalty-free images and book stamps

✔️ It has a Video Creator to easily create Video Effects behind a Promotional Image

Book Brush Graphic

The Book Brush site is user-friendly and takes just a few clicks to come up with a winning image. Simply choose your ad size, upload your book cover(s), select the perfect background image from over 1 million free images, then add text boxes and stamps if you’d like. Our software instantly creates the image for you to download.

Check out some of my designs:

Book Brush Graphic Creator

Want to quickly test it? You can sign up for a Limited plan for free (no credit card required).

Book Brush Graphc

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing the product/product information. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did/will receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

$100 Macy’s Gift Card Giveaway For Mother’s Day

I shopped at Macy’s Backstage for the first time this week. Macy’s Backstage is a store within the store where you can find amazing deals. I just love getting a bargain, don’t you? Check out what I bought in my video haul below.

Macy's Gift Card Giveaway

I have some exciting news! Macy’s is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings for a $100 Macy’s Gift Card. Enter for your chance to win below.

$100 Macy’s Gift Card Giveaway

Macy’s is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win a $100 Gift Card for Macy’s! Thanks to Macy’s for my gift card to purchase items from Macy’s Backstage and for sponsoring this great giveaway! Open to US Residents. Good Luck.

Macy’s $100 Gift Card Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

85 Comments

Filed under Gifts, Giveaway, Home & Garden, Mother's Day

Tagged as gift card, giveaway, Macy's, Mother's Day

· 2:33 pm

Why Most Homes Need More Signs

House Signs

When talking about home improvements, signage is not something that pops into most people’s heads. People rarely think about how putting up signs around the home as being a way to keep everyone safe, make life easier or improve their décor. But, as you will see when you read on signs can definitely do all of that.

Signs that make life easier for you

Putting up no parking signs is an effective way to stop people from parking in front of your driveway. It is frustrating, to say the least, to arrive home with a car full of shopping only to discover you cannot park next to your house. Trudging backward and forwards carrying bags because you have had to park a street away is frustrating.

No dumping signs can also make your life easier. When people see them they are far less likely to dump their junk at the edge of your property. It only takes one person to do it for others to quickly follow suit. In just a few weeks, you can end up with a big pile of rubbish that you have to get rid of. So a no dumping sign is a good investment.

Signs that help to make your home more secure

Signage can also be used to keep everyone in your home safer. Here are a few examples:

CCTV signs

If you have CCTV advertising that fact using signage is an excellent idea. When interviewed, ex-house breakers said that the number one thing that made them target another property was the presence of CCTV.

House Signs

Neighborhood watch signage

Also on the list of things that move would be thieves on was neighborhood watch. They tell would be vandals, scammers and would be housebreakers that they are in an area where people are alert and ready to deal with any trouble.

It may also be worth putting up no loitering, beware of the dog and no trespassing signs. Which you use is up to you. But, you only need to put up one or two to have the desired effect.

Check the regulations first

Before putting these types of signs up you need to check what the rules are, in your area. In some states, if someone ignores a no loitering sign you can call the police, in others this is not the case.

House Signs

Hazard warning signs

If you have a pool putting up a no running sign will greatly reduce the chances of someone slipping and falling. Putting up a mind your head sign above a low doorway will remind everyone to duck when walking through it. In time, family members will duck automatically, but visitors won’t necessarily notice that a doorway is low enough without you pointing it out to them a sign.

Using signs to decorate your home

It is also possible to use street signs to decorate your home. A couple of stop signs are a slightly different way to decorate the wall of a den, garage or entertainment room.

Customized signs

A lot of signage companies will print you a customized sign. It could be something fun and lighthearted. Or, you could design your own hazard or warning sign. For example, “shut the door to keep the dog in”. To do this, you may need a graphics package. There are several free versions available to download.

House Signs

This is a collaborative guest post, the views and ideas expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.

What Can I Expect from an Emergency Dentist?

Emergency Dental Care

While your first instinct would be to call a dentist if you encounter a dental emergency, this option may not always be available during holidays, weekends, or after hours. In these cases, an emergency dentist or a visit to an emergency room may be your only recourse. There are some key differences between standard dental problems and those considered a dental emergency. For example, a standard dental issue is one that over-the-counter medications can relieve until a dentist can see you. A dental emergency is one that might jeopardize your physical health and may lead to tooth loss if not resolved quickly. In this article, we inspect what makes up a dental emergency and what you can expect when visiting an emergency dentist.

Well, what exactly is a dental emergency?

If you have experienced a dental emergency in the last six months, you can take solace in knowing that you are not alone. According to the American Family Physician, over 22 percent of Americans have reported experiencing severe oral pain or a dental emergency within the last 6 months. However, the difference between a standard dental problem and a dental emergency is not always clear. If your dental problem meets any of the following criteria, contact an emergency dentist sooner rather than later:

Severe pain coupled with bleeding or swelling
Teeth that have become loose
If you have an abscess or serious infection
A severely chipped or cracked tooth

Any dental problem that requires immediate attention to prevent tooth loss or to resolve an infection, pain, or bleeding is one that makes up a dental emergency. More common dental emergencies include:

Knocked-out teeth—Any physical trauma that results in the tooth being knocked out requires immediate attention. Believe it or not, most times, it is possible to have the tooth reinserted back into the socket as long as the problem is addressed quickly, according to the American Association of Endodontists.

Severely chipped or cracked teeth—Similar to knocked-out teeth, severely chipped or cracked teeth are often the result of physical trauma and are issues an emergency dentist can fix. In the interim, however, there are things you can do for temporary pain relief and swelling that may be associated with a chipped or cracked tooth, including using a cold compress to minimize swelling and by swishing warm salt water in your mouth to prevent infection.

Tooth abscess—Similar to gum disease, an abscessed tooth can cause severe pain and can jeopardize your physical health. An abscessed tooth contains pockets of pus that can infect the oral cavity and also the body if the infection leaches into the bloodstream. Symptoms of an abscessed tooth may include tooth sensitivity, facial swelling, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and much more.

These are not the only dental problems that make up an emergency; however, they are the ones that are most common and require immediate attention in preventing additional oral and physical health problems.

Emergency Dental Care

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM AN EMERGENCY DENTIST

Dental emergencies can be anxiety-inducing; however, not promptly addressing them can make matters worse. The best way to soothe stressful feelings associated with an emergency dental visit is by choosing a dentist who is well-versed in a variety of dental emergencies. These practitioners have seen just about every variation of a dental emergency imaginable and work well under pressure. The exact protocol that your dentist will follow depends on your specific dental emergency. In most cases, however, you can expect the following:

Once you have arrived at the emergency dental office, you can expect your practitioner to ask you questions relative to your medical history and whether you’re allergic to certain medications. The next step in the process will be to have X-rays done, which will offer some insights regarding the extent of the dental problem. They also allow the dental practitioner to come up with a treatment plan that will work best for you. Last, your practitioner will explain the extent of the injury and the necessary treatment to resolve the problem.

Emergency Dental Care

WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSIDER GOING TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM?

Emergency dentists can treat most dental problems; however, depending on the dental emergency, you may be better off going to an emergency room instead. Dental emergencies that may require a visit to a hospital include:

Broken or dislocated jaw
Severe lacerations to the face or oral cavity
An abscess that impedes your ability to chew or swallow

WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSIDER VISITING A PROFESSIONAL?

Aside from physical trauma, many dental emergencies stem from gum disease, which can lead to severe pain and infection. Although most dentists can perfectly treat gum problems, such issues may require a visit to a professional emergency dentist. In most cases, gum disease can cause the pulp of the tooth to become infected and inflamed. Emergency dentists are well-versed in removing the damaged pulp from the tooth and performing a root canal, which is needed after they have removed the pulp from the tooth.

You have several options available to you for treating a dental emergency. According to Dr. Val Daniyar D.M.D., a Naples emergency dentist, the worst thing you can do is ignore the pain and hope that the problem takes care of itself. In doing so, you risk developing a severe infection that can worsen your dental problem and jeopardize your physical health.

Emergency Dental Care