Get The Future Of Your Finances In Order Today

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Are you starting to think about the future of your finances? Here are a few key steps that you can take to ensure that you are ready for challenges that could be just over the horizon. 

 

 

Use An Investment Advisor

 

First, you might want to think about using an investment advisor. This is going to be useful as a step to take if you have already built up quite a lot of money in savings over the past few years. A financial advisor will tell you where you should be spending your money and what investment opportunities are going to suit you. Professionals like Chip Packard can help you a great deal here and ensure that you are on the right track when spending your money. 

 

Jump On The Property Ladder

 

Next, you should be trying to jump on board the property ladder as early as you can. Once you are on the property ladder, you will be able to make sure that you can build up your investment. You can do this quite simply by making significant changes to your home. For instance, if you complete the right kitchen renovation, it could add 25% to the property that you own. 

 

Save A Lot Now And Thank Me Later

 

You should be aiming to save as much as possible when you are still young. It’s important to do this even if it means being a lot more frugal. This means that you’ll have more money ready for those rainy days. Some people find saving money for the future quite difficult because any money that they accumulate burns a hole in their pocket. One of the ways to keep things on the right track will be to set a budget. This should keep you honest and ensure that you don’t end up with zero in savings each month of the year. 

 

Don’t Forget Your Pension

 

You do need to make sure that you are thinking realistically about how much you will need to save for your pension. If you don’t save the right amount for your pension, then you’re ultimately going to feel stuck when you do retire. There are various pension schemes out there that might be worth exploring. However, this will largely depend on how much you can save each month. Do be aware that some employers will set up a pension scheme for you that could be incredibly beneficial. 

 

Find A Side Hustle

 

You might also want to think about finding the right side hustle. Financial experts agree that if you want to keep things healthy in the future then you definitely need more than one income. The good news is that there are a variety of different side hustles that could be perfect for you. For instance, you can think about starting a blog. It doesn’t take as long as you might think to monetize a blog. You just need to make sure that you are researching a little about SEO or consulting with an expert who can handle this for you. 

 

Crayola Experience is Giving Away 1 Million Crayons to Celebrate National Crayon Day 2021

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CHANDLER, Ariz. (March 24, 2021) – Crayola Experience is spreading colorful creativity for this year’s National Crayon Day. To celebrate, the iconic brand’s indoor family attraction will give away a million crayons.

Starting today, guests can sign up on the Crayola Experience website to get a free custom box of 32 crayons at one of the five Crayola Experience locations around the country. The Crayola Store at each location will be giving away 6,250 crayon boxes over the course of the giveaway.

When guests pick up their box, they’ll have colorful fun filling it with their own choice of crayons from the store’s 40 ft. by 8 ft. “Pick Your Pack” wall holding nearly half a million crayons. Picking crayons has never been so epic.

“Opening up a box of crayons is like visiting Crayola Experience—it opens up a world of imagination and hours of fun, which is why we thought this would be a great way to celebrate this unofficial holiday,” said Victoria Lozano, EVP-Digital Strategy & GM Attractions & Retail of Crayola.

To receive the colorful gift, guests must register for one of the available times to pick up their  crayon box and pick out their crayons at one of The Crayola Store locations in Easton, Pa.; Orlando, Fla.; Bloomington, Minn. (Mall of America); Plano, Texas; or Chandler, Ariz. Time slots begin on March 31. Sign up is on a first come, first serve basis. Limit one (1) box per household. No purchase necessary. Additional restrictions apply. See www.crayolaexperience.com/chandler for details and to register.

About Crayola Experience Chandler

Discover the magic of color at Crayola’s premier and one-of-a-kind family destination. More than 15 creative activities and attractions throughout 22,000 square feet of color await families at the Chandler Fashion Center in Chandler, Ariz. Bigger, brighter and bolder than ever, the adventures of Crayola Experience help kids and adults alike explore art and technology, express their creativity, and experience color in a whole new way. Also featuring The Crayola Store with the world’s largest selection of Crayola products and unique souvenirs. The brand’s other attractions are located in Easton, Pa.—home to the Crayola Experience flagship and birthplace of Crayola crayons—as well as Orlando, Fla.; the Mall of America (Bloomington, Minn.); and Plano, Texas. To learn more, visit CrayolaExperience.com/Chandler or join the conversation at Facebook.com/CrayolaExperienceChandler.

Celebrate Easter with these Eggs Craft and Printables – Bubble Guppies: The New Guppy

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Get ready to celebrate this year’s Easter with the Bubble Guppies? In celebration of the recent release of Bubble Guppies: The New Guppy!, now available on DVD, we’re happy to share a custom Bubble Guppies-inspired egg craft, plus cute character printable egg wraps. Simply post the button below to your blog/socials so that your followers and their kids can enjoy making this craft for their Easter weekend!

Marvel Studios’ “THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER” New Featurette Available Now

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NOW STREAMING ON DISNEY+

Marvel Studios’ “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” All-New Featurette Available Now

 

A new featurette for Marvel Studios’ “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” is available now ahead of Episode 2’s imminent debut on Disney+.  Offering front-row insights in the new featurette are Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, director Kari Skogland, head writer Malcolm Spellman and executive producer Nate Moore.

Directed by Kari Skogland with Malcolm Spellman as head writer, the six-episode series stars Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Emily VanCamp and Daniel Brühl. The series also features Erin Kellyman, Georges St. Pierre, Amy Aquino, Adepero Oduye and Danny Ramirez. “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier” is now streaming on Disney+.

 

Twitter: @falconandwinter, @disneyplus

Instagram: @falconandwintersoldier, @disneyplus

Facebook: @falconandwintersoldier, @disneyplus

5 Fitness Hobbies Inspired By Hollywood

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It is no wonder that many of us feel inspired after watching a movie. Many of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors have a fitness regime to keep their bodies in prime condition. However, some movies inspire us for a different reasons. Some movies have inspired activities that keep us fit and others have their own take on popular forms of exercise that motivates you to give it a go. Here are five fitness hobbies that you could take up and the blockbusters that have inspired them. 

Quidditch – Harry Potter

The Harry Potter franchise became famous for the fantastic spectacle of seeing witches and wizards flying through the air at tremendous speeds on their brooms. The sport of quidditch was invented by J.K.Rowling to be played by the pupils studying witchcraft and wizardry. While flying brooms may not be available, some clever people have adapted the game into a real-life sport that is now popular with university and college students around the world. 

Larping – Lord of The Rings 

Larping stands for live-action role play and it is a little bit like a free-roaming game of dungeons and dragons which you act out. Larping comes in all varieties but it is fair to say the most popular games have heavily been influenced by Lord of The Rings with many people playing the roles of wizards, elves, and brooding swordsmen with dark pasts. Games can be sedate but you can also find games that involve a lot of running and obstacles to overcome, occasionally there may be a bit of combat thrown in too. If you are interested in Larping look for clubs in the local area and try a few games until you find one that suits the level of activity you desire.

Roller Derby – Whip It

The 2009 movie Whip It starring Drew Barrymore and Elliot Page (known as Ellen when the movie was made) is a deep dive into a lesser-known but increasingly popular sport, roller derby. A roller derby is a fast-paced and oftentimes aggressive form contact sport played on roller skates. This is a high-octane game that requires a high level of fitness from its players. To become proficient you will need to build up strength. Supplements like top fat burners can help improve your performance in the game. 

Nature Gym – Rocky IV

The Rocky franchise is known for Sylvester Stallone’s portrayal of the down-and-out turned champion, Rocky Balboa. The fourth movie pits Rocky against the Russian Ivan Drago. While Drago uses the most state-of-the-art training techniques, Rocky exchanges the gym for long treks in the snow, wood chopping, and tire lifting. The training montage is an advert for using the world around you to get fit. Take your workouts outdoors and use your surroundings as inspiration for your next fitness session. 

Dancing – Step Up 

Finally, if you want to combine your exercise with your leisure time then joining a dance class could be a way to go. Movies like Step Up have inspired many of us to try a little hip-hop, ballet, or as the movie is famous for, a fusion of both. Whatever your style there will be a class for you. Contact your local dance school and see what sessions they have coming up. 

3 Surefire Ways of Enhancing Smooth Settling Down in a New Town

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Congratulations on this bold move. The truth is it takes hard work and dedication to finally land a house, more so in a different city that you can call home and entrust with your loved one’s life.  

You must inevitably have weighed your options, and better opportunities await you in the new environment. But note that it is one thing to move from your old home and another thing to settle in a new town finally. How soon you find comfort in your new environment depends on how you prepare for the whole undertaking. 

Apart from securing a home in a good neighborhood with all the basic amenities in proximity, there is so much you need to consider to have a smooth settling down. Below is a sneak peek of three crucial factors you must put in place while moving to a new home. 

Clear Everything Concerning Your Old Environment Before Leaving

This is a significant undertaking as it helps you concentrate on settling down and adjusting to the new life. First, you need to have a clear picture of what will happen to your old house after you leave, if, for example, you plan on selling it, make plans with the people concerned, and know what is needed in the entire process. 

Secondly, it is essential that you clear with your children’s school not to go back and forth searching for transcripts and other transfer documents to enroll your children in the new school after moving. 

Check your church, banks, and insurance providers to make sure they transfer your details for smooth settling down in the new town. 

Remove Any Bottlenecks in the Movement Process

How your moving takes place plays a crucial role in how soon you settle in the new home. It will, for instance, take you weeks or months to get your life together if your essential belongings get lost or damaged during the moving process.

 

The situation worsens in long distance moving due to the money spent in the entire process, and the time it may take to trace or recover your belongings. Therefore avoid this by having your stuff well packed and transported to the required destination. 

To avoid stress, you can decide to hire professional movers to do the work for you. Most of these movers will provide insurance for your belongings and compensate you in case of any misfortune. A trouble-free movement process will go a long way in enhancing your smooth settling down. 

Make Sure Everything in the New Home Is in Order Before Moving

Never buy the landlord’s promise of fixing it later. In most cases, this never happens, and you are only exposing yourself to a world of frustrations. 

Check the home before the moving date to make sure everything is as was stated in the contract. If there is any problem with the water or electricity, have the responsible seller fix it there and then. 

Equally important, take another walk around the house during the actual moving day to ensure all the loopholes are fixed, and everything is working. Such actions may seem meaningless but take note that they will save you many headaches in the future. Having done this, you can now go ahead and settle as you await to reap the best from your new home and environment. 

Parting Shot

It would be best if you settled down as soon as possible to concentrate on the life ahead. Make your settling down in a new town smooth by following the above recommendations.

A WEEK AWAY is coming to Netflix this Friday, March 26th #Ad #RWM #AWeekAway

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This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Netflix.

 

OMg I love a great Musical.  Most people who know me know I can not get enough.  I love movies, Broadway anything they have dancing and music.  I can not wait for A Week Away to come out.  Even better anyone who has Netflix can enjoy this movie right away.

 

SYNOPSIS:  #AWeekAway
A Week Away is Netflix’s first musical film of its kind, releasing March 26th Troubled teen Will Hawkins (Kevin Quinn) has a choice to make – go to juvenile detention or attend a Christian summer camp. While at camp, and with the help of his music, new friends and love interest (Bailee Madison), he learns the healing powers of kindness, forgiveness, and faith can be found in the most unlikely of places.

A WEEK AWAY

 

3 Exercise Tips For Neonates

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Giving birth is one of the greatest joys a woman can experience and while the whole 9 months of pregnancy are wonderful, the experience can take a toll on the body; weight gain being one of the most common issues. The hormonal changes and dietary needs of the baby mean that more food intake is required since you are “eating for two”, but this is only temporary and many women find it difficult to lose pregnancy weight after the event.

One survey found that 20% of women retain 10lbs of weight following the birth of a child which is difficult to lose because of lifestyle and bodily changes that occurred during pregnancy and beyond and there are scientific reasons for this.

Of course, you might be happy with the extra weight, and that is fine but if you are looking to lose the extra pounds you could try such things as:

  • Trying a local gym
  • Exercising around the baby
  • Setting realistic goals

Most neighborhoods have a gym close by and they can be a great way to lose weight while planning a routine around the newborn is essential for a proper workout and you will need to be realistic about how much weight you can expect to lose following a birth.

Get Professional Advice

Gyms are seemingly everywhere these days and many have become chain enterprises similar to McDonald’s and Walmart. Most neighborhoods either include a gym or have one close by so there’s no excuse if you are planning to use one. The great news is that many of these chain gyms, such as Fitness 19 offer free trials to potential new members and employ professionally trained staff that can help you with focused routines and exercises so you can achieve exactly what you need.

A local gym should be able to accommodate you for what you require but they may first need to assess your fitness level. If you haven’t exercised before then the most basic information that they will have to assess is your aerobic resting heart which can be counted by your pulse, your muscular intensity which can be measured by how many push-ups you can do, and your cardio information from counting your pulse following a brisk 10-minute walk.

Child’s Needs Come First

Of course, having a newborn baby in your life isn’t easy and they are as unpredictable as they are needy. Your baby’s needs must become before anything else so planning a workout routine around the baby can be challenging, not least because you might find yourself as tired as the baby is since it isn’t uncommon for neonates to only get around 4 hours of sleep per night. 

If you do find yourself able to stay awake then you might find it useful to pack in some exercise when the baby is sleeping following a feeding. Most doctors appreciate that just 30 minutes to 1 hour per day is enough exercise to make a significant difference so exercising as and when you can might be better than setting a specific time slot since it isn’t always possible to know when you may have the time.

Will Take Longer Than Usual

Many women do actually lose the extra baby weight in a timely manner, but for most women it takes around 1 year before they see results and in many cases even longer. This is because your metabolism following birth actually changes and eating a calorie-controlled diet can slow it down causing the weight to be lost more slowly. Essentially, not eating enough causes the body to store more fat due to the slowed metabolic rate since the body needs nutrients for the production of breast milk to feed the baby. 

The lack of sleep associated with caring for a newborn also adds to the slowed energy rates so trying to get enough sleep is essential. It is also advised that you begin with very low-intensity workouts so as not to damage the pelvis (which has been through its own stresses) resulting in weight loss exercises taking longer to show results than they usually would.

How To Get More Sleep As A New Parent

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Parenting: It’s a joy, right? Sure it is; most of the time anyway! Especially in those first few months when you experience life with your newborn, it can be a real blessing. 

 

Of course, there are challenges during the first year of your child’s life. You will have less time on your hands, for one, as the needs and demands of your baby will be many. And there will be days when you struggle to sleep. This can become a real problem, as a lack of sleep has consequences, and for you, this might mean crankiness, low energy, and the struggle to get everything on your daily to-do lists done!

 

So, how can you get more sleep? At times, it might seem like an impossibility, especially when your baby is waking you up every time you start to doze. Well, it’s not easy, but there are a few things you can do to help yourself. 

 

#1: Make sure your baby has a comfortable sleeping environment

 

In one sense, your baby is like you. They need comfort as much as you do, so as you would take the necessary steps to make your bedroom more conducive to a good night’s sleep, you should do the same for your little one. This means darkening the room (babies aren’t afraid of the dark), adjusting the temperature (18–21˚C is ideal), and providing comfortable bedding. You might also want to add a white noise machine to your baby’s room, as this can cancel out any distracting noises from elsewhere. Blackout blinds are an excellent addition to the baby’s bedroom to darken it, but you can ensure that every single bit of light is gone with the right heavy curtains over the blinds, too. You can check out this curtain rod’s guide to know which curtain rods to hang, but the other benefit of added curtains is the fact you’ll keep the warm temperature where it should be in the room. Your baby needs to be comfortable without being overheated or too cold, and extra curtains can make a huge difference to the bedroom.  By taking all of these steps, your baby has a better chance of falling asleep at night, and you might get more sleep too.

 

#2: Get your little one into a routine

 

Bedtime routines are important as consistency will let your baby know when it’s time to go to sleep. As part of your routine, you could give them a bath, tell them a story, and then sing them a gentle song when they’re lying down in bed. Hopefully, they will then start to settle down and sleep for a few hours, and consequently, so might you. Unfortunately, sleep regression can occur as your baby develops, so don’t be surprised if you face further disruption to your own sleeping patterns. However, you might be able to overcome this with these newborn sleep regression tips, so don’t assume every night will be a difficult one. 

 

#3: Share the parenting duties

 

Both in the day and at night, you shouldn’t have to take on every responsibility alone. When your partner is around, share responsibilities with them, as you will have more opportunities to get more sleep this way. In the daytime, this can mean having more naps to catch up on your sleep. And at night, it can mean a longer sleep cycle if your partner responds to your baby’s cries instead of you. 

 

#4: Sleep when your baby sleeps

 

 

Newborn babies sleep a lot during the day, so take every opportunity to get some shut-eye when they are asleep. Especially when you’re feeling tired and in need of a nap, you should prioritize this over your household chores, your Netflix boxsets, and any task that can wait until another day.

 

#5: Accept any help that is offered to you

 

If your friends or extended family members offer to help you with your parenting duties, let them! Especially when you need to sleep, you should welcome any help with open arms if it means you can finally go to bed for a while. But if people don’t come forward to help, remember that you can always ask them. You aren’t showing weakness by admitting that you need help, and the people around you will hopefully realize this when you come to them for assistance. 

 

#6: Deal with any mood changes

 

Sleep deprivation can lead to mood changes when your hormones are in overdrive, and this can lead to the ‘baby blues.’ The depression you experience can have a negative effect on your sleep patterns, and you might find yourself in a bit of a vicious cycle. Should this happen to you, seek help from your healthcare provider. They will give you the support you need, and they might also suggest ways of getting more rest. Be sure to talk to your loved ones about the way you’re feeling too, as they should then have more incentive to give you some respite. 

 

Your sleep patterns will be affected when you have a little one to look after, so you can’t expect to get the sleep you used to. However, by following these steps, you can alleviate the problem somewhat, so be sure to look after your own needs while looking after the needs of your baby. 

     #7:  Create a beautiful bedroom for yourself

Designing a nursery is one of the most exciting parts of getting ready to become a parent. It’s important for your baby to have a safe, secure and calming sleep environment, but it’s also crucial to make sure that you feel comfortable in your bedroom. Whether you’re expecting a baby soon, or you’re already a parent, creating a beautiful bedroom for yourself can help you to get more rest. Declutter and use storage solutions to keep your room tidy. Consider the use of color very carefully. You might love bright colors, but the shades you use will impact the feel of the room, as well as its aesthetic appeal. Opt for calming colors, such as green and blue, or add pastels and neutrals. Upgrade old or damaged furniture with the addition of a new Amish bedroom set, built-in wardrobes or upcycled chests and wardrobes and add texture with rugs, throws and cushions. Avoid harsh lighting. Bedside lamps and wall lights are ideal for tranquil, peaceful bedrooms. Alternatively, you could fit a dimmer switch.

How to Make Family Meal Times More Fun

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If you want to do more to encourage your kids to engage with food and healthy eating, it all starts with making dinner more fun. Rather than it being a chore for them to eat the foods they don’t like, you should see if you can make it more interesting for them, while still keeping things healthy. Here are some of the tactics you might want to employ if you want to do that.

 

Cook with a Theme

 

When you approach cooking and meal prep for the family with a theme in mind, it becomes a lot easier for you to make the whole thing pretty fun and interesting, and that’s the way it should be. You could cook dishes that are relevant to that theme or even host a get-together with the friends of your child and make a party scenario with games and fancy dress.

 

Be Creative with Your Cooking

 

Being creative with your cooking will get your children more interested in food. If you’re always putting the same dishes in front of them that they’re not particularly keen to eat, there’s not going to be any excitement or engagement for them there. You want them to grow up with a love of food and healthy eating, and to do that, you sometimes need to be creative.

 

Dine Outdoors When You Can

 

Dining outdoors can be a great way to make mealtimes more fun and interesting too. That’s why you should invest in a great set of garden furniture pieces and an outdoor dining table. That way, you’ll always be able to make the most of those warm summer evenings when it’s much more appealing to dine outdoors with the family.

 

 

Get the Kids Involved in Baking and Cooking

 

Getting the children involved in the cooking process is the perfect way to get them interested in food and cooking. They’ll understand it more from a hands-on perspective, and most kids love getting messy in the kitchen. You first of all might want to improve your own cooking skills with FBOI culinary courses and then pass on what you learn to your kids. Cooking is always a beneficial skill for your kids to possess going forward.

 

Use Meal Times as a Chance to Catch Up with Each Other

 

Meal times are not just about the food; they’re a chance for you all to catch up and socialize with one another. You can discuss what each of you have been doing that day, and allows you to stay connected even when different members of the family are leading busy lives of their own. Families always need that time together amid the chaos.

 

Family meal time doesn’t have to be dull and boring day after day. As the ideas above prove, you can make the whole process much more exciting, and get your kids more interested in food prep and healthy eating at the same time. So what’s not to like? Try these ideas out for yourself.