The Many Ways to Make Your Home Look Pricey on a Budget

It’s hard to have a chic-looking room, especially when you have a tight decorating budget. But there are smart ways that can make your bedroom look luxurious even if you do not have enough savings.

According to Interior designers, you do not have to spend a fortune on every piece of furniture at home to give it an elegant look.

What most of them suggest is that it is wise to invest in luxurious beds or sofas. They elevate the look of your bedroom or living room. Later, you can tone down on everything else in your home. 

How to find the right piece of furniture?

Whether it is a couch or a bed, these should not be bought in haste because they are the most used furniture pieces in the house. There are certain factors that you must all consider before buying them. Here they are mentioned:

• Size of the bed or couch. You can also choose an adjustable bed frame. For partners, make sure it fits king size mattress dimensions.

• The practicality of the furniture must be considered. They should not have glossy surfaces that and require higher maintenance.

• Longevity is also necessary as you are not going to spend on them again and again. They must be durable and made with the reliable material.

• The style is an obvious requirement. The style should be simple yet contemporary.

• Above all, they should offer comfort.

Designing the rest

Once you have selected a piece of furniture on the above instructions, the rest should be easy. You have plenty of space to play with the rest of the things around but make sure they complement the room. Here are a few tips to manage the rest of the design credentials:

• Hire local artisans to make bookcases, console tables, and shelves. This is not only a good way of cutting costs, but also creating job opportunities for the local people.

• You have to be very careful and precise with your instructions about these items. Make sure your local carpenter has the exact design you want by consulting various fashion magazines or online services. That would help you get exactly what you want at an affordable price

• Not everything in the house has to be expensive to look elegant. Many interior designers agree to this that simple accessories can change the feel of the house.

• Pay attention to small details including accessories like lampshades, throw pillows and wallpaper. These things can change the look of any room if done the right way. We all know that all of these do not have to be costly.

• Lightning is an impactful feature. It adds drama and romance for far less money than what most of the people think. Your room will give an exquisite look if you use the right colored lamps.

• Simplicity is key. Note that the accessories depend on the size of the room, so make sure everything is not cluttered.

• If possible, get a custom fit high-quality bedsheet that fits king size mattress dimensions of your bed.

• Even if you are on a budget, we will never recommend you to buy cheap or poor quality items. High-quality products ensure durability while low-quality products make your room look tacky.

• It’s better to pick one expensive piece than going for many cheap smaller items. One big piece will add that “wow” factor that many small ones cannot.

• Play with the space of your house and rooms. An affordable way to tweak your space is by rearranging furniture and introducing décor from other rooms in the house. Adding a simple affordable chair in the bedroom can add a different feel to it.

• Carpets add another dimension to your home décor. But they do not have to be expensive or bright. You can rather pick a simple one that matches the couch and curtains.

• Opt for a minimalist look to make your home look spacious. Instead of jamming shelves with all the unnecessary stuff, better keep it minimal.

• Avoid overcrowding the living room space. Arranging the books also give a neat look. You can either arrange them upright or on top of each other along with tall vases. This will fill the space without overcrowding it.

#Giveaway E-BLOX® Stories - The Island LED Light-up Building Blocks Set

When it comes to toys for kids, parents are always on the lookout for the ones that claim to be ‘educational’ in addition to being fun. Sadly, we all know that many such toys don’t live up to that claim. On the rare occasion when a toy comes close to hitting the mark, we want to make sure to share our excitement with our readers as well. We are talking about the wonderful, patented building block sets from the good folks at E-Blox. Some may remember our first introduction to one of their fascinating toy sets a few months back: the pArts Starter Set. Since then we have been fans of the company and when we had a chance to try out another one of their products, the E-Blox Stories - The Island, we jumped at it with both feet.

For those of you who are new to E-Blox, the company is a newcomer in the toys arena (started in 2016) and their construction toy kits use a patented technology of tin plated blocks that connect electrical component blocks to a battery block enabling kids to create 3-dimensional circuits that light whatever they build, with no wires. Think your regular old building blocks, but with added lights and sound. Their products have already won a few industry awards for bringing innovation to the construction set category by introducing multiple concepts from the STEM area (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

The E-Blox Stories toy sets go one step further from STEM to STREAM, adding reading and arts into the mix. The E-Blox Stories - The Island set is based on a chapter in the novelette ‘Earth One’, describing various adventures that kids can immerse themselves into. The storybook includes QR codes that create an interactive learning environment using online resources. As soon as the box was open our kids were hooked on to the familiar appearance of the blocks that they were used to, but with the shiny connector pieces especially standing out. The instructions were relatively easy to follow (though there might have been some calls for parental assistance for assembling this 8+ targeted kit) and we very quickly had a boat assembled, followed by a dog. The set does require a 9V battery which is not included, something that can cause a delay in getting the electronics to work. We had kept the wow factor of the electric circuits, and lights, from the kids until the set was complete and boy they sure were wowed when the lights were turned on. Whenever you have your kids step back and actually say ‘wow’ about a toy, that sure sounds like a keeper. While we haven’t tried it yet, it seems that the E-Blox blocks may work with existing blocks sets you may have lying around the house (the ones that rhyme with Pego), which does sound like opening up a whole new world of experimentation that is waiting to be explored.

We are also excited to partner with E-Blox to offer one of our fabulous readers a chance to win their very own E-Blox Stories - The Island, by entering below:

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Product received, thank you to the E-Blox as well as the PR for supplying us with a product for this review, all opinions are our own.

Stay-At-Home Parenting: Move Over, Mom!

The world is changing! Dads currently make up nearly 20% of stay-at-home parents, denoting a major shift in our preconceived notions of child-rearing. As more and more women become the primary breadwinners in their households -- and as childcare costs continue to increase at (what feels like) exponential rates -- the number of stay-at-home dads is on the rise.

Unfortunately, the social stigma surrounding this change is not changing fast. One dad, in particular, has voiced his struggles despite being one of the founding members of the popular El Paso Facebook group "Moms On Board." Boasting more than 5,000 members, the group does more than just discuss what it's like to be a stay-at-home parent: they're actively making changes in their community.

"So far, we've put more shades at parks, changed tables in men's and women's restrooms, we've worked with the City on a lot of issues."

From upgrading the park to establishing a Children's Museum, Mommys On Board is making a difference, but David Parish, said dad in question, is looking to make some changes of his own towards ending the stigma encapsulating his new life as a stay-at-home dad.

"I have begun to wonder if there are other men out there who are primarily with their children during the day, as well as to think about the men in all your lives (the dads) ...Families come in all shapes and forms, but to cut half of them out of the equation certainly doesn't help us reach our maximum potential."

Parish describes social isolation and exclusion from play dates and activities organized by women. One of the group's other founders, Adrianne Moody, agrees that the members need to be more inclusive and is currently attempting to organize community events where they can all come together to get to know each other, and maybe even form friendships.

Stay-at-home dads may be responsible for the fact that fathers have tripled their amount of time spent on childcare in recent years, but that could also be attributed to a professional solution that balances parenthood and work: telecommuting.

Around 80% of employees view the option to work from home as a perk, and with good reason -- if you've got a bustling family to provide for, you may not be able to spend as much time with them as you'd like. On the flip side, you might also not be able to afford to leave your job to care for them full-time. Telecommuting meets you perfectly in the middle, allowing you to provide an income for your loved ones while also giving you the flexibility to spend the days with them.

If you have the financial stability to be a stay-at-home dad, why wouldn't you? You'll be able to witness and experience every moment of your children's lives, your presence will remind them that there's someone they can trust and rely on, and your relationship with your kids will deepen as they grow. However, if your family needs the support of two incomes to thrive, telecommuting is a great way to guarantee a similar experience.

Don't miss out on the important moments because you were too busy working; you'll regret it for the rest of your life. Likewise, don't let the social stigma surrounding stay-at-home dads affect your family negatively.

Great men and dads do whatever it takes to take care of their family, even if that means staying at home while their wife goes to work.

Take better pictures with Best Buy Photography Workshop Tours

This post is sponsored by Best Buy. All opinions are our own.

We would be hard pressed to find anyone these days who hasn’t taken a picture. Taking a photograph is one of those skills that we use every day and wish we were better at. Whether it is the uncanny knack of taking pictures of folks with their eyes closed, blurring out movement or keeping the sun in the background, we have done it all (and multiple times sadly). So for those of you who are ‘emerging’ photographers like us or just looking to polish up on your photography skills there is hope. The good folks at Best Buy are offering up some hands-on training through their Photography Workshops.

For Beginners (like us) there are FREE In-store Photography Workshops: 2 hours long sessions that will cover the photography basics & allow you 1:1 interaction with Best Buy’s Camera Experience Shop Experts to walk through your camera’s settings. The Camera Experience Shop is a specialty camera store within a local Best Buy store with a great assortment and experts to help you make the right choice. Given our great experience with Best Buy’s Geek Squad employees we would imagine a great level of support and guidance. Once you are done, you can take the next step into the upcoming Photography Workshop Tours on 7/28, 10/20 and 1/19. It is very easy to sign-up to be notified when these go live for registration in the fall/winter.

For intermediate-skilled photographers Best Buy has got you covered as well: you can sign up for one of the Photography Workshop Tours that are available in Seattle, San Diego, Houston, Atlanta, Tampa, New York City and Minneapolis on July 28th. You also have the opportunity to sign up for fall and winter sessions planned for 10/20 and 1/19. These are half-day sessions where the participants get a chance to work with pro photographers and Best Buy’s Camera Experience Shop experts, with a lunch and some giveaway goodies thrown into the mix. These sessions are not free (cost $50) though may very well be worth the expense. As mentioned earlier, it is very simple to just sign up for notifications when the sessions are open for registration.

#Giveaway Go on a Creature Adventure with the new Wild Kratts Magazine

Have you had a creature adventure lately? Maybe you've taken part in a creature rescue? How about collecting a treasured set of creature power discs? If your answer to any (or all) of these questions is a yes, then you know we are talking about the uber-popular show Wild Kratts on PBS. For those few of you that don’t know about the show, it is a fun educational children's live-action/animated series created by brothers Chris and Martin Kratt. The show's aim is to educate children about biology, zoology, and ecology, and teach kids small ways to make big impacts. The show is very popular with our two boys and we are not ashamed to say that they know more about some wild animals than we ever did.

Given that anything that has the word Kratt associated with it is an instant hit in our house, we were very excited to preview the latest issue of the show’s companion magazine, Wild Kratts Creature Trail Scrapbook, put together by Topix Media Lab. Topix Media Lab is a magazine and book publishing company that partners with the biggest kids brands to create fun and educational magazines, such as the Wild Kratts issues.

Developed in direct consultation with the Kratt brothers, the latest issue of the Wild Kratts magazine (which came out on July 24th) is chock full of short blurbs about amazing creature adventures from the TV show on each page along with activities, crafts, and photos of real-life animals. We are totally fascinated by how unique some of the animals and their stories are - streaked Tenrec or spotted-tail Quoll anyone? The quality of the content, information, and drawings is top-notch and would make an awesome gift for the Wild Kratts lovers in your family.

Now one of our wonderful readers can get their hands on copies of the last 5 (yes 5!) Wild Kratts magazines put together by the good folks at Topix Media Lab through the giveaway below: 

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Product received, thank you to Topix Media Lab for supplying us with a product for this review, all opinions are our own.

#Giveaway Introducing STEM through Dream Big: Engineering Our World 2-DVD Set (+Educators' Resources!)

Watching IMAX®  films at our local Science Center was a great way for us to beat the heat recently.  We weren't sure what the kids would think of their first  IMAX® giant screen viewing experience.  Would they love it or freak out?  We had been looking forward to seeing Dream Big: Engineering Our World as a way to talk to the kids about the many ways engineering impacts our lives and help ignite their interest in science and technology.  Produced for all ages, Dream Big showcases engineering's impressive impact on our world and our lives.  The film features amazing engineering projects, along with forward-thinking and compassionate engineers. The huge scale of the IMAX® format made these engineering marvels even more impressive - the soaring expanses of bridges and skyscrapers were pretty incredible and the kids were spellbound.  

Jeff Bridges narrates this engaging film about the wonders brought to life through engineering.

Now this amazing educational and fascinating film is available in a 2-DVD education-focused set from Shout! Factory.  It makes the transition to the small screen really well (admittedly without some of the stomach-flipping impact of the aerial visual effects through IMAX®), and Shout! Factory takes it even further by including a 150-page educator's guide, with detailed lesson plans, PLUS additional education short clips and featurettes.  As a former educator, I was impressed with the quality lesson plans that were targeted to each grade level from Kindergarten through High School, as well as special activities and event planning guides.  Even though much of the educator content is available at discovere.org, having all these materials easily at hand without searching and downloading will be a great resource for educators who want to offer enrichment opportunities aligned with the film. (Even if you purchase the 2-DVD set, visit discovere.org for even more extension activities and information)

Here are some example lesson summaries from the educator guide:

1st Grade
Daylight in a Bottle
Harness solar energy to light a room.
Topics: Electromagnetic radiation, refraction, use of recycled materials

7th Grade
Building the Pyramids
Determine how Egyptians moved giant stones.
Topics: Teamwork, forces and motion, ancient cultures and mythologies

High School Chemistry
Making an Impact on Habitat
Create a safe way to neutralize the byproduct of a factory.
Topics: Engineering in the real world, runoff from pollution, impact of human civilization

Bridge engineers in Haiti: Engineers work on the final pieces for the deck of the Chameau footbridge in Haiti, as seen in the film Dream Big. The Chameau Bridge will provide welcomed access to schools and medical care for isolated, rural families.

The Shout! Factory 2-DVD set is a perfect back-to-school resource for the STEM-focused educator, but its content is also great for community groups like Scouting troops or industry groups focused on engineering (I liked the event planning guide for 'Girls Night Out' focused on using the film and  inspiring engineering heroes to help encourage development of STEM careers). 

I loved these five messages for conversations about engineering (from discovere.org) that are reinforced through the educator materials:

Curiosity—Engineers ask lots of questions that start with: Why? How? What if?
Creativity—Engineering is a great outlet for the imagination—the perfect field for independent thinkers.
Teamwork—Engineering takes teamwork, and engineers work with all kinds of people inside and outside the field. Whether they’re designers or architects, doctors or entrepreneurs, engineers are surrounded by smart, inspiring people.
Opportunities—An engineering degree offers lots of freedom in finding a person’s dream job. It can be a launching pad for jobs in business, design, medicine, law, and government. To employers or graduate schools, an engineering degree reflects a well-educated individual who has been taught ways of analyzing and solving problems that can lead to success in all kinds of fields.
Helping Others—Imagine what life would be like without pollution controls to preserve the environment, life-saving medical equipment, or low-cost building materials for fighting global poverty. All this takes engineering. In very real and concrete ways, engineers save lives, prevent disease, reduce poverty, and protect our planet.

Dream Big delves into the inspirational story of Civil Engineer Menzer Pehlivan, who as a young girl experienced a devastating earthquake in Turkey. Here, Menzer uses everyday items to demonstrate to children how engineers design and build earthquakeproof structures.

Shout! Factory has generously offered a free copy of the 2-DVD Dream Big: Engineering Our World Set, including the educator resource materials, to TWO MommyKatie readers!  Enter below!

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Product received, thank you to Shout! Factory for supplying us with a product for this review, all opinions are our own.

An Incredible Summer made even better with Juicy Juice & Disney’s Incredibles 2!

We’ve been so impressed with the recent transformation of our 7 year old son into an inquisitive adventurer! Suddenly this summer, the reluctant joiner has become an enthusiastic thrill-seeker! On a recent outing to an amusement center, he cajoled the family into at least six laser tag battles (contrasting with his first try at attending a laser tag birthday party six months ago, which had him in tears and refusing to even gear up).

His newfound spirit of adventure was on display a few weekends ago when we attended the local Firefighter Combat Challenge. This is an awesome event that showcases the American Fire Service while at the same time promoting physical fitness. After watching a number of firefighters run the ‘toughest two minutes in sports’ in full turnout gear, our own Mr. Incredible was ready to try the Kids’ Challenge. Wow! He did great and loved trying it!

And speaking of Mr. Incredible, our kids have been obsessed since watching the new Incredibles 2 movie the very day it came out in June. Maybe that has inspired our little hero to explore his own superpowers a bit?! We were lucky enough to receive a family “Find Your Special Powers Kit” in advance of the film and the whole family had a great night of masked fun at our local movie theatre. 

The boys loved watching the Parr family’s adventures (and of course “Dash” has moved into lead position for Halloween costumes this year!). The kids’ friends were jealous of the limited-edition Incredibles 2 juice boxes from Juicy Juice (and look for their on-pack promotion in stores to get a FREE* Fandango movie ticket and enter to win their ‘Incredible Family Adventure’ worth $10,000!). We are keeping our fingers crossed! Visit www.juicyjuice.com/incredibles2 for your chance!

Sweepstakes Rules:

· No Purchase Necessary to enter Sweepstakes, ends 10/31/18 at 04:59 p.m. ET, 18+, 50 U.S. & D.C. Void where prohibited. *$7.50 value.

Thank you to Juicy Juice and Disney•Pixar for sponsoring this post.

Enjoy Summer Fruits and Vegetables with Easy Breakfast Smoothies

Visiting the local Farmer's Market is one of our family's favorite weekend outings.  We love the vibrancy of our local community on display - from the local musicians to our favorite food vendors.  The amazing bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables sometimes gets overwhelming though and I'm left with some produce that has to be used up on the quick.  My new favorite way to use a lot of produce quickly is of course - smoothies!  My mid-year's resolution is to eat breakfast and smoothies have been the perfect solution - I can whip one up quickly while the kids are eating breakfast and just take it along to work in my handy mason jar glass (and I *love* these awesome mason jar lids with a flip cap, perfect for smoothies!).  I can drink it in the car or once I get to my office.

Last weekend's indulgence resulted in too many cucumbers in my crisper, so I've been experimenting with cukes in my smoothies this week.  Now, many of us not-so-awesome cooks get intimidated about DIY smoothies, but I found a great basic smoothie formula that has been a guideline that has worked well for me in putting together tasty smoothies using whatever I have on hand.

Here is The Perfect Smoothie Formula (from nomeatathlete.com).
(makes 2 smoothies)
1 soft fruit
2 small handfuls frozen or fresh fruit
2-4 tablespoons protein powder
2 tablespoons binder
1.5 tablespoons oil
1.5 cups liquid
1 tablespoon sweetener (optional, less or more as needed)
optional superfoods, greens, and other ingredients
6 ice cubes (omit if soft fruit is frozen)

I like to add yogurt to my smoothies, however, so I usually omit the oil and use less liquid than this recipe suggests.  So, here's what I pulled together for my smoothie this morning:

Maddy's Awesome Summer Smoothie

1 banana, sliced and frozen
1 granny smith apple, cored and roughly sliced
1 1/2 cups spinach
1 small cucumber, sliced
2 tablespoons of vanilla protein powder
2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal
1/2 cup organic whole milk yogurt, plain
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon honey

Everybody in the pool!  That's what I love about smoothies - so simple!  I dumped everything in my trusty Ninja blender and had an amazing smoothie in no time.

Since I froze the banana in advance (A great tip is to peel, slice and freeze bananas as they get too brown to enjoy fresh.  The additional sweetness is great for smoothies!), I didn't add any additional ice this time.  I also kind of like my smoothies to have some noticeable texture to them, so I didn't blend too long.  If you enjoy a smoother texture, I'd add a bit more liquid and blend a bit longer.

I really loved this healthy and tasty smoothie!  The kids tried it and admittedly they were not fans - I usually make their smoothies with a bit of apple juice and more frozen fruits so they get more of a sweet treat (unbeknownst to them, however, I do usually sneak a bit of spinach into their smoothies!  Shhh!).  Since they wanted smoothies of their own after seeing my breakfast treat, I whipped a random frozen fruit and yogurt smoothie for them too.

I didn't keep a recipe here - I usually just throw in whatever is in the freezer and they are good with it.  Today I think we had mangoes, strawberries, bananas and blueberries (along with the aforementioned mystery ingredient - spinach!).  They were pretty happy with the results!

So don't be shy!  Experiment with your favorite summer fruits and vegetables to make healthy smoothies for your family!  Let us know your favorite recipes - we'd love to try them too!

Note: this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

#Giveaway Preserving memories with Canvas on the Cheap

Is it just us or does summer seem to be just flying by? Our family has been busy enjoying our time outside as much as possible and have a good number of photos to show for it. While we do make an effort to enjoy actual moments rather than just try to capture them, our phone memory is mostly dedicated to pictures. Some family pictures, however, deserve to blown up, printed out and displayed lovingly on a wall in our house. Many times it may make sense to go with a formal picture and frame combination, but other times a more unconventional option like a canvas print is the way to go. Canvas printing provides a unique combination of value, longevity and picture quality (we love the texture!) that is hard to match. So when we had a chance to try out a canvas print from our friends at Canvas on the Cheap, we jumped at that opportunity.

Now we have tried a couple of canvas printing service options before, but the website for Canvas on the Cheap is indeed one of the simplest we have interacted with. Only a few simple steps, and before you know it, your order is complete: upload a picture, choose the size, frame depth (deeper adds a three-dimensional feel), optional wooden border, and open or covered back. This may be a good place to point out that they have some of the cheapest prices on canvas prints we have come across, the almost-too-good-to-true level. Especially, if you compare the cost of having a similar sized print photo with frame.

The delivery of the print was prompt and without any problems. Given the price, we weren’t sure what to expect but the print out of the box looked great. Vibrant colors with no distracting glossy sheen (one of the benefits of canvas), taut quality canvas and a sturdy wooden frame, what more could we ask for?! We compared it against some of our other canvas prints and couldn’t really tell any difference in quality. The question of longevity and normal wear and tear still remains, but the first impression has indeed been a good one.

Given the low prices at Canvas on the Cheap, we've got a long list of other photos we'd like to have printed out as well. These canvas prints would make a great, inexpensive but thoughtful gift for holidays, birthdays or any other special occasion. If only they could help us make our minds about the right picture to print!

To bring more memories to life, the wonderful people at Canvas on the Cheap are now making one of their canvas prints (Canvas size: 16"x20'' / 40x50cm) available for free to one of our fabulous readers:

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Product received, thank you to Canvas on the Cheap for supplying us with a product for this review, all opinions are our own.

Bus Safety Tips For School Buses and Coach Buses

This post was sponsored by bus.com, and all opinions expressed in this post are our own.

In these waning days of summer, we are already thinking ahead to 'Back to School' season, and of course one of the most ubiquitous sights of the school year is the big yellow bus.  Do you worry about your child taking the bus to school?  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) a “school bus is the safest vehicle on the road—your child is much safer taking a bus to and from school than traveling by car”. In fact, students are about 70X more likely to arrive at school safely when taking a school bus instead of a car. That is because school buses are specially designed (e.g. bright colors and lights) and intensively regulated to be as safe as possible. In many ways, the greater risk for a child is in approaching and leaving the bus than being on the bus. The same could be said for public and coach buses (rented or commercial).

In addition to school buses, commercial buses are also considered to be one of the most environmentally-sustainable and cost-efficient modes of transportation around. A study conducted on behalf of the American Bus Association Foundation concluded that highway motorcoaches, van pools, and transit buses are some of the greenest travel options around. Being cost and energy-efficient, buses are a great option for group travel (e.g. to and from events) and now services like bus.com have made it even easier to select the right one for your needs.

So while buses are energy-efficient, cost-efficient and generally safe, it is also important to be mindful of a number of things that are important for bus safety, whether it be a school bus or a charter bus. Bus safety rules and guidelines can be summarized within the following categories:

Know who's driving the bus

Every time we get on a bus, we expect that it is in perfect working order and the driver is licensed and prepared for the ride. For school buses and public transportation, we leave those considerations to school and city administration officials. However, for chartering a bus it is important to do some due diligence in advance. A service like bus.com provides a simple way to feel more confident about charting a bus, as they vet the bus service, and the drivers, beforehand and driver/service ratings give an indication of the reliability of the service. When renting from a private company directly, it would be helpful to ask about driver and bus safety records, review company records from independent sources and of course, keep contact information close at hand in case it is needed to get in touch with them on the day of the trip.

Getting Safely On the Bus

The key to safely boarding a bus is to not be in a rush. This means arriving early at the bus stop (at least 5 mins, if possible), and not to run for or after a bus. It is also important to wait in designated safe zones, away from the curb and to wait for the bus to come to a complete stop and for the doors to open.  Children should be reminded that running and pushing others can be dangerous near roads, so horseplay is not recommended at bus stops.  Those boarding the bus should first wait for anyone disembarking to do so safely.  Holding the handrail is recommended to help keep you steady as you board, especially if there is a long line of impatient kids or adults waiting to get on.

Riding the Bus Safely

Most school buses and large coach buses don’t have seat belts and, according to the NHTSA, for good reason. NHTSA has designated school buses to follow the concept of “compartmentalization”, which protects children from crashes by strong, closely-spaced seats that have energy-absorbing seat backs. However, this requires everyone on the bus to be seated at all times with limited movement, clear aisles and for any large bags to be under seats or on laps. The bus drivers should be able to share any additional safety information specific to the type of bus you (or your child) may be on, so it is important to pay attention to what they have to say.  Kids should be reminded that it is safest to open bus windows only halfway, never throw anything out of a bus, and always keep your head and arms inside the bus.  

Leaving the Bus Safely

Patience is again the key to staying safe as you leave the bus. It is important for the bus to come to a complete stop and the doors to open fully before disembarking. Perhaps it should go without saying, but the most efficient way is for the passengers in front to get off first without any pushing and shoving. Using handrails again is recommended and you should take the time you need to navigate the steps safely.  Children especially should be reminded of the 'blind spots' immediately in front of and behind buses, as well as along each side.  After disembarking, the goal should be to safely get away from the bus as quickly as possible and always have the driver’s attention (and a signal if possible) before crossing in front of the bus. Some local regulations require an extendable crossing arm be mounted on the front of school buses to keep children out of the blind spot in front of the bus. If crossing the street is required, remember to look both ways as drivers passing the bus will also have a restricted line of sight.

Riding the bus can be fun, economical and safe for travelers of all ages, whether it is the daily commute or a chartered bus for a special event.

4 Gift Ideas for the Adventurer in Your Life

It's challenging enough to buy gifts for your settled or laid-back friends and family members, but if one of them is wild and adventurous, the task is downright daunting. You might automatically assume they already have everything or they won't use what you buy them. Don't fall into this mindset. Even the most seasoned traveler and adventurer has something that will make the next journey better or more exciting. For the perfect gift idea, check out a few of these options.

Boots


Image via Flickr by Frontierofficial

Buying an adventurous soul boots might sound strange, but with a pair of Justin Boots from Russell's, you'll be doing them a favor. These boots come in a variety of styles for every type of person, including traditional Western boots, shortie boots, hiking boots, riding boots, and more. Armed with the right type of footwear, your thrill-seeker can tackle just about any scenario, from climbing to the top of a mountain to riding a horse into the Grand Canyon.

Action Camera

Founded in 2002, GoPro was the world's first action camera, allowing adventurers to create videos and take pictures in the most hectic and crazy settings in the world. More than 15 years later, the market has been flooded with clones of the GoPro, as well as other options from reputable companies. The best part is there's a decent camera for every type of budget.

Ranging from about $100 to $500, these cameras offer adrenaline junkies the chance to document their craziest adventures from a first-person perspective, giving you and others an insight into what makes the lifestyle so fun and addictive.

Waterproof Lighter

Your intrepid friend or family member doesn't have to love a fine cigar to enjoy the versatility of a waterproof lighter. Consisting of a sealable capsule and using either a flame or heating coils, waterproof lighters are specifically engineered to withstand saturation, as well as heavy winds. You can use many of these lighters several thousand times before they need a new flint or wick, while others just need a USB port for a full recharge.

With this lighter in their clutches, adventurers can start a fire in adverse conditions, cook food in any environment, or add to their survival kit in case the worst should happen.

Travel Backpack

Although large backpacks have become the preferred form of luggage for backpackers and gap-year students, they're still one of the best ways to move your clothes and gear from one place to another. Unlike wheeled or traditional luggage, backpacks allow you to carry all your stuff in outlandish places where flat surfaces might not exist. When an adventurer has to walk miles up a mountainside, trudge through mud, or find a bungalow on the beach, he or she will be glad you found a backpack that's up to the task.

Adventurers might have a life's worth of experience, but with the right gift, they won't have nearly as many stories of failure or discomfort. Plus, when they reach the apex of their travels or escapades, you'll get to hear about how your gift made it happen.

Fire in the home: how you and your family can stay safe

A fire starting at home is the stuff of nightmares for most of us. Especially if we’re all asleep and have no clue what is unfolding. So, what can you do to give you and your family the best chance of escaping, if the very worst should happen? Read on for a few fire safety tips and advice.

Know your escape route

All offices and public buildings have fire safety signs, and emergency exits clearly marked with brightly colored or illuminated signs like the ones available here. However, most homes and domestic dwellings don’t really have them. So, make sure you know your escape routes.

Sit down with the family and discuss where escape points would be at various points in the home and make sure that everyone is aware of them too. Make sure door keys for doors and windows are in safe and secure places that the responsible adults or older children can access with ease. No one wants to be fumbling around for keys in a smoke filled room.

Smoke alarms 

Smoke alarms should be fitted in every level of your home and should be tested regularly to make sure they’re working. Can’t remember the last time you checked your smoke alarm battery? Go and check it right now. It might save your life!

Your sockets

We live in an age of electrical items – many of which need to be charged or are simply plugged in for a lengthy amount of time. Make sure you don’t overload your sockets, as too many sockets overloading an outlet cause a huge amount of heat that could start a fire. Old items with poor or damaged wiring are also a potential fire hazard. So, avoid using these overnight. It’s also recommended that you don’t leave items on standby overnight. 

Be safe in the kitchen

Most house fires begin in the kitchen, and with the types of materials and liquids that are around it means that the fire can spread quicker then you might expect. Always take extra care when you’re cooking with hot oil and never leave your children unattended in the kitchen with any part of the cooker/oven on.

If you’re called away from the kitchen while you’re cooking – like for a phone call – then turn down the heat of the cooker while you step out of the room. Or turn the heat off completely. Be careful of your clothing, especially if it’s loose or has long strips of material hanging from it. These can easily alight. If you have long hair – tie it up! 

Make sure things like tea towels, dish cloths or oven gloves aren’t hanging over or have been placed near the hob. Keep handles of pots and pans turned AWAY from the edge of the cooker; this ensures that children can’t grab them and no one else can knock them accidentally.

And, keep your stovetop clean! You’d be surprised at how quickly a fire can spread across old food and cooking fat!

4 Savvy Tips For a Sizzling Summer Garage Sale

Summer is fully underway, which means that homeowners nationwide are preparing for what's generally considered the best time of the year to hold a garage sale. Summer streets are bustling with those enjoying all that the long days and warm nights have to offer, which means your sale will get more foot traffic than ever -- that is, if you can pull it off like a pro. Here are just a few sizzling tips to help make the most of your summer garage sale.

Quality Over Quantity

First, many homeowners think that the more merchandise they can scrounge up from around their home and put up for sale, the better. But this isn't necessarily the case. While having a wide selection of items for sale is always ideal, you shouldn't overshadow the items you can sell for maximum profits with an abundance of lower-profit merchandise. This will just hurt your garage sale profits as a whole, and if it's really a cluttered mess, it can overwhelm potential shoppers and drive them away. Instead, consider donating any clothes or household goods that may not be garage sale quality. Internationally, more than 14.3 million tons of donated American textiles help clothe people and families worldwide, and there are countless charities you can choose from that will make good use of your no-longer-needed items.

Spruce Up Big-Ticket Items

This may not apply to all sales, but if you're selling any upholstered furniture or otherwise big-ticket items, it can help to take some time and make sure they appear as clean and new as possible. Typically, steam cleaning is the best option, since steam kills 99% of common household germs and bacteria like E.Coli, salmonella, and staph, as well as dust mites and bed bugs. Many homeowners skip the cleaning process because they're already selling the item and they think it's a waste of time. But it can truly make the difference between someone buying a piece or furniture or walking away empty handed.

Advertise Effectively

It's up to you to advertise your garage sale effectively and using various media. There are numerous websites dedicated to advertising garage sales, most of which can be found with a quick Google search. But at least create a quick post on Craigslist and write a brief description of the items you'll have at your sale and when it's happening.

"Post an ad on as many [websites] as you want, but aim for at least three. Feel free to describe your items in detail, but avoid sounding like a marketing executive. Simply tell people what you have and when you’ll have it, and let their own imaginations work out how wonderful it is," writes Angela Colley on Money Crashers.

Of course, it's also essential to advertise your items properly the day of the sale. This means both arranging them in an appealing style and marking each item or item section with a clearly visible sign and price tag. Several studies, including one from Brigham Young University showed that merchandise with a sign outsold merchandise without a sign by 20%, and just like retail stores, customers may get frustrated and walk away if they can't easily find the price of something. Either that, or they'll put you on the spot and offer you a price, which is likely to be lower than what you were hoping to sell the item for. Avoid the trouble and make sure customers can easily find the price of each and every item up for sale.

Don't Neglect Customer Impulse

Finally, just like a retail store, it can help to arrange smaller items near the 'check-out' table. These items could easily be impulse purchases if they're generously priced. For example, 75% of U.S. adults wear Rx or plano sunglasses, and selling things like sunglasses, keychains, and other trinkets for as low as $1 can make customers more tempted to snag them at the end of their shopping session.

Ultimately, marketing your garage sale effectively and based on natural customer instinct is the key to maximizing profits and sales potential.

Hints for Amazon Prime Day Deals - Starts TODAY!

It's almost here!  I'm so excited about the great deals to be had at Amazon Prime Day, the online retailer's giant 36-hour extravaganza.  This year, starts at noon PT (3 p.m. ET) on Monday July 16 and runs through Tuesday July 17 at 11:59 p.m. PT (Wednesday, 2:59 a.m. ET).  You can get some amazing deals!  But, of course, you need to be a Prime member to get them!  I've compiled some hints and recommendations for you to help you take advantage of the deals, even if you aren't a Prime member yet!

1.  If you are not a Prime member, you can sign up for a free trial.  This will let you try Amazon Prime free for 30 days. You will need to input a credit card, but if you cancel by the end of the 30 day trial period, your card won't be charged.  This free membership will qualify you to take advantage of the deals!  Of course, with the FREE two-day shipping, unlimited streaming of popular movies and TV shows (we watch constantly on the Prime Video app!), and the ad-free music streaming, you might just find it is worth continuing! 

2.  Join Prime Student if you are a college student (or going to be one in the fall - congrats!).  This is a great deal offered and the annual fee can be as low as $5/month if you want to extend past the 6-month free trial.  College students will love the Prime membership, with its unlimited music streaming, and reading on any device!  

3.  Once you've got your Amazon Prime membership squared away, download the free Amazon App.  You can review sneak peeks of select deals on the app and start a wishlist.  It will be so easy to get the most updated pricing when Prime Day kicks off!  The deals go fast, so your wishlist will be a great way to keep track of things!  (hint: in the app, if you press and HOLD an item listed in the 'Upcoming Prime Day Deals', then you can drag it to the shopping list that shows up at the bottom of the screen).  There are some directions on the Prime Day page in the app that show you how to do this, as well as how to enable notifications so you find out right away when your favorite products are live on the Prime Day sale!

AND here's another big deal - Amazon Prime customers who want to try Amazon's Mobile shopping app for the first time can get a $10 promotional code off their next qualifying $20 order by signing into the app by July 31, 2018!  

I was excited to see pantry staples like these baby food pouches or K-Cups on the deal list as well as more premium items like these awesome Sennheiser Noise Canceling Headphones or this STEM-focused Computer Kit. This is a great time to stock up on things you use every day (or all those things on that back-to-school list you've been ignoring!), as well as any gifts you need to buy for your loved ones (or yourself!).  I'm definitely keeping my eye out for deals on Amazon's smart home products like the Echo Spot and the Echo Show!

I'm hoping Amazon Prime Day has great deals on the Amazon Show!

4.  Take a look at some other awesome Amazon programs which are offering special deals.  For example, if you sign up for Prime Pantry BEFORE Prime Day, new-to-Pantry customers get $10 off $40 Pantry order and Free delivery!  If you love to read, I don't think you'll find a better time to sign up for Kindle Unlimited.  New subscribers get their first 3-months for only $0.99 (regularly $29.97)!!  This is a great way to take a ton of books on your vacation without packing anything more than your mobile device (using the Kindle app on your smart phone or tablet).  Of course, you can cancel any of these subscriptions at any time. 

Don't miss out on the Amazon Prime deals!  Let me know in the comments what your favorite deals are - I'll be sure to be checking Monday and Tuesday!

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.