admin, Author at 3 Kids and Us

A Welcoming Design for a Guest Bedroom

February 6, 2022 by admin

A comfortable guest room conveys a sense of welcome like nothing else can. Taking some time to make the guest room functional and beautiful is well worth the effort.

Although a guest room seems to be nothing more than a bedroom it is so much more for an out-of-town visitor. This room represents a sitting room, quiet space, television-viewing area, dressing room, snack bar, and many other things to someone away from home. Creating space for each of these functions will make guests feel right at home.

Guest Room Basics

Since so many different people use a guest room throughout the year, homeowners have the freedom to decorate the guest room to their own design tastes. However, caution should be used when selecting a colour for such a space. Using gender-neutral tones will prevent the room from becoming too masculine or feminine.

Accenting the room with small touches of brick red or sky blue produces an enjoyable yet restful space. Colours such as calm, serene blue, and green, convey a sense of peace. Painting one of them on the walls creates a serene ambiance. A buttery yellow tone on the walls creates a warm, cosy atmosphere. Adding accents of warm tones, like gold or tan, keeps the room from feeling too cold.

Like in any room, the bed is the focal point of a guest room. In a guest room, bedding should be carefully considered. Choosing high-quality 100% cotton sheets ensure the comfort of all guests. A fluffy down comforter will keep visitors warm in the winter and cool in the summer while offering a touch of luxury.

Hosts should offer several different bed pillows, from the incredibly soft to ultra-firm, ensuring guests will find it just the right fit for their stay. The bedding ensemble can be completed with a few well-placed throw pillows for extra comfort and a luxurious look and a bed skirt to conceal any under-the-bed storage. An upholstered headboard or European-size pillows offers guests a comfortable place to read their favourite magazine or catch up on a late-night talk show.

Little Extra Details Guests Will Enjoy

If the guest room has enough space, a sitting area is a beautiful addition. A small lounge chair and ottoman, or a chaise lounge, creates an inviting, comfortable place for reading or watching a little television. A small stand placed near the chair and topped with a good reading lamp and a coaster for an evening cup of tea create a great reading nook. A basket of magazines or paperbacks near the chair gives guests something to peruse during their downtime.

Another nice touch is placing a small television nearby, so guests can watch their favourite movie without disturbing others in the home. This sitting area allows weekend visitors a place to escape from the bustle of a busy day, and they will enjoy having a quiet place to unwind each evening.

Guests who will be staying for more than just a day or two will need the option of unpacking their suitcases. Hosts should clear out a portion of the closet in the guest room and stock it with various hangers. A low dresser offers a place for guests to rest their suitcases and a place to stash their clothing.

You can use the dresser top to leave a little snack basket for guests, including fresh fruit, bottled water, granola bars, or chocolates. A small alarm clock will make a visitor’s stay easier, should they need to rise earlier than others in the home.

If the guest suite includes an adjoining bathroom, it could be stocked with fluffy towels, a robe, and slippers for an extra touch of home. Including a basket of travel-sized toiletries, a spare toothbrush, and other items a guest may have forgotten to pack is another welcome gesture. Homeowners may wish to leave a nightlight handy for visitors to use, as well.

A guest room does not be exceptionally large or elaborate. A few simple additions to the space will create a room in which anyone would love to stay.

If you do not currently own a headboard, you might be surprised at just how much difference this simple piece of furniture can make. Not only aesthetically, but also to help you feel cosier, and get a quality night’s sleep, which is when all is said and done is the most key factor we should be considering when deciding on bedroom design.

5 Part-Time Jobs Parents Can Do from Home

January 28, 2022 by admin

Being a parent is not only time-consuming and busy, but it’s also expensive. When your kids are growing out of their clothing like it’s their job and starting to work up larger appetites, you may feel your budget starting to stretch a little thin.

If you’re a stay-at-home parent, then you may feel helpless when it comes to contributing to your financial situation. Fortunately, there are part-time jobs you can do from home that are perfect for parents.

With most of these positions, you can choose your own hours, set your own rates, and work on your own time so you can still spend time with the kids and earn an income. What can be better than that?

Freelance Writer

Everything you read was written by someone. Everything! Those websites you find on Pinterest with a long blog post and photos before the actual recipe were written by someone. The emails you receive with coupons and store offers were also written by a writer.

One great part-time job for parents is to become a freelance writer. Whether you enjoy writing marketing materials, blog posts, ghostwriting books, or whatever it may be, there are people out there willing to pay for you to write it.

Social Media Ad Buyer

When you scroll through Facebook or Instagram, you probably notice a large number of advertisements popping up in your newsfeed. This is because a business has targeted you as someone who is likely to be interested in the product or service.

Well, someone is on the other side of that advertisement setting the target ranges, creating the video or graphic, and purchasing ad space on these websites. This can be you too!

Find a business that doesn’t have a great social media presence and offer to start their ad campaigns and manage their social pages. It only takes a few hours a week and people are willing to pay big bucks for the service as it can bring in a ton of new business.

Content Creator

Those Instagram and TikTok accounts with millions of followers are actually profiting quite a bit from creating content. If you’re interested in photography and creating videos while growing a following on social media, you could become a content creator and influencer.

Partner with some of your favorite brands to promote them and you can make some great money and receive free products.

Real Estate Agent

While this is both in and out of the home, a real estate agent actually spends most of their time on the computer or phone rather than home showings. You can choose your own hours and make an awesome income depending on the types of homes you help people buy or sell.

It’s also never been easier to work from home with a lead generation tool like the one offered by Haines for real estate agents. You’ll be gaining clients and making sales in no time.

Customer Service Representative

If you’re a problem solver and don’t mind being on the phone or chatting with someone online, then you may want to consider becoming a customer service representative for a company that allows remote work.

While you can’t always choose your own hours, this is an easy job you can do from home.

Unexpected Destinations for Family Vacations!

January 27, 2022 by admin

Vacationing with the family is like flying first class vs private jet: no matter what happens, it’s going to be an amazing time. You get to travel to incredible locations with your favorite people and experience new destinations together. It’s choosing the perfect vacation for a family that can be difficult. Driving or flying? Budgeting or splurging? How many days? Once you figure out the logistics, then you can worry about the preferences! Someone is always going to initially complain or be unhappy, but all of that will fade once you arrive. If you need some inspiration, consider these unexpected destinations for your next family vacation!

Branson, Missouri

You may not think of it, but Branson, Missouri has all of the components for the perfect family vacation. You can make everyone happy. We’re talking top-notch sports facilities, gorgeous clear water lakes, exciting dinner theaters, museums, and a modern landing with shopping and restaurants. In case you haven’t heard, Tiger Woods opened his 19-hole course, Payne’s Valley Golf Course, nearby in 2020. It’s everything you’d hope for from the iconic golfer, both challenging and beautiful. Another Branson attraction is actually about 20 minutes south. Table Rock Lake is known for its beautifully clear water and gorgeous shoreline. Inside, outside, rain, or shine, Branson has some sort of unique entertainment. You just have to give it a chance.

Fort Robinson, Nebraska

For the history buff and conservation enthusiast, Fort Robinson, Nebraska is the place for you. As a former military base from the late 1800s, it has a ton of history. It was active during multiple wars, trained K9 units, and served as a POW camp. If you’re not interested in the history, consider the sites. Fort Robinson has beautiful views, hiking trails, equestrian trails, kayaking, and best of all, guided tours through bison country. The cute, “wild” donkeys that approach your vehicles for pets and snacks make this destination a must!

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Gatlinburg, Tennessee really is a great place to visit. The mountains are truly stunning and offer the adrenaline seekers the fix they might need. White water rafting, hiking, or a walk across the Sky Bridge will get the heart pumping. If you’re more interested in indoor activities, there are museums and theater shows aplenty…they even have an indoor waterpark. You could spend your morning exploring the aquarium, grab a quick lunch at one of the many local steakhouses, and spend the afternoon ziplining through the Great Smoky Mountains. The options are endless.

If you’re interested in a family vacation that won’t break the bank and will keep everyone happy, search no more. You now have three more destinations to add to the list!

5 Ways to Get Your Child Excited About Learning

January 26, 2022 by admin

Your child’s education is one of the most important aspects of their upbringing. Naturally, learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom. You have to teach your child at home as well. But just as importantly, you have to make sure that your child actually wants to learn. If learning is not enjoyable for young children, they will want to spend their formative years doing other things that do not always help open and expand their minds. So, in today’s post, we are going to look at 5 ways to get your child excited about learning!

Talk With Your Child’s Teachers

It goes without saying that a lot of learning will happen at school. To a large degree, this part of your child’s education is outside of your control. For this reason, it is important to speak with your child’s teacher on a regular basis. This way, you can exchange information, learning about potential problem areas that your child faces in the classroom while also providing their teacher with useful tips about how your child learns at home. If you’re looking for a Pre-K program that actively engages with kids and creates excitement for learning, be sure to check out the programs available through Frog Street!

Read With Your Child

Reading is one of the best ways to help your child learn. While some children do not enjoy reading as much as others, most children love stories. So, you can read to your child or with your child. Either way, having your child engage with books on a regular basis (ideally every day) will help them grow and learn through fun stories.

Limit Non-Educational Screen Time

Smartphones and tablets can be great tools to help your child have fun while learning. Though many experts recommend keeping your child away from screens during their first few years, they will almost certainly encounter them at one point or another. For this reason, you should ideally limit their ability to access smart devices at home without your supervision. When they are using smartphones or tablets, they should be engaging in learning activities or playing educational games.

Incorporate Lessons Into Daily Activities

Everything you do with your child is an opportunity to learn. Whether you’re going for a walk in the park or making dinner at home, use these opportunities to teach your child about the world around them. Your child likely has tons of questions about things they see and observe, so do your best to answer their questions and even create engaging activities or games around different subjects.

Show Your Own Enthusiasm For Learning

Ultimately, children learn the most from observing others. Moreover, children tend to copy the behavior of their parent, parents, or caregivers. If you seem bored by learning activities, how can you expect your child to get excited? So, even if you had a long day at work and are feeling tired, do your best to show excitement about learning with your child. They will likely mimic your positive attitude in no time!

Did you enjoy our guide on 5 ways to get your child excited about learning? If so, be sure to check out some of our other posts on 3 Kids And Us today!

Self-Care Activities Parents Should Prioritize

January 24, 2022 by admin

When you’re a parent with just one or multiple kids, you can start experiencing the feeling of burnout quite often. Keeping up with those little humans is stressful, tiring, and takes away a lot of the time you used to spend on yourself.

As a parent, it isn’t only important for you to be there for your kids, but it’s also essential to take time for your own needs. You can’t be a great parent if you don’t take care of yourself as well.

How does a parent find time for themselves? Below are some realistic self-care activities for a parent’s busy lifestyle that will help you feel re-energized and better connected with yourself.

Get Social with Other Adults

Spending all of your time around children can be exhausting. Many parents crave adult interaction, especially when they stay home all day with their kids.

One form of self-care is to prioritize these adult-only meetings. Every other week, make it a point to get together with adult friends without the kids or join a book club. Anything that gets you out of the house and kid-free will do wonders for your mental health.

Do Something You Enjoy

Before you had children, what kinds of activities made you happy? Make time to do something that you truly enjoy when you’re starting to feel overwhelmed.

Maybe you enjoy doing home crafts, going for a run, or making a certain meal or dessert. Try to do one thing that makes you happy when you can. Don’t say you don’t have time; you have to make the time.

Pamper Yourself

When we picture self-care, most of us think about going for a facial or getting nails done. This is an excellent form of self-care and can be a small escape from your everyday life. Schedule your appointment at a medical spa such as the one at the Institute of Natural Health and choose from a variety of self-care services.

Remember, when you look good, you feel good. This is the perfect opportunity to relax a bit while improving or maintaining your appearance.

Keep a Gratitude Journal

It’s easy to get caught up in the monotony of our everyday lives and daily routines. Sometimes we forget just how great we have it. To remind yourself of everything you appreciate about your life, try keeping a gratitude journal. Some people choose to write in it every morning, while others only write when they need the reminder. No matter when you use it, it’s a great way to stay grounded and realize just how wonderful your life truly is.

Get Out in Nature

Spending some time in nature can be a total reset for your mood and outlook for the days ahead. Breathe in some fresh air while your kids play at the park or go for a walk with lots of greenery around. Avoid using your phone during this time so you can really appreciate the beauty of nature and experience the calming effect it offers.