3 Kids and Us

5 Time Management Tips for Busy Moms

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You have so much on your plate for the day ahead. You have to drive your child to soccer practice, schedule a move with www.blacktiemoving.com, balance the checkbook, contact your realtor, go grocery shopping, and make dinner. This certainly sounds like the life of a busy mom!

We’re here to offer 5 time management tips for busy moms to help you out. 

Make Sure You’re Organized 

If you’re a busy mom, it’s crucial that you keep everything organized. Organization is an important time management skill for busy moms. Effective organization allows you to find whatever it is that you need in a fast and effective way. By doing so, this will save you a lot of time in the long run as you won’t be tearing apart the closet to try and find your child’s soccer uniform. 

Delegate Where You Can 

As a busy mom, it’s okay to ask for help when you need it. So often, moms will feel that delegating tasks makes them less worthy or less of a mom. This is absolutely not the case. In order for you to be the best mom you can, you need to take advantage of opportunities that can help prevent you from becoming overwhelmed or stressed out. Delegating tasks, where needed, are an effective way to prevent this from happening.  

Prioritize What You Need to Do 

In order to master the art of time management skills as a busy mom you have to learn how to prioritize your tasks. Whatever it is you must get accomplished each day differs regarding importance and how much time you have. An easy way to effectively prioritize your tasks is to create a “to-do” list. Write out your tasks in order of least importance to highest importance. Try and get the more pressing tasks done first and save the easier or less important tasks for later.

Create a Schedule 

A schedule is a mom’s best friend when it comes to time management skills. You are busy with multiple errands, obligations, and activities you need to get to throughout the day. In order to make sure that you stay on track, you’ll want to create a daily schedule. You can get as detailed as you’d like with it, but the basics will do. Creating a schedule will make your life so much easier and help you manage your time in an effective way.

Allow Yourself a Break

Even if you’re a supermom, you need to give yourself a break sometimes. Try and set aside some time each day to relax and focus on yourself. By taking regular breaks, you prevent feeling overwhelmed or stressed throughout your day. In turn, this makes it to where you can go about your day with more focus and energy. It’s also not a bad idea to give yourself a “day off” a few times a month. Schedule some days where you can practice self-care – like a spa day or a brunch with friends. You deserve some time for yourself for all that you do!

Spring 2023 Fashion Trends for Moms

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You just scheduled your furniture to be delivered from Black Tie Moving and saw an advertisement for a new clothing launch in Spring 2023. It’s hard to believe that we are moving right along in the new year. This means it’s time to start thinking about what’s trending in fashion this Spring. 

Fret not, we are offering Spring 2023 fashion trends for moms to help prepare you for your shopping spree!

Oversized Look

We’re going back to the 90s! Oversized sweaters, shirts, and joggers are in the spotlight as we enter Spring 2023. This look combines comfort with a touch of chic if accessorized correctly. It can be a bit challenging to style oversized clothing, but it doesn’t have to be.

Consider an oversized drop shoulder sweater and pair it with some straight leg jeans. If you’re wanting a more dressed up look, tuck the sweater in the front of your jeans and throw on a pair of short booties, heals, or classic flats. Accessorize this look with a chunky necklace and small clutch bag. 

If you’re wanting a more relaxed look, forget the accessories and opt for joggers instead of jeans. We love the versatility of this look.

Patterned Sundresses

Patterns are in this year! Out with the solid, and in with the fun and quirky designs. No design is too overboard this Spring. You’ll soon start to see department stores flooded with sundresses that are full of varied patterns.

When styling your patterned sundress, you want to try and keep your accessories to a minimum. In essence, you’re letting the dress be the star of the show. If you try to add too much, your look will become too complicated. The great element about patterned sundresses is that they are easy and versatile. You can wear them to a brunch or a casual stroll in the park as you enjoy all the blooming flowers.

Bring on the Colors

While black will always be in, Spring 2023 fashion is all about bright and pastel colors. Put the black and white clothing in the closet this season, and dive into the more vibrant pieces of clothing in your drawers. 

The style for Spring 2023 encourages you to get creative with incorporating more color into your style. This means mismatching and stepping outside of your comfort zone. As long as you make sure the colors complement one another, you’re sure to turn heads with your bright style.

Keep it Casual 

We have wonderful news as we come into the season of growth and blooming! The casual look is one of the most popular. If you’re a busy mom or a remote worker, you don’t have to dress up to be stylish. Relaxed outfits are all the rage this season – for everyone.

Keep it casual this Spring when it comes to your wardrobe. This means that athletic gear is on the rise. Athleisure brands, like Gymshark and lululemon, are catered towards all women. They also make sure to produce clothes that are both stylish and comfortable. No accessories needed when it comes to this trending style for Spring 2023.

5 Important Questions to Ask Before Buying a Home

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Everybody knows that buying a house is one of the biggest and most expensive decisions you’ll make in life. Most homes to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and many people need to take out a mortgage to pay for one. This means you could be living in a home and paying down the mortgage for the next 30 years (if not longer). Consequently, you definitely don’t want to rush into homeownership without asking a few questions first. So, in today’s guide, we’re going to take a closer look at 5 important questions to ask before buying a home!

Is this enough space for my family?

Even if you and a spouse are just planning to move in by yourselves, you should always plan for the future. Do you want to have kids? What about pets? Will your parents need to move in with you when they get older? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you’ll need to make sure that the house is big enough for your current and future family. Moreover, you’ll need to make sure that it’s big enough to fit all of your possessions. And once you’re ready to move everything into your new home, remember to contact the experts at Black Tie Moving for help!

Is this a safe neighborhood?

Nobody wants to live in a neighborhood with a bad reputation. So, do your homework on the area before you sign the papers. It’s very difficult to back out of a mortgage later on, so if you don’t like the neighborhood once you move in, there’s not much you can do about it. If you have kids, living in a safe area with good schools is especially crucial.

Can I afford this house?

Naturally, you should always do a thorough review of your finances before buying a home. Assuming that you’re getting a mortgage, the lender will review your finances before you can be approved. However, just because you get approved for a loan doesn’t mean that you will be able to afford it 5, 10, or 20 years from now. Therefore, it is vitally important to consider your current and future finances when shopping for a home.

Am I getting a good rate on the mortgage?

At the moment, mortgage rates are much higher than they were just a few years ago. Even getting an interest rate that is one percentage point higher could mean spending thousands of dollars more over the life of the loan. So, always shop around and even consider government subsidies to get a good rate on your mortgage.

Can I see myself living here for the next 30 years?

Many mortgages are fixed at 30 years, which means you will need to consider your long-term plans before making a decision. If you’re unsure about a home, you should think about what you really want for the future. Do you see yourself living here for 30 years or more? If not, why? Asking these questions will help you decide if a home is right for you.

Did you like this guide on 5 important questions to ask before buying a home? If so, be sure to check out some of our other articles on 3 Kids and Us today!

4 Ways to Limit Screen Time for Your Child

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Perhaps Black Tie Moving just delivered your furniture, and you notice your child has been on their tablet nearly all morning. It’s hard to see the consequences of too much screen time for children until it’s too late. Yet, there are actions you can take right now to help your child limit their media use.

Here are 4 ways to limit screen time for your child.

Set a Time Limit

While some screen time is safe for children, you want to make sure that it’s limited. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that you limit your child’s media use to under 2 hours a day. While it may be convenient for you to hand your child the iPad when they are acting restless, you want to make sure you moderate this for yourself as well.

Setting a time limit can help ensure that your child isn’t engaging in too much screen time. Following the 2-hour rule, come up with a reasonable plan for when your kid will be allowed to use their electronics. This could be one hour each morning and one hour in the evening. Find what works best for you and your child and be consistent with their screen time schedules.

Encourage Their Creativity

There are plenty of educational resources available online. Yet, this doesn’t necessarily promote a child’s individual curiosity or creativity. In essence, the more information a child is fed through a screen, the less they are trying to figure out themselves. This provides a setback in a child forming their personal identity.

As a parent, work to encourage your child’s creativity outside of their tablet. You can paint with them, write stories, or sign them up for music lessons. Figure out which creative activity your child seems to enjoy and motivate them to practice it daily.

Spend Time Outside

Research has shown that American children spend a mere 30 minutes a day outside compared to seven hours engaged in screen time. This statistic is startling. It’s now more important than ever to make sure your child spends more time outside and less time on their devices.

Spending time in nature allows your child to be creative, become familiar with their surroundings, and engage in healthy play. The health benefits are astounding when it comes to your child playing outside. Even playing in dirt can help a child’s immune system and heart health – along with increasing happiness and learning ability.

Consider Sports and Physical Activity

Too much screen time has been linked to obesity in children. This could easily be attributed to children being less physically active and overconsuming snacks while they watch their favorite TV cartoon. Less screen time will help them to not be at risk for obesity, but it’s also important that you encourage your child to be physically active.

Sports and playground activities are a great way to teach your children the importance of being active. Both experiences allow your child to have fun while also learning to enjoy exercise and moving their bodies. It’s best to teach your child, at a young age, the benefits and joy that can be had while being active.

4 Tips to Teach Your Children Mindfulness

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Mindfulness is one of the best techniques to help combat mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Take a break from scheduling your fishing trip with Outdoor Solutions and read about how to help your children be more mindful.

Here are 4 tips to teach your children mindfulness in everyday life!

Easy Meditation Practices

One of the wonderful things about meditation is that it is designed for everyone – kids included! Mindfulness meditation has a slew of positive benefits like teaching kindness, compassion, and self-awareness. Incorporating this ancient practice into your daily routine with your children is sure to help their mental health as they navigate through childhood and beyond.

Once your child reaches the age of 7, you should begin to help them learn simple, mindfulness meditation techniques. The easiest would be to have them become aware of their breath – the inhale and exhale. As they get older, you can incorporate some more meditation techniques like awareness of the thoughts that enter their minds.

Mindfulness Journaling

Journaling is a great resource, for children and adults alike, to help incorporate mindfulness into everyday life. Writing down feelings and thoughts helps children to acknowledge and organize what’s going on inside of them. In doing so, they will be more well-equipped to handle stressful situations that come along as they get older.

You’ll want to teach your child to journal in a way that helps them conjure up peace and awareness. It’s important to not put too many requirements on their journaling time. This is meant to help them have a safe space to express how they feel. This also means that you shouldn’t try and sneak a peek at their daily journals. You want to give your child the privacy that they deserve.

Encourage Creativity

Creativity has shown to have a profound impact on mental well-being. Encouraging your children to tap into their creative sides is an easy way to help teach them about mindfulness. When we create, we put all of our focus on what we’re making. It allows us the freedom and space to use our imagination in a way that promotes mindfulness and focus.

There are many methods in which you can explore with your children to help them be creative. Writing, painting, and drawing are common and easy ways to get your child to express their creativity. Just be sure to find something that they enjoy doing. After all, you don’t want to force something on them that they don’t find pleasure in during. This could backfire and cause more unease and stress on them.

Spend Time in Nature

There’s no better way to fully embrace the present moment than by stepping outside. Research continues to show that nature helps to regulate our emotions, lower our heart rate, and feel less stressed. By doing so, it’s a great way to tap into our mindfulness.

Spend time with your children outside and invite them to connect with their surroundings. Help them to learn how to appreciate the singing birds, the falling leaves, and the blue sky. Nature offers a perfect place to teach your children the healing practice of mindfulness.

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!