admin, Author at 3 Kids and Us

Bringing The Outside In And Other Great Winter Decorating Tips

December 21, 2017 by admin

With winter well and truly setting in throughout parts of Ireland and the UK, you will probably find that you keep trying to stay warm, even when indoors. This winter is packing a particularly powerful punch and with it comes dreams of warmer climes and spring weather. But what can you do in the meantime to make sure you create a warm and cosy atmosphere inside? Check out a couple of our top interior design tips for winter, some of which we have borrowed from Chill.ie and their great suggestions on home interior decorating tips for winter.

Bring The Outdoors In

One of the top trends this season is to bring the outdoors inside. This can be done in a number of ways, with small trees in the corners of your living spaces or dining room, pine cone accents on tables as decorative choices or by gathering up long twigs and sticks and propping them up in the corner, tied together with a pretty bow then accented with fairy lights, these are all awesome ways to bring the outdoors indoors and can help create a nature based cosy atmosphere, reminiscent of log cabins in the woods with snow all around.

Colour Blocking

Colour blocking is one of the easiest things you can do in a space to brighten it up and make it more cheery. Colour blocking includes selecting one or two colours and placing bold accents of said colours in places around the room in terms of throw blankets, artwork, cushions and rugs or lampshades. This can help bring some life and warmth into a space that is monochromatic or feeling a bit bland and dull. Which colours will you choose? Remember that cool colours can “cool off” a space while warm colours can “warm it up”. For those who don’t know, cool colours include shades of blues, greens, greys and violets while warm colours are those with red, yellow, orange and neutral tones.

Light Just Right

It’s no secret that lighting can make or break an atmosphere. If you’re going for cosy and warm, having lighting that is next to spotlight level can really take away from the ambience that you’re trying to create. Instead, stick with lower level lighting for those spaces you’re trying to warm up against those cold winter nights. Consider creating some unique decor by filling mason jars of different sizes with wads of battery operated fairy lights. This can create a lovely piece for a mantle or side table and looks fantastic in any space it’s in. Great for bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms or anywhere that you want to create a feeling of being cosy and at home.

So whether you want to spruce up a space for good, or you’re looking to bring in some bright colours to make it a warmer atmosphere over the winter months, these tips will get your home looking fantastic! Try out some easy to do changes today and revel at how different the space appears when you put in a bit of time and effort. You might be surprised at how little you need to actually do to make a space pop with warmth.

Road Trips With Kids – Tips For A Stress Free Trip

December 17, 2017 by admin

Source

Road trips are always a family favourite for a number of times of year. Whether it’s Christmas and you’re hitting the road to see family and friends in another town or it’s summertime and you’re looking for that great way to spend the warmer months doing something fun and exciting with the kids. The downside is that road trips aren’t always all fun and games and you can be left pulling your hair out when the kids get grumpy or bored and begin to whine and complain. From making sure your tyres are in good shape with www.tyreplus.co.uk to a must have list for road trips, here are a couple of great tips to keep the kids happy, and you stress free during your upcoming road trips.

Take Appropriate Snacks

Everyone knows that long stretches on the road can be hard on everyone, especially younger kids with tons of pent up energy. Add to that the issue surrounding hunger and you have a recipe for disaster when one of the kids starts going on about how hungry they are. You just know the others will chime in too. Stave off hangry attacks by packing high protein, healthy snacks like peanut butter on celery, cheese and crackers, cut up fruit and vegetables and the like. Cut up fruits and vegetables makes it easy to eat as finger foods meaning you don’t need to do much prep, just whack the food in some ziploc bags or reusable containers and off you go!

Bring Entertainment

Boredom on those long lanes of country road can really take a toll on your children’s attention spans and moods so it’s important to pack enough things for them to do. Consider getting your kids involved in the selection process, letting them pick the specific toys, videos or games they want to bring so they are actively a part of the team in ensuring they stay happy during the trip. Consider getting travel versions of favourite games like Guess Who and Scrabble or Chess. This can help keep kids entertained for hours playing with siblings. You can also think about loading their iPads with a whole variety of games they can enjoy on the road.

Take Frequent Breaks

Taking a lot of breaks to allow for washroom stops and stretching the legs and the like. Taking enough breaks to get everyone out of the car will help keep spirits and moods high and will also help maintain your sanity by getting the kids out of the car to run around for a little while in between legs of the journey. Try taking a break every hundred miles or every two hours or so to ensure you get some stretching and bathroom breaks in. Not only will it make everyone more energised, but it will help keep everyone comfortable and therefore less likely to get grumpy on the road.

So if you’re heading out with the kids this season or any season in the next year, keep it simple and easy and remember lots of breaks, snacks for all and fun and games to make sure everyone gets to your destination happily and in good spirits.

Important Phone Numbers To Have In Your Cell Phone?

December 8, 2017 by admin

In today’s fast-paced, technologically advanced world, most people will never leave home without their cell phone. Whether they love to check their social media accounts every few minutes, or they just keep it in their purse or pocket and don’t even look at it, the important thing is that it’s there, just in case it is needed. Apart from the phone numbers of friends and family, who else should be in your phone just in case they are needed?

ICE

Your ICE (which stands for ‘in case of emergency’) is an essential number to have in stored in your phone. If anyone needed to get in touch with someone on your behalf, they would immediately know who to call if there was an entry in your phone’s address book under ‘ICE’. If you don’t have that, emergency first responders, hospital staff, or the police won’t know which number to pick from your contacts. You can choose anyone to be your ICE number, such as a spouse, parent, or friend, but it should be someone who is likely to answer the phone, so think carefully.

Home

In the past, pretty much everyone knew their home number by heart, but today, thanks to cell phones and fewer and fewer landlines, it is less likely that you will know it. Having it on your phone means you can get in touch with someone in the household whenever you need to, but it is also useful to have in your contacts for when you are filling in forms or applications that require you to include your home number. You can just look it up, rather than having to remember it, or ask someone what it is.

Police

We’re not talking 911 here, we mean the local police for your area. If you witness something or need to report a crime, having the number in your phone already will make things much quicker than if you must search for it. Not everything is a 911 emergency situation, and by calling your local police instead of the emergency services, you can free up a line for someone who really needs them.

Attorney

Who knows what can happen in the course of a day? Having the phone number of an attorney such as Powers McCartan in your phone and not needing to use it is better than not having it saved but needing it. Attorneys can help with many kinds of situations, so it’s wise to keep the number of a good attorney in your phone at all times.

Motor Club

If you are the member of a motor club, having their number can be a real lifesaver if you break down on the highway or in the middle of nowhere, or if you lock your keys in the car, get a flat tire, or anything else that requires a little help. A quick phone call will mean you can get help and get home again, rather than being stranded or having to walk to the nearest town.

Auto Insurance the Right Way

December 7, 2017 by admin

It’s finally happened – all the paperwork is done and you hold in your hands your first set of car keys to call your very own. But what about insurance? With so many plans and companies and things you seemingly need to know and do to pick the right one, how exactly do you pick the right one for you? We’ve narrowed it down to a couple top things to keep in mind when you’re looking to pick the right car insurance provider.

Compare Online

Sounds simple, but is it? It is! You can save money by comparing online on price comparison websites which showcase costs and plans alongside one another for easy viewing, helping you make the best choice for you.

Maintain Good Credit

As with other types of insurance like life insurance, if your credit isn’t good, chances are your premiums will be higher making it difficult to get a truly good deal on your insurance. Check your credit score often and do your best to adjust it where you can.

Set The Right Deductible

Having a higher deductible reduces your premium, but it means you will pay more out of your own pocket upfront in the case of an accident. If you have a good accident-free history though, it could be worth the gamble to reduce your premiums. This can save you money on your insurance per month.

Beware Of Scammers

Crooks can rip you off by staging accidents or doing things like purposely slamming on their brakes to make you run into them and then claim that you are at fault. In every situation never claim responsibility upfront, always photograph the scene, and be sure to always phone the police to report the situation.

Reduced Mileage, Reduced Price!

If you aren’t using your car much if at all due to being ill, losing your job, working from home or other reasons, be sure to report it to your insurer. Less use of the vehicle means you can qualify for lower premiums. Just be sure to be truthful and not do this then use the car as much as you had been as anything that happens outside the world of your claimed use of the car may not be covered under this adjusted plan and will leave you having to pay out of pocket.

Pay Attention To Mechanics

If you have an accident and need something repaired, keep an eye on who the insurers send your vehicle to. Sometimes the shop they use will have an incentive to use cheaper or non certified parts that don’t suit your vehicle best.

Take Advantage Of Special Offers

Often times, insurance providers will give special discounts or deals to drivers that have no accidents, are mature drivers, married or have taken special driver training courses then you may qualify for a special discount on car insurance. Likewise if you have special devices in your car that deter thieves can help cut costs on insurance too, such as fingerprint identification and more.

So if you’re looking for a good deal on your car insurance, consider looking into some of the tips above. You might be surprised at how easy it is to get a deal if you’re willing to take an extra class or have a special anti theft device installed. It’s always a great day when you get a deal, so what kind of deal will you go hunting for with your insurance today?

Tips for Keeping Your Children Safe

December 6, 2017 by admin

In today’s chaotic world, it seems as if we have to work harder than ever to keep our children safe, no matter where they are. From playing sports to even sitting in a classroom, things can go wrong in an instant and life the way we know it can change drastically forever. There are some ways, however, that we can protect our children as much as we can from the dangers of the world. With that in mind, read on below for a few of the top tips for keeping your kids safe in different situations.

Safety at Home

One of the best ways to protect your children in their own home is to help protect your home to begin with. Installing a state-of-the-art security system and then having a reputable company monitor your home for you is an easy way to have peace of mind.

It’s also a good idea to make sure that you teach your children never to open the door to strangers and to never answer the phone when you aren’t home. These are just little things that can be taught to a child, but these little things could be the difference between safety and tragedy.

Safety in Sports

Sports, especially football, is something many kids are into today. While your children getting into sports is a great way for them to socialize and be physically active, sports can be dangerous. One of the top ways to keep them as safe as possible when playing sports is to always, always make them wear their gear. Whether it’s at practice, a game, or just practicing in the backyard, sports injuries can happen anywhere.

Make sure that they know how important it is to follow the rules of the sport as well. Those rules are in place for a reason, to keep kids from getting hurt. Stress the rules to your children before they set foot on a field or court and you should be fine.

Safety at School

While most of us never thought there would come a day when we had to worry about our kid’s safety at the school they attend, the day has indeed arrived. Whether it’s bullying or a shooting, school is not the safe haven it once was. Following a few basic tips will help ensure that your child is as safe as they can be in today’s schools.

The first thing you need to do when you enroll your child in a school is to review the school’s policies. Look for things such as what they do in case of a lockdown, what safety measures they take for preventing unauthorized people from entering the school, and their stance on bullying.

Talking to your kids is another way to protect them when they are in school. Let them know they can tell you anything, so that if they are being bullied or see something strange they will come to you first and let you know so you can take action.

These are just a few tips for trying to keep your children safe wherever they may be. From having a security system installed in your home to reviewing your school’s policies, these tips will give you a little peace of mind that you are doing everything you can to keep your children safe in today’s highly uncertain world.