3 Kids and Us

5 Things That Will Make Your Life a Lot Easier

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Let’s face it: no matter how much older generations say that the new generations have it easier, in reality, we are dealing with a lot more on our plate, and expectations that always seem to be out of reach. But we do have one advantage in the welcoming arms of technology and its ability to make our lives so much easier. So let’s look at some things that will help you save those precious minutes that get eaten up during the day:

 Slow cooker

Who ever invented the slow cooker should very clearly get a medal. It is so simple to use and yields fantastic results every time. For those who still aren’t familiar with this machine: it’s a large pot that slowly heats and cooks the food for a long time, giving you some of the tenderest textures you’ve ever eaten in your life. Gather a few recipes you like, throw everything in the pot in the morning and forget about it until dinner. If you haven’t had the time – no worries! There is also a high temperature setting that can halve the cooking time.

 Robotic cleaner

Sure, we know we should do a quick sweep-up every day, but sometimes we simply don’t have the time or energy. In situations like these, what you need is a little help from our good friend, the roomba. Just turn it on and let it roll. It will sweep the floors for you, and if you get one that’s quiet enough, you’ll barely notice it. It’s not enough to cover the top-to-bottom cleanings, but it will take the load off on a daily basis. You can also get a robotic window cleaner, that you simply turn on and let it do its magic – without any climbing on chairs to reach the top of the window!

 Home services

We simply don’t have the time to run around town running errands. Luckily, you can have nearly everything delivered right to your doorstep: from groceries that you order online, to a professional mechanic that will come to your door and fix up your car. Use these services whenever you can, especially if the alternative is going to the other side of town or having to pay someone to take care of your children while you’re gone. Research local shops and service providers and note which ones offer home visits that you can make use of.

 Multi-purpose wipes

There is always a mess to clean up, especially if you have kids. Whether it’s spilled food on the floor, muddy shoe prints or a crafts project gone wrong, you don’t have the time to dig through the closet in search for the exact right product for that mess. What you need is an all-purpose wipe that can quickly mop up a spill, clean a floor, table or hands. You can buy them or make them yourself with natural ingredients like soap and vinegar. Make an on-the-go pack as well, so you’re not left stranded in any situation.

 Bullet journal

You might have heard of this sensation that has taken the world by storm in the past two years: bullet journaling. It’s a creative mix of planning, keeping a diary and organizing your life. In one place, you’ll have all the info you need at a single glance, and you can customize it in a million ways to make sure it’s the perfect thing for you. You can find different trackers, like cleaning schedules, meal planners and daily checklists, that will help you not lose control of your life, while at the same time giving you the creative outlet you might not have time for otherwise. You can also find bullet journal support groups online where thousands of people can help you find the best way to track what you need.

No home is impossible to handle, and the only thing you need to learn is how to organize, delegate and save time where you can. When we take a realistic look at our 24 hours, we can see that there is actually a lot more that we can fit in there than we might think, without sacrificing any sleep or that oh-so-important time for ourselves. Hopefully these things will help you feel like you are on top of things, no matter the situation.

Important Things Moms Should Have in Their Car

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As a mom, you are expected to get everything in order. Whether you’re going grocery shopping, taking or picking up your kids from school, going on a road trip with your entire family, you need to be prepared for anything.

If you spend a lot of time driving around every day, your vehicle becomes, by default, your second home. So, it’s always a good idea to bring some essential items that you and your children may need while you’re on the road.

For those moms who want to have their bases covered, our friends from Alpha Car Finance have put together a list of important things that you shouldn’t leave home without.

Water

In case your kids or anyone gets thirsty, it’s handy to keep a couple of bottles in your car. You may find yourself staying in the car or at the park longer than expected. So, even if the water’s not cold, it should be enough to quench your children’s thirst until you get home.

Snacks

It may be the source of those annoying crumbs that you need to clean up later, but it’s either that or not having anything to feed your hungry kids.

First aid kit

For those scrapes and other boo-boos your kids might get along the way, you need to keep an all-purpose first aid kit in your car. Have some bandages, medicine, antiseptic, and some cotton, ready in case of an emergency.

Wet wipes

This is not just essential for kids but also for grown-ups, too. Messy incidents can happen anytime, anywhere. So, be sure to have a supply of wet wipes ready.

Hand sanitiser

Speaking of messy incidents, you can quickly protect yourself and your kids from harmful germs and bacteria. With just a few sprays, you can disinfect your kids’ hands from whatever unsanitary surfaces or things they may have touched.

Umbrella

In case you missed the latest weather report, you can always protect yourself and your kids from getting drenched in a sudden, heavy downpour or take cover from the blazing sun.

A spare phone charger

Nothing sucks more than having your mobile’s battery holding on for dear life just when you need to send an urgent call or text message. So, in case you forget to top up your phone, have an extra charger or a power bank handy in your vehicle.

Flashlight and fresh batteries

This will come in useful when you need to look for something at night or in dimly-lit areas.

Garbage bags

You can put all your rubbish conveniently in one place and easily drop it off at the nearest trash can.

Keep a list

In case you forget to bring your mobile or its battery eventually dies, keep a written list of emergency phone numbers in your glove compartment.

Items for entertainment

If you’re going to be driving for a long time, you need to keep your little rug rats entertained so they won’t get bored. Have some activity or sticker books, small toys, and some crayons stashed away in your car to keep them occupied until you arrive at your destination.

Extra clothes

When you have little kids, expect to have some unintentional spills to happen along the way. So, keep a change of clothes at hand. Put them in a handy tote bag and store them in your trunk.

For pets

In case you also need to bring your furry, four-legged family members, be sure to have some extra items for your pets like a food and water bowl, a leash, pooper scooper, and waste bags.

Are there other essential items you keep in your car? We’d love to know. Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Fix Your Finances After A Workplace Injury

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Workplace injuries are a common emergency situation many people find themselves in, even if you’re living a nomadic remote working lifestyle. It’s estimated that roughly 374 million non-fatal injuries and illnesses occur in the workplace every year. These can result in expensive medical bills, disability, and the inability to work. If you have a family, your priority is to look after them, but this can prove stressful, especially if you’re no longer earning a fixed income.

Luckily, there are many things you can do! Here’s a rundown of some of the most helpful tips so that you don’t have to worry about finances while you’re recovering from your injury.

Apply For Worker’s Compensation

In Australia, you can apply for worker’s compensation if you’re injured at work. According to the Worksafe website, an injury is defined as a personal injury that arises out of, or in the course of, employment if the employment is a significant factor to the injury.

You’ll be covered for things such as lost wages, hospital expenses, and rehabilitation treatments to help you get back on your feet.

What If You Can’t Go Back To Work?

It might happen that you’re not able to return to work, such as if you lost your arm and won’t be able to do your work without it. You could find yourself without a job, and your worker’s compensation will eventually run out. This is a stressful prospect, but it doesn’t have to make you feel helpless. There are still things you can do.

A) Contact Your Insurance Company

Does your insurance policy state that your bills would be covered if you were injured and unable to work, or that your income would be replaced? Check it out! For instance, Income Protection will replace some of your income if you can’t work. According to MoneySmart.gov.au, there are different Income Protection policies that offer benefits, but you’re likely to get cover for up to 75 percent of your gross income for a maximum time period stipulated, such as two or more years.

If you’re disabled after the accident, Total And Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance can cover various costs related to your disability, such as rehabilitation costs as well as debt repayments or the cost of living. Insurance policies can therefore be a huge help after a work-related injury.

B) Consult With An Attorney

According to attorneys Tait and Hall, anyone who’s experienced a personal injury can gain justice for it. An attorney can help you in various ways, such as if your insurance claim is denied or your employer isn’t communicating with you during this stressful time. Sadly, some employers try to get out of taking responsibility for injuries or illnesses that occur to their employees at work, which is why it’s essential to get a professional who can help you navigate this scary and foreign territory.

C)  Consult With Your Employer

If you could still do some aspects of your job in spite of your disability or illness, speak to your employer about your employment options. For instance, if your job requires you to write or do accounting work, you could do this anywhere as long as you have a laptop and internet connection. These jobs enable you to work remotely, which is especially beneficial if you can’t drive anymore due to your injury. Working from home would ensure you continue to earn an income in spite of your illness or injury.

When you get injured or ill due to work, it can be devastating and lead to a great deal of financial stress. By gaining control of your finances and achieving some financial support, you can help yourself and your family through this trying time.

3 Major Benefits of Educational Vacations with Kids

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Planning where to go on a family vacation is always a major undertaking. While you want to go somewhere the kids won’t be bored silly, you also want to take a much-needed break that you so deserve after all the hard work you’ve put in this year. Actually, you can accomplish all that and so much more if you plan an educational vacation with the kids. There are at least three major benefits of educational vacations, but when you stop to think about it, you’ll find many more as well!

1. Real Quality Time Spent Together

One of the great things about educational vacations is that you really need to spend time with the kids. Instead of going to a beach where the kids will play in the sand and wade on the shore while you sip tropical drinks and get that tan you’ve been looking forward to all year, you will have to actually talk to your kids. Don’t think that just because you are visiting Independence Hall, the Statue of Liberty, or the Space Needle in Seattle that your kids will not be entertained.

These historic sites have been thrilling students, not just Norwich University master in history grad students, but kids of all ages, for many years. Even if you follow a tour guide around, you will find that your kids have plenty of questions and will babble your ears off in the process. What better way to spend quality time with your kids than looking at our heritage together and talking about how it impacts our lives today?

2. An Up-Close Look at History

In fact, just imagine that someday your kids might look back on this vacation as the inspiration for earning that advanced degree in history at Norwich University. It is one thing to study history and world events in a textbook, but it is something else altogether when you get an up-close look at the places where history was made. Sometimes it feels like we are letting our own history pass us by in this digital age, but a family vacation to some of the most important historic destinations can ground us for just a few moments in time.

3. Learning to Appreciate the Diversity of Other Cultures

Another way in which an educational vacation can benefit our children is to show them the cultural diversity of the peoples living on this small (and getting smaller!) planet upon which we live. Sometimes it only takes a trip to San Francisco’s Chinatown or a day in Little Havana (Miami) to see that our nation is comprised of people of all cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Instead of learning to fear and hate other people who differ culturally from our way of life, we can learn to appreciate the beauty and diversity each culture adds to this nation.

There are just so many educational places to visit and lessons to be learned that you will probably want to do this very same thing again next year, and the year after that. You can always take a weekend trip to the beach or an extended weekend camping, but how often do you actually get to go on vacation that demands you spend quality time talking together? This is that chance, so use it wisely – a vacation your kids will remember for many, many years to come.

Three Types of Music Teaching You May Want to Pursue

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If you love music, or play in a band at home or just with your friends and want to take your talents one step further, why not get into music teaching? If you are passionate about music, teaching it will pass on your passion to the next generation of music lovers and help them get the best out of music they can. Below are three different types of music teaching you may want to sink your teeth into, depending what you play and what your musical interests and experience are like.

Instrumental Music Teacher

If you play an instrument, you may want to help others with learning and perfecting their chosen instrument too. If you’ve played any instrument for a long time, you will know the ins and outs, and you’ll be getting paid to do something you love. You need a certain amount of patience with this job as new students can take time to learn; remember how hard it was for you and you will find empathy with them. All students need are encouragement and lessons, and scores to take home to practice every week. You can do this in schools such as Kent State, privately at your own home or travelling to learners homes, therefore it is a very flexible career you could even enjoy alongside your regular job.

General Music Teacher

If you are passionate about all kinds of performers and styles of music, you could inspire the same to your students. You can teach any age range depending on what suits you best and what age you’d like to work with. Not only will you help students create their own and learn to appreciate music more, but the appreciation you have for music will also deepen. Kent State University offers an online master’s in music education to get you started and understand how to teach music; all you need is the passion.

Choral Director

If you have an ear for vocal talent and you know what singer should be harmonizing with whom and what song suits an individual best, becoming a choral director could be your calling. If you know about tone, pitch and breath control whilst singing and can teach it to your choir, you can pass on your talents and skills and make something amazing. Whether you are teaching an individual or a whole choir how to be their best, you will be inspiring and helping singers achieve their goals and perform at their greatest. You can also see how your hard work has paid off during school concerts, and watch the proud parents marvel at their talented children and the confidence you have given them.

However you wish to pursue your teaching career in music, remember if you have the love for music, playing an instrument or singing, the rest will come naturally. Who knows, you could inspire and teach the next Adele or Ed Sheeran! The best part, you will be getting paid for doing something you love and teaching it to others.