Summer might be over, but that doesn’t mean the time for relaxing with your family is over. You might be back to work and school, but you can still take breaks and enjoy yourselves even when you’re not on vacation. Weeknights and weekends are for relaxing. So, if you and your loved ones want to stay close and enjoy each other’s company, then here are some relaxing activities for you and the family this winter. Hopefully, these ideas will help you over the winter.

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Camp in your backyard.

It’s so important to connect daily if you want to stay close to your family. Of course, it’s not always easy to do that in the modern world. Your kids are busy, and you’re busy. But you should definitely set aside time for each other if you want to lead happy lives. One relaxing activity that could help with this is camping in your backyard. Okay, it might not be very warm right now, but that’s why it’s so relaxing to get wrapped up in your sleeping bag and get some blankets to keep you and your loved ones comfortable.

Camping in your own backyard can be a great way for you and your children to reconnect. This is a great winter activity if you want to unwind. In fact, you could choose to preserve such precious memories by taking photos with your DSLR and creating a large family portrait to hang in your drawing room hall. However, if you don’t have a DSLR, you can always look for Minneapolis family photography services, where expert photographers can take family photos that you and your children would most likely cherish for the rest of your life.

Throw a festive party.

Whether it’s Halloween, Diwali or Christmas, a party is a great excuse to celebrate and let your hair down. The best thing about having a party is that the kids can have their own whilst the adults party elsewhere. Obviously, if you have young kids they need to be attended to at all times, but giving your teens the space and responsibility to have their own party at home can be a great way for them to relax.

Meanwhile, you can go out for a long dinner party and maybe even have a night on the town! Use it as an excuse to drink as much mulled wine as you like, and you might even want to bring along some CBD to help flush away the stress. You might be stuck choosing between tinctures and capsules, but the truth is that CBD comes in so many forms that you might just have to try a few of them to find which works best for you.

Do some baking.

You might also want to do some baking if you’re looking for a relaxing family activity this winter. Perhaps you’re trying to avoid the cold outside world, and that’s totally understandable. So, baking some warm and comforting food in this weather could be the remedy you need. It could also be a great way for you and your family to connect. Everybody loves food, right?

Well, baking together could help to tighten the bond between you and your little ones. You might want to get some cookie stencils. That could make the whole experience fun for younger kids; they’ll be able to turn your baked treats into fun shapes.

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Go on a bike ride.

You might also want to go on a fun bike ride if you’re looking for a relaxing family activity You can get a regular bike or a customizable e-bike for the family so you can go on bike rides anytime.. Cycling is such a great activity on so many levels.

First of all, it benefits your health. Your physical and mental state will both improve if you go on frequent bike rides. But when you combine that with the social aspect of riding bikes with your family, it improves your wellbeing to an even greater extent. Social time is very important for the wellbeing of our bodies and minds. So, if you want to relax as a family this winter, you should go on a bike ride. Don’t worry about the cold weather – you’ll be moving, and that’ll keep you warm. This will give you all of the physical activity you need, but it’ll also be an exciting way for you and your loved ones to make some memories together. Plus, if you plan out a pleasant route, then you’ll be able to see some lovely scenery, too.

Whether it’s you who are heading toward retirement or perhaps loved ones in your family, you should never be in a position whereby you’re just relying on a state pension. Of course, since you have worked most of your life, you’re perfectly entitled to have it, but it’s not a safety net. You should be constructing your own safety net for when you retire. It’s not just about having the kind of lifestyle you want, but managing your finances, healthcare, quality of life and desires when you’re no longer working. Since there isn’t any income you can rely on through working, you have to make sure that there is a continuous stream of incoming coming from other avenues. That’s where the real challenge of retiring comes from. How can you keep a constant flow of money coming in without actually working? Don’t worry, there are loads of options available to you, regardless of your current lifestyle and financial means.

A strong cash stream

People who have retired, will know how hard it can be to live on a small state pension because your monthly budget is decided by someone else. So, creating a strong stream of money coming in is something we all desire. Of all the options and methods available to you, it seems like renting a room in your home is by far the best option for a quick strong stream of cash coming in. Lodging is when you rent out a room, that’s in your own home. This is great as you get full control over the rent and tenancy agreement instead of handing over that power to an estate agent. Depending on the quality of your house and the room that’s offered, you could earn thousands of dollars every year.

If the room’s price is $500 a month, you would earn $6,000 a year. Coupled with your pension and other savings, this is a fantastic way to live a wealthier retirement. What young professionals are looking for is a room that’s not too far from major public transport such as a train station, good local amenities and lifestyle options. Young professionals are willing to pay high prices if they can get a brilliantly located room that’s close to their work.

Plans for the long-term

If your health has been on a steady and predictable path, then you are in luck. There are lots of different healthcare plans available – an open access plan would be the best option for some people, others may benefit from short term insurance, and others need a joint insurance policy. So, you need to work out which will be the best option for you. The long term care data shows that long-term healthcare insurance plans are better than any short-term options. This is because the premiums are not set to rise as steeply during policy shifts in politics and when there is economic turmoil. Put yourself in the shoes of an insurance company. They would rather customers buy long-term plans because it gives them security in knowing that payments will be made for a long time. They also would like customers to stay with them for long because they can predict what kinds of healthcare you’ll need in the future. Essentially, they can look at your health records or brief medical history, and plan better for the kinds of medicine, operations, and treatments you’ll use their insurance for.

Short-term plans are fraught with instability, the companies don’t know if that customer will be with them next year or whether they are just suddenly insuring themselves because they have been given a bad bill of health. It all comes down to trust and reputation, if you have shown yourself to be responsible for your own health and want to lock yourself into a long-term plan, you’re more likely to receive the best care as you age. Long-term insurances also have more affordable payment structures too, so they’ll be less money being taken out of your bank account every month.

Watch the economy

Making investments for your retirement can only be done with good care and conscious, if you’re watching the economy at large. It’s crucial that you’re reading up on financial news and how it will affect your pension. Pensions are for the most part, unfunded liabilities. If you’re in the US, it’s a good idea to do some research on unfunded pension liabilities so you know what kind of economic turmoil or growth patterns will affect them. Some people may wish to have their pension be paid to them in one lump sum because they either want all the money now for some reason, or they want to take the money and invest it. Check what kind of tax you would have to pay if you wanted to do this so you’re not caught off guard.

Investing in index funds is one of the more popular options but even then, it’s the right kind of index fund. You may find that in developed and or large economies that index funds investments are highly competitive. So don’t be afraid to look elsewhere such as in East-Asian economies like Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan or Indonesia for index fund investments. In fact, since their currencies are weaker than the USD, you may in fact get more for your money in terms of funds and returns. Of course, if you do not want to rely only on different currencies or monetary investments, there are other, stronger options to consider as well. With economies fluctuating over time, there could be an inherent unreliability on such holdings even if they may not become a complete liability. Instead, you could do some research on alternative investments such as gold and silver whose value can only increase over time. Websites such as gsiexchange.com/ can help you figure out whether gold/silver can be lucrative in paving the way to your retirement.

Develop your property

Before it is time to retire, you may want to consider where you want to live; and how for that matter. It’s common to want to retire in a large home in the countryside or even the seaside (to know more, go through Malta Guides or research online regarding various places and properties). Selling the property you currently live in is therefore a most likely event. In preparation for this, you may find that extending your home and making it larger will be one of the more prudent investments you make. By adding on extra room in the attic, building a conservatory, adding a swimming pool, building a patio, decking or terrace, etc, will almost double the price of your home. When it comes to retiring to a home you really want, sell the property for a major return on investment. You could sell your life insurance and get some cash instead if you’ve outgrown the need for specialized protection. This money could be put to better use in something you value.

We must all aim for a wealthier retirement. The options we have to make the wealth we desire for when we stop working, are greater than ever before. Utilize your pension lump sum to invest in growing markets abroad. Take a look at long-term health insurance plans that are cheaper than the alternative.

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When things go wrong in life they can really take their toll on your mental health. Losing a loved one, going through a breakup, suffering ill health, or getting made redundant are all major life incidents that cannot be ignored. But so often when things happen that we cannot deal with, we close ourselves off from them and try to ignore the complicated emotions that threaten to consume us.

But pushing aside your feelings and filling your life with distractions is a one-way ticket to disaster. Unmanaged feelings and situations that are ignored will ultimately end up causing much great pain and have an effect on the wider areas of your life.

In order to ensure that your problems do not consume you and cause you much deeper bouts of depression and anxiety, you need to be proactive in your approach to dealing with them. Try to recognize the effects that these problems could have on your life as early as possible, and then take measures to protect yourself from the harm they may cause you.

Seeking Assistance

For every problem that you may face in life, there are countless others going through that exact thing right now. There will be even more who have dealt with it in the past. You are certainly not alone in what you are going through, and you are not the only one who knows how you feel. In seeking professional help, you are not only preventing the bottling of these negative emotions, but you are also letting yourself be vulnerable enough to ask for help. Now, this professional might conduct therapies like CBT on you, or they might prescribe you some Medicinal Marijuana products like purple grape. Either way, seeking out assistance for bad mental can only come with good.

Every problem in life comes with a solution. And, for every solution, there is someone who is trained to deliver it. That may mean finding a specialist oncologist, a marriage counselor with a high success rate of helping couples understand each other or a lawyer who has been handling wrongful death cases for over two decades. Whatever you need, there are professionals out there who are qualified and experienced in supporting your every need.

There are times when you are not at fault, but you are the one who has to bear the consequences. For example, at times, because of someone else’s negligence, like driving dangerously or carelessly, can result in the death of a loved one. However, it is critical that you take care of yourself during this difficult time and seek justice for them by taking the help of wrongful death attorneys in St Louis or wherever you live. It is critical to understand that accepting assistance is not a sign of being weak; if you can benefit from it, why not?

Charities And Support Groups

Many people feel so passionately about helping others out that they give their spare time over to doing it. For some, it comes from an experience of the particular thing that they focus their support on, while for others it stems from genuine altruism. There are some beautiful, caring people in the world, and when you need them, you should not be afraid to ask.

These people may be found working for charities, or support groups that provide a friendly ear to those who need it the most. There may even be people who provide essential services, such as legal help, who decide to work pro bono cases to help people on a variety of different cases. For example, if you or someone you know should have a problem with will disbursal or asset distribution after the death of a loved one, then you may just find a probate lawyer willing to work at minimal or no fee at all. During times of grief, it is not a bad thing to get some assistance. You should never be ashamed to ask for the help of people such as this, as they give their time and attention freely and want to be of assistance.

Talking To Friends And Families

If you had a good friend with a problem, would you listen to them? Would you offer them support and show them that they had a friend that they could rely on when they need it the most? If you would do that for someone else, they would do the same for you. Turning to your friends in your time of need is not something that you should be scared to do. You may be surprised to find who your most caring friends will be.

Feast #5 of 7 Annual Jewish Feasts (sundown Sept. 29, 2019)

Participate in the ancient festival, FEAST OF TRUMPETS, (some contemporary sects celebrate it as Rosh Hashana or L’Shana Tova or Happy New Year) with music beginning sundown September 29, 2019 FEAST. 

Feel free to post or air the attached song by Karen Sokolof Javitch: 

Video of Happy New Year – L’Shana Tova song: 

Audio of downloadable Happy New Year – L’Shana Tova song: 

https://jmrproductions.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Happy-New-Year-Karen-MIX.mp3

Singer/songwriter Karen Javitch welcomes all Jews and Christians and those of any beliefs to celebrate this special feast in unity as fellow sojourners on earth, the third planet from the sun in the Solar System in The Milky Way in the Universe, which is not even a speck compared to the unmeasurable expanse of the Creator of all.

ABOUT KAREN SOKOLOF JAVITCH…

    Karen Sokolof Javitch has produced and written the songs for 15 CD’s, including 4 musicals and was the creator and co-host of a popular Omaha radio show, “It’s the Beat”. Feeling very thankful she can express herself through her music, she tries to help others by raising money with her songs and musicals and has raised more than $350,000 for national and local charities though her original music.  Her musicals, including one about Princess Diana, have been performed all over the country.  She is an award-winning songwriter and her music has been on television and in some movies.  

    Karen’s music includes a variety of songs about exercising and good health, celebrities, holidays, weddings, politics, children, babies, education, patriotism, love and family.  She especially loves to put on shows where kids and teenagers sing her songs! Some of her performances may be viewed on YouTube, as she has more than 90 music videos on the site and some have gone viral such as her hilarious song about the Octomom that has garnered about 10 million views. Karen’s songs are for anyone between the ages of 1 and 121! Visit Karen’s music website JMR Productions to see more of her musical and charitable work. 

CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin 919-437-0001 jerry@specialguests.com

Or Andy Greenberg 402-250-3895 andygreenberg.jmrproductions@gmail.com 

Are you a hoarder? Do you have lots of lovely stuff but just not enough room for it all? Don’t worry; you’re not alone – to some extent we all love to hoard. Be it furniture or clothing, we all have items that we’ve had for years and just can’t seem to bear to part with. The problem is that if you fill your home with items that you no longer need (or want), it’s impossible to create a clean, tidy and organized space. If you want a beautiful home to be proud of you have to get organized – it might seem impossible but it’s not.

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Focus on one room at a time

Going through your whole house at one time choosing what to keep and get rid of is extremely stressful and overwhelming. Instead, start with one room at a time and work through the items in there. You’ll find that by working on one area at a time that it will be less overwhelming and easier to manage. You can choose to do one room a day or get your entire house done in a weekend; it’s up to you.

Be smart about storage space

As someone who likes to hoard, it’s essential that your home has plenty of clever storage space. If you lack storage, you can either look for self storage facilities or get creative to add more to your home. If your home has plenty of storage space, you’ll find that keeping it organized is much easier. If you don’t have space to store all your bits and bobs, your home is never going to look good. So it’s crucial that you’re smart about storage space and do all that you can to ensure you have plenty of options. From built in wardrobes to attic storage, there are lots that you can do.

Be ruthless

It’s never easy parting with belongings, but if you want a lovely home that’s neat and well organized, you have to be ruthless. Any items that you no longer need or use get rid of. There’s no point keeping things just in case you need them – be ruthless and get rid of anything you no longer need. Just think, the items that you get rid of might be able to help someone else. You see, there’s a silver lining to everything, even getting rid of your old junk.

Consider using self-storage

If you have items that you want but have no use for at the moment, then consider using self-storage. While it’s important to get rid of the junk that you don’t need, valuable items that you just don’t need right now are worth keeping. Instead of chucking them out, use a self-storage company or unit to keep these items safe. They won’t be cluttering up your home anymore and will be safely stored away, giving you the best of both worlds. Just make sure that before you start using self-storage that you can afford the monthly fees.

Once you’ve taken these tips on board, you’ll find it much easier to keep your home organized. Be ruthless and get rid of any junk, store what needs storing, and most importantly, be smart about storage space.

Image – CC0 Licence

While we can have a lot of fun with our family at home, if we live in an area that’s not particularly safe we have major concerns about the welfare of our children, we’ve got to find ways to look after our family. But looking after a family is such a broad and varied term, that we need to ensure we do it in the right possible ways. If we end up being overprotective, this can stifle our children, so it’s about providing that safety net, without them feeling stifled. What are the best ways that we can do all of this?

Securing Your Home

Keeping your children safe at home is not just about a home security system, but it’s about looking at your property and seeing if there are any potential weaknesses, for example, if the windows and doors need replacing. Sometimes we can move into a house that we think is safe, but it turns out there’s quite a lot of work that needs doing to it. Think about it in terms of a new property, what would you do to bring it all up to code? As well as this think about teaching some common-sense approaches to your children when in the home. For example, if someone rings the doorbell, getting your children into the habit of looking through the eyepiece to see if it’s someone they know or a stranger.

Getting To Know Your Neighbors

This is a very simple thing, but it can be a major lifesaver. There are going to be times when you’re not able to get home, and your children, although self-sufficient, may still need a watchful eye. As such, getting to know other people in your neighborhood isn’t something that isn’t done much nowadays. Getting to know your neighbors means they will keep a lookout for unusual activity, as well as keep a watchful eye on your children giving you that extra bit of peace of mind.

Get Insured

Peace of mind is crucial, not just in a personal sense, but in an administrative one as well. For example, if a person has just started a taxi business, securing the future of vehicles with insurance (have a look at the Nevada taxi insurance quote, if interested) might be the most essential step that needs to be taken. Such measures usually help the business owners recover their losses in case of an accident. This could be similar to an individual subscribing to a life and health insurance policy. A right insurance policy means that, if you suffer a major blow, after perhaps being on holiday, and come back to find a burglar has demolished your home, you don’t have to worry that all your possessions have gone. When it comes to heirlooms and precious items, it’s always worth getting a family-safe of some sort, but an insurance policy is something to do if you’ve not already got one in place. An insurance policy means that, despite the problems you suffer, everything will be fixed in the end. So, get health insurance or life insurance, according to your lifestyle and circumstances. Finding the right insurance product isn’t hard as in the old times. Since most of the insurance industry has gone digital (check this page to learn more), getting an insurance quote won’t take much time. But, do the required research before settling on a particular plan. For instance, if you decide to choose a company like Ethos Life Insurance, do read up on it and look for a reliable ethos life insurance review and then make your decision.

Looking after your family is about ensuring they’re safe but remember that they don’t want to feel stifled by your protectiveness. The same time, you shouldn’t feel bound by stress, thinking you have to protect everyone all of the time. This isn’t good for you. Looking after your family is, in the grand scheme of things, a combination method of protection, common sense, as well as peace of mind.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay 

Cleaning your house sometimes feels like it never ends, if you do a bit one evening and then a bit the next, by the time you’ve got around the whole house it’s time to start again, so sometimes it’s a good idea to not only do it all in one go but to do a thorough deep clean all in one go. Set aside some time, it doesn’t have to take all day even but give it more time so that you can get stuck into the areas you usually skim over.

How To Deep Clean The Kitchen

If you wash floors and wipe surfaces every week, concentrate on kitchen appliances and cupboards for a thorough clean. Open the windows, get any pets out of the way and go through this list:

The Fridge

Clear out the fridge, remove any old food and wipe out drawers and compartments with a damp cloth

Cupboards

Empty wipe down cupboards and throw away anything that is out-of-date.

Floors

Sweep and mop the floors, pull out any removable appliances such as the cooker or the fridge and clean underneath and behind

The Hob

Scrub your hob using a cleaning product that is suitable for the type of hob you have; it’s likely to be ceramic, glass or hot plate

The Oven

You can either find a video on how to clean your oven if you’re not sure or, get a professional in to save you the job. 

How To Deep Clean The Bathroom

Having a clean bathroom can make a world of difference to your house, make it sparkle, and once you’re done, you can treat yourself so a long relaxing bath. 

Surfaces And Cupboard

Wipe down all the surfaces and clean out the cupboards, and throw away any out-of-date products or medication

Tiles

Clean tiles with a scrubbing brush, and make sure you pay attention to any mold or mildew that has built up on the grouting. If this is bad, then have a look for professional mold services to help you out.

The Shower And Bath

Try using natural products like vinegar and baking soda in the bathroom as these are useful for removing tough soap scum. You could also use a disinfectant on areas where bacteria are likely to build up. 

The Toilet

Not the most glamorous of jobs but the toilet does need a thorough clean, using a toilet cleaner to tackle hardened limescale build-up

Accessories

Wash any bath mats, your shower curtain, all hand towels, and face cloths, anything you have in there, take it out and bung it in the wash. 

How To Deep Clean The Bedroom

As well as the general, vacuuming, dusting and wiping surfaces, to do a real deep clean pay special attention to:

The Curtains And Blinds

Wash curtains and or dust blinds but make sure you always read the care label first before putting anything in the washing machine

The Bed

Wash all your bedding and flip your mattress while you’re at it.  But if you are doing it for years, better to purchase a new mattress. You may check this review portal MyBestMattress for variety of mattresses that high quality yet affordable.

The Clutter

Sort and re-arrange wardrobes, concentrating on ‘junk’ drawers and forgotten storage space.