5 Ways to Turn Your New House Into a Home

 

When you first move into a new house, it can feel like a completely foreign place. While moving your furniture in with a reliable moving company like Black Tie Moving is a great first step, you’ll need to do a lot more before you can actually call your house a home. This isn’t just an abstract concept either. Your children, your spouse, and even your friends will know the difference between a mere house and a place where you’re family feels completely comfortable and at ease. So, in today’s guide, we’re going to take a closer look at 5 ways to turn your new house into a home!

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Decorate Empty Walls

You can find empty walls anywhere. An office building, a shopping mall, and an empty house can all have bare walls. So, to really make your house feel more “homey,” dress up your walls with fun and stylish decorations. And don’t worry — you don’t have to be an expert in DIY crafting to decorate your walls. You can just throw some family photos up on the walls to make every room a reflection of you and your family.

Invest In Comfortable Furniture

Making a comfortable home is all about ensuring that people actually want to spend time there. While you may find beautiful furniture that fits with the aesthetics of your home, it doesn’t mean that the furniture will actually be comfortable to use. So, try to invest in comfortable furniture. This will make your home more appealing as a hang-out spot for both family and friends. 

Host Cookouts and Parties

Making a house into a home isn’t all about changing the decor. It’s also about how you treat your home. If you never invite anybody over or never have special family events in your house, then it’s just a building where you sleep. It doesn’t really have any special meaning and it won’t hold any special memories years from now. For this reason, it is vital to fill your house with fun, laughter, and love!

Use Soft, Warm Lighting

Nobody wants to walk into a house and see bright lights white-washing everything in sight. It can be a strain on the eyes and very unappealing. While cheap fluorescent lights might be fine for the basement or the laundry room, you should invest in soft, warm lights for areas of the house where people will congregate. For example, it is best to use soft, warm lighting in places like the living room, dining room, and even the kitchen. Additionally, remember to make the lighting welcoming in your foyer or entryway!

Add Your Personal Touch to Every Room

You might be inclined to take all of your decoration ideas from Pinterest, but you should also try to personalize every part of the house. For example, if you really love flowers, try to make flowers a big part of your interior design. From wall decorations to dining table centerpieces, look for interesting ways to add your personal touch to every room!

Did you like this guide on 5 ways to turn your new house into a home? If so, be sure to check out some of our other articles on First Happy Family today!

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3 Tips to Be More Mindful in Everyday Life

You just scheduled your move with Black Tie Moving and thought about how you have been so busy lately. With so much going on in the world, it’s hard to take time for ourselves and to be more mindful.

 

That’s why we’re offering 3 tips to be more mindful in everyday life. Let’s get into it!

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Mindfulness Meditation

 

It comes as no surprise that meditating is a great way to help you be more mindful in your daily life. So often, people think that in order to meditate, they need to sit for hours under a tree. The good news for you, is you can meditate practically anywhere.

 

Mindfulness meditation only requires you to have a comfortable, quiet spot to sit. The whole purpose of mindfulness meditation is to focus on your breathing and any thoughts that pop in your mind. During your practice, you’ll notice thoughts come in – which is completely normal, by the way – and you simply observe them and release them.

 

If you practice mindfulness meditation every day, even for 10 minutes, you’re sure to notice a change within a few weeks. You’ll likely feel more focused, less anxious, and have more energy. Mindfulness meditation teaches you to sit with yourself, instead of running away.

 

Practice Self-Awareness

 

Self-awareness goes along with mindfulness meditation. However, to practice self-awareness outside of your designated meditation time is key to living more mindfully. After all, you want to try and remain mindful throughout the day, not just for short stents.

 

Practicing self-awareness takes time and energy on your part. If you start to feel anxious or overwhelmed, self-awareness brings you back to yourself. In doing so, you aren’t taken down the stream of overthinking or acting based on impulse.

 

It’s key that you give yourself patience when it comes to self-awareness. Try not to judge or condemn yourself if you get angry or upset. Instead, accept the feelings that are inside you and they will naturally dissipate overtime once you acknowledge the triggers for those unwanted feelings.  

 

Spend Time Outside

 

It’s hard to not be mindful when you’re looking at the waves crashing on a shore or a full moon on a clear night. However, nature surrounds us with beauty all the time – no matter where we are. We often forget just how magical and vast the world we live in is.

 

Allow yourself to spend at least 10 minutes a day outside in peace. Put away your phone for a while and focus on what’s around you. Acknowledge the trees, the blue skies, the sound of birds, and the wind hitting your face. Just breathe and feel with nature.

 

Spending time in nature has a slew of positive benefits for our mental health, including being more mindful. Even if it’s cold outside, you can always bundle up. You can go for a walk or sit on your front porch. It doesn’t matter as much your means for getting outside, it’s more about the intention. The intention is to connect back with the beauty and wonder of nature.

 

 

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How to Be a Supportive Parent to Preteens

The preteen years are a tricky time for both child and parent. The last of your furniture was just delivered by Black Tie Moving, and you start to wonder how your preteen will adjust to the new move. They didn’t seem as happy about leaving their friends and school behind. Now, more than ever, it’s important you let them know they have your support.

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Here’s a guide on how to be a supportive parent to preteens.

 

Compassionate Listening

It’s one thing to hear your preteen talk, but it’s a whole other thing if you practice compassionate listening with them. The preteen years are a confusing, complicated time for children. Often, they don’t feel they have anyone to talk to or who understands them. Compassionate listening means that you listen to what they have to say, without judgment or interrupting. You pay attention not only to the words but their nonverbal communication. Do they appear happy, sad, anxious, depressed? Listen to them with your heart, without an agenda.

 

Encourage Creativity

If you find out your child likes to draw, paint, or play music – encourage them in these creative hobbies in every way possible. Consider signing them up for classes or showing them online tutorials to expand their knowledge when it comes to their artistic expression. You want to let your preteen know that you support and appreciate their unique gifts.

 

Don’t Force Hobbies

While you want to encourage your preteen to be creative, you don’t want to force it on them. Creativity and hobbies are meant to come directly from the individual. You can suggest hobbies to your kids, but you don’t want to put any pressure on hobbies if they reveal to you that they don’t enjoy it. This could turn into resentment later in life, and it certainly makes them feel as if you don’t support them in the way that they need.

 

Words of Affirmation

What you say to your preteen has a profound impact on their wellbeing. Therefore, it’s crucial that you choose your words carefully. You want to express to your children that you support them, that they are loved, and they are safe. Words of affirmation are something you should practice daily with your preteen. Even if they aren’t as receptive to your positivity at this time, it will still have a positive impact on them.

 

Don’t Be a Best Friend

It’s hard to not want to hang out with your preteen sometimes. Yet, there’s a fine line between being a parent and being a friend. While it’s healthy to enjoy your time with your preteen, you want to always remember your role as parent. If you find yourself acting as more of a friend, your preteen isn’t getting the support that only a parent can give. In turn, this could backfire and make them feel as if they have no authoritative or parent figure in their life.

 

The Rundown

We all want our children to feel supportive. It’s tricky to navigate this. Speak openly with your preteen – ask them if they feel supported by you. Communication is key when it comes to building a supportive foundation for your children. Remember to just do the best you can!

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3 Skincare Tips to Reduce Signs of Premature Aging

The natural effects of aging can leave your skin looking dull, wrinkled, and dry. Certain factors, such as lifestyle choices like smoking or the misuse of products and tools with harmful ingredients, can speed up the aging process. While there is not much you can do to stop the aging process from taking a toll on your skin, there are a few precautions you can take to keep your skin looking youthful for as long as possible. 

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A few simple ways to reduce premature aging of the skin include:

Wear SPF 

This is one of the most simple but effective ways to reduce signs of premature aging of the skin. The sun’s harmful UV rays can damage your skin, leading to premature wrinkling and putting you at risk of medical complications such as skin cancer or permanent sun damage. Wearing SPF every single day, even when you are not planning on spending time outdoors or in the dreary winter months when the threat of sun damage is not as present, is crucial for keeping skin looking youthful. 

Avoid Smoking and Drinking 

Smoking cigarettes is one of the worst things you can do for your overall health and can have severely negative effects on your skin. Smoking can rapidly speed up the aging process, leaving you with premature fine lines and wrinkles and making you look older. Additionally, drinking alcohol can dry out your skin and cause severe damage over time. Managing both of these lifestyle choices and making the decision to cut out cigarettes and alcohol is one of the best things you can do for the appearance of your skin and for your general health. 

Seek Professional Help 

Even the most thorough skincare routine cannot do as much to protect your skin from the natural effects of aging as a professional treatment from a clinic like The Institute of Natural Health. Consulting with a medical professional to get targeted advice regarding your skin type and to undergo treatments and services such as facials is one of the best things you can do to preserve your skin over time. Keep your skin looking youthful and healthy with the help of professional treatments alongside your own lifestyle choices and skincare routine, and you will be surprised at how great your skin looks as you age! 

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4 Time-Management Tips for Busy Moms

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Busy moms are always on the go, and it can be challenging to find the time to get everything done in one day. Take a break from reading about boat lift permits at rapidpermitting.com and read about how to manage your time better.

Here are 4 time-management tips for busy moms to get you started.

 

Why Time-Management is Important for Busy Moms

 

Time-management is vital when it comes to being a mom. It allows you to accomplish what you need to in a way that doesn’t feel stressful or overwhelming. 

Time-management also helps you to not miss any important events or tasks that need to be done.

 

Create a Schedule

 

Lists and schedules are a mom’s best friend when it comes to managing their time. It’s all too easy to get caught up in certain tasks and completely overlook what you intended to get done for the day. This is where a schedule will help tremendously.

 

Start each morning jotting down a list of things that you need to accomplish for the day. It’s best if you do this in a block-schedule format to ensure you give yourself enough time for each task. This takes the guesswork out of what needs to be done next as the day gets busier.

 

Set Daily Reminders

 

We are so fortunate to live in a world that has smartphones that allow us to set daily reminders for ourselves. If you don’t already utilize this helpful application on your phone, it’s time to start. Creating reminders for your tasks is a great way to help with time-management.

 

Hearing the ping on your phone when you’re in the middle of planning your dinner helps to remind you that you have to drop your son off at soccer practice. Reminders give you the reassurance and comfort that important tasks won’t be missed.

Wake Up Early

The early bird certainly does get the worm. Set yourself up for a successful and productive day by starting it early. Getting a jumpstart on the day is an easy way to make sure that you have enough time to get everything done that you planned to.

Waking up early also gives you some peace and quiet time to yourself before the busy day ahead of you. This is a great time to create your schedule, eat a healthy breakfast, and sip your coffee. A clear, focused mind is key to helping you manage your time effectively.

 

Be Reasonable with Yourself

We can’t all be supermoms, and we shouldn’t strive to be. Instead, focus on doing the best that you can while maintaining a healthy, positive attitude. If you want to be better with time-management, you need to make sure you’re being reasonable with yourself. After all, you’ll end up exhausted by noon if you cram too much into your day.

Establish personal boundaries when it comes to your time. Acknowledge the things that can wait and put them off until you have time to do them. You also want to be reasonable in the sense that you should prioritize your “me” time. Give yourself time during the day for you – this could be reading, working out, or calling a friend.  

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3 Kid Friendly Kitchen Tools You Need For Your Household

 

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Teaching your children to assist you in the kitchen can help teach them about food, encourage a potential hobby, and make the task of cooking for your family a little more enjoyable. While spending time with your children in the kitchen can be a great bonding opportunity, there is no denying that it can also be a bit stressful. From keeping your child away from harmful kitchen tools like sharp knives and appliances to supervising them so they don’t make a big mess, cooking with your little ones can be an exhausting task. 

Want to encourage your child to spend some time with you in the kitchen while alleviating your own stress about them doing so? Here is a list of a few kid-friendly kitchen tools to add to your capitol kitchen & bath kitchen that are sure to help. 

Step Stool 

Let your child easily see what you are doing and make it easier for them to assist by placing a small step stool in your kitchen. This will help them reach cabinets easier and without adult assistance while allowing them to clearly see what they are doing while helping in the kitchen so they don’t make a mess. Many step stools are collapsible or can be folded in half, making them easy to store in your kitchen when not in use.

Salad Spinner 

One of the best kitchen duties for your child to help with is tossing and spinning salads. This is a task that requires no sharp objects or potentially dangerous appliances, and can be done without making a mess in many cases - plus, salad spinners look and operate like a toy, so your children will have a blast helping out with this task. Plus, having a hands-on role in the creation of a healthy salad is likely to encourage your child to eat it! Plastic salad spinners can be purchased for cheap at most grocery stores or even on sites like Amazon, making them a must-have for any kitchen. 

Kid Sized Utensils 

Allow your child to easily help you whisk, mix, or brush the food they are helping you prepare by investing in some kid-sized utensils. These will be easier for children to grip and use as they are designed for smaller hands; plus, many kid-sized utensils come in safe, soft materials like silicone, eliminating the risk of injury or harm as there are no sharp edges or dangerous materials. 

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3 Hobbies To Try This Winter

With winter in full swing, it’s likely that many people are putting their favorite hobbies on hold due to inclement weather. From playing outdoor sports to enjoying a ride on a motorcycle decked out with aftermarket parts from Get Lowered Cycles, many people’s favorite daily activities are not ideal in cold, snowy, icy, or otherwise unpleasant weather conditions. If you are finding yourself in this predicament, you might be searching for a new hobby to occupy your spare time. Here are 3 hobbies you could try this winter that will keep you busy and entertained, even when the conditions outside are less than ideal. 

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 Sewing 

Sewing is an enjoyable hobby that will keep your mind occupied and your hands busy during a chilly winter night at home. Whether you want to be able to alter your own clothing or knit yourself a sweater, learning to sew is a practical hobby that is perfect to take up time during the winter season. This can also be a great way to hand make holiday gifts for your friends, family, and loved ones.

Writing 

From writing in a daily journal to creative writing projects like writing your own fictional story, writing is one of the best ways to express your creativity and keep your mind occupied. No matter what you are writing, doing so for a few hours each day can help you process emotions and feelings and have positive benefits for your mental health. Writing is a great hobby to enjoy while trapped inside your home for long periods of time during the winter in particular, as it requires little to no additional supplies and is a great way to spend time alone with your thoughts. 

Decluttering 

While cleaning up clutter around your home might not sound like the most fun hobby, the truth is that doing so can allow you the opportunity to take account of all of your belongings while making your space more visually pleasing. Cleaning is also shown to have positive effects on your mental and emotional health, and can act as a natural stress reliever and mood booster. This winter, combat the negative effects of seasonal depression while giving your home a makeover and prioritize decluttering your space in your down time. 

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