Monthly Archives: August 2020

A Guide for People Who Wants to Consider Independent Living

Enjoying independence when you become an adult is a liberating experience. It provides you new opportunities to discover new things about yourself. Also, you get to enjoy the privilege of having the freedom to make important life decisions. That is probably why a lot of young adults prefer to move out the moment they graduate from school and start pursuing a career. They want to experience the joys of not asking for permission for every little thing they need to do. Indeed, this is a wonderful experience, but it’s never easy to live independently. That is especially true if you want to start living alone.

You need to make some adjustments in your lifestyle to ensure that you survive independent living. Moving to a new home is probably included in your immediate goals. However, before you decide to start living alone, you have to ensure that you are mentally and financially prepared for it. Remember that owning a house or simply moving to a new city is a huge milestone. It’s also a huge challenge, especially if it’s your first time staying far from your family. To help you prepare for this, here are some pointers to remember to ensure that you survive living alone:

  • Learning how to budget is essential—You need to learn financial management skills to survive solo living. Remember, you need to pay for utility bills and other financial obligations. Thus, you have to learn how to budget wisely. Learn how to allocate funds and ensure that you also have an extra fund to save for your future.
  • Managing your time should be a daily routine—No one will tell you what to do, so you can spend your day any way you like it. However, you need to remind yourself that you have to fulfill your obligations no matter what. You need to clean and maintain the house, prepare your meals, and take care of a lot of things at the same time. You need to get used to accomplishing tasks alone.
  • Prioritizing your health is a must—You need to keep reminding yourself to take care of your health. Even if you are too busy with your career, you need to have time to focus on your health. Watch what you eat and drink and make sure that you consume nutritious food always. Make sure that you also find time to exercise to stay fit and active.

There are several strategies that you can use to ensure that you survive living alone. Keep in mind that having no one to talk to when you get home can make you sad at times. However, you need to get used to this situation if you want to continue living independently. If you wish, you can adopt a dog so you can have a companion at home. Taking care of them will be easy, especially if you have been a dog lover all your life. You can also get puppy training to ensure that your furry pal will not have trouble staying home whenever you go out for work.

Solo living is a huge privilege, but it’s also a real challenge for a lot of people. It may even scare you at first, but you need to get over this fear if you want to become a successful adult. Adjusting your routine will be difficult. Missing your family will also challenge you to continue living alone. However, you can slowly learn to change your lifestyle. The process will be a real struggle, but it will be worth it in the end.

Why Art Needs to Be in Your Children’s Life

There are pieces of art everywhere you go. You have ad posters out there that showcase the good eye of a photographer. Parks have statues and other sculptures scattered around the premises. All the structures that you see, no matter how big or small, are products of the creative minds of different architects. There are many others out there that you can consider calling art pieces such as wallpaper murals and even graffiti. They have such an effect on you that it makes you stop and take notice. You cannot help but admire the surrounding creativity.

They say that children have some of the most imaginative minds. There could be a semblance of truth to this. Remember that you were young once, and you most likely enjoyed those art classes where the teacher made you draw anything you want with your crayons. There is a sense of wonder there that seems to get lost as you grow up. But it is a great feeling to have, and this is the reason why art should be a big part of a child’s life.

Nurture Brain Activity

Art helps nurture a child’s creativity. This is important because it helps stimulate the mind. Making an art piece requires the kid to think of something from scratch, and this will make the brain activity go into overdrive. It is a direct opposite of feeding the information, where the actual thinking is done by another person.

This is also a great way to exercise a child’s ability to grab something from their memory and put that into writing. For example, if you had a recent visit to the zoo, you can ask them to draw what they saw there. The act of remembering something is yet another great exercise for their gray matter. In addition, the drawing part helps them develop their motor skills.

Encourage Uniqueness

Having a TV or tablet that can help in making a child behave is not a bad thing. There is a great chance that the kid likes enjoying stuff like millions of others do. They could just be viewing kiddie videos online. Some kids like to view the same content over and over again.

Watching videos does not provide any form of interaction. When your kid watches them, they are basically being fed the information. Try giving them time off from the screen and have them do some crafts. This way you can let them think for themselves. Giving them the free rein to do stuff will make you know them better. You may even discover unique things about your child based on what they end up creating.

Being Appreciative

Kids can really get into arts and crafts. They can make themselves switch to serious mode and focus on their work. This makes them experience first hand the amount of time and effort needed to make a creative piece, and this will give them a new perspective on things. Now that they know that there could be a great deal of work that goes into making art, they will become more appreciative and admire the handiwork of others. And they will bring that attitude with them wherever they go. When they see a painting or sculpture that catches their eye, they will admire it for the talent and effort that went into making it.

Kids these days have a lot of stuff they can play with. You have tablets, TV, and video games fighting for every child’s attention. Do not let them lose interest in art. They will benefit greatly from it because it can shape them into a more refined individual even at an early age.

Learn How Long Things Last Around Your Home

Being a homeowner means ensuring that everything is okay in your house. One issue that you have to face is that things break down over time. This can be a minor problem if it is a light bulb or something similar. But your house has significant parts and appliances that make life difficult when they break down.

Knowing when to replace them can save you money and eliminate any inconveniences that might come up. Here is a brief look at the service life of your household appliances:

The Roof

Your roof might seem like it lasts forever, but those shingles will deteriorate depending on the material. You shouldn’t worry about it, though. Many of them can last decades. Asphalt shingles are the least durable, and they will last 20 years. On the far end of the scale are metal and slate shingles. Both heavy materials can stay on the roof for nearly a hundred years.

With proper repairs, slate can last up to 150 years. What you should be careful about is when you buy an old house. The roof might be nearing its time. When it is time to replace it, you should seriously consider getting the most durable material you can afford.

HVAC Systems

Another essential part of your home is the heating and cooling systems. They ensure that your house interior stays at a comfortable temperature despite the climate outside. If they don’t work correctly, expect hot summer days and cold winter nights. The HVAC system in has two parts: the furnace and the air-conditioning unit.

The upper limit for both of these is around 15 years. If you don’t care for them, they can break down in a decade. You might also consider replacing them at this point since the technological improvements in energy efficiency are often worth the expense. Choose Anderson Roofing and Exteriors LLC, your trusted roofing contractors lancaster pa for top-quality service and craftsmanship. Contact us today!

Kitchen Appliances

Your kitchen is full of appliances that make life easier. Though they are durable, they have a limited service life. For example, your refrigerator should last a little over a decade. With some expert fridge repair, you can extend that to 15 years. But after that, you have to trade it in for a newer model. Microwaves and dishwashers will last around ten years before they are not as effective as they used to be.

The longest-lasting appliance in your kitchen is the oven. Gas ovens will reach 15 years of operation, while electric ovens will only reach 13. This is only possible if you clean and maintain them properly, so take the extra time every week. 

Windows and Doors

Like your roof, the windows and doors of your house keep the elements out. Their durability mainly depends on their materials. Surprisingly, wooden window frames can last more than 30 years. Aluminum will only last up to 20 years. As for doors, most of them can last a lifetime. But screen and vinyl doors max out at 40 years.

Knowing that you need to replace parts and appliances all over your homes allows you to properly prepare for the changes. Save some money and make plans for improved replacements so that you can have the best house possible.

Encourage Creativity in Children with This Stationery

Encouraging your child to do art is a great way to not only hone their creative skills but also fast-track their intellectual development; creativity, emotional development, and intelligence have a strong and well-known link that requires constant encouragement.

The best way to get your budding artist started is to get them the right tools, and the good news is, these are easy to find. Here are some common types of stationery you can give your child to bring out the Van Gogh in them.

Coloring Materials

Your child’s first artistic tools will be their bodies, from finger-painting all the way down to their feet. As much as possible, always (and I mean always) check with your pediatrician whether it’s ok for your child to start working with non-toxic and water-based paints, and always closely supervise your child when working with any kind of coloring materials.

That being said, once your child understands the concept of placing paint or color onto a surface, let them go wild! Stifling their art skills at this point can only do more harm than good, so just make sure you designate ‘areas’ in your house where it’s ok to draw on surfaces, and areas where it isn’t encouraged at all.

Stamp Sets

Stamp sets, whether they’re alphabet stamp sets or animal stamps, go a long way into training your child to see visual patterns, especially if you use colorful inks along the way. Stamp sets will encourage your child to fine-tune their painting/drawing skills so that they can attempt to create their own stamp designs.

It’s also a good way to teach kids about their basic alphabet or counting skills, as the visual and kinetic element of stamping out letters and numbers are an effective way to leave an indelible mark in your child’s development.

Pencils and Pens

Colorful pencils and even ink pens are a great way to get your kids started on their creative journey. After finger-painting and encouraging your child’s primal art skills, level them up with pencils and pens to transition them towards building their fine motor skills. As much as possible, get your child the right sized pens that are appropriate for their age.

Yes, those large, comically-sized pens you sometimes see in your pediatrician’s office actually do have a purpose, and that’s to train a child to slowly get the grasp of, well, grasping objects! As they get older, their pens get smaller and their motor skills get sharper, but it’s best to do this in a gradual process.

Drawing Pads

As soon as they’re able to master both their painting and sketching skills, reward them with a blank slate, literally: drawing pads allow your child to channel their inner artist more effectively, and it allows them to view their progress from day one onwards. It’s a good way for both you and your child to keep track of their artistic skills, not to mention a good way to get them from drawing on walls!

Buy blank, large drawing pads so that they have enough space to experiment with different art ‘styles’, but spice things up from time to time by getting different-sized pads just to encourage them to try out different ways of creating art.

Vocal Health: 4 Ways to Take Care of Your Singing Voice

Proper voice care is something that all singers think and know about on some level, but few follow. In many cases, we do things that can damage our voice without even thinking. How many times have you reached for a can of soda or smoked a cigarette right before a gig? When it comes to voice care, we have to be always mindful of all our actions.

Voice is something that most people take for granted. You don’t notice it when you use it, but once your throat starts to hurts and your voice becomes hoarse, only then will you start thinking about all the things you should (or shouldn’t) have done. Voice lessons will help you develop your vocal instrument, but you also need to learn a few tips and tricks for taking care of your voice.

  1. Get voice lessons

If you want to pursue singing as a hobby or career, then you have to take the craft more seriously. Singing is like sports. Just as athletes train regularly to develop their bodies and learn advanced strategies, singers must also learn the proper singing techniques to ensure vocal development.

Singing requires discipline and hard work. The vocal cords are a type of muscle. And just like any muscle, it can be injured. Professional voice lessons can help you mitigate some of the risks of singing and teach you the discipline you need to keep your voice at a performing level.

  1. Develop your style

It’s not uncommon to imitate someone else’s singing style, especially if you’re starting. But if you force your voice to do something that exceeds its range or outside your skill level, you could damage your vocal cords.

Focus on developing a singing style that suits your voice and skill level. You’ll train better that way, and you won’t injure yourself in the process. You also want to sound distinctive, which can help to further your career.

  1. Slow down

You wouldn’t cram six days’ worth of exercise into a single day at the gym, and the same concept applies to vocal preparations. You need to pace yourself and let your voice rest often. Whether you’re preparing for an audition or a gig, you need to limit your singing to half an hour of exercises a day. The trick is to build the muscle without hurting it, so you need to control your training.

  1. Avoid traumatic behaviors

Traumatic behaviors such as screaming and singing at a loud volume can result in long-term vocal damage. Every time you raise your voice, your vocal folds have to work harder to compensate for the higher volume. After a while, the muscles become swollen and painful. Do this often enough, and you’ll damage your vocal cords permanently.

These things will help you keep your voice in excellent condition. If you want to become a better singer, not only will you need to learn proper singing technique, but you also have to take good care of your vocal cords and know which behaviors to avoid.

Seven Techie Hobbies for Seniors

Hobbies have no age requirements. A teenager can take up knitting just as well as a senior can get into video games. Why not introduce a more modern hobby to your senior loved one?

Boredom is one of the biggest issues for many retirees. Whether they are aging in place or staying in a senior living facility, your elderly loved one may quickly run out of things to do. To combat boredom and help them stay mentally active, here are some hobbies–apart from the usual embroidery or scrapbooking–that may interest them:

1. Video games

Video games, like many other things, have no age limit. There is also an abundance of games that can still be played even with limited finger dexterity, which is great for seniors. Introduce a few games to your elderly loved ones to see what they like. You may have to invest a lot of time teaching them the controls, but they can end up loving the game thanks to you. Who knows? Maybe your seventy-year-old grandpa will be your next teammate on Call of Duty.

2. Vlogging

Vlogging is a great way to connect with other people in the world and share experiences and insights. For seniors, vlogging can be an opportunity to store memories for their children and grandchildren–like an online journal, but in video form. More importantly, your elderly loved one can make a vlog even with just a mobile phone, and you can edit the video for them to post online or share with family and friends.

3. Blogging

If your senior loved one is still adept at typing, encourage them to set up a personal blog. Here, they can share their experiences, insights, ideas, and creative works for the world to see. Apart from giving them an outlet for their thoughts and feelings, blogging can help stimulate their mind effectively.

4. Digital art

Does your elderly family member love to draw, paint, or sketch? If so, then they may appreciate the wonders of digital art. Similar to videogames, it may take a lot of time to get them used to the software you choose, so be patient. If they love traditional art, they may learn to love digital art as well, especially when you show them what they can do with it.

5. Photography

Photography is not new, but there are more technological advancements today than there were back then. Cameras are smaller and more advanced, but many are still easy to use and are relatively affordable. Alternatively, your senior loved one can practice photography on their smartphone alone. This hobby can help them create more memories, spend more time outside, and stimulate their creativity, among other benefits.

6. Digital music production

With a simple app, seniors can spin out their own tune in a few hours, which is another great way to improve mental health. Even if they are not necessarily musicians, this hobby is a fun and productive way to pass the time.

7. Fantasy sports

Playing fantasy sports is about strategy, statistics, and math, making it a great hobby for everyone, regardless of age. If your elderly loved one was a sports fan back then, they may appreciate this hobby more.

Who said that techie hobbies are just for the younger crowd? Even if seniors are not technologically inclined, they can still catch up and enjoy the hobbies that we, their children and grandchildren, grew up with.