Akron Today Magazine

Akron Lifestyle and Entertainment

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Stop The Mess – Three Ways to De-clutter Your Child’s Bedroom

I will be the first to admit that the holidays can be a seriously messy season. Usually in our household, the mess starts around November and doesn’t stop until the decors are neatly packed and stored in the attic for another year. I’m not talking about regular household mess, but we have those, too. I am pertaining to all the garbage that seem to accumulate within the house during this season – from candy wrappers that are remnants of the kids’ trick or treating to the gift bags and toy boxes that arrive in the house together with my in-laws and other relatives.

Don’t get me wrong, I welcome the gifts and the holiday visits. However, after all our loved ones ride their cars out of our driveway, I am usually the one who has to clean up after the wrappers and tags from gifts. This is by no means an easy task as the children get a substantial number of gifts from their aunts, uncles and grandparents. Over the years, I have learned to form a system when it comes to the mess during the holidays, particularly in my kids’ rooms. As a mother, I felt the need to share some ideas on how to de-clutter rooms to other mothers out there who might need these ideas just as badly as I did years ago. So, to all mothers out there, listen up…

  1. Put up shelves. Since I’m not handy with tools, I asked my husband to do this for me. We had to get those wood planks from our local home improvement store; they have those that are perfect as shelves. You may or may not need to sand them, it depends how rough the planks’ surface are. My kids have a collection of storybooks that they received from my parents and sisters, so we put them all in there. If one of them wants to read one, they need to inform us since the shelves are out of their reach. That pretty much controls at least a quarter of the mess in their room.
  2. Contain them. This is another helpful way to de-clutter your child’s bedroom and it works best with toddlers and preschoolers. At that age, they tend to scatter all their toys around the house and just leave them everywhere when they lose interest. I have found plastic veggies in my shoe once and another one in the bathroom. Basically, what we did was purchase those plastic boxes with lids on them. We placed their toys in boxes and just gave them one box-full of toys to play with. It may not sound that efficient, but we were able to lessen the mess by doing that. That way, they don’t scatter all their toys around the room. I also saved my husband from stepping into LEGO parts and for anyone who has had that misfortune, you know how much that actually hurts.
  3. Donate. This is not an easy thing to do and I understand it. I watched Toy Story movies from 1-3. Believe me, I understand. However, it is a sad reality that kids will outgrow their toys and rather than leave them to gather dust, we donate them. It wasn’t easy at first and you just have to let them understand that other kids with no money for new toys would love to play with their discarded toys. This also goes for clothing. Plus, the feeling of accomplishment you’ll feel when you see your kids saying goodbye to their well-loved toys knowing that they will cheer other children up is priceless.

There you have it, folks. I’m sure some of you have used these methods in the past with varying success. While the task can be quite daunting, I find that it’s really just a matter of reaching out to your children. Talking to them and making them understand how important it is not to make a mess in their rooms is something that parents must not neglect to do. While the above methods have all worked out for me, it will not be possible without my children’s willingness to work with us.

Do you have other ideas on how to de-clutter your child’s room? Share it with us by commenting down below.

Baking Soda and Its Uses

I like baking – I have a sweet tooth. Among my baking ingredients, amidst the flours and vanilla extract and eggs, there is one thing that I consider to be very important in the household that I always make it a point to stock on it and that is baking soda. For a couple of years now, I have collected some uses of baking soda from online sites and have even tried some of them myself. In this article, I will share with you some of the benefits of baking soda.

  1. Facial Scrub – This is something that I have done and still continue to do to this day. I make my own baking soda facial scrub by mixing one and a half tablespoons of warm water to three tablespoons of baking soda. The consistency should be that of a paste. Use this to scrub dead skin cells and germs off your skin. Be careful not to get too close to the eyes. It stings.
  2. Room or Fridge Freshener – Let’s admit it. Our fridge is the source of a mixture of odors from leftovers and other stuff we put inside it – not all of them pleasant. The simple solution I have is to put 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a small container (something that will not take too much space in your fridge) and let it sit there for a few days. I find that odors inside the fridge are neutralized when I do this. You can also try this out in your rooms.
  3. Kitty Litter Deodorizer – As a pet lover, this is something I do. Before filling your litter pan with kitty litter, sprinkle a layer of baking soda at the bottom and then add the kitty litter. This helps the kitty litter from getting too stinky.
  4. Minor Insect Bite Treatment – I cannot attest for this because I have not tried this myself, but baking soda is said to be a good treatment for insect bites. You have to make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the affected area.
  5. Brush and Comb Cleaning Agent – Your brushes and combs collect dirt from your hair. It also gets oily from your scalp and residue from your hair products. You can easily get rid of this by soaking your combs and brushes in warm water and 1 teaspoon of baking soda for about half an hour to an hour. After that, you can simply rinse it and let it dry.

Baking soda has been very helpful around the house and not just for baking purposes. It can clean surfaces, act as a beauty product and can keep the air fresh. So the next time you run to the grocery store, drop by the baking goods aisle and make it a point to keep your shelves stocked with it.

 

Volunteering is Beneficial for the Whole Family

The benefits of families volunteering together are substantial.  Of the adults, teens and children who volunteer about 75% report being more physically, mentally and emotionally healthier than those who don’t.  They have lower levels of stress and are better able to manage it.

Volunteering can teach life skills such as time management, teamwork, effective communication, goal setting and developing compassion for others.  Family members are working toward a common goal, which leads to them functioning better as a unit. They’re more likely to feel that life has a purpose, and develop a deeper connection and commitment to their community, family and friends.

Families who volunteer together may be more productive at and satisfied with work and school.  The experience is a good addition to a resume and gives an edge over another candidate who doesn’t have it.  And it’s a given that good colleges are looking for more than test scores and grades on applications, volunteering is a must.

In addition to all these benefits volunteering together can also address an on-going issue for today’s families, “With everyone going off in different directions how can we spend some time together?”  A sound strategy for getting children and teens invested in it is to get and keep them involved in the decision making, even young children can contribute.  Be open-minded to their interests and don’t dismiss nontraditional ideas.

One family, of self proclaimed non-running couch potatoes, organized a 5k walk/run for a son’s terminally ill classmate.  They enjoyed the experience so much they do it as an annual event, donating the money to a different charity each year.  Another family adopted the local no-kill animal shelter as their project.  The 5 year old’s job was “petting coordinator”, which she was quite diligent and serious about.

A Greek proverb states, “A civilization flourishes when people plant trees under which they will never sit.”  Families flourish in the same way; think about creating a tradition of volunteering for your family today and a legacy for your descendants of tomorrow.

Nicole Abbott – writer, educator and psycho-therapist

Kid Proof Your Home Office

Here are a few tips to kid proof your home office if you are a work from home mom:

1. Keep as few wires as possible reachable to little hands. That means position your furniture to cover outlets so wires are not exposed and inviting little hands to pull at them. Also, you can get cable covers and wire clips to hold several wires together.

2. Keep as much away from the edge of surfaces where little hands can reach. For instance, keep your computer monitor far back and when you are not using your keyboard put it above your monitor if possible. Also, unplug your printer and fax machine when not in use so that even if little hands get on them they can’t do much damage.

3. Your file cabinet will be hard to keep organized if your little one keeps getting into all the papers. The easiest solution is to get locks for the drawers. However, be careful that they cannot lock themselves in the drawers.

These are a few inexpensive tips to help you if you are trying to earn extra money at home. Of course the ideal would be to lock your office door when you are not working and only work when your little one is not around. However, this is not always practical and therefore I hope these simple tips are helpful as you set up your home office.

Spice It Up! – Herbs and Spices You Should Stock Up In Your Shelves

“If you are careful,” Garp wrote, “If you use good ingredients, and you don’t take any shortcuts, then you can usually cook something very good. Sometimes it is the only worthwhile product you can salvage from a day; what you make to eat. With writing, I find, you can have all the right ingredients, give plenty of time and care, and still get nothing. Also true of love. Cooking, therefore, can keep a person who tries hard sane.” ― John Irving, The World According to Garp

Do you love to cook? Perhaps planning to learn? Does the idea of stocking up your shelves with spices with names you can’t even pronounce properly sound intimidating to you? Well, you’re not alone. I believe most people who are still starting up with their journey to the wonderful world of stews, spices and stoves have found that choosing the basic spices quite daunting. After all, you don’t want to spend that much money on saffron ($2,000-$10,000/pound) while you still don’t know what it does and therefore would not even know where to use it.

As someone who has once faced the task of feeding a small family with what little knowledge I have had with cooking – basically limited to three ways of cooking eggs and nuking ready-made dinners – I want to impart some advice: learn while it’s still early. In this article, I will attempt to share with you the basic herbs and spices that you should get while you’re still learning to cook. I’m no expert, mind you, but over the years, I have gained some knowledge of cooking, so I feel compelled to write this piece. Get your paper and pen ready and let’s begin…

  1. Bay Leaves. Typically sold dried, bay leaves give off that aromatic scent, which makes it ideal for stews and marinades. You will need to remove this from the food before serving.
  2. Cayenne. This has got to be one of my Top 5 Must-Haves when it comes to spices. Cayenne is made from tiny spicy red peppers. It gives off that extra kick you want in your dishes without interfering with the overall flavor. It’s also ideal for boosting your immune system and a great ingredient for a healthy juice recipe.
  3. Parsley. It’s a no-brainer that the world’s most popular herb would make this list. Afterall, parsley is both great for pasta and pizza, plus it’s healthy too! As a source of anti-oxidants, you can never go wrong by stocking up on parsley.
  4. Garlic Powder. I find it strange that I’m not a fan of garlic, but a huge lover of garlic powder. I love marinating barbecues in it; I love it with my bread. If you love grilled food as much as I do, then you should definitely get yourself some garlic powder.
  5. Basil. I have a basil plant – that should pretty much tell you how much I adore the herb. It’s great for soups, pasta and meat – how can you afford not to have it?

There you have it – the basics – at least according to me. Some people might have more herbs and spices in their list, but to each his own. As you grow more confident in your cooking skills and become more willing to try experimenting on new recipes, you will find that your shelves will also have more jars and packets of spices with varying flavors and textures. Who knows? It has not happened to me yet, but you may one day have enough reason to take a deep breath while you order saffron from the spice shop. Good luck!

Is Your Car Heater Not Working?

There can be several reasons why your car’s heater could be broken or simply just not working. The following reasons may help you to understand why it is not working and why you need to take it directly to a mechanic to have it fixed.

It could be as simple as the engine thermostat, the fan motor, or simply a fuse that is out or simply not working properly. You will need to take the vehicle to a car repair shop right away to have them diagnose the problem and get your heat flowing properly once again. If you decide to fix the problem yourself you may be doing more damage to the vehicle by not knowing the correct diagnosis. Car repair shops can easily diagnose the problem. So take the vehicle to a mechanic and save yourself the headache and money of making it worse off.

Many people think that they may just be low on coolant in the radiator and try to fix it themselves. By doing so you can cause yourself and your car some serious damage. The cap could release and intense amount of steam that has been built up by pressure and burn you very badly.

So the best remedy if your car heater is not working properly is to take it to a car repair shop and let a real mechanic fix it.

New Year, New Look – Four Decorating Ideas For Your Home

The new year is often associated with change – a time to put the negativities of the past and change for the better. People are often inclined to change something in themselves at the start of the year – from something small like getting a new hair color to something substantially larger, like changing careers or planning to get married to their significant other. We have all done it at some point since we believe there should be progress in ourselves or at least there is hope for progress, so why not include the look of our homes in that change as well?

In this article, I will share some decorating ideas that will hopefully spark your creative side. I should say that not all of these ideas are trendy and whatnot, some of them may even be classics in their own, but if you have not applied them in your home, the change can be beautiful. If you have not tried them, I encourage you to do so. If anything, the new look should be an interesting change in your humble abode.

  1. Go green. Plants can instantly change the look of the room. Plus, they take in carbon dioxide and help produce oxygen. I’m sure we have seen those small plants placed in bathrooms. What’s the first thing you notice? I myself have always noticed that the room looks more alive. Most of us don’t have picture perfect bathrooms worthy of being featured in magazines, but we can add color and life just by adding a plant or a terrarium. It’s not just for bathrooms. Terrariums look great on desk tops and since they can be small, they don’t take up much space.
  2. Pick a theme. If you have a bit of extra budget and time, you can pick a theme for some rooms in your home. Do your children love the beach? Why not pick a nautical theme for their room. Decorate it with anchors or a ship’s wheel and pick some starfish-printed curtains for them? Make sure that the room does not get too cluttered with the same stuff. Gold looks wonderful and classy in a living room, but too much gold will make it look overpowering and quite tacky.
  3. Frame it up. I’ve always told my friends that living in the digital age has made it easier for parents to take snap shots of their little ones any time of the day. We all have our favorites and the ones we won’t touch with a 10-foot pole. Get those pictures printed in a bigger size and have them framed. They look especially nice on staircase walls. After some time, you will see how your baby has grown over the years and you can look at the images wistfully.
  4. Lights. It’s no secret that lights and their settings can instantly make a difference in a room and a person’s mood. Sunlight in the morning looks cheerful and happy; dim light looks romantic. There are many affordable chandeliers in the market today and you can even make one of your own if you’re handy with electrical wires. This does not just apply to living rooms and bedrooms. You can even change the lighting in your kitchen if you think your overhead light is too bright. 

Your home is your sanctuary, so it’s crucial for your well-being that it looks like a place you want to be in at the end of a long day. Don’t neglect it and try to make it look pleasing with the resources that you have so that when you come home after a day outside, it will welcome you into the comfort of its arms.

Jobless But Earning – Three Ways To Earn Money Online Without Actually Being Employed

Intriguing title, isn’t it? After all, a lot of us would want to earn money without having to work, but hold up. Don’t get me wrong here. This is not one of those posts that say you can earn money just by lying in your bed all day. Don’t confuse the phrase “not being employed” to being lazy because I’m pretty sure those two are not the same. And just to be clear, I do not know of any way that you can earn money just by doing nothing.

This post, however, will provide you three ideas where you can possibly make money online without actually being employed. By employed, I mean that you have your own employer with definite working hours throughout the day. I would also like to clarify that this is not for everyone and not every person who will read this post and try out these ideas will be successful at it. This will still take some effort on your part and perhaps, a little bit of luck. Are you ready to hear out these ideas? Let’s begin then.

  1. Set-up an online business. I know, very original, but seriously, consider the perks of this. You are your own boss. The success of your business, however, will depend on how much you work for it, but if it’s something that you love doing, it’s not work at all. If you love baking, you can set up a small cupcake business. Cupcakes are so in these days, so you may have a lot of competition, but if your products taste absolutely amazing, word will spread. Don’t be shy. Ask your friends for help, they can recommend prospective clients to you. You don’t even have to own a bakery to do this. In fact, I would suggest starting a homebased business. It will cut your initial costs while you’re still starting up. Another great online business would be selling knick-knacks, especially if you love visiting thrift stores for collectibles. You can set it up in an online marketplace like eBay and start earning.
  2. Sell gigs. What are gigs, you ask? Gigs are simply things you offer to people who need to outsource work online. There are many websites where you can sell gigs, like Fiverr and Gigbucks. Are you a writer? Offer to write a 1000-word story for a gig then. Do you like making crafts? Great, you can offer to make a scented candle for a fixed price. You don’t have any talent except that you look cute and quirky on cam? Not a problem! Gigs can be serious or wacky, it doesn’t matter. If you’re good at something (wholesome, please), offer your services in the site. Who knows? Someone might find the video of you singing Happy Birthday adorable and will hire you to make one for him.
  3. Sell items at an online consignment shop. Are you one of those people who like to buy designer bags or shoes, but get bored after wearing them twice? Well, there are a number of online consignment shops that offer to sell your gently-used clothing or bags. The shop will have to take a percentage off the sale, but that’s normal. Besides, you can get rid of you stuff to make room for more and earn money to pay for your next designer item.

So, there you have it. While these ideas will work, success will not be possible without some effort on your part. These may not be actual jobs, but it requires hard work and ability to make it possible for you to earn some money from it.

Do you have other ideas on how to earn money online? Share them with the other readers by commenting below.

The essentials of planning a momentous wedding in Akron, Ohio

Probably the best advice for planning your wedding, would be to have fun! Expert wedding planners all agree that setting the budget is an essential thing; yet this can also be quite challenging given each of your preferences, so a bit of ‘give and take’ — Even before budget conversations take place — can be very helpful in trying to order priorities. In a way, it’s one of the first collaborations you both will be closely engaged in, so a great attitude toward this adventure can signify your life ahead, and your love, between each of you, and among all of your family and friends for years to come.

Questions to ponder will include a list of guests, so try to think honestly about who it is that you each want to be there to share this day with you; and where and when this most memorable moment will be taking place. A traditional venue is the bride’s Church; but outdoor and indoor weddings very often occur now in other places that the couple both find to be meaningful to them.It is very useful to keep an initial list of various things to be considered, as you make the plan. Organizing items such an album or binder to gather into one place any images that represent your own taste, even if it may take some inspiration from others. Also included might be brochures of possible venues or destinations, and notes relating to services (such as catering, for example, and photography or videography, florists, cakemakers, and others), or of executing any contracts relating to the marriage. Also helpful would be notes relating to any certificates or legal documents relating to Church or State requirements for the marriage or Federal documentation for foreign travel.

A checklist of each of these items, also, along with contact information for the individual responsible for coordinating each of the deliveries and the services that will be taking place on the wedding day, itself, is also essential, as is a tentative “rainy-day” plan, just in case!

Take a few breaths before you decide on all the variables, and take time to think about your shared vision of what characterizes the best-possible wedding, for the best-possible marriage of a lifetime.

Options to Improve Retirement Prospects

According to  the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), many Americans are falling short when it comes to saving for retirement. In 2015, 28% of Americans had less than $1,000 dollars saved, and a whooping 64% had less than $50,000.  And although the savings so far are not much, the confidence of those interviewed believe they will have enough money saved by the time they retire. How can that be possible you may ask? One of the reasons they believe they will have enough saved for retirement,  is because they have started a retirement account and have started contributing to it.  They believe that now that they have started, they will continue saving till the time comes to retire.

While retirement plans are not always available through their employers, many individuals should be happy to know that the ease to open a retirement account through other mediums is fairly easy and pain free.  There are many companies out there that can have an account open for you within minutes, and can give you a list with a few steps to follow to roll over a 401(k) retirement account from another brokerage firm.

Remember to do a bit of checking to find  out which companies offer you the best deal for you.  If your current brokerage firm’s management  fees are eating up your earnings, remember there are many companies with lower fees that can do better, or comparable to what your current firm is doing. There is no need for you to stay with an investment company that takes all your earnings, and the initial capital invested has not grown.

Wealthfront is an online investment company where investment for a new person should be pretty easy to understand. They advertise zero trading fees, zero hidden fees, and if you need the help of an advisor, their cost is a fraction of other traditional advisors. Wealthfront is an example of the many investment companies that you can turn to when beginning to invest for your retirement.

If you are wondering whether you need to keep or buy a life insurance policy for when  you retire, talk to an advisor right away, specially if you have no other dependents to take care of, or your children are all grown up.

Long-term care insurance coverage is probably one of the many concerns Americans have for when they retire, and many  are unaware of the costs.  But even if you managed to saved enough for retirement, needing long-term care at a hospital or nursing home can eat up your savings pretty quickly.  So planning for long-term care insurance coverage now, can help protect your savings in the future.

Protect your investments and your retirement by making good decisions now. Talk to a professional advisor to find out what you need to do now, to retire comfortably.