Jen – Page 16 – Mommy's Hangout/Atlanta Mommy Blogger/Jen Williams

Tips on Preparing the Family for a Home Flooring Project

September 17, 2018 by Jen

There will come a time that you would have to update or repair your floors in the house. When it has been planned and scheduled, it is important to remember that there will be changes since the family has to stay out of the work area and there will be other people in the house working on the floors. To make sure that your family is ready and that there will be no cause for delay, here are some tips to help you and your family prepare for a home flooring project. Decorative concrete Kansas City may help you with this job

Plan and Adjust the Daily Routine

There will be changes in everyone’s daily routine. How big the change will be will depend on which floor of the house is going to undergo renovation. If it is the living room, kitchen, or hallway, then there would be major changes. Everyone has to find an alternative route moving through the house. Before the project starts, sit the whole family down and plan together. Set up another place where you could cook or dine. Prepare another space where you could entertain guests. If it is the garage, find another safe area within your property to park the car temporarily. Garage flooring renovations are quite popular, as the garage is not just used for cars anymore, it can be transformed into whatever the homeowner wants. Anything to do with the garage should not disrupt the family dynamic too much, but make sure that you are going to the proper professionals to avoid delay. For instance, if you want to install polyaspartic flooring, then you will have to look up “companies that provide polyaspartic garage flooring near me” online, to get exactly what you want.

Opt for Hotel Accommodations

If you are having major repairs or if the disruption to the daily routine is difficult to adjust to, why not opt for a hotel accommodation in the meantime? This is common in home renovations. It may cost extra but it will definitely be more comfortable for the family especially if you have kids or a baby. The work of the installers may become loud and it could be dusty. You wouldn’t want to compromise their health and well-being by staying in the house, would you?

Choose a Practical Type of Flooring Project

If possible, choose a flooring project that will only take a few days. Decorative concrete is a highly recommended solution. It maintains the existing slab so it would only take as little as 1 to 5 days to complete, depending on the material or method you choose.

Planning a home flooring project may cause discomfort and disruption to your daily lives but let the family know that, once it is done, the house would be better, safer, and more comfortable to live in. It may require some major adjustments on your end but the results it yields will be all worth it.

Pros & Cons: Different Types of Flooring

September 9, 2018 by Jen

Putting in a new floor is very exciting! Whether you’re upgrading or just switching things up, new flooring has the power to brighten a room and change your home for the better. There are several different floor types out there, it can be tough to choose which one! Check out the pros and cons of the different types of flooring out there.

Carpet

Over the years, many people have gone with carpet. I mean, why not? Carpet is soft and warm, plus it has the potential to be cheap and easy to install. Carpet works great in almost every home. The only downside to carpet is the ability for it to stain easily. Not to mention, it doesn’t always work great for those who have allergies. Carpet is definitely not the worst floor choice out there, it can work wonders in the right home.

Laminate Flooring

When someone wants to stay on budget, they use laminate flooring. These days, you can grab almost any color or design of laminate flooring that your heart desires. The upside to laminate flooring is it has the power to make any room look amazing. Plus, laminate can pass as wood flooring in some instances. The downside of using laminate flooring is that it doesn’t always last for a long time and is easily damaged. Definitely weigh the pros and cons before you decide to go with laminate flooring.

Solid wood floors

If you’re to watch any show on HGTV, then you know that solid wood floors are all the rage. Solid wood floors are timeless and can outlast any other type of flooring. You’ll also notice that solid wood floors are easy to take care of and don’t take any special tools. The only downside to hard wood floors is that they may scratch easily, but there are LOTS of precautions you can take to avoid your wood floors getting scratched. However, a major perk of solid wood floors is that you can get them in almost any color or design that you can imagine. The best part is that they’re SOLID and will last for a VERY long time. You can find a great selection of wood floors online and even get free samples available here.

Concrete flooring

Okay, most people aren’t putting concrete in their homes for flooring, but it’s not unheard of. Concrete floors work well in garages and basements. They stay dry easily and don’t require a lot of maintenance. There are even several ways you can dress up concrete floors to make them even more desirable.

As you can see, there are several types of flooring out there. Your circumstances may determine which kind of flooring you obtain for your home. Which type of flooring will you choose for your next home or DIY project?

What makes a great family-friendly hotel?

August 28, 2018 by Jen

Anyone who has traveled with kids knows that it is a totally different experience to traveling solo or with other adults. There really is no comparison!

When you are traveling with your family, your hotel room isn’t just the place where you sleep and recharge your batteries. It becomes both an activity hub and a center for operations, the place where you bring the kids back for a nap, organize changes of clothes, or give them some downtime. You’ll also most likely be spending more time there yourself, as few things are more exhausting than traveling with young children!

Successful hoteliers and hotel entrepreneurs, whether it’s Conrad Hilton or Bharat Lall, understand that different guests look for different things from their hotel stay, which is why the best hotels offer features that make them suitable for family traveling. But what does make a great family friendly hotel? Here are a few key factors to bear in mind.

Location

Traveling through a strange city or holiday resort with children can be a stressful business, so unless you have access to a car, you are going to want to choose a hotel in a handy central location, near enough to the local public transport hub so that you don’t end up having to make lots of transfers to reach your destination. Ideally, you also want to be as near as possible to a local play area or park where you can take the kids to run around and burn up some energy.

Room features

One important factor to consider is room size. Many hotels, particularly in the major cities, offer rooms that are barely big enough to fit beds and perhaps a chair or two, leaving very little room for your kids to move around. A good child-friendly hotel will have larger rooms, giving families plenty of space, or will have affordable family suites available. Some suites will also include a sofa sleeper or similar rollaway bed, which is ideal for families, and other features such as adjoining rooms or a crib at no additional cost.

Soundproofing is another consideration. However well-behaved your kids may be, they will inevitably make a certain amount of noise, but hotels that offer soundproofing will ensure that you won’t have to regularly apologize to other guests!

Bathrooms are another important part of the family-friendly package. Many newer hotels offer only a shower facility, but if you’re traveling with young children, then you’ll need a room with a bathtub, and a separate toilet with a lockable door enables more than one person to use the bathroom at once and cuts down the time it takes everyone to get ready!

The final consideration when it comes to hotel rooms is the availability of kitchen facilities. Even if your hotel room doesn’t offer a kitchen area, a small refrigerator in which you can store handy items is very useful, as is a coffee maker in which you can warm up water, and a microwave, enabling you to give your kids snacks in the room.

Cleanliness

Another critical aspect of maintaining a welcoming and safe environment in any hotel is cleanliness. This becomes even more important when children are involved, as their health and comfort are top priorities. Cleanliness and hygiene must be thoroughly maintained throughout the hotel, from the bathrooms to the bedrooms, ensuring that every corner is fresh, sanitized, and inviting.

The bathrooms should sparkle, free from mold or unpleasant odors, while the rooms themselves must feel immaculate. Bed linens, including mattresses, sheets, and pillowcases, should be cleaned and replaced as needed to ensure they are fresh and hygienic for every guest. This attention to detail not only creates a more pleasant experience for your guests but also builds trust and confidence in your hotel’s standards.

Many hotels make cleanliness their top priority, understanding that it’s a fundamental part of guest satisfaction. For enhanced effectiveness and to maintain a high standard of hygiene, many establishments also schedule a Hotel Bed Bug Treatment every six months. Bed bugs can be a silent but damaging issue if not addressed in hotels, and regularly treating the hotel rooms can ensure that this problem is eliminated before it ever becomes an issue.

Plenty of space

Depending on the age of your kids and their sleeping habits, finding them things to do, particularly during the morning when other family members want to lie in, can be a challenge. Hotels that offer plenty of room to explore, either with a large lobby or spacious grounds, are ideal for children. Some hotels even offer a Kids’ Camp, with plenty of activities to keep younger guests amused, and you will usually be able to get a schedule of activities when you book your room, helping you to plan your day.

Food and laundry

Kids can be picky eaters, so hotels that provide a room service menu and a restaurant menu that both include a number of child-friendly meals are preferable to those that only provide formal dining. A good snack outlet and a place to get healthy food and breakfast items also helps to make a hotel family-friendly, while hotels that provide coin-operated washing machines rather than a standard laundry service are a good choice, particularly if you are traveling with young, adventurous children who like to get messy!

Conclusion

Traveling with your children can be stressful, but choosing the right hotel can make things a lot easier. The best family-friendly hotels provide a range of amenities, from a Kids’ Camp to cribs, all of which are designed to help you and your children get the most out of your stay.

4 Signs of Heatstroke in Children and How To Treat Them

August 22, 2018 by Jen

Temperatures are on the rise all over the world, and according to one recent report, summers are much hotter than those people experienced in the 1950s and 1960s. While a great deal of research is being performed to discover the reasons behind these warming trends, you might be dealing with the heat closer to home. Summer is time for your kids to play outside, join sports teams, and ride bikes, but the hotter temperatures may put them at risk for heatstroke. However, there are a few ways to spot the signs and symptoms so you can treat them quickly.

1. Dizziness or Feeling Lightheaded

If your child comes in from playing on a hot day and complains that he or she feels dizzy or lightheaded, this could be the first sign of developing heatstroke. This symptom is usually brought on by dehydration, as older kids might forego heading inside for water to play with their friends longer. The dizziness could be mild to moderate and come on suddenly.

If you suspect the heat is to blame, get your child to a cool room and have him or her sit or lie down quietly. If the dizziness is accompanied by a headache, this could be another sign. Take the child’s temperature; if it is over 102, call 911 immediately.

2. A Lack of Sweat

Sweating is the body’s way of cooling itself. The hotter it is outside, the more likely your child is to sweat. However, if you notice that his or her skin is hot and dry, this could be a sign of heatstroke. Nausea may accompany this symptom.

Use cool cloths and ice packs to cool down your child’s skin. You can also place him or her in a cool bath to lower the body’s temperature. Ice packs can be placed under the armpits and on the back of the neck to increase blood flow.

3. Odd Physical Behavior

Once dehydration and sunstroke sets in, your child may exhibit strange physical behavior, such as acting confused or looking disoriented. He or she may stagger or stumble. These are serious signs of heatstroke, so call 911 before you try to help.

Have your child sit down and try to remain calm. While this symptom can be frightening, your child’s disorientation may become more severe if you panic. Wipe his or her face with a cool, wet cloth, loosen any restrictive clothing, and turn up the air conditioner to ensure you have cool air running throughout your home.

4. Fainting

If your child faints or otherwise loses consciousness, call for help right away and monitor his or her pulse and temperature. Ice packs and cool cloths may still help at this point, but since fainting is a definite sign of dehydration, he or she may need IV fluids to recover. Do not attempt to move your child, and you might want to stay on the line with the 911 operators until help arrives, as they can give you further instructions on how to treat heatstroke until paramedics arrive.

Summer temperatures are rising with each passing year, making heatstroke a risk for any child. However, when you know how to spot the symptoms and render aid, you can offer immediate help instead of simply waiting for help to come.

How to get the Best Deal on Your Travel Insurance

August 1, 2018 by Jen

Travel is fun, but it can be expensive. So, it makes sense to shop around and find the best deals on accommodation, flights and travel insurance. For your plane tickets and hotel rooms, this is relatively easy to do. You just need to find the best deal using comparison sites.

But, with travel insurance, there are a few extra steps you need to take to make sure that you are actually buying a good quality policy that offers you the right level of coverage. Here are a few tips to help you to do this.

Look for a provider that offers a good level of flexibility

The first tip is to cast your net wide. Consider all kinds of policies, not just those offered by the largest providers. For example, with a UHCSafeTrip policy, you get the flexibility you need to make sure that you are not paying for coverage you really do not need. If you were to leave your jewelry at home and are not planning to travel with expensive electronics, there really is no point in paying for a high level of anti-theft coverage.

Should you find that a policy includes lots of things you do not need, it is usually worth looking elsewhere. Normally, doing so will save you quite a bit of money.

Make sure everything you need is included

That said, check that you need is actually included in the price. If you are planning to go horse riding, mountain biking, skiing or want to try out something link bungee jumping check that the policy will cover you for these activities. Doing so will save you from having to buy extra coverage when you get there.

Be aware of excess fees

It is always worth checking out the excess levels. If you have to pay the first $80 in the case of a flight cancelation there may be no point in buying coverage if your plane ticket only cost you $100. On the other hand, if your flight costs $900 an excess of $80 could be OK if doing so enables you to pay a lot less for your insurance policy.

Consider buying an annual policy

Generally speaking, if you travel more than once a year, buying an annual policy is the way to go. Typically, you will pay less than you would if you were to buy insurance for each individual trip.

If you do decide to take this approach you need to be thorough with your research and think ahead. For example, if you take an annual skiing holiday you have to make sure that the policy you buy includes the right level of coverage. It is all easy to forget a detail like that if you are buying your annual travel insurance policy, during the summer months.

Check out specialist providers

Sometimes it is better to buy your policy from a specialist provider. This is often the case if you have special needs. For example, if you are aged over 90 or have a pre-existing medical condition such as diabetes or kidney disease.