Family Feature Archives - Page 3 of 4

June 5, 2018

10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Summer

Looking For Ways To Make The Most of Your Summer

As a kid, many of us looked forward to summer. We crossed off the days on the calendar at school, desperate for that first week in June to end. We stopped paying attention as soon as the classroom windows were open, because we could smell fresh-cut grass and warm spring air. Summer spelled the beginning of freedom, and we couldn’t wait to enjoy every drop of it.

Now, as adults, summer doesn’t hold quite the same magic. You work full time now, and even if you’re lucky enough to be a teacher, you must corral your own kids during the summer months! Just because you’re older, however, doesn’t mean summer must lose its magic touch for you.

This summer, try to make the most of every day. As a kid, summer meant more fun. This year, summer can mean more fun for you, too. Look at the following suggestions, and see how to turn this summer into a success for everyone.

Take a Trip

Summer is the perfect time to take a vacation if you have kids. Unless you plan a trip during their Christmas break, summer is the only time you can get the entire family out of work/school. That added dose of freedom makes summer the perfect time for vacations. All across the country, there’s no shortage of things to do, whether you want to visit Georgia, The Grand Canyon, Seattle, or Chicago. Enjoy the best of the U.S., and travel this summer with your entire brood.

Read a Book

If it’s been too long since you had time to read, now is the time to pick up a book again. You might want to invest in a classic, like Moby Dick or Jane Eyre, one that you’ve been meaning to tackle. Or, you might want something shorter, fast-paced, and a great deal of fun. Whatever your literary passions, this summer is the perfect time to pick one and enjoy yourself all the way through it.

Have a Yard Sale

Everyone has old junk lying around. You may enjoy visiting yard sales all summer, since one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. However, your junk might also be useful to another family. So, get out that unused furniture, old toys, and lamps from your attic. You could make decent wad of cash hosting a yard sale. Even if you don’t, it’s a fun way to teach your kids about math, business, and getting rid of the things you don’t need.

Get that Remodel Done

Most Americans want to remodel a certain part of their home, often the kitchen or the bathroom. You might have a part of your home you wanted upgraded, as well. Summer is the perfect time to tackle home remodels, since it’s easier to keep the windows open and air out fresh paint, and your kids don’t need as much normalcy for homework and getting to school on time. If you have a pet project, contact home improvement contractors and work on getting it finished this summer.

Go Camping

Camping is the joy of some, and the nightmare of others. If you hate mud, bugs, or pit toilets, camping isn’t for you. If, however, you can brave the wilds, take your whole family camping this summer. Camping is the perfect chance to enjoy the simple life, appreciate nature, and feel like old-timey pioneers together.

Buy a New Car

Buying a new car is often a hassle, but summer is the best time to look. In the snow and ice of winter, you won’t enjoy a stroll through your local car dealership. Instead of testing the new car in slushy conditions, test in in the summer sun. Plus, your kids aren’t in school, and they can come along to lend their opinion, which they’ll enjoy. Summer is a wonderful time to find the right vehicle for your family, so explore local car dealerships and find the best one.

Get Ready for School

Perhaps you already finished your degree, but you might wish to improve your education. It’s often hard with kids and work, but night classes or online programs help you fulfill your dream. Online colleges offer everything from an RN to BSN degree program, and you can start earning the wages of a nurse after a few years of schooling.

Explore Your Own Town

Summer is great for big trips and great for camping. It’s also great for exploring the town in which you live. You might have historical museums nearby, street fairs, art festivals, car shows, and more. Hit up your local farmer’s market or watch a movie in the park. You’ll find things you never knew existed. Your own town offers plenty of fun summer activities, so take advantage of each one this summer.

Take a Full Day Off

Many parents run constant errands. This summer, however, take an entire day off. Not just from work, but from everything. Let your spouse or parents help you, and take the entire day for yourself. Don’t clean. Don’t watch your kids. Don’t run errands. Just do whatever you want to do, from morning until night. You’ll feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Plus, one day of relaxation is easy to arrange.

Join a Team

It might be awhile since you played any sports, but this summer is the perfect chance to start again. Somewhere near you, there’s a local team waiting for you to join its ranks. You might be a little rusty, but if so, so are your teammates. You might not win many games, but you will have fun, enjoy the summer evenings, and get some enjoyable exercise. Plus, you might make lasting friendships on your team.

More Activity Ideas:
15 Summer Activities For Your Kids To Enjoy Nature
Fun Family Outings
9 Tips For Your Home For Family Fun

May 11, 2018

5 Important Reasons Why You Should Hire a Professional Wedding Photographer

Wedding Photography is a crucial part of any wedding event. Couples should never underestimate the importance of capturing the memories of this monumental, fleeting episode of their lives. Most people depend on their photography-savvy relatives and this can sometimes lead to unsatisfactory results. Hiring an experienced and talented professional is one of the best ways of getting a visually stunning and consistent narrative account of your big day.

Years of experience

With years of experience under his/her sleeves, an expert wedding photographer will seize every emotion, feeling, and moment at the right time with a single click. They know the best moments that must be captured in your wedding photos. A seasoned photographer will out his/her work in a defined manner and will have lots of ideas to reconstruct and deliver. You will never be disappointed with the work of a professional.

Technically advanced photography equipment

The best thing about working with a photographer is the fact that they will use highly reputed and advanced equipment. This means that you do not have to worry about the picture quality of flow of their work. The lighting, camera lenses, brand and quality of camera will be topnotch and everything will be taken care of by the professional. A photographer will ensure that you have high-quality pictures and they will expertly capture all the details through the lenses.

Timely delivery

With affordable wedding photography Houston residents trust, you will be assured of your work being delivered on time. With their experience in the wedding industry, they understand the anticipation and amount of excitement that the couple has about their wedding photos. Everyone will appreciate on-time project delivery and excellent time management skills when hiring a wedding photographer. No couple wants to keep following their photographer for months in order to get their wedding pictures.

Assist with the wedding-day timeline

An experienced photographer has worked on different weddings and they will know how long it will take for the pictures. For instance, they will know the length of time to spend on first-look photos or family photos. If you are having your photos taken in different locations, they will consider the travel time and the time spent in each location. They will also know the time to get to your house and the time that everyone should be ready depending on the time your ceremony begins. If you are stressing over your wedding timelines, you can ask your photographer for help.

You only have this one chance

This is your wedding day and it is one of the most special days of your life. You only have one chance to capture your wedding day in photos. Therefore, you must ensure that you have confidence and trust in your photographer. When your big day is over, you will only have the memories, videos, and photos to treasure and show your friends, family, and even grandchildren. Make sure you have these positive memories to remind you of your wedding and not just regrets wishing you would have spent more or hired a professional.

Hiring a professional photographer is important for your big day and you are also assured of long-lasting memories and images. If you are on a budget, you should try and cut corners in other areas such as your cake, decorations, and others instead of your photography. After a week, all the cake, decorations, and everything else will be gone. Years after the wedding, you will have wonderful photos that tell a beautiful story with amazing memories that you will cherish forever.

March 25, 2018September 4, 2020

Fun Family Outings

Having a family is one of the most rewarding things most people will ever do, but it’s not exactly financially rewarding. Put another way, it can get really expensive really fast. It’s also normal to want to go out as a family and enjoy the outdoors at a festival. It’s way too easy to sit around at home and watch Netflix so getting out of the house and bonding in a new way can do wonders for the family dynamic. The trick is finding something that’s fun enough to justify the cost. There are activities that are pricey enough for one person. When you send four or five people, it can feel downright ridiculous.

Sporting events

Sporting events are generally considered a safe, reliable source of entertainment for everyone from ages 5 to 95. Nothing about a football game involves a lot of cursing or sex (though there is some violence in the tackling). You don’t have to read reviews of a football game beforehand to make sure that the kids won’t be exposed to anything unsavory. Sure, there may be drunk, loud sports fans sitting behind you or around you, but there are drunk and unruly people in lots of places. It’s best to avoid them otherwise you may find yourself needing the help of a personal injury attorney. Want to avoid this and have the best time possible? Look for Family Fun Nights that offer discounted concession items or merchandise giveaways. Be flexible when looking at games to attend, too. Maybe bring the whole family to a college baseball tournament in Lansing, MI or look to the calendar for when the best team in your favorite sport comes to town. Of course, some teams will always be big-time box office draws, like the Patriots or Yankees. You can still buy Yankees tickets for the family, of course, but be smart on timing so that you don’t have to spend an exorbitant sum.

Movies

For decades, families have been loading up the station wagon or SUV and heading to the local cinema. Every year, studios release dozens of movies aimed squarely at cornering the family movie market, and they’ll keep doing that as long as people keep showing up. People are still showing up, but a bit more begrudgingly. Ticket prices are going up. If each adult ticket costs $12 and the kid tickets cost only a bit less, a family of five can easily drop $50 on tickets alone. Then you get to the concession stand and find that a bag of popcorn is $12, and nachos are $10, if not more. To lessen the impact on your wallet, look for matinee showings, especially if your kids are younger and don’t have a ton of experience sitting in front of a screen for two hours in public. Some movie chains offer rewards programs that can also soften the blow a bit.

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March 12, 2018

How to Find the Right Care for an Aging Parent

Caring for an elderly parent can be a challenging time. Whether you’re the only child or one of many siblings, some of the duty will likely pass to you. The more they age, the more Mom or Dad will need some outside care. When it comes to giving them the assistance they need, you have several options. Consider a few of these ways of getting healthcare for an aging parent. How to Find the Right Care for an Aging Parent
Clinics
Before 24/7 care becomes necessary, your parent will likely need help with a few of their monthly health needs. Once your parent is no longer able to drive, he or she may need you to drive him or her to check-ups and special clinic visits. You’ll also want to assist your parent in watching for warning signs. Encourage a visit to a podiatrist to help prevent falls and a hearing care center if hearing starts to decline.

Becoming a Caretaker
Children can often be paid to care for an aging parent. Depending on your circumstances, you could receive a government salary for becoming your parent’s caretaker. While you’ll want to carefully weigh whether this is the best choice for both you and your parent, if your relationship with Mom or Dad is solid, having your loved one under your care could be the best thing for both of you. You won’t slack off, you won’t be unkind, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your parent’s care is being properly performed.

In-Home Care
A fairly new option for aging parents, an in-home nurse can visit your parent on a 24/7 or uniquely-arranged schedule. A CNA will provide your parent with care on-par with a nursing home, but in your parent’s own house instead. A great option for parents who are still a little mobile, or parents who strongly wish not to leave their house, an in-home caretaker can provide your parent with flexible care. Since the in-home care industry is relatively new, you’ll want to carefully screen any agency you work with and have your parent keep you up-to-date on the quality of care he or she is receiving.

Assisted Living
Still one of the best ways to care for an aging parent, an assisted living facility provides group activities, 24/7 care, regular meals, and anything else your parent might need in these later years. When choosing the right assisted living for Mom or Dad, try to get a sense of how the residents are treated. You could even offer to volunteer for a week or two, to get a better sense of how the home is run when family isn’t near. While some assisted living centers should be avoided, most provide 24/7 respect and best-quality care. Like this beautiful assisted living in Swartz Creek, MI, you can find the perfect place for Mom or Dad to call home.

While it can be stressful, taking care of an aging parent doesn’t have to be painful. Lean on the shoulders of clinics and healthcare professionals as you get the best proper care for your Mom or Dad. Together, you can make sure your parents enjoys the best that older age has to offer.
Finding the correct care for an aging parent is very important, but can also be quite hard to find the right carer that you trust. This nursing recruitment agency have some of the most qualified, professional care workers around.