Tips and Thoughts

Having a newborn is truly a magical experience. The smell of their tiny heads, the sound of their giggles, and those adorable baby outfits you can’t help but splurge on (guilty as charged). But let’s keep it real – with the arrival of your precious bundle of joy often comes a whirlwind of clutter, baby gear, and, dare I say… chaos! If you’re anything like most of the moms out there, you’re craving some semblance of order in this new chapter of life. So, we’re sharing our top tips to keep your home organized, even with a newborn in the mix.

1. Declutter Before the Big Day:

Before that baby graces your doorstep, let’s engage in some good ol’ decluttering. I mean, why pile on baby gear atop that stack of old magazines you swore you’d read or those shoes you haven’t worn since 2015? Here’s a tip: Try the three-box method – ‘Keep’, ‘Donate’, and ‘Toss’. And darling, be ruthless. You’ll feel a hundred pounds lighter and ready to welcome baby clutter with open arms. After all, isn’t preparing the battlefield half the victory?

2. The Magic of Multi-Functional Items:

Now, this is where your inner interior designer meets a savvy mom-to-be. Hunt down pieces that are chic yet serve multiple purposes. We’re talking about changing tables that masquerade as sleek dressers or ottomans with hidden storage compartments. And can we have a moment for those modern cribs that are not only drop-dead gorgeous but also transform into toddler beds? Talk about blending style with longevity!

3. Baby Stations – Your New Best Friend:

Think of this as having mini convenience stores scattered around your home. And trust us, you’ll be grateful for them at 2 a.m. when the very idea of going to the baby’s room feels like a trek up Everest. Keep essentials – a couple of diapers, wipes, a pacifier, and an outfit change – in cute baskets or totes in your most frequented rooms. It’s all about having what you need right where you need it.

4. Sky’s the Limit – Go Vertical:

When floor space is premium real estate, it’s time to look up! Walls can be both functional and fashionable with the right touch. Opt for floating shelves, pegboards or stylish hanging pockets. They’re perfect for those bedtime storybooks, soft toys, or even baby care essentials. It’s like turning your walls into a piece of evolving art sprinkled with baby charm.

5. Baby’s Wardrobe – Less is More:

Alright, confession time: We’re all suckers for baby clothes. Those tiny socks? Can’t even. But reality check: babies grow faster than you can say “Aww!”. Instead of hoarding an arsenal of outfits for every conceivable occasion, stick to essentials and a handful of showstoppers. This not only makes outfit decisions simpler but also prevents the dreaded avalanche when you open the wardrobe.

6. The Toy Rotation Revelation:

Hold the phone because this one is a game-changer. Picture this: a world where your living room isn’t a minefield of squeaky toys and rattles. Dreamy, right? Here’s the trick – instead of having all of your kiddo’s playthings out and about, keep a select few in rotation. Store the rest in a dedicated box or cute storage bin. Every couple of weeks, play swap-shop. Not only does this keep your space looking more like a ‘chic living room’ and less like a ‘toy store explosion’, but it also makes each toy feel new and exciting for your little cherub. Win-win!

7. Digitalize, Darling:

Now, we all love a good scrapbook moment or a photo album binge as much as the next gal, but let’s talk modern mommy efficiency. Thanks to the wonders of tech, memories can be stored without taking up an inch of physical space. Consider making digital photo albums or using cloud storage for those oh-so-precious baby milestones. It’s eco-friendly, space-saving, and ensures that even if that sneaky coffee spill happens, your memories are safe and sound in the virtual realm.

8. Baby-Proofing with Pizzazz:

Alright, love, the time will come when your tiny tot becomes a curious crawler, and safety becomes paramount. But guess what? Baby-proofing doesn’t mean sacrificing style. Seek out elegant baby gates, stylish corner protectors, or even furniture that’s already designed with baby safety in mind. It’s all about blending function with aesthetics, and there are some seriously chic options out there. Your home can be both a safe haven and an Instagram-worthy space!

9. The Gift of Acceptance (And Help!):

Lean in close because here’s a not-so-secret secret: It’s okay to not do it all. Seriously. When your bestie offers to tidy up, or grandma wants to whip up a meal, or even if the neighbor drops by with some store-bought (or home-baked if you’re lucky) goodies – graciously accept. Embrace the village vibe. It doesn’t make you any less of a supermom. In fact, it just means you’re a super smart mom who knows how to delegate!

10. Grace in the Baby Chaos:

Last, but oh-so-crucially, be gentle with yourself. There will be days when the house looks more like ‘tornado aftermath’ than ‘Pinterest perfect’, and darling, that’s perfectly fine. Amidst the diaper changes, late-night lullabies, and endless baby giggles, cut yourself some slack. Embrace the mess, cherish the moments, and always remember: This phase is but a chapter in the beautiful book of parenthood and a new you waiting to blossom once again.

Alright, my fabulous nest-builders, there we have it: our ultimate guide to mastering the mamahood mess while keeping the chic in your crib. As you navigate this incredible, sometimes chaotic, chapter, always remember that each hiccup, each mismatched sock, and every toy underfoot is just a fleeting moment in the grand adventure of parenthood. Let’s embrace it with all its unpredictability. So, go forth, sprinkle some organizational fairy dust, but most importantly, soak up every giggle, cuddle, and heart-melting moment. Here’s to turning our homes not just into glossy magazine spreads but into heartfelt stories of love, laughter, and a little bit of organized chaos.

Mice multiply quickly and can cause serious problems if allowed to stay. They often chew through electrical wires creating a fire hazard, and can spoil food by gnawing on containers.

Preventing mice from entering your home requires finding and sealing entry points. Additionally, consider utilizing mice removal services. To effectively seal entry points, thoroughly inspect the backs of cupboards, drawers, attics, crawl spaces, and boxes.

Seal Up Entry Points

Mice often enter our homes seeking warmth, food, and shelter. Their presence can result in significant damage, such as chewing on wires and books, contaminating stored food by leaving gnaw marks, and spreading diseases through urine and feces.

Many methods that keep cockroaches at bay, like tightening gaps and cleaning up clutter, will also deter mice. Make sure trash cans are tightly closed, and empty them regularly. Check the backs of cupboards and pantries for gnaw marks and the space between walls and around baseboards, plumbing, and electrical work.

You can seal narrow gaps with silicone caulk or pack steel wool into them, which is too unpleasant for mice to chew through and will create a natural barrier. The same strategy can be used in attics and crawl spaces, or try a foam insulation pest blocker. The scent of peppermint and clove oil is also said to repel mice, so saturate cotton balls with these essential oils and place them in areas known to attract them.

Set Traps

Once mice enter your home, they seek out food and shelter and can cause damage and spoilage by gnawing on wires, books, and food packaging. Look for chew marks on walls and baseboards, greasy smudges along floors, gnawed holes in food containers and boxes, a musky or urine odor, and droppings.

Mice can squeeze into spaces as small as a dime, so it’s best to take preventive measures rather than reactively deal with an infestation once it occurs. Make a point to vacuum and sweep often, wipe down counters daily, and store food in airtight glass containers. Keep garbage in a closed can indoors and outdoors, and trim back shrubbery and trees to eliminate hiding places for mice.

If you have already found evidence of a mouse in your home, place baited traps where you see rodent droppings or “rubbings” on the baseboards and walls. Please change the location of traps every two days to prevent mice from becoming accustomed to them.

Apply Pesticides

While preventing mice from entering your home or business is preferable, measures can still be taken if this is not possible. The best option is to employ a pest control professional. These professionals have spent years learning about the habits of mice and how to get rid of them.

Besides sealing up cracks, they also know where to look and what to do when finding evidence of mice in your home. This can include finding urine-stained trails and areas with heavy concentrations of droppings, noticing gnawed food packaging and boxes, squeaking or scurrying noises, and the musky smell of mouse urine and feces.

Other preventive measures can include using a trash can that is mouse-proof, as well as cleaning frequently both inside and out to remove rodent-attracting smells. Some people claim that the strong scents of peppermint and clove oil can also repel mice; try soaking cotton balls with these oils and placing them in areas frequented by mice, like drawers and cabinets.

Remove Nests

Mice reproduce quickly and adapt to new environments, so getting rid of mice in homes can be difficult. However, with time and proper pest control services, homeowners can eliminate rodents and keep them from returning.

To prevent mice from entering a home, cut grass and weeds short and remove piles of wood and debris that serve as hiding places. Keep trashcans sealed and dispose of food scraps regularly, and store pet food, bird seed, and other items in secure containers to reduce crumbs inside the house.

Look for rodent activity inside the house, including gnaw marks on wires, books, storage bags, and food packages. Listen for squeaks and scratching at night, too. Mice are nocturnal, so they can often be heard before they’re seen. Remove harborage areas indoors, paying special attention to dark, secluded areas like the corners beneath shelves and the area behind cabinets. Also, remove discarded clothing fabric, rugs, and blankets that mice use to build nests.

Looking after your skin is hugely important. Not only is it one of those things that makes you feel a lot more beautiful, it also provides you with a lot of confidence, as well as ensuring that you are going to be much more likely to look how you want to. And of course, being the largest organ in the body, your skin is also hugely relevant for your general health and wellbeing too. Because of that, you need to make sure that you are looking after it as best as you can.

In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the main things you need to do to ensure that your skin is looking its very best and that it is as healthy as possible. All of the following is going to help you a great deal, so make sure that you are aware of each of these in turn.

Proper Sun Protection

This might be the most important thing of all when it comes to looking after your skin. If you are not properly and fully protecting your skin from the sun, then it is going to come to a lot more harm, and you should find that you end up with skin that is dry, flaky, or otherwise dull and lifeless. In general, it’s relatively straightforward to protect your skin from the sun, as long as you stick to a few essential things.

This is of course a lot of common sense stuff, such as keeping out of the sun during peak hours and making sure you cover up when you are in it. You should also wear sunscreen during summer hours, every day, even if the sun isn’t out or doesn’t seem particularly strong. You can still get damaged from the sun on a cloudy day!

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Protect your skin from the sun, and you will already be half of the way there.

Good Hydration

You probably already know that you need to be well hydrated if you want to have good skin. Not only does it help it to look more attractive, smoother and so on, it also avoids dryness and flakiness and other such issues. Plus, the more water you are drinking, the more likely it is that your moisturizer is actually going to work as effectively as you would hope. If you are wondering, why is my skin so dry even when I moisturize, it’s probably because you are not drinking enough water, or you are using products that are not helping you out.

So, if you can pay attention to what you put on your skin, and if you drink a lot of water, you’ll find that you end up with much better and healthier skin in no time. So this is a really simple and highly effective thing that you will certainly want to think about. It’s likely to make a huge difference to how your skin ends up, so it’s something to think about.

Knowing Your Skin Type

A lot of this is a lot easier to manage if you know what your skin type is, too. There are a few major types of skin type that you might have, and it’s something that you need to make sure you are aware of, because otherwise you are going to find that you can struggle to look after your skin as well as you would hope. So what are the skin types, and how can you make sure you know what yours is?

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The four main types are dry, oily, normal or sensitive. You can probably already tell just by the names what kind of skin you have – either you have generally oily skin, or it is normally quite dry, or you might find that it’s sensitive. If there are no obvious characteristics like this, then you simply have normal skin. Knowing this, you can then find the best products for your skin, meaning you are much more likely to keep it healthy.

Eating A Wide Variety Of Foods

The issue of diet is a thorny one. You probably know that your diet affects your skincare, but in what way is the question. As well as of course needing to make sure that it is healthy and you are avoiding eating junk, there are other issues to consider too. For instance, are you eating enough of a variety of foods, or do you need to widen that out a little? Most of all, you need to check that you are eating fruits, vegetables and other whole foods with as much variety as possible.

Pic Credit – CCO License

One way is to make sure that you are ‘eating a rainbow’. In other words, check that you are eating some whole foods of different colors each day. This is a really easy way to ensure that you are getting plenty of what you need, and it will mean you have much more in the way of nutrients and minerals in your diet, which is always going to help your skin to be more beautiful and well-looked after in general.

Plenty Of Sleep

Sleep is the final piece of the puzzle here. If you are doing everything else, but not getting enough rest, then you might struggle to actually look after your skin as well as you would hope. However, if you do get plenty of sleep, your skin is going to be in a much better condition, a lot more likely to be healthy and attractive, and so on. So do whatever you can to get more sleep, and you should find it makes a huge difference.

If you are struggling with that, take a look at your daily schedule and make sure you find time for your bedtime routine. Then work on cutting out bad habits which are going to affect your sleep, such as caffeine. Over time, that will help, and you will have much better skin before you know it.