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Three Ways to Use Smart Homes for Smart Parenting

My son is a tiny little gadget hoarder. I wish he was outside fishing or playing or creating but I can’t tear him away from Mindcraft. Talking to him about Mindcraft is a sore subject for me. I don’t enjoy it and I don’t enjoy being the bad guy who has to remind him to do his homework, brush his hair, and go to bed. When I talk to my son I want the focus to be on the bigger picture instead of arguing about things that just have to be. The solution? Home automation.

Somehow we’ve managed to turn home automation into something boring. We automate our lights when we get home, we adjust the temperature when we leave…yawn. Home automation is affordable, easy, and fun but it also has the potential to be powerfully creative. I would wager that it is powerful enough to make the toughest job in the world just a bit easier if we color outside of the lines.

One: The Safety of Your Kids Comes First

Protecting our children from danger inside the home is just as important as protecting them outside the home. Home automation can add an extra set of eyes to your house for less money than a traditional home security system. Door and window sensors, motion sensors, door and window alarms and security cameras are traditional home security items but they are also examples of items that can connect to a home automation hub for added home security. Using connected sensors you can monitor activity in your home and setup alerts that go straight to your cell phone or to your inbox if anything fishy happens. Home automation systems can also monitoring for raising temperatures like in the event of a fire. If you want to color outside of the lines you can even have the lights in your child’s bedroom flash red and add a connected speaker to announce safety instructions. This has the potential to be more effective than a traditional smoke alarm as research proves that many children sleep through traditional alarms.

Two: Making Life Fun Through Technology

The idea of coloring outside the lines simply means using technology to make life fun. Hue bulbs are a great way to add color and fun to your kid’s room. You could use Hue bulbs to make colorful fairies or perhaps change the lighting to their favorite color when they wake up in the morning. Automated systems use multi-sensors to differentiate between night and day so you can adjust the color of the light for different periods of the day. You can also connect speakers like Sonos to give your system a voice. You can teach it to say “Wake Up” or “Hey Batman! It’s time to Brush Your Teeth”.

Three: Teenagers Need Boundaries Too

Home automation is a great solution for parents of teenagers. You want to give them enough freedom so that they can grow into independent adults but they need boundaries too. Home automation can help automate the tasks so that you don’t always have to be the “bad guy”.

Beyond being an extra set of eyes, a Smart Home can foster independence. For example, a child can now use his cell phone to open the front door and you can get a text message letting you know all is well. A new driver is given more freedom as they learn to drive through the use of geofencing and free apps like Life360 that grant freedom with boundries. Or perhaps you just want to have peace of mind when your teen daughter is out and about so you add a panic button to her keychain.

The Sky is the Limit

As for me? I use the power of lights to shift the conversations I have with my son. Blue lights mean “brush your teeth” and green lights mean “go to bed”. Not having these discussions nightly means happier mom, more time for snuggles, and less time debating. In regards to Mindcraft? I’m still open to ideas.

My advice to new automaters is to use caution. There is a fine line between shifting how our time with our children is spent and being Big Brother. Instead of monitoring every movement, use automation to find ways to shift the focus of your interactions. Shift the conversations with your kids from “Why were you late” to “What was the best part of your day” by letting automation do your dirty work. Now if I could just figure out a way to automatically fold my laundry…

Rose Thibodeaux
SecurityGem.com

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How to Choose Materials for a Better Shed

Most homes do not provide enough storage as a family grows. Instead of filling your house with clutter consider building a durable shed in the backyard. Before you begin the project you will need to determine the size of the shed, where it will be located, and what type of materials to use.

 

Select the Size of the Shed

Calculate how much stuff you want to store in your sheds or garages before buying building materials. Determine if you want to store the lawn mower, the kids bikes, Christmas decorations, etc in the shed. You will also need to consider your budget and how much you can afford to spend.

 

Determine the Location

Before building your shed decide where you are going to place it in the yard. It needs to be on level ground and away from low areas where there will be standing water. Do not build it too close to trees or shrubs. Make sure the shed is convenient for carrying items to and from the house and moving the lawnmower and bikes in and out.

 

Choose the Materials

Deciding which building materials to use for your shed or garage depends on how much time you want to spend on maintenance. Many homeowners are now building sheds out of plastic or PVC boards that will never rot and do not need to be painted. These materials are more expensive, but you will not need to worry about replacing or painting the shed as long as you have it. Other DIYers choose T1-11 for the sides of the shed because it is durable and works as both the interior and exterior structure. All you need to do is paint or stain the siding and it is ready to go. This material is also very affordable. If you are really on a tight budget, OSB lumber is cost efficient. While the OSB from years ago was not a great building material for outdoors, improvements made in recent years make this a material that is easy to work with. Once the walls are up you can use vinyl siding to match your home.

 

Overall building a shed or garages gives you plenty of extra storage space to make sure your house is clutter free. When choosing the best materials think about what will work best for your climate and how much money you want to spend.

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Creative Ways to Get Your Kids Active

As a mother, it is important to make sure that your kids stay active and healthy. With the invention of gaming consoles, sometimes it is hard to get kids to go outside and play. However, there are ways to motivate your kids to get outside and start having some fun!

 

Purchase Children’s Playground Equipment

Children are beginning to play video games at younger ages, so sometimes even small children are glued to their game consoles. One way to help encourage your children to experience the outdoors is to purchase some inexpensive children’s playground equipment. This could even be a small swing set or tire swing. This will allow you to avoid driving them to a playground since they have something to play on right at home!

 

Encourage Nature Walks

This is especially great if you have boys. They love to venture out in the woods and look at bugs and insects. It is also a wonderful opportunity to bond with your children if you decide to accompany them. Perhaps you could take them to a waterfall so they have some kind of motivation to do the hike. Your town website may have some suggestions on the best places to go.

 

Take Them Swimming

Swimming is a great way to exercise, especially for children. Have them invite some friends to come along. If your children don’t know how to swim yet, your local pool may have swimming lessons available. Some kids love to go to the beach as well so they can build sand castles. You could even have a BBQ day out of it and spend the day in the sun!

 

Take Them to the Park

Have your children get some friends together to go to the park to play some sports. Some parks have tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball fields, and even soccer fields. There may even be a recreation center in your area where these are available for public use. Some recreation centers will even watch your kids for you, similar to a day camp, so you can get some errands done or have a day date.

These days it seems as though it is getting more difficult to get children to play outside. There are video games, computer games, the internet, Facebook, cell phones, and so many other technologies that are keeping kids inside. However, if you tune in to what kind of activities you think they might like, you may just find a winner!

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Energy-Wasting Habits to Break

There are a lot of little things that we all do every day that waste a lot of energy around the home. There are so many things in the average home today that use energy, and each of these things presents the opportunity to save energy or waste it. Many families have a lot of habits that they could change in order to save energy. This can not only help them protect the planet, but it can also help them save a lot of money throughout the year.

However, breaking any habit is never easy. Families will need to be smart about their energy use and practice some methods to help them stick with their new lifestyle. These little changes can help every family maintain a more eco-friendly lifestyle, save money and live better every day. A few simple changes are easy for any family to make and these changes can reverse the bad habits that are wasting energy around the home. Here are some energy-wasting habits to break this year.

Sleeping with the TV on

Many people watch TV before they go to bed. Though this may not be a big issue by itself, many people also leave their TV on while they are sleeping. This can waste a lot of energy every night. Families can easily fix this by turning the TV off a half hour before they want to go to bed, or by setting a sleep timer on their TV to avoid wasting energy at night.

Not looking at the energy bill

Many people simple pay their energy bills when they come in without taking a second look. Every family should make an attempt to understand every charge on their energy bill so they can reduce their bill and dispute any charges that may be wrongly given to the house. Families check out ChooseTexasElectricity.org to ensure they are getting the best price for their home energy.

Leaving the fridge or freezer door open

Every family has been guilty of this offense at least once or twice. Many families leave the fridge or freezer door open for extended periods of time while they figure out what they want to eat. This may seem harmless when done once in a while, but it can actually waste a lot of money for the household. Every family can make a list of what is in the fridge and freezer and hang it on the door so that they can find something to eat without opening the door.

Leaving electronics plugged in all day and night

There are so many electronics around the house that families leave plugged in for extended periods of time. From laptops to cell phones to even toasters, there are a lot of items that could be using energy all day long even when they are not in use. Every family should make a new habit to unplug all of their electronics when they are done charging or not in use.

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Tips On Running Your Diesel Generator Efficiently

If you live in a rural area, especially off the main electrical grid, diesel generators are critical tools to have for everyday power needs. From powering a dishwasher to a power drill, these workhorses offer inexpensive energy for many hours of use. However, diesel is a fossil fuel, emitting fumes into the atmosphere. If you are environmentally-conscious, you can still run your generator safely with some basic efficiency tips provide by Diesel Part.

 

Choose The Large Model

When you are in the market for diesel generators, look for a large model. Small generators naturally have smaller engines, requiring them to operate at high RPMs, or revolutions per minute. These high RPMs consume copious amounts of diesel. Although diesel’s exhaust is not as toxic as gasoline, you do not want to add excessive fumes to the air, or purchase a lot of diesel as replacement.

Large models have bigger engines, allowing them to produce ample power at lower RPMs. Fuel is burned more efficiently, saving you money and preserving the environment.

 

Part Of A Whole

Another way to run your generator efficiently is making it part of a larger power source. Many homes use solar panels to provide basic power to lamps and electronics. When you need high power for appliances, including water pumps and laundry centers, you can activate the generator. You do not usually need a generator’s current flow for basic items around the house. By using it in conjunction with other energy sources, you save money and conserve energy.

Even your refrigerator does not need to be constantly cycling through the day with a generator. If you keep the door closed for most of the day, you only need to run the generator once or twice a day to cool the interior. The insulated walls should keep the cold air confined to conserve energy.

 

Schedule Your Power Use

Generators run more efficiently when they are used at their peak operational power. For example, running one small power tool off the generator wastes a lot of diesel. However, activating your water pump, refrigerator and laundry dryer at the same time allows the generator to work at its best level, conserving energy throughout its run. Keep an eye on its maximum output, however. You do not want to overwork the generator with too many appliances running at the same time.

 

Service It

Similar to a car’s engine, your generator needs consistent servicing to run efficiently. Keep track of the generator’s operating hours. For many models, you need to service it after 100 hours of use. The fuel, oil and air filters need to be replaced at this point. These filters ensure that the engine is receiving clean diesel at all times, conserving energy and prolonging the life of the machine.

The oil keeps all the internal parts moving smoothly. Without clean oil, your engine begins to use more diesel to compensate for the increased friction. Between periodic oil and filter replacements, your generator works perfectly for many years.

A diesel generator is a tool that keeps your home, or work space, running comfortably with electrical energy. Care for your generator, and run it strategically, to conserve as much energy as you can. You save considerable money and keep your part of the world fume-free. Caring for the environment encourages you to maintain your generator correctly, and benefit from its efficient power.

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New Year’s Resolutions to Make for Better Health

New Year’s resolutions are a very common way for people to achieve their goals and create an overall healthier lifestyle. Many people use this time of year to finally make the changes that they always wanted to make and create a healthier start to the New Year. The New Year is also a good starting point to help people set time limits for their goals and see just how far they can go in one year.

However, New Year’s resolutions are commonly thought of as a recipe for success. Many people abandon their New Year’s resolutions before spring even comes around. Making the right New Year’s resolutions and practicing methods to maintain them will ensure success throughout the year. There is no better motivation to stick to a resolution than your health. Here are some New Year’s resolutions to make for better health.

Strengthen bonds with family and friends

Many people have the opportunity to spend some time with family and friends over the holidays. However, many people rely on that time as their only real time to connect with those people in their lives. Everyone can improve their happiness by spending more time with family and friends, even if that is just a short phone call once a week.

Finally quit smoking

Smoking is a bad habit that so many people engage in every day. Many people want to quit smoking, but never quite have the motivation. The New Year is a perfect time to put down the cigarettes and finally kick that addiction. Smokers can try Smokeless Electronic Cigarettes to help wean them off the habit and start off the New Year with a healthy life change.

Drink less alcohol

Most people let loose around the holidays and drink a little more alcohol than they normally would. It is still true, though, that most people drink too much alcohol on any given week in the year. Everyone can try to stay under two drinks a week to maintain their health for longer.

Find a healthy and effective way to relieve stress

Stress is a very common part of everyone’s lives. Stress cannot always be avoided, but everyone should have a healthy and effective way to relieve stress that they can use every day. For example, instead of relieving stress by going shopping, people can look for a healthier stress reliever, like getting in some extra time at the gym.

Practice more positive thinking

Positive thinking is a very powerful force that people can use every day to achieve more and live happier lives. So many people constantly put themselves down, but this will only increase depression and limit them from their true potential. Everyone should make a point to stop negative thoughts once they start and preplace them with positive ones throughout the day.

Start meal planning

Meal planning is a great way to not only eat healthier, but also to save money and lose weight. Those who want to achieve any of these goals should make a weekly meal list and buy the groceries they need at the beginning of the week.

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Should You Install a Backup Generator at Your Home ?

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If you own a home, you should be prepared for anything that comes your way. This is not easy, especially if you live in the countryside or in a place that gets bad weather. For this reason, you should install a backup generator at your home. You can check out generatorhire.com.au to learn more about backup generators or consider these four things  when you choose a backup generator for your home.

 

Install by a professional: First and foremost, if you want, you can find a generator hire who can set it all up for you. Then, you can walk into your home without fear or trepidation that you made a mistake in the installation process. However, this is a costlier option, and is not recommended for someone on a limited budget. But, if you want it done right the first time, consider a generator hire.

 

Buy quality: If you want the generator to work all the time, remember to buy a quality one. While it’s costlier, it will save you time and money in the long run as you won’t worry about a breakdown in the middle of the winter. Not only that, if you are worried about protecting your family, you will want to invest in a version that won’t break. Remember, invest wisely in this important product.

 

Capacity: Without a doubt, most people don’t realize how long they will need their generator to perform. When thinking about it, remember that the power can go out for a long time. Instead of being cautious, you should look for a larger generator that can keep things going for the long haul. While costlier, you are going to prevent problems in the event of a serious weather or other event.

 

Backup parts: Finally, if you are going to want your system to work all the time, you will want to buy backup parts. When doing so, you are going to save time and money in the event of a serious life-changing issue. Luckily, if you have the room in a garage, you will not have to waste that much space with the extra parts. Then, and only then, you will be fully prepared with your generator, and you won’t worry about running out of parts during the dead of winter when you lose your electric.

 

If you want to get a generator, don’t forget to think of the process and spend some extra money. By doing so and getting a professional, you are not going to worry when a disaster strikes. Yes, you will protect your family and not worry about the power being out for a few days.

 

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7 Ways to Stay Healthy This Holiday Season

The holiday season is exciting for a number of reasons. People look forward to all of the holiday parties, seeing their family and friends and participating in their favorite holiday traditions. These things are enough to make anyone look forward to the holiday season, but there are some issues that can sometimes accompany this season as well. One of those issues is the common occurrence of illness during the holiday season.

There are a lot of reasons why people get sick more easily during the holiday season. From being around more people, spending more time inside, to the heightened amount of stress that people experience during this season, there are a lot of things that can make people more susceptible to illness and disease. Here are seven ways that people can stay healthy during the holiday season.

Utilize preventative healthcare

There are a lot of healthcare options today that utilize preventative health practices instead of just waiting for illness and disease to set in. This approach can make a big difference in everyone’s life. Everyone should look for their own wellness plan of America that can help them reach their healthiest lifestyle and maintain good health year round.

Disinfect

Disinfecting everything that one touches should be a priority for everyone during the winter season. Many things are shared in a close proximity during the holiday season, from airplane seats to coffee tables in the home, which can cause the spread of a lot of germs. Everyone should disinfect the things they touch often to avoid illness.

Stay active

Many people adopt a more sedentary lifestyle around the holidays, but this can lower the immune system’s ability to fight disease. Everyone should try to get in a little physical activity each day. Try cross country skiing or invest in a treadmill.

Maintain a healthy diet

Healthy eating is not always easy, but it can be extremely difficult in the winter season. Most holiday traditions involve unhealthy food items, but in order to stay healthy, everyone needs to make sure they are getting the right amount of healthy foods each day to supply the nutrients their bodies need. Try substituting some unhealthy holiday dishes with a healthier version.

Avoid sharing

The holiday season is all about giving, but everyone should avoid giving out their germs. Everyone should try to avoid sharing things with others in order to avoid transferring sicknesses. People can stock up on extra pens and use personal keyboards instead of shared ones to avoid illness.

Use immune system boosting supplements

There are a lot of supplements that people can take in order to boost their immune system for the holiday season. Some of these supplements include Echinacea, turmeric, vitamin C and D, and zinc. Try out some of these options to stay healthier all year long.

Reduce the holiday stress

The holiday season comes with a lot of stress for a lot of people. Though all of these stressors cannot be avoided, people can do a lot by recognizing these stressors and making time to relieve stress. Planning ahead to avoid last minute issues, getting a weekly massage, or maintaining a daily exercise routine are all great ways for people to relieve stress.

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Why LPG Gas To Your Home

Liquid petroleum gas, or LPG, is becoming more popular. The reason that more people are choosing LPG gas is because there are many benefits that come along with using it. Below are some of the reasons you may want to consider using LPG gas in your home:

 

Save Money

One of the reasons more people are choosing LPG is because they want to save money. It is cheaper to maintain and operate the gas appliances. LPG gas is also more efficient, so you will be able to save money on your electric bill. Furthermore, it is fairly easy to switch to one of the LPG gas suppliers.

 

Better For The Environment

More people are becoming environmentally-cautious. One of the things you can do to protect the environment is to use a LPG gas bottle. Liquid petroleum gas does not generate much petroleum, carbon dioxide, sulfur and other particles that harm the environment. LPG gas is not only better for the environment, but it is also much better for your health.

Furthermore, LPG gas does not produce any smoke, dust or ash. That is why it is considered a clean fuel.

 

Convenient

Liquid petroleum gas can be stored underground. It also does not cause any smells, noise or noise around your home. Additionally, LPG boilers do not take up a lot of space.

 

Very Flexible

Liquid petroleum gas is flexible, reliable and portable. It can also be used for a variety of purposes. It can be used to provide heat in your home. Liquid petroleum gas can also be used along with other renewable energy sources. Furthermore, you can use it provide hot water in your home and cook.

 

Fast Heating

Not only can liquid petroleum gas heat your home, but it can also provide you with heat quickly. In fact, LGP gas will provide your home with heat more quickly than electrical appliances.

 

Safe

Liquid petroleum gas is a safe option. There are many safety features built inside of the gas appliances. Additionally, strict regulations have been put in place for the storage and handling of gas.

You may want to consider switching to liquid petroleum gas because it will help you save money, and it is better for the environment. You will also be able to quickly heat your home if you use LPG gas. Furthermore, liquid petroleum gas can be used for a variety of purposes, and it is safe.

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6 Ways to Have More Energy This Winter

Many people complain about feeling drowsy and sluggish during the winter season. With the shorter days and the lack of sunshine, it is easy to understand why people feel like they just do not have the energy that they did during the summer months. However, there are some easy methods that people can use to fix this issue.

Anyone can practice a few simple lifestyle changes in order to have more energy every day. These methods can not only help people have more energy in the winter, but every day of the year. These are also great ways for people to boost their mood in the winter and strengthen their immune system. Simple changes can make a big difference and make winter a season that everyone can look forward too. Here are six ways to have more energy this winter.

Correct nightly sleep issues

Many people struggle with sleep issues every night. Some issues include back pain and sleep apnea, which can make a good night’s sleep impossible to get. People can invest in a good mattress and check out CPAPMan to correct their nightly sleep issues.

Drink more water

Staying hydrated is extremely important to keep energy levels high throughout the day. Drinking water helps keep the metabolism high and promotes healthy circulation to help people stay focused and feeling good all day. Everyone should aim to drink half their weight in ounces of water every day to maintain healthy hydration.

Maintain a regular sleep schedule

Sleep is very important to maintaining energy throughout the day. Even those who do not have any sleep issues may sleep feel that they wake up not feeling as rested as they should be. One way to prevent this is by maintaining a regular sleep schedule throughout the year, going to bed and waking up at the same time every day.

Stay active

Staying active in the winter months can be difficult for a lot of people, but regular activity is a great way to boost energy and avoid illness. Everyone should try to incorporate a little physical activity into their daily routine. Try an outdoor winter sport or sign up for a gym membership.

Get more vitamin D

Vitamin D is a nutrient that is commonly obtained from sun exposure. The lack of sun in the winter often means that people are getting less vitamin D, making them feel less energized. Anyone can try taking a vitamin D supplement in order to feel better every day.

Find a stress reliever

Stress is common throughout the year, but it can be even more common in the winter season. People are typically busier in the winter and have more issues to deal with, like a longer commute because of the weather. People who want to have more energy should try to find a reliable way to relieve stress. This could range from more dates with friends to a monthly weekend vacation with the family.

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