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Win a Stunning Canvas for Your Home from Canvas Factory

September 14, 2018 by

Canvas prints

What is the one thing that every home needs? Well, that would be some great artwork, of course! Since most families like to keep it rather simple when it comes to their walls, the best way to dress things up and inject some character into your home is through canvas pictures.

If this idea intrigues you, then just imagine getting something like this for free. Thanks to the Canvas Factory, this could soon become a reality. They are offering you the chance to win a gorgeous canvas of your very own. It should be noted, however, that this giveaway is only open to individuals living in the United States and Canada. To get a better understanding of just what it is that you stand to win, take a look at what this company has to offer.

Now, the idea behind Canvas Factory is rather simple. They want everyone to have access to affordable, high-quality printed images. This way, you can have the most stunning images printed out onto canvas and place it wherever you like, within your home.

Canvas prints

With this company, you actually have quite a few options to choose from. If you just want to brighten up your home, there are many different wall art prints on offer. The categories range from landscape and nature, all the way to urban and architecture. You really will be spoilt for choice here.

If you prefer something a little more personal, you can send in one of your own photos. The company will then print this image onto a material you have chosen to create the perfect picture to hang up in your home. What’s more, there are so many different effects that you get to choose from as well. This includes the acrylic look, HD metal prints, split canvases, collages, and more.

These prints are incredibly affordable as well. One of the standard canvas sizes measures 16” x 20” and will cost you just $38.70. The other standard size 40cm x 50cm is worth $50.19. So you get options with size as well!

What’s great about this company is that it allows you to get as creative as you want. Even the simplest image can be transformed into a truly breathtaking piece of art. Best of all, there is almost no effort involved on your part. You only have to send in an image (or choose one yourself) and then select the style that you prefer. After that, it is just a matter of waiting for the canvas to be delivered to you. It is as easy as that.

There is no reason you shouldn’t get involved in this giveaway as soon as possible. By doing so, you stand the chance to greatly improve the aesthetic of your home and to own a piece of art that you can truly treasure forever. So, on this note, don’t wait a minute longer – go ahead and check out how you can get a canvas delivered to your doorstep!

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4 Tips for a Successful Backyard Party

September 12, 2018 by

Backyard party

Whether you are celebrating the Fourth of July or holding a kiddie party for your little one, a backyard party is always a great way to enjoy life in the neighborhood. After all, there is nothing that passes as a nicer venue than the great outdoors when it’s warm.

Enjoy the feeling of the sunshine, fresh air, and the sound of chirping birds. Don’t you love it when you are outside enjoying a great backyard party? But one thing’s for sure, not all parties end up becoming successful. Anything can happen outside. Rain clouds may appear and the sound of cars may drown out attempts to share stories and laughter.

Still, if you know how best to hold a backyard party, you can easily overcome these problems and give your guest a compelling reason to look forward to another barbecue.

Here are some tips you might want to follow in organizing a successful backyard party.

  1. Prepare early on

Preparation is key to any successful occasion. If you want to make a good impression on your guests, it’s best that you plan for the party early on. As much as possible, don’t wait for the last minute (or the last week for that matter) in order to set everything up.

By preparing earlier than the scheduled date, you allow yourself enough time to come up with contingency plans and determine the best possible options.

  1. Use the environment as decoration

One challenge when it comes to planning a backyard party is the space. Unlike holding a party inside a room where the limited space allows for many different design elements, outdoor parties are more difficult. Consider that you can only do so much with the vast space. Decorating with fences is much more easier. the guests will enjoy the outside ambiance at the same time make it a little bit remote. Check out some temporary fence gates rental service Dallas, or anywhere near the venue. Other than that, creating the ambiance for the party is much more costly.

You can get around this challenge by simply doing a survey of the area to see what you can do with the landmarks that are available. For instance, if you are having Christmas Party outside, you can wrap the trees in Christmas lights and convert the shed into santa’s cabin.

  1. Plan the menu

What’s a party without the food? If you are opting to hold a stellar party for the neighborhood, decorations just won’t cut it. You need to prepare food that will give people all the more reason to call your backyard party the best that they ever had.

Coming up with a menu has to figure in the early preparation stages. So, if you are planning a barbecue party for the Fourth of July, consider exploring new recipes. You can always find great resources about barbecuing online. By doing ample research, you can serve up satisfying meals for your guests.

  1. Spread the word

If you don’t intended for your backyard party to be a private affair, you can always invite people over to partake in the excitement. Call up some friends or spread some flyers around and make sure you cook enough food for everybody who will show up. Otherwise, you might as well ask your guests to bring their own food to the party—that’s even better!




What Nurse-Parents Are Like

September 10, 2018 by

nurse
My mother always said that being a nurse is the most noble and rewarding job, and she was right. As a nurse, she met a lot of patients who came in with different problems, and her favorite thing to do was watch them leave the hospital with their families after they recovered. She said that the patients may not remember a nurse’s name, but will always remember what they did for the patient. Nurses have not only touched the hearts of patients; they have also made an impact on their own kids’ lives. I will never forget everything that my nurse-mother has done for me. Even when she had a really long, hard day, she would come home to make me dinner and tuck me into bed every single night. She took me to the hospital on numerous occasions, and proudly introduced me to everybody there. Being a nurses’ child has indeed been a pleasure, and I am sure others would also agree. Here are 9 points that aptly describe nurse-parents. How many of them can you relate with?

1. They are hardly home

I think we can all agree that nurses are the real superheroes in a hospital. They do everything in their part to make sure that patients are comfortable, reassure their families and assist during surgeries. They leave home early in the morning and return at odd hours. The worst part is that they are sometimes even called in to the hospitals on their day off!

2. They have the softest hands

If your parent is a nurse, go feel their hands! As a child, I always used to always hold on to my mother’s hand because they were so soft and cold. Nurses have extremely soft hands as a result of washing their hands a thousand times a day. Those soft palms, with neatly trimmed nails also appear tired and stiff from the long hours at the hospital.

3. They are never fooled

Here’s a fact – The child of a nurse can never skip school, unless they are actually sick. As kids, we love to pretend that we are ill just to miss school. We artificially make our forehead hot and our face red to fool our parents and stay at home. However, it is nearly impossible for the child of a nurse to actually pull off this trick. Nurses are smart enough to identify symptoms, and can easily understand when kids pretend. Never try this trick with them!

4. They are well-equipped

Nurses always stock up the medicine cabinet at home with enough pills and first aid supplies. They even keep a stethoscope in hand, in case their children fall sick. They can easily identify an illness when we list out a few symptoms, and know what to do. No wonder all my friends prefer to come to my mother when they fall sick, or get injured!

5. They work on Christmas

Hospitals will always function, even if it is Christmas! Nurses are on duty even on this National holiday; doing their best to take care of sick patients. It is disappointing for children to wake up excitedly on Christmas morning, only to find out that their mother had to work. Yet, these loving nurse moms also make it a point to leave some gifts under the Christmas tree for the little ones, and arrange for a homely Christmas dinner for the family.

6. Their closets are filled with scrubs

Who knew a nurse could own so many scrubs? When I was young, I would go sit inside my mother’s closet, between her scrubs, because I loved the smell of clean, soft scrubs! Laundry has to be done every single day to ensure that their scrubs are white and clean before they leave to the hospital!

7. They teach us how to be independent

Nurses’ children are usually more independent than other children. From a very early age, they are aware how hectic their parent’s job can be. They do their part to help out around the house, since their parent usually returns home late. They are taught how to cook, do the laundry and babysit the younger children.

8. They are extremely proud of their job

Nurses love what they do. They get to cure lives just as much as doctors can! They take care of patients, scrub in on surgeries and communicate with patients’ families. Why would they take up such a hectic job if they didn’t love what they are doing? Most nurses love speaking about their job to their children, in the hopes that they too will get inspired to become a nurse!

9. They teach their children how to be grateful

Nurses have seen everything – they have witnessed the pain and sufferings that patients go through, and the sadness and desperation that the families of patients feel. They know how hard life gets, and how valuable life is. Therefore, they make it a point to remind their children over and over again to count their blessings, and to be good, and kind to all.




5 Tips to Protect Your Child’s Online Reputation

September 9, 2018 by

Child online reputation

With sharing so much information about yourself online being the norm nowadays you may be worried about protecting your child’s online reputation. But where do you start in this minefield of an online world? If you are really concerned you can employ a company such as Russell’s who provide privacy and reputation management. However, to start with yourself here are 5 tips to protect your child’s online reputation.

1.    Learn about how their reputation is formed

Where does all this information come from? Learning how their internet history and online profiles are formed, including how it is stored is the first step to protecting your child’s online reputation. Once you know where the information comes from and where it can be found you can take further action if necessary.

2.    Talk to them about their internet usage

Growing up in a world where using the internet and sharing information is a regular thing it is important to talk to your children about what they are sharing. Giving them the knowledge that what they post will almost never be removed is a good start. Make them understand that anyone can access what they share, and they need to be careful with their personal information. Talking to them about screen and web time is an excellent start.

3.    Search your child and analyse what you find

You are not invading their privacy if the information is in the public domain. If you can find it, then anyone else can too. What is the first image you see or website link? Visit the links and decide if any of the information is concerning or untrue. Try different search engines too as different results may be found. Look at what personal and identifying features are available to find easily. You might want to share your findings with your child and discuss what is out there.

4.    Decide if the online picture is a true picture of your child

Is what you have found a true picture of who your child really is? Do they appear to be the same age as they are, or have they been portrayed as older than they really are? A bad online reputation can have severe consequences. Especially if this has been formed over a long period of time. One bad comment can have an impact on their social relationships. But it can also cause problems in the future such as credit ratings and career prospects.

5.    Encourage your child to make changes

Small things like removing their date of birth from social media and changing their privacy settings will make a big difference. Open social media accounts are a window into peoples lives, so encourage your child to only share with persons they know and trust. Ensuring their online accounts are as secure as possible will reduce their chances of being exploited, having their identity stolen or harming their reputation.

How will you protect your child’s reputation?

There are a few quick and easy ways to help protect your child’s online reputation. The main thing is understanding what is out there and what can be done to keep your child safe.




Bring Joy to Romance by Doing These Two Simple Things

September 7, 2018 by

Joy to Romance
A shining smile is a great indicator of happiness and satisfaction. But getting that kind of smile is easy. It takes just gargling mouthwash and brushing your teeth. If you have time and a few dollars to spare, you may also the assistance of a good personal or family dentist. That’s all you need to brighten or straighten a smile, but that won’t take you all the way.

A smile doesn’t say much if it does not radiate, and it will only radiate if it is rooted in genuine happiness. Fortunately, the path to true happiness is parsimonious and straightforward. It may not seem that way at first. Sometimes a path is so deceptively simple that it just gets overlooked. We are wired to believe that more complex solutions bring in more compelling results, but this is rarely the case.

In fact, research has shown that the greatest source of joy is almost exactly what you’d expect: stable, affectionate companionship. Long-term research psychological research has always pointed to high-quality relationships as a strong predictor of both good health and happiness. This can be any type of relationship: friendship, familial, romantic. In this article, we’ll focus more on the importance of romance.

While the quality of a relationship is not always related to how long it lasts, logic tells us that fulfilling relationships often last the longest. Instead of asking how we can make our love last, maybe it would be better to ask how we can improve our relationships? The answers are simple, but they sure demand a whole deal of commitment and focus.

Learn your partner’s love language.

Even if you are in an intimate committed relationship, the two of you are still separate individuals with different preferences and styles. One point of divergence is in the way that you express your love and care for the other. This is not really a problem; it only becomes one if one partner or both partners assess the other’s actions from their own perspective alone.

Sociologist Terry Hatkoff from the California State University identified at least six different forms of love–therefore six different love languages–that are typically present in modern-day couples. If, for example, the man is a romantic type while the woman is an unselfish type, they most likely ‘speak’ in different ways.

For example, the man might shower the partner with flowers and chocolates and want to cuddle all the time. The woman, on the other hand, may prefer ‘speak’ through her actions. Maybe she prefers to focus on meeting the comfort needs of her partner, taking satisfaction and showing affection through care. Both partners have to understand each other’s viewpoint so that they know that even if they do not receive the exact things that they give, what they get is still love.

Take sex seriously.

While generally people who have sex are no happier than their sexually inactive counterparts, couples who have sex more often tend to report more satisfaction than those who have too little sex. This is true across cultures.

With that in mind, it will work to the couple’s benefit if they take sex very seriously. If both of them are working, they might want to create a schedule for it. If they have fantasies that they want to act on, they should be willing to communicate. The partnership is an expectedly intimate one; and now that we know that sex plays an important role in it, the partners should exert effort not to feel awkward when talking about sex.

If a partner feels anxious their sexual performance, it might help if it’s going to be brought up in a heart-to-heart conversation. There are studies that show that those who have high sexual performance anxiety have higher chances of cheating on their partners.




8 Beautiful Life Lessons Taught by Mothers

September 3, 2018 by

girl
The most influential person in everybody’s lives is their mother. She was there for us from the moment we were born, until we are ready to face the outside world. Being a mother is more than just being a personal cook, or chauffer. Our mothers have taught us so many life lessons when we were young. What we learnt as a child is what helped build our character, and make us into smart, responsible people. We had the opportunity to interview some lovely ladies, who were more than happy to anonymously share some beautiful life lessons taught by their mothers.

“My mother taught me how to be independent. From a young age, she made sure that I helped out with the chores, and included me while making family decisions. When we moved to a new country, she even let me set up my room. She respected me, and treated me as an equal. That has really helped make me the strong woman that I am today.”

“My mother taught me how to love myself. I was, and still am an extremely caring person. I would go out of my way to help people that I love. That resulted in me getting hurt really often. I remember, my mother took me to a fancy restaurant one evening, and left me there. She wanted me to go on a ‘date’ with myself. I thought that it was an absurd idea. However, when she came back to pick me up, I realized how much it actually helped me. I had a lot of time to think, and understand myself. Having some ‘me time’ is extremely important to be happy and content with life.”

“My mother taught me how important it is to stand up for myself. As a child who was constantly bullied, and now as a young lady who is judged because of my ethnicity, I found it really hard to hold my head up high. My mother taught me how to be strong and helped me gain confidence. She never encouraged me to physically fight back against the bullies, but instead enrolled me in a self-defense class. She would constantly remind me about what a good person I am, and how much I’ve accomplished. That really helped boost my confidence.”

“My mother taught me how to be a good mother! When I was growing up, I thought that my mother was too strict, and I secretly wished she could be as liberal as my friends’ mothers. However, now that I have my own kids, I find myself being just like my own mother. Now I realize that everything she did, or said was for my own good. I feel confident that I can raise my children to be good human beings just like how my mother brought me up.”

“My mother taught me how to be myself. As a teenager, I always knew that I liked girls. I was extremely scared to talk to my parents about it, because I imagined that they would hate me. Somebody found out and spread a rumor about me in school. People started to say some really bad things, and my mother was called in to school. I was extremely scared that she had to find out this way, but she took it really well. She hugged me and said that she was proud of me. I’ve never been scared to be myself ever since then.”

“My mother taught me how to be a graceful woman. I was an extremely rebellious teenager, who colored her hair pink and wore too much make up. I would do anything to get attention! When I was sixteen, my mother bought me this beautiful pink dress for my junior prom. She did my make up, and curled my hair too. I felt like the most beautiful girl in the world! My mother taught me how I could look good, and actually feel good at the same time. I learnt that if I love myself, I could be confident, graceful and elegant, and people would respect me more for who I am, and not who I portray myself as.”

“My mother taught me to dream big. When she was growing up, she didn’t have many opportunities. She spent all her life taking care of her family, and making sure that we were happy and content. When I told my mother that I wanted to start a company, she told me that I could do it. She never believed in the concept of ‘being realistic’ or ‘being practical’. My mother gave me the confidence that anything is possible, and can be achieved.”

“My mother taught me to count my blessings. It has made me more compassionate towards other people. We didn’t have a lot of money, but she would donate food and clothing to the lesser privileged every month. That was what made her such a remarkable human being.”




8 Things You Can Make and Sell for Extra Cash

August 28, 2018 by
Craft

If you’re particularly good with your hands and feel like you could use some cash, why not turn something you love into an alternative source of income or even a primary one? There are a variety of items you can create to sell in order to make money on the side. Unless you’re doing something really new or innovative, there are already established markets for different kinds of crafts, which means it will be easy to sell your creations in existing marketplaces especially online.

Crafts you make yourself undoubtedly take some time and effort, but if you need cash quickly, you can look at your basement or storage spaces to find things you can trade for cash; you can even sell your clothes online.

If you plan to make this a full-time gig, understand that creating and selling stuff are not the only ways you can make money. You can take surveys, monetize blogging, and more. If you are looking to find ideas on what you can create to sell, read below for ideas.

Bake Goodies

If you’re an aspiring baker who can make mean loaves of bread or bake different varieties of cookies, then why not use these acquired skills to bake homemade goodies on a made-to-order basis? Obviously, you have baking skills because you enjoy doing it, so why not keep doing it and make money in the process? Your service will make it more convenient for other people who aren’t as skilled in the kitchen as you are.

After all, no one ever says no to a freshly baked batch of cookies or an artfully crafted cake. You can advertise your goods online or head to the local farmer’s market, where people can actually see and or even taste test your baked goodies.

Make Paper Crafts

Did you know that you can make a lot of money by folding pieces of paper or cutting them up? Yes, paper crafts are lucrative, and some artists have even made outstanding masterpieces using only paper and about hundreds of hours of labor and effort. You can do it too by going for simpler but beautiful projects.

If you want to sell them, you definitely can, but you need stronger or even special paper. Regular paper is fine for practice, but if you want to get serious with your paper crafts business, you’ll need some creativity and stronger paper that won’t crease at the lightest touch or be ruined with a few drops of water. There are many paper-craft tutorials you can find online, so pick what you like best, practice, and make it your own.

Create Photos for Stock Photography

Apparently, stock-photo companies pay people for interesting, relevant, or recent photographs. If you’re in the hobby of photography and you already have ample equipment for the love of it, this is perfect for you.

Simply take some photos you think are interesting, and upload them to stock-photography sites. The money you will be making off your photos may not be instantaneous, but it is a good source of passive income.

Make Music

If you’re an accomplished instrumentalist or blessed with a beautiful voice, you can easily market either of these as an artist. If you’re not pursuing that kind of career, you can monetize your talents by creating original music like EDM and upload it on popular streaming sites that pay money for numbers of views or streams. Even if you’re a beginner, there are plenty of great resources available online to start learning how to make your own EDM music.

On that topic, you can also start a career as an online content creator that you can do as a hobby or to pass time and make some extra cash on the side.

Make Bath Products

Most people love some good pampering, but not everyone can afford it all the time. This is why there’s a market for affordable bath products that make them feel luxurious.

Want a bubble bath? Here’s a bath bomb. Want organic shampoo? Here’s an all-natural shampoo made with real flowers.

The good thing about making bath products is that is something people all have in common and, therefore, have firsthand knowledge of what people may want, in what capacity and option. There are so many ways you can go about this, and the good news is that there are huge markets for different bath products, especially soap and bath bombs.

Bath products are especially lucrative when they are made by hand and in limited quantities. Another thing to note is that they are easy to make, so you can make a few batches to test and conduct your own research on what works and what doesn’t. People are always looking for the next new thing, so this is a chance to make something unique.

Sew Clothes, Trinkets, Accessories

If you know how to sew and your hobby is making clothes, you can sell your creations for extra cash. This will be a lot easier to get into if you already own a sewing machine. Depending on what you’re into, you can offer made-to-order costumes, children’s dresses, doll clothes, and more.

If you’re not into clothing, you can sew different accessories and trinkets like blankets, coin pouches, and even bags. Embroidery is really big in the sewing hobby, and most people embroider cute characters and tiny details.

Another prospect you can pursue with your sewing hobby is making something for pets. People who are very attached to their pets tend to pamper their furry little friends by buying them clothes, hats, and even shoes. Find something you have a passion for, and get paid for it.

Painted Goods

If you’ve always had talent and an eye for color when handling a brush, then selling painted goods is a good way of earning extra cash. You can go old-school and paint portraits of people and/or characters they like, but you can also explore other ways.

Hand-painted decorative dishes are big in the scene right now, so you can paint dishes, glasses, vases, and even mason jars. The reason people like to buy them especially if they can be personalized is that they make perfect gifts for the special people in their life.

Craft Jewelry

Handmade jewelry is one of the most popular items on e-commerce websites and even in bazaars and marketplaces. For one thing, it’s cheaper than jewelry made of precious metals and stones.

Another reason is that each piece is unique or can be custom-made. It is a good way to showcase your creativity and push the boundaries of the material you’re using with homemade jewelry.

How Much Can You Earn?

It actually depends on how much value you put in your creations. If you’re unsure, look around online to get an idea of how much handmade crafts sell for. If you’re still trying to find your footing and unsure of what type of crafts you want to create, it is recommended to get craft supplies in bulk because they’re cheaper.

Are you a crafter or a DIY hobbyist? What are the things you make and sell to make extra cash? Share them below.




How to Heal a Broken Heart

August 28, 2018 by
Broken heart

If you ever had your heart broken by someone you love, you know that everything in life seems to lose its meaning after a breakup. The only thing you care about is if your ex will send you that text, reaching out with a rekindling message like “i miss you..” so you can get back together again.

If you find yourself in this situation or have a friend that’s currently facing a breakup, good news, i’m about to share some tips to improve the situation. And no, I’m not talking about Netflix & Ben n jerry’s marathon type of advise. Here is some two healthy actions you can take towards recovering from a breakup:

Number one: Reach out to an old friend for a coffee

People are great mood changes! You probably recognize the feeling when you and a friend have planned a get together, but your having a bad day so you’re not feeling like it anymore. But as the good friend you are you end up going anyways, and to your surprise, your mood changes because your friend takes you off your a mind, and afterwards you feel grateful that you got together.

Why an old friend, does not my best friend work?

The reason and old friend is good it’s because it keeps you from falling into your habitual behaviours you have with your closest friends. You want to put yourself in a new situation so you can feel present and alert. This will feel like a splash of cold water in the face, it will wake you up.

So take up your phone and send a message or call to a friend you haven’t been in touch with for a while that you know will cheer you up.

Number Two: Invest and improve yourself

After a breakup there can be a lot of emotional pain, you might feel that this is the time where you are supposed to crawl down in your bed and just watch movies until the pain vanishes.

Do this and you be wasting a great opportunity!

You see, in order to make improvement with our ourselves we have to change, it’s simply impossible to improve something in our lives while staying the same, change happens outside our comfort zones.

The problem here is that were not designed to wanna to push ourselves outside our comfort zones, we are designed to maintain survival, not peak performance.

Another word for comfort zone could be “survival zone”, it’s a place your body and mind feel safe. Your body and mind knows that if your actions stays within this zones you’re more likely to survive, so it’s does everything to keep your action inside these zones.

This is why people struggle with reaching new goals and make changes in their lives.

Breakup pain creates an opportunity for growth!

Let me explain.

When were experiencing pain our body and mind gets more open to change. The pain sends a message to our brain and body and its saying: “we can’t stay like this, we are under attack, something needs to change”.

So this is the time to cultivate pain and make sure it’s works for you and not against you..

Since you’re feeling low, it does not really matter what you do, in every direction you go there will be pain, so you might as well make sure you head in the best direction possible.

So start take actions that will make your life better than it was before the pain even started. Break up expert Patric Tarnhamn talks about this in his post about the no contact rule, that is designed to help you get your ex back.

List of ideas with healthy changes and new habits:

  • Start working out and create your dream body
  • Buy some self improvement books and start a daily reading habit
  • Create a mindfulness habit like yoga or meditation
  • Make new friends and connections by networking at social events
  • Try new hobbies with a friend or by yourself

The idea is to do new activities that also contributes to personal growth so that when done habitual for a longer timeframe, your will experience identity change as a result of personal growth.




50 Ways To Ask Your Kids How Was Your Day

August 27, 2018 by

kids

Every day, we parents eagerly wait for our children to get back home from school; wanting to know everything they did that day. The moment they enter through those doors, we rush to embrace them and enthusiastically ask the usual ‘How was your day?’ This is usually met with their indifferent response of ‘fine’ or ‘good’. We usually get impatient with our kids, and blame them for not communicating with us properly. Perhaps, the fault may be ours for not asking the right questions. Asking the same old ‘How was your day’ can be monotonous and boring. Here are 50 ways to ask your kids ‘How was your day’ without actually asking ‘How was your day’!

1. Tell me what you read in class today.
2. Who did you play with today?
3. Are you finding *insert subject* easy or hard?
4. What was your favorite part of the day?
5. If you could choose, who would you like to sit with in class?
6. Tell me one thing that you learnt today.
7. What is your favorite part of school?
8. Do you like your class teacher?
9. What is your favorite subject?
10 . What subject do you find hard?
11 . Did you make any new friends today?
12 . What did you do in recess today?
13 . Who is the funniest person in your class? What did he/she do?
14 . Tell me something good that happened today
15 . Did you like your lunch today?
16 . What do your friends bring for lunch?
17 . What do you hate about school?
18 . Who is your best friend at school?
19 . If you could be a teacher, what would you teach?
20 . Did you help anyone today?
21 . How would you rate your day on a scale of one to ten?
22 . Who is the naughtiest kid in class?
23 . Which class rule is the hardest to follow? Why?
24 . Did the teacher make any important announcements today?
25 . Who do you enjoy talking to and playing with?
26 . Which day of the week is your favorite? Why?
27 . What do other kids do during recess?
28 . Who do you sit with at lunch?
29 . Did anybody help you today?
30 . If you could play with someone you’ve never played with before, who would it be?
31 . Tell me one thing that made you laugh today.
32 . How is this year different from last year?
33 . What are you excited to do tomorrow?
34 . What classes did you have today?
35 . Who brings the best lunch?
36 . What was the hardest part of the day?
37 . Who do you think you could be nicer to?
38 . If today had a theme song, what would it be?
39 . What do you think the most important part of school is?
40 . Tell me one question/ doubt you had today.
41 . If you could be invisible for one day at school, what would you do?
42 . If you could go to only one class every day, which class would it be?
43 . Who was absent today? Any idea what happened to them?
44 . Was the test you had today as hard/easy as you thought it would be? What questions were on the test?
45 . Which do you like best: art class, music class or physical education?
46 . Can you show me something you learnt (or did) today?
47 . Who made you smile today?
48 . What is the coolest place in school?
49 . When were you bored today?
50 . Did you finish your lunch today? Did you like it?

Other tips to keep in mind :

• You don’t have to ask them these questions immediately after they return from school. Give your child time to settle when they come back home after a long day at school, before engaging in conversation with them.
• Ask them open-ended questions rather than ones that can be answered with a yes or no.
• The way you ask questions matter. Don’t be over enthusiastic, and don’t be too flat either.
• Judge your child’s mood to understand how their day might be, before asking them questions about their day.
• Don’t ask too many questions as this might just annoy them! If they are in a bad mood, give them some space and ask them about it later.
• Often kids are not specific so you need to ask for specific information if you want it.
• Ask positive questions to encourage more conversation.
• Never ask the same questions every day. There are endless ways to ask your kid how their day was, so try to ask them something new every day! This will let you learn more about them.




5 HVAC Repair Prevention Suggestions From A Pro

August 25, 2018 by

Commercial air conditioning

When summer turns to autumn or spring turns to summer, you need your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system to be ready for the weather changes. The right indoor temperature and humidity levels help keep your family healthy and comfortable. An unexpected problem could lead to a health emergency when the weather is extremely hot or cold. These five tips are designed to prevent Fort Collins HVAC emergencies and keep your family safe and comfortable all year long.

Clean Around Your HVAC Equipment

Furnaces, air exchanging units and air blowers inside of your home need plenty of airflow. Keep boxes, storage bins and other items at least 2 feet away from the HVAC equipment. The outdoor compressor unit of a heat pump or air conditioner also needs to maintain airflow. Keep shrubs, grass, flowers and tree branches pruned to at least 2 feet away from the unit. Routinely clean the lint and dirt away from the air intake and outgoing air vents in each room. Arrange for professional air duct cleaning every three to five years.

Listen for Unusual Sounds

HVAC systems make certain sounds when they turn on, perform a cycle and turn off. Listen to the sounds the system makes during its typical operations. For example, the air conditioner might click on, followed by whooshing sounds from the air blower and humming of the fan on the outdoor unit. You may hear another whoosh as the refrigerant completes its cycle and a click when the cycle ends. When you recognize the usual sounds, you will know when the unit makes an atypical sound. If you hear a funny sound from the HVAC unit, call for a repair. Fixing it early could avoid an emergency later.

Keep Up With HVAC Maintenance

HVAC systems need regular maintenance performed by a professional technician. These maintenance visits include an inspection of the entire system. The techs also clean the fan, motor and electronics. Techs change air filters and conduct a system performance test. Routine maintenance also ensures that the system operates efficiently. Schedule service for the heating season and the cooling season.

Avoid Fiddling With the Thermostat

Fiddling with the thermostat stresses the HVAC system. It has to work harder when you make a lot of temperature adjustments. Find a comfortable temperature and leave it. Consider a programmable thermostat. You can input a schedule for morning, daytime, evening and overnight for 24/7 comfort. Keep lamps, TVs and other heat-generating electronics away from the thermostat. They could make the thermostat cycle the air conditioner when it is not necessary.

Check Your Electrical System

Furnaces, heat pumps and air conditioners use electricity. A tripped circuit breaker or turned-off burner switch could make the HVAC unit stop working. The burner switch is typically located on the outside of the furnace. It cuts power to the unit without the need to access the circuit breaker.

Regularly cleaning and maintaining your HVAC system can prevent many emergency situations and the need for urgent repairs. Sometimes, a simple check of the power switch or circuit breaker solves your problem. Scheduling a routine semi-annual service visit could also reduce the risk of an emergency HVAC repair. These tips will save you money, keep your family comfortable and keep them safe during the frigid winter months and steamy summertime heat. For emergency HVAC service in Northern Colorado, visit swanhomecomfort.com.




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