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Your Winter Wardrobe Isn’t Complete Without These Items

Some people say that dressing for the winter doesn’t allow for much opportunity for expression, but that’s far from the truth. There are many ways that you can make winter fashion work in your favour, but it is important to focus on function, too. No matter where you sit on the style vs function spectrum, here is a short list of just a few of the winter garments you should have at the ready during the colder months.

Winter wardrobe

Thermal Socks

Especially if you work outdoors during cold weather, you need to know that what you put on at the start of the day is going to work as hard as you do. Thermal socks provide excellent insulation without taking up the space of multiple pairs of socks. And you wouldn’t want to wear multiple pairs of socks inside, say, a work boot. The layers change how the footwear fits and could even cause an injury from your foot moving in the shoe.

Look for thermal socks with high-performance thermal yarn that will provide you with the insulation you need as well as breathability to combat moisture. With an excellent pair of thermal socks, it’ll be easy to keep your feet warm this winter and for winters to come.   

Long-johns (Thermal Base Layer)

They go by a host of names: long-johns, long underwear, base layers, and more. And they don’t have the most glamorous reputation in the fashion world, but there’s no denying the efficiency of a good thermal base layer. For a reliable base layer to wear under office clothes or while staying active outdoors, thermal underwear is your go-to. These insulating layers are essential for keeping yourself warm and regulating your temperature.

When you’re out and about in extreme weather, you don’t want to start sweating or shivering. You need to keep your temperature at a good, moderate level. Thermal layers help you to do just that and they give you the flexibility to add and remove layers as you go through your day.

Waterproof Snow Boots

If you live somewhere that gets a decent amount of snow and ice, you’ll want to have a reliable pair of snow boots as part of your winter wardrobe. Sometimes rain boots coupled with some warm insoles and thermal socks can do the trick, but having a good snow boot will keep you warm and give you the traction you need to make it across any icy surface.

Reliable Wool Coat

A classic wool coat is a wardrobe staple that just doesn’t go out of style. For those who need to look semi-formal to formal every now and then during the winter and want to stay warm while doing it, a wool coat is a great wardrobe investment.

You can wear it to work, an outing with pals, to do your errands, and plenty pf places in between. This garment looks great in classic colours like grey, black, or camel (beige).

Warm Scarf

Scarves come in so many sizes and styles that there’s something for everyone. Most individuals who are used to roughing it through the cold winter months probably already have one or two scarves in their rotation. And there’s a reason they’ve been around for so long: they work. You can make a scarf work for you by choosing a style that matches your needs best. Maybe an athletic cowl will suit you best if you plan on wearing it while being active. Or maybe you want something soft and luxurious to burrow into on your morning commute. Don’t skip this garment, go for flexible and versatile styles that match well with the rest of your wardrobe.




Is Rolex on your Mind?

Rolex watch

Rolex is a brand that is loved by the masses, and we all want to own at least one Rolex watch if we’ve not bought one for ourselves till now. With this being noted, it is also interesting to know that Rolex is one watch brand that has an international appeal and will give you your style a boost instantly.

However, before buying a Rolex, here are some tips to consider.

1. The cost factor

When we talk about Rolex, we know that it is a brand that is loved by the masses across the world. With this being understood, it is important to make sure that you understand the cost factor that will come into play if you’re planning to buy a Rolex watch. Rolex watches for women are significantly more expensive because there are many options available for women. So, it shouldn’t be a cause of concern for you to choose the right option that will suit you and make you feel significantly confident. However, you are going to shell out a significant amount for that, and if you are not prepared for it, it will turn out to keep disastrous for you. So, before thinking of investing in the Rolex watch, make sure that you understand the amount you will have to pay for the luxury.

2. Staying away from fake Rolex watches

There are many fake Rolex watches available in the market, and it can be difficult for you to check whether of these is original or not. For this, there are certain blog posts that can help you know whether a Rolex is original or not. Read such posts and make sure that you do not end up making a choice that gets you a fake Rolex when you are paying for an original one. There are many first copies Rolex watches available in the market, and that shouldn’t be an excuse for you if you get fooled. Remember that complete your purchase only from an authentic watch store, may it be online or at a retail outlet. Buying a Rolex watch from an online storeis better time purchasing it from a retail outlet because you have the option to look into the reviews of the same and complete your purchase accordingly.

3. Choosing the right option

With Rolex, we have noted above that there is a variety offered and each timeless piece is loved by the masses. So, it is important to know that you are picking the right options that will be ideal for you. Remember that you are spending a considerable amount on buying a Rolex watch and if you not totally satisfied with the look and feel of the same, you are going to have regrets after completing the purchase. So, do the analysis before you complete your purchase and there will be no reason for you to be disappointed with yourself later on.

4. Keeping it safe

If you are planning to buy a Rolex watch, make sure that you are preparing yourself to keep it safe as well. Rolex is one of the best watch brands in the world, and you need to be sure that you will be in a position to keep it safe all the time. Remember that if you are not wearing it, it should be kept in the box so that it does not get spoilt or damaged in any way. This will be our task for you, and if you are ready to take it up, you will be happy with the results you get in the end.




5 Creative Ways to Decorate a Nursery

If you are expecting or someone else you know is, first of all, Congratulations! Now, you need to plan out the nursery. As important it is to consider the safety of the baby while decorating the room, it is also important to have fun elements.

Today, we will be talking about some of the unique ideas I have curated for nursery designs. These things have the ability to transform your room completely and also help channel your creativity.

Wall Mural Decals

Nursery

Wall decals are a great way to spice up the walls of your nursery. They are cheap, easy to apply and remove, and colorful. You can go for a classy look or a total color fest. You can go for the designs aimed at kids like dinosaurs, animals, cartoons, anything and everything bright and colorful. You can easily remove the decals and replace them as your kid grows.

Floor Mural Decals

Floor decor

A lot of people don’t know about floor mural decals. Floor decals aren’t as popular as wall decals, but they are catching up. When the baby is able to crawl, it will be fun for the baby to crawl on a scene of a beach or jungle. They make the floors much for fun and make the room look airy. You can have an elaborate game of pretend play with toys that match the decal. It is great to create a story within the room.

Baby Name Plaque

Name plaque

Baby name plaques on the walls can add a great personal touch for the baby, and they will love it as they grow to read and write. There are many websites that will make custom name plaques for you. You can even frame each letter and put the name on the wall like a photo gallery. If you feel plaques are out of your budget and you want an inexpensive option then there are name decals as well, it will give you the same effect.

Cartoon Animal Heads

Cartoon

Fake animal heads have been trending recently. Cartoon animal heads are a fun addition to have. They are easy to find, like this one from eBay. You can also get custom animal head stuff toys made on eBay.

Hanging Cloud

Hanging cloud

Hanging clouds are really fun to look at even as adults. Imagine the happy laughter from your child. Imagine how fun it will be to have a cloud indoors and how marvelous it will feel when it is raining outside. It is really easy to make, you can turn it into a laid-back afternoon project. Even wikiHow teaches how to make a hanging cloud, this image is proof of it.

Decorating a nursery is your chance of unleashing the child inside of you. Babies don’t know good design from bad design. Add elements that will make them curious about things. The hanging clouds and the beach floor mural can help you teach them about the environment. Add elements that are in some way attached to learning, that way it will still be relatable as the child grows.




The One Tech Tool Every Journalist Needs to Start Using in 2019

From Arlington to Ankara, it has been a difficult year for journalists. Not only has there been a spike in the number of journalists who have met with violent deaths, they have also been subject to an insidious at persistent campaign of abuse on the part of powerful business and political leaders around the world.

Between U.S. President Donald Trump’s frequent attempts to discredit journalists for being “dishonest” in their coverage of his government, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s massive crackdown on press freedom, or Philippine President Roderigo Duterte’s assault on the media, reporters the world over are facing new challenges in going about the difficult work of uncovering the truth.

These challenges are not made easier by the shifting nature of reporting. With many media companies struggling to cover the news on shoestring budgets, and with the shift to digital platforms and social media as the primary platforms for disseminating stories, journalists also need to adapt to a rapidly changing industry where technological advancement brings with it new vulnerabilities.

A primary example of this is cyber security. Journalism is all about sharing stories in a responsible way, but with widespread government and corporate surveillance increasingly becoming an accepted part of life in the modern world, journalists need to go to great lengths to make sure that in the process of gathering information, they don’t do more harm than good.

Ensuring that all communications remain private and confidential is an essential part of this, and the best way to do so is to protect yourself with an encrypted messaging app that brings together seamless chat, voice messaging, and image messaging tools with some of the most advanced encryption software on the market.

Tech tool

ChatMail Secure’s proprietary encrypted smartphone software, which relies on an innovative blend of PGP and Elliptical Curve Cryptography is the best way to guarantee secure end-to-end communication. With ChatMail, you can generate new encryption keys that will never leave your device, and toggle between types of encryption using a seamless, easy-to-navigate interface. And because ChatMail messages aren’t stored external and delete automatically after a set period of time, you never need to worry about having your messages hacked.

This is important not just for protecting yourself, but for protecting your sources as well.

Every day, reporters around the world hunt down sources that have access to sensitive and explosive information that can reveal evidence of corruption, malpractice, and violence perpetrated by some of the most powerful people and corporations in the world. In order for these sources to speak frankly, they need to have confidence that doing so will not endanger their lives or careers.

This is why journalists need encryption tools that are sufficiently flexible to manage delicate processes like source verification. With ChatMail’s anonymous group chat function, journalists can access such tools without giving away their source’s identities or putting them at risk.

All signs indicate that the war on journalists is only just beginning. Journalists will continue to face new threats in 2019, and if they want to be able to go about their work in a way that keeps their communications private and their sources protected, adopting tech tools like ChatMail Secure is going to be essential.




How to Pack for a Spring Trip to Europe

People are always looking for the best time to visit Europe, and that may just be the spring. Visiting in the spring avoids the cold of winter as well as the crowds of summer, and the ambience of a Paris street, for instance, in the spring rain, surrounded by flowers, can leave its own lasting impression.

Spring, with its blooming flowers and rising temperatures, is possibly the best option for tourists looking to avoid crowds. However, a tourist visiting in spring must remember that Europe, like all areas, has its own rules and those rules are not universal, especially considering that Europe is a patchwork of different regions. As such it pays to pack with some of those differences in mind, and that means packing for the weather, terrain, and toilet. 

Europe trip

This short guide will discuss how to pack functionally for a European vacation in the shoulder season, as well as how to pick out awesome clothing to wear on your adventures around the continent.

Packing for the weather is not really that hard. A great material for travelling in spring is Merino wool because it has a number of advantages over other materials. Keep in mind that you want to pack so that you can layer your clothing so that you can easily shed clothing as the situation warrants it: Proper layering allows to be warm in the morning, cool in the afternoon, and leaves you prepared for some potentially cold evenings.

Given that merino wool also wicks away moisture as well as allowing your skin to breathe, it also means that you prepared should you get caught in a rain and that you can remain cool without as much sweat if it gets hot. In short, wool clothing keeps you prepared and fashionable no matter what the weather is. 

You will also want to pack the right footwear. While there is plenty of access to vehicles you will be doing a lot of walking and proper footwear will keep you from suffering simple injuries such as sprains.

The best shoes have a stiff sole, offer great ankle support, and are comfortable; given that you will be walking pretty much everywhere and that some of the best tourist spots are well away from road access, ensuring that you will be doing plenty of hiking, making sure that you pack the right footwear is well worth investment. Make sure that you always care a first aid kit with an extra pair of socks and you should be ready for just about anything. 

Given the different regional habits must-pack toiletries include packets of toilet paper, spare change, and your favourite toiletry options. Make sure to do research on any area that you plan to go through so as to minimize issues and you should be fine.

One last, but very important item to bring along is a good quality, reusable water bottle. An insulated water bottle can go along way to help ensure you stay hydrated and always have something ‘good’ to drink (perhaps something more than water). Check reviews of the best insulated water bottles to make sure that you’re buying will be able to keep up with you on your adventure!

With a little bit of preparation a springtime visit to Europe can be a great trip. Just make sure to pack for the fluctuating weather, and for regional bathroom situations, and you’re all set – Bon Voyage!




How to Keep Everyone Away From Hunger When Traveling

travel

Hunger is a funny thing. A person can entirely not feel it when there’s enough food to be found. But then, it can suddenly strike like a freight train only a short time later. When there isn’t going to be a meal for hours, the pangs of hunger can put a damper on even the most otherwise fantastic trip. It’s hard to enjoy the sun and sand, let alone do something adventurous, when you feel like your stomach is launching a revolution.

Keep in mind that this is bad enough for adults, who have the experience to know when they are likely to get hungry and who are no longer in a good mood. Adults know how to ration their energy to a point, and can usually tough it out to still have fun. Unfortunately, this doesn’t often apply to kids, who also tend to come along on trips. When the kids get hungry, the entire trip can go off the rails in a hurry.

Ensuring Portions Match Exertion

The first thing you need to do is to be sure that everyone is eating enough at meals. Snacks are good, but it’s hard to compensate for the lack of a proper meal, even when you have lots of snacks. That would also be an excellent way to diminish what you’re carrying. When you know there’s going to be a lot of moving around, encouraging everyone to eat heartily is a wise move.

Packing What You Need

A lot of ink is regularly spilled about what adults need, mainly when an adult is looking to get fitter and lose fat. The macronutrients that include protein, fats, and carbohydrates are vital, and so is getting enough calories for what you’re going to do. What a lot of people forget to focus on is that children also need these things, and sometimes in even greater supply.

Adults tend to invest their energy a bit more conservatively, particularly when they know there won’t be much food for a few hours, and they will be moving around. Children tend to burn themselves out quickly, and then act surprised when their energy reserves begin to falter amid sprinting around. Often, a child will burn through more calories in an active day than an adult two to three times their size.

Keeping Nutrient Density on Top of Mind

Everyone knows you need a lot of calories when you’re going to be active, and getting enough calories tends to be many people’s focus. What they often forget is that not all calories are created equally. A calorie of sugar is going to burn off or be turned into fat far more quickly than a calorie of protein or fat.

This is why keeping a supply of wholesale walnuts is smarter than just carrying a bunch of sugar packets. The nutrient density of nuts, seeds, and dried meats will help everyone stay feeling full so that stomachs won’t grumble, and the trip can be enjoyable.




Decorating a Boy’s Room

Boys room

In order to create an original arrangement for a boy’s room, you need a lot of creativity and knowledge about children’s needs and development. The interior will have to serve several different functions. It should be both educational and entertaining. Essential design elements for a boy’s room include multi-purpose furniture and decorations such as a sports poster. However, you should also be careful not to overdecorate the space. Here’s some helpful advice on how to arrange a child’s bedroom.

Boy’s room arrangement 101

room arrangement

You’ll find more sport-inspired posters here: https://myloview.com/posters/by-category/sport/

When decorating a space of this kind, make sure to follow a few basic decorative rules. They will make your child feel more comfortable in their room and improve their overall well-being. In addition, they will also help your little one focus and have a positive impact on their cognitive abilities. According to these rules, a perfect boy’s room should be:

  • ergonomic (the desk should be of appropriate height and size and the distance from your child’s eye to the computer screen should be between 20 to 40 inches),
  • convenient (use multi-purpose, minimalistic furniture, as it allows you to quickly refresh the room or easily rearrange it to create more space),
  • clean (choose those types of flooring, paint, and wallpaper which can be easily cleaned),
  • safe (if the room features an entresol or gym equipment, make sure that there are soft panels on the walls and a wall-to-wall carpet or cushioned flooring),
  • comfortable (the floor should be soft and pleasant to touch and should act as an insulator; complement the design with furniture and accessories made of natural materials, such as wood and wool.)

A child’s room usually includes several distinct areas. If the interior is very spacious, you can physically divide it using partition walls. Otherwise, you may want to differentiate particular areas devoted to playing, studying, and sleeping using colors.

A blaze of saturated colors or soft pastel hues (?) – ideal colors for a boy’s room

Room color

If the interior is already full of fantastic decorations and accessories such as a sports event poster, a rope swing, or model planes, the design needs to be complemented with appropriate colors. Consider using the 70%x20%x10% rule. 70% of the space should be dedicated to a dominating color, 20% to a supplementary color, and 10% to a contrastive color. Beige and gray are incredible candidates for the dominating color (white isn’t the best idea, since it gets dirty easily.) The supplementary color should also be rather soft. Consider pastel hues of green, light blue, or purple. As far as the contrastive color is concerned, you can’t go wrong with navy blue or maroon.

The perfect choice of color often depends on the child’s age. For younger boys, it’s better to use softer, pastel hues. Teenagers will definitely find stronger, expressive colors more appealing and maybe even wish to have their ceiling painted as well. If you want the room to look neat and modern, decorate the walls with a geometric wallpaper or wall murals depicting your child’s favorite cartoon characters. Remember not to go overboard with the decor. The color scheme should be limited to 3 or 4 colors.

Quintessential accessories for a boy’s room

Room accessories

If you want to help your child develop their cognitive skills, there are a few types of accessories that you should consider:

  • labyrinth wall murals which improve concentration and may also include other educational games,
  • illuminated alphabet boards, featuring letters that can be rearranged to form words,
  • hobby-related decorations, such as a sports poster.

If you want to encourage your child to spend more time outside, it might be a good idea to introduce elements such as a baseball glove, a basketball, or rollerblades into the arrangement. Put these items on display so that they’re easily accessible. Participating in sports activities has a beneficial effect on our health but also satisfies other needs such as the need to be part of a group or to be accepted.




7 Design Rules to Keep in Mind If You Want to Make Sure Your Bathroom Remains Easy to Clean

Bathroom design

As any homeowner will tell you, good bathroom hygiene is a must. At the same time, keeping your bathroom clean is also one of the most tedious endeavors you’ll come across. Hard to reach corners, the mold that starts accumulating in a moist area you’ve all but forgotten, soap stains on the mirror… you get the idea. Now here’s the positive news: by designing your bathroom right, it’s possible to keep it cleaner much longer and not strain yourself nearly as hard. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

1. Moisture is your number one enemy

According to the experts, moisture is a silent killer. When it gets nested in your home, getting rid of it is quite a challenge, and having it reach a certain level can lead to the development of mold and numerous health conditions – respiratory problems are some of the most common.

Now when you’re equipped with the knowledge you’ve gained, how does it translate to your bathroom design? For starters, your shower head could use a squeegee. If you’ve installed a bath, it’s common to see the area around it getting splashed with water even if you’re careful to keep it under control. With that in mind, it’s a good idea to either wipe down the floor next to it after you’re done or have a carpet there so it soaks up some of it.

Opening the window and turning on the exhaust fan when you’re taking a shower is another suitable alternative. If you’re alone in the house, consider leaving the door open – you won’t believe how much this can stop moisture from accumulating.

2. Install towel bars

Speaking of keeping things dry, by installing towel bars, they’ll have a suitable space to hang and dry in an efficient manner. Besides, by doing so, you will have more room in your bathroom to utilize for other things. If you have a bath installed, the walls it touches are hardly used for any other purpose, which makes them a perfect spot where towel bars or shelves can be placed.

If you’re a senior, you’ll appreciate the way these will help you get out of shower easier. At the end of the day, having another thing to grab onto when you’re exiting it can truly make the task much easier.

Besides, towel bars are easy to maintain and keep clean. Just take the Luxury Bathroom Towels off and rub them with a cloth – the job shouldn’t take too long to complete.

3. Shower curtains are a good way to keep moisture under control

The best way from having to deal with water splashing all over the bathroom is to contain it in one single place. However, do know that you’re going to have to invest a bit of your energy into maintaining them and keeping them clean. Otherwise, mildew and water minerals might start accumulating.

One way to keep them clean is by laundering them. This is recommended to do every once in a while. If, however, doing this annoys you (admittedly, it’s not one of the most enjoyable things on the planet), there is a simple hack you can implement. After being done with showering, simply rinse them with water, and the buildup should be dealt with efficiently.

4. Make sure there’s enough space under the sink

That way, space underneath will get easier to clean. If you leave it unattended due to not being able to reach it, a whole slew of buildup, mold, and bacteria can nest itself there, so this is one of the most important elements of your overall bathroom design. If you’re not sure how to approach this, you can get ideas from Unique Vanities and other similar websites.

Apart from that, making sure that toothpaste stains (and other forms of uncleanliness) don’t linger there for too long is a good principle to keep in mind. To that end, have a drawer nearby with cleaning wipes you can use to keep it regularly maintained.

5. Optimize the space your cabinets are using up

If you don’t put enough shower wall panels kind of storage cabinets you put in your bathroom, it can easily happen that you’re left with underutilized spaces that are hard to put to good use because of how hard they are to reach. Therefore, having them custom-designed and fitted is a good idea if you can afford it.

But even after that is taken care of, you’re not done yet! To avoid dust and other particles accumulating on the surfaces you’re not using, make sure the space you have available is utilized to the maximum. Even visually speaking, having everything neatly organized will make your bathroom feel much cleaner.

6. Install a large mirror

You may wonder why installing a large mirror is a good idea. After all, a larger surface means more work to maintain and clean, right? Well, yes and no. The thing is, having a large mirror surface to clean is preferable to having a large number of smaller ones. Isn’t it better and easier to wipe off toothpaste stains off of a mirror than the nearby walls?

Besides, installing a large mirror will give off the impression that your bathroom is much larger and more majestic than it really is. If you live in a smaller house, this will effectively do away with the impression of feeling cramped.

7. Corner sinks are better than pedestal sinks

At least as far as your bathroom efficiency is concerned. While there’s nothing wrong with pedestal sinks per se, you’ll quickly find they’re obstructing its flow. If you’re the only one in there, this may be a bit harder to notice, but as soon as you add another person or two, the obstruction will become quite apparent.

Furthermore, corner sinks will prevent excess water from escaping into hard-to-reach corners, making them much easier to clean. You’ll also put the space available to much better use by having one of these installed.

Conclusion

While bathroom design can be a lengthy subject, we’ve managed to touch upon some of its core principles and summarized them for your reading pleasure. Have you learned something new? If so, the only thing that remains is finding the motivation to get to work and put it into practice.




Smart Moving Tips To Follow Before You Start Packing

moving house

Most people move at least once in their lives, while others move around a lot. No matter what category you fall into, moving can be a stressful process. While moving isn’t a piece of cake, like everything else, the best local movers in New York are here to make your life easier, pack faster, plan without stress, and move without hassle.

Here are a few tips to help you make the transition a bit smoother and the ride to your new house less bumpy! (pun intended)

Set your budget- You need to get this out of the way first because this determines how much work you will have to do yourself and how much help can you hire. Do you have the resources to get in packers and movers or would you have to rent an U-haul or maybe even borrow a friend’s car and ask for help moving from people you know. All of this is something that helps you take the first step towards moving homes. So sit down, discuss, research, jot everything you need to do, and calculate how much you need and how much you can afford to spend.

Declutter- I couldn’t stress this step enough. A lot of people just pack up everything and move it to the new place thinking they will get to it once they start setting up the new place. That never happens! All you will doing is stowing it away to sort with later and then it will just become a part of your existence. Take some time to go through your stuff, sort out what you need and what you can do without. Donate, sell, throw stuff you don’t need anymore. This lessens the things you need to pack up and helps begin life less filled with clutter.

Estimate Packing Supplies- If you don’t hire packers and movers, this job falls on you. This is also the reason why you need to declutter beforehand. You need to gauge how much bubble wrap, plastic wrap, and boxes you are going to need depending on the breakables and heavy items you have.

Pack a duffle bag of moving essentials- Pack a bag with basic requirements, a change of clothes, medication, important documents, a quick bite, or with whatever you might require during the move and immediately in your new home. This will help you sustain sanity with all your stuff packed away.

Emptying your fridge- Start using all the food products you have way before you start packing. Moving the contents of your fridge and freezer is a tiresome task: opened packets, powders, syrups, containers, and whatnot. Don’t even get me started on the perishables, it’s a mess! Instead of having to throw most of it away, make a game out of it. Try cooking with only what you have in your kitchen. That way you will use up most of the stuff and will also learn a recipe or two.

Once these basic steps are done, you have tackled the major problem creating steps of the process. Now all that’s left to do is pack everything you have and look forward to a new life. Like these steps we also have some great tips for packing, if you would like to know more, stay tuned for the article.




5 Ways Technology Can Help You Keep Up with Your Grandkids

Wish you could spend more time talking to your grandkids? Grandparents everywhere have the same problem. Although kids these days seem glued to their phones, good luck trying to get them to answer when you call.

The problem isn’t that kids don’t want to talk to their grandparents, it’s how they do it. Kids and younger adults communicate differently. They rely more on new technology, (especially when it comes to technology for the home), and if you can adapt and learn it yourself, it’ll be easier to stay in touch. Here are 5 great tech communications tools you can use to keep in touch with grandkids.

Tech savvy

1) The FaceTime App

FaceTime is even better than a phone call. This smartphone app is a video calling app, so you can talk face-to-face. It’s easy to download and start using.

2) Skype

If a smartphone isn’t for you, you can still get some facetime in using Skype. Skype is great for video calling from a desktop or laptop computer, and it’s the go-to-choice for anyone who has relatives living overseas. Because Skype makes phone calls over the internet, it can make international calling free.

3) Instant Messaging Apps

Apps like WhatsApp and Kik make it easy to communicate with grandkids via instant messaging. There’s been a lot written about how Millennials don’t like talking on the phone, and younger kids (part of Generation Z) are no different. Busy Millennials dealing with longer work hours just don’t have time to make a phone call, while the younger generation came of age in a world where instant messaging apps were normal.

These apps are how many of them talk to their friends and parents. By figuring out how they work and messaging your grandchildren that way, you can probably hear from them a lot more often.

4) Social Media

Another way to keep in touch is using social media like Facebook. Leave a message on their wall or send them a direct message through their favorite social media app on birthdays and holidays if you don’t get a chance to see them.

5) Use Kid-Friendly Rideshare Apps

Do the grandkids want to visit but the parents are too busy? Kids get a lot of time off over the summer or the Christmas holidays. A growing number of kid-friendly ride share apps are being used by parents to help them with transportation. Why not use one to help your grandkids come visit you? Apps like HopSkipDrive allow kids to use them without being accompanied by a guardian, because all their drivers are screened and certified.

If you want to see your grandkids more often, learn more today about recreational activities offered by retirement residences that are great for the grandkids. A growing number of retirement residences encourage family and friends to drop in for activities like movie night or cards. Retirement residences like All Seniors Care Living Centres have also started using the Nintendo Wii. There are lots of great games that involve physical activity on the Wii, and grandkids will love finding out that you can play too.

New tech can help you stay in touch with the grandkids. They may not answer the phone, but there are plenty of ways you can stay connected.