Right now, everything can be bought online. Go on, do a quick search on any of the big commerce websites and type in that book or hardware you have been planning on purchasing for the longest time. In fact, most of the time, before we go to the malls to go from one shop to another, we browse on the Internet to see if it is available. The reason is that it is much more convenient to order the items and have them delivered to your doorstep, and you know, the same is true for flowers. Just type flower delivery Sydney and voilà, you’ll find yourself a nice selction.

Companies like Fresh Flowers does deliveries in Canberra and Australia wide. Flowers Across Sydney specialise in flower delivery in Sydney. There are also online shops that deliver flowers worldwide. These online shops offer an online purchase service where customers can punch in their order from anywhere in the world, at anytime of the day. Because ordering online has become commonplace for all of us, you would not think that errors would still be incurred. But actually, simple mistakes such as misspelling a name or putting the wrong street on the information form is still happening.

Florists who offer the online service know that there is a possibility that a customer has filled in incorrect information, so they send out an email or make a call to confirm the details. But to avoid the hassle, here are a couple of guidelines you can follow so you would not make any errors on your end.

Go over the information form before submitting

The errors we make when we write down an address is actually completely understandable. Something as common as writing down an address or a number, we do not usually think we will mess it up, but we can. So before hitting the Submit button, go over the information form again and see if what you have typed in is accurate. Take the time to check the street name, the spelling of the recipient’s name, and so on. This is especially important if the flowers will not be delivered to you but to someone else.

Choose florists that are near the recipient’s area

To make sure the delivery is done on time, look for florists who already service the area the recipient lives. Do a quick search and make a shortlist of trusted online florists, read the customer comments, and choose the one you trust will deliver quality service. This will make it easier for them to prepare and deploy the flowers, and at the same time, you will be confident the delivery will be done on time.

Inquire about a tracking system

Some eCommerce sites provide a reference or tracking numbers so that customers can see the status of their orders. If the online florist does not have this service, ask to be contacted once the flowers have been deployed and right after the drop-off.

Add more information about the recipient’s area

So that there would be no hitches in the delivery, provide additional information that you think would be pertinent to the delivery. For instance, are there road constructions? What is the colour of the recipient’s gate? Is it in an apartment building, and would they require an ID to drop off the flowers at a tenant’s doorstep? Also, include key landmarks that would help them find the address.

It is easy to overlook these when we order online, which is why mistakes and delays still happen. Follow these simple tips and make sure your delivery will run perfectly.

Studies show adults who play games are happier and often more relaxed as a result of their gaming habits. Games act as a great way to escape the stress of life. Parents often play their favorites with their kids – but what if there was a way to bump those classics up a notch to adults-only versions?

Here are three games that would make great casino additions that adults could enjoy.

Mancala

How can anyone forget the summer camp favorite, Mancala? The ancient game, which some believe to have emerged 5000 years ago in Mesopotamia, can be played with stones, beads, or marbles that are dropped into a Mancala, which is a wooden board with indentions. If you grew up in the 1980s then you may have even used an empty egg carton. The objective of the game is to collect the most stones into your Mancala. It’s a simple game that introduces strategy, making it one of the most popular games in the country. In fact, America has the largest playing Mancala population in the world.

With this large following, Mancala would make a great adult game. Players could play on an actual Mancala board or against the computer and gain points when they deposit stones into the right spots and earn double points each time their opponents’ stones are taken.  

Chutes and Ladders

There are many activities that can help you decompress, and one of those is Chutes and Ladders. This is another popular game that has substantial history. In India around the second century B.C., the game was known as snakes and ladders. When Milton Bradley started making the game in 1943, the game was playfully redesigned with ladders and slides. The goal of the game is to use the ladders and slides throughout the board to get to the last winning square.

If the same playful graphics from the original board game could be used, Chutes and Ladders as a casino reboot could find great success. Players could use a digital spinner to move from box to box and try to avoid landing on a chute and sliding down to a lower numbered box. Players could earn bonus points for landing on the double- and triple-sized ladder and a digital confetti party could happen when a player reaches the 100 square.

UNO

Casino versions of kids games can act as the perfect entertainment for those who love the casino but aren’t fans of blackjack and roulette. Uno, the colorful card game that was developed in the 1970s by Merle Robbins and then distributed by Mattel, would be a great kids’ game to transform into a casino game. It uses a specific deck of UNO cards that direct players to skip turns, draw two cards, or throw down a card of their choice when seeing the Wild card. Players must play a card that matches the discard in number, color or symbol, play a Wild card, or draw a card from the top of the deck. The objective is shout “UNO” when you get to your last card and be the first player to get rid of all of his or her cards. The first person that gets rid of her cards wins the hand and scores points based on the other players cards. The first player to score 500 points wins the game.

Card games are synonymous with casino games so UNO would be a smart addition to any casino.  The objective to score 500 points could still be the way to win the game, but this time, cash would be on the line.

What games from your childhood would you like to see adult versions of in casinos?

Candy buffets are everywhere. From the toddler party to elegant weddings, the ideas are endless. The table is decorated according to the theme and the candy is irresistible. The wow factor is incredible. But there is one area people have overlooked. Teenagers have celebrations and a candy buffet is perfect for the. They have the fun of themes that fit their lifestyles and they can stuff their pockets (and faces) with their favorite candy!  

To create a candy buffet, you need an online bulk candy supplier. You need a theme and you need basic DIY candy buffet instructions. When creating a candy buffet for your teenager, you simply need to tap into what he or she loves. Below we have listed a few ideas for you. These are just to get you started, Use your imagination and put together a one-of-a-kind candy buffet that your guests will never forget.

Teenager celebrations

• Graduation – this can be graduating from middle school and beginning high school years, or graduation from high school
• Bar Mitzvah
• Bat Mitzvah
• Quinceanera
• Senior trip
• Birthday (sweet 16 is always fun)
• Sports

Any of these things will make a great theme for your candy buffet. Your teen may be into sports or cheerleading. Almost all teens are into music (think favorite group theme). You can theme the senior trip. Your girls may be into makeup and wild colors for her hair and your boys may be into trail riding, track, or rock climbing. Once your have chosen a theme that just screams your teen’s name, you are ready to choose your colors and props.

Theme shaped vases or jars are great as long as they are clear. If your container is not clear, try to use it in the front zone of the table where low trays will be placed.  Have fun with your centerpiece and backdrop as these will make the look of your candy buffet. If you are doing a music theme, use posters of their favorite band, musical signs, and banners. Graduation is all about caps and gowns, diplomas, tassels and saying good-bye to childhood.

There are no shortages on ideas for your candy buffet online if you need help. The most important thing is creating something that relates to your teen and their friends.

‘Here are some very basic and general tips:

Tips For Your DIY Candy Buffet

• Vases and jars in the back section are taller than other jars. Different size vases and jars to create height and depth to the candy buffet.
• Estimate eight ounces of candy per guest will be needed. Special or designer candy should be limited to one or two pieces per guest. You can go up or down an ounce depending on if the guests will arrive hungry and if you are or are not serving other foods. Fill the containers approximately 3/4 of the way.
• Place special props on the table to fill in empty places. (see our list of idea themes above).
• Let your bulk candy supplier know what your candy buffet is about and he may find you some candy that will not go bad.
• Don’t forget the scoops and tongs. You can substitute large spoons with ribbons, or even small plastic shovels if you find them in your color scheme
• If you decide to order chocolate, pay attention to the storage instructions. Also, note the temperature as express shipping may be required in order to deliver it without fear of melting.
• Add personal touches and beauty to the table with banners, table covers, and runners, backdrops, ribbons, balloons, or infant items
• Provide goodie bags, boxes or cups for taking home candy.

Now you have everything you need. So get out there and make your teens bash a huge success.

Author Bio

Wendy Dessler

Title: Super-Connector at OutreachMama

Wendy is a super-connector with OutreachMama and Towering SEO who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing and focuses her efforts on developing customized blogger outreach plans depending on the industry and competition. You can contact her on Twitter.

With an average temperature near perfect at 72 degrees, it isn’t hard to understand why many people plan to take their vacation in southern California. Not only is the temperature desirable, but along the southern coast, there are seemingly endless things to do, accommodating most anyone’s interests.  You can choose to stay in a hotel and plan your own daily schedule or stay at an all-inclusive resort like Welk Timeshare in San Diego and make leaving the grounds optional.

While exploring vacation destinations in Southern California, you may discover a unique business opportunity. For those considering turning a passion for tourism into a commercially viable enterprise, understanding the California LLC registration process is the first step. By creating your LLC in California, you can take full advantage of the rich business opportunities this vacation hotspot provides.

The beaches

There are miles of beaches along the southern coast of California. For many tourists, they are one of the main reasons they visit. Here you can find a variety of beaches for relaxing, enjoying water sports or a simple stroll. There are personal favorites like the Laguna beach with white sand and generally calm waters ideal for wading and enjoying the scenery. And then there’s Venice beach and the Santa Monica pier where fun and adventure lurk around every corner. Or, if you prefer, head over to Ocean beach in San Diego where dogs and fishing are welcome and casual restaurants add the perfect complement to the end of a great day.

Amusement parks and other fun stuff

When it comes to thrills and family fun Southern California has something for everyone. You can get your fill of both aquatic and mammal life at the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld. If you’re looking to defy gravity head over to Universal Studios, Disneyland, LEGOLAND or Six Flags and get a full day of fun. If you’re looking to expand your knowledge of the universe plan a visit to the Griffith observatory. For a relaxing day you can pack a picnic lunch and head to one of the many parks, take a stroll on the Hollywood Walk of Fame or enjoy quality time at the Knott’s Berry Farm.

Museums

In Southern California, there’s also no shortage of museums. In Griffith park, there’s the Travel Town Train Museum which first opened in 1952 and has become a popular place to explore and learn the history of the railroad and the many types of trains.  If you’re into the arts, the Getty Center is Los Angeles is a must see. Here, you can find a stunning collection that consists of European drawings, paintings and sculptures. It also has a substantial collection of 19th and 20th-century European and American photographs. If you want to make a day out of visiting a museum Exposition Park is ideal. It has three museums including the Natural History and the California Science Center, both exceptional places for a family outing. It also has a beautiful rose garden, an Imax theater and the Coliseum Sports Arena.

Nightlife

After the amusement parks close, there’s still plenty of action going on at both Universal Hollywood Studios and Downtown Disney. Here, you can find a superb blend of shops and cuisine in many restaurants, as well as a variety of bars that cater to all tastes in music. For the younger generation and the young at heart, there’s the infamous Sunset Strip. This stretch of roadway is all about getting wild and crazy. It offers great food and plenty of places from the ground to the rooftops to party hearty all night long.  If your idea of an evening out consists of the opera, comedy or a Broadway show places like Ahmanson theater, the DorothyPavilion and the Mad House Comedy Club at all wonderful destinations.

It’s easy to see why so many singles and families plan their vacations in Southern California. From spectacular weather to something for every lifestyle and taste, it’s a great way to escape reality for a bit.

Being the hospital can be scary for children and exhausting for worried parents, so if your child is having a stay in hospital it’s important that you think of ways to keep her spirits up and have plenty of low-key activities available to help pass the time quickly. Here are some ideas to help you.

Essentials to Take to The Hospital

There are staple items that you can take tot eh hospital to make your young child feel less tense and as comfortable as possible. These include:

• Her favorite soft toy
• Her favorite blanket
• Comfortable pajamas
• Clean socks and underwear
• Comfortable clothes for leaving the hospital
• iPad or tablet
• Earbuds
• Notebook and pen

Having an iPad or tablet will be a great advantage because there are loads of awesome apps out there to provide your child with hours of fun and entertainment. Here’s a rundown on some of the best.

Coloring Book for Me & Mandala

This Android mandala coloring app is a superb coloring book with a host of detailed pictures, including people, places, animals, birds, flowers, and mandalas all organized into categories so they’re easy to pick. To color you simple pick from 25+ palettes organized by shade and touch the area of the screen you wish to color. It’s even easier than using pens and paper, but just as much fun. When the picture is finished you can add textures or vignettes and share them with your family and friends through social media.

100 Famous Stories

This app will help the time pass for your child while you take a well-earned nap. It will read from a great selection of interactive stories like The Water Fairy, Stone Soup, The Lion And The Mouse, The Hare And The Tortoise and The Boasting Traveler. Young readers can listen to the text or read it in sections. It’s a great way to keep her occupied.

An Adventure of Our Own
Designed for use by two kids and an adult, this adventure game features the story of an historic mission. Kids get to pick different features of the adventure such as where they will go, what they will wear and what supplies they will need. It encourages two-way communication and has loads of great interactive illustrations. It’s a fun game and very child-friendly.

Faces I Make – Right Brain Creativity

This colorful app allows kids to make faces using every day collage materials like fruit and vegetables, pasta and grains. Once the work of art is complete, kids can post them in a specially created gallery called FaceWorld and share them with friends and family via social media. The app also features video lessons taught by artist and children’s book illustrator Hanoch Piven. It’s great kid-friendly fun and is sure to relieve the hospital blues.

These are just a few of the great apps available for young kids. They will keep them occupied during their hospital stay and before you know it you’ll all be heading home.

Jayden North is a Dad who writes about parenting 2 daughters, 1 a teenager who is 14 going on 18! His articles appear on a selection of parenting Mommy and Daddy blogs.

Clothes are not just about the fashion and the way we look. When it comes to your kids, the clothes you put on them can help protect them and keep them comfortable and healthy. When the summer heat begins to treat us, a lot of parents can make the mistake of thinking the less clothes, the better! But since running around naked is often not the wisest option (sunburn!) or the most socially acceptable (hello, fellow restaurant goers!), you might want to succeed with your summer clothes shopping with these simple tips. Here are the five best summer clothes to get for your kids!

A proper sunhat

Your shopping trip should definitely start with a good sunhat. If your kids are older, you might opt for a cap or a cotton sunhat. Perhaps your boys and girls have a favourite sports team and you can pick their branded caps from the store. If your kids are still toddlers and babies, you want a soft cotton hat that can be strapped gently.

The key to picking the summer hat is about protection. You want the hat to cover the face, and especially the eyes, from the harmful UV-rays. You also need to ensure the hat fits well – isn’t too loose or too tight – to ensure it stays put when the child runs around.

Stylish sunglasses

Sunrays can be quite damaging to the eyes and you should teach your kids to wear sunglasses as soon as possible. This shouldn’t be hard as brands like Gucci make cute sunglasses for babies as well as us adults. Sunglasses are especially important if your child refuses to wear a hat.

When shopping for sunglasses, you need to focus on a few essential tips. First, ensure the sunglasses have a certificate that says they come with a 99% to 100% UVA and UVB protection. So, avoid shopping from non-certified brands and retailers that aren’t specialised in glasses. In addition, pick sunglasses that fit the child’s lifestyle. Don’t opt for something too expensive and add a strap to prevent the sunglasses from falling on the ground. Finally, it’s best to test the glasses before buying – avoid shopping for sunglasses online, unless you’ve first tested them in store.

Cotton clothing

When it comes to clothing, your material of choice for the summer should be cotton. This is the coolest fabric around and will keep your child comfortable even during a heat wave. 100% cotton clothes are available from matalan.co.uk, which has plenty of offers available to help you save with the shopping costs.

What types of clothes to buy? Your summer clothes should cover up as much skin as possible, especially if the children spend a lot of time outdoors. This is to limit the exposure to the UV-rays. Shorts, t-shirts and sleeveless dresses can be nice too; you just need to remember to add a layer of sun protection if the kids spend a lot of time outdoors.

If you opt for long-sleeved cotton shirts and trousers, keep the clothing loose. This can help the child to avoid feeling too restricted and hot. Interestingly, dark coloured clothing can actually be better for the summer.

You can also buy a product to increase the sun protection of your kids’ clothing. SunGuard, for example, is a chemical product you can add to your laundry and it adds a sun protection to your items for up to 20 washes.

Swimwear on the go

Children love spending time in puddles, pools and other such watery places. In the summer, there’s nothing better than a relaxing dip in the pool. You should definitely consider buying kids swimwear for the summer and carrying it with you wherever you go. In fact, if you pick something nice like the Zoggs, your kids could wear the swimsuits under their normal clothing. This would ensure they could dip in the water as soon as the opportunity arises!

Comfortable sneakers – with socks!

While it can be tempting to kick off the shoes, you don’t want your kids running around without shoes too often. In public places, such as parks, you can’t ever tell what’s on the ground and you don’t want your child to hurt their feet. Instead, invest in a good pair of sneakers or sandals. You want a material that breathes and protects – again, cotton sneakers are a great choice.

Make sure your child also wears socks with the shoes. Short, sandal socks in white or other light colour will look nice and the socks can prevent blisters from forming. Furthermore, if you’re using sandals, the socks are great for keeping ticks at bay.

The above clothing tips and suggestions will ensure your kids can have an active yet protected summer. When picking the items, allow the kids to pick the colours and the designs – just keep those fabric and other suggestions from above in mind.

In the US alone, it’s estimated that over 1,260,000 people move to a different country each year – that’s a lot of families! Moving abroad is associated with a variety of benefits including meeting new people, experiencing an entirely different culture and even learning a new language but, when the entire family are involved, there can be complications.

Moving abroad can be daunting for adults but, from a child’s perspective, the thought of leaving their school and friends to move to a completely new country can be very scary. Helping your children adjust to the process of a major move can be challenging and may require a lot of time and reassurance.

If you’re thinking of moving abroad or perhaps have already moved, and your children are struggling to cope, below you’ll find some top tips on how to effectively deal with this and help your children adjust to their new home and school.

Discuss the move before you leave

When moving to another country, it’s essential you keep your children updated and ‘in the loop’ whilst planning to leave. If you’re vague about the move then suddenly put your children on a plane with all their possessions without much warning, they won’t understand what’s going on and will find the adjustment much harder to cope with.

To best prepare them for what they’re about to face, teach them about the country they’ll soon be calling home and consistently show photographs of where they’re going to be moving. Consistency is key as is ensuring your children know exactly what’s happening before you even leave is the best way to prepare and reassure them that everything will be fine.

Spain is often a popular destination for movers and, as mentioned, it’s important to show your children where their new home will be. If Spain is on the cards for you and your family, be sure to show them Place 2 Live Spain which has a variety of stunning properties your children can look at and, if old enough, read about to give them more of an insight into what they can expect when you arrive.

Go through their first day of school with them in preparation

Attending a new school can be a daunting prospect for a child, especially when in another country where they don’t know anyone. They will naturally feel anxious, and providing much-needed reassurance is essential.

A great way of doing this is to go through their first day ahead of time so they’ll know what to expect. Do a trial run of their school journey with them – take the bus if you have to. It’s also a good idea to contact their teacher before the first day and arrange a meeting at the school. Then, your child will be able to see their new school first-hand and meet their teacher without being surrounded by other children. Their questions can be answered and they’ll be able to see their classroom in a much more relaxed environment – guaranteed to make their first day less scary!

Learn the language

If you’re moving to a country that natively speaks a different language, it’s essential you’re open to the idea of learning it – especially for your children’s sake. Often, young children are able to learn a second language relatively easily, and this will help them significantly when adjusting to their new school life.

Language barriers are tough as it is but, for a child trying to make friends and fit in at a brand-new school, if they’re unable to properly communicate things will be much more difficult. So, if your children are surrounded by their new language at home with you trying to learn too, it will give them much more motivation and is likely to help them learn even quicker.

Reach out to your local community

Make the effort to speak with your neighbors and encourage your children to bring their new classmates home after school to play. The more integrated you get with your new community, the easier it will become for both yourself and your children. They’ll feel less daunted by their surroundings and will find the transition much easier the more comfortable they get.

Moving abroad is never going to be easy, especially if you have children with an imminent start at a new school. But, things don’t have to be too complicated as long as you prepare properly, and provide the reassurance your children need both before and during their first day of school.

Karina Karlsen originally moved to Spain from Denmark 27 years ago where she worked as an interior designer for high-end furniture stores on the Costa del Sol. In 1999 Karina was offered a job in real estate by Engel and Volkers in Marbella. In 2005 Karina left Engel and Volkers to start Place 2 Live Spain, a real estate company specialising in new developments on the Costa del Sol.

It is always difficult when you are a parent who has to spend a lot of time away from your kids as a result of work commitments, but there are some good ways to keep in touch with them.

You will always want the chance to be able to catch up with news of their day and say goodnight before they go to bed, and there are some great apps that allow you to do that.

Here is a look at some useful apps to help parents stay in touch with their kids, including an overview of why kids need to know your plans to travel, together with ideas and tips on how to stay connected with them while you are apart.

Keep your kids informed

There aren’t likely to be many parents who have not experienced a few feelings of guilt as they pack for another trip away without the kids, and this could make you think it is better to tell them exactly how long you are away for.

It is often the case that children fare much better with their parents being away from them if they know exactly how long you will be away and when you are leaving.

Always tell your kids about your travel plans. It helps them to adjust and will normally make them less stressed about your absence if they know exactly what is going on.

Make promises you can keep about staying in contact with them and set a schedule for when you are going to get in touch while you are away.

Control over texting

Virtually every teenager uses texting as their preferred method of communication and younger kids are also likely to be using text messaging on a frequent basis.

It is a great way to keep in touch with a few quick messages to your kids, but you also might worry about what they are getting up to on their phone while you are away from them.

Get yourself up to speed with how to keep them safe and encourage the use password-protected messaging apps like WhatsApp so that you have some control over who joins the chat.

Facebook friend

Despite the fact that there are a huge amount of social media sites and apps now available, Facebook is still a popular choice for children who want to chat and communicate via social media.

A good way of seeing what your kids are getting up to and who they are talking to is to “friend” your kids on Facebook.

Ask them to accept your friend request on Facebook and this will then let you stay in the loop and share some pictures and comment on any posts.

Share a digital game

It is always fun to share some downtime with your kids and play a game with them, and thanks to technology you can do this even while you are away from them.

If your child has a smartphone or device like an iPad, you can download games that allow multiple users. All you then have to do is arrange a time to connect up together and enjoy some great family fun when you share a digital game.

You might also want to download a call recorder app on your smartphone. It automatically records every call that comes in if you want it to, so even when you are working, you won’t miss a call from your kids and it lets you listen to their voice and their message about hooking up with to play a game with you later on in the day.

It is always difficult when you have to spend time away from your kids but with some useful apps on your smartphone, you should still be able to share some great family moments.

Poppy Woodward is a Mom living in Texas with family in New York and California, as well as the other side of the world in Australia! She shares her top tips on how to combat isolation and keep in touch with loved ones.