4 Things To Put In Storage To Make Space In A Cluttered House

The older you get, the more valuable space and storage become in your home. You accumulate so many things over time, from Christmas decorations to furniture, not to mention seasonal items like skis, paddle boards, kayaks and more.

Skis

Every foot of storage space in your home become precious and needed for all the things you use on a daily or  weekly basis. Many people need to make tough choices and decide what they want to or need to keep and which things need to be donated, sold or discarded.

So what can you do? Get rid of everything and go the minimalist route? Do you just accept that some rooms in your home are going to resemble a hoarder’s house? Fortunately, you don’t have to take things to either of these extremes, there’s an easy solution – self-storage.

Self Storage

According to Livible, a Boston storage company, “keeping your possessions in a secure facility away from your home has become one of the best ways to not have to deal with a crowded house. It gives you the freedom to use your valuable space for the things you use every single day.”

Self storage units are a solution that suit many people, lifestyles, life circumstances and budgets. If you’re thinking of putting things into storage, this list of the best things to store may help you clear out your home and organize your life.

 Baby Gear

If you are not done growing your family , you don’t want to get rid of big-ticket items you will need in the future. However, you don’t need to store all this furniture and gear in your home between children or grandchildren.

Items like strollers, cribs and changing tables can be wrapped up safely and kept in a storage facility. You will be able to easily pick up this furniture and baby gear when you need it.

baby, crib

If you have an heirloom bassinet, high chair or other baby items that are sentimental, it’s natural for you to want to keep them. Thanks to self storage options you can do that without sacrificing space in your home.

Old Gadgets & Appliances

When you get a new TV, washer, dryer or refrigerator, you might not want to keep the old one.  You may have children who are young adults and planning a move to their own place who may need these appliances in a few months.

washer, dryer

Having a storage unit is the perfect way to store these items for them. You can rest assured that your older children or other family members will appreciate being able to pick up these appliances when they need them.

 Seasonal Stuff

Christmas trees, Halloween decorations and seasonal clothing are not used year round, so why not free up precious space and keep them in storage until you need them. You will be amazed when you see how much space you have, when you move these things to a storage unit.

Furniture 

Do you have furniture that you don’t have room for presently in your house, but don’t want to part with.  Instead of letting it gather up dust in your garage or back porch, put that furniture in a storage unit until you need it again.  If furniture is wrapped up properly, it will do very well kept in a cool, dry place. Furniture is one of the best things to store in a self storage unit.

Take advantage of storage facilities in your city and keep things you don’t need or use all the time there. It will free up precious space in your house and give you peace of mind knowing your items are stored safely until you need them.

antique, furniture

Today, most storage units are climate controlled,  making it easy to store items that need to be kept cool and dry.  Another benefit. is that these units are extremely safe and secure. So next time you’re looking at your stuff and wondering what to do with it, consider calling  your nearest storage facility.

storage unit

This is a collaborative guest post. The ideas and views do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.


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Filed under Decorating, Home, Home & Garden, Kitchen

Enter The MAM #babytroublemakers Contest Now Thru January 25th

MAM #babytroublemakers

Have you ever caught your baby doing something he or she knows they shouldn’t be doing, like scribbling a ‘masterpiece’ on your walls or throwing food ALL over the floor?

Share your story with #babytroublemakers and #contest on the MAM Facebook page  and they will select three lucky winners to win one of three $100 prepaid cards! And remember: as trying as these moments are now, they’re what we’ll look back at and laugh at together when they’re all grown up! Check out the Official Rules.

#babytroublemakers MAM Contest

Free Pacifiers & Free Shipping

Join the MAM Club today and receive a free 2-pack of pacifiers with $25 purchase + free shipping on shopmambaby.com and be the first to know on news of special offers, promotions and new product introductions from MAM!

More Good News

We have even more good news! You can enter our giveaway below for your chance to win $30 worth of assorted MAM products!

#babytroublemakers MAM Contest

 Giveaway:

MAM is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a $30 of Assorted MAM Products! Thank you to MAM for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US Residents.

$30 of MAM Products Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Red Flags You Need To Be Aware Of When Hiring A Contractor

Hiring a Contractor

Your home is your haven and something you have worked very hard for. It is where you build your family and celebrate the milestones in your life. Owning a home is no doubt you have worked very hard to do and maintaining your home is something that goes hand in hand with being a homeowner.

Beyond ordinary maintenance, enhancing your living space with home improvement projects as your family grows, is something many homeowners do.

House

Home improvement projects are abundant, and they are easily one of the best ways to update your home and make it more functional for your needs.  However, not all of us have the time or the skill to perform these projects ourselves. That is why we choose to hire a professional contactor.

Contractors vary in skill and qualifications. When you end up hiring a bad contractor, you run the risk of shoddy workmanship or worse, you may even end up with an unfinished home improvement project. Both scenarios mean that you’ve just thrown your hard-earned money down the drain.

So, what are the red flags that you be aware of when looking for a contractor for your next home improvement project?

Addition

Poor Reviews

The lack of reviews or worse, the presence of negative reviews should already be an indication that the particular contractor does not perform well. Background checks are also necessary when you want to make sure that your hard-earned money goes somewhere worthwhile.

References also work in the same way in that they provide you with a glimpse of a contractor’s work ethic and whether or not they truly deliver results.

New Roof

No Proposal

A good contractor is going to be able to plan for the entire project, from start to finish. They’re going to be able to determine the time needed as well as the materials required to get the job done.

They should present you with a clear proposal for your to review. If your contractor asks for unlimited time as well as unlimited materials, then you’re just asking to get overcharged for the project. Walk away if this is the case.

new construction

Overpromising

If something sounds too good to be true, it isn’t. That old adage is almost always correct, and this situation is no exception. Before you sign a contract, you need to do a bit of research on how much the project is going to cost to complete.

This site should provide you with a comprehensive idea of the price of materials. Use this as a point of reference for when you want to see if a contractor is offering you a low price that’s too good to be true.

Lack of Construction Permits

When a contractor dismisses building permits as unnecessary expenses, you should already be raising an eyebrow. Permits are standard procedure, as well as the inspections that precede their release. You aren’t only risking your project getting shut down. You’re also risking your safety and that of the people around you.

Luckily, if a faulty construction should result in injury to you or anyone in your house, you do have legal remedies that should help you along the way.

Home Improvement

This is a collaborative guest post, the words and views do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.


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Filed under Home & Garden, Home Improvement, Resources

CPR: A Vital Skill For All Parents

As a parent, you will always be concerned about your children’s wellbeing and safety. Kids will be kids, and you will spend a good amount of time applying bandages to a variety of injuries like skinned knees and minor scrapes. However,  what if something more serious than a skinned knee happens? Will you be prepared to react properly in an emergency situation?

Ambulance

In the time that it can takes for your to call 911 and wait for help to arrive, a life-threatening situation can become deadly. Parents should know what to do when accidents and injuries happen. You may not be able to prevent accidents when they happen, but you should be as prepared as possible to deal with them when they do.

CPR

With so many risks, it’s a good idea for at least one parent in the home to be trained in CPR and First Aid. Gain confidence in your ability to calmly handle an emergency situation and provide care if necessary. Take a look at just some of the things that can go wrong in the blink of an eye and consider that with proper training you could save a child’s life.

Heart Failure

There have been more and more deaths in young people due to heart issues. Many active sports players have been known to suddenly collapse on their playing fields due to their hearts stopping. Many schools have now added a portable defibrillator to deal with these kinds of incidents. If you don’t have one in your home, knowing CPR can help you to keep the heart pumping until emergency help can arrive.

Drowning

For any parent that has a pool on their property, there is always the fear of a child getting into trouble in the water and drowning. Over 350 children under the age of 5 accidentally drown each year in the U.S. Teaching your children safe habits and strong swimming skills is vital to keeping your children safe.

Fever/Convulsions

When the numbers rise up on the thermometer when you have a sick child it can be very concerning for every parent. Not only are you dealing with the many symptoms of infection, your child can be at risk of Febrile Convulsions. These kinds of seizures are not generally damaging themselves, but can cause injury from falling or hitting objects around them. With proper First Aid training you can learn what to do to help your child safely through a seizure.

Heat Stroke

Kids don’t feel the heat of the cold the same way that adults do. You probably remember playing outdoors for hours and not even considering the weather for a moment. You kids will be no different. It is up to each parent to closely monitor their child for signs of heat stroke when you are spending time in the sun.

Emergency

Choking

In any situation where your child has stopped breathing, being able to administer proper CPR and first aid procedures can be vital in saving their life. With training you will learn to deal with blockage choking as well as resuscitation techniques.

 

First Aid

This is a collaborative post. The words and views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.


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When You Need A Dentist Right Now

Dentist Teeth

There may be nothing to smile about if you have an accident with your teeth. Tooth pain or the accidental cracking or loss of a tooth can be an uncomfortable, embarrassing and potentially harmful situation. Your smile says a lot about you, so when you are having trouble with your teeth it can affect your entire outlook.

If you or your kids are involved in sports, you run the risk of tooth and mouth damage from the activities, and children are always banging themselves around during play.

It’s good to know the name and location of a 24-hour clinic just in case of any tooth emergency. How do you know that you need to see a dentist? We are going to take a look at some of the more common examples of needing to see a dentist right away. If you are having issues with your artificial teeth you may need to do an online search for “Denture Repair Near Me” to find a clinic that is open when you need it.

dentist office

Toothache

Most people experience a toothache at least once in their life. Tooth pain can be caused by many things including sensitivity, a thinning of the tooth enamel or cavities that need repair. If you are experiencing uncomfortable toothache pain for more than 48 hours it’s a good idea to see a dentist for a check-up.

Broken Tooth

If you are lucky enough to find the part of a tooth that has broken off, keep it clean and dry until you can see a dentist. Don’t wait. Rinse your mouth with a saline (salt) solution, clean the tooth fragment without soap and keep it in a damp towel or kleenex until you can get to a clinic. In come cases the tooth can be repaired if the fragment is saved in good condition once you reach a dentist.

dentist teeth

Lost Tooth

If a full tooth has come out of your mouth from trauma or an accident, do your best to find and preserve the tooth before visiting the dentist. Once you locate the tooth, only touch the enamel end of the tooth and never the root. Rinse the tooth with saline solution and allow it to dry naturally. If possible, it is recommended to try and reinsert the tooth until you get to the clinic. If it’s not possible to reinsert, soak the tooth in a bit of regular milk and take it with you
to have put back in.

dentist

Infection

If you notice any unusual swelling, bleeding or irritation in your teeth and gums, you should see your dentist right away. There could be an abscessed infection under your gums that is filled with pus. A ruptured abscess can cause severe illness and even death if not treated right away. Never leave an infection longer than 24 hours before you seek dental treatment. If over the counter medications are not working on your infection or if you have a fever, you
should not delay in getting help.

dental visit

This is a collaborative post, The views and ideas expressed are not necessarily those of Mommy Ramblings.


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5 Healthy Changes You Can Make In The New Year

The new year is the perfect time to make those healthy changes you want to make. Although you could technically start fresh anytime of year, there’s definitely something special about joining in with billions of people all over the world in your quest to do better; to be better. Whatever your new year’s resolutions are, your underlying health needs to be a priority. Without good health, it’s hard to do anything else in life you want to accomplish. Here are five healthy changes you can make in the new year that you can start right now!

1. Start an Exercise Routine

If you don’t already make a habit of exercising, now is definitely the time to start. The reason it’s important to create an exercise routine is because it sets a habit that your body won’t want to break. Experts recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise at least three times a week. That’s pretty easy to do, even for the busiest people.

You can break up the 30 minutes if that makes it more workable for you. A brisk 10 minutes around the block with your dog in the morning, a 10 minute walk after lunch in the office park and a 10 minute walk with your loved one after dinner takes care of your 30-minute commitment!

2. Drink More Water

You’ve certainly heard this before, but it can’t be stated enough – drinking enough water is imperative to your good health. Most people don’t get enough water on a daily basis. If you have symptoms like dry skin or hair, fatigue, or foggy brain syndrome, the culprit could be mild dehydration. To make this healthy new year change automatic, keep a large bottle of filtered water with you at all times. Filtered water than you make at home is far superior to any bottled water you can buy.

Glass of Water

Now, water isn’t the most exciting drink. That’s why people reach for those sugary soft drinks that are so bad for you. Instead, enhance the flavor of your own filtered water with a home soda maker. You can use these to make your own flavored seltzer waters infused with the taste of fresh fruit like lemon, lime, orange, watermelon, cucumber or something else. Once you add homemade seltzer water into your life with a home soda maker, you’ll never be tempted to drink those sugary soda drinks again!

3. Get Ample Sleep

Most people need about eight hours of sleep every night, but many people miss out on that. Make a commitment to go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time every morning. This will help ensure that when you do go to bed, you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. If insomnia is an issue for you, make bedtime more relaxing by spritzing lavender essential oil on your pillow. Turn off electronics or, better yet, don’t even allow them into the bedroom.

4. Avoid Negative People

Distance yourself from the negative or toxic people in your life. Negative people are always talking about the latest bad news they read about. They may like to point out the bad side of any plans or goals you share with them.

Toxic people may appear to be your friends, but in reality they just bring  bitterness into your life. You don’t need these kinds of people in your life. In fact, they can bring you down and eventually make you think their way, too. If you can, divert conversations about negative topics by telling them you don’t want to talk about that topic. If they don’t heed your request, you may have to slowly weed them out of your life. If that happens, you’ll have more time and energy to spend with positive people who enrich your life, which is a healthy change to make the new year!

5. Take Time for Yourself Each Week

Is there something you’ve always wanted to do but never had the time for? Maybe it’s learning how to play piano, or learning a new language. It could be anything. You deserve to spend time doing things that are enjoyable for you. They don’t have to be productive, and they don’t have to be in pursuit of some higher purpose.

Relax, Take Time

You don’t have to study to be a concert pianist or move to Europe for a year. It can just be a simple pursuit that makes you happy. Strive to take time for yourself in this way each week. Even busy people can carve out time for personal endeavors, either before or after work or during the weekend.

These five healthy changes for the new year will help to keep you healthy and happy all throughout 2019. Remember, no matter what your goals are for the new year, they all must begin with the healthiest possible version of yourself.

Happy New Year

This is a collaborative post. The views and ideas expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.

 


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Corolle Good Night My Mini Calin Doll Set Giveaway

We have another Corolle doll set to tell you about. This one is pint size baby with adorable clothing that is just the right size to tuck in a bag or even a large pocket making it great for traveling and playdates. Good Night My Mini Calin comes with a Mini Calin doll, a sleeper and a blanket sleep sack.

Good Night Mini Calin Doll Giveaway

Mini Calin has a soft body and vinyl head and limbs. She has the signature, delicate vanilla scent that Corolle is infamous for. Calin’s soft body mimics a heart print romper. The clothing is easy to put on and take off, even for little hands. Hook and loop fasteners are simple to open and close during the dressing and undressing process. Little ones can role play just like mommy or daddy in getting baby ready for bed.

Good Night Mini Calin Doll Giveaway

Check out my video below to see more.

You can find Good Night My Mini Calin Doll Set on our 2018 Holiday Gift Guide on Mommy Ramblings!

Giveaway:

Corolle is sponsoring a Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own Good Night My Mini Calin Doll Set! Thank you to Corolle for the review set and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US residents.

Corolle Good Night My Mini Calin Doll Set Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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Filed under Dolls and Dollhouses, Giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, Toys

Best Chocolate Whipped Cream In Only 20 Seconds Recipe Tutorial & Giveaway

You all know how much I love my Mealthy Pot, and I have something super exciting to share. Mealthy has done it again! They created another kitchen appliance that has made it easier for me to prep and cook my favorite recipes. The Mealthy HandBlend is an immersion blender that comes with useful accessories to help you blend, chop and whisk  your way to create culinary masterpieces.

Mealthy HandBlend Mixer Giveaway

The Mealthy HandBlend comes with a whisk attachment, blending attachment, chopper bowl, smoothie cup and a recipe booklet. Use the chopper bowl to chop onions, garlic, ginger, nuts, greens, herbs and so much more. Blend up soups right in the pot, make your favorite fruit smoothies, mix up gourmet coffee drinks better than a barista and it even has a Turbo mode to make sure you have the power to get the smoothest blends.

Mealthy HandBlend Mixer Giveaway

I have made my favorite chai lattes with the Handblend and it will be working overtime this week helping me cook and bake for Christmas. One thing I just have to show you is how quick it makes whipped cream, not just any whipped cream, my family’s favorite homemade chocolate whipped cream can be made in about 20 seconds.

Mealthy HandBlend Mixer Giveaway

This chocolate whipped cream is so light and fluffy with a delicious decadent chocolate flavor that you can eat alone as a dessert or use it to top hot chocolate, cakes, use in parfaits and trifle and so much more. It literally tastes like the airiest chocolate mouse you have ever had.

Mealthy HandBlend Mixer Giveaway

Watch this video below and I will unbox the Mealthy and then make up a batch of this delicious chocolate whipped cream before your eyes:

Did you see how easy it was to make that delicious chocolate whipped cream? You have to try it, you will thank me! We added the Mealthy HandBlend to our Holiday Gift Guide at Mommy Ramblings.

There are loads of recipes and videos on the Mealthy Mobile App for iOS and Android. Smoothie Cup and Chopper Bowl are BPA free and you can trust Mealthy to rigorously test their products for safety, giving you peace of mind. 

Giveaway:

Mealthy is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own Mealthy HandBlend! Thank you to Mealthy for the review HandBlend and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US residents.

Mealthy HandBlend Immersion Blender Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Corolle Doll, Gaby Goes To Nursery School Set Giveaway

As a doll collector and doll lover, one of my favorite parts of compiling the holiday gift guide each year is checking out the Corolle baby dolls. This year we are bringing you another great doll and accessories from Corolle.

Corolle Gaby Goes To Nursery Doll

Gaby is a 14″ baby doll with the signature vanilla scent that Corolle is famous for. Gaby Goes To  Nursery School is a doll and accessories set that let’s little ones role play just like a real mom or dad. They can get Gaby ready and pack her included snacks (cookie and apple juice) in her backpack along with her security blanket and pacifier.

Gaby Goes To Nursery School

Gaby has eyes that close when you lay her down and a soft body with vinyl limbs and head. No hair to get dirty and tangled, she has molded hair that wipes clean. She comes wearing a one piece overall set that looks like 2 pieces. The back has hook and loop fasteners, so it is easy for little hands to dress and undress Gaby. Gaby has little vinyl flats on that come off to show her detailed, chubby feet.

Gaby Corolle Doll Giveaway

Corolle Gaby Goes To Nursery Doll Giveaway

Her little knees are full of little dimples and make her irresistible. Gaby’s thumb can fit and stay in her mouth if her pacifier is left at home and she is fussing. She is weighted so she can sit on her own.

Corolle Gaby Goes To Nursery Doll

Corolle makes many outfits for this 14″ doll in their mon grand poupon Corolle clothing collection . We could not resist the Happy Reindeer Dress and Coat along with the pink ankle strap shoes. You can find Gaby and her accessories on our 2018 Holiday Gift Guide at Mommy Ramblings.

Corolle Pink Ankle Strap Shoes For Doll

Check out our video below to see more:

Giveaway:

Corolle is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win their own Gaby Goes To The Nursery Set, Happy Reindeer Dress, Happy Reindeer Coat and Pink Ankle Strap Shoes! Thank you to Corolle for sponsoring this amazing giveaway and for the review doll and accessories. Open to US Residents.

Corolle Gaby Goes To Nursery School Gift Set & Accessories Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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Filed under Christmas, Giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, Toys

Neptune & CO. Collar and Leash Set Giveaway

We are pleased to bring you a great holiday gift guide pick for your canine family and friends. Collar and leash sets from Neptune & CO. are functional and stylish. Even better, when you purchase a matching collar and leash set today you can save $4! Every purchase helps save dogs in need! Neptune & CO. donate $1 or more to a non-profit rescue organization for every product sold. That’s a gift you can really feel good about.

Neptune & CO. Giveaway

Check out my video below to see all the great features of these collar and leash sets.

We have added collar and leash sets from Neptune & CO. to our 2018 Holiday Gift Guide at Mommy Ramblings.

Neptune & CO. Giveaway

Giveaway

Neptune & CO. is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky winner will win the collar and leash set in the size and style of their choice (subject to availability)! Thank you Neptune & CO. for the review leash and collar set and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US residents.

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Neptune & CO. Collar and Leash Set Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

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