Ah, the joys of parenting. Everyone says that these are the days of your life you’ll back upon with joy, but there’s no denying that being a parent can be a tough gig at times. If you’re a mommy or daddy who wouldn’t mind having an easier job raising your kids, look no further than these clever parenting hacks that will help you live a cleaner, more organized, and less stressful life.

Avoid Accidents Around the House

As a parent, you already know the worst noise in the world: the wail of a child who’s hurt herself. While an accident is usually a case of being more surprised than actually being hurt, it’s always best to be safe than sorry. That’s why it’s worth taking a look at your home from a child’s point of view to see what can be child-proofed.

Besides the obvious precautions–blocking the electrical outlets, anchoring heavy furniture to keep it from tipping–there are some not-so-obvious steps you can take to make your home a little safer for your little ones. In the bathroom, to lessen the hidden risks of slippery shower mats, lay velcro strips on the ground and glue some to the back of your rug to keep them in place. Everywhere else in your house, soften sharp edges with foam pool noodles; simply cut down the length of a pool noodle and stick it on the edge of any potentially dangerous furniture. These simple little hacks should prevent any particularly nasty spills.

Gamify Your Family’s Chores

By a certain age, it’s typical that your kids take a greater responsibility in helping out with chores around the house. But just because it’s expected of them, that doesn’t mean they’ll want to do them. If you’re having trouble rounding the troops up for their weekly duties, consider adding a little fun–and competition–into the mix.

For one, you can make their chores competitive by turning them into a game. For example, offer an incentive to whomever can clean their room the fastest. While this might not inspire quality work, it will help get the job done. You can also incentivize your kids by doling out points for completed tasks and rewarding them for hitting goals or being the top scorer for that week.

Inspire Creativity on the Cheap

Childhood is the time to let imagination bloom, and your tykes aren’t going to be doing much of that if they’re glued to the TV screens. Thankfully, it doesn’t take much to plants the seeds of creativity – all it takes is a little bit of ingenuity on your end.

We all know that for kids, sometimes the cardboard box is more interesting than what came inside it. You don’t even need to buy anything to get a box; simply go around to your supermarkets and appliance stores and ask if they have any to spare. A big cardboard box can be a castle, a time machine, a spaceship, or a DIY puppet stage. And when the kids tire of that, cut the box into panels and use the material as canvases they can draw and paint on. That’s a lot of activities for the price of nearly free.

While you know how best to raise your kids, it doesn’t hurt to have a little help. These tips should make your parenting a little easier, but they won’t be the end-all be-all of clever tips. Keep track of what works and what doesn’t work for your family. Just like anything else, practice makes perfect, and you never know what little trick will do wonders for your kids.

Father’s Day isn’t one of the most popular holidays, but it does have the chance to be one of the most meaningful. It’s a great opportunity to give back to the perfect father who’s given so much to you. If you’re at a loss for what you can do to keep Dad entertained on Father’s Day, consider these fun and meaningful activities.

Create a Meaningful Gift Together

As you know, “It’s the thought that counts.” A store-bought Father’s Day card may certainly look nice and professional, but it doesn’t quite show the same level of thought and care that a self-crafted card does. A scrappy, handmade card usually blows those store-bought cards out of the water.

The same goes for presents. While he’d probably really enjoy another golf club or a fresh new tie, nothing quite says “thank you” like a homemade gift. But don’t think that you need to keep the gift-making process a secret:  you can use Father’s Day as a bonding opportunity by making something together. Whether that’s a small crafts activity that’s suitable for the young ones or something a little more involved–like putting together a new bookcase–working on it together will create memories that last longer than the gift itself.

Do Something Active That Dad Likes

What better way to spend Father’s Day than to do something that Dad actually wants to do? Celebrate his interests by taking part in the things he wants to do, even if it’s something that’s not very exciting for you. This could be anything from a round of golf to a boat ride. Just be sure to take the load off him by planning all that you can yourself.

Keep in mind that if Dad works hard throughout the week, he might not be up for a full day of activities. If so, consider going out for only a few hours and then heading back home for some lazy family time. Sometimes it’s not the actual activity that matters, but the company in which you spend your time.

Set Plans for a Special Event

Although a hand-crafted gift or one that’s made together would please any father, you can also show him you care in buying him a different sort of present. While that seems to go against the advice of giving something personal and self-made, you can still show some thoughtfulness while at the same time setting up an activity for the man of the house.

Consider surprising him on Father’s Day with tickets to one of his favorite bands or a festival that fits his interests. Or maybe you can book a reservation to a restaurant that serves his favorite food. The event need not necessarily take place on Father’s Day itself. Booking something in advance will give him something to look forward to.

Father’s Day is the best time to bond with Dad, create some fun memories, and learn what he enjoys to do. Think of it as a learning experience – maybe you can surprise him with one of his favorite activities some other time.

When picking out a new place to live, it’s fun to imagine all the new possibilities you home will bring you. And it’s easy to forget the struggles you’ll have to go through to get there. Moving is pretty much the worst necessity in the world, but, it being a necessity, what can you do? Well, for one thing, you can follow these steps to make your move a little less painful.

Sort Through the Junk

Moving from one home to another is the perfect time to take stock of everything you’ve accumulated. It’s also a great time to get rid of all the stuff you don’t need. Before you start throwing things out, consider holding a garage sale to get back some return on your investments. At the least, donate your unwanted goods to the local charity or thrift store, or at the least give your friends a chance to pick through.

Throwing stuff away should be your last resort. As they say, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and no treasure deserves to be sitting in a landfill, doing harm to the environment. While you might hate that dirty old loveseat you’ve had for ages, someone is bound to love it!

A Box for Every Room

Once you’ve figured out what you keep and what goes, you need to get it all packed away and ready to ship off. How you organize your move will depend on your preferences, but the typical strategy is to separate your goods by which room they belong in. This will make both the packing and unpacking processes a little easier than if you just throw things in boxes haphazardly. Clearly mark all your boxes to keep anything from getting mixed up.

Take Your Time, If Possible

If your move-out and move-in days are flexible and have some overlap, try your best to space out your move over a couple of days and multiple trips. While you may want to get everything done with right away, you might be encouraged to put everything off until the last minute, which is stressful. If you take your time and move some boxes here and there, you won’t tire yourself out. This might not be possible for all cases–like if you’re moving far–but if you’re just moving across town, over a few days, it’ll barely seem like work.

Enlist Help from Your Friends

There’s no “I” in team, and having some friends and family to help you in your move will make the process quicker and more fun. If you’re trying to get the move done over multiple days, this might be hard to plan – unless you’ve got some really great friends and you schedule in advance. Just make sure to repay them – pizza is the commonly-accepted form of moving-help currency. By the way, to cut costs on renting out a moving van, talk to your friend with the truck. He might be tired of being the go-to moving guy amongst his friends, but he’ll be more happy to help if you sweeten the pot with a little ‘za.

Despite taking these measures, you’ll probably find that, while your moving days have been made a little pain-free, you’ll still going to run into unimagined challenges. A sofa isn’t going to fit through the door, you’re going to have forgotten a box at your old home, or something’s going to get smushed. Try not to take everything too seriously, shake it off the difficulties, and have some fun with it. Once you’re moved into your new home, it’ll all have been worth it.

You’re no doubt neck-deep in spring cleaning. And if you’re not… well, you’re getting around to it soon, right? Right. Although your mind will definitely be on your home and all the nooks and crannies you need to get to, there’s another aspect of cleaning you must come to terms with: cleaning your cleaning supplies. It almost sounds ridiculous, but there is some truth in needing to keep your tools fresh and hygienic. Here’s why you should be putting some work into cleaning the cleaning supplies themselves.

Dry Cleaning Supplies Might Just Be Pushing the Dust Around

If you sweep or dust often, you’ve probably found this one out for yourself. After a big job of sweeping, dust, lint, and other grime accumulates on the brush head. Simply shaking the broom will get most of it off, but over a long period of time, a good amount of this dust will stick to the bristles, especially deep down near the head of the broom. To give your broom or brush a deep clean, soak in a bucket of warm, soapy water and let dry. Don’t forget to give the dustpan a cleansing wipe, too.

Water-Based Cleaning Supplies Can Be Home to Bacteria

Your water-based cleaning supplies, such as sponges and mops, need extra care. Because these supplies get wet, they’re breeding grounds for nasty bacteria. If they get shoved into a dark place before they’ve properly aired out, they’ll end up being stinky hotbeds for mold growth. Gross! As far as toilet brushes go, a simply bleach bath will do the trick. You can clean cloth and fiber-based cleaning supplies by soaking them in hot water and vinegar. Be sure to wring them out and let them air out before storing them away. When it comes to sponges, some suggest to then use a microwave for a quicker dry, but that could lead to potential fire hazards. Let them air dry instead of worrying about burning the apartment down.

Don’t Forget the Vacuum

If you use a vacuum cleaner, whether stand-up, handheld, or bagless, these cleaning supplies need some love, too. As well as emptying the bag or canister, you also want to be sure to remove any obstructions on the vacuum head. Open up the vacuum and give the surfaces a thorough wiping. You’ll probably find a lot of dust buildup simply wipes away. A dirty vacuum is liable to spit dust back out into your home.

Some Cleaning Supplies Have a Limited Life

Even with the most frugal intentions, you need to be able to let your cleaning supplies go when their time has come. This is especially true of the wet cleaning supplies such as sponges, which you should be changing out every couple of weeks. Just think about what you could be spreading on your dishes – it’s almost the opposite of cleaning. Thankfully, sponges and mopheads are fairly inexpensive, so it shouldn’t be too much  of a burden to replace them. You might be able to get away with cleaning them in water and vinegar a few times, but use your best judgement.

While cleaning your cleaning supplies is another chore to add to your list, it’s a necessary part of keeping a neat home. Although the results may not be entirely noticeable to the naked eye, keeping your supplies clean will bring you one step closer to a dust and dirt-free home.

As you probably know, having an associate’s or bachelor’s degree can open up a lot of doors in today’s competitive job market. In fact, some might argue that a higher education degree is now a necessity. And while a degree is a good investment alone for getting a well-paying job, the college experience itself can be worth the price of admission. Luckily, there are many great options in Central New Jersey that cater to all sorts of education options. Here are some of the higher education institutes you have to choose from in Central Jersey.

Public Universities and Colleges

If you’re looking for a typical four-year degree, you’ll want to first look at state universities and colleges. Attending a publicly-funded school means that the school receives money from the government, which usually results in lower tuition fees. As far as the public universities and colleges available in Central New Jersey, you have some good options to choose from. At the top of the list is Rutgers University, which is the largest school in New Jersey. Rutgers is one of the oldest colleges in the United States and is home to some great philosophy, geology, and library science departments. Besides Rutgers, some of the other big public schools in Central Jersey are The College of New Jersey in Ewing and Thomas Edison State University in Trenton.

Private Schools

If you already have your mind made up on what you’d like to study, or you’re looking for a degree whose prestige will stand out a little more, you’ll instead want to have a look at private universities and colleges. While you can expect tuition fees to be a bit higher, this is usually a tradeoff for lower student-to-professor ratios and a more intimate social environment. Of course, the biggest private university in New Jersey is Princeton University, which has graduated some of the nation’s greatest leaders. This Ivy League school is notoriously difficult to get into, so it’s good to have some backups. Georgian Court University, Monmouth University, and Rider University are some more private schools located in Central New Jersey, each with its own perks.

Community Colleges

Community colleges sometimes catch flak for not being up to the standards you can expect from public and private four-year colleges. And while it’s true you won’t graduate with a top degree, community colleges have their merits. For one, they provide a cheaper option for getting your general education credits out of the way. And secondly, they still offer quality education, even if they don’t have quite the same level of prestige. As far as community colleges in Central New Jersey, your options include Ocean County College, Camden County College, and Brookdale Community College.

Clearly, there are a lot of options to choose from. Each school has its own advantages and disadvantages, as well as its own culture and feel to it. A higher education degree can do wonders for your employability, but you also want to be sure that you like where you’re studying. So, if you’re thinking about applying to one of these schools, do your research, visit campus, and make sure the school is the right fit for you.

No one likes paying more than they have to. Thankfully, alone with the convenience of shopping from home, the not-so-secret secret is that nowadays, the best deals are usually online. But when forced to choose between the two online commerce giants Amazon and eBay, which comes out ahead as the better marketplace? Before you go pressing that pay-in-one-click button, read on in this play-by-play analysis of the two Internet storefronts.

Price: eBay

If your top concern is the bottom line, look no further that shopping with eBay. While Amazon may be your go-to on Black Friday, eBay tends to have the lower prices. This is because, behind the scenes, the two sites charge fees for product listings on their sites, and those extra costs can change based on many different factors. However, as a general rule of thumb, Amazon has higher selling fees than eBay, meaning that sellers mark their prices up a little higher. And because of eBay’s very nature – it started off as a straight-up auction site, don’t forget – there’s a chance that you’ll be able to snag your product for a cheaper price than anywhere else.

Shipping: Amazon

If you’ve ever shopped online before, you know that the sticker price isn’t really what you pay. As well as tax, there’s the dreaded shipping you must also take into account. If you’re buying something small, shipping isn’t going to break the bank. But when it comes to larger purchases, shipping may play a large part in your buying decision. In most cases, shipping on eBay is left up to the seller, who chooses whether he or she will eat the cost or pass it on you, the customer. On the other hand, Amazon offers free shipping through their Amazon Prime service. While Prime definitely isn’t free, you can quickly get your money’s worth if you plan on buying a lot. And along with the free shipping, Prime nets you some other excellent perks, such as Amazon’s streaming collection of films, TV, and music.

Other Factors: Tie

For the discerning shopper, price and shipping aren’t going to be the only factors that work their way into a decision. While the cost of buying the product will probably rank high, you may want to consider some other points that go into the sale. For one, Amazon draws more customer reviews, so you’ll have a better idea of what you’re purchasing. Amazon also has a greater selection of common products, while eBay will do you better for those harder-to-find purchases. One last thing to consider between the two is their ethics – Amazon has caught a lot of flak for how it treats its warehouse workers and its competition with independent book publishers. If you prefer to shop with a conscience, you might want to avoid Amazon.

So, it looks that, by most accounts, it’s a tie. Nothing in life is as easy as a “yes” or a “no”, is it? In general, if you’re looking to make a one-time purchase, eBay will be your best bet, while if you are someone who shops somewhat frequently, Amazon Prime might suit your needs better. For the best results, do your own price comparison and see which site comes out better for you.

You’re working on an important document on your computer when all of a sudden – darkness. After a second or two of bewilderment, you realize that the power’s gone out, and worse, your computer shut down without saving your work. But never mind your work; are your electronics safe? Here are some steps you can take to safeguard your electronics from a power outage.

Use Surge Protectors to Secure Your Electronics from the Inevitable

You never know when power outages may hit, and along with them may come another danger: power surges. The difference? Whereas with power outages you lose power, with power surges, an inappropriate amount of power is pumped back into your home, potentially frying your electronics. To protect against this, purchase a surge protector to keep your electronics plugged into. Surge protectors look like regular power strips but have built-in mechanisms to protect against too much power reaching your electronics. Keep in mind, however, that surge protectors may not be 100 percent effective against all power surges.

Buy an Uninterruptible Power Supply to Give Yourself Some Leeway

An uninterruptible power supply (or UPS) does just what its name says: it provides power in the event of a power outage. While a UPS will give you only a few minutes of power after a power outage, it should be enough time to save your progress before you shut down your device.

Shut Down Your Electronics and Unplug Them

Once you realize that a power outage has hit your home, you’ll want to power down your electronics and unplug them as soon as possible, just in case a power surge hits. Although you might keep your electronics plugged into a surge protector, the power surge may still be too powerful and make its way to your electronics. To keep your electronics undoubtedly safe, unplug them from the walls and keep them unplugged until power is restored.

Back Up Your Data

Despite your best efforts, there’s still a chance that a power outage could end up permanently damaging your electronics. If you keep important information on a computer, you should strongly consider backing up your data just in case your device gets fried. For maximum security, stick to the 3-2-1 rule of data backup. This calls for having three copies of important files on two different media types, such as a hard drive and CD. Finally, one copy should be stored in another location, such as at the office or in the cloud. Of course, not all files are going to need the 3-2-1 treatment, but for financial records and irreplaceable photos, this will ensure that you never lose them despite any power problems.

You’ll need to invest a little money to keep your electronics completely safe from a power outage. Although a surge protector and UPS will cost you, the price of both combined is probably cheaper than the electronics you want to protect. You may not see a return on your investment right away or even at all. Think of it like an insurance policy – when the time comes, you’ll be happy you’re prepared.

Winter is finally coming to an end and you’re beginning to emerge from your nest of hibernation – only to be dragged down by the mountains of unused clothes in your closet. Here are some steps you can take to leap into spring in fashion.

Trim the Fat

You might be looking at your bulging wardrobe and wondering, “Where exactly am I supposed to start?” One method of tidying up that’s been taking the world by storm is called the Kon Marie method. Its mastermind, Marie Kondo, recommends that you keep only things that “spark joy” within you. That cute sweater that unfortunately shrunk in the dryer and you’ll never wear again? Get rid of it. Those pair of jeans with the unfortunate hole in the back? Out. The dress with the spaghetti stain on it? You know what to do. Paring down your closet to only the essentials – things that you actually want to wear – will keep your collection practical and on a need-to-wear basis. Hopefully, this will save you the space and the time each morning deciding what to wear.

Don’t Waste

Going through your piles of clothing, you might be tempted to throw all these misfit clothes into garbage bags. Think twice! Is there anything you would like to keep that’s salvageable? Perhaps you or a friend can do some slight mending. Or, why not try to make a buck from all of your hard work? Check around your area for secondhand stores who might be interested in buying your used wares. While you won’t get back what you paid for them, you might still earn more than you think. And with thrift shopping as popular as ever, there’s as big a demand as ever for lightly-used clothes. If all else fails, consider donating your clothes to a shelter. There might be a tangible reward, but it’s nice to know that you’re helping out others.

Fill the Gaps

Now that you’ve trimmed down your closet, you might find that whatever’s left isn’t exactly suitable for spring. Sure, that parka looks nice, but only when it’s freezing outside. When shopping for new spring clothes, consider these two important things: form and function. On one hand, you want your clothes to look smart and impress those around you (duh), but on the other, your clothes have to be suitable for springtime. Think about what’s most comfortable for you: do you prefer to wear skirts or shorts? Tank tops or T-shirts? Maybe a bit of everything? However, it’s imperative that you don’t go overboard. After all, you don’t want to find yourself in the position of getting rid of all your excess clothes again next year.

It might take a few hours, or it might take all day, but in the end, you’ll be glad to have a tidier space. And in the end, only you will know how best to sort through your clothes. But if you follow these steps, you should find that your spring cleaning has been made a little easier. Now, on to the rest of the house!

 

For any number of reasons, living with a roommate is a common scenario that many of us have to consider. In an ideal world, it would be great to live with a best friend that you can rely on at all times. However, chances are that you’ll end up living with someone new. When that person is of the opposite sex, it could become even more problematic.

Living with a roommate has plenty of benefits. To make things go as easy as possible, here are some tips for living with a roommate of the opposite sex.

Consider Courtesy In Common Areas

In areas that you share with a new roommate, there’s a lot of room for awkward circumstances. While it may have been completely normal to walk around your home in your underwear when you lived alone, this likely will make a new roommate of the opposite sex feel uncomfortable. This is especially the case if your roommate has guests of the opposite sex. When living with a person of another gender, be considerate of those common areas to avoid any unfortunate and embarrassing scenarios.

Another area that could cause tension is the bathroom. You may want to consider a set of rules to help keep the bathroom organized and clean. This may include a schedule for taking turns cleaning, or a general rule of cleaning up after yourself. Whatever it is, keep the bathroom clean and you’ll notice that everyone is happier.

Rely On Each Other

Having the perspective of someone of the opposite sex can be quite useful. This is especially the case if you currently don’t have that same sort of resource in other parts of your life. Whether you’re looking for advice on the opposite sex or just want someone’s opinion on a prospective job, build a relationship with your new roommate. No matter their sex, they are now a part of your life that could be helpful in many ways.

Avoid Getting Romantic

Getting romantic with a roommate can cause plenty of problems for both people. If you both think that it’ll turn into a lasting relationship, then it could be a great story. However, if you find yourself casually hooking up with no rules, it’s only a matter of time before someone gets hurt. Avoid romantic feelings and keep your roommate situation strictly platonic.

Tell Your Significant Other

One consideration you may want to make before moving in with someone of the opposite sex is how your significant other might feel about it. Ideally, they’ll understand your decision to find a roommate as a way to save money. However, they may need some convincing that your new roommate is nothing more than just that.

Your willingness to live with a roommate of either gender will help you open your options to many more people. But if you fear the problems it could cause, then consider these tips for living with a roommate of the opposite sex.

Trying to find an open reservation on Valentine’s Day can be one of the biggest headaches you’ll experience throughout the year. You’re not alone in wanting to show that special someone that you care, but that doesn’t mean a fancy night out is you only option. Instead, you can show off your prowess in the kitchen by making a date night meal that will fill their belly as much as it’ll warm their hearts.

It’s certainly the thought that counts, which is why you don’t need to spend a lot of money showing them you care this year. Instead, here are some Valentine’s Day date night meals that anyone can make as part of a romantic evening in.

Valentine’s Appetizers

Get the night started off right with an appetizer that will be just enough to whet the palate without filling them up. These mushroom canapés are to die for, offering a light bread base with fresh garnish.  An alternative option are these truly Rockin’ Oysters Rockefeller. Oysters are a great option to start any date night, and this recipe will take the taste to the next level. Couples watching their weight may want to consider this artichoke hearts gratin, a healthy option to begin the evening.

Valentine’s Cocktails

Show off your bartending skills as you add flavorful drinks to your Valentine’s menu. This recipe for a Hot Tottie is great for those who love whiskey. The honey addition will add even more flavor to a classic favorite. Consider mixing things up with this Hot and Sweet Cocktail, the perfect addition to any of the options on this list. The sweet tastes of agave nectar and strawberries are quite refreshing, as the Sriracha Vodka adds a kick of spice. Seal the evening with this raspberry chocolate kiss martini, a dessert cocktail that’ll bring romance to your night.

Valentine’s Main Course

That special someone will think you’re much more talented in the kitchen then you truly are, as this recipe for herb-garlic crusted flank steak with pan-roasted grapes is surprisingly easy to make. In under 30 minutes, you’ll have a hearty meal that is perfect for a romantic evening. Or if you want to really show off, do so with this Lobster Colorado. It takes a bit to juggle, but the end result is a Valentine’s main course that they’ll never forget.

Valentine’s Desserts

Cap the night with a final course that appeals to the sweet tooth. This chocolate blackout cake is as decadent and sweet as the person you’re making it for. Or if you prefer something with individual portions, go with these chocolate melting cakes. They’ll melt in a hurry if you don’t eat them quickly, but they are so delicious that’s likely not going to be an issue.

Continue to amaze your love with a full menu of Valentine’s options that’ll warm their heart. From the first bite to the last sip, the Valentine’s Day date night meals on this list are perfect for a romantic evening in.