7.31.2019

Biting your confidence issues away

You’ve probably noticed a few people in your surroundings or in public places carefully masking their mouth with a hand when they laugh. When they meet a friend, they tend to smile with their lips pressed together. When you don’t feel confident about your teeth, hiding them feels like the only possible solution. 

Here’s some big news for you: You need to make smiling a priority in your life. Indeed, your smile touches a lot more than esthetic issues. The simple act of smiling reduces your stress levels. The more you smile, the more relaxed and happy you feel. There is a strong correlation between smiling and the production of happy hormones in the body. Indeed, you can smile yourself to happiness and self-confidence. 

But you need to tackle one major issue before you can get rid of your self-doubts. You need to look after your smile. Without a healthy smile, your self-confidence drops dramatically! 



Listen to yourself; is your smile a problem?
Did you know that more and more people in America are too embarrassed to smile? Over a third of the Hispanic population doesn’t want to let others see their teeth, for instance. Even when it comes to affluent households, one in five Americans with an annual income of $75,000 or higher prefer to avoid smiling or do things that would reveal their teeth. So, on the one hand, if you’re ashamed of smiling, you’re probably not an isolated case. However, on the other hand, the absence of a smile doesn’t only affect your self-confidence. It isolates you and transforms your behavior. It doesn’t matter how much effort you put in improving your mental health. Smiling is just as important as stress management or healthy sleep when it comes to boosting your mood. 


Talking to an expert about your problem
If you are aware that your teeth are a worry you can’t get out of your mind, you need to book an appointment with a specialist. Your local Walden Dental surgery, for instance, offers a variety of services both in tooth repair and cosmetic improvements, which can help you to sort out your issues. The most common complaints about smiles tend to refer to stains, misaligned teeth, or even breaks. Misaligned teeth often develop during puberty or early adult years as the teeth grow and can press against each other as a result of a lack of space in your mouth. Ultimately, you need to realize that dentists are here to help you; nobody is going to make fun of your smile. 


Make smiling a priority
When you’ve spent a long time without smiling, you might need to get back into the habit. Practicing smiling decreases negative thoughts in your life, but also creates a happy and positive environment around you. Why not give yourself a smile cue, such as smiling each time you hear the phone ringing? It can be especially effective if you choose a stressful event as a trigger for your smile. As you do, it transforms your attitude about it, and you feel relaxed. 


Can an embarrassing smile affect your self-confidence? The answer is yes. But more importantly, it affects your mood, your mental health and your relationships. When everything boils down to a few teeth issues, it is foolish not to book an appointment with your dentist to find your confidence back. 



7.30.2019

16 Birthday Pictures

This year for the first time we have had 2 birthday parties.

one with her girl friends and one with family that have grown in our heart and not blood related which is not important as they are all family.













7.29.2019

Sweet 16

16 years ago at 8:54 am you came into this world kicking and screaming and I wouldn't change a thing about you, and right now at this very time you are on a bus somewhere in the US going to St Louis with friends for a week and this momma is struggling how grown up you are...

Dear Brooke,



How can it be possible that sixteen years have passed since the first time I held you in my arms? I waited my whole life for you to be born. I remember every detail about your birth and often replay that day in my head – wishing I could go back and relive it one more time. You were the one who made my dream of becoming a mom a reality. You have created a love inside of me so fierce, so unbreakable, so unending, and so unconditional. I am incredibly lucky to have been chosen to be your mom. I really must have done something right in life to have been given a child like you
You have grown into an amazing young woman. You are that girl that I always wished I could be. You are beautiful, confident, smart, and well-liked by everyone. You shine in everything you do. Your friends all look up to you as well as the kids you babysit.
 age 1 



 
age 2 

Please know how incredibly proud I am of you. I know I have been hard on you at times. I set high expectations that you sometimes feel are impossible to reach. Let me reassure you that you have never ever disappointed me. I set those expectations because I want you to achieve everything you have ever wanted. I want all of your greatest dreams to come true. I never want you to feel undeserving of anything because you deserve the absolute best that life has to offer.


I want you to keep that confidence you have now, and continue to try new things; to meet new people. You never know what door will open if you just put yourself out there. You will make mistakes, but it’s okay because that’s how you learn lessons and become a better person. I’ve certainly made my share of them, and still, make them today. Those mistakes create the path to the amazing life I have today.




To be honest, you have probably taught me more than I think I’ve taught you. You’ve taught me patience. I’ve learned that screaming at each other often accomplishes nothing except pain. Listening and biting my tongue are much more effective. I’ll probably still get upset and frustrated with you. I’ll probably still lecture you simply because I am your mom and that’s what we do. I’ve learned from you to not sweat the small things. You rarely get involved in any gossip, and never really care what people think of you. You choose to see the good in people and stand up for others even when you are standing alone. Following your examples, my life has become much more fulfilling.

It amazes me how people are drawn to you. I can send you halfway across the country, knowing nobody, and you come home with a dozen new best friends. I admire your quiet strength in the way you accept the unfair things that happen to you. You keep moving forward, never letting them drag you down.

I hope your birthday is everything you dreamed it could be. Remember how loved you are. You are my sweet baby, your daddy’s little girl,  WE will always be here for you, your biggest fans
Your story is just beginning and I cannot wait to watch you write it 

7.27.2019

Top tips for hiring a contractor to manage your renovation


If you have an extensive renovation project on the cards, your mind will no doubt be brimming with ideas about what you want doing, and how you will go about doing it. You'll have definitely had ways to save yourself money to get the job done too. 

You might have been watching online tutorials to help you with your plastering, or bricklaying. Feeling confident in your abilities is fine. But, unless you have had some experience of this type of work, or will be supported by someone who has, then you should probably hire a professional general contractor for some expert assistance.

Getting the job done yourself can often be much harder than you imagine. You might start with great intentions and feel as though you are progressing quickly. But you may hit a snag which throws the whole task into jeopardy. 

If you need to hire a professional later on in your project, to repair the work that you did early on, then you are going to end up costing yourself a lot of money. 

The best course of action you can have in the long run is to hire a company whose work will be covered by a guarantee. This will take away a great deal of the stress from you. 

Hiring The Right People For The Job

Getting a reliable professional is key to keeping a job as stress-free as possible. You need someone that you can trust, so look for recommendations from friends. If you can't find this, read reviews online for local firms, and approach the ones with the best customer approval ratings to get quotes.

Be clear about what exactly you need carrying out. Your quotes need to reflect all of the work you need doing, and there should be no miscommunication in what you want. Check back with the firm to ensure they have understood your needs. 

Compare a few quotes, but take into account that the cheapest firm doesn't equate to the best option. It can sometimes mean that the standard of the work is lower. 

Agree on the types of materials that will be used, and ask to see samples of items such as these wall panels: click here

Get an agreement on how long the job will take too. Your life will have lots of upheavals, so you'll need to know when you will get your home back. 

Calm Communication

Big renovations can be very stressful, and things go wrong. Dealing with situations in a calm manner will help you find a resolution to your problems in a much quicker and more effective way. 

It can be tempting to start blaming others for the things that go wrong, but this does not help find a solution. It just makes for a more stressful situation for yourself.

At the end of the job, there may be some snagging issues that need repairing. Be sure you let your contractor professionally know about these. Dealing with these matters calmly will mean that you will get them resolved much quicker. 


7.25.2019

7 years of Blogging

 
7 years of thumping out some blog post on this new domain.
I blogged with Xanga for 14 years previously so I have been around a while. When Xanga closed I lost all of my posts as I could not back up...but here I am. Happy and Content
 
Thank you friends, family, business owners, everyone of you for hanging out with me for so long, believing in me to promote your business, and your product.
 
Let's do another 7 years.

7.24.2019

Saving Money On Big Things In Your Home

The cost of a home would look quite reasonable, if it was “all-inclusive”; that is, we didn’t have all those extra payments to make, such as those monthly bills, the cost of keeping the home well-decorated and in tip-top condition, and so on. Alas, that’s life -- they’re an essential part of the homeowner experience. However, even though we can’t banish the costs completely, there are things we can do to at least keep them to a minimum. Below, we take a look at some of the ways you can save money on the big expenses in your home. 

Source: Pexels.com

The Furniture

Furniture isn’t cheap, and it doesn’t last forever, either. Every few years we have to replace it, which means losing a big chunk of our disposable income for a couple of months. There is a cheaper way to do it, however. You don’t need to just visit a furniture store and pick out whichever item you can afford! One of the best ways to keep the costs is to try your hand at upcycling, which involves buying a second-hand goods, and improving them yourself. This works especially well with wooden furniture (just adding chalk paint greatly improves the look), but you can also do it with couches, too. 

Home Appliances

Your furniture is at least largely decorative. Things become a little more complicated when it comes to your home appliances, which are the items you need to have in your home if it’s going to function at its best -- they’re non-optional. When one of them breaks, you’re generally looking at writing a big check to buy a replacement. However, before you resign yourself to getting out the credit card, see if it can be fixed. There are companies who specialize in a washer, dishwasher, or fridge repair. They’ll get the appliance back to full working condition, and save you the money and time it takes to replace these bulky items.

Wear and Tear

It doesn’t matter how well you’re looking after your home: you’re eventually going to run into issues of general wear and tear. When something goes wrong with our property, our first impulse is to look up a professional, and have them fix it. While there are some issues that you shouldn’t handle yourself (say, the electrics), others can be completed by someone who’s somewhat handy with DIY jobs. If you’ve never picked up a tool before, take a look at learning the basics -- you’ll find that you’re more capable than you thought. 

Monthly Expenses

You think you have X amount of money, and then all the monthly household bills come in, and you figure out that you actually have Y amount, which is always significantly less. While you can’t banish those monthly bills entirely, you can keep them to a minimum by reducing your energy usage, cutting any services that you don’t really need (such as cable), and all-around managing all the bills. A simple check to see if it’s possible to save money might result in big savings. 

7.22.2019

A Stranded Nation

Who is in control of Canadian Resources? A Stranded Nation is a documentary about our national energy needs and why all Canadians should care about the development of Oil & Gas in Canada.

Our modern civilization is built on the foundation of petroleum and petroleum by products. One of our very own Aimee Mckillop is the director and producer of this documentary, we believe Canadians need to have a foundational knowledge of this topical debate.

A Stranded Nation is a visual tool to bring insight into this complicated, cross-provincial debate. The decision to build a national pipeline has left Canadians divided and uncertain; allowing other countries to benefit from our lack of leadership and disorganization.



3 Ways to Naturally Relieve Stress


Recognizing that you are suffering from stress is crucial to begin handling it. Many of us may be hesitant
to admit our true stress levels, out of concern that we may worry our family members or risk losing out
on opportunities at work.


However, living with a high level of stress over a long period of time is unsustainable, and can lead to
burnout at work, relationship issues at home, and severe health issues in the long run.
It is also important before you begin tackling your stress to
know the difference between stress and
anxiety, as they are very different processes and must be treated in different ways.
Stress is initiated from outside forces, such as a deadline at work, a family conflict, or financial concern.
Long-term stress that is not handled can become a chronic affliction. Most minor stress is handled best
by addressing the issue that is causing the stress, usually eliminating the symptoms in the process. Long
term stress that doesn’t go away can be handled in a variety of ways, which will be covered here.
Anxiety is very different. Anxiety originates from inside a person, and is not in response to any specific
event or situation. It is a persistent feeling of concern, dread, and panic, even if there is no apparent
cause for these feelings. In some minor cases, anxiety can be alleviated through natural home remedies,
but in many cases anxiety disorders must be treated with the assistance of a mental health counselor
and/or psychiatrist.
If you have determined that you are suffering from long-term stress, read on for some natural stress-
management techniques that are sure to make a difference!


1. Exercise
It may sound counterintuitive, but raising your heart rate can actually help you combat stress! Our
bodies are made to move around and stay active, not live sedentary lifestyles behind desks and in
offices. When we take time to exercise, we are putting our bodies and brains into another “mode”,
where
endorphins are released and our brains begin to work on solving the problems that are ailing us.
Taking a much needed break from the strain of day to day life can help you to gain new perspective,
which also reduces the amount of stress you may be experiencing. Getting your blood pumping, be it
through Pilates, jogging, or even weight lifting allows you the opportunity to clear your mind, enjoy a
temporary reprieve from your problems, and enjoy the health benefits of staying active.
When becoming more active after a long period of inactivity, make sure you take it slow to avoid injury.
If you want to begin jogging or running, start by walking and work up to more intensive exercise. Treat
exercise as a kind of “moving meditation”, where you can step away from the stress of your situation
and immerse yourself in the moment.


2. Natural Supplements
Taking natural supplements is an excellent solution for those who do not want the side effects of
medication, or whose stress is not severe enough to require medication. There are many natural
supplements that have been used medicinally for thousands of years to combat stress and anxiety, and
many of these are now available in oils, capsules, or even teas!

Cannabidiol, or CBD oil, is derived from the hemp plant and is a non-high inducing oil that can be used in
a multitude of ways. This supplement is specifically recommended for those suffering from stress, as the
CBD extract can cause feelings of calm, improve sleep, and promote relaxation.
For those who have never tried CBD before, it is recommended to try a small amount and then gradually
increase the amount to achieve the desired stress relieving affects. CBD oil can be added to food and
used as cooking oil, or taken as a daily supplement in
capsule form.

3. MeditationMeditation has been practiced as a natural stress-relieving solution for thousands of years, and
fortunately it is very easy to start. You simply need a quiet room and a few minutes alone. Many
professionals recommend beginning with breathing exercises. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to
meditate. The important thing is to focus on your breathing, releasing tension from the body and mind,
and gradually becoming more grounded and mindful.
Meditation allows you to learn skills that calm your brain down and release things that you have been
holding onto, consciously or unconsciously. The best part of this is that you can then use these skills,
such as mindfulness, outside of meditation as well; during meetings, while driving, or even during
conflict. This is an excellent way to not only reduce stress but prevent stress from becoming an issue in
daily life. Meditation comes in many forms, but generally it involves quiet, contemplative time at the
beginning or end of the day. There are apps and websites you can use to lead you through guided
meditations as well, if you are new to meditating and unsure of where to begin
.

7.21.2019

Looking After Your Mental Health

One of the most common - and damaging - mistakes that people make is assuming that they don’t need to do anything for their own mental health. If you find yourself thinking that, because you might not have been diagnosed with a specific illness, that means you don’t need to worry - then you need to change your approach somewhat. The fact of the matter is that everyone needs to take care of their mental health, even if it is also true that some need to do so more than others. If you are unsure what this entails, don’t worry - in this article, we have put together some of the most vital things that you need to think about doing in your life, to ensure that you are taking care of yourself mentally. As long as you do these, you should find that you are happier, and healthier of mind in general.

Stress Management

Stress really is a killer. Not only does it cause and exacerbate any number of physical illnesses and diseases, it also worsens any mental problems which an individual might have, and again can even bring them on in the first place. The more that you are able to manage your stress, therefore, the more likely it is that you will be looking after your mind properly. Stress management really is one of the most powerful tools that you have in keeping your mental health in check, so anything you can do to manage your stress is going to be worth your while.

There are so many approaches to this, but the best are those which focus primarily on avoiding stress arising in the first place. You can do a lot to keep the balance of your stress from coming up if you take up a daily meditation practice. Whatever you think of meditation, it’s worth giving it a go. You might find that it is surprising how much it does for you, and even just ten minutes of it a day can be enough to keep your stress demons at bay much more easily. Even if you don’t want to meditate, learning a few simple breathing exercises can often be enough to rid your body and mind of accumulated stress in the moment, so that is worth looking into too.

The best approach, of course, is to try and build a lifestyle which avoids stress as much as possible in the first place. Don’t think that stress is somehow worthy or noble or a sign of a good worker - see it as the disease it is, and do whatever you can to keep it out of your life. If you have the freedom to build a mostly stress-free life, then you should absolutely grasp that opportunity with both hands. Work fewer hours if necessary, spend more time on your leisure activities - whatever it takes to keep that stress from damaging you physically and mentally in the long run.

Sleep

You don’t really appreciate what sleep does for you until you fail to get enough of it, and then it becomes alarmingly clear how vital it is to get enough sleep night after night. Even just a few nights of skipped or reduced sleep can drastically alter your mood and your hormone regulation. It can also easily make any existing mental condition much worse. This is as true for depression and anxiety as it is for schizophrenia or other serious illnesses. So it is in your mental health’s interests that you are able to get enough sleep night after night, and anything you can do to make that more likely is going to be a wise move to make.

One of the best ways in which you can ensure you get more sleep is to make your sleeping environment much more comfortable. Everything from the light level to mattress sizes is likely to affect your ability to sleep, so it’s important that you make a point of paying attention to all these details as best as you can. If you hope to sleep better, you should also go to bed earlier, and make sure that you try to avoid using screens in the evening (this will also help your mental health in other ways, as discussed below). Finally, get into the habit of having some kind of a routine for your bedtime, as that makes it much more likely that you will get to sleep more effectively.

The more sleep you get, the better off you are metnally, so this is definitely something to work on as best as you can.

Social Life

Being social is a hugely important part of taking care of your mental health. We are social creatures, and even if you are naturally an introvert who doesn’t need much in the way of a social life, you need to get the amount that is right for you. Nobody does better with absolutely nobody than with at least an occasional social function. If that means joining a club or going out somewhere, then you should make a point of doing so. If it is frightening, feel free to take baby steps, but be aware that you should aim to improve and increase your social life as best as you can along the way. The more time you spend with others, the more that you can feel good about yourself, so this is hugely important.

It is worth noting here that spending time on social media does not count as socializing. In fact, not only that, but looking at screens a lot is bound to make your mental health much worse off. You will be amazed at how much happier and less depressed and anxious you become once you step away from social media, in particular. This is an aim that we should all have in order to be healthier of mind, and it’s something that you should consider working on today.


Take care of these things, and you will find that looking after your mental health is much easier and simpler than you might have thought.

7.19.2019

What To Expect When You Visit Dentists?



The 21 st century has reflected striking awareness and rapid growth in the rate of awareness development
regarding oral health and dental care. Today, people look up to regular brushing and flossing as a routine
dental care procedure. Media, internet, new channels have played a vital role in encouraging people about
dental care, routine visits to dentists. A regular visit to the dentist, and proper cleaning and oral health
maintenance can be your key to a healthy lifestyle.

Perspective of Dentistry

Earlier people had a common belief that visiting a dentist is relevant only after you have a visible tooth or oral
problem like toothache, bleeding gum, broken tooth, etc. But today the entire perspectives of dental care
have undergone a massive change. Today dentists believe in preventive care, routine checkup, regular
cleaning, tests are considered to be a part of a healthy life, even if you do not have any visible complaint with
your teeth.
However, even though the perspective has changed, there is a long way to go to improve awareness among
the mass. People still today tend to avoid and neglect routine checkups if they do not encounter a problem,
but ideally, even according to the Australian Dental Association, you must visit dentists in every six months to
12 months.


What to Expect at Dentists Visit?
Visiting a dentist means you will in general go through a necessary procedure of preventive care and checkup,
which can be segregated into two parts like:

  • Thorough check up of the oral condition
  •  Cleaning of teeth medically termed as oral prophylaxis.


Check Up

When you visit dentists, a dental practitioner generally conducts a thorough examination of your oral
condition to detect if there is any need for treatment.

  • Some of the most common routine checkup procedures include a check for cavities, dental cracks,enamels, gums, etc.
  • In case the dentist detects any sign of cavities yet no visible ones, X-ray can be advised and conducted to verify hidden cavities between teeth.
  •  The procedure of dental examination in any routine visit to dentists may also include test and check for plaque. Plaque is a common condition which happens from acidic food, accumulation of food particles and as a result, a sticky layer of bacteria grows over teeth this requires to be removed timely so that it does not harden to form tartar. Regular flossing along with brushing can help to avoid plaque in the first place.
  • Along with teeth, your gums are also checked for any signs of bleeding, diseases, etc.
  •  Checkup of the tongue along with gum is also conducted by some dentists to check for external signs of diseases like redness, swelling, lump formations, etc.

Common Advice from Dentists Visit

According to dentists around the world, regular dental care can save you from many major oral issues. Dental
care must be a part of your daily normal life. Apart from simple brushing, flossing is also equally important to
avoid the formation of plaque. However, you can always seek for additional is and advice from your dentist for
your oral health about the practices you should maintain. In general, these are some of the general guidelines
for good oral hygiene:

  • Brushing is must every day and brushing twice a day is recommended.
  • Wash your mouth thoroughly after every meal.
  • Use toothpaste, which contains fluoride.
  • Flossing should be a daily habit.
  •  Use a mouthwash daily to keep your oral ph balanced and avoid the formation of plaque.


Apart from this, check for common signs like bad breath, toothache, gum bleeding, swollen gum, etc. and
immediately get a dentist’s opinion before trying any DIY methods.

7.18.2019

After an accident how do you put your life back together

At some point in our lives, most of us unfortunately go through some sort of accident, whether that involves a car crash, slipping down a flight of stairs, or even something as simple as stepping off a kerb wrong and breaking an ankle. Recovery can be difficult, but there are some things you can do to make that tough time a little easier for yourself.

Talk To Your Boss


First of all, talk to your boss. You may feel fine with going back to work straight away, but you may need extra provisions in your office like a new chair, extra breaks so you can move around, or even half days so that you can go home in the afternoons to get some rest or miss the busiest part of your commute. Flexibility is key here: you may be able to work from home, you may be able to take some time off to recover, you may be able to change the specifics of your role for a while. You may be nervous about asking them, but it’s important to make sure that you’re comfortable at work while you recover.

Get What You Deserve
You may feel bad about getting compensation, but the truth is that you deserve to get what is owed to you. If you tripped over a poorly laid paving slab and broke your wrist, you may be entitled to compensation which you can use if you have to take paid time off work or if you have to take taxis instead of driving for a while. Talk to some personal injury lawyers to work out what you might be owed.

Take Some Gentle Exercise


Even if you are in a little pain, it’s important to keep moving, otherwise you will find that it takes you longer to heal. Take some gentle walks around the block, go to a yoga class and amend whatever exercises may be a little tricky for you, and try out swimming - this is a great option because it means that you won’t be putting any pressure on sore injuries or joints. It may be tempting to stay on the couch all day, but in the long run that isn’t the best option.

Talk To A Therapist
It’s important to talk to a therapist if you’re going through a rough time. It will help you develop coping mechanisms that talks with your friends and family won’t be able to help you with, and it will also leave you free during your social occasions to talk about other subjects that might be more enjoyable for not just the people around you but also for yourself. You may have to adapt to a new way of life and a therapist can help with that.

Be Gentle With Yourself


Finally, remember to be kind and gentle with yourself. Push yourself, but not past your limits, and try not to get frustrated with yourself. Remember that your limits may be different to what they used to be, that you will require plenty of rest as you recover, and that you should treat yourself as kindly as you would treat a loved one in a similar situation.

Recovery is never easy - take care of yourself, talk to a therapist, and make some amendments to your life, and you will find that it gets a little less difficult.

7.17.2019

Minimalist Packing for a Family Trip

 

Photo by Elaine Tu on Unsplash
Your long-awaited family trip is just around the corner and you’ve already started to panic because there are too many things you need to take care of? If that sounds way too familiar, be sure to keep on reading because we’re here to help you out! Here are four amazing minimalist packing tips you should take into consideration, so check them out and get down to business!


Always pack as lightly as possible

Packing as lightly as possible is essential, especially when it comes to long flights where you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on baggage fees. Well, that’s why you should master the art of backpacking. Of course, packing in a backpack is radically different than packing in a suitcase, and the first step is choosing the right backpack. You can always pick one that comes with wheels, so that you don’t have to carry it on your shoulders all the time. Before you start loading it up, make sure to reconsider your must-have list and see if you really need every single item on it, so that you don’t end up with unnecessary weight on your shoulders. On the other hand, carry-on luggage is also a good idea if you want to travel light while saving some money at the same time, so pack your, your husband’s, and your kids’ stuff in two carry-ons and you won’t make a mistake!


Sun protection is a huge must…

Apart from the sunglasses, which are absolutely inevitable when it comes to any family trip, we also have to say that no vacation is complete without sunscreen. This is particularly true when it comes to summer holidays, but you should remember that applying sunscreen is vital throughout the entire year – and not only during summer. Getting a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or 50 is highly recommended, so don’t skip this step and protect your and your kids’ skin against the harmful sun’s rays. No matter if you’re traveling by car or by plane, you must know that sunlight that streams through the windows can lead to terrible sunburn. So, get properly prepared and don’t let anything spoil your family trip!



Wardrobe essentials for every family member

Photo by Jose Soriano on Unsplash
Needless to say, your wardrobe selection will largely depend on your preferred destination, but there definitely are some basics each family member should pack. Some of these are ordinary T-shirts, either monochromatic or printed, denim shorts, a long-sleeve shirt for chilly evenings, a lightweight cardigan, flip-flops, and a pair of comfy shoes appropriate for sightseeing. Of course, swimwear is a must, too, so pack your favorite high waisted bikini bottoms and the matching tops, as well as your husband’s and kids’ swimsuits. Caftan is also a good idea as you can wear it both at the beach and to a nice dinner in the evening. Such a garment is extremely pleasant to wear as it’s usually made from breathable fabrics (that don’t take up much space in your carry-on), so give it a try and you’ll see what we were talking about!


Paper products and first aid supplies



When traveling with your kids, it’s crucial that you have enough napkins, tissues, or paper towels. This is especially true when you have small kids who tend to mess everything up when they eat. Of course, family trips can generally be extremely messy, so get ready for all kinds of spills, sneezes, and calls of nature and pack enough aforementioned paper products – including a few rolls of toilet paper. As for the first aid supplies, you should get copies of all prescriptions, gauze, cotton balls, adhesive bandages, hand sanitizer, saline solution, antiseptic cream, tweezers, a backup pair of glasses, and other similar items. These will make your life much easier in some unforeseen situations and circumstances, so try not to skip any of these. Besides that, if any of you take vitamins or medications regularly, just keep them together with the first aid gear in order to find them easily and you’ll do a great job!


As you can tell, there are a lot of important tips and tricks you should bear in mind if you want to pack in a minimalist manner for an upcoming family trip. These four are certainly the best ones out there, so stick to them no matter what and you’ll accomplish your goal and travel as lightly as possible!




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