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Tips For Moving House With A Newborn In Tow

Moving to a new home can be demanding, though not quite as much as a newborn. When faced with the prospect of handling both tasks simultaneously, parents might be stressed, to say the least. Not to worry: Despite the heavy load, there are ways to make the upcoming move a success. Below are a few words of advice on juggling moving boxes in one hand and a baby in the other.

First, it’s essential to go over the move with the baby’s pediatrician. Because a newborn doesn’t have a developed immune system, it’s important to make sure travel will be safe beforehand. Whether with precautions specific to the child or just general recommendations, these experts can get parents going on the right path.

It’s also a perfect opportunity to gather any necessary documentation to take to a new doctor or ask for a referral. Having healthcare and childcare providers lined up in advance can make the transition easier, especially as they may have waiting lists.

One of the top suggestions from parents who have handled a relocation with an infant is to stay on routine as much as possible. By following the same established patterns day-to-day, the baby may adjust to the new home sooner, and moving day itself may not be so problematic. Accomplishing this can be done several ways, but a tried-and-true tip is to save the baby’s room for last in terms of packing.

While decorations can be wrapped up and ready to go, it’s advised to pack diapers, wipes, a few outfits, toiletries and formula last. Likewise, these supplies should be kept readily available during the move and unpacked first on arrival at the new place. If it’s a long move, pack a box with everything needed for the first night and keep it separated from the rest. The goal of this is to prevent unpacking a bunch of boxes out of order or making a late-night run to the store for lost items.

Another recommendation is to hire a moving company to take on some of the heavy lifting. Finding a reliable company to not only haul the big items but to unload boxes and even unpack them can make all the difference. What’s more, this allows parents to focus on the baby while calmly delegating tasks and avoiding any moving-related injuries.

Lastly, parents should keep in mind that there could be a few hiccups along this journey. The key is to prepare ahead of time, take deep breaths and avoid stressors when possible. For additional pointers on moving with a newborn, please see the accompanying resource.

Infographic provided by On Call Moving Company
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Everything You Need To Know About Refugees

The United Nations estimates that 65.2 million people have been forcibly displaced by war and persecution worldwide. This crisis affects the lives of millions of people and millions of people around the world. It’s important to be familiar with the refugees and refugees’ plight.

The plight of refugees has been a sore spot in the United States in recent years. There has been much debate about the number of refugees the U.S. should admit every year. However, what isn’t discussed as much is who these refugees are—and how many of them there are.

Who is a Refugee?

The refugee system was created to protect the most vulnerable people on Earth. The word “refugee” comes from the Greek REFUGE, meaning fleeing or seeking protection. Refugees are people who, because of war, persecution, or natural disaster, are unable or unwilling to return to their home countries or habitual residence. The USA Ukrainian refugees are the perfect example. Many women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape war, violence, and persecution.

The difference between refugees and a migrant is not always clear, and immigration policy officials regularly confuse the two. A refugee has been forced to flee their country because of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political views, or membership in a particular social group. A migrant, on the other hand, is someone who migrates either for economic or social reasons but does not necessarily seek refuge. In the U.S., refugees are protected under American law through the U.S. Refugee Act of 1980. However, migrants are not.

Last year, the U.S. accepted 84,491 refugees worldwide, and that trend shows no sign of slowing down. As the world gets smaller, more people are displaced from their homes—and those people are finding safety in the United States. But how are people categorized when they first come into the country? Is every person a refugee, or is someone just a voluntary entrant?

Types of Refugees

As mentioned above, a refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their own country to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. Their reasons for leaving their home country can also vary, but the most common is because their home country’s government is threatening their lives or they are afraid of being attacked or tortured.

Here are the different types of refugees.

Asylum Seeker

An asylum seeker is a term for a person who has fled their own country and is seeking asylum in another country. These people hope their new country will provide them with the protection and shelter they did not receive in their own country.

An asylum seeker is closely similar to a refugee, a person who has fled their own country and been officially recognized as a refugee by a country. The refugee is given legal status and protection within the country they have fled to and are no longer an asylum seeker.

Normally, the process of obtaining asylum in the United States is a long and hard one. The application process alone can take more than one year, and those who are denied asylum are not eligible for appeal and must leave the country where they sought protection.

Asylum seekers spend most of their asylum application process in the U.S. without work authorization, and many live in poverty during this time. Asylum seekers are also not eligible for government assistance and have no health insurance. As a result, many live in poor conditions in refugee camps or rely on the support of family and friends.

Internally Displaced Person

A U.N. report estimates that more than 42 million people are displaced from their homes because of armed conflict, persecution, or natural disaster. United Nations agencies use the term “internally displaced person,” or IDP, to refer to civilians who have been forced to abandon their homes but have not crossed an international border.

These individuals seek safety anywhere they can find it—in nearby towns, schools, settlements, internal camps, even forests, and fields. In 2016, there were more than 40 million IDPs worldwide. For these individuals, the ability to return home is a distant dream.

Stateless Person

A stateless person is not officially recognized as a citizen by any country; such a person does not have a nationality. Stateless people are not necessarily without citizenship. Some countries apply the term “stateless” to people who are “under the protection of” that country but do not possess its citizenship.

Statelessness has today been affected by the ‘war and terror’: many people have been deprived of nationality for security reasons. Today, many USA Ukrainian refugees are left in legal limbo, unable to obtain a passport or other official documents from any State.

 The stateless population is estimated to be 11 million people, according to the UNHCR, but the true extent of statelessness is much higher than that. That’s because fewer than half of all countries worldwide report on statelessness. Some of the most populous countries in the world with large suspected stateless populations don’t report on statelessness at all.

Returnees

Refugees who have returned to their home country are called returnees. They are people who have been forced to flee their homes due to persecution, war or natural disasters.

 The term returnee is used by different organizations to describe those who have returned, are returning, or are planning to return to their countries of origin.

By country of origin, we mean the country of last or former habitual residence of the person.

Returnees – and returns – are different from forced returnees. These refugees and IDPs have been forced to return against their will.

This confusion stems from using the term” return” in the context of voluntary and involuntary return (also known as forced return) and the difference between returnees and returns.

Conclusion

Refugees face many obstacles in their home countries, often given little to no protection. Refugees often face discrimination, harassment, and violence. They can also face deportation or persecution.

Though refugees face these obstacles, they are more than this. Refugees are people who have survived their ordeals and deserve the right to live their lives freely and with dignity.

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DIY Project: Relax Bottles

There are a lot people going through hard and frustrating times. You can help them channel and release their frustration by making Relax Bottles: water bottles decorated and filled with glitter. Watching the glitter settle after shaking the bottle can be relaxing. Check out the instructions below from Points of Light. 

What You Need:

  • Clear plastic water bottles. (We recommend sturdier bottles)
  • Clear Elmer’s Glue
  • Hot water
  • A mixing bowl (preferably one with a pouring spout to easily put it in the jar or use a funnel with the bowl)
  • A whisk
  • Food coloring
  • Glitter
  • Super glue 

Steps:

  1. Buy the appropriate amount of glitter, food coloring, glue, and hot water. This depends on the size of the water bottles you are using, as well as the number of bottles you’re making.
  2. To make the Relax Bottles:
    1. Pour Elmer’s clear glue and hot water into a mixing bowl, along with food coloring (add drop by drop until desired color is reached) and glitter.
    2. Mix with the whisk and pour right away into the water bottle.
    3. Clean the residual glitter out with a paper towel before rinsing and cleaning out the bowl.
    4. Shake the bottle to make sure the lid is secure. The glitter will settle at the bottom after 5 minutes roughly. Increase or decrease the wait time by adding water or glue.
    5. Repeat until all the bottles are made.
    6. Let the bottles cool with the lids removed (and out of reach of any children or pets).
    7. Once cool, secure the lid with superglue and let the glue dry.
  3. Clean up!
  4. Present the Relax Bottles to others in your home. 

Reflection Questions:

  • How did this project help you or others in your home?
  • Do you feel you made a difference?
  • How else can you help others in your home relax?
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Should You Hire an Experienced or First-Time Maid?

Is experience something to consider when you hire a domestic helper? What you will notice is that aside from skills, qualifications and traits, experience is one of the pivotal things that many clients require from most myanmar maids. However, not everyone needs to go with an experienced maid, sometimes a first-time maid will be just as good. Here are some of the things to keep in mind.

Price point

Generally, an experienced maid will usually have a higher price point. However, it’s justified based on the large number of skills and services that the maid can provide. A newer maid doesn’t provide a poorer quality, but she has less skills, and that means her price point will be lower. So if you’re on a budget, a newer maid can be an option. Yet if you are in need of a maid with multiple skills, the main agency will send a more experienced professional.

Previous records

A new maid doesn’t have any previous employment records, so you have to rely on the interview. In the case of an experienced maid, you can check her employment history, reviews and testimonials. This shows that it’s easier to determine whether an experienced maid is better according to your needs.

Trainability

Generally, newer maids are much easier to train so they can meet your requirements. Experienced maids might find it harder to adapt to some requirements, so they are not as easy to train. However, you can ask your maid agency for a newer maid if you want someone that you can train and adapt to your requirements.

Adjusting to a new location

First time Myanmar maids might find it harder to adapt to Singapore, not to mention it’s hard for them to work so far from home. Experienced maids already know how to tackle these challenges, as they already acquired various skills to surpass any problems like that.

Taking care of kids

Experienced maids are known to have experience when it comes to taking care of kids. That’s what makes them ideal when it comes to taking care of kids properly. If the maid lacks such experience, then tackling younger family members can turn out to be a very difficult task. The same thing can be said when it comes to taking initiative, newer maids lack confidence and they need specific instructions from the employer. An experienced maid knows how to handle all kinds of tasks and when to take control, so they will try to solve various issues even without being told to do so.

Conclusion

Picking between a first-time maid or an experienced maid can be difficult, yet it all comes down to your needs and your budget. First time Myanmar maids are usually more affordable, however they need more guidance and assistance, and they also lack some skills. Experienced maids are more expensive, however they have lots of skills, they take initiative and can always adapt to your requirements. First Maid is always here to help with professional maid services, and we can assist with both first time and experienced maids, according to your requirements. Don’t hesitate and contact us today for more information!

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Benefits Of Cleaning Your Chimney

When was the last time you cleaned your chimney? Many homeowners tend to neglect this important task, but there are several good reasons why you should make chimney cleaning a regular part of your home maintenance routine. And the good thing is that you can hire professionals to do it for you.

Cleaning your chimney can have a number of benefits; in this read, we will look at 6 of them. Keep reading.

  1. Improves air quality

One of the most important benefits is that it improves air quality. A dirty chimney can cause the air in your home to become polluted, which can be harmful to your health. Additionally, a dirty chimney can lead to the formation of soot, which is a known carcinogen.

  1. Prevents chimney fire

Fires are dangerous, and they can result in huge losses when they happen. One of the best ways to prevent fires in your home is by cleaning your chimney. Chimney fires often occur when there is a build-up of creosote in the chimney. Creosote is a black, sticky substance that is produced when wood burns. It is highly flammable and can easily ignite and cause a fire.

  1. Increases the chimney’s efficiency

A dirty chimney is not as efficient as a clean one. When the chimney is dirty, it does not allow for proper ventilation, which means that the heat from the fire will not be able to escape properly. This can lead to increased heat levels in your home, which can be uncomfortable and dangerous. Additionally, cleaning the chimney can help you save on energy costs and make your fireplace more effective.

  1. Increases its lifespan

A dirty chimney can also shorten the lifespan of your chimney. The build-up of creosote and other substances can cause the chimney to corrode and deteriorate. This can lead to expensive repairs or even a complete replacement of the chimney. And did you know that you can hire a reputable chimney cleaning playa del Rey firm to help you?

  1. It helps get rid of foul odors

Have you been wondering why your house smells bad, even though you have cleaned the floors and the kitchen? The answer could be that your chimney is dirty. Foul odors can often originate from the chimney, and the best way to get rid of them is by cleaning it. These smells can be unpleasant and can also be a sign of danger.

  1. It gives you peace of mind

Lastly, cleaning your chimney gives you peace of mind. Knowing that your chimney is clean and in good condition means that you won’t have to worry about it causing a fire or polluting the air in your home. Make chimney cleaning a regular part of your home maintenance routine and enjoy some peace of mind.

Take Away

Cleaning your chimney is an important task. By understanding the benefits of doing so, you can be sure to make it a regular part of your home maintenance routine. Keep these benefits in mind the next time you consider skipping this important chore.

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Questions To Ask Your Myanmar Maid Agency

Working with a Myanmar maid is no more seen as a deluxe for numerous Singaporeans yet instead a requirement. From the increase of dual-income parents due to the increasing cost of living to the growing ageing populace and also sandwich generation, lots of Singaporean family members work with house cleanings to assist reduce the load from their daily obligations in your home.

Prior to taking the plunge as well as going straight into hiring an assistant, there are a few factors to consider that you need to bear in mind of such as the essential demands, cost, and also the various housemaid firms available.

Employing An Excellent Housemaid

Working with simply the best housemaid can be life-altering for the busy household. No time to keep your house as arranged or tidy as you would like.

Are they up to date?

Professional cleansing companies keep up to date on the current and finest cleaning techniques as well as products. It is very imperative to ask the housemaid solution if they will certainly be providing the equipment needed to cleanse your house prior to hiring. Most business are recognized to come completely furnished.

What kind of training do they offer?

The typical sector turn over is rather high, a great deal of solutions are just searching for warm bodies they can send. It’s not uncommon for brand-new hires to be anticipated to find out on duty. The best companies will certainly have official and file training processes that they have actually fine-tuned and also exercised given that opening. On-going training makes sure premium quality as well as results in lower turn over.

That Offers the Cleaning Equipment?

The general guideline is that the cleansing brings their own supplies, however it doesn’t hurt to ask ahead of time if you’re selecting a smaller cleaning service to make certain. It should be a warning to you however, an excellent housemaid service need to have standardized requirements for equipment and cleaners to accompany whatever training they give.

Professionalism and trust?

If you uncover a firm after a comprehensive company research study, you end up with expert house cleaning solutions that is not simply professional however likewise extremely experienced in its job. You guarantee your house continues to be tidy during cleansing and therapy procedures, using the correct products.

The length of time Have you remained in the business?

It takes even more than a base degree of cleansing understanding as well as a wipe container to start and run an excellent sustainable house cleaning solution. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t go with the newer business, but more well established house cleaning solutions that have actually been about longer often tend to be a lot more reliable, seasoned, as well as professional.

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Make Your Produce Last Longer

Many households shop for food and produce at least once a week — whether it is at a farmer’s market, a superstore, a neighborhood grocer, a specialty store or even a combination of resources. However, several families not only purchase produce regularly — they dispose of it often, as well.

Growth Of Food Waste

Food waste is a growing issue, especially in America. It is estimated that about 40% of food is thrown out in a year. A family of four trashes around $1,500 worth of food annually. That equates to about 80 million pounds of food, amassing to $161 billion in food waste. It has become a massive contributor to landfills, taking up approximately a quarter of landfill garbage. The most common product to be trashed is dairy and other dairy products, followed by fruits and vegetables.

What’s the leading cause of food waste? Spoilage. However, food and produce are often thrown away despite still being edible. Consumers may not be able to decipher expiration dates correctly or trash food that they do not want to eat anymore. That’s an unfortunate pattern, but there is hope for those who have issues with spoilage. There are many ways families can help their produce last longer which will save money, reduce food waste, and help overcrowded landfills.

Keep Track Of Waste

Firstly, it’s beneficial to keep track of what your family is throwing out the most. What kind of food products are you mostly disposing? Are you trashing produce every week because it has gone rotten, or do you just not wish to eat it? What’s the value of these foods being thrown away? Consider freezing food if possible or creating a compost heap for your home garden. Planning and organizing a weekly menu before heading to the store can help cut out impulsive spending and encourage smart, efficient purchases.

Upgrade Your Storage

Additionally, your family can upgrade the family refrigerator or add an approved purification system to your fridge that utilizes ozone and ionization technology to lessen ethylene. This can further delay decomposition in food and produce. Properly storing fruits and vegetables can also help them stay fresh for a longer period of time.

The infographic below provides more information about proper food storage and other tips and tricks.

Infographic provided by Greentech Enviornmental
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Protecting Your Home From Package Theft

As more households choose online retail shopping over in-person, it has caused an increase to an unfortunate trend — parcel theft. Package thieves, or sometimes known as porch pirates, are thieves who take delivered packages left at an addressee’s doorstep. In some instances, these thieves will shadow postal and delivery trucks throughout neighborhoods and wait for packages to be delivered. Some porch pirates will even wear a uniform to look less suspicious when stealing these goods. Luckily, there is hope for online shoppers to avert these sneaky thieves.

The gross value of packages that have been stolen last year from American consumers is $5.4 billion. The number is astounding. However, as the number of stolen packages continues to escalate, several households have resorted to creative solutions. These booby traps range from fake packages filled with stink sprays and glitter bombs to setting off sirens when their parcel gets lifted.

Nonetheless, there are other safer and more effective measures that homeowners can use. For instance, installing surveillance cameras or implementing doorbell cameras can help deter pesky porch pirates from pilfering your packages. Sometimes, they’re even caught in the act. Cameras can provide a source of video evidence that homeowners can present to their local police department. Concerned consumers can also install motion-sensor security lights.

An alternative and cost-efficient strategy to avoid package theft is to request an authorized signature for your package when delivered. Therefore, the delivery driver will not leave your parcels in danger. This method is greatly advantageous when expecting expensive goods.

Homeowners can also register for Amazon Key, but only if they have an Amazon Prime membership. This allows customers to have their packages delivered inside their garage, home or vehicle. Delivery drivers do not need an actual key. Instead, Amazon Prime members utilize an authorized smartphone app to remotely unlock the door to their desired drop-off location.

To find out more about how to prevent porch pirates, check out the infographic below.

Infographic provided by Bosma
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Sustainable Parenting Products We Should All Use

When it comes to sustainable parenting, there’s an emphasis on educating children to be eco-conscious and make decisions with the good of the planet in mind.

The goal being to teach kids to be more sustainable so they can grow up loving and caring for the environment which surrounds them.

There’s no real ‘playbook’ when it comes to this sort of thing, but there are some handy tips and tricks which you can take on and try. They’re not difficult either, so don’t worry about that!

New nappies

Nappies are a pivotal of parenthood for making sure there are no unfortunate spills and accidents during day-to-day life. The trouble with nappies is that they’re not very good for the environment.

Most end up in landfills where they’re left to pile up, or burnt, which can release harmful emissions into the atmosphere – luckily there are other options.

Bamboo Nappies are a great example, they’re mostly biodegradable, better for the planet and contain less plastic than normal nappies. Bamboo is an excellent eco-friendly resource which grows super-fast and is much better for the environment.

Not only that, but because bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic, it’s super soft on your babies’ sensitive skin, reducing the risk of nappy rash!

Have a green clean

Having kids and babies means mess is almost inevitable, so that means you need stock up on cleaning products.

For quite a while, it’s been well-known that cleaning products contain toxins that are harmful to the planet and our health too. So why not make the switch to something more sustainable and eco-friendlier?

There are plenty of green cleaning options which use all-natural products, but why not make your own? Use lemon juice or vinegar with baking soda to scrub your pots and pans or wipe down your surfaces – they’re cheap and don’t come in plastic bottles, either!

Sustainable Straws!

No doubt you’ve got some straws lurking in your cupboard to slip into your kids’ favourite drinks so they can slurp it up (and there’s less chance of them spilling it on the new carpet…)

But if they’re plastic, you should know better. Plastic straws are terrible for the planet, in particular marine life – they stick around the ocean for years, getting eaten by all kinds of fish and animals.

Invest in some reusable straws which you can wash up and use countless times. If single-use is your thing, try paper, or better yet bamboo, which is sturdier and eco-friendlier.

It’s a small change, but you never know, it could make a big difference! Especially to the turtles…

If parents can instil these practices early and teach their children the best ways to enjoy sustainable living, the future of the planet might start looking a little brighter for all of us.

The next generation of eco-conscious kids could be the answer we’re all looking for, and it’s up to today’s parents to teach them the ways!

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Factors Determining the Cost of Professional House Cleaning

It is no longer right to assume that anyone who is not dedicated to cleaning their home or apartment is lazy. Due to the high cost of living that has defined this new age, people are going the extra mile to meet their ever-rising financial needs. As a result of this, most individuals find it difficult to manage their homes or apartments concerning cleanliness. The idea of hiring a professional cleaner to work home or apartment cleaning services has therefore taken root in virtually every society. Finding a competent house cleaner is satisfying because it gives a homeowner the peace of mind that they badly need.

Factors that determine the cost of professional house cleaning

As the demand for professional house cleaning services continues to rise, experts in this field leave nothing to chance when it comes to streamlining their operations. Before a professional house cleaner agrees to clean your house, there are several factors that they will consider for purposes of determining the scope of work and the pricing. Therefore, it is important for every homeowner to familiarize themselves with some of these factors to make a wise judgment when engaging a professional house cleaner. Here are some of the factors that will determine the cost of professional house cleaning;

  • Condition of the house – A house or an apartment that has not been cleaned for an extended period will cost a substantial amount to clean. This is because a lot of time will be spent digging through the clutter and doing away with the accumulated dirt fora longer period. A professional house cleaner will assess the condition of your home before quoting its price. The more neglected your home or apartment is, the higher it will cost to clean it.
  • Square footage – Most maid services will charge you per sq. foot of space. Since a bigger house will demand more cleaning supplies and a bigger workforce, professional house cleaners will charge a higher amount of money to clean such houses compared to smaller ones with a limited number of rooms. This, therefore, means that before engaging a professional cleaner, it is important to understand that the bigger your house or apartment, the more you will have to pay and vice versa. In the unfortunate event that you cannot pay for the cleaning of your entire house or apartment, you can have an arrangement with a professional cleaner and have them clean only the space you are capable of paying for. You can always clean your home in phases.
  • Type of cleaning – There are different types of cleaning services that are offered by professional home cleaners. In most cases, companies offer services that revolve around standard cleaning procedures like, dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming. However, there are instances when a client may require services that touch on rarely cleaned places. Examples of such places include; baseboards, washing machines, and interior windows. Advanced cleaning of this nature will automatically cost a lot more than standard cleaning offered by most cleaning services.
  • Frequency of cleaning – If you are hiring a professional house cleaner for a one-time thorough cleaning, then expect to pay a higher amount. However, this is not the case when you are engaging a professional cleaner for an extended period. There are chances that you will benefit from the service provider’s discounts, since you will be spending more on the service as a whole.

Final thought

Whether you live in your home or a rented apartment, the fact remains that cleanliness should be treated with a lot of seriousness. Suppose you feel overwhelmed by other responsibilities that are equally important in helping you to foot your bills, it is advisable to hire a professional house cleaning company to clean your home or apartment, as you focus on other issues that need your attention.

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