Marvellous Methods to Make Your House Fit for Homeschooling

When you decided to start homeschooling your little one you knew it was the right choice for you and your family. There are so many advantages to educating your children at home, from the one to one learning methods to the more relaxed environment at home. You might have a personal reason for wanting to teach your little one at home and that is absolutely fine too. As a homeschooling mom, you always want the best for your kids and step-kids; you don’t ever want them to be missing out on anything that they might achieve from going to a mainstream school. In order to make sure you are giving your children the best possible start in life you might want to make some adjustments to your home. Perhaps you are new to the phenomenon of homeschooling this year and you want to ensure you have done all the right things to get started on the right foot. You can make some simple and small changes at home to make sure your children are getting the most out of their home-based education. Consider all of the following ideas and you will have a happy, healthy and productive homeschooling environment for your little treasures.

A Reading Corner

When you have a lovely little reading corner set up in your home it makes it so much easier for your child to willingly go over there and pick up a book. If you are looking for an appealing and enticing piece of furniture to complete your cosy corner then Comfysacks company is definitely the way to go compared to Lovesac if you are looking for large beanbags. You can choose from a range of styles and colours to suit your child’s preferences and home décor. There is something special about being able to lounge on a huge squishy bean bag and indulge in an afternoon of reading after you have finished your school work for the day. Getting little ones to read nowadays can be incredibly challenging so try to do everything you can to make it seem like a fun activity for them.

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Outdoor Fun

When a child attends a mainstream or private school they are offered many opportunities to play outside at lunchtime with their peers. You might want to tweak your outdoor space so that they have plenty of activities to keep them stimulated during their downtime. A better idea might be to talk a walk to the local park so they can socialise with others and get the much needed fresh air throughout the day. If you are lucky enough to have a large outdoor space then fill it with educational tools such as mathematical hopscotch so that your little one is always occupied and learning.

A Working Desk

You probably already have a solid workstation in place for your child, but you might want to consider the type of learning space they have at home. They need a fun and practical work station at home with a desk and chair, so that they can feel like they are really at a proper school. They will not only feel more productive, but they will be able to write more neatly and concentrate well if they enjoy the space they are sitting in. Allow them to come with you to the store to pick out their desk and chair so that they are involved in the process and excited about it.

Dining Time

Believe it or not meal times for your little one are just as important as their educational time. Make sure they have a regular place to sit when they have their breakfast and lunch during their working school day. You don’t want to encourage them to sit in front of the television and eat their food as they won’t be concentrating on their nutrition. Offer a variety of meal types each day and urge them to try new foods. Mimic a regular school menu if you like and it will give them a true sense of being at school. You have the advantage of knowing what your child likes to eat, so you can tailor the meals accordingly and even get them involved in the kitchen themselves!

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Digital Education

Never underestimate the power of education through digital methods. There are many useful exercises that can be carried out on the computer or app on a tablet. Just make sure that all of the tools you are using don’t cross the line into ‘playtime’ as this might hinder their learning and make them lose concentration.

Strictly Down Time Zones

Giving kids the downtime they need is essential, so make sure they aren’t working too hard. Don’t allow them to take work into their bedroom or living area in your home. These areas should be kept especially for home time and family time so that your little one can really enjoy their time off. Similarly, try not to allow their hobbies to overlap into their educational time. You shouldn’t allow them to watch television during the day or at lunchtime as it will take them out of the learning zone and into relaxation time. Encourage a physical or musical activity for their break times so that they can continue learning in a way that is fun to them.

You realise that home schooling isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but you are very passionate about doing the very best for your children. You believe that home schooling gives an additional dimension to learning, rather than in a mainstream classroom. If you can get your home prepared with all of these changes you will have created the ideal learning environment for your child or children. They won’t be missing out on anything they would normally get at school, because you will have everything in place for a super happy and practical homeschool atmosphere. Whether you need to invest in new comfortable furniture for a reading corner or you need to reassess the meal time set up, you can make some sensible and sensational changes in your home today.

Savvy Chefs - 5 Handy Cooking Hacks That'll Change Your Life

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No matter how good of a cook you are, there are some simple cooking hacks that everybody should know. Things such as the quality of your cookware, temperature of your pan when you start cooking, and even how much use you make of your freezer can all have an impact on how your meal turns out. Below, you’ll find five super easy ways to take your meals from home-cooked to delicious gourmet:

Have Quality Cookware

Your cookware touches your food and you, quite obviously, eat your food. It stands to reason, therefore, that your cookware should be quality. The better your equipment, the lower your chances of burning or scorching food, and you’ll also find it easier to cook things evenly in top quality cookware. Additionally, quality breeds quality, so the higher your standard of cookware, the better your food will turn out.

Don’t Cook by Looks

Sure, chefs can take a peek at the chicken and know whether it’s done properly, but for the average cook, a kitchen thermometer is going to be your new best friend.

Literally everything will taste better when it’s cooked to the right temperature. It helps bring out the flavor of your meat and any seasonings you’ve used and has the added benefit of significantly helping in your quest to avoid the dreaded dry chicken breast.

Sear It

In almost every case, searing your meat is a good idea. Spend time learning how to get the perfect sear and your taste buds will thank you for it. Once you’ve mastered the art of searing, you’ll be rewarded with a crispy outside and juicy, flavor-packed insides.

Pro tip: if you’re not sure if the pan is hot enough, flick some water onto it. If it forms two dancing beads then you’re good to go. Just make sure to wipe it out of the pan before you start cooking.

Paper Towel Tricks

There isn’t a single cook on earth who hasn’t had to deal with the annoyance of a rogue chopping board. They somehow always manage to find a way to escape at the most inconvenient moment. Luckily, some ingenious individual discovered the perfect way to combat this hindrance: if you wet a piece of paper towel and place it under your chopping board before you start cutting then you’ll find it much easier to keep it in one spot.

Essentially, the moisture and friction form a bond, making it almost impossible for your chopping board to do its famous disappearing act.

Freeze Herbs

One of the easiest ways to instantly up your cooking game is to freeze your favorite herbs in olive oil. This may sound weird, but it makes seasoning super simple and ensures you’ll always have the perfect portion. Finely chop up the herbs, place them in an ice cube tray, cover with olive oil and freeze. It’s that easy. When it comes time to season your meals, simply pop the cube in, wait for it to melt, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Cooking is an art, which means no two people are ever going to do everything the exact same way. That doesn’t mean, however, that you should just throw the rule book out the window and do your own thing. You’re afforded a certain amount of creative liberty but following some basic conventions – or in this case, super useful hacks – can seriously improve the outcome of your cooking adventures.

Why You Should Consider Getting Professional Moving Help

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There are many people who prefer to handle their move on their own, no matter whether it is residential or commercial, but hiring a professional is a good idea and will relieve the stress of your big day, as well as offer a number of other benefits. If you have been on the fence about whether to hire professional help or tackle your move on your own, then these four benefits that you will enjoy when hiring a team of experts to help you will likely change your mind.

1. They Have the Best Packing Supplies

Proper packing is important so that you don’t have to worry about fragile items getting broken during the move, but subpar packing supplies can result in items being jostled around and broken. When you hire professional removalists and storage providers Gold Coast homeowners trust, you can have complete confidence that they will have the right packing supplies for your needs. From moving boxes to bubble wrap, experts will be able to provide you with all of the packing supplies that you will need to keep your items safe and in one piece. Additionally, they can even pack up your home for you so that you don’t have to do any of the work.

2. They Have the Right Vehicle for Your Move

Getting all of your belongings into the vehicle that you have chosen for your move can be tricky and frustrating, and it will often result in people having to waste time taking multiple trips for their move. By hiring a professional to help you with your move, you can be certain that they will bring with them the right vehicle for your needs. Rather than wasting your time researching a vehicle, hiring a professional will ensure that all of your items will fit on the truck or trucks.

3. You Don’t Have to Worry About Heavy Furniture

One of the hardest parts about moving is dealing with heavy furniture on your own, but, with professional help, you won’t have to worry about moving your appliances, piano, or large sofas. These professionals will bring lifting gear with them to easily lift and move your furniture so that you don’t have to do it yourself, keeping you from accidentally injuring yourself.

4. You Have Storage Options

If your new home isn’t ready for you to move into, then you have to find something to do with all of your belongings. Luckily, great moving companies will offer storage options and will keep all of your items safe in a secure location until you are ready for them. Because you will load your belongings into a storage container that is then delivered to a secure location for storage before coming to your new home, you don’t have to move your items twice or worry about them being damaged.

Hiring professional movers offers many advantages that will ensure that your move runs smoothly, and it will decrease the stress that you feel during this time. Even if you have moved on your own in the past, getting professional help is a great idea.

4 Ways to Protect the Environment and Make a Difference

If you care about the environment and would like to conserve natural resources, you may be wondering what steps you should start taking to make a positive impact on the environment. While there are many ways to make a difference, these are just a few of the things you can begin doing today to start doing your part to protect the environment while conserving many of the natural resources that are currently available.

Spend More Time Walking or Riding Your Bike Than Driving

Instead of driving a vehicle that releases fuel into the air and contributes to pollution, consider spending more of your time walking or even riding your bicycle to get to the different places you need to go. Choosing to walk or ride a bicycle is a great way to protect the environment but it is something that is good for your health, too. You will get a lot more exercise by walking to your favorite stores or riding your bike to work rather than sitting down behind the wheel to drive to several of these different places.

Support an Eco-Friendly Cause

Get involved in supporting an eco-friendly cause. The Cadiz Water Project is one cause that you may want to learn a bit more about while on your quest to do more for the environment. The purpose of this water project is to develop an entirely new supply of water that will prevent the water from being wasted by keeping it from evaporating. There is a lot of water that is currently going to waste that could otherwise be used by the people living in the California area. If you would like to support this cause, you can sign up to become a supporter and stay informed on the progress that is being made.

Start Recycling Everything You Use

If you do not currently recycle certain items, you should consider buying a recyclable container and begin separating your trash so that you can recycle a lot of the different items you are using, including cans, plastic containers, and so much more. The benefits of recycling are tremendous. It is better for the environment, it prevents a significant amount of pollution, and recycling makes it easier to avoid waste altogether because the materials are recycled and reused instead of thrown it in the trash where they will never get used again. If more people were to recycle items, resources would not be wasted nearly as fast as they are currently wasted.

Begin Saving More Energy at Home

Make an effort to start conserving energy while you are at home. You should purchase eco-friendly light bulbs and replace them with any outdated options you are currently using. After you have replaced the light bulbs, consider replacing any old and outdated appliances with energy-efficient options. Using more energy-efficient products inside your home is far better for the environment, but it is better for you, too. As a homeowner, these energy-efficient products could help you save hundreds of dollars each year on regular energy expenses. Why not save a few dollars while doing something positive for the environment to make a difference?

If you care about the environment and would like to do what you can to protect it, there are several steps worth taking. Spend more of your time walking or riding a bike instead of always driving in your vehicle so that you can prevent some pollution. Consider supporting an eco-friendly cause, recycling everything you use that is recyclable, and even start conserving more energy at home. By making a few simple changes to the things you do and the products you use in your home each day, you can start to do your part to help prevent pollution and waste while protecting the environment a bit more.

How To Design A Dedicated Space Where You Can Meditate

Studies have proven that meditation is beneficial for both the body and the mind. However, getting into the habit of practicing meditation daily can be difficult. One way to improve your chances of success is by creating a designated space for meditation. If you have a room in your home that currently isn't being used, transforming it into a meditation room is a great option. 

In actuality, however, you really don't need that much space. Any small, out-of-the-way corner of your home that currently isn't being used can provide the perfect setting for meditation. Here are some tips for how to set up your meditating area:

1. Choose a location. 

You don't need a lot of space to meditate. Any quiet area of your home that currently isn't being used to its full potential could be a good option. The space that you choose should have clean air and good lighting. It should also be a comfortable temperature so that you don't wind up feeling too hot or too cold while trying to meditate. 

2. Remove distractions. 

Meditating is impossible if you are constantly being interrupted. Make sure there are no electronic devices in the space that could distract you. Additionally, remove or hide any signs of housework or other chores that need doing. For instance, if you are planning on meditating in your laundry room, tuck any unwashed laundry away out of sight while you meditate so that you don't have a nagging voice in the back of your mind telling you that you have chores to do. Keeping the space free of distractions will make it easier to focus your mind. 

3. Make cleanliness a priority. 

A cluttered room can lead to a cluttered mind. Make sure that you regularly clean the area where you plan to meditate, keeping it free from dirt and clutter. 

4. Make your meditation space visually appealing. 

Create an area where you want to spend time. Enhance your meditation space with houseplants, candles, water features for indoor or other accessories that make your heart happy. To ensure that you are comfortable, choose a pretty rug or mat that is soft enough to sit on. 

5. Add pillows, chairs, or other comfortable seating options. 

If you want to deeply relax, it is important to be comfortable. Bringing pillows or a padded chair into your space can help create a more relaxing area. You should also make sure that you are warm enough during your meditation time. If necessary, keep a warm blanket in the immediate area so that you can bundle up in it while meditating. 

How To Find A School For Your Child Online

These days, many parents are interested in ensuring that their children attain the best education possible. If this is your current objective, now is the time to implement strategies that will help you locate the best possible school for your child. One great technique you can employ to accomplish this goal is searching for educational facilities online. If you're not that familiar with the world of online search, you may find this approach intimidating or overwhelming. Don't! Online searches can be incredibly simple and time-saving. Use the techniques outlined below to ensure that you have success with finding your child a school via internet:

1. Use Specific Keywords.

Your first step in finding the right school for your child via the internet is selecting the right keywords. This strategy will empower you to find educational facilities that are closely linked to what you're looking for in a school. For example, using specific keywords will help you choose between public and private schools as well as in-state and out-of-state educational centers. A great sample key phrase would be "Find High School In (Your City/State)." If you're interested in college prep schools, you may want to consider an institution like Landon School. You can learn more about this educational facility by entering a key phrase like "Learn About Landon Private School."

2. Do Website Research. 

After you've selected a specific keyword and entered it in the search box, go ahead and click your "Enter" key. Doing so will lead you to a new page referred to as the search engine results page (SERP). From here, you should see a long list of hyperlinks that lead you to specific school websites. By clicking a link, you'll be able to go straight to a school website and begin researching the educational facility. There are numerous things that you'll want to look into while you're on the site. One of them is how long the school has been successfully operating. You'll also want to see what type of educational background the institution's faculty has. Yet another element you'll want to research is what type of support services are offered for students. For example, does the school offer counseling services or career services? Are there SAT prep courses available? What type of extracurricular activities are offered? Ask yourself all of these questions as you peruse the school's website!

3. Do Off-Site Research.

In addition to reviewing the school's website, make sure that you utilize other online sources to learn more about the educational institution. For example, you may want to head over to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website to determine whether the school has attained a rating or accreditation. Schools that have attained a rating of A or higher will likely provide your student with the cutting edge, customized educational services necessary to facilitate academic excellence.

Don't Delay: Find The Right Educational Facility Today!

If you're serious about ensuring that your child attains an excellent education, now is the time to start looking for the perfect school. You can use some or all of the online search strategies outlined above to ensure that you find the ideal academic institution!

Preparing For The Winter: Keeping Your Home Safe Through The Festive Season

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During the festive season, your house is full of the best possible things. From delicious food to heaps of generous gifts for your kids to cash presents from your grandparents, Christmas is a time of year that’s all about love and family and kindness – but it’s also about stuff, as much as we like to deny it. Even if you don’t go too far overboard, we all spend part of November worrying about stocking stuffers and how many different sorts of potatoes we should make on Christmas Day. Luckily your family isn’t alone there – but unluckily, potential burglars are perfectly aware of it. Here are some ways to make sure that you keep your home safe at Christmas.

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Update your security system. When was the last time you really thought about how safe and secure your house is? If your neighbourhood is generally safe, then it’s not something that many of us spend too much time considering. But it’s crucial that you make sure that your home is safe and secure with a home security system like AT&T Digital Life. Install a house alarm and make sure that you place a decal in your window so it’s obvious your home is protected. Motion sensor lights outside your house and garage are also extremely helpful as they alert you to any movement going on around your property.

Don’t post too much on social media. On Christmas Eve, half the posts on Facebook are of the huge heaps of gifts that parents have wrapped for their kids. Seeing that generosity and love is beautiful, and you know they’ll have an incredible Christmas morning when ‘Santa comes’, but is it really necessary to post online? Not only does it turn Christmas into something more materialistic than it should be (and it could make parents who aren’t as financially able to buy a lot of gifts for their kids feel bad), but it also isn’t a smart idea for security. A huge amount of thieves use social media to plan out their next crime and to find the best places to rob – make sure you don’t become one of them by showing off.

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Be smart about going away on vacation. Over the festive season, many of us go away for a few days. Whether that’s to spend time with family or take in a winter sun vacation, you need to be careful with your property while you’re gone. Set your lights to timers so they flip on and off at appropriate times, and get a trusted friend or family member to collect your mail for you. Again, don’t post about it on social media – you don’t want everyone knowing that your house is empty! Wait until you’re home to post your photos of your ski trip or your sunny vacation.

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Be careful who you invite into your home. If you have a holiday or New Year party, it’s easy to invite practically everyone you know! But think about it carefully: how well do you really know them? Make sure that you don’t get carried away with your invite list – cut it down to people you really know and trust. When you have your party, lock away your valuables in a cupboard, from your favorite jewelry down to items like your ludicrously expensive face cream.

Make repairs to your home. Before Christmas, take a walk around the outside of your house to inspect your roof and your guttering. If you have missing or cracked tiles on your roof, there could be a leak in your attic, which could be extremely costly to repair. Likewise, the health of your guttering is crucial for the health of your home. Make sure that you unclog it and that there are no cracks. Water damage and damp is one of the most costly and inconvenient things to have to repair in your house so make sure you cut it off immediately. To prevent frozen pipes, wrap wadding around them, and make sure that even if you’re away you keep your thermostat on at a low setting. If you’re really worried, keep your faucet dripping while you’re out to keep the hot water flowing. Check out your doors and windows to make sure they aren’t loose and easy to break into. If they’re loose, this could also cause draughts. Fixing them will save you money that you’ve been wasting on energy bills, as less heat will be lost. In addition, seeing that your house is in great condition will make burglars a lot less likely to target it!

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Three Must-Know Hacks For Healthy Family Cooking

We live in an age where health and fitness are bigger priorities than ever before. Even the busiest of people seem to be squeezing in a HIIT class before work, and we're constantly told about the latest fad diet to be on. Plus, fitness accounts on Instagram are some of the most followed across the whole world, often showing an extreme dedication towards a healthy lifestyle. But what do you do if you simply can't dedicate all your time towards your health goals? The good news is, in the real world, not everyone can, and that's ok! For many fitness bloggers, they are also personal trainers, so keeping fit is their full-time job. When you're trying to balance a healthy diet with a career of your own, and running around after your children, it's not quite so simple!

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With that in mind, it's easy to see how so many families put healthiness on the backburner and instead opt for convenience foods. A lot of people also consider these to be cheaper than buying fresh food in bulk, but in reality, this is actually doing your family a disservice. Convenience food tends to cost more overall due to the amount of chemicals and additives the companies put in the food. Health-wise, it doesn't look good either. Convenience foods are normally filled with excess fat, salt and sugar. These are all things that have been proven to be addictive if regularly consumed. It's therefore clear that switching to fresh, home-cooked meals is what's best for both you and your children. But whether you're an experienced chef or completely new to the kitchen, there are little things you can do to make sure your food is as healthy as can be.

Be mindful of your oil use

Nearly all of us use oil to cook our food in. This applies whether we are frying, baking or grilling our food. Oils can be heated to a much higher temperature than water, meaning that when our food is doused in oil, it forms a protective layer which prevents burning. There are many different types of oil on the market these days. Olive oils, vegetable oils, sunflower oils are the classic options for most people. But many of us also choose to cook our food in other things, such as duck fat (common at Thanksgiving) and coconut oil. With all these options, it begs the question, which is healthiest? It pretty much goes without saying that cooking your food in fat isn't going to provide you with a very healthy outcome. Of course, it creates an incredible flavour - duck fat, in particular, is a popular choice for cooking roasted potatoes in. But it is a compound which is very high in cholesterol and saturated fats, meaning it won't do wonders for your waistline. Olive oil is the most common choice for a cooking oil and is one of the healthiest too. It is loaded with antioxidants and healthy fats, meaning it is one of the best ways to cook your food. Coconut oil is also popular due to it being another healthy fat, and one that can add a great flavour to your cooking. It works especially well if you are making Asian food.

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Consider what cookware you use

When we think of how to cook healthily, we normally consider what the ingredients are or how much of it is served. But you could actually be putting your family's health at risk simply from the pots and pans you use in the kitchen. Many popular types of cookware contain many chemicals that can actually leak into your food during the cooking process. This can leave your meal full of excess amounts of compounds such as aluminium and even lead. These  can be potentially dangerous for your health. Non-stick cookware is very convenient, but much of it contains Teflon, which has links to cancer and also reproductive issues. Copper cookware is fashionable at the moment and does admittedly look great. But any leakage can lead to you exceeding your recommended copper allowance, which can potentially be poisonous.  You may notice some of the coating come off your pans from time to time, and in these cases, it's better to just dispose of them. After all, that coating which has come off has ended up in your family's food at some point! If you're in any doubt, it is best to stay safe by investing in something such as WearEver Pure Living Cookware Set.

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Remember that size matters

When we're plating up our dinner, so many of us don't even consider portion size. Even if you eat a strictly healthy diet, there is always too much of a good thing. In terms of calories, the recommended daily allowance for women is around 2000, and for men it is between 2000 and 2500. If your evening meal along is where you are packing away most of these calories, you may need to consider portion control. Consuming excess calories leads to weight gain, which can lead to a whole host of health problems such as diabetes and heart failure. Thankfully, there are certain tips and tricks you can deploy in your home to stop you and your family overeating. Try serving your meals on smaller plates or bowls, to trick your brain into thinking that you are eating your regular amount. The saying 'eyes bigger than your belly' is often true. We will often eat a gigantic portion of food simply because it is there, not because we are actually hungry. Eating our food slowly is another way to ensure that we don't overeat, or go back for seconds. It takes about 20 minutes for the brain to register that our bellies are full, so take your time with your meal. If you find this hard, try eating your dinner with chopsticks to make it take longer! If nothing else, you and your family will at least have a giggle together. Many of us also struggle with estimating the correct portions for things like rice and pasta. Measuring cups can be your savior here, and also help ensure that you're not wasting food too.

Cleaning Tips to Make Your House Tidy in Minutes Plus a Shark® Rotator® Powered Lift-Away™ Speed Review

With three kiddos running around making messes, my house is never clean for very long. Matt will come home from work, look around, and sigh because he thinks I haven't cleaned at all. 

Our normal mess consists of whatever snack the kids were eating crumbled into the carpet, cereal under the couch cushions, and dirt that's tracked in all over the hardwood floor. I sweep, vacuum, and mop every day but it seems like as soon as I step into the kitchen to start working on supper, these house-destroying elves take over or a tornado comes sweeping through or something - and the house is a disaster again.

To make the daily cleaning ritual a little easier (and not so hard on my back) I've found a few things that work great to tidy up the house before Matt gets home without having to spend all day cleaning.

Clean Less Frequently

I know what you're thinking: this is a post about cleaning tips and I'm telling you to clean less often. There's a method to my madness, though! My mom is one of those people that scrub her floor on her hands and knees every day, and she has her whole cleaning ritual that makes me tired just thinking about it. It just isn't necessary to clean every little thing in your house every day.

What do I do? I break it up. On Mondays and Thursdays, I focus on laundry - specifically, folding the laundry. It's my most daunting task since it seems like there's always a load running, so I let it pile up and take two days out of my week to sit down with my favorite show on and catch up on folding. That way, I'm not having to spend an hour in the laundry room every day, plus I've made it into almost a reward for myself. 

That chocolate stain is definitely NOT from me dropping a Reese's when season 3 had a cliffhanger...

Delegate Chores

We have a "You made the mess, you clean it up" rule around here that is designed to teach the kids responsibility - but it really does help me out, too. When the kids are done playing with a toy, they know to put it away. After a meal, they clean their plates and carry them to the sink. 

We've also been working on giving each child chores that I know they can handle. The ten-year-old helps wash dishes and starts laundry, the five-year-old will take laundry out of the washer and put it in the dryer, and the three-year-old loves to put the silverware away after we finish washing dishes. 

The trick is to make chores less like work and more like "helping mom so she doesn't have a breakdown." Really, though, I've turned housework into part of everyday life so it isn't like being punished. I'm teaching them life skills that they'll need when they leave the nest.

Have the Right Tools

This is probably my best tip of all. When you're cleaning, there's no need to break out extra cleaning tools just to get the job done. My old routine included using a broom, a vacuum, a mop, and a duster. Then, I would have to pull the couches out just to make sure I was able to get all the crumbs out from under there too. By the time I had the house clean, I was exhausted.

I recently had the chance to work with Shark® to review their Rotator® Powered Lift-Away™ Speed and this versatile vacuum definitely makes cleaning a lot easier.

Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away Speed™ is a versatile vacuum providing uninterrupted floor to ceiling cleaning. Easily clean under furniture, above the floor, and all those other hard to reach places around your home.

Features

• "Never Loses Suction" Technology
• Powered Motorized Brush in all Modes
• Bare floor cleaning with Dust-Away™ Hard Floor Attachment
• Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology®
• Rotator Technology With Enhanced Swivel Steering
• Advanced Swivel Steering
• LED Lights on Floor Nozzle to Illuminate Work Area

I love that this vacuum can do the work of all of my cleaning tools!

Things I love about the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away Speed:

• Powerful suction. In comparison to my other vacuum, the Shark is a total powerhouse. I was able to get dirt and dust that I didn't even know was trapped in the carpet, not to mention it picked up the bigger pieces like random Cheetos without breaking and scattering them.
• Lightweight. The vacuum I reviewed was lighter than my old vacuum, weighing in at about ten pounds. This makes it easier for me to use every day and means the ten-year-old can help me out with the cleaning too.
• Straight from carpet to hardwood. I love that all I have to do is flip a switch on the handle to go straight from carpet to the hardwood floors. No changing attachments or grabbing the broom; It works just as well on the wood floors as it does the rugs.

What I would like to see improved:

Really, I only have one complaint about the Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away Speed vacuum, and that is that the hose doesn't seem nearly long enough. If it was extended by about six inches, this would be the perfect vacuum. I'm short - about 5'2" so if i detach the wand to clean cobwebs or under the beds, the entire vacuum falls over unless it's right beside me. 

Where to find your own Shark® Rotator® Powered Lift-Away Speed™:

Visit Shark's website to compare models and learn more.

What are your favorite ways to cut corners to make your cleaning easier?