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Smart Ways to Encourage Dental Health Habits in Your Kids

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Children have an entire world to explore and a lively imagination that makes everything fun. They love to make up games and play with their friends, but the entertainment comes to a halt when they have to brush their teeth. Taking care of their gums and teeth shouldn’t be a daily challenge. Use these smart ways to encourage dental health habits in your kids to make every part of their day something they can look forward to.

1. Participate With Them

Kids don’t want to feel watched or judged. Standing next to them and staring while they go through their dental routine will do just that. Instead, participate with them so brushing and flossing becomes a family activity. They’ll love the extra time with you and feel less like they could get in trouble for doing something wrong.

2. Play Their Favorite Music

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that everyone brush their teeth for two minutes every morning and night. It’s not very long, but two minutes can feel like an eternity for kids. Play their favorite music by finding songs roughly two minutes long. They’ll dance along and spend more time brushing than if they were left alone in a quiet bathroom.

3. Make Creative Menus

One of the smart ways to encourage dental health habits in your kids is to think outside of the bathroom. Feeding your family foods that are low in added sugars or don’t have any at all will help them avoid cavities. Try making menus that switch up your daily meals with sugar-free recipes like chicken alfredo zoodles or taco stuffed sweet potatoes. You’ll protect everyone’s health and keep cavities from forming between cleanings.

4. Schedule a Checkup

Going to the doctor is a great way to take care of your teeth. They’ll catch and treat diseases that result in poor dental health, like:

  • Diabetes
  • Osteoporosis
  • HIV/AIDS

Although your kids won’t be at risk for every disease that could harm their teeth, everyone benefits from staying healthy. Your doctor may recommend an extra trip to the dentist if they suspect that ongoing health challenges are affecting your child’s teeth or gum line, possibly saving them from detrimental consequences.

5. Find the Right Dentist

No one wants to disappoint their friends. Kids will take their dental health more seriously when they consider their dentist a friend instead of a scary person who cleans their teeth.

Parents should find the right dentist for their family and consider switching if your current dentist isn’t friendly, inviting and great with kids. When they give your children tips or recommend changes in their routine, they’ll take the professional advice more seriously because they feel comfortable.

6. Upgrade Their Supplies

Sometimes children don’t want to use mouthwash or brush their teeth because they don’t enjoy the taste of anything. Switch things up by trying new flavors or getting a toothbrush with their favorite characters. They won’t dread their dental routine if they enjoy what they use.

Kids might also struggle with dental routines because they can’t easily reach the sink. If you have to hold them up to the water, they might feel uncomfortable. Parents can make a faucet extender or find one online to fix the problem. They come in fun shapes and colors so any time spent at your bathroom sink is easy and fun for young kids.

7. Surprise Them With Rewards

Children are also motivated by challenges and rewards. Ask them to brush their teeth on their own for a week or remember to use their mouthwash. If they don’t forget a step or skip anything because they’re tired, they’ll win a prize.

Rewarding kids for something as simple as not complaining when it’s time to floss is a great way to reinforce positive habits. They’ll get something new to play with or an extra playdate with their friend and connect their joy with taking care of their teeth. Use a sticker chart or calendar to keep track of which days they meet or exceed your expectations so they have a visual reminder of their progress.

8. Start Habits Early

People can learn new things at any age, but starting good habits early in life turns them into muscle memory. Brush your baby’s teeth when they start coming in and point out dental care scenes in your child’s favorite movies or TV shows.

When they see and do the same things every day, they won’t be able to think about going to school or heading to bed without using their toothbrush. Automatic habits also feel less like chores. The sooner your kids start learning about how to take care of their teeth, they’ll keep up the habits more easily throughout their life.

Encourage Better Dental Health Habits

Kids don’t always look forward to dental routines because it takes time away from when they could play with their toys or watch TV. Parents can use these smart ways to encourage dental health habits in your kids so they enjoy lives free of cavities, crowns and extractions. Try new tips to see which work best for your family and instill the importance of dental hygiene.

2 Reasons Why Australian Gin is a Versatile Drink

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The popularity of gin in Australia is booming, and many would probably agree. At present, there are 170 gin distilleries in the country compared to five years ago that there were more or less twenty. These numbers show that over the years, Australia’s gin consumption and exceptional growth has increased. Not only that, but Australian gin has also gained international awards. There is probably something unique in every Aussie gin that people cannot get over with.

If you go to the main cities in Australia and some regions, you can find many bars. People would often have a glass of martini or some popular cocktails where gin is the main spirit. But it is not only limited to that. The increase of distilleries in Australia also leads to a lot of new and exciting tasting experiences. Add to it the different and unique botanicals that you can find in the country. That makes everybody’s Aussie gin experience worthwhile.

Common Used Botanicals in Australian Gins

Gin distilleries in Australia do not limit themselves to only a few botanicals to use for their gins. Here are some of the most popular ones.

Lemon Myrtle

It is considered the queen of lemon herbs and is one of the most popular Australian native herbs. It has some tangy and lemony flavour.

Bunya Hut.

It is sometimes referred to as the wrong monkey puzzle tree and is native to south-eastern Queensland. Its raw nuts have a dry and crunchy texture. Its taste is similar to chestnut.

Kakadu Plum.

Its size is that of a grape and pear shape. The fruit is smooth, fleshy and yellow-green or reddish when ripe. It has a definite sour taste.

Strawberry Gum.

It is a common ingredient and a wonderful flavour enhancer for some desserts.  It tastes sweet and slightly acidic. It has shades of strawberry and passionfruit.

Bush Tomato.

It is a small desert plant that grows around 30 cm in height. It has a strong flavour like that of sun-dried tomato.

Sandalwood.

The roots and wood of this tree have highly concentrated sandalwood oil. It can be consumed raw or roasted and has a good aroma. Many would say that they taste like almond or more like hazelnut.

Finger Limes.

They are also known as citrus caviar. The outside of the skin is similar to a lime. It has a delicious aroma and offers a burst of citrus flavour.

Food to Pair with your Australian Gin

There is a lot of great food that you could consider pairing with your Australian gin. The first is cheese. Whether it be lightly smoked cheese, an aged gouda or blue cheese, and even blue cheese are all perfect accompaniment for gin. Next is the cucumber. You can have cucumber salad or other cucumber based dishes that would be perfect for your gin pairing. Cured or smoked salmon also pairs well with gin. Squeeze some citrus to give an additional boost to the flavour. Many would probably agree that salty and even spicy cured meats get on fantastically with gin that many have already tried, and many would love to try.

So you see how versatile Australian gin could be. It must be one of the most fashionable drinks that everybody loves and enjoys drinking in bars or home.

How to Pick Toys for Kids?

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How do you know which gifts are perfect for your children? This blog post will give you a few tips to select the best toys that will grow with them, challenge, and even improve their social-emotional, language, physical, and thinking skills. Keep on reading to know more about the guidelines when opting for the best toys for kids:

Look for Toys that Promotes Your Kids to be Active

If you have toddlers, they usually do all types of physical tricks since they are more confident and stronger with their bodies. It’s your job to be an appreciative audience for the latest playground of your little one. Moreover, search for toys that enable your kids to develop and practice physical skills.

Invest in Readable Toys

Magnetic alphabet letters, books, and art supplies like fingerpaints, crayons, and markers can help your kids develop early reading and writing skills. Note that “real-life” props, such as magazines, catalogues, and take-out menus, are exciting for your kids to play with and look at. With these toys, your kids can be more familiar with print, text, and letters.

Choose Toys That Promote Problem-Solving and Exploration

Your kid’s playtime is the time when they can practice and learn new skills all over again. Toys that provide them with the opportunity to learn something out on their own—or with a bit of coaching—can help them become persistent problem-solvers and establish logical thinking skills.  Moreover, these toys can help develop your kid’s spatial relations skills, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. The key to finding these types of toys for kids is to look for a reputable toy manufacturer that provides high-quality, kid-friendly products.

Give Your Kids Toys That Looks Similar to the Real Thing

If you think your child is becoming better at knowing how the objects work in their world—like light switches or television remotes. During this point, kids tend to enjoy playing with “real life” props— such as your mobile phone or even computer— since they want to be capable and big as you. Toys that look like the real thing can enable your kids to learn spatial relations as they try to fit things together, practice problem-solving, and improve fine motor skills as they use their hands’ small fingers and muscles while playing with these toys.

Search for Toys That Inspire Your Kids to Use Their Imagination

When your child turns three, their creativity starts to take off since they can start imagining that something is something else, and they can take on the role of someone else and portray it themselves. It would be best to invest in toys that your kids can utilize during this developmental stage as they grow and act out stories. Pretend plays can help establish their literacy skill and language, the ability to put events in the right order and learn problem-solving skills.

Find Toys That Will Grow with Your Kids

If you have a child, perhaps you’ve already experienced purchasing a toy that they only played with for two days and neglected it after. If so, you can prevent that from happening again by finding toys that can be fun and interesting to use even at various developmental stages. What you need is a toy that can serve multiple uses in one product.

Style Guide: 6 Tricks To Glam Up Your Home

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Every homeowner wants their home to look expensive, however, not all of us can afford actual bank-breaking pieces. So we spend hours looking at blogs and magazines to find cost-effective inspiration. Well, you can stop now. With the following tips, you can transform your ordinary home into a palace fit for royalty all on a budget! Start by making your home organized, clean and tidy, make your surfaces shine and polish all the metal. From there, you can start adding some accent pieces that will show that you’re an elegant person with expensive taste. Need some inspo? Here’s how to glam up your home without too much fuss:

Upgrade your lighting

Let’s start from the top and tackle your ceiling. Lighting fixtures are a necessity in every home, but they are also jewelry to your ceiling and can add a classy aura to your space. If you go for a classic statement chandelier, your interior will instantly look like a glam Hollywood hotel. Or you can opt for an ornamental/sculptural ceiling light for a more masculine take on luxury and glamour. And don’t forget to treat your dining room to something very eccentric—it will make every dinner classy yet with an artistic flair. When it comes to selecting lighting fixtures, you can have endless possibilities.

Opt for luxurious fabrics

Imagine the feeling of sumptuous satin on your skin. Ahhh, feels pretty nice, no? Well, you can have that same luxury feeling in your home by reupholstering some of your furniture pieces. Think rich fabrics like velvet, silk and satin which can always spice up any furniture piece with a touch of glamour. And as you can see, you don’t even have to spend money on new pieces as long as you find a reliable upholsterer.

Show off your vanity

Try to name a piece of furniture that’s more luxurious, glamorous and timeless than a vanity with a mirror. You can’t! A mirrored vanity will not only give your bedroom a classic and glam look but also brighten up the space and make it look larger. Make sure to light it up well to make it truly come to life and spread its charm. You can reach for wall sconces and a chandelier as your lighting choices. Complete the look of your vanity corner with a comfy velvet chair and a faux fur rug.

Accessorize with a rug

Speaking of rugs, every room in the house deserves a nice rug, even if you have lux hardwood flooring. A rug will not only add warmth to your space but also boost color and texture, anchor your room and tie everything together. But, make sure to avoid anything cheap and too small. A larger wool rug from the Miss Amara collection will fit perfectly into every space and provide pleasure to your feet and eyes without being tacky or too glitz. With a piece like that, even hardcore minimalists will enjoy a nice and soft rug and add a touch of glam and luxury to their homes.

Go bold with art

Every glamorous house has at least one statement piece of art that adds a ton of character and charm to the room. All you need to pull everything together is one striking art piece. Choose something that captivates attention, but also speaks personally to you—you’ll have to look at it every day, after all. And don’t be scared to go oversized if you want to bring life to your space with art.

If you’re scared your art will look tacky, you can try this tactic: add one bold piece to your entrance to wow everyone from the second one, make a feature wall with a bunch of smaller prints and treat one room to an interesting sculpture. This route will show that you know what you’re doing even if all your art came from a flea market.

Add some bling

Accentuate your space with a few gilded accents to add an extra touch of elegance. Gold is always on-trend—it’s rich, it’s exciting and it works well with any interior design style. To add gold details into your home without spending a fortune, you can revive your old furniture with gold spray paint or swap your decorative pillows or curtains with fabrics with gold accents. Even very cheap things like vases, accessory trays and drawer handles can look expensive with a coat of gold paint!

As long as you keep things under control and don’t overdo it with these aforementioned tips and details, your home will look glamorous, luxurious without a hint of tackiness.

Host a Memorable Baby Shower with Help from Miami Event Planners

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The birth of a new baby is special. Friends and family often enjoy showing their support for the mom-to-be by hosting a baby shower. The event gives people the chance to enjoy an afternoon together while providing the new parents with practical tips and gifts. However, planning a baby shower usually involves more work than people expect. This blog highlights three ways that hiring a Miami event planner can help the baby shower go off without a hitch.

Event Planners Have Industry Knowledge and Connections to Pick the Perfect Location

The home of the mom-to-be is not always the ideal location to host a baby shower for a variety of reasons. For example, she may have other children who need to nap and the noise from the baby shower would keep them awake. She could also just want to get out of the house for the afternoon. Whatever the reason, event planners in Miami can use their knowledge and connections to help the hosts locate the perfect baby shower venue. Some possibilities include:

  • Bed and breakfast
  • Botanical gardens
  • Farm or barn
  • Outdoor picnic venue
  • Vineyard

Help with Planning Fun Games

Playing games at a baby shower can be so much fun that people forget how much work goes into planning them. Another thing to consider is that the people giving instructions and handing out supplies often do not get to play because they are too busy tending to guest needs. With a Miami event planner on the scene, both the mom-to-be and the hosts do not have to involve themselves with setting up any games. They can simply relax and have a great time with the rest of the guests. Event planners can also suggest baby shower games. Here are some popular ideas:

  • Baby photo game where each guest brings a picture of themselves as a baby, and other guests try to guess who each baby is as an adult.
  • Place a tag with the name of a baby item on the back of each guest and have them mingle and ask questions of other guests until they figure out what is on their back.
  • Diaper change relay where guests form teams, and each person completes one part of the diaper change before handing the doll off to the next team member.

The Perfect Party Favors

Assembling bags of baby shower party favors is when the creativity of Miami event planners really shines. Even better, the planners will take care of shopping for all the items, preparing the bags, and setting them up before the guests arrive. From scented candles to a small box of chocolates, guests will appreciate going home with something just for them.

Twenty Three Layers is an event planning company in Miami that offers professional planning, decorating, catering, and more for baby showers. The company also has locations in Los Angeles and New York. Baby shower hosts can contact 23 Layers to start planning a memorable shower for their friend, family member, or co-worker. Neon River Weddings, the sister company of 23 Layers, offers wedding planning services.

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