6 Techniques for Dealing with A Struggling Family

Every family has their own struggles. Whether they’re fleeting or ongoing (and sometimes they’re both), struggles are a part of life. It’s what we do in those moments that defines us.

If you’re encountering your own struggles now, it’s time to decide what type of family you will be. Are you the family that overcomes or the family that gets defeated. Most people take the first choice. It’s a good one.

Here are 6 techniques for dealing with a struggling family.

Know you’re not alone

No matter what you’re dealing with, you’re not alone. For some, the thought alone is comforting. Others need more support, and that’s perfectly okay. Find a support group for whatever struggle you’re dealing with. It may be online or in person. You’ll find support groups for on topics from financial troubles to rare genetic disorders. Get out there (even if it’s just virtually) and connect with other people who are having similar experiences. Even if you’re dealing with a condition that’s different for everyone, like multiple sclerosis or autism, you can find comfort in support groups.

Understand that one person’s problem is everyone’s problem

When one family member is struggling with something, whether it’s addiction or a physical ailment, the entire family feels the effects.

Hold a “family meeting” to discuss this person’s needs and how each person can help. Even if it’s just being nicer to the person who is struggling, every little bit helps. During this meeting, also talk about how the struggle will impact everyone and how everyone deserves support. If your issue is intense, you may want to engage in family programming to ensure everyone gets the counseling they need.

Spend more time together

Make an effort to spend more time together as a family to help strengthen your bond. If it makes sense, you can exercise together or have a family movie night every week. At the very least, you should try to sit together for family dinners. Make this a sacred time where you all come together to talk about your day and connect.

Consider outside help

If your family is struggling with something major, you may all benefit from some counseling. Whether or not you decide to go that route, you should talk to your child’s teachers about what’s going on at home. Your child may seem fine at home, but start acting out at school. Regardless, when your child’s teachers know what’s going on, they can pay close attention to your child’s behavior.

Get on a routine

When it feels like the world is falling apart around you, routine can help you feel more in control. Routine is especially helpful for the little ones.

Struggles can really throw a wrench into a good routine, but it’s important to fight to keep things somewhat normalized. It’s okay if your struggle changes your schedule, but just try to roll with the punches and create a new routine.

If you’re off one day, that’s okay too. Just get straight back to your regularly scheduled program the next day.

Schedule check-ins

Schedule some time to sit down with the entire family and talk about what’s going on. This is a great time to share progress and talk about any changes in your plan.

Uncertainty is one of the worst things to deal with, so try not to leave your kids wondering about any potential outcomes. Just think about how you feel when you’re left in the dark. Your kids will feel the same way, and they’re likely to think the worst. Staying quiet is not going to spare their feelings. Be as open and honest about things as you feel appropriate.

It would be nice if we could all just bury our heads in the sand and wait until life’s storms pass, but that’s never the best way to handle things. When something affects the family, it’s usually best to band together and support one another.

How To Choose A Comfortable Beach Cruiser

Finding the right bike involves taking into consideration a lot of factors like speed, usage, and comfort.  So, unlike the mountain and hybrid bikes that are known for their competitive natures, most people opt for cruiser bikes for sheer comfort. Beach cruisers are easy going rides meant for a little bit of exercise and a delightful ride on a Sunday afternoon. Their wider frames and saddles make for an enviable riding experience. Despite the obvious, beach cruisers also vary in build according to the needs of the user. Deciding the best one for you takes a little bit of understanding. Therefore, here are three tips to guide you in choosing a comfortable beach cruiser.

 

Consider Your Weight And Height

 

Knowing your body anatomy will help you to choose the right cruiser bike. Of particular importance are your weight and height as these will determine the size of the beach cruiser. In selecting the right size, the frame’s geometry and style have to be taken into thought. Beach Cruisers mostly have a single size for each model and as such your size will determine the most comfortable model for you. So, don’t take this lightly. A suitable bike frame will ensure that you stand with both feet planted firmly on the ground when your bike is stopped. In addition, the distance of the seat from the handlebars is also very important as this will determine your sitting position.

All in all, if the bike frame is not a correct fit for you, the ride will be unpleasant.

 

The Bike Saddle

 

Once in a while, you will need to take long rides for one reason or the other. As such, you’ll want a well-padded seat to avoid the biker’s butt. Well-padded seats are made of foams or gel. Besides padding, two other essential components of a comfortable bike seat are the seat suspension and the shell. It is always better to go for a cruiser that can absorb the shock of riding on a rough road. Consequently, you will certainly need to try out several rides before deciding on the one you enjoy sitting on the most.  For women, there are saddles precisely built to accommodate a woman’s shape (wider set hips).

The men aren’t left out. Certain saddles are deliberately made to prevent pressure on the perinatal area while riding.

 

Test Drive Your Beach Cruiser

In the end, the biggest mistake is to rush into a decision, without test driving as many bikes as possible. Don’t assume that a good looking cruiser will also be a great fit. You need to get the bike warmed up over a reasonable distance before you can know for sure. You can’t just look at an image of a beach cruiser, or poke the saddle with your hand, and decide if it’s right for you. Similar to most things, don’t be pressured by a salesperson into buying one quickly. You should insist on trying out a few models in real time before deciding on the most comfortable one for you.

 

Conclusion

I hope the above-mentioned tips will enable you to find the best and most comfortable beach cruiser for you. You can simply choose from this big collection of these best cruiser bikes for women. There are so many other online sources you can find comfortable beach cruiser bikes. You can also choose these comfortable ladies bikes to find your favourite bike.  

Bread Machine Mom is the best site for everything related to bread maker machines

make your own bread

We here at BreadMachineMom are committed to provide the best of everything related bread maker machines. We provide all the information that you need regarding bread maker machines. The world has advanced a lot and now you can easily bake different kinds of breads right at your home. But to make sure you make the most out of your machine we help you in the process.

 

In our top picks we provide with the latest and greatest of bread maker machines. The machine has to be really outstanding in order to make it to this list. A lot of research and detailed study of the machine is done to determine its characteristics and functions. Best Breadmachine’s Reviewed BreadMachineMom will be found in this section. Comprehensive comparisons are then done in order to determine which one is better and then only is the list of the top picks created.

 

We also provide a list of brands which you can easily look up in our site. This list will help you in getting familiar with the various brands that are available in the market and also view their products. You can easily choose a particular product from a brand and you will not run out of options to choose from.  A detailed buying guide is provided by us in order to help you buy a product. Buying can a be a confusing task. There are many things that have to be considered before you buy a bread making machine. It should have features which will be useful to you and should fulfill your needs. A buying guide will help you in choosing the perfect machine and it will also make the process easier for you.

 

We also provide baking cookbooks in our website in order to help you cook delicious breads. Baking is a fun task and being able to cook tasty loaves of breads will make it even exciting. You will not have to search elsewhere in order to look for baking guides. We provide it all to our customers thoroughly. It is essential that the customers get the best quality service and guidance from every company they believe in and we make sure that our customers have no obligation towards it.

 

Detailed informations are provided as to how you should take proper care and maintain your bread making machine. We believe that the more care you take of your machine, the better it will provide you service with. Maintenance is an important part of every machine that you buy and especially baking machines. It is a simple task to maintain your bread making machine. A few minutes of maintenance goes a long way in increasing the lifespan of your machine and helps in maintaining its consistency. We provide detailed guides as to how you should maintain your bread maker machine. This is an added feature and benefits you as you can easily find everything that you need to know about maintaining your bread making machine in our website.

How to Use a Metal Wine Chiller

There are two types of wine chillers; the wine cooler which houses your entire collection of wine and the metal wine chiller which keeps your bottle cool by your side while you enjoy the fruity flavors.

To enjoy the perfect glass of white you need both of these chilling items. You may even need to use a wine chiller for your red of your house is over 70° Fahrenheit. White wine should be served at a temperature of between 49° and 55° while red should be at 62-68°.

If you’re in the market for a wine chiller or cooler then it is essential that you take a look at the reviews on wineturtle.com; it will help you to select the right one for your needs both now and in the future.

Steps To Use Metal Wine Chiller

Storing your wines at a cool temperature helps to preserve them and the flavor of the wine. Once you’ve opened them it’s the white you want to keep cool:

    • Your Bottle – This needs to be placed in your metal wine cooler. In general you’ll find it better to open it before you serve than when you’re preparing it.

 

  • Ice It – You now need to add some ice to your wine chiller. It is best to use medium sized chunks so that they don’t melt too quickly. The ice should surround the lower half of the bottle.
  • Watering Your Wine – Adding a little cold water to your metal chiller will help the cooling process.
  • Start Drinking – The wine should be cool enough to drink in as little as five minutes. It should stay cool for approximately 2 hours; giving you and your friends enough time to enjoy the wine.

 

It is worth noting that you can also purchase a wine sleeve which fits over your wine bottle. The sleeve will need to have been kept in the freezer for at least 4 hours. Considering it is so small it will be easy to keep a sleeve in the freezer at all times.

Slide the sleeve over your wine and give it 5 minutes; the wine will be cool enough to drink. Even better it will stay that way for approximately 4 hours.

Don’t forget that if you use a wine cooler you will get condensation running down the outside of the bottle. It is best to have a towel under the wine chiller to prevent water marks appearing on your furniture.

No Ice Metal Wine Chiller

It is also possible to get a stainless steel wine chiller which doesn’t require ice to cool your bottle. Instead of ice there are 3 or 4 freezer packs which slide into pockets on the wine cooler. These can be removed and placed in the freezer; in fact it’s a good idea to keep them in the freezer.

Then simply slide them into your wine chiller and give them 5 minutes to cool the inside space. Add your bottle and enjoy chilled wine for up to 3 hours.

Concrete Basements Are So Last Century

If you’re fortunate enough to have a basement, you have a bonus space that’s equal to a whole other floor of your house. That means enough room for laundry facilities, a home office, an activity space for the kids or all of the above. Once of the first places you want to start your transformation is with the floor. There are some very good basement flooring options over concrete that help avoid problems with traditional basement flooring surfaces.

Look for Flooring That Addresses the Unique Problems in Your Basement

The whole idea of upgrading your basement is to get more use out of the space. That means eliminating the problems of mold and mildew buildup, dampness and rot. These things thrive in materials like concrete, and they’ll infiltrate any flooring you place over it that doesn’t act as a preventative. Omit natural materials like wood, carpet or stone.

Options That Work Better in Basements

If you like the look of stone or carpeting, consider tiles with a vapor lock barrier. They provide a space between the concrete sub-floor and new surface that allows the concrete to breathe. Finishes include carpet and molded plastic that mimics natural stone tiles.

Ceramic tiles are a good option for basements. They’re highly water resistant and available in a range of styles and colors. You can also find ceramic tiles that have a faux wood finish if you like the look of wood without its vulnerabilities.

Epoxy resin is an economical choice that’s easy to care for and install. It coats concrete to seal cracks and resist moisture, and it’s available in a range of colors. Once you install epoxy, it’s easy to upgrade it with another flooring later without having to rip it out first.

Choosing an alternate flooring option for your basement offers benefits above aesthetics. It will increase your home’s value and function, add to your family’s comfort and prevent health problems due to mold from dampness and rot. Talk to a flooring contractor in your area to learn more.

Learning To Take The Best Photos With Your New Camera

 

Although mobile devices have provided us all with an easy way to take photos, many people are still investing in dedicated cameras to explore a larger enjoyment of the photography process and its results. If you are considering buying a camera – particularly a digital single lens reflex camera or DSLR – or already purchased one, come with us on a journey of what you need to know to make the most of the device and create amazing shots.

Shutter Speed Sounds Confusing

Shutter speed is one of the most important elements of photography, one which aspiring photographers need to understand. Simply put, shutter speed is the length of time that the image sensor inside the camera is exposed through the lens. It’s the moment when the image is created. Shutter speed can have a profound effect on your photos, creating the opportunity for some artistic license on how you want to try and capture something. For example, a shutter speed of 1/500 creates a freeze motion effect and can be an incredibly powerful photo. A speed of 1/2000 is better for freezing an action shot. That moment when a shark breaks the surface, a baseball player connects the bat to ball, or the instant a pebble hits the pond. Family portraits can be done well with a shutter speed of 1/1250, especially if you are working with young children or uncooperative pets! Play with your shutter speeds and see what happens, you may stumble upon your own creative style that you really like.

Lighting Makes All The Difference

You would think that you just point and take a picture but your lighting can make a big difference when it comes to a fantastic shot. Low lighting, front lighting, backlighting, and natural lighting can sound like a lot of keep in mind, but bear with us, it’s all a benefit to you. You can start with front lighting, it’s simply the easiest. With it, light is aimed at your subjects so that there are no shadows to conceal details. Play with it, you may love it or hate it! Natural lighting is full of trial and error. A nice orange glow of the sunset may look beautiful to the naked eye and then be captured differently on the camera. Come back on a slightly earlier time and move your subject and see if you can capture that glow! Backlighting – think the bright sunlight behind your subject – is a beautiful effect. Practice that one if you want to get super creative with your photos. The secret to lighting is that it can always work for you, it’s finding its secrets that will help you do just that.

Learn Poses

Believe it or not, poses make a world of difference to a photo. The idea is to create symmetry with the body and highlight the best in your human subjects. Every one of us has a small band of skin just below the chin that can make us appear heavier than we truly are. A lifted chin goes a long way to highlight the face and eliminate that band. Finding a flattering profile is your next best bet. You don’t want any facial features to cut the face, the face should always be turned slightly so that the cheeks can be seen on either side of the nose. Everyone also has those features that they don’t want to be photographed, so respect that! Find a way to show off how gorgeous they really are without drawing attention to their insecurities. When your subject feels gorgeous, it will come through in the photo.

Go With The Flow

Sometimes poses aren’t going to happen. Posing your pet, calming down excited children, and an unexpected cloud moving in on your shoot are common problems for the average photographer. Even when it seems like there is a lot of uncooperation, take that time to run with it and take some shots anyway. You can stumble upon some gorgeous impromptu photos!

As with learning anything, the two biggest ways to be successful is to play and practice. Often! With consistent practice, you hone your skills. With consistent playfulness, you can find your own personal shooting style that speaks volumes.

The Top Tips For Computer Programming For Beginners

In this article, we will talk about some excellent different tips and tricks to help you sharpen your computer programming skills. The first thing that is essential to beginners who want to excel at programming? Their playing method! What we mean by this is to make sure that you change things around and play with the code you are working with. This will offer you some insight to help you better understand the changes you are making by switching various details around. By simply playing around with a few of the functions, as well as the visual aspects within the code, you will begin to cultivate a better grasp of the creative control that programming offers.

The second thing you should be doing while you are still in the beginner stages of programming is to work hard towards the foundations and fundamentals of programming. What this means is to put forth your best effort toward understanding the core values of programming. This can be the longest step for most individuals due to the fact that they are new to the concepts of programming and have little to no experience with the new material that they are working with. However, when you do this you receive a better long-term education and ability to use the more advanced skills that you build upon. For anyone seriously interested in programming as a career we highly suggest using this tip to its fullest.

The next tip for anyone new to programming is to be coding by hand as well as typing code out on the computer. It has been proven that writing the code out by hand and making changes this way, while still in the learning process, enables you to retain more knowledge of what you are trying to get better at. Another huge advantage of being familiar with hand-coding is that most college exams use this handwritten method to test students. In addition, most of the top companies that conduct interviews with computer programmers will use this way of testing a candidate’s ability to code and work with different computer languages. By practicing this method, you will be doing yourself a huge service, especially if you plan to use your programming skills to fill a position with one of these companies someday.

A great tip to keep in mind is that you should never be afraid to ask for help. This can mean collaborating with another programmer or doing a simple internet search of what you need to learn. Either way you turn to presents itself as a good tool to use if you are unclear on a particular problem that you have encountered. When you seem to be at a standstill a fresh pair of eyes can be exactly what you need, and you will be able to learn a proper or correct way of handling programming that you may not have been aware of previously.

The next tip that we suggest you utilize is to make use of all the online resources that are available to beginner programmers. There is literally a treasure trove of information out there that can help you learn the skills you need to program like a professional. Some of the best platforms to use are forums, instructional Youtube videos, and articles that pertain to the questions you may have or the material you are interested in learning more about. The amount of information you will find from one simple internet search is amazing these days, and it can be a huge asset to you and your work.

One thing that has been proven to further facilitate the learning process as well when it comes to programming is to adjust and change the sample code. Reading this code should always come first, but making some changes of your own can help you to really understand what you are working with. Once you have done this and you have run the code before and after you have made changes you will see a huge difference in seeing what you can do with it.

Next comes the task of debugging, which is usually the longest part of creating a program for most individuals. It is very important to take breaks while debugging. This will ensure that you do not exhaust yourself and render yourself less productive moving forward. It can be very east to begin debugging and spend countless hours attempting this and not being able to fix the issue you set out to fix in the first place. By taking breaks when needed you will retain your productivity as well as keep calm and not let your temper flare while doing this tedious job. Again, do not be afraid to request assistance from other, more advanced programmers so that you can complete debugging correctly when it is needed.

The next topic pertaining to programming for beginners we will discuss is the importance of doing one thing at a time. This is a useful tip for both the person learning as well as the programmer who is creating software already. By doing this you will see more results, no matter which of the two situations you may be in. Trying to do too much at once will not enable you to stay focused as you would like to be.

Another great tip we will share with you is arguably one of the most useful for beginners in computer programming. This tip is to focus your work on something that you are passionate about, as this will help you to focus your efforts on what will not burn you out and aid you in completing projects. You will have more persistence, and you will see a much higher number of successful projects that you work on.

One short but useful tip we will add in is to question everything. This is one of the best ways to ensure that you are being completely thorough on everything that needs attention. This is also very useful to increase your learning time as well as efficiency when it comes to retaining the fundamentals of programming that you need to take away from your lessons.  

Selecting the right computer language to learn is a critical decision for you to make when you are entering the world of computer programming. When you are creating a program, different languages will offer different attributes and various purposes. While some of the simpler computer languages may be less complex and have limited capability the more advanced ones will have more tools for you to use but will be much harder to learn and use proficiently at first. However, with repetition and practice, you will be able to use your chosen languages perfectly in your work.

In conclusion, whether you have been programming for a while now or you are completely new to this creative occupation these tips for programming are designed to help you become better at computer programming. When you use the tips in your work and studying you be able to see more success and have a greater number of tools to place in your arsenal. Soon, you will be able to program like a professional and contain skills that you will never lose. Good luck.

Fun, free family event in NJ

Families are welcome and encouraged to join Universal Kids for a fun, free family event in NJ offering an interactive art & crafting experience for families tied to various summer premieres. 
 
The morning will feature activities tied to the new tween home decor show, Get Out of My Room, kids crafting competition series, The Big Fun Crafty Show, a dream room diorama with Oh! Canary and more.