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Letters From Lapland This Christmas

This year has been like no other, which is why many parents, guardians and families are keen to introduce as much familiarity and normality as possible.

It is likely that Christmas 2020 will be like no other festive season, but we believe it can still be a magical time. People need and deserve a happy festive season with their loved ones, and this is the ideal opportunity to rekindle the magic of Christmas.

If you received a letter from Santa Claus as a child, you will know how magical it made you feel. This is the spirit of Christmas you want to instil in your child, and we all need something to believe in this year!

Letters from Lapland this Christmas will ensure your family steps into the holiday season in the right manner. Knowing your kids are looking forward to Christmas, and that they have a magical moment tucked away long before the big day arrives will help everyone to make the most of Christmas 2020.

Who Is Naughty Or Nice?

One of the most important things children want to know in the run up to Christmas is whether they have been naughty or nice? We all have opinions on our own behaviour, and of the behaviour of others, but when it comes down to it, there is only one opinion which matters.

At Lapland Mailroom, we will ensure you and your family find out whether Santa has decreed your child to have been Naughty or Nice in 2020. To be honest, very few people have been as naughty as 2020 itself, but with this confirmation from Santa Claus, the kids who have been nice can start to look forward to Christmas Day with greater confidence.

Lapland letters are for all the family

While the personalised nature of the Lapland Mailroom letters are for the youngster in your home, the whole family gets something from these letters. We know at this time, we can’t always be with people directly, but this doesn’t mean we aren’t connected.

A personalised letter from Santa brings so much joy to the recipient, all the family sees this and feels warmer. Imagine the happiness you’ll see on Facebook when you share your child with their letter. This way, you can ensure grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives share in the happy times, even when we aren’t together in person.

It is likely this festive season will be different from the ones you know and love, but not everything is missing. Also, what’s stopping you from starting new traditions that connect your whole family? We know it’s been a tough year, but a personalised letter from Santa Claus has the ability to bring you and your loved ones together, which is surely one of the most important features of Christmas?

At Lapland Mailroom, we appreciate all parents want to do something extra special this year. We love helping parents, guardians and youngsters connect in the spirit of Christmas. If you are looking to add a touch of festive magic to your home this year, a letter from Father Christmas is exactly what you want and what your children need.

 

Must-Have Fall Wardrobe Pieces for You and Your Little One

When the weather cools and there’s pumpkin spice everywhere, you know you’re officially into fall. And thank heavens! I’m always up for some memorable summer fun with the family, but we’ve been looking forward to saner temperatures and smaller electric bills.

Besides, I personally like pumpkin spice. I know, I know–it’s cliché, but that doesn’t make those fall concoctions any less tasty.

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But speaking of hot, there are some adorable fashion choices out there for you and your little gal! Autumn’s layering look is my favorite. Here’s what we’ve been seeing so far in the fashion mags.

  1. Equestrian-style Boots with Twirl Dresses

Boots up to the knee are always popping onto must-have lists, but this year we’re not seeing them with those skinny minis like usual. Look for thick tights in fall-friendly colors that appear durable enough for an afternoon ride.

Little girl’s boots also go great with little girl twirl dresses by Presley Couture. These absolutely adorable dresses come in just about every color imaginable and are a great foundation for layering. I love the reasonable pricing, too! I want them all.

Women’s dresses in the twirl style also make for a lovely combination with your leather boots and can be dressed up or down for just about any occasion.

Jackets

The word is out–crop jackets are in. Top that flirty dress with a cute crop or a belted jacket for a more professional or tailored look. They’ll keep you and your girl cozy, but also can be shed if the weather dips back into an Indian summer.

Express your own personal style with some nubby fabric, earthy stripes, classic denim or whatever spins your beanie.

Scarves and Shawls

What I love, LOVE about the Riish website is their scarves. They have a lot of to-die-for tunics and accessories, too–and with modest fashion currently à la mode, you can pick up some great pieces. But their scarves are still my favorite.

They’re reasonable, they carry casual or glamorous styles, and they’re large enough to make a chunky knot under your chin that looks great with a fall jacket. Or you can forgo the jacket entirely and drape the fabric artistically as a shawl.

Also, if you’re in a pinch and we’re still in the times of Covid, you can swirl it around as a head covering and form a makeshift mask.

If you’re using the scarf as a shawl, style it with a pretty pin that keeps the fabric in an attractive drape and secures it from slipping off into a puddle on the floor.

What I particularly appreciate about these autumnal fashion must-haves is that they may be hot at the moment, but they’ll also never completely go out of style, either. They’re good basics for your wardrobe you’ll use again and again.

Unfortunately, your girl will probably outgrow the boots before she can use them for multiple seasons, but the twirl dresses are also lovely in spring and summer. Just don’t layer over the dress and pair it instead with some comfy sandals.

Take lots of pictures! These days with your little girl staying little go too fast.

 

4 Ways To Make Your Family More Comfortable Immediately

You probably recognize that it’s stressful if your family members are complaining about being uncomfortable. That is particularly true about the place that you live. If you have young children, cranky teenagers, irritable parents, or people who complain a lot anywhere in your home, then your only ideal situation is to try to make all of them as comfortable as possible in context.

There are several examples of ways that you can do this immediately. First of all, if it’s too hot, get your air conditioning going. Then, it’s essential that you know how to control moisture levels in your home. Recognize the importance of humidifiers and dehumidifiers. Third, a lot of comfort is hunger driven.

Make sure you keep the right snacks around. And fourth, you should figure out how to calm frayed nerves. Everyone gets uncomfortable if there is tension or toxicity in your household. You should recognize some de-escalation techniques.

Get Your Air Conditioning Going

Your family members are all going to be irritable if they’re too hot. That’s why you need your air conditioning going when the heat is too high. If your air conditioning is broken, you need to make it a priority to call an air conditioning service as soon as possible. If it’s a hot time of year, it may take a while for a maintenance specialist to get to your home, so it’s a much better idea to repair your air-conditioning and maintain it in the off-season rather than waiting until it breaks during a busy rush.

Know How To Control Moisture Levels In Your Home

Second, you need to control moisture levels in your home. If it’s too dry or too wet, people can complain about it affecting their comfort level. For this reason, you should buy a humidifier for specific rooms and a dehumidifier for others. With a few gentle adjustments to various settings, you can have a much more comfortable home environment very quickly.

Keep the Right Snacks Around

Another part of comfort when it comes to your family is if people are hungry or if they are lethargic from being too full off of the wrong foods. In other words, you should keep healthy snacks available so that your family members aren’t overdoing it with sugary and processed foods, but they have something handy if they’re irritable because they’re hungry. Avoid candy bars and potato chips — stock up on fruits and vegetables.

Figure Out How To Calm Frayed Nerves

The last thing that makes people uncomfortable in their household is personality conflict and tension. Because of this, you should be the one to take responsibility for de-escalating bad blood between family members. It is common for siblings to be at each other’s throats.

Parents and children can have issues and tension between them. You must know what the best techniques are to calm everybody down so you can go back to having a calm and relaxed atmosphere.

 

Internet Goodies Perfect for the Family

No one ever said parenting was easy, but it does become easier when you have a strong support system backing you up like your partner, parents, and even close friends. Everyone experiences their version of parenting struggles and it’s certainly made easier by friends giving their support and sharing advice about the time that they encountered something similar.

The invention of the Internet has also made it possible to communicate with other people from around the globe. You can also access and look up information about any topic much faster than before. There’s a lot to learn about various subject matters, including that of domestic life. The Internet can definitely be a tool to help parents prepare for many different aspects of parenthood.

Researching the perfect school for your kids

Picking a school for your child is a huge decision, and so, you should prepare before the school season even starts. Use the Internet to your advantage and search through the many pros and cons of schools near you. You may suddenly find yourself looking through many international schools or even browsing IB schools in Singapore. You never know what you’ll stumble upon.

Planning a fun holiday celebration

You can get lots of ideas online on how to make your celebration unique! There are decoration tips and game suggestions for large groups of people. You can also find recipes if you want to try something new, or gift suggestions for various holidays. You can even order items online if you find something that’s very special.

Finding out where to travel next

It can be difficult to plan a vacation that’s proper for your child’s age and interests. You can search for popular tourist spots and attractions and assess how enjoyable they would potentially be for your children. There are often reviews on how much fun other families had on their trip, so you’d have a more solid idea about the place you want to visit. Remember to check the safety of the place, too.

Home improvements to make in your house

The family house goes through many changes over time, from housing just two people in the beginning to being a home for children as well. Your priorities shift over the years and so you need to keep adapting. No need to worry as there are lots of guides that are searchable. You can easily transform your home to what your present needs are.

Looking things up is not something that will take a chunk out of your free time, but the results can be big and will make your family really happy. Simple efforts can bring something new to an otherwise dull daily routine. Truly, the Internet can be a huge help to parents if you know just where to look. You can also impart your wisdom to other people and give back should you be interested to do so. Let’s all do our best to make the world a little better in our own little ways, even from behind a screen.

 

How to Prepare a Perfect Baptism Party

There are many reasons why a baptism is such a special moment in the life of a child and their parents. Primarily, of course, it’s the sign of your beloved baby being welcomed into the church and into God’s care, but it’s also a celebration of all the joys that parenthood can bring and a chance to share that joy with your friends and family. With a little planning, you can have the perfect baptism party that everyone will remember with a smile, so here are three steps to help you achieve that. And, as you might expect, there’s a little cooking involved.

Baptism, Table Decorations, Celebration, Plate, Napkin

Send Loving Invitations

The first step in achieving a great baptism party is having the right people there, and that means sending invitations out. Of course, you could buy pre-made invitations from a store, but where’s the joy in that? A baptism is a time to celebrate soul and individuality, and you can represent this from the very first moment by sending your own personalized invitations. It can be a lot easier than you think when you use free baptism invitation templates available online. There’s a wide range of templates to choose from, and you can customize them to your heart’s content. The result will be highly professional in appearance, but it will also have that homemade touch that is full of love.

Baptism Party Cakes

What would a party of any kind be without a cake or two? Save money on buying them from the store and make them yourself instead – believe me, they’re going to taste a whole lot better. If you’re not an experienced cake baker, make it easy for yourself by making a simple chocolate sponge cake. All you need is self-rising flour, caster sugar, and butter – it’s easy to remember the quantity, as you use the same for each, around 8oz is ideal. Mix these in a bowl with four medium sized eggs and one teaspoon of baking powder. When this has formed a cake mixture-like consistency, spoon them into two seven-inch cake tins and bake for around 20 minutes at 350F. To see if they’re done, slide a knife or knitting needle into the center. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. Leave to cool, and add buttercream between the two layers and melted chocolate on top. You can make it even more chocolatey by adding a tablespoon or two of cocoa powder to the cake mixture if you wish.

Presents for The Kids

Your baby will receive lots of presents at their baptism party, but don’t forget to have gifts ready for the children who will be attending too. It doesn’t have to cost a lot, as gift bags with candy and a dollar toy inside are sure to be loved by any child.

Homemade invitations, cake and gift bags cost a lot less than buying their equivalent from a store, and they’re filled with love and happiness. If you have older children, you can get them involved in the making and baking too, which is a great way for them to show their love for their new sibling and can help them learn important new kitchen skills as well.

 

To read more on topics like this, check out the family stuff category.

How To Encourage Healthy Eating Habits In Kids

Nutrition matters, but it’s hard to cut through all the diet plans, alarmist warnings, and photoshopped magazine spreads to find something that works for you and your kids in real life.

At the same time, America is experiencing an epidemic of lifestyle diseases increasing mortality and harming the quality of life. Our kids’ eating habits matter now, since it literally fuels their development, learning, and growth potential, and they are a foundation for a healthier future.

Here are our top picks for realistic, achievable ways to encourage healthy eating habits in your kids.

Be prepared

Lack of preparation leads to poor mealtime and snacking choices. Healthy eating habits start with the weekly grocery shop. Whole foods are better than packaged because they don’t have unhealthy additives like preservatives, salt, sugar, and other added flavorings, but they are more work to prepare.

Consider batching your meal prep. Pick a day and time every week or every few days as appropriate to your needs to wash, peel, chop, grill, or otherwise prepare whole foods into snackable format. This saves time during the week and makes you more likely to grab a healthy snack or eat a healthy meal when you’re hungry, instead of reaching for something packaged. A few fast, healthy, and tasty recipes on hand also solves the problem of what to make for dinner.

Frozen vegetables are a great alternative for those who struggle to find the time and/or motivation to deal with whole food prep. Freezing preserves most of the flavor and nutritional value and tends to provide whole foods in washed and precut formats. Canned foods may be a viable alternative, but watch out for added salt, sugar, or preservatives to extend shelf life.

Go age appropriate

Our nutritional needs and tastes change as we enter different stages of life. This handy guide to healthy eating can help you get up to speed. An infant, toddler, growing child, or teen, each has different needs, and there can be quite a variation between individuals in terms of food sensitivity, metabolism, and activity levels.

If you understand your child’s nutritional needs based on their stage of development, you’ll be better equipped to offer meals or snacks that are actually healthy for them, not just marketed as being age-appropriate. Kids that are getting developmentally appropriate nutrition tend to be higher functioning, better at learning, and happier.

Heavy on the (healthy) fats

Today’s adults were taught that low fat meant healthy. Unfortunately, we were all duped. Dietary fat intake does not mean your kids are going to get softer around their middles. In fact, more healthy fat in their diets can help them support better body composition and healthier whole-body growth.

Dietary fat is essential to proper biological functioning, supports brain development, and provides satiety–that feeling of fullness–cutting down on unhealthy snacking or binge eating. Salmon, avocados, and olives are all sources of healthy fats. Butter and whole-fat dairy from grass-fed cows, eggs, and animal protein can be beneficial as well.

Gaining a better understanding of your kid’s nutritional needs, stocking healthy foods in accessible formats in the home, and increasing the amount of healthy fat in your kid’s diet can support healthier eating habits. Having access to the right foods is more than half the battle.

Top 4 Family-Friendly Cities In America

Top 4 Family-Friendly Cities in America

Locating the safest place for raising your young family is one of the critical decisions you have to make as a parent. What’s more, selecting a community where you can settle down with your family is serious business. From accessibility to great parks to the quality of the school system, you need to make a choice that’s right for your entire family.

While you are always looking into ways of closely supervising your kids, it helps if you have a community around with family-friendly initiatives. The cities listed below are all over America, and they will help make one of the toughest, yet most rewarding, jobs a little bit easier for you.

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston takes home the crown as one of the most family-friendly cities in America for its vast number of good schools, numerous cultural opportunities for the entire family and low unemployment rate. A 2.5-mile walk along the Freedom Trail reveals over 15 locations that played an active role in the American Independence struggle.

Some of the sites found along the Freedom Trail include Paul Revere’s house, which was the background of the Boston Massacre. The Harvard Museum of Natural History has 12,000 specimens from collections found at other Harvard museums including gemstones and dinosaurs. The Public Art Work is the city’s historical and contemporary art stage.

Bellevue, Washington

Bellevue offers families lots of racial diversity and a host of excellent public schools. The city is not only family-friendly, but it also has a reputation for being quite safe with plenty of little beaches and parks. Bellevue is close to forests, mountains, lakes, and bike trails, making it the perfect home for the outdoorsy family.

Job opportunities are excellent if you have business, computer science or engineering skills since the area is also home to many tech companies. In addition, the city is home to family-friendly neighborhoods that include apartment blocks like the Square.

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado Springs is another great place for families that love exploring the outdoors. While there, you will find unique attractions like the Seven Falls that will fast become a favorite hangout for the entire family. Pikes Peak Highway, the world’s highest toll road, is also located here; offering you spectacular views.

Another notable activity to do with the entire family is delving deeper into the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine history. This 1890’s history relic hosts the country’s only 300-meter vertical shaft gold mine tour.

New York City, New York

The Big Apple is said to be the world’s best city for numerous reasons, but is it the right place to raise your family? Living in New York City means that you never have to go everywhere in a minivan. In place of your car, the city has an extensive transportation network that includes the subway, taxis and Uber!

The city is also home to numerous family-focused theater offerings including the New Victory Theater and even Broadway with shows like Matilda, Aladdin, and The Lion King.

Another great bonus of living in NYC is the numerous scenic parks that double up as backyards for residents of apartments such as 19 Dutch luxury apartments in Lower Manhattan. The museums in the city are probably the finest in the world. Plus, your kid gets a front row seat to see world-famous sites from his or her stroller daily.

Trying to find that one city that is perfect for your family requires some research. One of the things you should identify is what elements are most important to you. The top-ranked American cities listed above are based on aspects like the abundance of jobs, good schools, affordable housing, and accessibility to family-friendly parkland areas.

How To Choose The Best Family Healthcare Plan

Choosing health insurance for yourself can be a nightmare these days, but choosing coverage for your entire family? Now that’s a real hassle in today’s world. In a sea of surcharges, exclusions, and varying coverage amounts, how can you choose a quality healthcare plan?

Deciding on insurance plans for you, your spouse, and your children is a complicated endeavor. There are a few key pieces of information to take into consideration that can help, though. Consider these three tips.

  1.  Monthly Premiums Matter

The first aspect to consider is the monthly cost you’ll have to pay in order for everyone to be covered. This can start at around $90 for an employee plan, which makes shopping around a viable option. If your employer is generous, subsidizing the cost so you only have to pay around $45 or $50, then jump on it.

Not every work-related insurance plan covers your entire family, though. Some include you and your dependents, but exclude spouses. While that might not be an issue if your spouse can obtain quality insurance through their place of employment, it is something to consider based on your situation.

Start by gathering a list of plans whose monthly costs you can easily afford. Don’t scrape the ceiling of your monthly budget just to cover your family, either. There are plenty of options out there to choose from.

  1. Look into Deductibles and Out-of-Pocket Maximums

Now that you have options to suit your monthly budget, the next step is to decide on a high or low deductible plan. Prices vary wildly here, so it pays to pay attention. Some plans might charge $20 for an office visit, while others charge 20%. That’s a big difference!

It is crucial that you look into what areas are covered, and how much coverage is provided. You might find that yearly checkups and vaccinations are incredibly reasonable, but a trip to the psychiatrist in Hoboken (or wherever you live) is outrageous. Take dental, vision, and emergency coverage into consideration, as well. You never know what medical help a child may need, and when.

  1. What About the Network?

Cost and quality are essential to any healthcare plan, but seeing the doctors you want to see is often made challenging. While most health plans have provisions that will care for your child in an emergency situation away from home, the doctors in your area may end up costing you a fortune if they are not in your network.

If you have a trusted family pediatrician, then find their name on your list of plans and go with the most affordable option. There’s nothing worse than finding out your children can’t go to the one doctor who can convince them to get a shot, but abdominoplasty by Dr. Julio Garcia, MD is fully covered.

Don’t forget to look for other types of doctors in your network as well. Who will your family go to for dental work, eyeglasses, or orthodontics?

Once you’ve taken these three aspects into careful consideration, choosing a quality family healthcare plan will be a much simpler task. There’s a lot to think about and look over, but knowing that you and your loved ones are taken care of in times of need is well worth the effort.

How To Be A Work From Home Mother

As children grow up so fast, you may be considering making the decision to resign from your current job, in order to be a stay at home mother. Fortunately, this does not mean you have to go through any sort of unemployment. There are many ways to work from home which will allow you to bring in a decent income, whilst being able to spend as much time with your children as possible. If you’re keen on working from home, continue reading to discover a few mother approved tips to help you get started.

How to be a work from home mom:

1. Consider what home based career path would suit you best or whether you’re better off starting your own home based business

There are a wide variety of home based career paths which suit mothers who dream of working from home. So it’s best to choose a career path which suits your work experience and skill set. As an example, if you have experience working in a traditional office, you might want to consider searching for online positions as a virtual assistant or simply, starting your own online career.

Alternatively, if you have a bachelors degree in any subject, you’ll also be an ideal candidate to apply for an online position as an English tutor.

However, if you are excited by the idea of earning passive income, when you sleep and play with your kids, it may be worth starting your very own home based business.

2. Make sure to set up a home office in a quiet part of your home

While you may be tempted to work from your lounge, you’ll be fare less likely to procrastinate and far more likely to work efficiently, if you set up a proper home office, which is located in a quiet part of your home.

3. Don’t be afraid to accept help from your family members

While you may be able to work from home, whilst your children are home, if family members such as your parents offer to babysit your children once or twice a week, it’s well worth accepting their office. Which will give you valuable time to devote entirely to growing your homed based business.

Remember that once your home based business is well established, you won’t have to spend as much time maintaining it as you’ll have to invest in getting your home based business of the ground.

Even if you work a traditional online job from the comfort of your own home, instead of starting your own home based business, you’ll still find it handy being able being able to concentrate on your work for a few hours. Instead of having to constantly worry about what your children are getting up to!

4. Consider using baby monitors to keep an eye out on young children whilst your working

If you have children who are too young to attend school, in order to keep an eye on your children while they’re sleeping in their rooms, you may want to set up baby monitors, so that you’ll be able to stop working and attend to your children as soon as they make a single sound.

So if you have you heart set on being a loving mother who gets to spend quality time with your children and are still able to bring in a decent income, it’s well worth using the four tips listed above!

Five Ways to Help Someone Who Wants to Quit Drinking

Alcohol addiction is a serious problem that a lot of people struggle with. If you have a loved one who wants to quit drinking, and you want to offer a helping hand, then here are 10 ways that you can help them:

1. Be informed about the problem.

You can’t really help someone if you don’t have any idea what they’re going through. Alcohol addiction is more than just the consumption of alcohol; there’s almost always an underlying problem that needs to be addressed as well. Information will also help you understand the problem better. You can do research on the different ways that alcohol withdrawal affects an individual so that you know what to do once the withdrawal symptoms kick in.

2. Stop playing the blame game.

People with alcohol addiction usually exhibit behaviours that hurt the people around them. This is most likely just a part of a self-destructive mentality wherein they try to push away the people that they love the most. If your loved ones have said or done something to hurt you, you should try to lengthen your patience. Remember that they have already made the decision to quit drinking, which is a big positive step towards recovery. Stop playing the blame game and be as understanding as you can be.

3. Take your friend somewhere else on a Friday night.

This is one of the simplest ways in which you can help. If you usually go to a bar, a pub or a club on a Friday night, then offer to take your friend somewhere else. You can go see a movie instead or, better yet, stay at home and hang out at your place. You can stream a film on Netflix, play board games, or cook a meal together. Avoiding places where they may slip and doing activities that can take their mind off alcohol, even if they last just for a little while, they will help them a lot through the process.

4. Don’t push them!

One of the biggest mistakes that friends and family members make when “trying to help” a loved one overcome their alcohol addiction is to push them to quit. Every person goes through the process differently—you can’t expect your loved one to stop drinking as per your timeline! At the same time, don’t force them to see a therapist or to go to an AA meeting. Oftentimes, these efforts “to help” are what stops a person to really commit to quitting drinking.

5. Get ready for slip-ups.

It is possible that during the process, your loved one will have a slip-up or two. Don’t give up on them when this happens! Again, you need to be as understanding and as patient as possible if you want to be able to help them overcome their alcohol addiction. The fact that they’re already taking steps on how to stop drinking is already big for them, so keep supporting them despite slip-ups.

Your love and support surely mean a lot to your loved one who’s trying to overcome their alcohol addiction. But if you need an extra set of hands to help, Allen Carr’s Easyway helps individuals to quit drinking easily and painlessly.