Stay at Home Wife and Mother

Home and Family from a SAHWM's Perspective

Swimming Pool Safety Tips to Remember

family playing in the swimming pool safe

Swimming pools are one of the best ways to beat the heat in the summertime, but they’re not without risks. You’ll need to be careful before plunging into the water, especially if you’ll be swimming with kids and pets. Here are some swimming pool safety tips to make sure that everyone has a fun, safe time in the water!

1. Watch the Kids

Never leave children unattended in the water. Even if they insist that they’ll be fine while you pop into the house to grab a towel, it takes less than a minute for kids to drown. Make them climb out of the pool and take a break on the lawn chairs if you won’t be around to supervise their swimming. This simple precaution can prevent a big tragedy. It’s worth the trouble even if the little ones complain.

2. Buy a Pool Cover

Cover the swimming pool when not in use. Not only will it prevent small animals from crawling or falling into the water, but it will also help the water stay clean. When you don’t protect the pool from the elements, dirt, pollen, twigs, bugs, garbage and other debris can make a home in it. The pool can also swell with rainwater during a storm. A cover will prevent all of this from happening, and it isn’t even that expensive. It’s worth the splurge to get your pool covered.

3. Invest in a High-Quality Pool

If you’re having a pool installed for the first time, make sure that you’re hiring the services of qualified contractors from a reputable company. You’ll want all of your pumps and pipes to follow regulations. You’ll also want the stone walls to stay unchipped for years to come. Be careful about your decision on where to buy swimming pools Pittsburgh PA. You should only buy the best.

These are just a few general tips for swimming pool safety. Taking a dive into the deep end is a wonderful way to cool off when the days are hot and humid, but safety should always come first!

Ways to Achieve Smoother Skin

woman-smooth-skin

Everyone wants smoother skin. In the summer, lustrous skin makes you feel your best when wearing shorts and summer outfits. In the winter when dry skin takes over, you need to work even harder for soft skin. Luckily, there are many ways to accomplish this.

Moisturize Every Day

Keeping your skin silky requires moisturizing it each and every day. Be sure to use a cleanser that has a moisturizing element and invest in a high-quality cream that doesn’t contain hidden ingredients that can sap moisture out of your skin such as alcohol. Look for a cream that’s free of harmful ingredients such as parabens.

Laser Hair Removal

Perhaps the biggest boost you can give your skin to keep it smooth forever is laser hair removal Columbia MD. Laser removal will rid you of unwanted hair for good and eliminate the need for shaving or smelly creams. This process is now made virtually painless and affordable.

Keeping Skin Healthy Inside and Out

Remember to keep yourself hydrated. Water aids in giving skin a healthy glow. Eating a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals also helps to promote supple skin. You may also consider using a hydrating cream or mask.

Weekly Exfoliation

If you’ve ever used an exfoliating or sugar scrub, you notice a difference on your face and body right away. Scrubs remove any dead skin and debris sitting on the top layer of skin. While exfoliation feels great, avoid using it every day as it can become much too abrasive.

Smoother Skin for the Win

Now that you have done so much to keep your skin polished, you have won and it’s time to reap the benefits. If you opted for hair removal, keeping your skin smooth should be a breeze! Stick with the healthy changes you have made and you will look radiant and younger for many years to come.

Protect Your Hardwood Floors

house-wood-floors

There’s nothing like having brand new hardwood floors installed in your house. If you can’t get your floors replaced the next best thing is getting your floors sanded or refinished and polished. Whether they’re new or just refinished chances are you want to keep them looking new for as long as possible. Your house will look better and it can also help keep your home’s value high if you ever plan to sell. There are a couple of ways you can do that.

Remove Shoes

Some people don’t allow shoes to be worn in the house because they can track in dirt. Shoes can also cause scratches. Little rocks and pebbles, or any other hard substances like glass or twigs, can be trapped in a shoe’s traction and can cause scratching while you’re walking in the house.

Felt Pads

You can get adhesive felt pads at most hardware stores. Just unpeel the backing on one side and put the sticky side onto the feet of your furniture. This provides protection when furniture gets moved around.

Furniture Feet

You can also get furniture feet or furniture socks. There a couple of different types you can get. You can get soft covers that are similar to socks or you can get something with a harder surface such as pre-cut grey tennis balls.

Area Rugs

Area rugs aren’t just a good choice to add some decor. If you put area rugs in places that get heavy foot traffic or where furniture gets moved frequently they can help prevent scratching.

Entry Mats

Your home’s entry way sees a lot of foot traffic. It also gets wet regularly when people come inside from the rain or snow. Entry mats can help prevent dirt and small rocks from getting into your home, and they can also prevent large amounts of moisture from getting onto the floor.

Tips on Keeping Your Yard Safe and Secure

mother-daughter-woman-yard-garden

Summer has arrived and with it all the fun outside activities that make for great memories. While you’re busy with picnics, the pool and the yard, you may not have taken the time to consider backyard safety. Before things get too heated up, here are some things you can do to provide a danger-free season.

Tidying Up the Yard

As you begin your summer, it’s always a good idea to inspect the yard for any damage that may have occurred over winter. Rocks, holes, branches or developing bee nests can put a damper on frolicking on the lawn. Making sure the area is free from debris, raked and mowed not only makes it look great, but creates a secure run and play zone.

Using Natural Pest Control

If your yard sees occasional wildlife, you may worry about ticks, mosquitoes and other dangerous pests. Either can be dangerous to your family’s health or that of your pet. Most people want to avoid using harsh, smelly chemicals. You can opt for all natural tick and mosquito control for your lawn and shrubs. Aim for a long-lasting formula that contains natural ingredients and won’t harm other wildlife or the environment.

Securing Your Fence

If a fence surrounds your yard, make sure it’s secure before the outside fun begins. This creates a safe enclosure for pets and protects your yard from intruders. If you own a swimming pool, check that the fence surrounding it is also solid and any ladders or gates are pulled up and locked.

Safety Comes First

For most people, summer is the finest time of the year. Days and evenings are long and you’ll be spending as much time as you can outdoors. Safety has to come first. Keep your yard protected for the benefit of your family, friends and pets alike.

Water Births: A Natural Approach to Labor and Delivery

water-birth-pregnant

Water births are a more natural approach to labor and delivery and have been found to have benefits for both mother and newborn. If you’re pregnant and are interested in water birth, read on to learn about these benefits.

What is a Water Birth?

There are two variations of labor and delivery in water. Immersion labor occurs when a woman is in a tub or shower of warm water for labor but not the delivery. During a water birth, the woman remains immersed for both labor and the delivery of the baby. Water births can be performed at home or at birthing centers that specialize in this form of delivery. For the safety of both mother and child, water births should occur under the supervision of a trained midwife or obstetrician.

Benefits for Newborns

The birthing process can be stressful on a newborn, and water births can help reduce complications during delivery. Before birth, infants spend nine months developing inside the amniotic sac, surrounded by warm fluid. Delivery into warm water allows the baby to adjust better to the new environment, compared to the cooler temperature of a hospital room.

Benefits for Mothers

For a woman looking to give birth without the help of medications or epidurals, birth in water can be a gentler birthing experience. The warm water of the birthing tub can aid in relaxation for a mother, easing anxiety, and providing benefits including:

  • Decreases in blood pressure
  • Increases in energy and stamina during contractions
  • Decreases stress-related hormones

Along with these benefits, water births allow a woman to position herself in a way that provides her comfort. In addition, immersion in water causes the perineum, the tissue between the vaginal canal and the anus, to become more elastic. This decreases the possibility of tears as the baby’s head emerges, and if a tear does occur, it can be less severe in nature.

When considering a natural approach to birth, water births can provide comfort for both mother and baby.

Three Lighting Tips for the Summer

women-men-party-yard-summerDue to the increased frequency of sunlight and longer days, you might think that you do not have to use lighting this summer. However, there are ways to introduce lighting to your home that complements the specific location and the use of natural light. Follow these lighting tips to add an extra touch to your summer lighting.

Use Subtlety and Brevity

Since the sun will provide you with most of the light for the outdoor areas, and even some indoor parts of the residence, you will need to be subtle with how you utilize lighting fixtures and devices. A dimmed light can bring the right amount of ambiance to any room. A Tampa lighting service can help you install the correct devices to create a slight, but powerful, effect.

Light Up Your Landscape

The summer presents a perfect opportunity to show off your landscape at night. With the correct placement of lighting appliances, you can demonstrate this space perfectly and even highlight hardscape and water features more efficiently. Use low-voltage lamps, LEDs and photocell units to inject ambiance and definition to the landscape without consuming too much power or causing expenses. Solar-powered outdoor lighting is also more energy efficient and functions during the right times.

Practice Safe Lighting

Because most lighting equipment requires electricity and heat to function, it can be potentially dangerous to handle it, especially without previous knowledge or safety equipment. Never exceed the limit of 2Kw when plugging lighting equipment to a residence’s power terminal. Be mindful of the heat generated by lighting appliances and keep it away from plastic. Finally, use a cloth to handle hot components such as light bulbs to avoid injuries.

Even though the summer will create additional natural light, you can still utilize artificial lighting to complement it. Indoor and outdoor lighting can add atmosphere to any room or yard, especially during summer nights.

Is a Birthing Center the Right Choice?

woman-pregnant-windowThere had been times when women had no other choice but to give birth to their babies at home. Nowadays, however, there are more options when it comes to childbirth. A hospital is one choice many women make when it comes time to give birth. Many women like the security of knowing that medical professionals are there in the event that there are problems. Birthing centers offer another choice, and they are becoming quite popular.

Why are Women Choosing Birthing Centers?

Many soon-to-be moms want more of a relaxed atmosphere for bringing their child into the world. A birthing center provides the ambiance they desire because it is a completely different atmosphere. One example of a birthing center Tampa is Sweet Child O’ Mine.

Most birthing centers are near hospitals in the event that an emergency would arise and the mom-to-be needs to be transferred. Some women may need to give birth in the hospital, particularly if it is a high-risk pregnancy or other problems arise. However, this option creates a happy medium between giving birth at home or in the hospital.

The Ability to Move Around During Labor

Instead of lying on your back waiting for the baby’s arrival, when you choose a birthing center, you can move around. This has shown to help labor go much faster as well as giving mom a chance to find positions that are more comfortable. In fact, the women are encouraged to get up and walk or move about rather than being propped up on pillows in a hospital bed.

Natural Birth

More women are choosing natural birth today. Hospitals are used to offering medications or an epidural for the pain. Many women prefer giving birth to their child naturally and without drugs. Birthing centers support this choice, and epidurals are not given at the centers.

Regardless of where you decide to have your baby, it is important to know there are options. You may feel that a natural, drug-free birth is the best choice. If so, it is a good idea to check birthing centers near your home and see what they offer.