Family Ever After Blog

Family Ever After Blog

Archives for March 2022

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Top 4 Tips for Choosing the Best Fostering Agency

This is not an understatement. Being a foster parent to kids in need can completely change your life. However, if you have a chance to ask different parents about their general experience, most will say that fostering has made a great difference in their lives.

It might be somehow overwhelming when you start realizing that it is important to be a lucky foster parent. Though from ensuring your home is safe for the child to training requirements, it might be simple to overlook certain aspects of the process.

This is why it is advisable to visit https://applefostering.co.uk/ for the best fostering options or consider the following tips to choose the right fostering agency near you:

Consider the Breakdown Rate of Placement

It is vital to know the number of placements of kids in the agency that lead to breakdown and needs children to be placed or removed with foster carers.

This can happen for various reasons. Though kids’ placement and matching process to a foster family is basically intended to avoid breakdown.

You might as well need to ask about the needs of kids being placed in the agency. Remember to also ask whether it is possible to talk with one or two foster carers so that you may determine their experience.

Look at the Responsiveness

As the foster parent-to-be, you might need to contact your preferred agency a couple of times. Their capability to respond faster and provide you with the support you need is important.

A perfect way to determine how they will act after joining them is to pay attention to the way they respond before joining.

For instance, if you call the agency’s office, are they responding faster, or do you end up in a voicemail loop with their team taking days to give you feedback? So you can imagine the disappointment you can have, especially when you have a burning question or an emergency.

Check the Support

A good agency boasts of having a great support network. All foster families have dedicated social workers, and if necessary, your agency will provide you with therapeutic supervision.

Most agencies also hold regular catch-up meetings with all their foster carers. This serves as a perfect chance to help one another with advice and tips.

During the meetings, there will be people to speak to at any time or 24/7. So that means all your calls, questions, and concerns will be addressed.

Know the Types of Agencies

Apart from local authority fostering agencies, you may have the alternative of dealing with independent foster agencies.

Local authority agencies work as part of or alongside the authority’s social work department and choose as well as train their foster carers.

On the other hand, independent agencies offer placement opportunities for kids that local agencies are not able to place. This is achieved by employing their foster carers who are obligated to support, train, and recruit themselves.

Final Remarks!

In order to get the best fostering agency to suit all your needs, ensure you research thoroughly or as much as you can.

It is also a great idea to look for fostering tips. Usually, the internet is a perfect place for you to get started.

 

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3 Tips For Families With Unconventional Lifestyles

These days, people from all walks of life are learning that they prefer to move to the beat of their own drums and go against the grain a little bit. No longer are people feeling pressured to live up to the expectations of society – they are instead doing what makes them happy.

For many, this means living an unconventional type of lifestyle. Some people choose to live full-time in a van or a tiny home while others find it works best for them to live separately from their spouses. No matter what type of unconventional life you’re living, there can be some challenges along the way. This becomes even more true once you add children into the mix. You may feel judgment from others, or you might find that the logistics of what you want to do are a little harder to figure out. To help you out, here are 3 simple tips for families with unconventional lifestyles.

Plan Ahead

Before making any type of big lifestyle change, you should always make sure to plan ahead. Think about all of the costs that may be involved with doing things in an unconventional way, and all of the extra steps you may have to take to make things happen.

You should also think about the potential effects on your children and your family as a whole. For example, living the “van life” may be great for a young couple, but it can be much more difficult once you have school-age children.

Every family is different, so you’ll have to consider what is best for yours. Talk to your partner or spouse and make lists of pros and cons so that you can make informed decisions about your future. When thinking of the future and planning ahead, remember to also consider what will happen once you reach retirement age. Will your lifestyle be sustainable or will more adjustments need to be made? These are all great things to think and talk about ahead of time so that you have a solid plan.

Have An Emergency Fund

Having savings is important for everyone, but maybe even more so for people living unconventionally. Lots of little things can go wrong that can be costly, so it’s important to have an emergency savings fund, just in case. Learning to expect the unexpected will serve you well no matter what your lifestyle is.

Don’t Worry About What Others Think

Whenever you make choices for your family that differ from the norm, you are bound to receive some kind of judgment and/or comments from people you know (or perhaps even strangers on the internet!) Don’t worry about what anyone thinks as long as you and your family feel happy, safe, and secure. You can’t expect everyone to understand your lifestyle, and that’s OK! They may not understand yours either.

Living a little differently than most of society can be uncomfortable at first but in many ways, it will give your family a great perspective and freedoms you may not otherwise have been able to enjoy. Use the above tips to help make your unconventional lifestyle easier so that you can enjoy it even more!

 

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What to Know Before Moving to North Carolina

North Carolina is a state with a growing stream of new residents to bigger, well-known cities and small towns that many might have previously overlooked. North Carolina’s population grew by 9.5 percent between 2010 and 2020; it increased by 903,905, from 9,535,483 to 10,439,483.

It’s largest counties are

  • Wake (1,129,410),
  • Mecklenburg (1,115,482),
  • Guilford, (541,299),
  • Forsyth, (382,590), and
  • Cumberland (334,728).

North Carolina has some of the fastest-growing towns in the nation. The U.S. census revealed that within the state, the fastest-growing counties are Johnston at 27.9 percent, Brunswick at 27.2 percent, Cabarrus at 26.8 percent, Wake at 25.4 percent, and Durham at 21.4 percent. Each of the counties grew more than double the state rate.

Most of the growth in North Carolina’s population came from the adult population. The child population only grew by 0.12% over the decade; that’s better than the national numbers, which shrunk by 1.9% in the same period. There are a number of reasons that North Carolina is growing.

It Offers Something for Everyone

Young families, students, professionals, and retirees are moving to NC. That’s because there are plenty of activities and opportunities in the state.

Sports Fans

North Carolina is home to Duke University and the University of North Carolina, two powerhouses in college basketball. Locals are very passionate about the teams, and the rivalry between the two runs deep; when you move into the state, make sure you choose the right team to support.

If you aren’t a fan of sports, be prepared to become one; many NBA legends spent their college years in this state. Beyond indoor sports events, you will also enjoy the various outdoor activities common in the state, like hiking beautiful trails, or floating down the river.

Touring a Tech Hub

Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill form an area that includes Duke University, North Carolina State University, and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; the area is called the Research Triangle of North Carolina. The Research Triangle is a tech hub for the state’s research and innovative initiatives. Students and tech enthusiasts can find jobs in biotechnology, aerospace, and energy in NC.

It’s Affordable

North Carolina offers an affordable lifestyle, whether you are working, raising a family, or retiring. Housing is substantially cheaper than larger cities; for example, in North Carolina, you can expect to pay.

  • $985 for a studio apartment; the national average is $1 050.
  • $800 for a one-bedroom apartment; the national average is $1 000.
  • $940 for a two-bedroom apartment; the national average is $1 200.
  • $1 100 for a three-bedroom apartment; the national average is $1,500.

Furthermore, utilities are 14 percent lower than the national average. Retirees keep more of their money as the state has some of the lowest taxes, including no tax on social security income, making retiring in the state 3.7 percent cheaper on average. You can find all the amenities and health services you need, including a Holly Springs dentist.

It’s Ranked High in Safety

North Carolina is among the safest places to live. The small towns have close-knit communities; most people know each other and look out for one another. Community leaders, including elected ones, are heavily involved in community building.

It’s Diverse

North Carolina towns and cities are considered diverse, especially with the recent population growth. The Bureau changed how it asked people about their ethnicity and gave them a chance to give an ancestry response.

That resulted in many people identifying themselves as multiracial (two or more races). In North Carolina, people that identify as multiracial grew by 161 percent, or an increase of 251,094.

The number of people identifying as Hispanic or Latinx increased the most (318,000), followed by Multiracial (251,000), Asian (133,000), White (88 000), Black (88,000), some other race (31,000), and Pacific Islander (1,700). The number of people identifying only as American Indian decreased by nearly 8,000.

North Carolina’s fastest-growing racial or ethnic group was the population identifying as some other race (207 percent), followed by Multiracial (161 percent), Asian (65 percent), Hispanic (40 percent), Pacific Islander (33 percent), Black (4.3 percent), and White (1.4 percent). The number identifying as American Indian alone decreased by 7 percent.

In total, 60 percent of North Carolina’s residents identified as White, 20 percent as Black or African American, 11 percent as Hispanic or Latinx, 3.9 percent as Multiracial, 3.3 percent as Asian, 1 percent as American Indian, 0.4 percent as some other race, and 0.1 percent as Pacific Islander.

The Growth of North Carolina

As the nation’s ninth-largest state, North Carolina is understandably a popular destination for transplants, especially millennials and younger travelers. It provides a diverse community, opportunities, and a multitude of activities that are attractive not only for travelers, but for anyone to consider settling down in for good.

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How to Update Your Kitchen on a Budget

The kitchen plays an important role in our lives. It’s the place where we prepare food for our loved ones or a spot where social gatherings and conversation happens.

Kitchen renovations have changed over the years, and more often than not, they incur the most cost when rebuilding. The materials used can be expensive, plus there are the appliances that you need to buy as well.

If you’re on a budget but still want to update your kitchen, there’s no need to fret. You can do this without spending too much. Want to know more? Read on below.

Repaint the walls

One of the most achievable things to re-do your kitchen would be to update the paint color. If you’re still holding onto the 90s look or sticking to the all-white palette that was popular back then, maybe it’s time to reconsider. Warm neutrals are becoming the norm, but you can also choose a contrasting color for highlights. If you DIY, the cost could be between $400 to $900.

Update kitchen appliances

One of the most exciting things when renovating your kitchen is choosing new appliances. If you have the budget, you might as well replace your fridge with one that is equipped with the most recent technology. It would also be wise to go to big stores and ask if they can give you a discount to bundle up a couple of appliances.

Now comes the challenging part: how to dispose of your old appliances?

There are many ways to do this. You can sell them to earn extra cash and use it to pay for your new appliances. If they’re too old to be sold and already beyond their life expectancy, you can hire a company such as Evergreen Junk Removal offering Junk Removal In Miami to take care of it for you. For a fee, they can handle the bulky items, from removal to disposal. They will take care of everything, whether it’s donating it to the needy or recycling it.

With an appliance upgrade, expect to spend a few thousand dollars, typically between $2500 to $4000, depending on what you purchase.

Install additional lighting

Most kitchens look old and dingy because of a lack of lighting. One of the cheapest ways to update your kitchen would be to change the lightbulbs or install more lighting. If you don’t have that much natural light to work with, equipping cabinets with lighting will make a huge difference when preparing meals. This could work out for you, especially if you like posting your cooking masterpieces on your Instagram or Facebook.

Making this your DIY project won’t cost you much, and expenses will range between $100 – $200. If an electrical installation is required, you may want to hire a licensed electrician to do the job for you.

A kitchen renovation is one of the best home projects to do and if you’ve always wanted to do it, right now is the perfect time. If you have the budget, you might as well use it to achieve the kitchen of your dreams.

Join the discussion on this topic with Family Ever After by visiting our contact page.

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Preventing Water Damage in Your Home

As passive and boring as water leaks may seem, they shouldn’t be ignored. You can tell that something is wrong when the water in your kitchen sink pounds every few seconds. React as soon as possible. Problems like these won’t just go away by themselves, and the longer you wait, the more expensive it gets. Additionally, you risk water damage, which would require a pricey restoration. Nobody can detect a leak in its infancy better than Risk Free Serv, and here’s what they said:

Check Your Water Meter

In case you wake up one morning thinking you might have a water leak, check your water meter. It is a simple check-up that anyone can do to discover if something is wrong. You should turn off the main valve and all water-consuming appliances like the washing machine and dishwasher. You should be able to notice any change on your meter if you wait a few minutes. Check back in a few hours and if you see anything, react. The best thing to do is to call a plumber.

Check Your Monthly Bill

Monitoring your water consumption and bills could also be helpful. You can compare your bills from the past 4 to 5 months if you suspect a leak somewhere in your home. As long as you see a significant increase over a short span of time and you know your water consumption hasn’t increased, you can proceed with the investigation. This method isn’t 100% accurate, but it can give you a good idea. It is common for homeowners, especially if they are not proficient, not to bother finding out where their water pipes are. That’s why you should get in touch with a plumber if the numbers are off. A leak might be coming from underground pipes you can’t reach. A professional plumber has the necessary training and equipment to investigate your home and unveil leaks thoroughly.

Malfunctioning Garden Hose

Leaks can occur outside your home as well. An irrigation system that fails can waste a lot of water. You should have it checked by a professional every now and then, especially when you actively use the system at the beginning of every season. As a result of exposure to elements, exterior faucets have a shorter lifespan. This means they are more likely to break or leak. Puddles of water in your yard may indicate a leak.

Try Food Coloring

A malfunctioning toilet may waste a lot of water. Color your toilet tank with food coloring. If there’s no leak, the water should remain colored if you didn’t flush. If the colored water leaves the tank and proceeds down to the bowl, you are probably dealing with a leak.

Regular Checkups

To prevent significant breaks that will require expensive repairs, every home must be inspected regularly. Preventing or reacting if you notice something fishy is always cheaper and easier. When you smell mold, it usually means you have a leak somewhere because mold prefers dark, humid environments.

If you own an older home with old plumbing, you should still invest in a thorough inspection by a professional, even if everything looks fine. A simple replacement today can save you a lot of money in the future.

The money you’d spend on a plumber to perform a checkup is significantly less than repairs that waste your money and, more importantly, your time. Sometimes you’d have to wait a day or two for a plumber to be available; that’s why prevention beats reparation always.

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The Only Nail Care Regimen You Need To Follow

Your fingernails sadly undergo a lot of abuse every day, which can make them brittle, uneven and cause discolouration. While getting a manicure every once in a while is crucial, there are several tips and nail care regimens that you can follow in day to day life to minimise the damage.

There are several ways to protect your nails and make them look good. For instance, using nail cream or nail extensions. It is vital to have clean and healthy-looking nails for not only aesthetics but also for good hygiene. Here is the only nail care regimen you need to follow for flawless and healthy nails.

Clean your Nails with Polish Remover

To start with the regime, the first step is to clean hands and nails just like any other skincare regime. By cleaning your nails regularly with a polish remover, your nails will stay bacteria-free and also remove any stains caused due to food colouring.

Shape your Nails

The next step is to shape your nails using a nail filer. This step is vital even if you are growing your nails as it will help to shape the nails and trim any damaged or cracked parts. Cut your nails slightly from the top and file them into shape using a soft filer.

Don’t Remove Cuticles

It is not advised to remove cuticles as they are important to protect your nails. If you have hanging skin or broken nails, trim it gently so that it does not stick out and cause pain.

Use Natural and Gentle Nail Polish

Wearing gentle and natural nail polish won’t harm your nails as they are free of toxins and chemicals that might deteriorate your nail health. Before applying nail polish, clean your nails and wipe them dry. Apply a base coat of neutral tone, and then apply the top coat after it dries. The base coat ensures that your nails don’t get stained and reduces the chance of chipping.

Moisturise your Nails

After applying nail polish, the next step is to moisturise your nails using natural coconut oil or almond oil. You can use Virgin Coconut Oil from Coco Soul as it is completely natural and will give your nails the pampering they deserve. Gently massage your nails with coconut oil and keep them healthy.

Eat Well

Eating healthy, nutrient-rich food is extremely important for any skin, hair or nail care regime as it helps to strengthen your cells from within. Take a varied diet with vitamins and proteins to strengthen your nails from the root and minimise any breaking or cracking.

Avoid Damage to Nails

While some activities are unavoidable, try to minimise activities that can damage your nails. If your nails are wet regularly, it can cause a buildup of bacteria and germs. Wear gloves whenever possible when cleaning, doing dishes or gardening to avoid any damage to your nails.

These are the steps you must follow to have healthy and shiny nails throughout the day. Imbue these steps into your daily routine to have healthy and long nails.

 

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Four Ways to Reduce or Avoid Family Conflicts Over Your San Antonio Estate

If you are like many people, you probably plan your estate for your loved one’s future. However, sometimes, estate planning can result in conflicts. Often, relationships can get ruined because of money. Your loved ones may get along fine now but, they may disagree over matters, especially if you are no longer around. Because of this, you must come up with a plan, so those you will leave behind will not have conflict over your legacy. To help you realize your plans, you need the services of an experienced estate planning attorney San Antonio to make sure your estate will be managed based on your wishes. The following estate planning tips will help prevent your loved ones from fighting over your estate:

Resolve Current Family Conflicts

Family conflicts that remain unresolved will come to the surface following your passing. Family disputes can become ugly court battles. Therefore, you must take efforts in resolving current family conflicts as early as possible. You can also deal with them later as long as you build safeguards to reduce them.

Be Clear About Your Wishes

A lot of disputes among family members in San Antonio arise due to the failure of the creator to communicate their wishes. For example, should you pass away without specifying the way you want your assets to be handled, one of your beneficiaries may wish to sell their assets while another may wish to keep them in the family. Such disagreements could tarnish the relationship that used to be intact.

Family members can have conflicts when one claims they were promised to get certain assets; however, estate documents say otherwise. It is a good idea to take photos of items with sentimental value like heirlooms, furniture, or jewelry. Then, list the people who will inherit these items in your will.

Ensure Your Trustee is Not a Family Member

Appointing a member of your family as the estate executor or fiduciary can be a mistake. If a family member manages your trust, other members may not agree to it and will make unreasonable claims in the future after your passing. Because of this, you may need to designate an objective expert who has no legal or family interest as your trustee.

Meet With Your Loved Ones

After developing a San Antonio estate plan, meet with the members of your family, so you can communicate your wishes clearly. Talk to them about your estate plan in detail. This way, no family member will be resentful when they only learn later that someone inherits money from you.

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5 Tips For Teaching Your Children Life Skills

 

If you have kids, you know firsthand how hard it can be to teach them everything they need to know about the world before they grow up and move out of your home. But teaching your children things is part of your duty as a parent, so you have to always try your best to figure out how to help your kids turn into well-rounded adults.

If you struggle with this sometimes, you are not alone! Parenting is a lifelong journey and often a difficult and thankless one. Here are 5 tips to help you teach your children life skills that will hopefully make your job a little bit easier.

Let Them Do Small Things

Allowing your children to do small things around the house that you would normally do yourself is a helpful way to teach them valuable new skills. For example, show them how to brew some tea, and then whenever you or another member of your family wants tea, you can have your child make it. This goes for all kinds of other things around the house as well such as taking out the trash, turning on the television, boiling water, or any other small things that you may think are insignificant. These small things add up and will help your child to have lots of important skills later in life!

Communicate With Them

Communicating with your children well and often can be a challenge, but it’s also really helpful when it comes to teaching them things. Making sure they understand something you have shown them is good parenting because it shows that you care and that you really want to make sure you are clear with your kids. If there is a particular skill they are having trouble with, having good communication with them will alert you of this so that you can take the necessary steps to get them the extra help they need and eventually excel at anything they put their minds to.

Call In Some Help

It takes a village, as they say, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with needing a little help when it comes to parenting tiny humans! There may be skills you would like to teach your children that you aren’t great at yourself, and calling in some extra help at times like these is totally acceptable and often quite necessary.

Ask for a little help from family members, friends, school teachers, tutors, and even their peers when applicable. Together you will be able to help your kids do well at whatever life skills they want to improve.

Helping your children grow up into adults with many great skills is definitely a challenge, but with this list hopefully one that you can overcome easily,

 

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Tips for Creating the Perfect Home Office

Many of us have recently moved from working at the office to working from home. Whether you found this shift to be stressful or rewarding, chances are you’ve had to learn to adapt to the new work environment. Blending two aspects of your life into one space can feel unsettling, so here are some top tips to help you set up the ideal home office.

Keep it Personal Yet Professional

One of the best benefits of working from home is the comfort you can enjoy while still being productive. This is why you must resist the urge to transform your home office into a purely professional space. Of course, you’ll want the room to serve its purpose effectively, but touches of home are what will make your home office more personal and relaxing. Decorate with your own taste and style in mind, put up plenty of family photos, and have your favorite concentration music playing. Take advantage of the fact that you do not have to share your workspace with colleagues.

Find Ergonomic Furniture and Accessories

When decorating your home office, it’s also important to remember that your comfort while at work is a top priority. Sitting in front of a computer screen at a desk all day can have severe health impacts, so make sure to take this into consideration when choosing your office furniture. If possible, try out different chairs before purchasing to ensure they fit your body and posture. Use a keyboard wrist rest and laptop stand if necessary to keep your arms, hands, neck, and eyes all in the best working position.

Consider Effective Lighting

Good lighting can have a surprisingly large effect on your ability to work comfortably at home. Not everyone will have their choice of all the rooms in their house, so you might be stuck with a room that has a bright window that blinds you while you work. Look for shutters at sunburstca.com and control the levels of sunlight in your office. Choose adjustable lamps and effective mood lighting to create an ambiance that encourages your productivity. Your environment greatly influences your ability to concentrate, even if you don’t notice it.

Set Clear Boundaries

Avoid having your home office in your bedroom, if possible, as creating distinct boundaries between rest and work are essential to effective productivity. Ask anyone else who shares your home to respect the boundaries of your office so you can work uninterrupted.

Organize Your Space

A cluttered and disorganized office space makes it more difficult to focus. Although you might insist that you can work amidst the ‘controlled chaos’, it is easier to lose essential objects or files if you don’t have a consistent organizational system. This applies to your physical and your digital workspaces. Save your digital files in locations you can easily retrieve them from or risk losing them at crucial times. If you remain organized, you will have less to remember and worry about in the long run.