Month: August 2018

What To Consider When Choosing an Electric Skateboard for Your Child

30/08/2018

Riding an electric skateboard can be an enjoyable activity for your child, and it can help them get outside and into the fresh air. But when looking for the best cheap electric skateboard for you child, there are a number of important factors to consider. This includes the following:

How Experienced of a Rider Is Your Child

If your child is new to electric skateboarding (and skateboarding in general), you probably should consider buying a standard single wheel drive board. These boards are typically the least expensive and the easiest to use. By buying one of these boards, you can determine if your child actually enjoys electric skateboarding before moving on to a more advanced (and more expensive) model.

If your child is experienced with electric skateboarding, you may want to consider buying a standard dual wheel drive board. These boards offer more performance than single wheel drive boards. They not only produce higher speeds, but they can also accelerate faster. They actually can accelerate fast enough to throw your child from the board. So, if safety if your primary concern, you may want to avoid these types of boards. These boards are also harder to use than single wheel boards.

Regardless of how experienced your child is with electric skateboarding, you want to get a skateboard with good brakes. Electric skateboards can come with either mechanical or electric brakes, but most models on the market today come with electric brakes, which can potentially fail. So, it is important to develop a backup plan with your child, so they know exactly what to do in case the brakes fail.

Where Will Your Child Ride the Skateboard

Almost any electric skateboard will ride well along smooth and straight roads. But not all electric skateboards can handle hills and unpaved surfaces.

If you have steep hills in your neighborhood, make sure that the skateboard has sufficient power to climb them. Steep hills may necessitate the purchase of a dual wheel drive skateboard, which, as we have already stated, may be too complex for a new rider.

If your child will be riding the skateboard on unpaved surfaces, you may want to consider buying a model made specifically for off-road riding. These models have pneumatic tires for better traction and can ride well on just about any surface. However, if the roads around your home are not exactly smooth but not terribly rough either, you may get by with a model that has larger and softer wheels. Look for wheels that have a diameter of at least 80 millimeters and a softness rating of 76A or softer.

How Far Will Your Child Be Riding the Skateboard

Every electric skateboard has a distance range that specifies how far it can travel without recharging. If your child will be traveling long distances with the board, you want to make sure that the board can make it there and back, because there may not be charging options along the way. Keep in mind that the distance ranges manufactures list are based on riding along a level surface. If you have hills in your neighborhood, this will require the board to use more power, which means it will run out of power faster.

Other Considerations When Choosing an Electric Skateboard

If you live in an area with lots of wet weather, you may want to consider buying an electric skateboard that is water resistant, as many manufacturers of standard electric skateboards strongly advise against riding their boards in rainstorms.

If you plan to travel on airplanes with an electric skateboard, make sure that the board’s battery complies with TSA restrictions. Some skateboards have batteries that are too large to be taken on an airplane.

Finally, before buying an electric skateboard for your child, check with local law enforcement to make certain that such boards are legal, especially for children. Some municipalities forbid them and impose large fines on those who ride them.

The Top 5 Home Exercises For Busy Parents

15/08/2018

As a health-conscious, fitness-enthusiast parent, I want nothing more than setting a good example for my kids by paying attention to my body, remaining in good shape, and enjoy the boost of physical energy that being active gifts me with, every single day. Often, however, despite my best effort, reality ends up standing in my way.

Let’s face it, as a busy parent, juggling work, household, and child-rearing duties, often we simply can’t afford to lose the time driving to the gym or even spending heaps of time by hopping on the elliptical or going for a long jog or cycling session. Fortunately, as I’ve found out, if you are truly serious about your health and revamping your physique, you don’t even have to.

Take a look at the following exercise ideas designed to tighten your abs, sculpt your arms, lift your buttocks, and get you into shape in no time, without having to leave the comfort of your home. Easy-to-do in-between chores, before going to work, or even while playing with your kids, these workout ideas eliminate all those typical excuses that we usually allow to stand in our way to obtain that much-coveted ideal body.

1. Planks

Benefits:

  • improved core strength
  • toned tummy
  • better posture
  • stronger back
  • shapely upper arms

How To Do Them:

Get on the floor in a push-up position, elbows on the ground, right under your shoulders. You should balance on your toes and forearms, holding this position as long as you can, but at least 10 seconds. Add 5 seconds every day; before you know it, you will be able to maintain a proper plank for a minute or even longer.

2. Tricep Dips

Benefits:

  • sculpted triceps and shoulders
  • firmer arms
  • elimination of upper-arm “bat wings”

How To Do Them:

You can easily utilize a sturdy chair, the couch, or even your heavy, non-tipping kitchen table for this exercise. Place your hands on the edge, firmly gripping them, on each side of your hips. Next, lift your buttocks up from the seated position and begin to lower it by walking your feet forward slowly. You should be supporting your full weight with your arms and feet. Next, return to your starting position.

3. Counter Push-Ups

Benefits:

  • upper arm strength
  • sculpted back
  • lifted chest muscles

How To Do Them:

Facing your countertop, place your hands on its edge, shoulder-width apart. Step two steps backward. Next, slowly lower your upper body towards your hands and the edge of the counter, much like in the case of a regular push-up. Finally, return to your starting position.

4. Squats

Benefits:

  • stronger legs
  • sculpted glutes
  • shapely thighs

How To Do Them:

Place your legs about shoulder-width apart, facing forward. Next, slowly lower your rear end, as though you are trying to sit down on an imaginary chair. You can extend your arms in front of your body to help with your balance. Bend your upper body forward and stop moving downwards once your thighs are parallel to the floor. Return to your original position.

5. Glute Bridges

Benefits:

  • tightened glutes
  • toned hamstrings
  • slimmer hips
  • shapely legs

How To Do Them:

Lie on the floor on your back with your knees bent, feet flat on the ground. Let your arms rest on the floor by your sides. Next, slowly lift your hips off the ground and keep moving them upwards until they form a straight line with your thighs. After a few seconds, lower them back to the ground.

I hope you agree; these exercises don’t seem too difficult to incorporate into your busy daily schedule, as a parent. If you commit to doing a few sets of them daily, you will find -much like I did,- that getting into shape is simple, effortless, and doesn’t have to be time-consuming at all!

Planning a Summertime Wedding? Here Are Some Tips To Keep In Mind

04/08/2018

Summer is a beautiful season for a wedding and reception. Depending on where you live, summer also means dealing with high temperatures and lots of humidity. Even if you would like to have the ceremony outside, there are ways to ensure all your guests are comfortable and the setting is everything you could want. Start with these tips and the planning will go much smoother.

Choose a Theme in Colors That Are in Keeping With the Season

The right color scheme goes a long way toward creating the ambiance you desire. If you need inspiration for colors, consider the flowers that are native to the area and will be in full bloom. A combination of those colors can be used for the ceremony setting as well as the reception space. You’ll also find that using flowers and greenery that are in season leaves more of the budget to lavish on other elements of your big day.

Make It An Indoor/Outdoor Affair

Choose a venue that allows guests to enjoy elements of the indoors as well as the outdoors. One that will work nicely for the reception as well as the ceremony is great, since no one will have to drive from one location to the next. Consider a lodge with an open space overlooking a lake, a restaurant with a great view of the ocean, or even a stately mansion with a grove of trees between the home and a brook.

Think about holding the ceremony outdoors followed by an indoor reception. Along with providing a beautiful backdrop for exchange of vows, it will be much easier to move everything inside if rain moves into the area. It will also be easier to ensure the food is kept at the proper temperature and that the guests can enjoy the meal without being distracted by the heat.

Cooling the Outdoor Space

Holding the ceremony under a grove of trees or an open canopy does help everyone be more comfortable. Enhance that effect by renting freestanding air conditioning units to circulate cool air. You can also have paper fans prepared for the wedding and pass them out with the printed order for the ceremony. Along with providing a way for guests to fan themselves, you also ensure they have a keepsake of the event.

Consider the Attire for the Wedding Party

It’s possible to select attire for the the attendants and others that’s attractive and anything but heavy. Since you do plan on having the ceremony outdoors, you want to make choices that allow everyone to get the most of any stray breeze. A professional can help you choose attire for the bridal and the groom’s parties that’s the ideal colors, made from materials that allow everyone to breathe, and will hold up well even if the temperature is higher than anticipated.

Morning or Late Afternoon is Best

Timing is everything when you are planning a summer wedding. Afternoon ceremonies and receptions are fine the rest of the year, but a summer event should be held in the morning or the late afternoon. Doing so ensures your guests will enjoy the outdoor portion without feeling uncomfortable. That’s especially important if you are going with formal or semi-formal attire fore the ceremony.

Keep the Food Light

The reception menu should be free of any foods considered heavy. This is true even if you plan on holding the event in the late afternoon. Fruit and vegetable trays are great ideas. Shrimp cocktail, cucumber sandwiches, and gazpacho with pita bread is also worth considering. Caesar salads are also an option you will want to consider.

Remember that beverages should also be light. Sparkling water with fresh fruit for garnish works well. Flavored teas are also favorites this time of year. Desserts can include selections like shaved ice in several flavors or sherbets are also a great choice.

A Little Music for the Reception

It’s worth the money and effort to have a professional manage the music for the ceremony and the reception. A deejay can work with you to come up with the perfect set list for both. You can also ensure that the deejay controls the volume so guests can chat without having to talk over the music. When the time comes for the first dance as a married couple, the professional will know how to adjust the volume.

Work with a wedding planner to come up with the ideal venue and other elements. Start planning early on and it will be easier to ensure every detail is addressed. Above all, relax and let others take care of everything when the day arrives. All you should think about is enjoying the ceremony and the reception, and starting a new life with your beloved.