Young At Heart Mommy

Managing Motherhood Through Love & Laughter

Discovering The Power Of The “Infographic” + 20 COOL Facts About Social Media

You read correct. I may be a noob but I discovered the “infographic” in its entirety today. I have always been aware of what an infographic is, even used it on my blog once or twice, but never actually utilized one to its full potential. In case you are in the same lonely boat as I am, an infographic is defined as a visual image such as a chart or diagram used to represent information. It contains eye catching elements while also delivering statistics or interesting facts in a poster like format. They look rather easy to create and design but are still chalk full of important info. They’re also fun to read and make for great conversation starters with friends, family, and your readers.
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Taking The STRESS Out Of Your Big Move!

Moving. It can be one of the most exciting milestones in your life but also the most stressful. Teenagers long to move out of their parent’s homes, newlyweds aspire about their first, and some families just enjoy hopping around the U.S living the American dream. Regardless of your unique situation there is one thing every mover has in common, the hassle of getting all those boxes packed and unpacked. That’s on top of not forgetting anything, getting rid of all the junk you don’t want to drag around, and finding the time in your busy schedule to do all of this! How about a safe and secure way to get those portable valuables to your new home? There are so many things to think about and consider when a move is in play. Reputable companies including 1-800-Pack-Rat, U-HAUL, and PODS help assist you in making sure all of your important items arrive safely to their destination while taking the stress off of your shoulders. A move is a BIG deal and it sure does take a lot of work.

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Did you know that 15% of the United States population makes a big move every year? Back in 2010 this included 6.7 million households! Typically I am not one of those people who fall into a statistic but I think it’s pretty neat to say I was one of those “movers.” In March of 2010 I made the long journey back to sunny South Florida from the crisp cold mountains of Colorado. My move was accompanied by a huge truck, over 50 brown boxes, a ton of bubble wrap, and plenty of empty tape rolls. It also left me completely exhausted and longing for a nap, maybe a hibernation! After experiencing a solid three moves in my entire life, I have developed my own short list of tips that I feel help to ease the process.

  • Be Prepared: Buy all of your supplies ahead of time and make sure you have more than enough. There is nothing worse than having to run back to the store mid-pack to get extra tape or bubble wrap! Durable boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper, tape, and a permanent marker are necessities.
  • Group Like Items Together: When packing your belongings be sure to sort like items together. This will make unpacking much easier and avoid any confusion of where something may go in your new space.
  • Pack Light But Efficiently: Don’t pack your boxes to the rim. It will make them too heavy and could cause the bottom to become fragile, leading to a rupture. This could actually damage your beloved belongings! 
  • Keep Parts Together: Whether it’s a piece of furniture or your TV mount, put all small pieces into individual labeled bags. There is nothing worse than going to put something together and you are missing one tiny screw or bolt.
  • Don’t Be A Pack Rat:  A move is the perfect time to get rid of all that junk you no longer use or need. Donate your unwanted items to charity or give them to a friend. It will lighten your load and give you an excuse to get a few new things too!
 
Keeping all of these things in mind I have had a smooth transition from each home throughout the years. It’s amazing what a little organization can do! Are you planning a big or small move with your family soon? If so, I would love to know what tips you have in addition to my own.
 

Make Every Night A Family Game Night!

There’s a lot going on during the week and even more on the weekends. I always feel like there is something to do, big or small. Whether it’s running errands or doing 3 loads of laundry, my hands are always full. To avoid pulling my hair our completely, I have found a relaxing way to wind down and enjoy time with my family. Game night! Everyone in my family enjoys exercising their minds and intellectual skills with a good board game. We play new games, old games, strange games, and games that just don’t make much sense at all! Games like Monopoly have developed into different versions and styles several times over the years. There is even an electronic banking edition. If that’s not evolution of a board game then I am not sure what it is. I’m curious to see what they come up with next…

Can you believe that over the past 9 years board game sales have more than doubled? I can’t say I am too surprised. When I walk into any toy section I notice that what once was a small wall of 20-30 games has now expanded to what seems an endless selection for all ages and interests. These games include those that are educational, strategic, competitive, complicated, trivia oriented, and my favorite- multiplayer! What fun is a game if you can’t play with more than one person? I love gathering around the table with friends or family to enjoy hours of game play, popcorn included of course. Take a look at the long and very interesting history of “board games” and where they originated. You may be surprised! Check the info-graphic below for additional information.

There are many games from my childhood that bring back the fond memories of friendly competition and endless laughs. Almost all of them come from my favorite brand, Hasbro. Hasbro has been making board games for years now. A few of their most popular games are Twister, Sorry, Operation, Monopoly, & Trouble. These are all classics that I grew up with and still own to this day. I think every family game night should include at least one of these. Incorporating board games into your traditions is a great way to get the family together and unwind from a busy week. The whole purpose of game night is to have fun so make sure to choose a game that everyone can enjoy together. Once you develop your own collection of board games, you will have an active arsenal for rainy day blues and boredom!

What board games, new or old, do you enjoy playing with your family?

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