Author: Erin Sluka

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NEW Sink Safe Knife Caddy – Review

Erin Sluka

I have partnered with Sink Safe for this feature

NEW Sink Safe Knife Caddy - Review

Let me share a not-so-funny, funny story! This past Christmas I was gifted a high quality knife set by my parents. When I got home Christmas evening and after unloading gifts from the car I began to open my knives so I can wash them. I have always bought cheap sets and never had razor sharp knives. When you remove a sharp knife from its packaging sleeve, it sort of narrows as you slide it off and then your fingers are suddenly under that sleeve and I sliced my pointer finger. Nothing major, but I had to stop the bleeding and grab a band-aid.

I then switched hands and not being a very great left-hander I did it again. I have 2 fingers that I soon realized I needed my butterfly band-aids for to get the minor cuts to close and stop bleeding. I decided perhaps it was a long day and I am tired and my husband is trying not to shoot puns and jokes and I grab the last chefs knife to move them back on the counter so I can wash them in the morning and….my ring finger caught the blade corner. Yes! 3 fingers were bandaged by the end of my clumsy knife moment! Enter Sink Safe….

Whether you are dealing with old or new knives or perhaps you are just clumsy like me, the Sink Safe knife caddy is your kitchen sink (and fingers) saver! Our home is brand new as of last August and this sink of our is already full of scratches from throwing knives and pans into the sink. The Sink Saver can help keep the knives tucked safely inside the injection-molded Santoprene sleeve.

The sleeve gives you an anti-slip surface with contoured top grip so you can store in or out of the sink tub and carry to the dishwasher or knife block safely. You can feel the quality and durability!

See how the knives are tucked safely inside? You don’t have to worry when sticking your hands blindly into the sudsy water, especially if the kids have dish duty. It has drain holes so you can even rince knives and utensils off through the sleeve before washing if you use the dishwasher.

Connect with Sink Safe on their website

Buy It on their website and it is available on Amazon!

Healthy Living

Mental Health Support For Everyday Life

Erin Sluka

Mental Health Support For Everyday Life

Mental health is a subject which people are becoming a lot more open about over the last few years, and it is something which you can always find support for in your life. If you are suffering from mental health issues, there are some things you can do in your life to make sure that you stay happy every day. Here are some quick tips to carry through into your every day life.

Ask for help

The last thing you want to do when you have issues with mental health is ask for help, however that it exactly what you need to do. Even if you think that you are being a burden, you are always better off asking someone for help if you are struggling because they will be able to understand and make arrangements for you. Think about asking a family member or a friend for some advice and see what they can offer you. You don’t need to be embarrassed!

Be yourself

It is more important than anything else in your life that you don’t try to live your life as someone else. You are a unique and wonderful person, and you should be able to be yourself at all times during your life. You deserve to be yourself so make sure that you are able to be happy and show people who you really are. This can honestly make a big difference to your happiness.

Write a journal

A journal such as http://bulletjournal.com can be the best decision you make when you have issues with your mental health. The reason for this is that you can distract yourself by writing things down and also pour out your emotions into a page. Being able to write things down is a really great way to lift a weight off your shoulders and it can allow you to come to terms with your feelings and really understand what they mean. Journaling each day can be a god send.

Get a pet

Getting a pet such as a cat or a dog can be the best possible thing you can do for your mental health. Having a support animal such as here https://www.certapet.com/faq/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-animal/ can be a great help to your mental health because you have an animal to look after and this can increase your confidence. Animals can also make you feel secure and happy every single day, and they are always there when you need them to be. You’ll never be short of a cuddle when you have a pet around!

Don’t get overwhelmed

The worst thing about mental illness is how easily you can become overwhelmed with your life. Things can become too much when you juggle your working life and your social life, but you need to remember that you don’t have to have everything figured out. If you struggle in certain situations there is no reason to force yourself to be in them. Be comfortable in your lifestyle and allow yourself to live in a way which makes your happy.

Take baby steps

Don’t make huge changes to your lifestyle at one time, it can be hugely dangerous to your mental state and this can be what sets you on a path of struggles. Think about taking small steps towards your end goal and don’t rush yourself into being independent. If you struggle with certain situations, take your time to integrate yourself in them, and work your way up to being able to tackle it head on and hopefully conquer it.

Make time for you

It is incredibly important that you take the time to yourself every so often. Being alone and having time to relax is something which is important for our stress levels and it can make a big difference to our health overall. If you have a jam packed schedule each and every week you need to take the time to free it up and have some time away from everything.

One night this week, clear your plans completely and make a point to stay in at home for the evening, have a pamper session and watch your favourite movies with a takeaway. It is such a simple thing to do but it will give you the chance to relax, refresh your mind and reset. When you come back from a break like this you will feel so much better about yourself and you will be motivated and ready to take on the world once more.

Healthy Living

How Dogs Can Help Kids with Autism and ADHD

Erin Sluka

Kids can have a hard time growing up, especially when they have conditions like autism and ADHD. This isn’t necessarily because of the condition (after all, they tend to grow into brilliant people), but due to ridicule from peers and an outdated mindset from teachers as well as other parents. It can feel like a downward spiral for kids and parents alike, but you may be surprised to discover that dogs are able to help children with autism and ADHD – and here is how.

How Dogs Help Build Social Skills

Research has shown that children who grow up with dogs have better social skills when they are older. There is a lot that dogs can teach them, like respect, kindness, and how to share. Additionally, a dog is the perfect foundation for children to learn about emotional attachments and friendship, as well as providing them with someone to practice their communication skills on.

How Dogs Can Help Kids with Autism and ADHD
Photo Source: Pexels

Dogs and ADHD

High energy levels, difficulty concentrating, and feeling like a coiled spring are not easy things for a child to deal with. It can be difficult for parents and children to work together to find ways to cope, but equally a child can end up feeling frustrated and alone. A dog is not just a confidant that will never tell a secret; they provide emotional support that will not judge or scold them. Plus, walking and playing with the dog is a great way to burn off extra energy – giving both parties something enjoyable and beneficial.

Dogs and Autism

Autism is a vast spectrum, and in many ways, it is true that there are no two autistic people who are exactly the same. However, regardless of where a child is on the spectrum, a dog can really help. As an example, there are some autism service dogs that are trained to detect and calm a meltdown, offering the child comfort and support when things become overwhelming, and it works excellently as a calming method.

On the other side of things, nonverbal children often struggle to fit in and express themselves, becoming frustrated and angry because they cannot communicate their wants. Dogs provide a companion that doesn’t mind, and that also expresses themselves in a way that is different. They do not judge, and a bond is often built quickly. In fact, it is often the case that nonverbal children or those with a limited vocabulary will find new things to say so that they can talk about their furry friend.

To Conclude

Dogs are wonderful companions for every member of the family, but for children with ADHD and autism, they can be a form of security and acceptance that they sorely need. You can find the resources and research for each of the points made here, as well as more information on how dogs are able to help mental health, here. Hopefully, this will help you to better understand and assist your children when they are struggling.

About the Author

Will is a freelance writer, his blog can be seen here . If you are interested in more information on the benefits of dog ownership including health tips, buyer’s guides and gear reviews, then check out his guides over at Dogowner.co.uk

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Car Talk, Deals, Education, Money Saver, Tips and Tricks

Finding The Best Car Insurance in Washington Is Full of Surprises…

Erin Sluka

Trying to find the best car insurance can be a trial. We all know the big car insurance brands: State Farm, Geico, Progressive, Allstate — but after browsing those sites, I’m never sure if I’m actually getting the best deals. So this time I used Clearsurance, and what I found totally caught me by surprise. All those household brands we all see advertised so often? They aren’t ranked very highly. Clearsurance, which is a website that collects reviews from people about their insurance company, uses the data it gathers to create unbiased rankings of car insurance companies, both by state and nationally for 2018. The detailed breakdown helps you compare companies and find coverage that’s actually the best deal for your location and driving history.

Once I got over my surprise, I decided to see what companies other consumers ranked as the best car insurance options in Washington and if my car insurer was rated highly by other consumers. I didn’t even recognize some of the companies that ranked ahead of the giants in car insurance, including my own insurer.

For instance, Amica Mutual, which offers a home ownership discount, was founded in 1907 and ranks as the third best company in all of Washington. Amica Mutual’s 4.46 rating out of 5 on Clearsurance is significantly higher than that of Progressive (4.16) and Allstate (4.1).

Take a look at what companies are ranked as the top 5 car insurers in Washington on Clearsurance:

  1. USAA — 4.68
  2. California Casualty Group — 4.47
  3. Amica Mutual Insurance Company— 4.46
  4. Metromile— 4.45
  5. American National Property & Casualty Company — 4.43

These aren’t the names we typically associate with car insurance. So why are these brands so much better than the big companies we all know? Clearsurance has tons of great information to help you navigate your car insurance coverage, and one of the things I discovered is that companies like Geico and Allstate spend billions of dollars a year on advertisements to become the names we think of when it’s time to buy car insurance or consider switching car insurance. But those advertising dollars have come to from somewhere, and it ends up driving up the cost of our insurance premiums.

 

Why should we be paying more to insure our cars so that our insurer can solicit new business?

For the most part, the companies rated highly in Washington are lesser known than the big names. But the bottom line is, they’re better. These are the companies that other policyholders have found offer fair prices with good customer service and claims handling.

Still, we’re not all eligible for these top insurers, and we don’t all have the same insurance needs. That’s something else Clearsurance understands and helps you navigate. For example, USAA is the best car insurance company for Washingtonians, but it only serves active and former military members and their families. And at a company like Metromile, it offers a multi-car discount. Plus, not all car insurance companies cover high-risk drivers, so if you have a lot of accidents on your record or a DUI, you may not be able to obtain coverage from one of these companies.

What’s a good option for high-risk drivers in Washington?

I did some digging into the car insurance companies that sell in Washington and offer policies to high-risk drivers, often referred to as non-standard drivers. If you’re looking for a cost effective option, The General offers affordable coverage. The General has a rating of 3.68. Consumers seem to believe The General offers cheap prices, but the low rates are reflected in the customer service and handling of claims.

 

Finding the best car insurance for you or your family shouldn’t have to be completely mind-boggling. Once you step outside the buzz of all those big name brands, figuring out which companies actually offer the best customer service at the best price becomes a lot easier, especially if you’ve got Clearsurance on your team.