Friday Favorites Linky Party – Week 468

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Jennifer at Busy Being JenniferTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! [Read more…]

How to Apply for a Bike Loan with Zero Down Payment?

Two-wheelers are one of the most preferred vehicle choices, regardless of age or gender. While cars are also a sound investment, it is not the ideal choice for areas with high traffic like metropolitan cities. Two wheelers have the advantage of skipping this traffic and ensuring comparatively lower commute times. Moreover, a two-wheeler loan vehicle is relatively low maintenance. Here is a guide that dictates how you can apply for a zero down payment bike loan. But, before you decide to opt for a loan, make sure you meet these criteria:

The Eligibility Criteria

The minimum age to avail this type of loan can vary depending upon the type of creditor and the type of loan. If you are seeking a zero down payment loan, the minimum age requirement is 23 and a salary of above INR 20,000 per month. The loan amount secured can be anywhere between INR 3000 and INR 5 lakh.

Calculate the EMI Online Some of the best creditors will have an EMI calculator to help borrowers understand their loan amount, monthly EMI, total amount payable and tenure period in more detail. You can plan your expenses well in advance and moreover, decide whether a particular loan is feasible for your budget or not.

Application Procedure for the Loan

There are no provisions for a zero down payment bike loan. However, you can get one using funds from a personal loan.

The Personal Loan

A personal loan is a type of loan, which requires zero down payments and no collateral. However, personal loans have certain parameters that need to be approved of. They are level of income, your credit score, and credit history. If you have a great credit score, you can get instant loan approvals at the best interest rates. One of the biggest advantages of a personal

loan is that the creditor has no control over how you spend those funds. Hence, you can finance your bike using personal loans.

How to Apply for a Personal Loan?

Applying for a personal loan is very easy. You can follow these steps:

Step 1: You need to first fill the eligibility form that is available on the website of the creditor. Your eligibility will be automatically checked by the online tool.

Step 2: You must now look for various offers that are available on personal loans offered by different creditors and check whether you meet their eligibility criteria. Further, narrow down the list of options and then choose the best one based on requirement.

Step 3: You will receive an instant e-approval from the creditor.

This application is received electronically and representatives from the concerned department would get in touch with you. The status of your loan application can be further checked online or via SMS and emails.

Unfortunately, there is no zero down payment loan that you can avail directly. Hence, the best route to take is to be eligible for a personal loan first.

Tips for Good Daily Oral Hygiene

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DoMoreForYourWholeMouth #ColgatePartner #CollectiveBias ad

As a teenager I didn’t always take care of my teeth, and it resulted in cavities, pain, and a lot of extra dental work (not to mention, some high dental bills).  Like a lot of people, once I became an adult dental hygiene became a priority to me, and now I’m a mom this is even more true! Not only do I want to work harder to avoid those extra dental procedure, but I wish to set a good example for my son.  Today I’m going to share some tips for a good daily oral hygiene routine, which includes using Colgate TotalSF Advanced Whitening Toothpaste.

Hover over the above image to shop for great products for your oral health.

Brushing Properly

Obviously it is very important to brush your teeth twice a day.  I generally brush my teeth in the morning and right before bedtime, but if you can brush immediately after meals or after eating sweet or acidic foods that is a good idea.

You should also be sure you are brushing all areas of your mouth, including the front and back of teeth, along your gum line, the inside of your cheeks, and tongue.

It is also important that you brush for 2 minutes each time you brush.  Try looking at the clock when you start or finish.

Other Brushing Tips

You can also hum a tune or sing a song in your head to keep time and to help the time pass as you brush.  I do this a lot!  And it is very helpful.  I also sing when I’m brushing my son’s teeth; it entertains him and ensures that I brush his teeth for a proper amount of time.  (For him, we usually sing, “This is the way we brush our teeth.” But for myself any tune will do.)

Speaking of kids, I also make it a point to brush once a day with an “audience.”  My son is like my shadow, and he thinks it is funny to see Mommy brush her teeth, so in the mornings he’s usually there to watch.  It is a great way for me to set a good example and it keeps me on task.

Choosing the Right Toothpaste

I’ve always loved the Colgate brand, and I am very excited about new Colgate TotalSF.  It contains stannous fluoride as a new ingredient for a whole mouth clean, protecting your teeth, tongue, cheeks, and gums. The formula helps prevent plaque, gingivitis, bad breath and tartar build-up, and it has several important benefits that I look for in a toothpaste:

  • Sensitivity relief
  • Enamel protection
  • Breath freshening
  • Whitening
  • Fights Tartar
  • Cavity prevention
  • Helps Prevent Plaque
  • Protection against Gingivitis

I’m especially happy about the benefits for sensitivity, enamel and breath.  I deal with teeth sensitivity on an almost daily basis, so this is a MUST HAVE feature. Since I’m concerned with cavities and tooth loss, enamel protection is also very important.  And who doesn’t want to have fresh breath?

Colgate TotalSF is a great product, and I’d definitely recommend it to you.

You can pick up Colgate TotalSF in the dental hygiene aisle at your local Walmart.  Right now there’s also a great Ibotta offer for the product.

Choosing the Right Toothbrush

Every dentist I have ever had has recommended a soft bristle toothbrush.  I personally love Colgate soft bristle toothbrushes. I’ve bought them for years, usually in a pack of 4.  They have a sleek and simple design. They have bright colors. And most importantly, I love the style and feel of the bristles.

Flossing

Flossing is also extremely important.  Tooth sensitivity often kept me from flossing properly, but now I use easy-glide or easy-slide floss, and that makes flossing way less painful!  I also have a water flosser, which is a great thing and something I recommend.

Mouthwash

Rinsing with a good mouthwash after brushing is also important for getting that “whole mouth clean.”  My own dentist has also recommended that I dip my toothbrush in mouthwash and brush it along my gum line for extra protection against gingivitis.

Drink Water

Drinking water is also important to your dental and overall health.  I don’t drink very fast, so I like to buy the little 10 ounce bottles.  I can grab one of these and drink them relatively quickly, whereas I tend to sip on the bigger bottles longer and end up not drinking as much. (I guess it’s a mental thing for me.  I just have more success when drinking out of the smaller bottles.)

Our baby’s doctor also recommended to me that we drink more tap water, as it contains fluoride, another great thing for teeth.  I like to throw ice into a pretty straw cup and fill that with water. Something about having a nice looking cup just makes it more enjoyable, I think.

As always I welcome your thoughts.  If you have any great oral hygiene tips, I’d love for you to share them in the comments.

I also invite you to check out Colgate TotalSF Advanced Whitening Toothpaste for yourself.

Banana Oatmeal Applesauce Muffins


When you have a one year old, mealtime is an adventure, and it definitely takes a little planning, if you want to give your toddler the most nutritious meals as possible. Breakfast has become fairly easy for me. I generally make everything ahead of time.  In the morning  I just have to throw things on a plate and heat as needed. Thaxton really likes muffins, so we have those quite often. I’ve been making them from scratch in order to pack them full of nutritious ingredients. After baking a batch I then put what we will need for the week in a container in the fridge and I freeze the rest for later. (Currently I have 4 types of muffins in the freezer.)

My favorite muffin is banana, so I just had to make it the first muffin Thaxton would try.  As I searched for a healthy recipe, I wanted something with oatmeal and applesauce. Oatmeal has so many great health benefits, and applesauce definitely helps make a moist muffin; plus you have health benefits there too!  I also added spinach to the recipe; this is an ingredient you can leave out if it is a turn-off for you, but I assure you that it doesn’t take away from the taste, and it definitely adds more nutrients to your muffins!  Hope you’ll try and enjoy these Banana Oatmeal Applesauce Muffins! [Read more…]

Friday Favorites Linky Party – Week 467

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Jennifer at Busy Being JenniferTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! [Read more…]

Summer Infant Cushy Cart Cover Review + Other Summer Infant Products We Love

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. The opinions are my own.

I was a little slow to take Thaxton out places.  With this daily cycle of naps and bottles, it never seemed to be an ideal time, and I just don’t want to be the person at the store with the fussing baby.  It would have stressed me out, and I know it wouldn’t have been fun for Thaxton either.  I know people take babies out all the time; I’ve been shopping myself and have seen people with their sleeping newborn in the cart or in a carrier.  It’s just not my thing!  So for the most part, my husband did the majority of the shopping last year.

Now that Thaxton is 15 months old and only takes one nap a day, we have plenty of time to go shopping and do other activities with him.  Last fall I purchased the Summer Infant Cushy Cart Cover, and we love it!  I actually spent a lot of time looking at cart covers.  In fact, I looked at cart covers more than almost any other baby item.  One day I was looking at Instagram, and I saw someone had posted a photo of this lovely blue cover, I clicked and found out it was the same cover I’d been looking at for months, only in a different color. (The one I had saved in my cart was grey and green.)  I made up my mind and decide to purchase it!

[Read more…]

How To Make a Kid’s Room Safe

 

Fortifying The Home

Babies and children bring many joys to the home. Their energy and innocence can be a light that transforms a life. However, because of their curious nature, they can sometimes get themselves into a bit of trouble without meaning to. For parents who want to make sure their rooms are kid-friendly and safe, you should consider some of these tips.

1. Stowing Away Weapons

Many homeowners have weapons in the home either for safety or to complete a collection. While they may serve a purpose or just look really cool, they’re also just as fascinating to children. Even if you practice gun and knife safety with your children, the safer option is always to keep the weapons out of their hands in the first place. An effective method of doing that is to store them in a lockbox. As soon as you’re considering to have children in the home, you should find a locksmith like South Perth Locksmicks that service many suburbs in Perth to build you a lockbox that can keep those dangerous items safe. By stowing them away, the risk of your children finding them and playing with them is removed.

2. Store Away Medications

Every household has medication within it. While they may serve a medicinal purpose for you, in the hands of children, those medications could be toxic. You see a pill, but they likely see a colorful piece of candy. To keep your children safe, you should store and lock away those medications. You can do this by storing them in a lockbox as well. That way even particularly intelligent children have no way of breaking into the storage device and getting into your pills.

3. Carpet Instead Of Hard Floors

One aspect that families don’t always consider for their homes is their flooring in terms of safety for their children. While hardwood floors and laminate flooring may look nice, their hard exterior can create a problem for children who like to run and jump around. It’s a bit easier to injure their skulls and break their bones on a hard floor than a carpet. If the prospect of stains concerns you, one compromise that you can consider is to designate one room as the playroom and fill that room with carpet. In that room, the children can run amok as they need.

4. Stabilize Shelves And Dressers

A final aspect to consider is the shelves and drawers in your home. Children love to climb. One of those things they like to climb is shelves and drawers. If those items aren’t properly stabilized, they can fall and severely injure the child. To improve the safety of your home and ensure your child’s safety, you can easily attach a stabilizer to the shelves and drawers to make sure they don’t fall if a child attempts to climb them.

With these tips, you can keep your child safe in any room of your home.

Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 466

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Jennifer at Busy Being JenniferTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! [Read more…]

Children’s Book Review: Llama Llama Red Pajama

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. The opinions are my own.

Children's Book Review

I’m very excited about this month’s book review. My son received Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney as a Christmas present.  I wasn’t familiar with the book, but I instantly loved it, and so did Thaxton!  A few days after receiving the book, my husband casually called out the title of the book, and Thaxton walked to his room.  I was amazed after a moment when he returned with the book.  (To top things off, he had to grab the book from underneath a stack of books on the ottoman in his room. It wasn’t exactly right in front of him.  Now I have fun every day challenging him to with a game of “find a book.”  I call out titles and most of the the time he grabs the right book.)

 

Llama Llama Red Pajama

Llama Llama Red Pajama is a fun and upbeat bedtime story.  It has a great rhyme scheme and rhythm your baby will love, and all moms should be able to relate to the fun story line.  Llama Llama Red Pajama is ready for bed, but when his mommy leaves the room, all is not well.  Baby Llama starts out with a small whimper for his mama and gradually gets louder and louder in his cries for his Mama. [Read more…]

4 DIY roofing tips that will save you tons of money

 

People don’t like spending the money if they’re not forced to. This is especially true when it comes to home maintenance.

There are so many things on which we can save when it comes to cleaning, maintaining and fixing. One of the biggest culprits is the roof. This area of the house requires lots of attention. Most roofs last from 10 to 15 years but with enough time invested, this period can easily be prolonged up to 20 years. If you consider that the cost of a new roof can go up to thousands of dollars, it is obvious that a periodic maintenance can save you a lot of money.

There is no need to rely on roofing contractor, a roofing company or a roofing service. Here are some awesome DIY tips that will help you achieve that goal.

1. Make a periodic checkup

The most important things about roofs is consistency. Going to the roof once in 5 years or only when something is broken will not cut it. Instead, you need to make a continuous effort of checking the roof every 6 months and making the necessary fixes. By eliminating threats as soon as they appear, you’re making sure that the roof (as well as your house) don’t take any additional damage. Humidity can be really problematic and if you allow it to affect your home, leaks will appear overnight.

2. Remove faulty shingles

Most homes in America rely on shingles. These products are very cheap but are also very fragile. Stronger wind can easily blow them away. Debris can also be very damaging to them as well. This is why you need to detect issues and address them as soon as possible. If you think that the surrounding shingles are also troublesome, it is much better to remove them altogether. Shingles affect each other so when making repairs, you have to be sure that the issue is resolved.

3. Repairing gutters

Gutters can be really problematic. If there is any damage to them, rainwater will not be drained properly. Instead, it will start splashing the side of your house which can be a real problem (especially for wooden structures). Debris is another thing you need to pay attention to. During

autumn, a lot of leaves and smaller pebbles will end on your roof. If they are not removed, water will remain on the roof and will increase humidity potentially leading to leaks.

4. Check the chimney

Object that surrounds the chimney is known as flashing. Flashing is usually made from lighter metals which makes it prone to damage. Unfortunately, flashing is crucial for sealing the area. If it’s faulty, water will start penetrating your home.

With these simple but awesome tips, you will be able to repair your home as if you were a roofing contractor. Just make sure to be meticulous, pay enough attention to issues and react to them as soon as they appear.

Author’s bio: Doitrightroofing.ca is a roofing company in Vancouver with more than 10 years in business. They have hundreds of repaired roofs in their portfolio and are a BBB A+ rating roofing contractor.