All In A Days Work

There’s no other feeling that can top the one of becoming a parent. Having a child is more exciting than you could have possibly imagined, but with your new role as a parent comes a wide range of responsibilities as well. Keeping your baby safe at all times will be something you constantly preoccupy yourself with, and among all the aspects revolving around child safety, you’ll also have to consider traveling specifics. Driving with a baby can be stressful at first, and one of the things to handle is getting the right infant car seat. Options are plenty, but how can you choose the ideal one? Here’s what you should look for:

5-point harness

Because safety is the most important aspect to focus on, you should choose a model that comes with a 5-point harness, ensuring the still position of your little one throughout the entire ride. When you are choosing the right baby car seat and analyzing features, opt for a seat that has two waist straps, two shoulder straps and a strap between the legs, meeting in the middle.

Lightweight

To make things as easy on you as possible, it’s better if you get a model that is lightweight. Whether you want to take the baby out of the car, or put the seat in another vehicle, you shouldn’t have to lift a heavy element. If you read a few reviews of baby car seats, you’ll see that the best models now available on the market are usually lightweight.

Side-impact protection

Getting involved in a crash is certainly something you would want to avoid at any cost, but for extra protection, the baby seat you choose should incorporate side-protection. Air pods or extra foam at the sides will keep your child safe during a harsher drive.

Versatility – convertible features

Babies grow quite fast, and if you are planning to invest a fairly large amount in the infant car seat, you probably want to use this element for more than a few months. Nowadays, you will come across quite a few models that have convertible features available. Convertible seats can last you throughout toddlerhood, preventing the need of a repurchase when your infant grows a bit older.

Compatibility with the LATCH system

Make sure you have checked where the LATCH attachments are in your vehicle. The LATCH system is a way of fastening the base, without actually using the seatbelt. When checking out a bay car seat model, figure out if it’s actually compatible with your car’s latch system.

Easy to clean

Everyone knows how messy infants can get, so you’ll find yourself cleaning the baby seat quite often. To not waste too much of your time with this task, opt for a seat that is easy to clean, preferably one with a machine-washable cover.

These are usually the factors that parents are advised to consider, when trying to find an infant car seat to cover their needs. Regardless of budget, try to look for these particular features first, and your money will be wisely spent.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups white rice
• 1 lb sausage links cut into thin slices
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 medium onion, medium dice
• 1 bell pepper, medium dice
• 3 C water, plus additional if needed
• 4oz can tomato paste
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp butter
• Dash of Cayenne pepper to taste
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Cook sausage until browned in a large pot over med-high heat
• Add bell pepper, onion, and garlic and cook until translucent – about 3 minutes
• Add butter and rice, cook until rice is slightly browned – about 3 minutes

• Slowly water and remaining ingredients, stir to incorporate thoroughly.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and cover. Let cook for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
• If you need more water add small amounts as needed.  Cook until rice is tender.
• Enjoy!  ☺

* Note white rice makes a sticky rice so your rice will be sticky and not fluffy.

Yields: 4-6 servings

Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 30 minutes | Total: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

3 large chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

6 slices of nitrate-free bacon, cooked and crumbled

4 jalapenos, seeded and sliced lengthwise into strips

8 oz cream cheese, softened

½ teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon paprika

½ cup heavy cream

¼ cup chicken stock

1 cup colby-jack cheese, shredded

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Evenly lay the shredded chicken in a 2 quart casserole dish.
• In a small bowl, mix together onion powder, garlic powder and paprika. Sprinkle on the chicken.
• In a mixing bowl, add softened cream cheese, heavy cream and chicken stock. Mix well until combined. Spread in an even layer over the spiced chicken.
• Add the jalapeno pepper strips over the top of the cream cheese layer – mostly covering the surface.

• Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top and place in preheated oven to bake for 25 minutes.
• Remove from oven and add crumbled bacon. Place back in the oven for 3-5 minutes. Serve warm.

Balancing your finances is tough enough, but balancing your finances as you collect benefits is even more difficult. Even though your income is gone (or significantly decreased), you still have expenses. You’ve got to buy food, pay rent, and make sure the bills are dealt with. It can be a complex balancing act, and it’s not surprising that so many people struggle to make it happen.

Fortunately, there is financial help available for people collecting benefits. Including loans for people on Centrelink and other financial service from non-profits. Here are a few things you should know:

The First Step is Understanding Your Resources

Today, there are dozens of programs designed to help people with little or no income to meet their specific needs, including food, housing, and utilities. For many people, though, finding these resources can be a hassle.

If you’d like to save time and effort, your first step should be contacting your local joblessness center. This one-stop-shop can connect you with many of the aid programs in your area and ensure that you’re getting access to the assistance programs you need. You may also find resources you weren’t expecting, like access to job seeking assistance or counseling services.

Government Benefits 101

If you’re collecting government benefits, you can learn a great deal about your account at Benefits.gov. This site will help you understand the ins and outs of your particular benefits program and access additional organizational or logistical assistance. It’s easy to search the site by state. You can also look up benefits programs according to the agency.

Even if many of the resources you find aren’t helpful for you, this is an excellent place to access the input and assistance you need to keep your finances organized while you collect government benefits.

Community Agencies

If you’re struggling to manage your finances while collecting benefits, don’t overlook local agencies. Local organizations like the Community Action Agency (CAA) and other nonprofit organizations offer a wide variety of resources for people collecting benefits. These agencies can help you with things like housing, utility bills, and affordable groceries. They’re also an excellent place to find financial education classes and more.

Balancing Your Finances

The financial management muscle gets stronger with consistent exercise, and excellent financial skills are learned, not born. If you’re struggling to manage your finances as you collect benefits, you’re not alone. Fortunately, you also don’t have to live like this forever. By understanding the financial resources available to you and knowing how each can help you manage your benefits and your budget, you can move yourself to higher financial ground. So, what are you waiting for? Go get your financial life in order today!

Just because your loan is paid off, or you hit the 100,000 mile mark doesn’t mean you have to start car shopping – if you treat your car right, nowadays cars can last to 200,000, 300,000 or sometimes even longer. Here’s some simple tips to help make your car last longer.

Don’t Cut Corners
Don’t cut corners to save a buck – to help extend the life of your engine when you have your oil changed use a high grade filter, and pay a bit more for the high quality synthetic oil. In cold weather, this will help maintain the oil’s fluidity and it will be less likely to break down when the engine gets hot. While it cost you more upfront, it saves you money in the long run helping your engine last longer; same thing with the good filter, it can help eliminate any unwanted particles from the oil.

Always Maintain Your Fluids
Your owners manual will tell you that you probably don’t need to check your power steering, brake fluid or coolant for the first few years, but honestly it’s a smart idea to check at least every 20k miles. Make sure its consistent, and if any feel gritty or smell funny, you’ll probably need a fluid change.
If your orange coolant is dark red, most definitely change it! Also if it’s cloudy – that means your engine may need service. It wouldn’t hurt to change the transmission fluid every 35k miles or so and of course, using high-quality transmission fluid as well, which will offer better protection if the transmission gets hot .

Baby Your Baby
If your car has been parked over night (or especially if it’s been parked longer) don’t just start up and drive off. During the period it has been sitting the oil settles in the oil pan leaving moving parts in the engine without lubrication. Wait at least a minute or so to allow your car to warm up without revving the engine, so that the oil pump can do its job.

Slow and Steady Win the Race
This is more than just road rage – you don’t need to accelerate quickly, or slam on the brakes, or throw your car into reverse before you are fully stopped – all of those things can really wear on your vehicle – and break it down before it should be.

If you take the time to keep up the maintenance and treat your car right, it will treat you right back. You should be able to keep watching that odometer rolling several thousand miles more than you ever thought possible!