Tag Archives: COVID-19

Taking Care of Your Toddler While Staying at Home

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Being a parent to a toddler is a hard task. And despite the fact that we’re all mostly home due to the ongoing health crisis, the additional household chores, work, and stress make it even more of a challenge.

parenting, toddler,

Luckily, you can overcome the additional workload by staying organised and getting the respite you need. So here are four tips for taking care of your kids at home during these trying times.

Schedule your day

The first step to balancing your work and parenting load is to create a schedule. How many hours or projects do you have to accomplish in a day? In between those hours, set some time for your toddler’s needs, such as feeding and playing. If you run your own business or are a freelancer like mother-of-two Catherine Balavage, then you can be more flexible with your schedule. Otherwise, your company might require you to work for set hours. In this case, it helps to inform your employer about your situation and send in a tentative schedule. They may even have maternity policies to help you out.

Keep them entertained

Keeping your children entertained allows you to focus on your other tasks. In the Irish Times’ article on keeping children entertained, they mention that toddlers are at that age when they want to ‘feel useful’ and are always in the mood to ‘sort’ stuff. For this reason, you can have them do home-play activities such as cooking and cleaning. Kitchen set toys and even a small broom might keep them occupied for a while. To satisfy their urge to sort, you can leave them with simple activities like arranging laundry into piles or different-coloured pasta into groups. Their curiosity has the potential to keep them entertained for hours.

Go out for some fresh air

Staying cooped up in your home is not good for you or your toddler’s health. If you have a garden, now is the time to maximise it. But if you don’t have one, or are simply looking for a change of scenery, you can always go out for a quick stroll. In case you’re worried, the BBC reports that walks are actually highly encouraged now, as adults can use the time to unwind and boost their immune systems. Of course, you’ll need to take trips sparingly to minimise risk. Additionally, it helps to have the necessary equipment to ensure your child remains even safer and more comfortable during these walks. According to iCandy’s guide to pushchairs, a harness and a parasol can help keep your little one protected while you’re out and about. This ensures that they won’t fall out of the pushchair or get too much exposure to the sun. You don’t need these concerns on top of everything else that’s going on, so being prepared will allow you to make the most of your daily walks.

Prepare meals in advance

Meal prep can take up a lot of time, but it will help you manage your day-to-day schedule if you have your toddler’s food ready in advance. It helps to start prepping during the weekend when you have more time. In this regard, Smart Mom Ideas lists a couple of children recipes you can store in the freezer to be eaten for the entire week. The list includes comfort food like chilli mac, small bites like mini pizzas, as well as bulk meals like casseroles.

The current situation won’t last forever. But until things go back to normal, you have to be able to adapt and work around your situation. It will sometimes be overwhelming, but by keeping these tips in mind, it doesn’t have to be too complicated all the time.

Author’s Bio

Jean Baker is a freelance writer and a mother of two beautiful daughters. She does a lot of reading in her spare time, and has opted for this kind of flexible lifestyle to be there for her kids.

No Sew Face Mask Video Tutorial | Make Your Own Face mask

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face mask, home made, how to make, pillow case, make a face mask, coronavirus, covid-19

face mask, home made, how to make, pillow case, make a face mask, coronavirus, covid-19
 

Thanks to the amazing lovecrafts.com for these tutorials.

A Connected World: 4 Top Social Activities to Enjoy Online

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social networking, coronavirus, social media, covid-19, staying in touch, staying connected.

Source: Pxfuel.com

Staying in touch is harder than ever. But in times like these, social interaction is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Fortunately, the digital world is well-prepared to keep you communicating and entertained. There is a range of platforms out there dedicated to bringing people together as much as providing great services. While many of them were already popular, their value to consumers is especially apparent now. 

Below are four examples of online activities that have gathered very happy audiences. What is just as impressive is the variety of social entertainment actually available. Whatever your hobbies and interests, you will find something to connect you with friends, family or complete strangers with common interests.
Video Chatting

Demand for telecommunication software that can handle several users at the same time has skyrocketed. Can you imagine the pressure put on brands like Skype and WhatsApp, their status and expertise tested as rivals surge to cover group chat needs? Many would say that Zoom is the most effective of the lot, as it supports everything from conference meetings to fitness classes. Its competitors are on the offence, though, helped by reports that Zoom is not doing so well in terms of the security and privacy it affords users. All these apps are sucking up the attention and striving to maintain, if not improve, users’ experience.
Dating

It is not just about meeting someone special. Several people go on dating apps to simply chat and connect with new faces in their area or even around the world. This friendly, straightforward attitude is what the Badoo Android audience enjoy, for example. A simple design that gives you the chance to filter straight to the kinds of people you want to talk to, with so many opportunities for stimulating conversation. It’s one of the many perks of digital connectivity that make socialising remotely more fun and comfortable.
Video Gaming

When you run out of things to talk about, what do you do? Play games! Social media and video chatting platforms have loads of entertainment for multiple players, whether casual or more intense. But there are bigger titles too that allow a far more exciting way to connect. A great example at the moment is Animal Crossing, Nintendo’s simulation series that is constantly adding new members. Why fight dragons when you can build a home in a virtual world populated by cute animals? It was perhaps the social elements of this game that have made it such a hit, paired with a wholesomeness many gamers appreciate.
TV and Movies

For more laidback fun at home, streaming services are gradually introducing group-watching features. As if Netflix was not popular enough, it now allows for access to a party mode. You simply start by picking a programme and then share the link with a bunch of friends so you can enjoy it together – perfect for a remote Star Wars marathon. Keep in mind, though, that Netflix Party only works on Google Chrome browsers. Apart from minor details like these, great evenings of laughs and popcorn are still very much on the table.
Your day can be as calm or epic as you want. Try out these highly-rated options or explore what other fun you can have with your friends online. You can at least be sure that your entertainment needs are covered. Whether you are in the mood for World of Warcraft or a coffee chat, the digital world is here to serve.

Sponsored Post.

Takeaway hacks from top chefs

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food, food tips, takeaways, hacks, coronavirus, covid-19

We love takeaways at Frost so we thought we would share these top hacks on how to improve a takeaway using ingredients in your cupboard.

James Cochran – 12:51
Pizza: I always add soy sauce to a takeaway pizza, it brings out the sweetness in the tomato whilst intensifying the cheesey umami goodness.
Curry: Always order more naan than you need. With the leftovers, add cheese, lime pickle, plain yogurt, and chilli sauce and grill for a delicious new dish, perfect for a weekend brunch or hangover snack!
Kebab: Order a proper chicken shish kebab and when you’re waiting for it to arrive, make up a packet béarnaise sauce. Pour it all over the kebab when it’s all nice and hot. Game changer

Pip Lacey – Hicce
Pizza: Even the worst takeaway pizza can be improved with a hit of chilli. I keep lots of Thai green chillies in the freezer so I can add them to takeaway pizzas when needed. Also, if you ever see chilli oil in a sachet, grab a few extras for future pizzas and go to town with it.
Chicken Wings: Whatever cuisine you decide to order, if they do chicken wings – add them! Chicken wings are always a good idea.
Sushi: Always ask for extra wasabi with any Japanese takeaway. If the flavours are lacking then the wasabi will add a welcome hit of heat and always make sure you have soy sauce In the house.
Curry: Keep a jar of mango chutney in the house. They never send enough with the poppadoms and always get two poppadoms each so you’re not fighting over the crumbs.

Tom Booton – The Grill, The Dorchester
Burger: If I get a burger delivered, I have to make my dirty mayonnaise for the chips. It’s made up of two parts mayonnaise, one part tomato ketchup, one tablespoon chopped capers & gherkins and a dash of tabasco to taste. I always have a pot of it in the fridge! It’s banging with a steak.

Ben Tish – The Stafford Collection
Curry: If I’m ordering an indian, I’ll always get roti on the side. To refresh them, I get a frying pan very hot and then flash fry the roti on both sides for a minute or so. It gets them nice and fresh and crispy. Also chopped fresh coriander and a squeeze of lemon juice adds a zip to any curry if it needs livening up a bit.

Martin Sweeney – The Petersham
Fish and chips: Unless you’re eating them right away, ask for just salt and add your favourite vinegar when you get home, this will keep the chips from getting sweaty and soggy in the bag. Mix brown sauce and vinegar and get dipping, it sounds odd but it’s a staple in Edinburgh and it works surprisingly well!
Curry: The most consistently disappointing thing about curries is the condiments. Knock up a quick raita at home from natural yogurt, cucumber and mint and keep a jar of good quality mango chutney handy. Give soggy naans a flash in the oven to re-crisp.
Fried chicken: Fried chicken goes well with pickled gherkins – the salt and vinegar compliments the hot, crispy chicken wonderfully. Slice up some gherkins at home for a sour refresher between bites of chicken. I’d also mix a bit of pungent blue cheese with jarred mayonnaise for a great cheesy dip.

Sara Lewis – Vintry & Mercer
Curry: For the two of us, our usual failsafe order is one crunchy starter, one rice, a veggie side dish, a main and a naan bread. Follow that equation and you can’t go wrong! I always love to make a dipping yogurt when we’re waiting for the delivery with natural yogurt, add a little smoked paprika and some lemon zest, some dried mixed herbs and finely sliced cucumber. To jazz up the rice dish, we always saute some onions, peas and egg with turmeric and occasionally a pinch of saffron so we can turn our regular pilau into a yummy fried rice.
Pizza: If we are ordering a pizza, we love to add some fresh rocket and parma ham on the top and a drizzle of Spanish extra virgin olive oil. Delicious!

Coronavirus SARS-COV-2 Health Advice From GPDQ’s Dr Gero Baiarda

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NHS GP Dr Gero Baiarda is one of the hundreds of GPs currently on-call at GPDQ – the UK’s leading GP-on-demand service. Dr Baiarda has myth-busted 10 common beliefs associated with the SARS-COV-2:

The virus is a living organism that we can kill. It is not alive. It is a protein chain of RNA within a protective layer of fat. Since the virus is a protein super molecule rather than a living organism, you cannot kill it. It will, however, decay spontaneously given enough time. The time it takes to break down depends on the environmental temperature, humidity and type of material upon which it settles.

People are most contagious before they even know they have the virus. This is untrue. Infected cells are invaded and destroyed by the virus, allowing millions of new viruses to burst forth and be shed on surfaces or passed to other people. Spread is most effective, therefore, in coughed droplets. Patients who are asymptomatic can, however, pass on the virus as soon as they are infected.

SARS-COV-2 is a hardy virus. It isn’t. SARS-COV-2 is surprisingly fragile. The only protection it has is a thin outer layer of lipid or fat. That is why any soap or detergent (both of which break down fat) will destroy it – even washing up liquid works well. By dissolving the external lipid layer of the virus, the virus is rendered completely inert and unable to penetrate human cells. Hence why washing hands often with soap and water is so important.

If delivery drivers wear gloves, they won’t spread it. This is wrong. Every item that a gloved hand touches can then be contaminated. According to a recent study from the New England Journal of Medicine, the virus can live up to eight hours on cardboard. To stay safe, the best advice is not to touch the parcel until ideally the following day.

The virus can’t be passed on by food. It can be transferred easily. If someone who has the virus on their hands touches food, it is very likely to become contaminated for many hours. To denature and inactivate the virus, food should either be washed or cooked at 65 degrees celsius at least for 4 minutes or more.

Alcohol-based sanitizer with a 60 percent alcohol concentration is as effective as washing your hands in soap and water. Wrong. Squirting a little bit of alcohol gel on your palms and rubbing them together is not effective. You need to cover the entire surface of both hands including fingers and thumbs, but this should be done only after the hands are free of any residues – such as after sneezing. The small nozzle on bottles of sanitizer are part of the problem, as people assume a small amount is ample.

Drinking alcohol will prevent people getting the virus. This is not true. The only alcohol that will help to prevent the spread of the SARS-COV-2 is that in hand sanitizer. This is only for external use, and even then, it is only effective if it has a concentration of 60 percent or above, if you use enough, and in the right way.

Moisturising hands after washing reduces cleanliness. Incorrect. Moisturizing the skin is very important. The virus can lodge itself in damaged skin on your hands cracked by repeated washing, so it’s important to try to avoid this. Keeping fingernails short will reduce the risk of sheltering and passing on the virus too.

Washing hands isn’t as important when self-isolating, as you’re all virus-free. Wrong. If there are any external items (shopping / deliveries / post etc) entering your home, hand washing remains important. Every time you wash your hands you will break the chain of infection. If in doubt, give them a wash! Do this for at least 20 seconds with warm, soapy water and if you have paper towels that you can throw away, this is better than using a communal towel. If using towels, dedicate one to each person in the house, keep them separate, and wash them daily.

Vinegar is good for keeping bathrooms and kitchens free of the virus. Incorrect. Vinegar will not work against SARS-COV-2 and is not advised. The cleaning of bathrooms, kitchens and surfaces is still best carried out with hot water from the tap and a surface detergent as you have always done. If you have a case of SARS-COV-2 in your house and want to disinfect common areas, you can use a dilution of household bleach or hydrogen peroxide – this is a mild antiseptic.

Pale Green Dot Start Fresh Fruit and Veg Box Home Delivery Initiative

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veg delivery, fruit and veg delivery, food delivery, coronavirus, COVID-19, fruit, veg, vegetables, London, delivery, food delivery, Pale Green Dot supply the finest quality fresh, seasonal and local produce to some of London and the South East’s finest restaurants year round. In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, with so many restaurants sadly having to close for the foreseeable, their premium quality fruit and veg is now available for the public to order for themselves to be delivered straight to their door.

 

The quality of produce is sensational, and allows  members of the public to avoid supermarket shopping, perusing empty shelves and bringing home simply whatever might be left available.  The Essential Fresh Produce Box (£12.50) includes traditional root veg (onions, swede, beetroot, carrots, potatoes), leaves and green veg (salad bag, Savoy/Tundra cabbage, leeks), coloured veg (peppers, vine tomatoes, aubergines) and local fruit (apples, pears). The Veg and Staples Box (£20) includes all of the above as well as milk, bread and eggs as well. Boxes can be delivered as a one off or even weekly.

“We are getting amazing quality fresh farm produce to people in their homes at an affordable price.  We’re so proud to be doing our bit to keep British farmers and our Pale Green Dot family in work whilst supplying the public with fantastic quality produce at this time.” says Jo Farish from Pale Green Dot

 With supermarkets running low on fresh produce as it is, this new initiative gives people a fantastic opportunity to stay healthy and nourished with restaurant quality fruit and veg at a fair price.  As well as this, the initiative also gives security to their farmers who at this time may feel incredibly anxious about supply and demand in the hospitality industry.

Thanks to this initiative, the farmers and growers who work for and with Pale Green Dot have new clientele through these times to keep business going until things return to normal and supply can begin again for the hospitality industry.  As well as growing and farming, Pale Green Dot employees are also helping to deliver these fresh produce boxes around London and the South East to those who aren’t just running low on fresh supplies but also those who cannot leave their homes at this time.

Orders can be made via the website.  Pale Green Dot aims to deliver boxes by the next working day but of course delivery times will be determined by demand and capacity during these unprecedented times.

To keep minds at ease, Pale green Dot are implementing the highest safety and hygiene standards across the board when it comes to both packaging and delivering in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

 

Orders can be made via this link – www.palegreendot.co.uk/veg-box

www.palegreendot.co.uk

Things I am Doing During The Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic

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coronavirus, COVID-19, staying sane, healthy, self isolation, social distancing, 2020 has brought the super scary coronavirus, official name COVID-19, to our lives. We live in uncertain times and I think we are all feeling anxious. Social distancing is essential at the moment but has an impact on our mental health. Ditto for self isolation. Well, as I saw on Facebook, our grandparents were asked to go to war. All we have to do it read and watch Netflix.

I have young children so hunkering down and binging on Netflix is sadly not an option for me. But I am doing the following things for myself.

Learning a language everyday. I do Duolingo which is amazing and free as well as Babble.

Reading. I am lucky to get sent a lot of books. I even got sent one from one of my favourite authors, Adele Parks, today. I read when my children let me or when they have gone to bed.

Staying active. We are lucky to have a garden but there is also a lot of stairs in our house. Cleaning and tidying are good but it is important to do actual exercise. The NHS recommends 150 minutes a week.

Keeping in touch with my friends and family via WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and FaceTime. I am lucky as a self-employed freelancer that I am used to not having a lot of people around me. I do miss it though!

Switching off. Sometimes I just put my phone away and turn the TV off. The constantly rising numbers and scare stories can be too much.

Eating as healthily as possible. Food is medicine. There are few greater truths in life.

I also watch TV or try to watch a film. It is good to keep my mind of things.

After my surgery last year and then getting a life-threatening illness (pneumonia and pleurisy. In both lungs because I like to go all out, clearly) I appreciate the small things in life. Sometimes I am in the garden or even just having a shower and I realise how much of a miracle life is. There is beauty everywhere.

For my children.

I am making sure I take them out into the garden. We play football usually but my daughter also loves bubbles. I read them a lot of books and they do a lot of writing too. I am trying to work on their development as much as possible with various toys and games. I have two under four so they are still at a crucial stage in their development.

My daughter is too young to know what is happening and my son is not worried. I am thankful for this. I shower them with kisses and cuddles every day.