Posts by Wendy S

About Wendy S

+Wendy S (also known as @mapsgirl) is a mom to two daughters. They are the inspiration of this blog.Passionate about child passenger safety, Wendy has been a certified Car Seat Technician in Ontario, Canada since 2008.

The Importance of Self-Esteem and Ways to Improve It

July 26, 2022 by Wendy S

Self-esteem is a term that is often thrown around, but what does it actually mean? In essence, self-esteem refers to the way you view yourself. It can be broken down into two categories: global and specific. Global self-esteem is your overall opinion of yourself, while specific self-esteem is your opinion of yourself in relation to a particular task or situation. Many people struggle with their self-esteem, and there are several ways to improve it. This blog post will discuss what self-esteem is, why people struggle with it, and ways to improve it!

Photo by Anna Shvets

What is the term Self-Esteem?

Self-Esteem is essential because it impacts everything we do. It is the foundation of our beliefs and opinions about ourselves. It determines how we interact with others and how we see ourselves in relation to the world around us. People with healthy self-esteem tend to be more successful in life, have more beneficial relationships, and are overall happier than those with low self-esteem. So, why do so many people struggle with it?

Why do so many people struggle with low self-esteem?

There are a number of reasons why people might have low self-esteem. One reason is that they might have experienced trauma or abuse in their past. This can leave them feeling worthless and undeserving of good things in their lives. Another reason is that they might have been raised by critical or overbearing parents who made them feel like they were never good enough. They might also have been the victim of bullying or teased by their peers, leading to low self-esteem. In addition, many people have a negative view of themselves, even if they don’t have any specific reason to feel that way. Whatever the reason, it is essential to understand that it is possible to improve your Self esteem.

How to improve your self-esteem

There are many ways to improve your self-esteem. One way is to focus on your positive qualities and accomplishments. For example, write down a list of things you like about yourself, both physically and personality-wise. Remember, everyone has flaws – focus on what makes you unique and special! Another way to improve your self-esteem is to set realistic goals for yourself and strive to accomplish as many as possible. This will help you feel more capable and competent, boosting your self-esteem. Finally, surround yourself with positive people who will support and encourage you. This will help you feel good about yourself and remind you that you are worth caring for and spending time with!

Self-esteem is an integral part of our lives that impacts everything we do. If you struggle with low self-esteem, know that it is possible to improve it! By focusing on your positive qualities, setting realistic goals, and surrounding yourself with positive people, you can boost your self-esteem and feel better about yourself.

How Can You Cut The Costs Of Your Family Camping Trip?

July 23, 2022 by Wendy S

Camping vacations are an excellent way to save money. You can either camp in a tent or stay in a caravan. The nicest part about camping is that you can prepare your food, which is inexpensive. Camping vacations are popular since they are inexpensive and allow you to do anything you want when you want. There are methods to lower costs even further if you try a few cost-cutting strategies. Here are some advice and tips for saving money when planning a camping trip this summer.

Photo by Djordje Petrovic

Stay Close To Home

You don’t have to go far to get a complete change of scenery. Swapping a long drive for an hour or two to a local beach or rural location saves money and stress, and it’s also better for the environment.

Stick To A Simple Camping Kit

There’s no need to invest in expensive equipment unless you plan on camping frequently or in harsh weather. Focus on the essentials, such as a good tent and a comfortable sleeping bag, before branching out with items you already own. Bring blankets and old pots for cooking, and never underestimate the ability of a warm pair of socks and a woolly hat at night. You should also think about packing a 18650 batteries button top so you have access to rechargeable batteries on your trip.

Research Your Camping Equipment

Even if locating a cheap campsite is simple, you must still bring all of your equipment, which can quickly add up if you are not careful.

Before purchasing a tent, camping stove, or even a coolbox, see if any of your friends or family members have one you can borrow. People may even wish to give their equipment away permanently to make room in their garage or loft.

You may even borrow a campervan or caravan instead of purchasing one. “Many people don’t understand that you can even borrow a motorhome – a simple and cost-effective solution for those willing to try it for the first time,” explains a Pitchup spokeswoman.

Shop Out Of Season

Spring and summer are usually the most expensive periods to buy camping equipment, so if possible, wait until late summer, autumn, or even the January sales, when many stores will be selling off last year’s stock.

Signing up for email alerts from your favourite merchants will also notify you of any upcoming discount events.

Plan And Pack Ahead

Buying something at the last minute frequently means paying more for it, whether it’s a next-day delivery sleeping mat or a can opener from the corner store. Make a packing list well in advance of leaving and double-check that you have everything before departing to avoid any surprise purchases.

Take Your Food

Eating out is part of the fun of going on vacation, but it can get pricey if you do it every day. Bringing meals from home to eat on-site will help you save money, especially if you’re just heating things on the stove or campfire rather than cooking from scratch.

Create Your Own Entertainment

Camping is more than simply a cheap vacation; it also comes with its own brand of outdoor amusement, much of which is either free or inexpensive.

On a family camping trip, a frisbee, a football, and some campfire marshmallows will go a long way – and you can even make the preparation and cooking of an outdoor dinner into a fun activity if you approach it correctly.

Do you have any other ways of cutting down the cost of your family camping trip? Please share some ideas in the comments below.

How to Feel Clean and Fresh when You’re on a Long-Haul Flight

July 13, 2022 by Wendy S

If you are an avid traveller, then you will know that long-haul flights are the worst. That being said, there are things that you can do to try and make your life easier.

Pack a Change of Clothes

The first thing that you need to do is try and pack a change of clothes if possible. This will usually include a change of socks, a pair of jeans, and some underwear. Ideally, you’ll need a new shirt as well. Try and dress as comfortably as possible when on your long flight because if you don’t, then you may find that you end up struggling overall. Loose shirts and nice baggy pants are always a welcome addition. Prior to landing, you can easily go to the bathroom to change into some nicer clothes. By being comfortable, you can also make it easier to fall asleep, so be mindful of this if you can.

Source: Pexels — Julia Volk

Bring some Wipes with You

The aeroplane you travel on will usually be very cold and dry. This is usually because of the air conditioning. If you can, you need to try and bring some little bottles of moisturising cream for your face and body. This will help you to feel more refreshed, and you may find that it gives a nice smell to your face and arms. One of the things that you may try and avoid before you get on a plane is using make-up. You want to be able to wipe down your face if it gets dry and doing this with make-up on will simply make it run. If you want to avoid this, then try and avoid putting too much stress on the situation and apply your makeup when you arrive. Want some good cleansers? You can find some here.

Deodorant and Perfume

This may sound a little strange but the best way for you to keep yourself feeling fresh is to smell good. The best thing that you can do is try and put some perfume on before you depart. You also need to try and use deodorant regularly as you travel on long-haul flights. This will keep you feeling great, and it will also help you to make the most out of your journey.

Bring some Brushes

If you can attempt to brush your teeth when you are at the airport, then this will have you feeling fresher if you nap on the plane. If you can, you also need to try and take some floss with you. Taking a hairbrush is always a good idea too as if you can do your bit to keep your hair untangled and looking great then this will help you overall to feel better.

Bring an Empty Bottle

When you travel, it is always good for you to have an empty bottle that you can just refill whenever you want. Don’t take a full one with you as you will not be able to take it through security. Staying hydrated on the flight will help you to feel refreshed and it will also make you feel much healthier overall. Don’t worry about going to the bathroom a lot, because it gives you the chance to stretch your legs. If you want to keep your water cold, then buying an insulated bottle is always a good idea.

Sleep Well

If you want to try and avoid any kind of jetlag, then you need to try and prepare your body as much as you can so you can ready yourself for the change in zones. Sleep on the flight so you don’t get bored, and then when you arrive, you have more time to do whatever it is you want to do.

Bring a Pillow

Taking your own pillow with you is always a good idea. A good pillow will keep you comfortable on long flights, and it will also give you the chance to relax. Sure, you may feel a little odd taking a pillow with you, but in reality, it is one of the best things that you can do. You would be surprised at how many benefits a good pillow can offer you, from somewhere to rest your head when you nap to being able to rest your arm when the rest gets a little uncomfortable. You can take an inflatable pillow, but they are not as good for you, and you may even find that they end up being far more uncomfortable in the long run. If you’re worried about space, then vacuum-pack your pillow to make it smaller.

Travelling For Work? Here’s How To Stay Safe

July 11, 2022 by Wendy S

If you’ve just got a new job that requires you to travel here, there, and everywhere in order to close deals, welcome to the modern workforce! So many more people are travelling for job purposes these days, and that can mean catching flights to other countries and trains to the other side of your own.

However, travelling for work can be just as unsafe as heading off on a solo adventure to parts unknown. Commuting on a small scale is something we’re used to, of course, but travelling on this kind of global scale can sometimes get dangerous. Who knows what situations you might run into?

Photo by Anna Shvets

Never Travel without Insurance

This is key whenever you leave your own country to jet set off elsewhere. Without insurance, you could be liable for any number of accidents or emergencies! If you get sick or injured, or you lose something or it gets stolen, you’ll have to cough up and cover the damages. And when you’re on a work trip, travelling without insurance isn’t a good way to impress.

Take a policy out just to be sure; you never know when you may run into trouble and a company laptop or tablet could be damaged as a result. Do your research and double-check the policy before you buy to make sure it’s a comprehensive type of cover.

Always Connect to Protected Wifi

If you want to check something on a personal account or your company’s secured server, make sure you’re connected to wifi first of all. Using the data on your phone can be dangerous; passing confidential details across servers tends to lack encryption on 4G and above. If you’re wondering how to keep your email secure, the best starting point is a proper connection!

However, you should also stay proactive about the wifi you connect to and how you use it. If you don’t have your own hotspot to take with you, you’re going to have to use a public version. If you’re in a hotel, this isn’t usually a problem – only paying guests have the password! But in a cafe or waiting area, it’s a different story.

Have a Backup for Your Documents

Of course, it’s best to have a hard copy of all documents on hand whenever you’re about to travel, but what about if you lose a paper or two? What if one slips out of your pocket or it gets drenched in water from a loose top on a bottle in your bag? How will you get past the airport security gate or into your hotel without the right passes on hand? By having plenty of backups to rely on!

Start by keeping a copy of everything on your phone. Download confirmation emails and tickets or take screenshots if that’s not an option – you shouldn’t let yourself rely on needing an internet signal here either. If it’s downloaded to the machine itself, you’ve got proof of where you need to be and when you’re allowed in.

You could also use a portable hard drive or USB stick as storage if you’re taking your laptop with you; if you can bring it up on screen, they’ll be able to scan it!

Double Check You’re Meeting the Right People

Most of the time people are who they say they are. However, every now and then you can run into the wrong person or accidentally be taken in by a scam. This is especially true if you’ve never seen the person before, but speaking to people face to face beforehand over Skype or Zoom is helping to eliminate that! However, if you’re really not sure, there are a couple of checks you can do.

If you’ve got the name of the person you’re supposed to be meeting, get them to introduce themself without saying anything; you can ask what their name is, but don’t let them know you’re looking for a certain answer. Similarly, be sure to check for an ID card, or call the company they’re representing and make sure you’re in talks with the right person. Verify before going anywhere else – staying vigilant is a good way to get ahead.

If you need to travel for work in the future, treat these trips just like any other. You’re there to be professional, and you have more guarantee over the experience you’re going to have. However, when you’re not in a meeting or attending an event, it’s up to you to put your travelling safety head-on!

Being The Emotional Support Your Teen Needs

June 18, 2022 by Wendy S

In case you’ve forgotten, going through your teenage years can be tough. There are all of the physical changes of puberty, the plethora of effects hormones can have, as well as social and lifestyle changes to accommodate. Stress, anxiety, and even depression can become a lot more common during these years. So, what can you do to be the emotional support that they need?

Picture – CC0 License

Talk about it

It might sound simple enough, but there are so many topics that can go unaddressed or under-addressed in the average family home, and mental health is one of them. Learn how to talk to your teen about mental health. Check in with them on a regular basis, and make sure that they know that you are a safe place to confide in. Most importantly, listen to them and take the time to verbally acknowledge their emotions. You shouldn’t always try to “fix” what is wrong, even if you feel like they are thinking or doing things you don’t like.

Establish healthier patterns of living

There are many lifestyle factors that can help improve mental and emotional health. It’s not as simple as finding the right band-aid for the job. However, helping them find a workable schedule and routine for school life, encouraging them to join you in getting active more often, and setting a bedtime to make sure that they get enough sleep. Of course, don’t mistake these healthier patterns of living as a working treatment if they are in real emotional distress.

Know when to get some help

There’s a lot that you can do to create a home that is a lot more emotionally healthy for your teens. However, you can’t always be the only help that they’re going to need. Whether they are dealing with things that are a little more than you’re able to handle or you simply acknowledge that they could use help with their emotional health, you should always consider youth psychotherapy to be a valid option. A confident, practiced hand can do a lot of good in helping your teen address their issues in a healthy way that they might not learn otherwise.

Mind yourself too

You want to be a pillar of support for your teen, but it can be difficult if you’re not firing on all cylinders. If stress, anxiety, or other worries are getting to you, then you need to ensure that you’re taking care of yourself. Putting a strong front to help your kids is only going to get you so far. Make sure that you’re aware of when you need help, or when you need to pause, re-evaluate and take some action to get things back on an even keel.

Awareness of mental and emotional health, and taking steps to work through them, is an important part of raising a family and it’s not one that a lot of us talk about enough. Hopefully, the tips above can help you be a little more mindful and helpful where your teens are concerned.