Archives for December 2014

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If you have kids who love all things magic, you might want to give them a night to remember. A Harry Potter theme night is the perfect excuse to enjoy some quality time with your kids. If you are anything like me, you will love planning a theme night. Doing something a little different with your kids now and then is an ideal way to keep them busy. You don’t need a reason to plan a super fun night. Of course, these ideas work well for birthday parties, but you can try them whenever you want. Here is how you can plan a Harry Potter theme night for your kids.

Decorations

Decorating your home like Hogwarts might sound hard and expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. You might not be able to get moving portraits or floating candles, but you can get some cute fairy lights and hang them from your ceiling. Sometimes, you can get fairy lights shaped like real candles. These lights would be perfect for your magical style decor. You could also get some Harry Potter movie posters and put them around your living room. If you don’t want to buy posters, you can print out pictures of the cast online.

Costumes

You can make the event fun by dressing up with your kids. All you need to wear is a black dress and a witches hat. With those two simple items, you can look like Professor Minerva McGonagall in no time at all. If you have a son, he will likely want to be Harry Potter. You can make a wizard outfit out of some old black material. Sew a Hogwarts badge onto the material for the full effect. You could also consider buying special Harry Potter costumes online, but these tend to be expensive.

Wizard treats

No wizard event is complete without some delicious wizard treats. Your kids can eat the magic candy that Ron and Harry eat in the movies. Candy Favorites, such as Bertie Botts every flavor beans, are easy to buy online. In fact, you can get loads of different Harry Potter style treats for your kids. You can play games with the treats by hiding them around the room for your kids to find. Send your kids on a magical mission and tell them that they have ten minutes to find all the treats.

Magical games

Every kid adores magic. There is something about magic that fascinates young children. You will make your theme night extra special if you have a few tricks up your sleeve. You can convince your kids that you are a magician if you learn a few simple magic tricks. You can buy magic trick sets that do all the hard work for you. That way, all you need to do is learn the tricks. It might take a while to learn each trick, but seeing the look of joy on your kids’ faces when they think you are magic will be worth it. You should also make sure that you plan some games for your children. If you have learned some tricks, you can teach them to your kids.

The movies

Watching the Harry Potter movies is the perfect end to your theme night. You have likely already seen all the films, but you can have a movie marathon starting from the first film, and watching the series. Remember, some of the more recent movies might not be suitable for young viewers. The great thing about Harry Potter is that as the characters mature, the movies mature too. If you have young kids, you should make sure that each film is okay for them to watch. If not, it might be wise to watch the early films and leave the recent ones for another time.

We all must take care of ourselves as we age, both for our children and ourselves. As we live longer, the chances of developing health problems increase. One of the parts of our bodies that can grow more fragile as we age is our hearts. But even younger people are at risk of heart problems. It’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms to watch out for that could indicate possible heart problems. There is much more to it than chest pain or shortness of breath. Many symptoms could turn out to be harmless, and even many diagnosable heart problems can be successfully treated. But you should still be sure to visit your doctor if you frequently experience any of the following symptoms.

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Heart Attack Symptoms

You might not know that women are more likely to experience heart attack symptoms unrelated to chest pain or discomfort. Although women might feel pain in their chest, there are a number of other symptoms that could indicate a heart attack. These include nausea and vomiting, sweating and shortness of breath. You could also feel discomfort or pain in your right arm or your neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdomen. Another symptom of a possible heart attack is feeling unusual fatigue. Of course, many things could make you feel tired, but unexpected weakness and fatigue that hits you out of nowhere could indicate a bigger problem.

Coronary Heart Disease Symptoms

More women than men die of coronary heart disease, sometimes called coronary artery disease. It’s important to be on the lookout for symptoms that could indicate that you have heart disease. Some of these symptoms are similar to those you could experience with a heart attack, but they may be milder or happen over a longer period. The most common symptom is angina, or discomfort in your chest. Many people mistake angina for heartburn, and you might also feel it in your jaw, neck, arms, shoulders or back. Other symptoms that could indicate heart disease include dizziness, weakness, nausea and sweating. You should also watch out for palpitations and shortness of breath.

Arrhythmia Symptoms

Arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. There are many causes of arrhythmia, including obesity and aging. You can learn about arrhythmia to find out how to reduce your risk of developing one and treat it if you do have it. You might experience palpitations, such as feeling skipped heartbeats or flip-flopping in your chest. Arrhythmia could also make you feel dizzy or light-headed and make you feel like your chest in pounding. Watch out for fainting, shortness of breath and chest discomfort too; these could all indicate an arrhythmia. Shortness of breath and weakness of fatigue could also be signs of an arrhythmia.

Many of these symptoms seem very similar. So how do you know if you have an arrhythmia or you’re having a heart attack? The best thing to do is to seek medical attention if you suspect any of these conditions. Don’t discount a heart attack because it could be something else.

Advances in technology have meant that the gifts at the top of most children’s Christmas lists are electronics. But, with children constantly glued to the television, the computer screen of their iPad, buying them yet another electronic gift is probably not a good idea.

Aside from the fact that electronic gifts are expensive, they also promote a lack of imagination. So, instead of buying them yet another electronic gift or game, why not opt for something a bit different.

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For our favorite non-electrical gift ideas, check out some ideas.

Outdoor toys

An excellent way to get the kids out and about is to buy them a toy or game that they can use outside.

A bike can make one of the best gifts; it gives children the option of some independence as well as being an excellent mode of transport. To keep your little ones safe whilst out and about make sure to include a helmet and high visibility stickers in their stocking.

While roller blades can take some time to adjust to, mastering the art of how to use them shouldn’t take too long. To help your children learn to skate safely, allow them to practice in a certain area of the house. Rollerblading is an excellent way to keep fit and healthy whilst having fun. To make roller blades a more exciting gift, opt for a pair that are designed in your child’s favourite color. Alternatively, look for a pair that are based on their favorite television or movie character. Make sure to include a safety helmet and knee and arm pads with their gifts.

A unique alternative to a bike, a Go Kart can make the perfect Christmas gift. There are some really interesting children’s Go Kart designs available, which are perfect for both boys and girls alike. Modern children’s Go Kart’s are safe, easy to use and are great for getting the kids out and about.

Indoor toys and games

While outdoor toys are great; it is nice to have some non-electrical indoor toys for your children to play with too.

While a new board game may seem like a boring gift, there are always lots of new and exciting games being bought out. If your child has a favorite television show or movie, have a look to see whether any games related to them have been released. If your child is obsessed with a film character, like Elsa from Frozen, for example, any gift related to them will be an exciting one.

A customized gift is another great non-electrical present. Things like a personalized blanket, cushion or bean bag are all lovely Christmas gifts that children will appreciate. For some lovely customized gift ideas look online at the angel dear range.

If your children have space in their bedroom or playroom, why not get them indoor play equipment like an indoor slide, a fold out crawl tunnel, or even an indoor swing. Anything that keeps them active and having fun inside the house will make the perfect Christmas present.

Wooden toys like a mini kitchen or mini launderette set are always popular gifts for young children. Kids love being able to copy what mommy and dad do, so any gift that lets them do that will be an appreciated one. Have a look online to see what child-size furniture sets are available.

For older children, arts and crafts sets make lovely presents, plus they are an excellent way to keep them entertained. With so many different arts and crafts sets to choose from, there is something for every child.

Remember, sometimes the simplest things make the best presents.