>U Mom Knows Best

Best Assortment Of Free Online Games

 If you are looking for online games that are fun and free, you need to check out this website. 

  My whole family enjoys playing online games. This has not always been the case. It used to be that only dad played games on the phone. My husband used online games as a way to reduce stress from his demanding job. This past year has forced us to stay at home more, thanks to the Covid pandemic. At first, all of my boys enjoyed playing board games but when the two older boys left for college and the military, it was hard to play offline games with only two players. Plus it was not a fun experience for the younger boys.

 Thankfully, during the summer, my boys were able to hang out at the park with friends. Then school started up virtually and by the time school was over, it was too dark to hang out at the park. So my kids were super bored. My boys then started playing online games as a way to pass time. My boys discovered an online game that their friends were playing. Online games were a way to connect with their friends in a virtual world.

Free online games for the best fun

 At first, during our stay-at-home time, I had plenty of things to do. I worked outside in my garden and went for walks. Then winter came and it was too cold to be outside. I could not pass my time shopping as the quarantine restrictions limited the number of people in the store. I also did not feel safe shopping inside stores. So I became bored. So I decided to check out some free online games. I searched online for a website for online games and I discovered a website that had a huge assortment of games to play online. 

 Plays.org had a variety of fun games to play and I loved that the online games were free to play. I did not have to sign up or create an account. I did not have to download anything to play the games. So I could check out games online with no commitment. I like the word free and not having to pay to play games is always a good thing.

The best assortment of online games

 Deciding which game to play, was at first overwhelming to me. There was a big selection of games to choose from. Since I was missing shopping in stores, I decided to play an online supermarket game called Tap Supermarket Grocery Store Simulation Game. This online game had me stocking grocery shelves and checking customers out. The goal of the game was to keep food on the store shelves and check out the grocery store customers quickly. I earned points when I kept the pace up but lost points when I upset the customers. It also cost me points to buy more food for the shelves.

 It was a fun game and I quickly got addicted to playing online games. I now realized why my whole family enjoyed playing games on their computers on phones. Playing games was better than watching tv or videos online. Playing games online is a cheap form of entertainment for the family. 

 Once my husband discovered that I was having fun with games, he had to check out the games on Plays.org. My husband liked that he could play the games and not have to watch ads to get more plays. My husband also loved that this game website was always adding more games to play. My husband also liked the category-based navigation for the collection of games on Plays.org. So he could play his favorite Arcade Classics games like Super Tetris and Brick Out after work.

Games for the whole family

 Even my teen boys found video games to play on the Plays.org website. My boys enjoyed game playing during their school breaks and after online school. I was glad that I did not have to pay for entertainment for my boys. Since there was a huge assortment of games to play, my boys could test out different games to find a game that they enjoyed.

Do you enjoy playing online games?

 If you enjoy passing the time with online games, you need to check out plays.org for new online games to play. If you are new to online games or looking for a new source of fun entertainment, then check out the fun online games. I am sure you will find plenty of games to make you happy. Remember that the online games on Plays.org are always free to play.






















 








How To Clean A Dryer Vent With Sears PartsDirect


Performing regular home maintenance is essential for owning a home. This will help extend the life of your appliances.

Sponsored post with Sears PartsDirect



 Owning a home is awesome but it does require regular home maintenance. That means that there are things on your to-do list that people who live in apartments don't have to. Things like yard work, cleaning the gutters, and changing the furnace filters may not be fun but they are part of being a homeowner. Maintaining your things like appliances in your home will not only help them run properly and may also extend their life. Cleaning the lint out of the dryer filter and changing the water filter on the refrigerator needs to be done. Doing simple maintenance on your large appliances yourself will mean not having to call a repairman.


Fixing a dryer with do-it-yourself appliance repair 

 Even with regular maintenance, your large appliances may need to be repaired. The other day, I was noticing that my dryer was requiring longer dry cycles to dry my clothes. I would set the dryer to run for an hour but the clothes would still be damp. So I decided to do a thorough cleaning of the lint trap. Even with cleaning the dryer filter after each use, the dryer lint can build up in places beyond the filter. So that meant I had to go grab a screwdriver to remove the dryer filter compartment. 

 While removing the dryer filter compartment is simple to do, it is time-consuming. So, I unscrewed the five screws and took off the dryer filter holder. I was then able to remove some more dryer lint. It is amazing how much dryer lint escapes the dryer lint filter. This excess lint can cause fires so make sure to clean out the dryer lint after each time you use the dryer. Then check underneath the lint filter regularly, about once a month. Then remove the dryer vent hose in the back of the dryer to remove the lint. 

Five signs you need to clean your dryer vent

+ Drying clothes take longer. A clogged dryer vent could mean the clothes take longer to dry.
+ A burning smell.
+ A very hot dryer.
+ Lint coming from the dryer vent outside your house
+ You have not cleaned the dryer vent for over a year


The dryer does not heat up

 After cleaning my dryer vent, my dryer stopped heating up. So while the dryer tumbled, it did not dry the clothes. My dryer was only 4 years old so rather than replacing the dryer, I decided to see if I could fix the appliance problem myself. While searching online for appliance repair tips, I discovered Sears PartsDirect.

 This do-it-yourself appliance repair website had all the information that I needed to feel comfortable to repair my dryer without having to call a repair technician. Sears PartsDirect even had the Dryer Parts that I needed to make the repairs. I loved that I could save money on appliance repairs. Sears PartDirect is a must-have website for homeowners who need appliance repair help. It is a do yourself appliance repair website


Sears PartsDirect offers:

+ Tips to help you figure out what may be wrong with your large appliance
+ Manuals and diagrams to help you locate the faulty part
+ Pictures and videos to help you understand the appliance repair
+ Step-by-step repair guides to help you fix your appliance
+ Articles and videos that show you how to fix your appliance
+ Parts that you need to purchase to fix your appliance
+ Repair technicians if you need help repairing your large appliance


Sears is the handyman resource center

 I really liked that Sears PartsDirect had everything that I needed to tackle the job of repairing my dryer. By watching the informative videos on their website, I felt confident that I could first diagnose the problem with my dryer. Then I had a place to order the parts that I needed to fix my dryer. The appliance expert in the videos mentioned several things that could be causing my dryer not to heat up. From fuses to a faulty heating element, the estimate for the total cost for the repair was under $100. So that is cheaper than paying for a service call to my house. That is way cheaper than buying a new dryer.

Sears PartsDirect is the best place for home maintenance tips

 Sears PartsDirect has wonderful articles to learn more about how to best do your home maintenance beyond large appliances. These articles provide so many great tips for homeowners. From replacing the water filter on your fridge to changing the blades on your lawnmower, it was like having my dad available to teach me all that I needed to know about owning a home. The best part is being able to buy items that I need like water filters and parts to repair my appliances. I also like saving money.

Update: Thanks to Sears PartsDirect my dryer is working again. See how I fixed it and how I discovered that a built-up of dryer lint may have been the cause of the heating element braking. This could have started a fire as the lint was burnt. To find out how to avoid your dryer breaking and catching on fire read my update post HERE.



9 Wellness Trends To Try In 2021

 Everyone wants to feel happier and live healthier. Mental health, wellness, and positivity are even more paramount at this time of the pandemic. Hence, many are always on the lookout for the best ways to maintain good health and wellness. From supportive online communities to emerging fitness trends, here are the top wellness trends to try in 2021.

1. Digital Mental Health Communities

While online communities are not a new thing, they are currently evolving and now addressing basic mental health needs of people, especially in this time of crisis, and will continue to go on for years to come. 

 Expect to see more people playing an active role in sharing their journey towards mental wellness with more and more digital communities providing guidance in the form of online digital healing sessions.

 

2. Digital Detoxifying

 There’s so much negative energy in the news, social media, and on TV right now. And one of the major learnings from last year is that people have the power to decide what to take in and set healthy boundaries when it comes to digital consumption. 

 Basically, a digital detox means dedicating a week, weekend, or just a single day to live without social media, TV, and phones. It urges you to take more time with yourself and your family, disconnecting you from all the toxic and unnecessary noise around you. This allows you to reconnect with the people that truly matter in life. A digital detox also gives you more time to spend on hobbies, relaxation, and refreshing your mind.

3. Cannabis Beyond CBD and THC

This year, a widespread acceptance of cannabis use is expected because the stigma surrounding it decreasing significantly. Cannabis is believed to support a broad range of health and medical benefits through the renewed research efforts at institutions and universities throughout the globe. 

 Since more states and countries are legalizing cannabis, more research and trials are done in search for holistic ways of dealing with wellbeing and medical issues through cannabis-based products such as CBD.

 More people will likely incorporate cannabis into their lives and subscribe to their favorite Hemp or CBD-based products. Products like CBD oil and tinctures are known to have positive effects on mood and mental wellness.

4. Focus on Respiratory Health

 Since the onset of the pandemic, there was a lot of attention being paid to cleanliness— so much so that alcohols, hand sanitizers, and disinfecting wipes were in short supply. However, with the revelation that the COVID-19 virus is airborne, many turned their attention to air purification measures. 

 People have been buying sophisticated air purifiers whether it's HEPA filters, HVAC purification systems, or even UV air treatment for their homes. There are even personal air purifier necklaces being sold. 

 Another reason why air cleanliness will become more important this year is the said lung complications from the COVID-19 virus. Shortness of breath and cough are among the most common symptoms of COVID-19 and can stick around for weeks or months after recovery. Hence, maintaining air quality for good respiratory health is another wellness trend that has spiked up this year. 

5. Alcohol-Free Drinks

 Mocktails— whether in the form of an alcohol-free, low-alcohol drink or fancy sparkling water— are a thing right now! As the field of mindfulness grows, people are becoming more interested in mocktails as a healthier alternative to alcohol. This is why more and more alcohol-free sips are popping up in most grocery stores. 

People want to celebrate the little things without getting wasted and consuming tons of calories. So, this year, don’t be surprised to see more sparkling types of beverages entering the market as a healthier alternative to alcoholic beverages and soda.

6. Plant Therapy

 Spending the weekends having a picnic in the park or walking in the woods can make you feel better in an instant. The calming green sights and fresh air are enough to lighten up your mood and improve mental wellness. But with the restrictions in place, it’s difficult to go out and spend time with greenery and nature. Fortunately, there are ways for you to take a piece of nature into your own home—and that’s through plants.

The oxygen and earthy tones are proven to make you feel more relaxed. House plants can also boost your home décor. Plus, taking care of plants or gardening is a great hobby to occupy your mind with—especially if you are trying to detoxify yourself from digital spaces.

7. Touchless Spa Services

With health protocols and social distancing in place, getting a massage at your local spa is a big no-no. Fortunately, touchless spa services including compression therapy, cryotherapy, infrared saunas, salt caves, hyperbaric chambers, float tanks, and IV drips, offer a way for people to recover and relax with minimal contact. People need a way to de-stress now more than ever. No-touch spa services can offer no-worry wellness in the midst of COVID-19.

8. TikTok Fitness

While you can find fitness tips on Google and workout routines on YouTube, lots of fitness professionals are now posting on TikTok as well. It makes sense since TikTok has over 700 million users and is expected to reach 1.2 billion monthly active users this year. 

Virtual training with fitness professionals on TikTok allows people to stay motivated and have a consistent training routine with their fast-paced power workout. Most of these routines incorporate fun and trendy music, making it easier for many people to maintain the fitness exercises.

9. Moisturizing Hand Sanitizers

Hand sanitizers are a necessity these days. However, most basic hand sanitizers dry out the skin and don’t smell that good. Going into 2021, you may see a new generation of hand sanitizers that not only sanitize your hands but also keep you smelling good and moisturized. One of these is the hybrid cologne sanitizer. Some well-known fragrance brands already tried recreating their premium scents on germ-killing sprays and sanitizers. 

Conclusion

 Amidst this pandemic, a collection of innovative and accessible wellness trends is emerging. All these methods are changing the ways we approach our emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing. The best part is, many of these trends can be done or applied at home—giving everyone the opportunity to prioritize health and wellness this year and beyond.




What Should You Get a New Mom for Mother's Day?


Image Source: Pexels


 Becoming a Mom is a life-changing event. Raising children can be challenging but often rewarding for new Moms as they prepare their baby for the outside world. If you know a new Mom, don’t forget to celebrate this special milestone with her. However, picking the right-first-time Mother’s Day gift can be difficult, but these ideas should help you decide. 

New Baby Flowers

 What better way to celebrate a new family member than by purchasing new baby flowers from The Bouqs Co.? Flowers are the perfect way to mark any occasion, whether it’s a first-time Mom, Valentines' Day, or a promotion. Still, you’ll need to be careful when purchasing blossoms with a baby present. Buy hypoallergenic flowers instead, like carnations, daffodils, hyacinths, orchids, roses, or peonies, because they won’t irritate the baby's sinuses if they are allergic.

Baby Clothes

 Moms always need baby clothes because children grow quickly in their first couple of years. From birth to 6 months, a baby could grow ½-1 inch a month and gain 5-7 ounces per week. Mothers can expect their baby to triple their birth weight by the time they hit 1 year! The new Mom you’re buying for will appreciate that you thought of the baby and considered the cost of having one. Although this gift isn’t directly for her, it still helps the new Mom significantly.

Jewelry

 All Moms love to receive jewelry no matter the day or season, but new Moms could really benefit from a bit of bling. Jewelry is durable and lasts a long time, so it won’t break if the baby tugs at it. Some smaller, dainty chains will break, so look for something that doesn’t hang too far from the neck or off the wrists. When buying for new Mothers, purchase a locket with a picture, a baby thumbprint pendant, a necklace with the baby's name on it, or a birthstone bracelet. For a unique and meaningful gift, you might consider options to buy four stone mothers rings online, which can symbolize the growing family beautifully.

Eye Mask, New Sheets, or Bathrobe Set

 New Moms don’t get as much sleep as they would like, so buy them an eye mask or comfy bathrobe that will help them relax after a hard day. Husbands or wives of the new Mother could purchase a silk sheet set if they noticed their bedsheets are getting a little old. A silk pillowcase can do wonders for the new Mother’s skin and hair, even if the pillowcase is made from a high-quality synthetic silk-like material. She’ll appreciate feeling more refreshed each day!

Photo Books

 Most of our photos are taken digitally and stored on a hard drive. While this can prevent the hard copy from being destroyed, it’s less personal than using a photo book. If you have access to the new Mother’s photos (from social media, on her phone, or on the computer), print a few out and place them inside a photo book. You can get creative by adding a bunch of hand-drawn photos or cute notes. If you don’t want to do this yourself, you can use a digital photo service.

Home Spa Day

 Sometimes, being a new mom can be emotionally and physically exhausting, and it can be difficult to unwind after a long day (even with new sheets). Book a home spa retreat in advance, so a masseuse can come over to their home and give your wife, Mom, or friend a massage. Husbands or wives of the new Mom could try their hand at massages. Just watch an online tutorial on how to deliver smooth, flowing strokes - it’s easier than you think!

Surprise Her With a Fun Activity

 Gifts don’t have to cost hundreds of dollars to be meaningful. In fact, most Moms just want to spend time with their family members, friends, or spouse on their special day. Instead of giving a gift, surprise her with an activity that she wanted to do while pregnant but couldn’t, like surfing, snowboarding, or wine tasting. She’ll be happy to spend some time out of the house with someone besides the baby because she needs a bit of adult time, too.


Meals For One With The Red Copper 5 Minute Chef

    The Red Copper 5 Minute Chef makes the most amazing omelets and can be used to make many other foods. The Five Minute Chef is the perfect appliance for single people.
                  
 This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

  A couple of weeks ago, I wanted an omelet, but I was not in the mood to cook. So I grabbed my Red Copper 5 Minute Chef. This is the best appliance for making omelets. If you want an omelet that is filled with lots of cheese and veggies, you need to try the 5 Minute Cooker.

If you are tired of cooking omelets that stick to the pan or fall apart, you will like how easy it is to make egg omelets in this single-cooker appliance. When you use this cooker for single meals, you will have a mess-free omelet. The Red Copper makes restaurant-style omelets in just 5 minutes, and it is hassle-free.

So grab the eggs, cheese, and your favorite veggies and discover the Red Copper 5 Minute Chef.   
 

I Love my Red Copper 5-Minute Chef

                                         I received a Red Copper 5 Minute Chef to facilitate this post.

  My omelet cooking experience all changed when the red football-shaped cooking device showed up at my house. I knew that I just had to give the Red Copper 5 Minute Chef a try, as I so wanted to be able to make a cheesy spinach omelet at home and have it resemble one, not look like scrambled eggs. I already owned the Red Copper Brownie Bonanza and loved how my brownies slid out of the pan in perfectly even slices. 

 So I gave the 5 Minute Chef a chance. I just had to, as this device could also make pizza and desserts. My younger boys could maybe also do some more cooking beyond the microwave as they are not allowed to use the stove/oven yet. 

The Red Copper 5-Minute Chef is easy to use and very compact. This amazing one-meal cooking device stores easily in your cabinet and takes up little space on the counter. The meals for one appliance is also so easy to clean. It is the perfect single-person cooking device for making recipes for meals for one person. 

Purchase the Red Copper 5-Minute Chef here 


Check out these other recipes for the Red Copper 5-Minute Chef

~ Easy Egg Foo Young Recipe With The Red Copper 5-Minute Chef

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2019/01/easy-egg-foo-young-recipe-with-red.html

~ Easy Corn Dog Recipe In The Red Copper 5-Minute Chef



Makes the best omelets for breakfast


  The first thing that I made in the 5 Minute Chef was a salmon burger and it did an amazing job of cooking the fish. I loved that there was no messy grease splattering all over my stove as the fish was contained in the closed pan. My fish tasted so good, and it was not dried out one bit. 


 The 5 Minute Chef Cooker is available to purchase on Amazon. Click on the link above to get one now! This small appliance for meals for one person is amazing! It can be used to cook the best omelets, meat, fish, and even pancakes. Once you start cooking in this cooker, you will find many uses for it. I love sauteeing onions in mine. 


Other cooking uses for the Red Copper 5-Minute Chef
~ Sautee onions
~ Make pancakes
~ Cook fish
~ Heat up frozen potatoes
~ Cook veggies
~ Cook poached eggs
~ Cook sunny-side-up eggs


    I then used the cute red cooking device to make my omelet. I loved that I did not have to add any oil to the pan; that way, I was saving my fat grams for my cheese. The best part was that I could add the eggs, spinach (lots of it), and cheese all at the same time to the pan, instead of waiting when I cooked on my stovetop. I closed the lid of the 5 Minute Chef and waited two minutes. I then opened up the red pan, and I had a perfectly cooked omelet! I was amazed that this pan could do that. I was in egg heaven!


Do not latch the pan!
 The instructions tell you to latch the pan closed, but do not follow that. I learned the hard way when I put a bit too much spinach in my omelet and it exploded when I opened the pan. I had eggs all over the kitchen. So just place your ingredients in the pan and cook. There is no need to flip the pan over.


  The 5 Minute Chef came with a recipe book that had easy recipes for pizza, cake, pancakes, and more. Since the pan is so easy to use, makes no mess, and is easy to clean, I knew that I had to teach my younger boys how to use it. That way they can eat other things besides PB and J and microwaved cheese sandwiches for fend-for-yourself dinner night. I admit things get busy here and we have way too many fend-for-yourself dinner nights. Hey, how else are my boys going to learn how to cook?

Great for pancakes


 My ten-year-old was the most excited to try the 5 Minute Chef Pan as he recognized the lady on the box from a TV commercial. He helped me make pancakes in it and it was so easy. His younger brother enjoyed having pancakes for dinner that night. Once the pan cooled down, I showed my son how to wipe the pan down with a dishcloth. Then I placed the red pan in my pantry as I knew it would get a lot of use. I think this red pan will be the start of my boys learning how to cook more and I might just put them in charge of making dinner. A recipe book comes with the pan for the instructions to cook omelets, pancakes, pizza, meat, and more.



My next recipe to make in this amazing pan is Dairy Free Vegetarian Chocolate Protein Pancakes

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2017/05/dairy-free-vegetarian-chocolate-protein.html


Perfect Omelet in The Red Copper 5-Minute Chef

2 large eggs
1/4 cup shredded cheese
1/4 cup cooked spinach, cooled
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon oil

 Place the oil in the Red Copper 5 Minute Chef. Spread the oil around on both the top and bottom of the Red Copper with a brush or a paper towel. Crack the eggs into a bowl and lightly scramble them. Add the cheese, spinach, salt, and pepper. Combine the ingredients and pour them into the 5-Minute Chef. Close the lid but do not latch.  Plug the Red Cooker and let the eggs cook for five minutes. 



Follow me on Pinterest for more delicious recipes


Give The Best To Mom This Mothers Day With Teleflora

 Mothers have worked extra hard this past year and they deserve the best for Mother's Day. Say thanks to mom with the best flowers from Teleflora

Sponsored post with Teleflora #Liveoutloud #drawntomom

Dear Moms, we wanted you to know that through all the ups and downs, you totally crushed it. While we were all social distancing, you lost all your personal space. But you rose to the challenge. It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t always feel like a success. But throughout a difficult year, you delivered for your families and created meaningful memories. Just like you always do.

 This past year has been tough on us all but I think it has been especially hard on moms. Over the past year, balancing motherhood has become more challenging than ever. While moms selflessly show up for everyone, they often neglect their own needs. We moms had to add more to our job description. With schools being closed, most moms had to become teachers. With spouses working from home, that meant more dishes and messes to clean, not to mention having to listen to their countless Zoom calls. For the moms who had jobs beyond being a mom, we had to juggle taking care of kids while trying to get work done. That meant attending online meetings while trying to keep the kids quiet or with a baby in your lap.

 It was a rough and busy year for moms and at times we felt like we were failing our kids. Trying to simultaneously juggle motherhood and a career from home was not easy. That meant that mom never had time for herself. While we moms saw last year as a difficult time, their kids had a different perspective on last year.

Drawn to mom

 Last year through the eyes of a child shows that having their mom by their side made the past year one of the most memorable for them. Kids did not see last year as a bad year but rather one that showed that moms are the best. Kids enjoyed spending more time with mom and saw that mom loved them even more.


  Teleflora knows more than just awesome floral arrangements, they know how to show the love of a mom in a beautiful way. Their Mother’s Day campaign, “Drawn to Mom” spotlights the past year from a child’s perspective, and through their drawings. From “going to work” with Mom every day to Mom “going to school” with her kids, and the many snacks in between, Teleflora spotlights how having their mom by their side made the past year one of the most memorable for kids. 

 I just love the video that Teleflora made to honor moms. It reflects the love of a mom through the eyes of a child. From a mom teaching her child to ride a bike to a mom working with her kids by her side, this amazing video shows that kids loved having mom by their side. The past year may have been a whirlwind but it was also the best when it comes to the love of a mom. So pass the tissues and enjoy the video.

Happy Mothers Day Moms

 This Mothers Day, say I love you mom with a bouquet of flowers from Teleflora. Then give mom the day off without having to cook, clean, or take care of kids. Moms work hard and they deserve a day of rest. So start the day off for mom with breakfast in bed with these delicious chocolate pancakes but make sure to clean the kitchen. 

Teleflora encourages everyone to Love Out Loud this Mother’s Day by sending a stunning Teleflora floral bouquet ready to be enjoyed the moment it arrives at her door. Teleflora is my favorite floral delivery place for flowers. My favorite gift to send to my mom is flowers and they always bring a smile to her face. To place an order, and view the latest available floral designs, please visit www.teleflora.com.



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