Your bags are packed…you’re ready to go…

But wait.

Before you John Denver your way to the airport, pause for a minute and think: did you make the necessary arrangements to make sure that your home will be as you left it when you return? The UAE offers some unique challenges because of the scorching summer heat and infamously high humidity. Heat plus humidity equals a disaster-in-waiting for your home unless you take the proper steps beforehand.

mrUsta is an online marketplace that offers a full list of service providers across the UAE – so there’s not need to shop around! Simply post the job you want doing and all of the relevant companies will quote to do the work – plus you can check out their ratings and testimonials. Genius!

Here’s a brief checklist on what mrUsta suggests you do before you take your break:

Air conditioning

Under absolutely no circumstances should you shut your AC off during your absence. Even though your air conditioning does take up a significant percentage of your monthly DEWA bill, you’ll want to leave it on while you’re gone. Keeping it at 25 degrees is more than suffice; it’ll ensure that there is a consistent flow of cool air to keep undesirables like mold (which can also be dangerous if you’re allergic) from making your home their home.

So it’s highly advisable to get your ACs checked and your ductwork cleaned before you leave on your vacation. mrUsta has plenty of service providers that do both, so post your job here or here to get the work done.

Water heater

Your water is one of those home appliances you take for granted. When it works – all is good. When it fails, panic ensues. Although you won’t need to leave it on for the summer, it is highly recommended that you have it inspected before you leave. Failing water heaters are the number one reason for home flooding in the UAE.

More likely than not, you probably have an Ariston brand heater – you can easily have it checked out by Ariston themselves with favorable terms through mrUsta here.

Pest control

Cockroaches love the heat (YUK!). And you know what they love more than the summer? Your home – especially when you’re gone. Take advantage of your time away, when both your family and pets are out of the house, to get some general pest control done. You don’t really want to come home to a bunch of insects getting too comfortable on your couch feeding off your crumbs.

The great thing in the UAE is that pest control service providers are highly regulated. They must provide you with a six-month warranty, and the chemicals they use must be odorless and safe for children. Save yourself some time and book your pest control services through mrUsta.

Deep cleaning

Speaking of crumbs, it may be a good time to look at some deep cleaning for your home. You want to come back to your home as you left it – dust-free and spic and span clean. Deep cleaning will also keep your home bug and mold (and fungus) free. Your toilets are also a great incubator for bacteria and other nasties – you want those as well as your bathroom cleaned real well before departing.

With mrUsta, it’s also easy to book cleaning services. Just go here.

Little knick-knacks here and there

How long you been putting off hanging a painting? Or changing lightbulbs that are just beyond your reach? Or maybe hang your new curtains?

There is no better time than now to get these small jobs done around the house because it is practically GUARANTEED you won’t get them done after you get back (you know – post-vacation blues and all).

Get yourself a handyman and sort these things out!

You’ll need to pack a few things before you leave – your clothes, your toothbrush; other toiletries. But wouldn’t it be great if you also packed a peace of mind? Only then can you have the vacation you know you deserve. So just follow the helpful guideline above, and vacation like you’ve never vacationed before!

The post Summer travels: is your home ready for your trip? appeared first on Sassy Mama.

It happens to the best of us. Toddler tantrums can spring up on us parents at any given time, but when it happens to be during a long haul flight back to the home country, it seems to be ten times worse. Having travelled with my two and half year old toddler a couple of times, both on long and short haul flights, I have tried and tested out means of ensuring travel to be a bearable, if not an enjoyable experience. Here’s a few tips that may help avoid those angry tears and monstrous meltdowns:

1. Book a flight that works around your toddler’s schedule

Before you even get on that flight, start your day right by booking a flight time that suits your child’s routine. This may mean catching a flight later in the day, so that your toddler wakes up at their normal time in the morning and potentially falls asleep for their nap during the flight. “Potentially” of course. Or, it may mean catching a flight in the middle of the night so your toddler sleeps through the entire thing and is fresh and awake upon landing at your destination. Either way, you know your child best, so plan according to that.

Read more: Family Travel Tips: How To Get Over That Dreaded Jet Lag

2. Small packaged Gifts

If sleep is short-lived or worse – nowhere to be seen, pack a few small cheap toys in sparkling gift wrapper and offer one at every hour of the flight. The excitement it will create in your toddler will be tenfold, especially as they rip open their presents, and it will keep you sane for a few more minutes. Gifts can range from toy cars, sticker books to play dough. From personal experience though, avoid bouncy balls as part of your travel gift hamper at all cost. Those things cause as much havoc as a tornado.

3. In Flight Entertainment

What else is the “digital nanny” there for if not to entertain your child? Whether it is the beloved iPad or the in-flight tv screen with endless episodes of Bob the Builder, they’ve got your back, and there is nothing to feel guilty about. Also, the headphones are a great source of entertainment in themselves!

Read more: You’ll Never Fly the Same Again: Introducing Fly-Tot, the Travel Life Saver

4. Food

Though flights provide plenty of options and special meals for the tots, there is no harm in taking their favourite snacks, both healthy and not so healthy. Be sure to keep them hydrated by giving them lots of water during the flight too.

Read more: Mindful Eating for Mamas

5. Comfortable Clothing

Comfort is key, and this means tracksuits are a god send for both your child and yourself. You can always pack an extra pair of “nice” clothes to change in to after landing so the grandparents don’t think your child is a complete tramp. During the flight, make sure your child is at their optimum temperature so they do not get fussy. Since it gets rather chilly in flights, be sure to pack an extra jumper and a pair of socks.

Read more: How to Holiday With the Kids

6. Don’t be shy or sorry

Perhaps the most important of all tips to ensure a smooth flight is this. Don’t shy away from asking for help, or accepting it too. It will make things much easier, and most flight attendants and other fellow travellers will be happy to help. However, in the case that your toddler does end up being upset, do not be apologetic or take heed of any “looks” around you. You do your thing, mama, and concentrate on the needs of your child.

Read more: 7 Tips for Long Haul Flights with Your Little People

How do you cope with travelling on flights with a toddler? Are there any tips you would like to share that have worked for you? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below!

The post Travelling With Kids: How to Avoid Toddler Tantrums While Flying appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Most UAE residents cannot wait to travel over the summer and it’s easy to see why. The soaring summer temperatures and long school holidays are the main reasons we look at getting away to somewhere cooler and perhaps even somewhere exotic. Well, mamas look no further…here are my recommendations on where to go this summer and the adventures you can look forward to…

To book, visit: www.travelcounsellors.ae/andrea.bailey, email: andrea.bailey@travelcounsellors.ae or call +971 (0)55 9569502.

Read more: Packing Essentials For A Weekend Away With The Kids
Staycation Offers For Eid & Summer
6 Long EID Weekend Getaway Ideas

The post Where To Travel To As A Family This Summer Mamas appeared first on Sassy Mama.

My own love affair with audiobooks began right about the time I gave up on meditating. An avowed bookworm, I didn’t need much convincing beyond “Free Trial,” at which point I immediately found ways to double my literary pleasure by “reading” in places I normally couldn’t (in a taxi, on a walk, in my “meditation corner” etc.).

As it turns out, listening to a story is its own act of mindfulness. (Take that, Headspace.) The narrator just keeps reading whether you’ve stopped to think about what you need from the store or to rehash that awkward encounter with your new neighbor. So it pays to shut off those little voices and be, like, present. What’s better is that this applies to children as well, and I swear mine enter the deepest state of relaxation when we listen to an audiobook before bed, helping them (and me) to fall asleep twice as fast. (You’ve already downloaded your first book, haven’t you?)

As long as you have a smartphone, you can very often get books for free and without leaving home. Simply download an app – Audible, Overdrive, or Downpour, to name a few.

Whether you’re a newly convinced listener, or a veteran, here are some wonderful audiobooks for any occasion.

The post Listening is the New Reading: Five Audiobooks for Kids and Parents appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Whether you’re looking to book a little Eid treat for the fam or you want to break up the summer months with a staycation (or two) there are some fabulous travel offers in the UAE to make the most of, mamas!

The post Staycation Offers For Eid & Summer appeared first on Sassy Mama.

There’s nothing like planning a quick getaway with the family when you know a long weekend is coming up soon. Experiences that educate guests about wildlife and nature or how to live like the locals are truly life enriching. Our travel mama Andrea has put together some amazing trips to book for Eid – flick through our gallery for plenty of wanderlust inspo!

To book, visit: www.travelcounsellors.ae/andrea.bailey, email: andrea.bailey@travelcounsellors.ae or call +971 (0)55 9569502.

Read more: Packing Essentials For A Weekend Away With The Kids

The post 6 Long EID Weekend Getaway Ideas appeared first on Sassy Mama.