Family Ever After Blog

Family Ever After Blog

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Arlo Hotels snapshots: The most Instagram-worthy spots in New York City

New York City makes it pretty easy to take great photos. With iconic monuments, beautiful architecture, and scenic parks, there are many locations for your next photo shoot. Some places in the city were made with photography in mind.

 

We at Arlo Hotels believe you’ll find that these spots will help give you a better idea of what New York has to offer in terms of its rich history and vibrant culture. Whether you’re in search of something different or new or you want to reminisce about the city’s past, here are some of the most Instagram-worthy spots in New York City.

 

  • Times Square: Times Square needs no introduction. This iconic spot in midtown Manhattan is always bustling with tourists and locals alike. So, whether you’re there to see the famous New Year’s Eve ball drop or want to take in the sights and sounds, Times Square is a must-see for any visitor to New York City.
  • The Rockefeller Center: The Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 buildings in Midtown Manhattan. It’s best known for the 70-meter Christmas tree in the plaza every year. With art galleries, restaurants and shopping, there’s something for everyone at the Rockefeller Center.
  • The Statue of Liberty: Most first-time tourists booked at Arlo Hotels always mention this as a bucket list item. After all, no trip to New York City would be complete without visiting the Statue of Liberty. This iconic structure and symbol of freedom was a gift from France and has welcomed visitors to New York since 1886. There’s no better place to get a photo of Lady Liberty than from the ferry ride over to Liberty Island.
  • The Grand Central Terminal: The Grand Central Terminal is one of the most beautiful train stations in the world. With its ornate ceilings and brass chandeliers, this Art Deco masterpiece is a must-see for any visitor to New York City.
  • The Chrysler Building: The Chrysler Building is an iconic skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan. With its stainless steel facade and art deco details, it’s no wonder that this building is a favorite among photographers.

New York is a city that never fails to disappoint when it comes to photo opportunities. The places listed are only a few of the most Instagram-worthy spots in the city, which are some of our favorites here at Arlo Hotels.

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Signs From the Universe You Should Not Ignore – Teal Swan

The spiritually inclined will often talk about signs from the universe as a way of validation for their own spiritual paths. Spiritual teachers like Teal Swan say that we cannot ignore these signs, which can be life-changing. So which of these signs from the universe should we pay attention to, and what exactly do they mean?

Let’s look at some of these signs:

Mild Deja Vu

Deja vu is a French term meaning ‘already seen.’ It’s a common experience of feeling sure that something has happened before, we’re just not exactly sure where. This is caused by our brain scrambling to find a memory and then realizing that it didn’t actually happen at all. According to the spiritually inclined people, however, this is our soul trying to send us a message about an important life lesson. It could be that we’re on the verge of coming across something meaningful in our lives.

Unexpected Outcomes to Events

We’ve all experienced this – you think about doing one thing, and then someone else does it instead, or something happens unexpectedly. Sometimes these instances can make us feel unsettled because they don’t fit into what we thought was happening according to plan. The spiritually inclined will say that when this occurs, your soul is trying to send you a message through the universe about where you need to pay attention in order to get what’s best for you. As much as we like having things go according to our own plan sometimes, there are circumstances where the universe has other plans.

Seeing the Same Number Over and Over Again

So you’re out running errands, and all of a sudden, you keep seeing the same number popping up everywhere, over and over again. This is another sign that spiritual teachers say we shouldn’t ignore. According to these guides, any number can be significant if we often see enough – especially 11:11, 12:12, or 1:11. However, according to them, 3:33 is one of the most significant numbers someone can see because it represents human growth and change. It could represent an important reminder about what’s going on in your life right now, which you should pay attention to. Or perhaps this message will come through loud and clear when’ve had such an experience three times, and it becomes too much to ignore.

Seeing and Hearing Things that Aren’t There

This is a sign which you definitely cannot ignore because we’re all at risk of going crazy if we do! According to spiritual teachers, this is caused by the frequency of our thoughts and the way our brain processes information as it comes in through our senses. Since we can’t filter out every misplaced thought as they happen, these ones start manifesting as images or sounds. This can be confusing for those who experience this type of thing because their mind is sending them messages that aren’t real, so they become frightened and confused by what’s happening around them. However, once the person calms down and stops worrying about it, they often find that the images and sounds eventually disappear.

 

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13 Rules To Follow For Taking Better Photos – Bruce Weber Photographer

There are several rules to follow when taking interesting photos of people. Professionals like Bruce Weber Photographer take photos on a regular basis and know the tricks to what makes a photo more interesting. Here are some of the rules photographers recommend you should follow for better photos.

Rule 1: Fill the frame: in many cases, an interesting photo will include either just part of a person or the entire person. But when you fill the frame with the person, it makes for a more exciting photo.

Rule 2: Lighting is crucial in producing a quality photo because lighting sets the tone for an entire image. If your subject looks great, but there is inadequate light, then it could ruin everything.

Rule 3: Get close to the subject. Photographers always try to get in closer for a better shot since it captures more emotion and features.

Rule 4: If you want a candid, natural look to your photos, wait until they are going about their normal daily activities and snap away. Don’t make them pose or smile.

Rule 5: Try different angles and perspectives. Sometimes, the most interesting photos are those that look at things from a different angle or through another person’s eyes. This will help you take more interesting photos.

Rule 6: Don’t be afraid to take photos of strangers. Photographers are always on the lookout for interesting people, places, or things to capture in their photos. It doesn’t matter if it’s someone sleeping on the subway or a man balancing books on his head while walking down the street -if it’s interesting, you should be ready with your camera!

Rule 7: Always have your camera ready. Professional photographers always keep their cameras with them at all times so that when they are waiting for the subway or looking out the window of a cab, they can take photos of interesting things in passing. That way, you never miss that perfect shot.

Rule 8: If it is raining or snowing, take advantage of the weather by going out to photograph people playing in the snow or getting caught in a sudden rainstorm. The expressions on their faces as they get drenched will be priceless.

Rule 9: Once you have taken photos of their daily activities, ask your friends or family if there is anything that they do that you could photograph. This is a great way to capture some off-guard photos without them even knowing it.

Rule 10: Experiment with different techniques and equipment. Try all sorts of lighting or perspective to see what works best for you. You will find your own style over time by practicing these tips!

Rule 11: Keep your eyes open for reflections, shadows, and silhouettes. These elements can make the ordinary into something extraordinary.

Rule 12: Don’t be afraid to take a photo of something blurry. Sometimes, it takes practice and skill to make an unfocused shot look great.

Rule 13: Pay attention and watch out for the little things others miss while doing everyday routine activities. These are the shots that can make your photos stand out from everyone else’s!

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Retirement Planning Tips for People in their 20s – Robert Nico Martinelli

Planning for retirement is something that not nearly enough 20-somethings do. But it is never too early to start saving and investing for your golden years. According to retirement planning experts like Robert Nico Martinelli, there are some key tips young people should consider when saving for retirement.

1. Maximize Your Contributions

Once you turn 18, the government will let you open and contribute to an IRA (Individual Retirement Arrangement) and a 401K at your place of employment. These tax-advantaged investment accounts allow you to save money without paying taxes while growing over time. This is why they are some of the best ways to plan for retirement while you are still young.

2. Contribute to a Roth IRA

Many young financial planners suggest making contributions to a Roth IRA because it allows you to make investments with after-tax dollars, but it does not require you to pay taxes on the withdrawals when you retire. This is why experts believe that this investment vehicle is the best retirement savings account out there.

3. Save for Retirement First

When saving for retirement during your 20s, many people are tempted to buy an expensive new house or take an expensive vacation with their extra money. But expert financial planners recommend that you put off these purchases and save as much as possible for your later years first. Once you have enough saved up in your retirement accounts, then you can put additional money towards a house or vacation.

4. Pay Down Your Debt

Just like saving for retirement should come before buying a house or taking a vacation, paying off your existing debts should be your priority in your 20s. Paying off your student loans and credit card debts will free up extra money for saving and investing. It will also save you money on interest charges which would otherwise be wasted if you leave your debts to grow.

5. Consider a Brokerage Account

Whether you set up an IRA, Roth IRA, or some other retirement account, it is important that you add stocks and other investments such as bonds to your portfolio in order to make the most gains over time. Many young people avoid this step because they feel more comfortable with long-term savings vehicles like CDs and fixed income investments. But the truth is, the best way to make money in today’s market is by taking risks and investing in stock. If you plan on retiring someday, then you need to invest some of your money in the stock market.

6. Research Your Investments

Whether you do all of your investing online or whether you hire a financial planner, it is important that you research your investments before putting any money into them. Many people make mistakes by not properly researching an investment vehicle before jumping right in. By looking up the current price per share for stocks or mutual funds, comparing returns on different retirement savings accounts, and doing other research, you can ensure that the stocks you are buying are good ones.

7. Avoid Market Timing

Some financial planners say that market timing does not work, and others swear by it. The truth is, there is no way to know if the market will go up or down next week, next month, or even next year, so investing for retirement should not be based on which way you think the market is moving. Experts recommend investing for retirement on a long-term basis with little to no regard for short-term market fluctuations.

 

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10 Tips for Getting Started Investing in Real Estate – Nelson Partners

Real estate investing can generate real wealth, but it takes tenacity, dedication, and smarts. Here are ten tips from firms like Nelson Partners to get you started:

1. Don’t try to be a real estate expert

Understand that you won’t know all the rules when you’re starting out. That’s okay. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t find, finance, or manage a rental property with ease — your first few deals will likely be frustrating and take longer than expected.

2. Start small and build from there

If possible, buy one house to live in while you’re learning the ropes. Then, once you understand how to buy property, get a feel for managing tenants and can predict repair costs, expand your holdings.

3. Be patient

Real estate investment is long-term in nature. Don’t expect to make money right away or become an overnight success — though it certainly is possible to get wealthy quick through real estate. Patience and dedication are required to succeed in this field.

4. Be willing to fail — a lot

You’ll encounter a lot of bad deals during your real estate career, so expect them. If you don’t lose money on a property or sale, consider yourself lucky. Successful real estate investors learn from their mistakes quickly and move on.

5. Learn your market and location’s limits

If you’re considering buying a property, know the median home value, typical rental rates, and typical purchase prices for homes in your area. You can find this information easily online or by talking to local real estate agents and landlords. Uneducated investors buy properties that are too expensive for their market, leading to bigger losses.

6. Never buy without an exit strategy

Investors fall in love with properties and lose sight of their goal: making money. Don’t let yourself get attached if you think you might not make a profit — it’s okay to walk away from a deal that doesn’t look quite right. There will be other, better opportunities.

7. Evaluate each potential deal on its own merits

Different properties have different value propositions and aren’t all profitable or equally worthwhile investments. Just as stocks in one industry sector don’t perform the same as those in another sector, so too do properties with vastly different characteristics produce widely varying returns. Property evaluation is critical.

8. Know the true cost of ownership

When buying, don’t forget to factor in other costs beyond the purchase price — such as property taxes and other recurring fees. Add up all these expenses and compare them to your potential rental income to see if the deal makes sense. If you’re selling, be sure that your asking price accounts for all the expenses of ownership as well as a reasonable return for your time and effort.

9. Calculate risk before you buy

Potential losses from depreciation, interest rate changes, and cost overruns eat away at profits over time in real estate. Take a look at these risk factors to determine if a potential investment has a positive or negative overall risk/reward ratio.

10. Don’t get in over your head

Investing is best when it’s done within your skill and comfort level — so don’t take on too much risk or borrow more than you can afford to repay. Start slowly and work your way up, learning as you go along.

 

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Tips for Shooting Black and White Photos – Ashwin Khubchandani

Black and white photography is an art form in itself, with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. However, there are many great photographers like Ashwin Khubchandani who have mastered the art of black and white photography. Here are some techniques you can use to shoot black and white photos.

The Light

The best time to shoot a black and white photo is during the golden hour, when the light is soft, diffused by dust particles in the atmosphere due to excessive humidity or pollution. This kind of light helps give great tonality to pictures. Also, try to avoid mid-day light since it is harsh and can create contrast between light and dark areas. If you have to shoot in the middle of the day, then use your flash or reflectors to fill in the shadows with light – this will help reduce the overall contrast between light and dark areas.

The Use of Color

If you are using color film, try to limit the colors in your frame to blue, gray, white, and black. If you are shooting digital, it is best to convert photos into black and white using software like Photoshop. However, for those looking for a picture editor free solution, Adobe Express can be a great tool to ensure that all potential color information is removed before actually starting to shoot.

The Rule of Spaces

One powerful way to make a black and white photograph more aesthetically pleasing is to frame your subject within a space. This could be in the form of different alleyways, brick walls, or winding garden paths, for example – all of which can help create great context in black and white photos.

Shooting Details

The closer you are to your subject in terms of perspective, the more you will see detail. Details can make a black and white photograph stand out as long as you don’t overdo it. Be sure to pick wisely as to which details you want to be prominent in your image.

Use the Negative Space

Another great way of creating a powerful black and white photo is what photography experts refer to as “using negative space.” The idea here is to have a large amount of empty space around your subject so that it stands out from everything else in your picture. Again, this can be combined with the rule of spaces and framing techniques to take awesome black and white photos.

Plan Ahead

You must plan ahead and know what kind of black and white photo you want to take before actually starting to shoot. This will help ensure that you do not miss important shots and will also give you a sense of direction as far as framing and other techniques are concerned. By planning ahead and utilizing the above-mentioned tips and tricks, you will be able to shoot some awesome black and white photos.

Choose Your Backgrounds Wisely

Always pick a background for black and white photos very carefully. Make sure that it is clean, clear, and simple to avoid unnecessary distractions from your subject. It is best to shoot black and white photos with nothing else but the sky in the background since this will help focus all attention on your main subject.

Composition

The composition can make or break a black and white photo. You should avoid using the rule of thirds when composing your shots, instead opting for symmetry to create more balanced images. Also, make sure that there are no distractions in your frame before you take your shot since they will only serve to ruin it.

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Five Tips for First-Time Dog Owners

The prospect of welcoming a new dog into your family is always a big deal. Most dog owners would agree that bringing in a new loyal companion that will love them unconditionally brings tremendous joy to the family.

While welcoming a new pup into the family can be exciting, it can also be a daunting activity, especially for first-time dog owners. It involves a considerable commitment and decisions you’ll want to think through. However, your dog will soon feel at home with a little patience and determination. Anytime you are preparing a new dog for your homestead, it’s best to prepare ahead of time and get an idea of what to expect. Here are the top things first-time dog owners can do to make the transition easier.

Prepare Your Home

Dogs require a room to relax and decompress making it necessary to prepare your house ahead of time. Preparing your home may require more little work, especially if you’re bringing in a puppy to your homestead. Puppies are champion chewers and tend to get into things they should not. But no matter the dog’s age coming into your house, as a first-time dog owner, you’ll want to do some preparations ahead of time.

Create a barrier for your dog or puppy where they can’t damage your belongings or eat something that would make them sick. You could add sliding barn doors that are trendy and functional. You can shut the doors to any room you don’t want your new dog going into. You can keep your dog in safe areas of the house when you are not around to prevent them from having housetraining accidents.

Purchase Supplies

Your dog will require all kinds of stuff in his new home to make it comfortable. How do you decide what your dog wants and what they need? Perhaps they will require both. Take time and research through the world of things your dog may require to discover more. Here are some of the things you may need to get started as a first-time dog owner.

  • Food and water bowls
  • Collar and sheath
  • Crates
  • Dog poop disposal bags
  • A dog bed
  • Toys like tennis balls

When it comes to toys, it’s always a good idea to start with a few items while you get to know about your dog’s preferences and personality.

Choose a Dog Training Class

Every dog needs training. Dog training enables you to control your dog and allow them to grow to be well-adjusted and healthy adults. It’s why you will require to find a training class before bringing a dog to your homestead as a first-time owner. Suitable classes will have:

  • A calm atmosphere without lots of barking which can be attributed to stress
  • A friendly trainer who is ready to help the dogs in a positive way
  • An environment where dogs should are not allowed to play uncontrollably

Find a Vet

At least a few health problems are bound to come up at one stage of your dog’s lifetime. Finding a vet is an essential activity before bringing a new dog to your home, especially if you’re a first-time dog owner. Your vet will be vital in ensuring that your pup lives a long healthy life.

When looking for a veterinarian, there are certain factors to consider. Think about issues like clinic hours and location due to cases of unexpected emergencies. Knowing your preferences in time will help you narrow down your vet options.

As a first-time dog owner, you might ask yourself, how do I get a good veterinarian? The answer is simple, word of mouth is the best method. Ask for recommendations and reviews from your friends and relatives. Online reviews can also be resourceful, but suggestions from close friends are way better.

Prepare for Behavior Problems

No dog is perfect. Bringing in a canine companion to your homestead means you’ll have to deal with some behavior issue caused by the dog at some point. The problems can range from simple activities like excessive barking to destructive chewing.

You may also experience more serious issues like aggression or separation anxiety at times. You might find out that your dog has problems from urinating or other health-related issues. You have to be well informed about the dog’s issues before they become problems for you and your canine companions in all situations.

Getting a dog for the first time can be overwhelming and exciting. However, if you’ve gone through these five tips, you’ll have an easy time laying a foundation that will last a lifetime with your new companion.

 

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4 Of The Worst Cities To Raise A Family

Raising a family is a long-term commitment, and finding the right place for your family to grow takes work. You may not know yet exactly what you need or want in the “right” place, but knowing what you don’t want is easy.

You don’t want a high crime rate, low property values, or bad quality school if you’re looking for a great place to raise a family. Check out a little info on a few of the worst cities to raise a family to start getting a better idea of what you do want in your future spot.

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia certainly has plenty of reasons to visit or vacation, but raising a family in this area may not be your best bet. The crime rates in the city of Atlanta and the surrounding areas are some of the highest in the nation, and it doesn’t get any better in the suburbs.

In one Atlanta suburb, you have a 1 in 10 chance of being a victim of a crime. Atlanta also ranks as one of the worst cities for car accidents. If you’re not safe driving or at home, then where are you going to feel comfortable?

Memphis, Tennessee

Memphis is another spot you don’t want to lay your family’s foundation. The violent crime in Memphis, Tennessee ranks in the top ten percent of the nation. For every 100,000 residents, there are 1,082 violent crimes reported each year.

Poverty is another big issue in and around the city of Memphis. In the nation, an average of 20 percent of kids live in a poverty stricken household. In Memphis, Tennessee, 30 percent of kids live in poverty.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

When children live in a place where crime rates are high, they experience higher stress levels. Excess stress produces excess cortisol in the body, which can cause some lifelong physical issues for your child. Albuquerque, New Mexico makes the list of places you don’t want to raise a family mainly because of its high crime rate.

The high school graduation rate in Albuquerque is less than two-thirds of students. Only two other cities in the nation have a lower graduation rate than Albuquerque.

Gadsden, Alabama

Gadsden, Alabama makes this nefarious collection due to a mixture of poor educational outcomes and high crime rates. Though the two often go hand in hand, Gadsden seems to champion the reaction.

Preschool enrollment in the area sits lower than 40 percent, and high school graduation rates are lower than the nation’s average. The violent crime rate in the Gadsden area is in the highest ten percent in the nation.

 

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How Soon Can You Get Your Family To Live In Canada?

Canada is a great place that will provide families with a better quality of life. Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising why so many residents want to bring their families to this country as soon as possible. As long as you meet the criteria to sponsor your family members, you can bring your family members to Canada through family sponsorship.

If you have yet to process your family sponsorship, you can always contact a professional lawyer at total.law to help you with your application. After all, a professional can help you sort out legal matters and other concerns regarding your family sponsorship.

Now, just in case you don’t know, here are the following requirements you need to meet to become an eligible sponsor. Here they are:

  • Must provide proof that you can give financial support to the family you’re sponsoring
  • Must be 18 years old and above
  • Must not be jailed or indicted with a serious offense
  • Must not be suffering from bankruptcy
  • Not assigned with a removal order (for permanent residents)
  • Must live in Canada and prove their intent to stay in the country once the sponsored family members enter the country
  • Must be willing to support the sponsored members until a particular period while also ensuring that these members also create efforts to support themselves

Now, this begs the question: how soon can you get your family to live in Canada? Here are a few factors that can affect family sponsorship processing times below.

Who are the Family Members You’re Sponsoring

Your processing date begins right after you turn in your complete application. From there, you simply have to wait for the embassy to make a decision about your application. Depending on the family member you’re sponsoring, the length of the processing can vary. Based on the relationship with the family member you’re sponsoring, the process can take longer or shorter.

In general, Canadian Immigration takes up to twelve months or more to process various applications. In addition, multiple factors can affect processing times for different applications. Here they are below:

Factors Affecting Processing Times for Applications

  • The total duration you require to hand out your biometrics
  • The evaluation is done for the sponsor and the family member being sponsored
  • The course needed to ensure that you meet all the stated criteria for sponsorship

Other than the following factors above, your application’s processing time can also be affected by the following factors:

  • The kind of application you sent
  • If the application you turned in is complete or incomplete
  • How fast applications get processed by the embassy
  • How quickly your details can get verified
  • How quickly you respond to matters related to your application
  • Other factors

Moreover, the Canadian embassy favors applications with complete documentation. Therefore, you must submit accurate information and include all the required documents. This will make sure that your application has better chances of getting approved.

Approximate Processing Times Per Family Member

You’re now aware of the following factors affecting specific application processing times. Next, let’s find out the approximate processing times per family member. As previously mentioned, the Canadian Embassy takes a minimum of twelve months to process each application. However, the time needed has taken much longer due to the pandemic.

  • Spouse or common-law partner residing within Canada: 12 months
  • Spouse or common-law partner residing outside of Canada: 12 months
  • Dependent children: Depends on the country where the dependent child/children are coming from
  • Grandparents and parents: 20 to 24 months
  • Adopted children or other relatives: 28 months

Again, these processing times are just an estimate and can still vary depending on your type of application. Furthermore, processing times are also affected based on the total number of people that apply for immigration to Canada. If this number ends up being higher than what the Canadian embassy can accommodate, then you can expect longer processing times.

Final Takeaways

In general, it will take at least twelve months or more before you can get your family to live with you in Canada. It also depends on the family members you’re sponsoring as well. If you’re having problems dealing with your application, you can always reach out to a professional lawyer. After all, they can significantly help you with all your application concerns.

Moreover, there are chances that your application might end up unsuccessful even with the most minimal errors. With that being said, getting legal help might be your best bet to ensure that your application is filled correctly and includes all the necessary documentation. Therefore, with the aid of legal professionals, you can ensure that your sponsorship application gets submitted with excellent chances for approval.

 

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The stress-free guide to eating out with the kids at Christmas

We’ve all been there. We’ve been sat in a restaurant, only for all hell to break loose as the kids run riot. Eating out was once one of life’s rewards. When the kids come along, it (can) be anything but.

Of course, all of the above is the very worst-case scenario. In truth, if everyone is on tip-top behaviour, dining out at a restaurant is another glorious family moment. There’s no doubt that things can get tricky in the peak periods, though, with the upcoming Christmas weeks being one of these.

Bearing this in mind, if you are plotting a Christmas restaurant trip with the family, read on for some top tips on how to manage it.

Pick your location extremely wisely

Put simply, some restaurants are more child-friendly than others. If you take to somewhere like Covent Garden, the options are endless. However, visit the other side of the city, and the situation can be very different.

So, what suggests that a restaurant is suitable for children? A kids menu is the obvious one, but if you’re wandering around the area and spot lots of little people heading in and out, it’s usually a good sign. Another one is high chairs; if a restaurant has a stack of them, you’re sure to be in good company, and things will be easier going!

Do you have to visit at rush hour?

There’s rush hour, and then there is Christmas rush hour. Neither is desirable, but the latter is something you should look to avoid at all costs. The last thing you want with busy stressed shoppers is to head into a restaurant in the thick of it.

The busy period tends to last between 12 pm and 1.30 pm. If you can visit outside of these hours, it will be a much more tolerable experience!

Assess the Christmas meal options beforehand

This again reverts back to the famous question of if a restaurant is child-friendly or not. As we all know, some children are fussier than others – and some festive menus (regardless of the cuisine) can get a bit too complicated.

This is where you should assess the menu beforehand. Sure, we’re all for being spontaneous, but if you can research where you’re going before heading out, it will make things a lot more seamless. You won’t be frantically trying to get everyone in order and finding out what everybody wants – it will all be arranged, and you can concentrate on the other finer details!

Book if you can

Finally, did we mention that this was the most chaotic time of the year in towns and cities? Taking kids into a hectic environment tends to be a recipe for chaos, so at least try to bring some organised factors to proceedings by reserving a table in advance. There are no wait times this time, and you’re at least taking control of the situation somewhat. Again, it might feel like it is excessively planned, but in truth, this is the best formula for Christmas dining with the family.