These creative shared bedroom ideas are perfect for families, whether it’s for big kids, babies, or a combination of the two.

Anyone who lives in a home with more bodies than they have space for knows all too well that shared rooms are just part of the deal (and sometimes all that clutter). But it turns out, that designing a space that makes everyone feel cozy and comfortable (and is good-looking to boot) is possible, no matter who’s sharing the bedroom. Here are six tips for tackling shared bedrooms and how you can replicate the look in your own home.

Shared Room Tip #1: Stack up the Beds

bunk beds are good shared bedroom ideas
Amazon

This triple bunk takes advantage of high ceilings (its height is almost 6.5′ high so this would work best in a room with 9′ ceilings or higher) and is the ultimate space saver when it comes to shared bedroom ideas for those with more than two kids (or for those with one kid who has loads of cousins and sleepover friends). Best part? Costing less than $500—it won’t break the bank. For more bunk bed inspo, check out our round-up of bunk beds that will have everyone fighting for the top bunk.

Shared Room Tip #2: Divide the Room

shared bedroom ideas
courtesy Kim Cornelison

Private yet together. This bedroom cleverly splits the bedroom with a privacy wall, complete with handy sconces and built-in storage. The wrap-around wallpaper helps unify the space.

Shared Room Tip #3: Get Creative with Double-Duty Furniture

If an entire wall build-out is out of the question, make double use of a headboard from both sides like this solution by Jennifer Wundrow Int. Design. It offers privacy much like the wall but is executed much less expensively. Bonus: Built-ins at the end of the bed provide extra storage space for books, a glass of water, and other bedtime must-needs.

Insider Tip: If you don’t have a headboard, you can add a bookcase and use it as the divider/headboard.

Related: Coolest Seat in the House: Kid’s Tables & Chairs That Fit Every Space & Style

Shared Room Tip #4: Mirror the Furniture

The graphic nature of these IKEA beds (yes! IKEA) helps make this bedroom look modern and roomy thanks to the tight color palette and minimal bedding. A battenboard wall adds a nice bespoke touch to the room without overwhelming the space.

Shared Room Tip #5: Take Advantage of High Ceilings

Photo by Barnes Vanze Architects, Inc.

Whether you have 9′ high ceilings and can fit a triple bunk bed in a room or have a loft-like space where a niche would work just right—utilizing otherwise wasted space, use high ceilings to your advantage when it comes to shared spaces.

Shared Room Tip #6: Make It Personal

If you are decorating a shared space, make sure to personalize each space for each kid. So whether you have a big kid and a baby sharing a room, a brother and sister, or any combination you choose, make sure that each kid’s bed space reflects them—it could be a favorite color bedspread or even their initials over the bed. Whatever you do, it’ll make the room feel cozier and possibly, make them love sharing a room even more.

 

 

Do your kids need to get some energy out? Bring them to a Portland climbing gym—STAT

Let’s be honest, during the long winter months it can be challenging to get kids outside, especially on the rainiest days. And while we love Portland’s many indoor playgrounds and play spots, and consider ourselves experts in the realm of creative places to play on a rainy day, sometimes it’s fun to mix it up a bit. So the next time your kids are climbing the walls at home, lean in and let them climb—somewhere else. These Portland indoor climbing gyms are waiting to help you and your little ones get your wiggles out this winter.

1. The Circuit

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If you are nervous about your little ones scaling a wall with only a rope to keep them safe, bouldering, or climbing without ropes, is an activity that even toddlers and pre-schoolers can enjoy. The Circuit is a bouldering gym that boasts being home to the best kids' climbing space in Portland. They have kid-specific boulders that are designed with shorter climbers in mind. Even better, all of the walls were created to accommodate climbers of all ages, sizes, and ability levels.

If your child isn't in the mood to climb The Circuit also offers slacklining. Slacklines are similar to tight ropes but made of stretchy, flexible material. They provide hours of fun for your littles as they practice balancing and carefully placing one foot in front of the other without falling.

410 N.E. 17th Ave.
Portland

6050 S.W. Macadam Ave.
Portland

16255 S.W. Upper Boones Ferry Rd.
Tigard, OR
Online: thecircuitgym.com

2. Portland Rock Gym

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Located in NE, the Portland Rock Gym provides hours and hours of thrills and chills as your young climbers scale walls speckled with colorful "rocks" guiding their path. This gym offers Kids Climb which is perfect for 8-to 11-year-olds and includes a staff member who assists your child as they begin climbing roped walls, bouldering, and using the auto-belays. There are also camps and clubs you can sign your kiddo up for if they fall in love with this daring sport. Sign your clan up for the monthly family package and enjoy climbing all winter long.

21 N.E. 12th Ave.
Portland
Online: portlandrockgym.com

3. Stoneworks Climbing Gym

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Beaverton’s Stoneworks is designed to promote community and exudes "family-friendly." It boasts 34-foot climbing and lead walls, high-ball bouldering to 20 feet, top-out bouldering area, and auto belays. If you or your kids fall in love with climbing there are climbing lessons available, and Stoneworks offers fun kids' rock climbing programs that are guaranteed to keep your little ones engaged and interested. It is also home to one of the best junior climbing teams in the country that welcomes kids 9 to 19. Consider thinking ahead because Stoneworks also offers a variety of summer camps for kids aged 12 and under.

6775 S.W. 111th Ave.
Beaverton, OR
Online: belay.com

4. Movement Gym

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFcd2PSHctl/?hidecaption=true

This rock climbing gym recognizes that kids are natural-born climbers. Their walls are designed to accommodate all sizes and abilities and there are a variety of classes available for youth. From beginners to kids who are ready to compete, there is a program for everyone. 

1405 N.W. 14th Ave.
Portland
Online: movementgyms.com

5. Source Climbing

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At Source Climbing, your kiddos can take classes to start off on the right foot with climbing. Ages 6-12 can take the youth intro class before moving up and really honing their skills. Kids ages 9+ can even join a recreational climbing team to explore competitive climbing in a safe environment. Also, don't forget to check out their summer camp options!

1118 Main St.
Vancouver, WA
Online: sourceclimbing.com

Who’s getting excited for Halloween? In anticipation of the ultimate spooky season, Disney just expanded its Adaptive Roleplay kid’s costumes and wheelchair cover sets to include even more options this year.

Disney’s adaptive costumes came on the market last year and included options like Disney Princesses and Pixar characters. Now, kids can also choose from Marvel Studios’ Black Panther Adaptive Costume, a Star Wars: The Mandalorian Adaptive Costume and Star Wars: The Mandalorian Wheelchair Cover Set and more!

Kids and adults who use wheelchairs and have other accessibility needs will find the adaptive costumes a great fit. The costumes are made with stretch fabric that opens in the front, is open in the rear and has a long inseam.

Each costume has flap openings on the front center with self-stick fabric closure to accommodate tube access and the wheelchair cover sets fit most standard wheelchairs with 24-inch wheels. The sets include plastic piping pieces for added support and long self-stick fabric strips to secure the pieces.

The 2021 Halloween collection is live on shopDisney.com and already has tons of costumes for new releases like Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon as well as classic films. You can find decor, clothing and accessories to last you the whole season!

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Disney

 

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Now you can truly be a Barbie girl in a Barbie world. FUNBOY, purveyor of luxury inflatable pools is prepping for summer by launching new products and that includes a new, limited edition lineup featuring your fave gal pal.

The FUNBOY x Malibu Barbie Pool Float Collaboration is all you need to keep the kiddos happy and cool this summer.

Malibut Barbie Dream Kiddie Pool

This 66-inch diameter inflatable ($59) can accommodate multiple littles at one time or two adults! It offers rapid inflate and deflate values and an integrated drain plug. The Barbie logo appears on the floor and exclusive Malibu Barbie™ print by FUNBOY.

Malibu Barbie Golf Cart Pool Float

The limited edition 50th Anniversary Retro Malibu Golf Cart ($129) is a must for summer. It comes with removable fringe-lined sun shade folds into three compact flat rings, two reinforced cup holders, tether point to secure to the dock, boat or any stationary object. The oversized two-person design means fun for everyone.

Malibu Barbie Vintage Convertible Float

Cruise in major style with this vintage convertible float ($99). The two-person float is over 96" long, has a tether hook and two reinforced cup holders.

Malibu Barbie Private Jet Float

At 95" long, this private jet ($99) is huge! Enjoy a beverage and keep it safe with the reinforced cup holder and use the tether hook to make sure your private jet doesn't take off without you.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Courtesy of Funboy

 

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Editor’s note: Please remember to follow social distancing guidelines, wear masks and ensure you’re abiding by local orders when traveling. Stay safe and be responsible!

If you’re planning a trip to a galaxy far, far away, Airbnb has the perfect place for you to stay in Orlando, Florida.

Twelve Parsecs is a 9-bedroom house located just 15 minutes away from Disney World, making it the perfect place for a family of Jedi warriors to rest their heads while visiting Galaxy’s Edge.

With 17 beds and 5 bathrooms, this house can easily accommodate your entire family on your next Disney World vacation. The home features some incredible details that will have you feeling like you’ve left the real world behind and stepped right into a Star Wars movie.

The rooms are decked out in handpainted murals and one-of-a-kind, handcrafted beds. You can sleep on a floating cloud in Cloud City or spend the night in the swamps of Dagobah. Even the hallways are designed to resemble the fastest ship in the galaxy.

The home includes a heated pool and resort amenities at the Champions Gate Oasis resort that include a water park, two golf courses, splash pad, game room, theater and more. The hosts have also left behind 16 Star Wars Easter eggs for guests to find.

The Twelve Parsecs by Loma Homes Airbnb is available for $546 per night.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Airbnb

 

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baby shopping cart

Becoming a new parent can be exciting, but it can also be terrifying if especially since it’s your first time. You will need to prepare well for the changes that come with parenting, and sometimes it means changing your lifest‌yle to accommodate all the financial needs that come with being a parent.

Parenthood requires a lot of planning, and one thing which should be at the top of your planning list is how to manage your finances to cater to all the needs of your growing family.

One thing that you will see change when you become a parent is how you spend your money. If you don’t plan for this change, you can find yourself in a deep financial crisis. To avoid falling into a financial crisis as a new parent, you will need to reduce and eliminate some expenses to accommodate and afford your new life as a parent.

Here are some tips for new moms and dads that will help them save money for their families.

1. Create or reassess your budget. It is crucial to create a personal budget or a budget for your household, and if you already have one, you should re-evaluate it to accommodate the additional needs. A budget helps you to track your expenditure and know where your money goes, thus making it easier to make decisions about how you spend. You can identify the essential things that really need your spending and cut back on some other things that are not essential.

2. Boost your savings and reduce monthly expenses. After compiling your budget and knowing where to spend and to cut back, you should look for other saving strategies by looking at your monthly expenses.

You should take out non-essential monthly expenses. Do you really need that Spotify subscription? To save money on your electric bill, unplug appliances and turn off the lights when not in use. You can also reduce your monthly electricity bill by cutting back on your reliance on appliances like air conditioning and only using it when necessary.

Look into the little things that you can forego, such as dining out all the time or buying expensive coffee. There is always something that you can do to bring down your expenses so that you can save more money.

3. Look out for discounts or promotions. Never get carried away when shopping for your baby as a new parent. Make a shortlist that will guide you on what you need to buy. Always stick to the essentials and what is really needed when on the shopping floor.

Also, when shopping online, you can save a lot by using promotional vouchers, online coupons, and discounts offered for the various baby and home products.

Make it a habit to always look out for weekly flyers from stores, which are sent through email as they may contain coupons and discounts on multiple items. These days, you can also find online coupons on retail stores’ websites, or you can search for them on the internet.

4. Remember babies don’t need a lot. After budgeting for the baby, the next thing you should do is reduce your spending on unnecessary baby products. Spend on what the baby needs at that time. Don’t rush to buy baby clothes and shawls that the baby might overgrow in a few months. One of the best ways to save on baby clothes is to get from family or friends’ hand-me-downs. When it comes to toys, you can buy just a few to entertain the baby.

5. Cut back on non-essential spending. You can save a lot when you cut down on non-essential spending. One way you can do this is by cutting down the amount you spend on dates and movies. You can also cut them entirely by choosing to stay at home and watching Netflix instead. You can hold off upgrading phones and even TVs to the latest models until you get used to your finances as a new parent.

Parenting can be a challenge for new parents, especially when it comes to finances, but saving money as new parents is not impossible. If you adjust your lifestyle and look for ways to spend less and save more, being new parents won’t be as financially challenging as you thought it would be.

 

Lauren reed has been writing articles for five years. lauren reed has provided her services independently and through the online employment forums.she writes SEO articles for bussiness. Her articles have appeared in a number of sites including https://www.techtimes.com/,  https://mommysmemorandum.com/https://www.thefashionablehousewife.com/

Her articles are of high quality and focus on balancing information and unique content. 

Slurpees and croissants? 7-Eleven is rolling out a new line of fresh baked goods. This will be the first time a national convenience store chain offers fresh pastries baked in stores nationally with a guarantee that they were never previously frozen. 

7-Eleven Baked Goods

The new menu items that will be rolling out include:

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Chocolate Croissants 

Halloween Cut Out Cookies

Chocolate Bretzels

Salted Caramel Cookies

7-Eleven Baked Goods

Select stores will get new equipment that will allow them to produce a fresh new line of baked goods in key markets. The pilot will start in parts of Long Island, Florida and Texas, with plans to roll out in all future newly-constructed stores and within existing stores that can accommodate the equipment.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of 7-Eleven

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Santa’s merry elves may be working overtime, but that doesn’t mean you have to. To ease your holiday shopping, we partnered with some of our favorite brands to offer you amazing deals and steals this season on products and gear you actually want (or want to give). From meal delivery to oh-so-cozy clothing and must-have toys, get your shopping done in a flash without breaking the bank.

Check out the entire 10 days of deals by clicking here. 

Today’s Deal: Too Late! This Deal is Over.

The Scoop:
Make mealtime easier (and more nutritious!) this holiday season. With Nurture Life, you can spend less time shopping, prepping and cooking and more time enjoying all the holidays have to offer. Nurture Life offers freshly prepared meals (never frozen) with an appealing range of kid-pleasing choices. They also accommodate dietary choices and restrictions with all meals clearly labeled: vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free and egg-free.

Scroll to peek some of Nurture Life’s offerings.

Check out the entire 10 days of deals by clicking here. 

Photo: Shutterstock

Parenting isn’t easy. Despite all the books that offer advice, websites that give suggestions, experiences that we can access every day, there is no clear and authoritative manual. We make mistakes as parents all the time, some bigger than others. When we do, the guilt can be overwhelming.

But you don’t have to be perfect. The best thing you can do is be honest in your actions with your child. By setting an example now and forming habits that they can emulate, you will be doing more for them than any picturesque Leave It To Beaver life ever could.

Here are three beneficial habits to help develop that will encourage your children to be healthy, happy and well adjusted by the time they are teens.

Communicate Fairly

This is a hard one because it takes a lot of patience, forgiveness and calmness to pull off. Mindful communication means being aware of your feelings, thoughts and needs. But it also means being open to hearing and accommodating the needs of others.

If your child hears you accusing your partner of always doing this, or never doing that, they will start to say the same things. If they hear your partner and yourself call each other names, they will start to do that. If they listen to you shouting insults at a driver who cut you off…well, you get the picture.

Put Away the Smartphone

We spend far too much time on our phones and we all know it. Which is fine, a good portion of the time. But we are becoming so reliant on technology that we are missing out on experiences and awareness of what is around us.

Our kids can be even worse, as they have grown up with this technology. So put away your phone during meals, when you are in the car, when you are at the park, when they are speaking to you…it will make a difference.

Be Understanding of Faults and Mistakes

No one likes to make mistakes, but everyone does. It is important that we learn to be kind to ourselves and others when it comes to mishaps, mess ups and our overall faults. That little voice that tells us we aren’t good enough? We can quiet it and help our children to do the same.

Not only will these habits help you, they will help your children as well. Especially once those difficult teen years begin.

Cindy Price would like to say she's a parenting expert but she knows better than to do that. As a parent educator and writer for over 15 years, she's well-aware how quickly parenting practices evolve. Family is her greatest joy and she hopes her writing can help make families stronger. 

Tanya Acosta is a Speech Pathologist, mother and the brains behind the non-profit Sensory City—and organization dedicated to making public spaces sensory friendly.

As the parent of a child with a disability, Acosta wants to help public community spaces (such as hotels, museums, airports, theme parks and other areas) better accommodate people with autism spectrum disorder, dementia, ADHD, PTSD and other sensory processing issues.

Sensory City offers a certification process to designate public spaces as “Sensory Friendly Certified.” The organization also offers sensory friendly kits, tools and disability-friendly recommendations to create inclusive areas.

Certification requires the business/organization/institution’s staff to complete Sensory City’s training and adopt the program criteria. Certified establishments get a door decal (to let families know the business is sensory-friendly). You can find “Sensory Friendly Certified” spaces listed on Sensory City’s website.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Hai Robe via Pixabay

 

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