We all know that self-care is important for our physical and mental health and that moms should be doing a lot more of it. Sometimes, it’s difficult to take that time for ourselves.
While most self-care activities are geared towards moms, learning to care for yourself is important for everyone. To assist you in your self-care efforts, invite the whole family to enjoy these activities together. This investment of time and energy will pay off in spades as you are not only starting your own self-care practice but encouraging your loved ones to participate as well.
This Valentine’s Day will look different than the usual chocolates, flowers, and reservations. That doesn’t mean you can’t make the best of it! Whether you are part of a couple, celebrating with friends, or rolling solo there are still ways to make this holiday work for you – even from home.
Not loving the idea of a crowded restaurant on February 14th? Here are some ways to make Valentine’s day special at home instead.
If you are looking for new ways to freshen up your home this year, consider adding houseplants. Struggling with home decor and interior design? Make greenery the central part of your decorating strategy. Everyone loves the look, smell, and feel of a houseplant. Plus, plants have a lot of additional benefits other than just being eye candy for you and your guests.
Even with the craziness of the past year, plenty of people are looking to purchase a home. Homeownership is a prize worth seeking but it can seem overwhelming for anyone going through this process for the first time. Even if buying a home is a long-term goal for you, there are some things you can (and should) focus on right now to get prepared to buy your next home.
Want to be a healthier you this year? It’s time to talk about that stress monster that follows you around every day. While some amount of stress can be good for us, too many people are experiencing harmful amounts of stress every day. Here are some methods you can try to de-stress this year and get into a healthier mental and physical place.
New year, new you? Well, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take advantage of the energies of the new year by getting organized. What better way to get a fresh start than by tidying up your home and office space? Here are some ideas that you can tackle to freshen up your work and living areas this year.
In the past few years, even the faintest flurry of snow has sent the Frozen song “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” scurrying through our brains. Building a snowman with your family is a rite of passage that builds strong familial bonds and memories that will last for years to come. But in the past, we have also seen some really sad looking snowmen.
Here’s what you need to do to make the perfect snowman this winter with your family:
Let it snow — The first thing you need to determine is if the snow is just right for making a snowman. If the snow is wet and slushy, then it won’t be able to stick together, and you won’t be able to make a solid snowman. If it’s too powdery and dry, it likewise isn’t going to be usable. The best option is somewhere in between. If it’s too wet, you’re going to have to wait for fresh snow to fall. However, if it is too dry, you can turn on your water hose and lightly wet down the snow to make it usable.
Find a good spot — Like with real estate, one of the keys to a good snowman is location, location, location. While a lot of people like to build in the front yard to show off to the neighbors, if that area is in direct sunlight then it will melt a lot faster. Instead, find a flat spot that is shaded so your snow masterpiece will last longer.
Make your three core parts — Start by making a slightly larger than average snowball and place it on the ground. Then, roll the ball around and around on the ground, gathering up more snow in the process. As you do this, the ball should get bigger and bigger until you have a base for your snowman. Then, repeat this process two more times. Each time, the ball should be slightly smaller than the one before so that you have the three main ingredients for your snowman. Once you’ve made the second and third balls, stack them carefully on top of the first.
Decorate away — Finally, let your imagination run wild as you create a decorated snowman that reflects your personality. For eyes, you don’t have to use coal or buttons. Instead, you should try something like chocolates. (Also, a great choice for the mouth.) For the nose, of course, you can’t go wrong with the traditional carrot. You can also add sticks for arms and twigs for hair. Just make sure you top it off with a hat.
The next time the kids start singing, “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” answer them with a resounding “Yes!” Take these tips to create your perfect snowman and have fun building it as well as some great memories.
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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.
When it comes to selling a home, most realtors will tell you that spring is king when it comes to the best time to sell. Spring listings always seem to move faster, and the better weather seems to be naturally set for open houses.
But you don’t always get to pick when you have to put your house on the market. If you’re putting your home up for sale during the winter, then you need to check out the following tips on how to sell your home faster.
4 Tips for Selling Your Home in Winter:
Let’s talk about decorations — First off, let’s address the elephant in the room. Is it acceptable to decorate your home for the holidays while you are trying to sell your home? Some realtors will say yes, and others will say no. But the reality lies somewhere in between.Yes, decorate your home. In fact, some realtors point out that the “homey” family quality goes a long way towards selling a home. But, don’t go overboard with lots of inflatables that block the view of the home. Instead, your decorations should be modest. Also, after the holidays have passed, make sure that you take all the decorations down. You don’t want to be that person who leaves them up year-round.
Lighten up — One reason why spring is sometimes preferred for home sales is that the sun doesn’t set until around 8:00, giving plenty of sunlight for people getting off work to check out the homes. During the winter, you don’t have this option since it probably starts getting dark around 5:30 or so. To help with this, set up outdoor floodlights that can help light up the property and show it off for people driving through the neighborhood.
Get comfy and cozy — When you’re staging the interior of your home, make sure to play up the coziness of the locale. Make sure you have your heater set at a comfortable temperature, but not so warm that it becomes stifling. If you have a fireplace, light it up and have lots of warm blankets and other touches visible to help set the stage for a comfortable home.
Get good outdoor pictures — When you are taking pictures for the online listing, you may think that your property looks great with a dusting of snow. While this may be true, it also may not be able to sell a home if all of your pictures show it covered in snow. Exterior pics should accentuate all the great selling points of your home and this is hard to do if the property is covered in snow and ice.
If you’re trying to sell your home this winter, it’s not a good idea to decorate it as bright as the Christmas Vacation home. But there are some tasteful, modest things you can do to help emphasize your home’s “cheery” qualities that make it feel like a great home for the holidays.
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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.
If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we need to be prepared for almost any kind of emergency that can be thrown our way. So as winter approaches, it’s necessary to put together an emergency survival kit that can help you stay safe during severe winter weather. We’ve probably all heard horror stories of people stuck at home for days during blizzards (or worse, those trapped out in their cars during this weather).
Here’s what you need on hand to protect yourself and your family during a winter emergency:
Heating options — The first thing you are going to want to stock up on is some form of heating option if you lose power. If you have a fireplace, then make sure you have your chimney cleaned and a good supply of logs and other options to get a good fire going. If you don’t have a fireplace that works, then you should invest in a kerosene heater. (These need to be handled with great care, so make sure you follow all safety procedures when using them.)
In your car, make sure that you keep several heavy thermal blankets and a heavy-duty sleeping bag in your car in case you are stuck in a snowdrift and need to stay warm. Another good choice to keep in your car is hand-warmers like those used by hunters. These can be shaken up to create a small heating source.
Basic supplies — There are several items that fall under basic supplies that you should keep for any type of emergency. These include:
Flashlight and batteries
Candles and matches
First aid kit
Portable weather/FM radio
Rapid charger for phone
Food and water — A big problem when winter weather is nearing is that everyone seems to buy all of the bread and milk in the grocery store. You want to keep a good supply of non-perishable and canned food items on hand before the grocery rush starts. At home, you want things that can be opened and eaten without a lot of food preparation (as your stove and microwave may be incapacitated by a power loss). Good options for the car are unsalted canned nuts, peanut butter, protein/granola bars, and hard candy. Finally, have lots of bottled water on hand. Even if the expiration date has passed on the water, don’t toss it. You can still use this water for other tasks such as cleaning if your water pipes stop working.
Before the winter moves in, you need to spend some time getting your home and car ready for the possibility of a winter emergency. By stocking up on these items early on, you can ensure that you keep your family safe this winter.
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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.
For those in the market for a new home, there are lots of different pieces of advice that people will try to offer you about buying a house. But one piece of advice is so good that you can take it to the bank.
It is absolutely imperative that you get a good home inspection before you sign on the dotted line. Failure to do this can result in getting burdened with a real money pit instead of your dream home.
Here’s a rundown on what you need to know about home inspections:
Request an inspection — First, you want to put into your contract that you wish to have a home inspection performed. Once the contract is signed, then you have a couple of weeks (depending on how much time is specified in the contract) to find an inspector, have it conducted, and then decide on how to act based on the inspection.
Find an inspector — Next, you need to find someone who can perform an inspection on the house. Generally speaking, you want to start with your real estate agent. They usually have a list of inspectors that they trust. You can also check on their credentials by looking at online reviews of their past work. Also, be sure to check out their certifications so that you know they are up to date on everything.
Conduct the inspection — When the inspection is conducted, you should make plans to be there in person. Not only do you want to know how things go, but you also should be there to ask questions and to ensure that everything is checked out thoroughly. Your inspector needs to check out all of the areas of the property, including basement, cellar, and attic. The inspector will also need to ensure that all of the major systems such as plumbing, HVAC, and electrical are thoroughly inspected.
Review the report — Once the inspection is complete, you will receive a formal report from the inspector. Then, sit down with your real estate agent and review the findings of the inspection. Then, you are faced with a few choices such as whether to adjust your offer based on the inspection findings or require repairs to be made as a contingency of you buying the house. Additionally, if the inspection finds a major structural problem, it is still possible to walk away from the sale.
Buying a new home is one of the largest investments a person will ever make. To protect yourself from buying a home with major problems, it is imperative that you get a home inspection. This will protect you and ensure that your home is a safe one that you won’t throw your money away on.
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Whether you’re buying, selling, refinancing, or building your dream home, I’m here to help you explore the many financing options available. Ensuring that you make the right choice for you and your family is my ultimate goal. I am committed to providing my customers with mortgage services that exceed their expectations. Find out more by visiting my website.
