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5 Keys to a Healthier Home

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There are many ways to make your home healthier, but these five things will give you an excellent start. 

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1) Get rid of cigarettes and smoke

Secondhand smoke is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States, so if you or any of your family members smoke, it’s time to quit. Not only is smoking bad for your health, but it also makes your home smell terrible and can stain walls and furniture. If you’re having trouble quitting on your own, try using a nicotine replacement therapy like gum or patches, or ask your doctor about medication that can help. There are also many helpful resources online, such as Smokefree.gov.If there are smokers in your household, be sure to open windows and use fans to ventilate the house regularly; this will help reduce the amount of smoke exposure to everyone.

2) Get rid of pests

Pests like cockroaches, rats, and mice can spread disease and make your home uncomfortable and unsanitary. If you have a pest problem, take steps to get rid of them as soon as possible. This may include hiring a professional exterminator, using traps or bait, or taking other preventive measures. You can also reduce the risk of pests by keeping your home clean and free of clutter, storing food in airtight containers, sealing up cracks and openings around doors and windows, and getting rid of any standing water.

3) Improve your air quality

Poor air quality can cause a variety of health problems, from asthma and allergies to lung cancer and heart disease. You can improve the air quality in your home by using an air purifier, opening windows and doors to let fresh air in, and avoiding products that release harmful chemicals (like aerosols and cleaning supplies). You can also reduce your exposure to indoor pollutants by vacuuming regularly and keeping floors clean, dusting furniture and surfaces often, and cooking with non-toxic ingredients.

4) Make your home safer

Every year, thousands of people are injured or killed in accidents that could have been prevented with simple safety measures. To create a safe environment for you and your family, take steps to prevent falls (like making sure rugs don’t slip), install handrails on staircases, secure windows and cabinets containing dangerous items like cleaning products or knives, replace smoke alarm batteries regularly; teach children about the dangers of playing near water.

5) Monitor your home’s temperature

It can be easy to forget about the dangers of extreme temperatures, but both high and low temps can pose a risk to your health. For example, exposure to excessive heat (like through hot tubs or car interiors) can cause burns or even death; meanwhile, extremely cold weather increases the risk for hypothermia and frostbite. Make sure you check your house’s thermostat regularly so that it stays at an optimal level, avoiding extremes in either direction.

6) Use Natural Health Enhancers 

There are many natural health enhancers on the market that can improve your overall well-being. Products like adaptogens, superfoods, CBD Muscle Balm, and herbs can help to boost your immune system, increase energy levels, and reduce stress. By incorporating these products into your daily routine, you can create a healthier home environment for yourself and your family.

Creating a healthy home is important for everyone, so make sure to incorporate these tips into your life today!

Thank you for reading!

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How to Find the Perfect Home for Your Family

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If you have decided that you’re ready to be a homeowner, the search for your first family home can be full of excitement but also stress and frustration. Even houses that look good from the outside will have something that shakes your conviction inside. What’s worse, you are competing with a plethora of other families looking for their first home, too. This is why it’s important to know how to find the perfect home for your family and the right questions to ask.

Envision Yourself There 

You’ll never find your dream home if you’re unable to envision yourself and your family there. The moment you walk through the door when viewing a home, you should be able to imagine how you will set everything up. From the living room to the bedroom and outside to the garden where your kids will play, this is a superb indicator of whether this home is right for you. If you struggle to envision yourself living there, it’s a sign that this house is not right for you. 

Consider the Surrounding Area 

The home is not the only place you are moving into. You should also consider the surrounding area and ask yourself whether it’s suitable to raise a family. Think about open spaces for your kids to play, think about easy transport or access to the highway to make it easier for you to get to work. Look at local schools and a Local Dentist to make healthcare easier for you and your family. If you’re unfamiliar with the area, you’ll be able to find statistics about the average cost of living, crime, and other metrics that can help you decide whether this area is the right place for you and your family. 

Ask All the Questions 

Some people hate asking too many questions, but others understand that these questions are essential for getting the entire picture. When meeting with your real estate agent, you think about any concerns or questions you have regarding the house. Some of the most popular include why the previous owners are moving, or even whether the estate agent has sold homes in the area before. Getting answers to these questions can fill you with confidence, or it can do the opposite depending on what you hear.

Don’t Be a Perfectionist 

Everyone wants to find the Perfect Home, but perfection is often challenging to achieve. It might be that you never find your dream home, but this should not dissuade you from buying a house. You can always make improvements to and create the home you always wanted. Although you mustn’t settle, especially at the expense of other essentials for your family, it also doesn’t help to be too strict with your needs and a little flexibility can make the search much simpler. 

Your New Home 

The search for your first home can feel like it takes forever. But, with the right approach, you might discover that identifying the perfect home is easier than expected. Knowing what you want, what you need, and what you may need in the future ensures you find your dream home easier than anticipated. 

Thank you for reading!

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8 Tips to Make Your Move As Smooth As Possible

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Over the past 8.5 years, my fiancé and I have moved six times. For the first four moves, they were one year apart. It was exhausting! During our last move, I had just had neck/shoulder surgery and could not lift anything. We don’t own a ton of furniture, but we do have a California King mattress and bed frame, a queen mattress and frame, as well as two couches. Basically, these things cannot be lifted by just one person.

It was during this last move that my fiancé and I realized, that for future moves, we need to make sure we hire movers. We highly recommend one Las Vegas, Nevada moving company:

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  • Muscle Movers LLC Las Vegas is a moving company that serves Las Vegas, Clark County (where Las Vegas is located), and the surrounding areas. Their services include commercial and residential moving, labor, packing, and even helping with bulky furniture including pianos or moving hot tubs in the Las Vegas area. 
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With all my moving experiences, I feel like I’ve gotten relatively good at getting prepared.

Below are 8 tips on things that I’ve learned throughout the process!

  1. Stock Up on Boxes

You’ll obviously need boxes. I recommend either getting some from home improvement stores or any other store that sells them. However, I have always posted in neighborhood groups (NextDoor, Facebook) asking for used boxes. Every single move I’ve made, I’ve been given free boxes! So definitely check there first.

2. Stock Up on Bubble Wrap, Packing Paper, and Packing Tape

You’ll need bubble wrap and packing paper to be sure you properly pack your belongings. This is something I didn’t think about for the first few moves (I know, I know). Honestly, I just wrapped everything in my clothes. Granted, for the first few moves, we didn’t really have too many belongings or furniture. You’ll need good packing tape, too. Make sure it’s quality tape and not thin and flimsy.

3. Start Packing Early

This one may seem obvious, but I’ll admit that I’m a professional procrastinator. I usually wait until the very last minute (literally one or two days before the move) to pack. It ends up making the stress I already feel tenfold. It’s awful! So yes, start packing as early as possible. This will give you time to organize your boxes and properly pack your belongings.

4. Label Your Boxes

I cannot stress this one enough! You need to label your boxes. Usually, the boxes are labeled based on the rooms in which those boxes belong (i.e. master bedroom, kitchen). However, for boxes that contain things that I’ll need to find immediately, I’ll put a list of the included items on the box. This takes more time, but it really helps once we’re in the new place.

5. Hire Movers!

If you’re in a financial position that allows you to hire movers, do it. Especially if you have a lot of furniture and other big items. Movers will help provide some relief for you; it’s worth it!

6. Rent a Moving Truck

If you hire movers, a moving truck is probably already included. However, if you’re doing the move on your own, you’ll probably want to rent a moving truck (U-Haul, Penske, etc). There are various sizes of these trucks, plus you don’t need any type of special license to drive them (not sure if this is safe, but it sure is convenient!).

7. Stock Your New Fridge and Have Plenty of Water

One problem we’ve always run into is not having enough food and water (not only for us, but for the movers!). We’re so caught up in the process of moving that we forget to stock up. This has happened more times than I’d like to admit. Therefore, I highly recommend having food in the fridge at your new place (and at your current/old place), and make sure to have plenty of water!

8. Thank and Tip Your Movers!

Your movers worked hard to make sure your belongings were well taken care of and arrived at the right destination. Sometimes, this is done in extreme weather (example: today in Las Vegas, it is 113*F). It’s incredibly important that you thank your movers AND tip them!

Image from Muscle Movers website

I hope these tips help during your next move! Use my experiences and the mistakes I’ve made to ensure things are less stressful for you.

If you’re in the Las Vegas, Nevada, or Clark County areas, be sure to contact Muscle Movers LLC Las Vegas for all your moving needs!

Do you have any tips on moving? Please share them below!

Thank you for reading!

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Garden Jobs To Do In Preparation For Summer

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Now that June is almost here, most of us are getting ready for an exciting summer where we can go out and spend time with the ones we love. 

During the summer months, the garden really comes into its own and now is the time for you to prepare for this exciting part of the year. Here are some of the things you can do in your garden now to get it ready to thrive in the summer months. 

Plant seedlings 

The first thing you can do to prepare for a fun summer in your garden is plant some plugs or seedlings in your flower beds. You can do this at the end of May and the start of June and this will give the seedlings a chance to grow into small plants by July and august. This means you will be able to enjoy plants such as pansies and marigolds throughout the summer. If it is still a little cold where you live, you can start some seedlings on your kitchen windowsill and this will help you to ensure they grow strong by the time you plant them outside. 

Arrange a hanging basket 

Hanging baskets are a fun feature to bring into your garden and you can hang them in lots of different places around your garden. You could put them on each side of your door or window, hang it on the shed, or even on a bird feeder pole. Hanging baskets can be filled with flowers such as pansies and lobelia and will soon bring a dose of colour and vibrancy to your garden. It won’t take long for your hanging basket to bloom and become a beloved feature of your outdoor space. 

Clean the gutters 

Now that summer is on its way you can start considering cleaning out the gutters to get rid of any muck that has collected over winter. This is a job you can do yourself or you can bring in exterior cleaning experts to help you. Once you have done this consider installing a water butt to your gutters and collect rainwater to use for your garden in the summer. 

Sprinkle wildflower seeds

If you are looking for a low maintenance garden this year, why not buy yourself a wildflower seed mix and sprinkle this over your beds? Wildflowers will attract bees and butterflies to your garden and they will bring some stunning primary colours to your flowerbeds without any effort at all. Doing this will bring colour and fun to your outdoor space without the work and they will come back year after year to bring colour and joy to your garden. 

Cut the lawn edges 

One last job to do now ready for the summer in your garden is cut your lawn edges clean so that the lawn stays separated from your flowerbeds. This will cut down the need to pull grass out of your flowerbeds in the summer and will make your garden look tidier overall. 

Thank you for reading!

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3 Ways To Maximize The Potential Of Your Home

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If you are thinking of upgrading your home to make it more comfortable and enjoyable to live in, you will want to maximize the potential of your current home and its features. There are a few simple and affordable ways to upgrade your home to increase its comfort and enhance its features!

  • Add Energy-Efficient Features: the future of living is changing to living more sustainably, and to align with that, you should install energy-efficient features. These include solar panels, an efficient recycling routine, and a water replacement system. Improving your home’s energy-efficiency will make the home more sustainable and reduce the cost of bills. Great for the environment and great for you!
  • Upgrade The Exterior: when upgrading your home, the exterior also counts. Ensuring your home has curb appeal will make your home more aesthetically pleasing, and it’ll create a more comfortable (& beautiful!) place to live. Adding new windows, updating the front door, and resurfacing the driveway will make your home more inviting and boost its appeal.
  • Freshen Up The Garden: you will want your home to look as good on the outside as it does on the inside. It’s important to ensure certain features, such as the landscaping/garden, are in good condition! Keeping up with the landscaping year-round will will allow you to spend more time having fun in the garden, as opposed to “working” in it. It will also encourage you to use the space more often. There are so many fun things you can do to make your garden beautiful!

If you’re looking to upgrade the appearance and efficiency of your property, use this guide for help.

For those looking for a new home, take a look at the following infographic! It shows the latest deals and offers for properties in the market and will help you discover your new home. The infographic will make property values easier to understand, and this will help you to make a better decision for your move. You may need to use a translator app. Check it out below!


Infographic designed by: Property Guru PropertyGuru Largest Property Portal in Malaysia

 

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Are You Really Ready To Be A Homeowner?

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It doesn’t matter if you’re not yet in the right financial position to think seriously about buying a home or not, because becoming a homeowner is a long-term goal that requires, and should only be done with, a lot of preparation. After all, not only is it the most significant financial hurdle you’re likely to cross in your life, but it’s also a responsibility that you’re going to need to make sure you’re equipped to handle. Here are a few ways to check whether or not you’re ready to be a homeowner!

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You have a reasonable idea of where you’re going to be in ten years

Buying a home is a big decision. It’s a financially momentous decision and we’re going to explore that in great depth further down the post, but it’s also a decision that is going to impact your lifestyle for a lot of time. You shouldn’t be thinking about buying and living in a home if, for instance, you’re expecting that you might need to move within the next two years. That wouldn’t be worth the costs of it. You should primarily be thinking about buying a home when you’re reasonably assured that you’re able to settle down where you buy it for some years for now.

You’ve found the area where you want to live

It’s not always the case, but it’s always a good idea to have an idea of where you want to live before you start house-hunting, not when you start house-hunting. It can be surprisingly difficult to find an area that ticks all of your boxes, offering the amenities you need, as well as the transport options to get where you need to go, not to mention a place that is as safe as you want for your family. This doesn’t mean you should have only one neighborhood in mind and settle for nothing less, but you should have a good idea of locations you would be happy to move into, after having done some research.

Know your house priorities

Of course, aside from where you want to live, you should be thinking hard about the kind of home you want in the first place, too. It’s always a good idea to think about the kind of dream home you want to live in, then to break down the different elements that make the house that you want. Come up with a list and separate them into wants vs needs. You need to make sure that you’re able to prioritize so not only can you find a home that meets all of your needs, but you know what you’re able to sacrifice in order to get the best deal possible. If you’re too picky and you treat all your “wants” as “needs” it can very time-consuming and costly to find the home that matches them.

You have a stable worklife

You might be making decent money and you might have even got a recent promotion or been hired to a position that has opened up the possibility of buying a home when it wasn’t previously available. However, that doesn’t mean that you’re ready to buy a home just yet. In fact, many lenders won’t even consider offering a home loan unless you’ve been working in your current job for at least two years. They want to make sure that not only is your money good, but you’re able to keep paying years from now. You should have the same concern in mind. Let your job settle for a while and make sure you have a stable position before you start looking to capitalize on it.

Do you have good financial habits?

The money it takes to buy a home is not the only thing you should be thinking of, but it is definitely one of the most important factors when it comes to buying a home. Aside from the question of getting a loan, it’s first important to make sure that you are in the right position to be buying a house when it comes to your financial habits. Simply put, if you’re not able to make room in your budget to pay for all of the aspects of homeownership, you should try to learn some more financially responsible practices. This includes planning a budget, limiting your discretionary spending, and putting money aside by delaying gratification, too.

Is your credit in good condition?

The vast majority of people aren’t going to be able to pay for their first home with cash. If you are, then you can skip this point. However, when it comes to why you should improve your credit score, buying a house is one of the biggest reasons. Aside from the price of the property itself, what kind of home loans you can apply for is going to determine how much you’re paying for the home, in total. Be sure to take a look at your existing credit score and your credit report. Aside from contesting any false black marks on your record, you should also look closely at using things like small loans and credit cards to build a positive credit history.

How are you handling your existing debt?

As mentioned, you’re likely to be using a loan to pay for the home, which means you should be thinking seriously about how loans and debt factor into your current lifestyle. If you are in a significant amount of credit card debt, personal loan debt, or student loan debt, then think about how well you are currently paying them off. Not only are you unlikely to get a good deal if you’re struggling to pay these, but you’re definitely not ready for the added strain of a home loan debt, as well. Look at ways to reduce and eliminate your debt, making sure that you have the room to take on the addition of home debt.

Have you saved up enough?

Once you have an idea of the kind of property that you want to buy and how much it is likely to cost, then you also need to think about how you’re going to pay it. Depending on what types of loans are available to you, then you might be able to take advantage of those that don’t require much of a down payment for you. However much of a down payment you need, however, you must be able to set savings goals to reach it. Determine how much of a down payment you should be saving and use the “Pay Yourself First” system to make sure that you’re always setting money aside to put towards it.

A little DIY goes a long way

Every home is going to need a little TLC and a little physical rejuvenation, whether you decide to start by buying something of a fixer-upper, or you have to deal with the wear and tear that every home is likely to experience. You can always hire someone to help you make the improvements that your home needs. However, it should go without saying that this is the more budget-heavy option. Learning to do a little DIY, from simple fixes to implementing some of the smaller renovations and upgrades yourself, can help you reduce the running costs of the home considerably over time. It never hurts to be a more capable individual, in general, either.

You have realistic investment expectations

Property can be a decent investment, but that’s not really the best reason to get into the housing market. The average price increase of homes across the country is in the single-digit percents once you get into the costs of improvements and inflation. If you’re looking primarily for an investment, then you should look at building an investment portfolio outside of the real estate market. There are ways to improve the value of the property you live in, of course, so that you can get a decent return should you ever want to sell it. However, buying a home as an investment, first and foremost, might not be the soundest strategy out there. Be realistic about how much you’re really likely to make when buying property.

You have real reasons to buy a home

If your reasons for buying a home aren’t much better than “it’s what I should do” or “I want to stop paying rent,” then you really need to reconsider why you want a house. It’s a long-term commitment to lock yourself into, so you should have good reasons for doing just that. Not paying rent is a good decision, but homeownership is often more expensive than you might think. Wanting to start a family, having real assets to your name, and settling down where you are planning to spend your career are all good reasons, for instance.

Of course, the only person who can judge whether or not you’re ready to start looking for a home is you. The above tips are just there to help you question yourself and see how you think about taking that step above all else.

Thank you for reading!

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How to Make Your Home As Efficient as Possible

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An efficient home is one that runs smoothly, meeting your needs and helping you to make life easier. It should provide you with life’s essentials, such as a feeling of safety, health, and somewhere to spend time with your family. When you make an effort to make your home more efficient, you can ensure that all of the space you have works well. You can take steps to prevent problems and maintain your home and perhaps even be more productive and organized when you’re at home too. If you want a more efficient home, use this guide to get it!

Organize Your Storage

Good storage can be the key to have a well-organized and efficient home. Without plenty of storage for your things, your home can often be in chaos. You don’t necessarily need to have huge amounts of storage, but you should think about how to use it efficiently to make the most of it. You can assign a purpose to your different types of storage so that you know what should go where and how to use everything. When you give everything in your home a place, it’s much easier to return it to where it belongs when you’re not using it. You could also consider having a self storage unit that will keep away unwanted items.

Create a Maintenance Schedule

When you own your home, you’re in charge of any and all maintenance. Even if you rent, you often have to consider various light maintenance tasks. By creating a maintenance schedule, you can be organized and stay on top of everything that you need to do. You should think about the things that you need to do every week, month or once a year, as well as at other times. It might seem pointless to schedule some things a year in advance, but it will ensure you do them when they really need to be done.

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Switch to Energy-Efficient Lights and Appliances

Energy-efficiency is another key thing to consider when you want to make your home more efficient. If your home is energy-efficient, you can save energy and therefore save money, as well as help the planet. Switching to energy-efficient LED light bulbs is one easy way to start saving energy, but there are plenty of other things you can do. If you’re replacing any appliances or electronics, or just buying something new, looking for energy-efficient options will allow you to reduce your bills. Many newer appliances are also faster and might be efficient in other ways too, such as washing machines that adjust how much water they use based on the load.

Boost Your Hot Water Capacity

An efficient home needs to have enough hot water. Whether this is just for showering, cleaning dishes and various other tasks or you also need hot water for heating your home, you don’t ever want to find yourself without it. You may need services for hot water systems repairs to repair or service your system and ensure it’s efficient. Or you might be thinking about installing a new hot water system for maximum efficiency. You need a system that will provide your home with enough hot water to meet your needs each day without any problems or delays.

Make Everything Smarter

Automated homes are becoming more and more popular. Smart devices can provide many functions in your home, and you can connect them all to one device to have complete control. As well as using a smartphone or tablet to control your smart devices, you also have the option of a control panel that could be mounted on a wall. You can use a variety of smart devices, including security systems, thermostats, lighting, appliances and even pet devices. With smart devices, you have more control over your home, even when you’re not actually at home.

Organize Entryways

The entryways to your home can make a big difference in how efficient it is. If you can keep them organized, you can immediately feel like your home is in order as soon as you walk through the door. Some good storage can help you to keep things organized, giving you somewhere to put shoes, coats and other outwear. A bench gives you somewhere to sit for taking off and putting on your shoes. You might also consider what else would be handy to have in your entranceway, whether it’s your dog’s leash or a shovel for shoveling snow in the winter.

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Consider Furniture Layouts Carefully

A home that has a smart layout will offer more efficiency. You will be able to move around more easily and have quick access to the things you need most. There are various things you can consider, such as how you position your furniture and what furniture you have too. For example, your dining room or living room might need to accommodate different numbers of people, depending on if you have any visitors or people staying. It can be useful to have a flexible layout so that you can use each room in the best way possible.

Redesign Your Laundry Room

A laundry room needs to be well organized if you want it to be an efficient space. It can quickly become untidy if you don’t make an effort to keep it in order. Designing it correctly can make a big difference in how well you’re able to use it. When you have storage for dirty and clean laundry, somewhere to organize your detergents and other products, and space for folding and ironing, you can create a laundry room that allows you to get your laundry done quickly and efficiently. You should also think about how to take laundry to and from your laundry room.

Make Everything More Secure

Security needs to be a top priority in any home. When you make your home more secure, you don’t have to worry about anyone who shouldn’t be there getting in. There are several ways you might improve security, starting with securing your windows and doors. It’s also smart to take other security measures, such as lighting or an alarm system. Smart security systems are becoming more popular too, especially as they allow you to monitor them when you’re away from home. A video doorbell is another good addition to your home if you’re looking for an extra level of security.

Rethink Your Kitchen

If you want to make the most of the space in your kitchen, you might need to reconsider how you use it. A kitchen that is badly organized can be impossible to cook in, and it can take up too much of your time to get things done. The first thing you should consider is what exactly you need to have in your kitchen. A lot of people buy gadgets and small appliances that they rarely or never use, which end up taking up space. Keep out the items that you use most, store the things you use less often, and get rid of anything that you never or almost never use.

Put Your Bathroom in Order

Your bathroom is another room in the house that you can make more efficient, especially if it’s a family bathroom shared by multiple people. It’s even more important for people who only have one bathroom in their home. You might organize a family bathroom by having open shelving that makes it easy to grab what you need or keeping a cupboard full of essentials so that you never run out. Bathrooms can often be small, so making use of space such as vertical space or behind the door can help you to make more of what you do have available.

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Keep Essential Supplies Coming

All homes have essential supplies that need to be restocked. Instead of having to remember to buy them all the time, you can easily use ways to automate it. You can find some websites that allow you to set up a recurring order or subscription. You can also use Amazon Dash buttons, which you can press whenever you need to order your favorite products. Another simple way to ensure you always have essential supplies is to buy in bulk so that you need to replenish your supply less often.

Don’t Forget Outdoors

If you have outdoor space, it also makes sense to think about how to make it more efficient. Maybe you need to consider how you’re using the space or how you take care of your lawn or garden. You can automate things like sprinklers to make it easier to look after your yard and to be as efficient as possible with your use of water. Choosing the right outdoor lights can also make a difference, with solar-powered, automatic and motion-sensor lights available to help you find the right ones. Consider how you make use of your outdoor space and whether it’s a useful space for you. Splitting it into different zones can make it multifunctional for your whole family.

Make your home more efficient by rethinking how you use it and updating it to make it more modern. A more efficient home can be more pleasant to live in and make your life easier!

Thank you for reading!

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Modernize Your Kitchen Today

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The kitchen is one of the most important parts of your home. For one thing, it is somewhere that you are going to spend a lot of your time, and for a lot of families it turns out to be a frequent kind of meeting place. It is also somewhere that is going to become very important if you ever want to try and sell your home, as you can add a lot of value by ensuring that the kitchen is as perfect as possible. But what do you want from your kitchen at present? Most of us would like a kitchen that is modern and luxurious – but how can you make sure of that? Let’s take a look at a few simple ways in which you can modernize your kitchen today.

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Upgrade The Countertops

The countertops actually form a very important part of the overall look of the kitchen, even if they do so in a subtle way. If you are happy with the counters themselves, then you are going to find that the kitchen overall is looking much better indeed. And if modernity is what you are looking for, then you might want to think along the lines of some modern granite from the likes of Premium Granite, LLC. That will ensure that your counters are much more beautiful and modern, and that your kitchen is thus modernized too.

Improve The Colors

The choice of color is always an important thing when you are trying to keep any space modern, and it’s something that you are certainly going to want to think about in terms of your kitchen too. Generally, the colors that are going to work best here are those which you would consider to be particularly simple and stripped-back, which means things like pastel colors and so on. If you can focus on those, you will find that your kitchen is much more modern in no time.

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Keep It Simple

Simplicity is very much a major watchword when it comes to keeping something modern. If your kitchen is overrun with ideas and colors and so on then you are not going to find that it is very simple at all. The simpler you can get it, the more stripped-back you can make it, the more modern it will look and feel, so make sure that you are focused on that as well as possible. That in itself is going to really help.

Decluttering & Reclaiming

A big part of all this is ensuring that you are reclaiming the kitchen for its real intended use. Most kitchens become sort of general dumping-grounds for all kinds of things that belong in other parts of the home. If you can declutter those things and reclaim the space for what you need the kitchen to be for, you will help to also modernize it and return it to how it should be. This is absolutely something that you should focus on as a major part of this process.

Thank you for reading!

This post was a collaboration.

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Ideas For Silk Flower Arrangements To Say Goodbye To A Loved One

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It is a tradition to put flowers on a grave when someone passes away, and people often carry on this tradition whenever they visit their loved one. For those who do this, what flowers should you get? Flowers have different meanings and thus it is vital that you choose appropriate silk flower arrangements for graves (silk will last longer!). With that being said, read on for some great suggestions.

Firstly, you need to consider the type of flower you are going to go for, and then you need to look at the different styles of silk flower arrangements. When it comes to selecting an appropriate funeral flower, you should look for flowers that are associated with saying goodbye and expressing sympathy, or you can look for flowers that are symbolic of your relationship with the person, such as those that represent love or friendship. Lilies are the traditional funeral flower. However, yellow roses are ideal for friendship while pink roses or orchids can be a great way of saying ‘I love you.’ If you are part of a grief support group and you have problems speaking about your loved one, showing this through symbols is often advised, and flowers have meanings that can help with this. Once you have decided on a type of flower, you then need to consider the arrangement. There are many options to choose from. You could go for a standard bouquet or arrangement, and many shops selling silk flowers have a section dedicated to funeral flowers specifically. Another option is to go for a wreath or a standing spray. There are no rules in terms of design; it is more about personal preference. However, do be mindful of the fact that other people may want to lay flowers too, so avoid for anything that is going to take up all of the room.

Symbolic Meaning Of Traditional Funeral Flowers

Lilies are a beautiful choice because of the special meaning they carry. They symbolize that the soul has been departed and innocence has been restored. Any kind of white lily expresses purity and majesty, however, white stargazer lilies are a great way of expressing sympathy, and thus potentially a good option to send to the family of the bereaved. Aside from this, orchids are a good choice, as they say ‘I will always love you’. When you are buying orchid silk flowers for a grave, you need to be careful with your color selection, as different colored orchids hold different meanings. The traditional colors of sympathy are white and pink. The variety is also important, with Dendrobium orchids and Phalaenopsis orchids being ideal. Finally, roses are another option to consider. Grief and sorrow is denoted by dark crimson roses, whereas pink roses symbolise grace and love, red roses convey courage, love, and respect, while yellow roses are ideal if you were friends of the deceased. 

Questions To Ask Silk Flower Retailers

Finally, let’s take a look at some questions to ask when getting the flowers you need. How are your flowers made? You want to be sure that you are going to benefit from high quality silk flowers. This is why it is a good idea to enquire about the materials that are being used and to be confident that are they are being crafted to a top standard. Do you have a return policy in place? When you order something online, there is always the chance that it may arrive and not be what you imagined. You want to have the peace of mind that you are going to be able to send the flowers back if you are not satisfied. What are your delivery options? There are cases when you may be in a hurry for your flowers, for example, if you have forgotten about someone’s upcoming birthday. Thus, you will want to be sure that there is an express delivery option available. It is also a good idea to look for a company that delivers silk flowers free of charge, as this will ensure you experience true value for money. Can I look at some of your previous clients’ testimonials? If the company is reluctant to show you these, this should be a red flag, as they may have something to hide. 

•What kind of flowers do you get your loved ones?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

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5 Things to Make Time For in Your 30s

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It can be a little scary reaching your thirties. You don’t feel all that much different from being in your twenties, but are well aware of the fact that this is the age you should really ‘have your life together’ (key word: should). What that means exactly depends on who you ask, but there are a few things that just about all of us thirty-something guys and gals can benefit from. Here are a few ideas:

Start Up A Side Hustle

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Hopefully you’ve reached a stage in your life where you enjoy your career and have the job you want to be in, but regardless of your situation, it’s a good idea to start up a side hustle. It could be blogging, freelancing, tutoring, or a home business– either way, it gives you the chance to build new skills while earning more money. If anything happens with your day job, you have a stream of income to fall back onto, which is great, and in the here and now the extra money can be used to save, pay debt, or fund nice treats like designer clothes and holidays which we all love to have.

Focus On Your Health

Many of us are lucky to feel fit and well in our thirties, but if you have any niggling health issues, then it’s a good time to get them sorted. Like me, for instance. I had surgery last week for an issue I’ve had for over 5 years! Maybe you need stellate ganglion blocks after an injury, or perhaps you have a skin issue that always flares up. Whatever it is, chat with your PCP and get it sorted once and for all. Start eating well and exercising if you don’t already, and give up the binge drinking and smoking before it starts taking it’s toll on your body. You might have got away with it up until this point, but you won’t forever. Now is a good age to start taking care of yourself and thinking to the future. 

Make Time to Socialize

Our thirties are a time where it can be hard to socialize. Most of us and everyone we know of the same age have busy careers, are raising family, some might be off travelling the world. It can be tricky getting everyone together to catch up, but it’s so important to do so when you can. Arrange monthly or bi-monthly meet ups, host parties and barbeques at your home, and/or meet with friends for days out when you can. It might be more afternoon coffee and spa days than pub crawls, but it’s just as fun once you’re no longer a party animal!

Get Your Finances in Order

Whether you earn a little or a lot, your finances should be under control. If you’re in debt then take steps to get out as soon as possible, work on saving money for a rainy day, and work to a budget so that each month, everything is getting paid on time. Sit down and go through your money, the way you pay things and how much, and figure out if anything needs to change. You could run through price comparison sites and get your bills down. You could set up a bills-only bank account and set all of your bills to come out by direct debit.

You could also consider checking out some of the free financial calculators online that are available to you. Getting your finances in order means looking at your budget, knowing exactly what your spending is and working out how you can get rid of all the debt you may have accumulated in your 20s. Finances seem like an adult thing to worry about, but as you’re in your 30s now, it’s time to worry about it. Financial calculators are a step that you take to embrace financial freedom, and you need to look at more than one so that you can get it right. Facing up to any mistakes you made in the past decade or so is much harder than you think, but you need to be brave and get to know your money!

Create a Home You Love

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Buying a house is something that’s on most of our bucket lists, but it’s not always super easy. Maybe you live in a very expensive part of the world, or perhaps you’re still recovering from financial mistakes and debt from your twenties. If you can buy a house, that’s fantastic, but even if you’re renting, the space should still be somewhere you love to be. Invest in nice furniture- a good quality bed (my Cali King bed is the greatest thing ever), sofa, and pieces like a coffee table, dining table, and wardrobe. If you’re able to, redecorate in a way that suits your tastes and personality. Bring it all to life with soft furnishings, lamps, and accessories. Your home should be a place you’re proud to show off, somewhere you can entertain friends, raise a family, and make lots of happy memories. 

•What are some things you do in your 30s that you definitely didn’t do in your 20s? If you’re in your 20s, what’s something you can plan to be more stable in your 30s?

Thank you for reading!