Jan14

TT & Val Day

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TT & Val Day

Hello!! At three and a half years old, I thought this winter would be the perfect time to teach my niece, Val, how to ice skate. For a long time, Val used to say that skating would be “too scary” and didn’t want to try it – and that was totally fine! This winter, however, she said that she would like to learn and I had grand plans of taking her to an outdoor rink in Cuyahoga Falls this past Tuesday afternoon. To both of our disappointment, the rink was closed (Naturally) on our treat day but that didn’t stop us from having lots of fun together anyways!

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^^^ That last picture. 🙂 The taste of sweet success!

After informing my sister that skating wasn’t going to happen, I told her that I would just watch Val at my parents’ house for the afternoon. Kristen let me know that Val had little wooden bird boxes to paint and has also been wanting to bake brownies and I thought that sounded like a great time! As soon as Val arrived, we got to work on painting and she did so awesome. She finished most of an entire bird house by herself but then got distracted by our dog, Archie, so TT and Momo had to finish things up lol. We decided that the bird houses are probably too small for birds but will be perfect for fairies and butterflies. ❤

Once our group effort masterpieces were done, it was time to make some brownies and Val was very excited. She loves to help her mom bake and they are constantly bringing cupcakes and cookies to my parents and me and Johnny. For our baking process, literally all I did was measure out the liquid ingredients and Val did everything else. She poured the ingredients, cracked the egg, mixed the batter, and filled up the pan by the spoonful all by herself. I was so impressed!!

While our brownies baked and cooled, Val wanted to lay down so we watched a few episodes of Paw Patrol to recharge. That really did the trick because after resting we had brownies to frost and sprinkle. For this, all I did was dollop the frosting on the brownies and showed her how to spread it with a spatula and she was a quick study in this too. After Val perfectly applied rainbow sprinkles to our bakery, I asked her what she wanted to do next and she said “Eat the brownies!”. Lol, that was very easily arranged and I could tell that she was so proud of her hard work. 🙂

Even though our TT and Val day didn’t go accordingly to our original plan, we still had the best day together. I love my lil BFF so much! ❤

How old were you when you started playing a sport? What is your favorite sweet treat? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan13

Give Your Home A Face Lift With These Ideas

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Give Your Home A Face Lift With These Ideas

Just like everything in life, houses get old over time and it can really start to show from the exterior. It’s easy to understand why – years and years of hot, cold, snowy, and rainy days can definitely take its toll! If you are looking to sell your home soon or are ready to sink your teeth into a new project, giving a face lift to your home’s exterior is one of the best ways to boost your property value. Let’s explore a few ways to get your home looking as good as new again:

Painting:

Addressing peeling and chipping paint should be the first and most important order of business to refresh the exterior. This is also an opportunity to change things up! You can give your home the ultimate makeover by changing its color. This will instantly refresh your home once the dull paint has been removed with something shiny and new.

If repainting your home isn’t necessary or wanted and you’re still craving change, you can always paint your front door! Vibrant shades are so fun, eye-catching, and welcoming. For the full effect, adorn with a gorgeous wreath.

New Windows:

The windows are the eyes into the soul or something right?! Over time, windows can warp and become less functional at holding heat in the home. This can also be a culprit as to why your heating bills are higher than usual. Whether your new windows are for cosmetic purposes or necessity, it will give a huge boost to both your property value and the way your home looks. You can enlist the help of experienced window contractors in Ontario or local professionals in your area for a consultation. Just please be sure you paint the shutters after your new windows are installed!!

Landscaping:

You could have the most beautiful looking home on planet earth but no one will ever notice it if you have a dilapidated front yard. Dead grass, cracked soil, and overgrown trees are an eyesore and improving your green thumb is a cheap way to refresh your home’s exterior. Research which types of plants, grass, and flowers thrive in your climate. Just take into consideration what your limits are in maintaining it. Then, you can invite your friends to a literal garden party to help get everything planted. 😀

Beautify the exterior of your home with the ideas above and enjoy when your curb appeal goes through the roof!

Jan13

Renovations That Make A Huge Difference

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Renovations That Make A Huge Difference

Many people choose home renovation for their New Year’s resolution and for good reason. Renovations are beneficial to you and your family both now and later. It enhances your comfort and enjoyment now while increasing your property value when it comes time to sell. Let’s take a look at a few examples of these projects that your family will be happy that you finally stuck with:

Deck Out Your Backyard:

Installing a deck in your backyard is the perfect way to welcome spring. There is so much potential that comes with a deck – patio furniture, raised garden planters, grills, oversized checkers and chess. It will be the perfect place to sip lemonade in the summer and enjoy a hot chocolate on a warm winter’s day. It will turn your backyard into the place to be for garden parties and family get togethers!

Paint It All:

There is truly something to be said for transforming your interior or exterior space through paint alone. Boost your curb appeal with a brightly colored front door and shutters for an instant face lift. Explore color combinations indoors with accent walls, stripes, and filigree. This is your opportunity to show your creative side inside so have fun with it. While painting can be DIY, it might not be your forte. If this is the case, specialists from Surepaint or a similar company in your area can help with that!

New Flooring:

Outdated flooring with newer appliances or furniture in the kitchen and living areas can be an eyesore. Investing in new flooring can make a world of difference and will transform your home from the ground up. Think sleek tiles in the bathroom and kitchen and warm hardwoods in the living and dining rooms. Don’t forget to add throw rugs and runners where appropriate. This will catch your floor up with the rest of the modern furnishings in your home for an amazing update.

Add-Ons:

Add-on rooms through renovation will be a huge boost in your property value and will provide extra space for your family right now. Popular add-on rooms are finishing a basement or attic. Finished basements could include home gyms, game rooms, and storage space. Attic updates could be a book nook, home office, or craft studio. Sun rooms also make a fantastic addition to a home for the perfect space for house plants and morning coffee. These additions could become major selling points when you put your house on the market.

Home renovations are an exciting undertaking that provides long-term benefits. Send your home into 2023 and enjoy your new year in a newly updated space!

Jan13

Spoil Yourself With These Home Enhancing Projects

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Spoil Yourself With These Home Enhancing Projects

What would your dream home feature? A movie or game room? A swimming pool or sauna? A home office? Spoiling yourself doesn’t always mean spending time at the salon or on a shopping spree – sometimes it means turning the dream features for your house into a reality! Turn 2023 into the year of renovations to make chez vous the ultimate place to be. Let’s explore some dream worthy options to get started on:

Home Office:

Since the pandemic, working from home is no longer just an option for the lucky few. Almost any job can be completed from a distance! If you have been working from home for the past few years and are still doing your job from the kitchen table, then you most definitely deserve your own office. If you don’t have the space for an entire room dedicated to your work, there are still ways to incorporate an office vibe. Set up a spacious home office desk and computer chair by a window and deck it out in adorable office supplies or pictures of your kids. It’s not so much as having an entire room for an office as much as it is having a dedicated place to work every day.

Gazebo Goals:

A gazebo will make a big difference for your backyard and a gorgeous enhancement. Gazebos are the perfect addition to your backyard for family photos, coffee and drinks with friends, and weather and bird watching. From fresh out of a fairy tale with curves and greenery to sleek lines and a strong presence, there is a gazebo for every taste and style. Spring and summer will never be the same!

Entertainment Center:

Turning a finished basement into an entertainment center is an extremely popular project and will provide endless hours of family fun. Whether you’re splurging on plush furnishings for the comfiest movie watching experience or are installing a pool table, it will be so nice to have a space in your home solely dedicated to chilling. Complete your entertainment room with accessories like a mini fridge with drinks, snacks, movie posters, or a record player to keep the good times rolling.

Book Nook:

A book nook is an amazing way to build a space in your home for quiet time for yourself or children. Choose an area of your home that gets a lot of natural lighting, install some shelves, and add a squishy armchair to curl up in. Don’t forget a small table and coasters for your tea and coffee! Stuff your shelves with all of your favorite literature and if you don’t have enough books to fill them – spoil yourself with a trip to the bookstore. 😀

Creating designated spaces in your home for specific purposes is a great project to take on in the new year. By 2024 you will be spoiled in what feels like a brand new home!

Jan13

What Have We Been Watching?

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What Have We Been Watching?

Hello! I think it’s safe to say that if you experience cold weather in your neck of the woods during the wintertime, that you probably have been watching a bit more TV than usual. This is definitely the case for me and Johnny, anyways – especially because by the time I usually get home from work it is already dark out. It’s the worst! Until the sun sets later in the day, however, this is completely fine for us and we have been enjoying all of the following this winter:

Sometimes When We Touch:

Johnny and I just watched the most fabulous documentary on Paramount+ about the rise, ruin, and resurrection of soft rock called Sometimes When We Touch. This was a three part series and each episode was barely an hour long and our only regret was that there wasn’t more! It was SO good and if you love the yacht rock of the 1970s and early 80s, then I seriously can’t recommend it enough. The bangers from Pablo Cruise, The Captain And Tennille, Ambrosia, Air Supply, The Carpenters and so much more were nonstop. The documentary also featured a fascinating segment on the punk scene as soft rock decreased in popularity.

Regardless of if you are a soft rock fan or not, this is a documentary that is worth the watch. Johnny and I learned so much and we also found new artists to check out as the revival of soft rock was discussed. We can’t wait to give them a listen and have already made plans to watch it again. If you love the music as much as Johnny and I do, warm fuzzies after watching it are a Lil Red Guarantee.

Top Shot:

Johnny and his dad used to watch History Channel’s competitive shooting show, Top Shot, together and introduced me to it this past Thanksgiving. To literally everyone’s surprise, I was hooked within minutes! Lol, I just love a competition show and I don’t care what it is because the set up is always the same. Since beginning the Top Shot journey, Johnny and I have watched every season twice already! We are obsessed with the insane challenges like trick shots, shooting upside down, and firing cannons. Most importantly, we freaking LOVE the host, Colby Donaldson, he is a hoot. 😀

If you’re looking for a competition show based on athletics with all of the pageantry of America’s Next Top Model, look no further than Top Shot. And, be sure to get at me after you watch season three and witness the utter meltdown of Jake because it was nuts!

Superstore:

When Netflix took The Office and Parks & Rec off of their lineup, Superstore became mine and Johnny’s go to show. It has been so for the past forever and I highly doubt that it will change any time soon! It is our bedtime show, our whenever show, and our we just feel like laughing show. Set in a Walmart style store, Superstore on Hulu offers every character that you might expect to be employed there: A dopey manager, a manager who takes herself way too seriously, the “cool” guy, and a teen mom to name just a few. For anyone who has ever worked retail, I am sure that you will find a character on the show that reminds you of one of your coworkers – I know I did!

Every single character on Superstore is hilarious and lovable in their own way and it still bums me out that the show is officially over. If you are in the mood for something light, funny, and strangely heartwarming, then I think that you will love it. My favorite characters are Dina, Cody, and Marcus. 😀

Lego Masters:

Johnny and I finally finished season three of Lego Masters and couldn’t believe our good fortune that there were additional episodes called the Celebrity Holiday Bricktacular. During the Bricktacular, four former contestants were paired with a celebrity partner to compete in challenges and win money for charity. Cheryl Hiness, Robin Thicke, Leslie Jordan, and Finesse Mitchell were the celebrity partners and our hands down favorite was Leslie Jordan. He was SO funny and cute and we were saddened to learn of his death last year. If you are still feeling the holiday spirit, this three part competition will be just right for you. 🙂

Hibernating with Johnny all winter with our favorite shows and bunnies definitely makes the cold more tolerable since we’re barely experiencing it lol. I hope you enjoy all of these recommendations as much as we did!

What are you currently bingewatching? What shows do you recommend? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan12

Think Spring With These Backyard Projects

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Think Spring With These Backyard Projects

We are in that stage of winter when we have officially reached the “blah” phase. We’re cooped up, nothing is appealing on streaming services, and the warmer days of spring are heavy on the mind. While we still have a few months of winter to go, it never hurts to start daydreaming now! Let’s explore some backyard projects that you can get to work on as soon as the snow thaws so you can rid yourself of cabin fever:

Pergola Party:

What is your ideal outdoor space? Lush greenery? A garden, pool, or patio? Breathtaking pergolas for your backyard? I can see it now, a barbecue on the warm days of spring and cozy cocktails at night. Pergolas turn any backyard into the ultimate hang out that you can deck out with furniture, grills, and games. Deck out in fairy lights for best results and perfect selfie lighting.

Swimming Pool: 

A swimming pool in the backyard really is the tops and will turn your house into the place to be all summer long. Pools are great for parties, exercise, and relaxing. Not to mention that they are a huge property value and curb appeal boost. Remember if you are getting a pool installed or already have one that maintenance is key. If you don’t have the time or energy to properly care for your pool, you might want to look into some services like this https://pinnaclepoolservice.com/pool-service/texas/plano/ to keep it in excellent condition.

Speaking of maintenance, sometimes a problem with your pool isn’t as visible as debris on the water’s surface. It could be a leak which can be very difficult to pinpoint an exact location. A leak in your pool can turn your backyard escape into a money pit quickly and needs to be tended to immediately. Take the time to research “pool leak detection cape town” (or your local area) so you can always have a trusted team on standby should you notice your water levels lowering. Once the problem is solved, you can go back to making a splash all summer long!

Fairy Garden:

An especially fun idea for those with little ones is to create a fairy garden together. Your local craft stores are sure to sell fairy garden supplies like toadstools, houses, characters, and scenery. Spoiler alert: It’s going to be adorable. Take a trip with your kids and create the fairy garden of your dreams! You can even create a special backstory for each of your characters. Keep an eye out because your garden is sure to attract all kinds of wild life.

Bird Feeding Stations:

Okay, let’s be real for a second – nature windows are awesome!! Set up a bird feeding station in front of one of your lower floor windows and enjoy! The entertainment is in itself because there is never a dull moment when it comes to birds and squirrels. Anyone who says it isn’t fun to watch is lying. Include bird baths and feeders at various heights for the ultimate effect!

Fire Pit:

It is so easy to want to burst down the doors on the first days of spring but it is still going to be cold, regardless of the date on the calendar. Beat the chill in the air with a fire pit, which will be so amazing for hosting outdoor movie nights, cocktail hour, or afternoon coffee. How about hot chocolate and s’mores during a brisk night? Fire pits are a great investment for all year round enjoyment. You can even add more of a wow factor to your gatherings if you enter a search for “fire pit glass near me“. Adorning your fire pit with colorful, heat resistant glass will provide a unique pop that is sure to impress and enhance the atmosphere.

Think spring by envisioning your perfect backyard with the tips above. It will be here before we know it!

Jan12

How To Prep For Your Move In Advance

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How To Prep For Your Move In Advance

Moving houses or apartments is a huge task and involves lots of steps that should never be left until the last minute. In a perfect world, your preparations should be done well in advance of the move itself. A mad dash the day of is a liability for people to get hurt, property to get damaged, and belongings to be left behind. Of course, there are things that need to be left until moving day like packing toiletries and your food. All of the following, however, can be done in advance to save you some stress on your big day:

Hiring Movers:

The main thing that can’t wait when it comes to moving is hiring the movers! Remember, you are not the only person in your area planning a move and trusted companies get their schedules filled quickly. Research reliable long-distance movers in Ottawa or in your city and find the best team for what you need. As soon as you have a set moving date is when you should make the call so you have time to explore other options if you can’t get in the schedule.

Additional Help:

If you are hoping for help from friends, it is best to give them the date ahead of time too. Especially if they have a truck! Getting help from your friends and family is a great way to lower the cost of the bill from the movers so give them ample time in advance so they can save the date.

Pack What You Can:

You never really realize how much stuff you have until it’s time to start packing it all up. Set a goal for how many boxes you would like to fill per day and work hard to keep up with it. Start with the items and rooms that are the least used so you still have access to the things that you need daily. Books, knick knacks, art, and out of season clothes are all great categories to begin the process. Once the less used items are complete, you can start with the next batch of things. And, if you think there is a chance of it being used before the move, then hold off on packing it! Designate a room (Ideally on the first floor) to keep your packed up items so all you need to do is carry them out the front door the day of your move.

Clean As You Pack:

As each room gets packed and emptied out, take the time to give it a deep clean right now. This is especially important if you are living in an apartment! Vacuum, dust, patch any holes from hanging art, and clean the windows. These are all things that will need done anyways so it’s better to do it now rather than waiting until the day of.

The more you can get done before your move, the smoother your day will go. You’ll be thanking yourself later when you think back on your moving day and say “that wasn’t so bad”!

Jan12

Chocovia Hot Chocolate Bomb Review

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Chocovia Hot Chocolate Bomb Review

Hello! Johnny and I received some hot chocolate bombs by Chocovia for Christmas and I was thrilled. There is nothing better than curling up with a mug of cocoa during a winter evening in! I finally made myself a cup this weekend and it went from pretty good to really bad. And, unfortunately, it took me until almost the end of the cup to realize the yuck factor. Gift or not, purchase or skip, you can always count on Lil Red to give an honest review so let’s get to it:

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Using the Chocovia hot chocolate bombs was simple. All I needed to do was measure the milk or water, heat it up on the stove, and drop the bomb in once the liquid was thoroughly heated. Then, once the chocolate melted, it would break open revealing marshmallows on the inside. Once the bomb was in the pot, it began to melt immediately and it even had a little bit of movement too! Of course, it wasn’t as exciting as watching a bath bomb but it was alright lol. What surprised me the most during this process was how big the marshmallows were – they looked only slightly smaller than the jumbo ones.

It took about five minutes to make my hot chocolate and I couldn’t wait to try it once it cooled down. I can’t say that I was too impressed by what I was tasting. The chocolate factor was weak at best and I felt like I would have been better off with a glass of chocolate milk, instead. I decided to finish the mug anyways because these bombs didn’t call for much liquid so there was less than three fourths of a cup maximum.

It wasn’t until I approached these final sips that I realized something strange was going on – I thought I had paper towel in my mouth! I spit it out and saw a filmy substance in the cup – I am assuming from the marshmallows. You can see whatever it is on the rim of the mug in the last picture as well as circled in the hot chocolate itself. It seriously tasted and felt like gauze that you would find in a first aid kit and it was SO nasty. I’m just glad I caught onto it before I finished the rest of it!

If you are thinking of getting the Chocovia hot chocolate bombs, my advice is: Don’t. Lol, even if there wasn’t a mystery substance, it wasn’t good hot chocolate to begin with. You’re better off with a pack of Swiss Miss!

What is a product that you were disappointed in? What is your favorite cold weather drink? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan11

Change Your Career Smoothly With These Steps

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Change Your Career Smoothly With These Steps

If you want to change careers, you need to invest time and money in yourself. Before you make a decision about an investment, you should learn as much as you can about it. Let’s look at some things you need to think about before making a career change:

Have A Look At Yourself Closely:

If you’ve decided to change careers, you should first take an honest look at yourself. Think about your skills, values, personality, and what you like to do. It’s smart to check out some online tools, like a career test. These will help you look at a list of jobs that you might be good at based on your answers. You could also talk to a career counselor or someone who works on personal development.

Create A List Of Potential Jobs And Research:

Now is the time to look over the list of jobs that have been created. The list may be long, so try to cut it down as much as you can. Make a list of jobs you’d like to learn more about. If you like what you see you can take the next steps like learning how to become a life insurance agent.

Explore Your Options:

For each job on your list, you should look at the job description, required education, career outlook, the chances of getting promoted, and the pay. Most of that information can be found online on sites like Indeed.

Set Goals:

You should already know what you want to do for a living. Before you take steps to find a job in the field you’ve chosen, you should think about what you want to achieve. There should be both short-term and long-term goals. If training is going to take you two years, you need to give yourself that much time to reach your goals. After doing this, you can put finding a job the field you want at the top of your list.

Training:

Most of the time, you need the training to change careers. You may have some skills that can be used in different situations, but if you want to work in a specialized and competitive field, it’s a good idea to look into courses that will help you reach your goals.

These steps should make it easier and smoother to start a new job. Make achievable goals and work hard to achieve them for your dream job!

Featured Image By: Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

Jan11

How To Prevent Dust In Your Home

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How To Prevent Dust In Your Home

Dust can find its way into any space, explaining why even with closed doors and windows, you may still find a thin layer on your surfaces. Dust generation in your home can negatively affect your family’s health and well-being. That is because dust contains harmful pollutants and allergens which can trigger allergic respiratory responses. According to research, the average home collects 40 pounds of dust annually, indicating how essential it is to know how your home generates dust and how to prevent it. Here are a few tips to help guide you:

Tiny openings and cracks:

Gaps around your windows, doors, vents, and your home’s foundation, can provide small openings for dust. Although these tiny openings may not be noticeable initially, they become conduits for significant amounts of dust to enter your home. That explains why people who travel away from home for long periods cover their essential items to protect them from dust. You can help reduce the dust that comes through these openings by weatherstripping and sealing gaps. After taking care of the cracks and tiny openings, consider alternatives like screen installation to limit indoor dust accumulation.

Air vents and HVAC systems:

Another way your home can become dusty is through the air vents and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. These ventilation appliances interact with outdoor air to function, which sometimes leads to dust accumulating in the ducts of your HVAC system. Aside from causing mechanical problems (for which you may need to hire a repair company like Sandri Energy), this dust can remain afloat for longer hours and breathing it in increases the risk of respiratory problems, especially in children, aging adults, or persons with weakened immune systems. When your HVAC system is on, its air circulation function forces dust from the vents into your living space.

Experts recommend cleaning your home’s air vents and HVAC system often. Doing this will enhance appliance performance and also improve indoor air quality. You will be amazed by the difference after your scheduled appointment. Do you need a HVAC company? Make sure you do your research before selecting a professional as you will want someone who comes highly recommended. Ask friends and family members if they have any leads or simply enter a search for “HVAC service Florence, SC” (or your local area) to take a look at online reviews.

Human and pet activities:

Daily activities in the home, like cooking, cleaning, and even walking around, can generate dust. Food particles released into the air while cooking may land on surfaces and accumulate into dust over time if not cleaned. If your windows have nets, these particles could also get trapped in them and, due to their oily nature, may eventually trap dust. Meanwhile, sweeping and vacuuming can stir up a significant amount of dust which can stay on surfaces for a long time. It is best to thoroughly clean exposed surfaces immediately after cooking to reduce the dust generated by these home activities. Sometimes, a multipurpose surface cleaner is best, especially because it can cut through grime.

If you have indoor pets that shed, they may also contribute to dust in your home. That is because their fur traps dust and dust mites when they’re outdoors and they inadvertently transfer it indoors. Dogs and cats, especially, shed wherever they go. It will help to brush their fur regularly to capture loose hair and dander straight from their bodies to prevent dust from getting trapped in their fur.

It’s important to take a multi-faceted approach to reduce dust in your home. Making a conscious effort to keep your home clean at all times will help create a home with better indoor air quality for all!

Featured Image By: Pexels