Tag Archives: anything and everything

Apr16

Moving On Up: Queen Of The Amazon Edition

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Moving On Up: Queen Of The Amazon Edition

Helloooo! A little factoid about Lil Red is that I am so incredibly directionally challenged. Frankly, even if I know exactly where I’m going and how to get there, it still feels like I don’t know where I’m going. And, because I refuse to get a smartphone, buying a GPS of my own so that I don’t have to steal the one belonging to my parents was a must. I do a lot of driving for work in areas that I am not always familiar with and the last thing I need is to end up in Timbuktu with a client in the car. So, I went with this here GPS set that I ordered off of Amazon:

haul3

Thanks to all of the points that I had racked up on Amazon from all of my shopping with their credit card, I was able to get this GPS and its accessories for fifty dollars instead of eighty. My new set comes with a dashboard mount or a suction cup one for my front window as well as a sun blocker and an at home and car charger. I was so happy to have gotten all of the goodies with the GPS because they are all much needed and you absolutely cannot beat the price that I got it for. Here’s to Lil Red never getting lost again! 😀

What is your favorite website to shop on? Do you prefer in store or online shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr12

Combating The Loneliness When Living Alone

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Combating The Loneliness When Living Alone

When you are younger, you are likely to be living with at least one person, a parent or guardian. But for many people families come in all shapes and sizes and when the time comes to get a place of your own, it can often feel very isolating and overwhelming. You may be wondering if there is anything that you can do to combat the loneliness that you feel, so here are some suggestions to consider:

Get a roommate:

One of the obvious things that you can do when you live alone, and you have the space for it, is to get yourself a roommate. Initially, the idea of living on your own may have been very appealing, but perhaps a companion or a friend who is there when you get home from work or on the weekends will make you feel better. A roommate could be someone you already know, or you can advertise the room you have for rent. This can also be a big help when it comes to your outgoings, so there could be more benefits than one to consider here.

Plan your days and nights:

It’s essential that you start to think about your days and your nights when it comes to living alone, and if you plan for them, then you are less likely to feel alone and at a loss of what to do with your time. Routine workouts at the gym or going for a run, head out for walks, schedule in TV programs you want to watch, go out to dinner with friends. Make sure you have a full schedule and routine that you can throw yourself into. It leaves you with less time to comprehend that you are on your own as the chances are when you are home, you are tired and will just want to relax or go to bed.

Get a cat:

A cat can be extremely loyal and a great pet to have in your home. It gives you a purpose, a sense of responsibility, and something to greet you when you get home. Ensuring they have what they need for when you aren’t around like a cat bed, litter tray, food, water and even a realistic cat toy can make them feel happy and content for the time that you spend away from your place. It could definitely be an option to consider.

Other pets to consider:

Further to that, there are other pets you could think about as well that could provide you with the same level of company, but tend to be very low maintenance. Hamsters and gerbils, and even a fish tank. It all depends on the type of pets you like. Another note could be that you could volunteer at your local animal shelter. Walking the dogs and spending time with the animals could leave you feeling content and happy, and fill up any spare time you did have.

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Pixabay Image

Start a new hobby:

If you have some free time and you don’t want to feel alone or bored, then maybe it is the perfect time to start a new hobby. Has there been a sports team that you have wanted to join? Do you want to attend a gym class? Maybe you want to be creative so getting artsy or even starting a blog of your own. These are all great things that you could consider doing in your spare time to give yourself a full day. Activity integration through new hobbies is something that the Clover Group Buffalo uses to help combat loneliness as this is an ideal way to find people with shared interests.

Get engrossed in the latest box set:

A great idea is to get yourself engrossed in a box set when you have some free time. There are so many amazing TV, film, or drama series that you can watch. Game Of Thrones, Suits, and Netflix are always releasing something new. While it may sound a little strange just watching TV when you feel alone, the box sets and the programs you watch will have you mesmerized and transfixed. Before you realize it you will have devoured three episodes and wondered where the time has gone.

Take it in turns with your friends to host dinner parties:

There are likely to be other friends of yours that also live on their own, so it may be time to join forces. Take it in turns to host nights in. It could be a lavish dinner party, it might just be pizza and a few drinks, but it means that you are able to spend some time together and enjoy each other’s company without feeling like you are on your own.

We hope that this post has helped you take some of the potential loneliness out of living alone. Good luck!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Mar29

Preparing For Dog Life: Are You Ready To Be An Owner?

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Preparing For Dog Life: Are You Ready To Be An Owner?

Whilst you might be prepared for ‘dog life’ on an emotional level, there’s a logistical side to preparing for life as a dog owner, too. They say a dog isn’t just for Christmas, but plenty of dogs end up in rescue homes because their owners weren’t actually prepared to look after a puppy. If you want to make sure that you’re ready to be an owner, then here are some pointers to help you prepare for dog life. This should help you to ensure you’re well-versed in terms of your duties:

Research your breed of dog:

It’s vital to do this before buying a dog. You need to know everything about the specific breed of the pup you’re getting because every breed is different. Different canines have different nutritional needs and require different levels of exercise. There might also be different requirements from dog to dog in terms of the training or medical treatment needed. It can all come down to the individual situation of a particular dog, so you really have to get to know a specific dog before welcoming them into your home. Dogs from rescue shelters might have more traumatic backgrounds, for instance.

Make sure you talk to the seller and a vet so that you know everything possible about a particular dog before you adopt it. You need to make sure you get the right kind of food for them in terms of their size and other requirements they might have as a result of their breed. You need to take the age and history of the dog into account, too. Make sure you train them as soon as they enter your home because you need to make sure they don’t form bad habits. Essentially, the first preparation is to prepare yourself for the responsibility of dog ownership.

Stock up on supplies:

The next step is to stock up on supplies. Much like humans, dogs have plenty of needs. They’re not wild creatures. They’re domesticated and enjoy the same comforts as we do. They need a comfy bed for support whilst they sleep so that they can stay physically and mentally healthy. They need chew toys so they have something fun to use when they’re playing in the house. You might also want to check out waterproof quick release dog collars. It’s important to have a durable collar for your puppy. You also need to puppy-proof your house. Dogs aren’t used to human surroundings when they’re first introduced to them, so it’s crucial that you move dangerous things out of reach (much as you would with a baby).

Make sure you have enough time for them:

Finally, you need to be emotionally available for your dog. We’re talking about more than finding dogs cute; we’re talking about you actually having the time for your puppy. Make sure you, your partner, or other family members are in the house a lot of the time. Dogs get lonely, and they shouldn’t be left to their own devices for too long from a safety standpoint, either. They are family, so treat them as such. ❤

Featured Image By: Free Images

Mar26

What Makes One Want To Live Abroad?

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What Makes One Want To Live Abroad?

The prospect of living abroad can be daunting, especially if you believe that there is no sweeter place than home. But, we all come across the story of a friend, a distant relative, or even the friend of a friend who has decided to move away from the motherland to explore what the world has to offer. It can be difficult to understand how they can live a happy life while being so far away from their loved ones.

But, as many will tell you, it’s not a matter of what you lose. It’s all about what you gain. This lifestyle provides a new angle in the exploration of self. Most people who call home a distant location, far away from the place where they grew up, have found something that their old country couldn’t give them. They tap into undiscovered traits, strengths, and emotions that they never experienced in the homeland. Indeed, you don’t live abroad to move away. You live abroad to move closer to your true self or maybe for some of the following reasons:

You fell in love during a vacation:

Falling in love can take you by surprise. A lot of expats agree that they were not ready to fall head over heels for a country, its people, culture, and language. They had planned for a long trip and found themselves not wanting to come back. Thankfully, a long-term adventure had the advantage of preparing you to sort out your affairs. Your home and income are covered for the time being so that you can take the time you need to decide whether you want to stay or come back home. And, if you do choose to stay, things can be easily sorted out with removal experts such as https://www.chessmoving.com.au/, for instance.

For many expats, the decision to let the long adventure continue was easy to take as, in consideration, they had already prepared for a temporary life abroad. They found their people, their favorite local hangouts like delicious restaurants, coffee shops, or a cool cocktail lounge in Mayfair, and might have even applied for a handful of different jobs. If you are traveling and find yourself wanting to stay, fully immerse yourself in the country and make long term plans to start your next adventure on the right foot.

You studied or applied for a job abroad:

Moving overseas during your study is not only a creative way to explore a new culture, but it also ensures that your skills are relevant to the local market. If you’re still going to college, you’ll be pleased to know that there are plenty of study abroad programs that let you travel to Europe, Asia, or South America for one or two semesters. As a result, many students start to work at the end of their studies and realize that they don’t want to leave.

You’ve got itchy feet:

Last, but not least, nomadic professionals are independent millennials who want to make the most of the resources available. They use their skills to build a unique career that supports their travel needs. Whether they choose to develop their career through digital tech or whether they live their passion in the wild – as you can see on https://www.professionalnomads.org –, the new generation in the workforce combines travel and work successfully. They live in many countries and every bed they sleep in is home.

Ultimately, the question is not how to become an expat. But it’s all about understanding the triggers and aspirations that drive people to leave their comfort zone and build a home abroad.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Mar23

Duolingo Progress

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Duolingo Progress

Hi! For those of you who don’t know, one of my favorite hobbies is learning new languages. I would say that I am fluent in French and, thanks to Duolingo, I have spent the past few months working on Spanish. I was going to just focus on those two languages for the time being but, then, I watched a fantastic film over the weekend called The Green Book and it was absolutely impossible to not start learning Italian afterwards!

Every day, I try to practice for at least thirty minutes between the three languages and it makes me feel so good. I love to learn and it feels awesome to gain a new skill as well as do something that makes me genuinely happy. I really do stand by the phrase that I loosely toss around on here that “knowledge is power”. Learning a new phrase in a language or a fact per day is empowering. You don’t have to be in school to continue your education and it makes it even better when you are teaching yourself.

I am so thankful for Duolingo, 1) because it’s completely free and 2) because it allows my skills to flourish. And, did I mention that it’s fun?! So much fun, that I think I will go practice my trifecta of languages now. 😀

Who else uses the Duolingo app? What languages are you learning? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar22

Taking Care Of Number 1 (4 Tactics For Looking After Your Own Health)

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Taking Care Of Number 1 (4 Tactics For Looking After Your Own Health)

While looking after others is an enviable quality, our own health needs to take priority. If you don’t put on your own oxygen mask first, you can’t help anyone else. Of course, it can be tough to put ourselves first especially if we aren’t used to it, but to help you we have put together the guide below:

Watch your diet:

They say that we are what we eat, and that is for the most part true. Two meals can be identical in energy but be very different when it comes to all of the other things they contain including the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that we need to stay healthy in the long term. It is well worth investing some time in learning about how to feed your body correctly. With so many diets being lorded as the right way to eat, this can be somewhat confusing. So, a holistic approach to food with a high nutritional content like the one discussed at https://www.mindbodygreen.com/ may be the best choice, if health, well being, and longevity are your ultimate goals.

health

Yum!

Rest time is not a luxury:

We often judge how successful our days are by how busy we have been and what we have achieved. However, it is also important to bear in mind that rest is just as essential as working, exercising, and spending time with our families.

Sadly, in modern life, we can see rest as something to do when we have no better options, and it is often solely relegated to sleep. However, both the body and the mind need rest regularly to thrive, and that is why we need to schedule in regular downtime, as well as build up a good sleep schedule if we want to be as healthy as possible.

Get treatment when you need it:

Next, when taking care of our own health, it is vital that we seek out treatment when it is necessary. In fact, most, if not all conditions will get worse the longer they are left, and many can transform from being an issue that causes a minor discomfort to a chronic and even life-threatening condition.

The cost of seeking treatment is what often puts people off or leads them to wait for as long as possible until they find help. If the problem you are suffering with is a result of an accident, using a professional team like https://thehadleylawfirm.com/ to claim for compensation can help you pay your medical bills. This will make getting the right treatment and looking after your health much easier.

Mind and body make a whole:

Lastly, remember that health isn’t just about how your physical body is doing, it’s also about your emotional and psychological well being. What this means, is you need to take just as good care of your emotions as you do your body. In fact, when it comes to taking care of number 1, caring for psychological health is crucial.

Taking care of yourself in the way that your body needs will reflect positively in all aspects of your life so make sure you look out for number one today!

 

Mar22

How Do You Connect With Your Parents?

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How Do You Connect With Your Parents?

When you’re a child, your parents are the center of your world. It’s difficult to imagine that you could one day not need to have them around anymore. However, as you grow older, your relationship evolves. You are not an inexperienced child anymore. You’re an adult. And with the realization that you can do everything you want by yourself comes another one: You don’t need your parents anymore. You can be sure that they are aware of it. As a result, a lot of adults struggle to maintain a sane and happy relationship with their parents. If this is something that you are having a hard time with, then try utilizing the tips below:

#1. Twin your hobbies

Hobbies are a great way to bond, so why not find something you both enjoy? Gardening is a great activity that you can both share without needing to be in the same place. You can discuss your plans for your respective gardens and exchange tips and tools. You could even share flowers by giving each other cuts from your favorite plants. If you don’t have a garden or don’t have the time or energy to manage your lawn and bushes, you can opt for a more relaxing approach. A zen garden is not only a tasteful addition to your interior decor, but it’s also a playful, meditative tool. You could compare designs and patterns, or even create a joint album on Facebook where you can both upload photos of your creations.

#2. Try something new together

New experiences are enriching. Your parents have watched you grow up, walk, and discover the world from the start. Reconnect with those feeling by choosing to try something new together. For instance, if you’ve never tried golf, you can take lessons together and rejoice in being the witness of each other’s discovery journey. You can find all of the equipment you need at a lower cost online – rock bottom golf is an excellent address for amateur golfers. If sports aren’t your thing, how about booking an escape room experience together? There’s nothing more rewarding than working together to beat the clock!

#3. You’re never too old to play games

Do you remember board game nights at home? Everyone has played Monopoly with their parents during the holiday. And, despite all of the frustrations that come with the game, it was fun to share a moment. When you play games, you connect at a deeper level. It goes beyond your age, life experience, or even social responsibilities. You are players all equal in the context of the game. If board games aren’t your cup of tea, video games are a fantastic choice. Over a quarter of gamers are 50+, meaning that age has never made any major difference. All you need is a gaming console that attaches to the TV, and you’re both ready to interact in the virtual world. With online platforms, you don’t even need to be in the same room!

#4. Booking a holiday together

If the idea of going on holiday with your parents is terrifying, you might want to give it a second thought. Most people find it challenging to survive a shared vacation. But you need to think beyond your family bond. The reason why most cross-generational holidays fail is that people revert to previous behavior patterns, namely your parents trying to care for you in the way they’re always used to and you, instinctively, react in the passive-aggressive way that you used to as a teenager. As a result, tensions occur. But, you can avoid this trap by treating your parents as friends, AKA equals. If you don’t give them the upper hand in the relationship, there is no reason for conflicts anymore.

#5. Plan regular catch-ups

Many adults complain that their parents are out of touch with their lives. Be honest, can you blame them? Do you give them the opportunity to know what is going on in your life? If you don’t organize regular catch-up dinners and casual meetings, they can never get to understand your hopes, passions, and struggles. Unless you share about yourself, people can’t stay updated about your journey.

#6. Group chat for everyone!

No time for a catch-up meal? Make the most of modern tools and create a group chat that keeps everyone in the loop. Family group chats can be frustrating at times. But, they’re the perfect tool to share little moments of your every day life, discuss big decisions, or merely check on how everyone is doing. By making your interactions more casual, you design a new relationship with your parents.

Adulthood can create distance between you and your parents. It’s never easy to change the base of a relationship. But, as you grow up and become independent, the foundation of your relationship naturally evolves. Don’t let it damage your bond. On the contrary, find new ways to get to know each other again.

Featured Image By: Flickr

Mar14

Making Your Life That Little Bit Better

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Making Your Life That Little Bit Better

There’s always room for improvement in life. So, if you’ve decided that you want to be that little bit happier each time you wake up in the morning, now is a better time to start than ever! Leading a better quality life is more fulfilling and will leave you feeling more content. You will be able to enjoy your life to the utmost and minor problems won’t seem all that bad. So, what can you do to improve your quality of life? Here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling:

Wave Goodbye to Unhealthy Habits:

We tend to get entangled with unhealthy habits, as we find engaging with them enjoyable or pleasurable in the first place. We get some sort of immediate benefit from unhealthy substances and continue to engage with them as a result. But over time, they can prove significantly detrimental to our overall health and well being. The good news, is that there are ways to kick unhealthy habits. You can:

  • Quit smoking with nicotine replacement products.
  • Combat excessive alcohol consumption with men’s sober living.
  • Tackle obesity with a balanced diet and exercise regime.

These are just a few examples derived from common bad habits that people have. But, whatever your unhealthy habit may be, it’s time to wave goodbye to it!

Assume the Best in Others:

Many of us spend time ruminating on others’ wrongdoings and negative experiences that we have had with other people in the past. Betrayal, deception, and other harsh acts can make us skeptical of others and their intentions. This, in a way, can help us. We are less likely to be caught off guard or hurt. But, at the same time, we can find ourselves cutting off potentially positive relationships because we assume the worst in someone who has given us no reason to doubt them. So, start assuming the best of others. It will open you up to better and more rewarding relationships and provide you with a more positive mindset.

Pick Up a New Hobby:

So many of us waste hours on end scrolling through social media feeds and yearning for the fun filled lifestyles that others seem to be leading. But, this is counterproductive. Instead, why not get out there and actively engage with something that you genuinely enjoy? You could put your spare time to much better use. Pick up a hobby. Choose something that appeals to you. Common hobbies include:

Not only can having a hobby provide you with something stimulating and rewarding to do, but it can expand your social circles, putting you in touch with others who have similar interests to you.

These steps may seem relatively basic. But, it’s definitely worth putting a reminder out there. Following the above advice could help you to live your life to the utmost and wake up with a smile on your face!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Mar12

Super Cute Stuff

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Super Cute Stuff

Howdy! As you all can tell, I have been reading a lot lately. There is nothing better than diving into a good book and I am currently hunkering down with The Innocent Client every chance I can get! With all of this reading, a super cute book mark is a must and the one that I’m using never ceases to make me smile, because there’s an adorable story behind it. Take a look and I’ll tell you all about it:

handles

On the second day out from my surgery gone wrong in December, I wanted nothing more than some ice cream from the parlor down the street, Handel’s. Their ice cream is delicious with a variety of flavors to pick from and I knew that it would feel so good on my aching mouth. I decided that I wanted the Peppermint Stick ice cream and my dad left to get it for me. But, I almost instantly changed my mind as soon as he departed and realized I wanted chocolate, instead, because I was really miserable.

The catch, is that my dad doesn’t have a cell phone so there was no way he would know that the Peppermint Stick was a no go. So, in my pain pill induced stupor, I called Handel’s and let them know the dire situation at hand. I described my dad’s appearance and my desperate need for chocolate and they said that they would pass the memo along. They probably thought that I was crazy, but I was proud to have handled my needs because I was super out of it.

I eagerly awaited my ice cream and when my dad returned home, he said that the container was already waiting there for him and he just had to pay. When I opened the bag up, I saw the darling handwritten note seen above and I was tickled. It was so sweet and I needed that, because I was hurting so badly.

I kept the note on my bedside table and it has become the perfect book mark during my reading extravaganzas. It doesn’t take much to make someone smile and, little does the employee who helped me know, she makes me smile every day!

How have you made someone smile today? What is your favorite ice cream flavor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar11

Before Putting Your House On The Market…

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Before Putting Your House On The Market…

Are you planning on putting your property on the market this year? If so, this blog post is here for you. Read on to discover everything you need to know, including useful tips on preparation, as well as some critical information about property prices:

It’s not as dramatic as it seems!

There is nothing like the news to make you think the world is ending, we are all going to lose our jobs, and our house will never sell. But is it really that dramatic? Take these reports and stories about the housing market with a pinch of salt! Data can be manipulated in so many different ways in order to create a desired story. So, ‘house prices are falling and show no signs of improving’ they say, but on what basis have they come to this conclusion?

You don’t know what data they have analyzed and what they have taken into account. These conflicting news reports can be enough to make anyone worried, but don’t let them concern you and certainly don’t allow them to force you into a knee-jerk reaction, such as altering your asking price. If you have done your research – assessed comparable properties in the nationwide and especially the local market – whilst having your property valued by several estate agents or a property consulting group, you have nothing to be worried about. Confidence is key!

Why you need a Rightmove Comparison Report:

What is a Rightmove Comparison Report? Essentially, this tool helps you to come to a decision regarding what your house is worth. It gathers relevant data regarding the prices achieved for recent sales, as well as the asking prices of properties currently on the market. Rightmove is undoubtedly one of the most trusted companies in the UK. All you need to do is enter your postcode, the radius of which you would like them to search (i.e. within ½ a mile), your property type, and how many bedrooms you have. Once you have done all of this Rightmove will do the hard work for you and provide you with the figures you need.

This comparison report can be a very effective tool. You can use it to make sure your property is not priced too high in relation to similar ones in your area, or on the other hand to make sure it is not priced too cheaply. You can also see whether the sold prices are much different from the current asking prices. Is there a trend for the sort of price that is attracting offers? Not only should you use this report, but you should also make sure you get your property inspected before it goes on the market. A free roof inspection and other services like this will ensure everything is fine so that viewers can’t drum down your asking price.

The value of a good school:

To get your pricing right you need to have a good idea of what drives home values. Let’s take a look at what direct factors influence the price of your home:

  • Community/Neighborhood – Your local area plays a huge role in determining the value of your property. What are services like in the area? Is there a thriving business district? Does the neighborhood have a friendly and safe feel? If you are situated in an area that is well known for crime your property’s value will suffer massively!
  • Transportation – Easy access in and out of the area can affect the value of your property. If you are situated near access to the motorway and there is a good selection of public transport in the area you can be sure this will positively impact the value of your home.
  • Schools – When it comes to family homes, there is a strong relationship between solid property values and good schools.
  • Amenities – Finally, is everything the buyer needs nearby? From schools and parks, to libraries and bike paths – these are all factors that enhance property value, because they enhance what the buyer has by their doorstep should they decide to purchase your home.

How to convince the buyer that your asking price is right:

If your property has been on the market for a while and you are getting the sense that buyers feel it is a bit pricey, you need to prove to them that it is worth the money you are asking for. You are happy with your asking price. Your estate agent is happy with it too. You took advice from several agents and choose your asking price based on what they had to say. So, what’s the problem?

The trouble is, the buyer can prove to be more knowledgeable than you and even the estate agent when it comes to home prices! After all, they are in the business for finding a house, so they are comparing prices and properties all of the time. The solution? You could utilize resources to Sell My House Fast if you are getting impatient with no offers. Or, improvements will have to be made to convince the buyer that your property is certainly worth what you are asking for. This is where your photographs, online listing, and brochure really come into account. Marketing is everything to ensure you sell the house and the lifestyle to the buyer. Also, make sure your home is presented impeccably – presentation and features are so important!

Get your house sold and move onto the new chapter in your life with the tips above!

Featured Image By: Pixabay