Tag Archives: family

Important Decisions When Upgrading Your Home’s Exterior

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Important Decisions When Upgrading Your Home’s Exterior

If you’re planning to improve your home over the festive period or in the new year, the best solution is to start from the outside. Internal changes will count for very little if the outside aspects fail to offer the protection and foundations of success. Knowing that you wish to upgrade external parts of the home is one thing, but doing it in a productive manner is another thing altogether. Making the right decisions requires careful planning and preparation. Here are the issues that you need to consider:

The Color Of Brickwork:

Your emotional reaction to the property begins as soon as it comes into sight, and the color of the walls will have a telling impact. Some people prefer to leave the brickwork as it is, but others like to paint it to bring a fresh energy to the home. With so many colors to choose from, you need to think about how it will look alongside any other cladding materials that may be used. This is a job that can be completed on a DIY basis, although you may still wish to hire a professional, too.

The Style Of Roofing:

The roof is one of the most important elements of any property. It influences the appearance, protection, and the insulation all at once. First and foremost, any roof should be kept in perfect health. Nonetheless, it’s important to make the right decision on style. There are many contributing factors to consider including your location and the overall style of the property. Metal is an increasingly common option, and you can visit https://roofingwarnerrobinsga.com to learn more. A great roof will enhance the entire home.

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Very cool!

The Quality Of Windows:

New windows are an upgrade that we made not too long ago, and can confirm that it was worth every penny. Alongside the roofing, they have an integral role to play in the overall insulation. Moreover, their influence on the look of the home is noticed from both inside and out.

There are many shapes and styles to choose from, but the key is to opt for thickness. Depending on how close your home is to the public pathways, you may wish to consider using window films. These items provide the additional privacy to help you relax while you’re enjoying the home.

The Type Of Security:

No home feels 100% right until the security is under control. You can have a positive impact by ensuring that doors and windows are blessed with the right locks. In truth, though, adding external security should be on the agenda, too. The right facilities should deter any wannabe thieves.

In addition to the latest monitored security cameras, you can use automated gates and voice access systems. This will promote even greater safety. It should prevent burglaries while it also collects evidence should the worst occur. Best of all, it’ll give your family added peace of mind.

The Function Of Your Garden:

If your home has a backyard, you should make the most of it. The right choices will add a whole new dimension to the property while also adding esthetic beauty and added value. When done well, the transformation can turn this into your favorite part of the home.

There are many options at your disposal, such as building a deck or using a shipping container to create a pool. Sheds, summer houses, and other structures can all be built too – and usually without planning permission. A beautiful garden will go a long way to making the house a home.

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 Lovely!

The Selection Of Plants:

Some homeowners will opt for a vegetable patch or want to grow trees in the garden. However, the flowerbeds aren’t your only option. Hanging baskets can be added to brighten up the decks and porch areas. Likewise, potted plants are ideal for making a big statement. When choosing flowers and plants for the external areas of the home, it’s important that you consider which seasons they will bloom. Moreover, the colors should complement the overall vibe of the external spaces.

The Driveway Materials:

It’s very easy to overlook the importance of your driveway. In truth, though, it’s one of the first parts that you interact with. As such, it’ll have a huge influence on your impressions of the home as well as the views of others. The quality of materials could impact your car tires, too. The choice of material will largely be determined by the dimensions of the driveway and your personal tastes. Whichever you choose, visit https://drivewaysealcoatingusa.com to seal the driveway. This will ensure that it continues to sparkle for years to come.

The Choice Of Furnishings:

Small details hold such significance when designing a home. You can give the outside of your property a serious boost in style and grandeur with the most basic upgrades. Investing in a better mailbox is just one example of what can be achieved. Upgrading the door numbers, nameplate, knocker, or bell can have a similar impact. If nothing else, going the extra mile in this field will establish a sense of ownership. You cannot underestimate its influence for a second.

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Upgrade, perhaps?

The Source Of Lighting:

Lighting is a central focus when building the atmosphere inside a room. However, it can be equally useful for the external parts of the home. External lights can add beauty, extend your time in the garden, and be used as another security feature. Spotlights, floodlights, and solar panel garden post lights are all great options. When choosing LED solutions, you can also create different color patterns to give the home an entirely new esthetic. Overlook this aspect, and you’ll never unlock the full potential.

Give everyone the best first impression of your home by using the tips above!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Bad Weather? Here’s How to Protect Your Home

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Bad Weather? Here’s How to Protect Your Home

If you’ve never experienced the damage bad weather can do to your home, you should consider yourself lucky. Sure, rain may make your living room floor soaked if your windows are leaking and a hard gust of wind may weaken the shingles of your roof – but it’s still nothing at all compared to the floods and hurricanes we’ve experienced over the last decade.

While it’s difficult to prepare your home for that kind of weather unless you live in a bunker, you can still prepare it for cold days and heavy falls of both snow and rain. The spring has yet to arrive for a couple of months and the more you can do for your home now, the better off it will be in case your area should experience a storm anytime soon.

Here is a handful of tips in terms of making sure your home is strong enough to handle the elements. It just makes it a bit easier to put your feet up and relax as the wind howls outside:

First: Seal windows and doors

It’s only logical that the first thing you need to do is to ensure that the storm has no way of entering your home. This means, of course, that you need to make sure that all of your windows and doors are sealed properly. Wind funneling through your home will push upwards and may even lift your roof if it’s strong enough. It’s the kind of water damage your home could definitely do without.

You may want to purchase and install special storm shutters for your windows, for example, or just take a tour around your home to inspects the seals and make sure that there are no cracks to allow the wind in. Have a look here if you’d like to make your own storm shutters, by the way. They will be just as strong as the regular ones you’d buy in the shops as long as you follow the instructions.

Next: Consider steel doors:

You will only need this if you live in an area that often experiences stormy weather, but steel doors can really make a huge difference in terms of safety at home. When you have a steel door as your entry door, you avoid seeing hard winds tearing through those weaker double, French, or sliding doors for your patio. Install special hardware to strengthen the doors where they meet and try bolts that fasten the doors into the framing at the top and the bottom.

Think about the other doors in your house that are connected to the outside world; have a look at garage doors, for example, to avoid seeing the storm damage your vehicle, as well. That being said, your car may still get damaged by severe weather and if that does end up being the case, don’t wait to file your insurance claim for hail damage or any other type of damage that comes from the weather. Your insurance will work with you to make the repairs as cost-effective as possible.

Other points to keep in mind while it’s still quiet before the storm is, of course, to clear out your yard so that no furniture is able to fly off – and have an extra look at your roof. While the damage bad weather can do to your belongings is big enough, it can do even more damage if a roof shingle should hit an animal or a person.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Super Sweet Surprise

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Super Sweet Surprise

Hello! As you guys know, I recently had my wisdom teeth removed and it sucked on ice. The operation was done on a Friday morning and I had to go back to work on Monday. I was in a lot of pain and, unfortunately, I still am as I type this now. But, thanks to one of my amazing clients, I was able to perk up a little because of some Super Sweet Surprises! Take a look:

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Because I was hurting so badly, my client and her family decided that it was the perfect day to give me my Christmas gift, even though it was fifteen days early! They treated me to:

  • A festive headband
  • Holiday nail files
  • Mini liquor bottles
  • Three sets of holiday earrings
  • Three sets of fuzzy socks infused with aloe
  • A gorgeous homemade scarf

When I first received my present, I was honestly just blown away by how cute the packaging itself was. My client’s mom showed it to me and said that I could take it home, but I had to put it under my tree and wait until Christmas day to open it. I begrudgingly said “okay” and had every intention of taking it home and (in)patiently waiting until December 25th to open it.

But, about a half hour before I had to leave, everyone insisted on me opening the gift to help cheer me up for the rest of my work day. It was one of the sweetest things that I’ve experienced in a good long while. Each gift that I opened was just as good as the last and I was so touched by their generosity. Giving me a holiday gift is something that I would never expect of any of my families so, when it happens, I feel so spoiled rotten.

The cherry on top of the prezzie tower ironically came from the bottom box – the divine scarf that my client’s mom crocheted for me. Her color palette was on point and the detailing was simply marvelous. I was so moved that she took the time to create such beauty for me and the kindness that was shown to me that day definitely made the rest of my work day wonderful, despite any pain that I was in. So, I would say that their mission was accomplished! ❤

Have you experienced any Super Sweet Surprises lately? What is your favorite kind of gift to home make? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

And They Call It Puppy Love…

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And They Call It Puppy Love…

It doesn’t matter whether you have welcomed a not so little new St Bernard, a cute little puppy pug, or a delightful dachshund into your home, there are certain things that you must do to ensure that your new pup is receiving the best care. As a responsible owner, you want your new dog to feel like a part of the family straight away. At the same time, you don’t want anything to overwhelm him. In the same way as you would welcome home a new little human bundle of joy, you need to take time to settle into a new routine for your puppy. Take a look at what you can do to ensure a smooth transition for both you and your canine:

Nutrition:

There is no point in bringing your new pup home only to feed him food that he’s never tasted before. The chances are that he adores the grub that the breeder was feeding him, so ensure that you get a crate of it. Familiar smells and tastes will help settle the nerves of your pooch. Ensure that you bring the toys that he has played with in his previous environment and place them in his new playpen. This will be the first time that your new dog has been away from his litter pals and mom, so it’s vital that you are on hand pretty much twenty four seven, at least for the first few weeks.

Behavior:

It’s not uncommon for your puppy to bite especially as he’s getting to know his own capabilities. It’s vital that you try and nip this in the bud as soon as possible. Alongside formal puppy training to teach him the traditional obedience commands, you need to back this up with a firm but fair approach at home. When playing with your new four legged friend, don’t use your hand directly and instead use a toy. If they do manage to bite (often during play) then show a sad face, say firmly ‘no biting’ and ignore them for up to a minute. With consistent responses to his nipping, you should find that the behavior stops very quickly. Any issues, and you can get expert advice as to how to halt the biting.

Some puppies scratch or destroy items around the home. While this may be playful and amusing if he gets hold of a sock and demolishes it, this can be more serious if you return home from grocery shopping to see your sofa destroyed. This is classic separation anxiety and needs to be addressed. Go out for very short periods of time and build up the minutes you are away very slowly. Ensure that you play with him a lot and leave plenty to interest him when you are out to prevent destructive tendencies.

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So. Cute!

Exercise:

When ready, it’s important to get your pooch used to other canines. The easiest way to do this is to take relaxing strolls down to the park. Take your time and don’t be worried if your dog seems a little nervous. This is natural. Keep him on the leash and allow him to sniff other dogs, but keep a close eye on him to ensure there’s no aggressive behavior.

Before you know it, you will have a brand new and established member of your family – an adorable one, at that!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

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Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas

Hiiii! There are less than ten days left until Christmas and that means that it is crunch time for all of the late holiday shoppers. If you haven’t finished your shopping yet, the anxiety definitely might be setting in, considering that most stores are well picked over by now and the shipping dates with online orders will be cutting it close. But, that doesn’t mean that you should throw in the towel just yet and hand over a card with cash to your giftee (Unless that’s what they really want!). So, here are some last minute gift ideas to help with your holiday shopping:

A Framed Photo:

Nothing is more sentimental and sweet than some of your favorite pictures of you and the giftee set in a beautiful frame. Purchase a photo collage frame or even make your own and give your loved one a reminder of your friendship and happy memories. This gift is well thought out, it’s easy to buy as most stores have frames to purchase and ways to print your photos, and it will surely be treasured by your giftee. Photos and memory books come highly recommended in this list for DIY holiday gifts for seniors but will be appreciated by anyone of any age as the memories are so special.

Add To Their Hobby:

So you’re in a bind to finish your shopping and your giftee has a hobby that they absolutely love. This is probably the best situation to be in, because that will make for a really simple purchase. Do they have a record player? Buy a few new records for them to jam to. How about a Polaroid camera? Get them some more film. Or maybe they love acting on stage? Grab them a few plays from the book store so they can discover a new monologue. Buying according to the hobby is a great way to go and it will always be well received because it’s so useful to the giftee.

The Basics:

We all know the standard Christmas gifts well. Booze, candles, fuzzy socks, knitwear, etc. But, they are staple prezzies for a reason, and are a fine way to go when you just need to finish up your shopping already. As an avid wine lover, there are some gorgeous bottles around this time of year with holiday sentiment on it, which will make for a lovely gift to enjoy during Christmas dinner. Throw in a few candles to light on the table and you’re done!

Family Fun:

Spending Christmas day with your family can seem like a daunting task for some, so maybe you can buy a gift that will spice things up a bit. Buy some fun classic or modern board games and have a tournament with your fam. Or maybe get some adult coloring books or art supplies and have a crafting contest. These gifts are wholesome and perfect for a day spent with your family – unless someone likes to cheat at Monopoly!

Sigh… Gift Cards:

Okay. You’ve been to every store and there is nothing left to purchase that’s even remotely close to what your giftee would want. You check all of the online sites and all of the shipping dates can only make it to your home in 2019. This is bleak, and it means that you might have to go for the gift card route. If you must use this option, make it a little adventure for the giftee. If you give them a card to their favorite clothing store, for example, tell them that you’ll come with and treat them to a coffee date beforehand for some pre-shopping fuel. Gift cards often lack any warm fuzzies behind them so add a little something something to make it a bit more special. 🙂

Christmas will be here ASAFP, so use the ideas above and, for the love of god, get your shopping done!

When did you finish your holiday shopping? How early into the year do you start your purchasing? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Gifts For Your Mom This Christmas

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Gifts For Your Mom This Christmas

What do you buy the woman who brought you into this world? Most people will want to stay away from clichéd gifts, such as chocolates. These are somewhat predictable and just don’t seem enough for the wonder woman that is your mom. Yet, we don’t have a money tree in our garden allowing us to buy anything we lay our eyes on. So, what’s the solution? The following gift suggestions are sure to impress:

A watch:

When purchasing an accessory you want to go for something that is special, looks spectacular, and is going to get a lot of use. A watch ticks all of these boxes. You can find some great watches at abbottlyon.com. Look for a classic design and something that will go with any outfit your mom is wearing. Of course, you will need to consider her taste and her personality, as well.

An experience:

Instead of buying your mom an actual Christmas present, why not enjoy an experience together, instead? Is there a show your mom would like to see at the theater? Is there a restaurant she has been dying to try out? Or perhaps you think your mom could do with some pampering at a local spa? Experiences often mean more, because they give you the chance to spend some quality time with your mom. You are creating memories that can be cherished forever.

A box of treasures:

Another suggestion is to buy a box and fill it with treasures – AKA all of her favorite things. This could incorporate films, magazines, chocolate, wine, a pamper set, scented candles – anything that is going to provide your mom with a fun and relaxing evening. She is assured to love this gift as it shows that you have put in a lot of effort and really thought about her likes and dislikes.

A gadget:

Last but not least, why not introduce your mom to the wonderful world of technology? There are so many different gadgets available nowadays. A tablet is always a popular choice. She will be able to check her Facebook, play games, send emails, and read her favorite romance novels. Or, what about a Kindle? This is the perfect gift for anyone who loves to read. You could even buy her a machine so that she can make her own crafts. Head over to vinylcuttingmachineguide.com for some assistance with this. Aside from this, you may want to consider something music-related, such as an iPod. The options are endless.

If you select one of the suggestions mentioned in this blog post, you are assured to put a big smile on your mom’s face this Christmas Day. Make this Christmas one to remember for your mom, because a little bit of thought can go a long, long way!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Traditions It’s Okay To Break During Christmas

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Traditions It’s Okay To Break During Christmas

Hi everyone! Today’s post is guest written by my sweet friend, Ester. Her blog is excellent and chock full of gorgeous photos, travel, and well written passages. So, do be sure to check out her page and give it some love! Please enjoy this lovely guest post and if you are interested in sharing your work on lifewithlilred, shoot me an email at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com !

Dear World,

A week or so ago, I was talking to my boss about sales at Christmas time and how that’s having an impact on how we exchange presents now compared to previous years. This conversation then made me think about all of the little traditions I’ve been changing and adapting every year and how I now live the Christmas period today. It is very interesting how we all try to follow the traditions because that’s what makes us human (that is, culture) but we also want to adapt them to our modern world.

I’m personally very okay with breaking the rules, I’ve been doing that my whole life. I like traditions with a twist. On the one hand, I love how comfortable and homey it feels following a ritual, but I also want to change my lifestyle for the best. Moreover, spending the Christmas holidays in other countries and being exposed to other cultures had an impact on how I now spend my time in December. So without further ado, here are the traditions that I am okay breaking this Christmas:

Ordering your Christmas dinner online:

Last year I spent hours cooking what I really wanted to be an absolute wonder of a meal. I slow-cooked the lamb and I tried my best to make a chestnut puree. It took me a whole afternoon of grocery shopping and a whole morning spent in the kitchen to go through all of that. The result, though, was a disaster. I think I put so much pressure on myself because I really wanted to somehow cook this Masterchef dinner that I screwed it all up. The meat was not tender and the puree was just uneatable. Somehow, I managed to finish it out of compassion and pity.

This year. I’m not going to repeat that experience or decide that I’ll magically become a chef in no time. That’s why my Christmas dinner will be kindly and lovingly prepared by Waitrose and Partners. I’m sure it will be much better than what I could ever cook myself. We will eat it at our place, next to the Christmas tree while drinking a good bottle of Prosecco. I’ll have the morning to relax and call all of my family and friends in Italy and I won’t be panicking in the kitchen. I, too, deserve to enjoy my Christmas morning.

ester

Exchanging gifts after Christmas:

This is actually the topic that led me to write this post in the first place. Here in London families are now embracing a new tradition: instead of exchanging presents on Christmas day, they organise a shopping trip to the mall on Boxing Day (or the week after Christmas) to buy each other what they really want at a cheaper price. If you think about it, that’s a win-win situation: everyone will receive what they want and the cost will be heavily reduced by the sales.

I know, I agree that is very nice and special to open your presents on Christmas day but, hey, you could have one gift under the tree and the rest at the Boxing Day sales. I, myself, have decided to wait a bit longer to buy my own Christmas present this year (I always treat myself to something special) because, by waiting a week or two I can buy my gift at half price. So, why not?

ester6If you’re in London for Christmas, try and find Harry Potter’s magic wand!

Eating way too much:

My relationship with food used to be quite complicated. I’m now fine but, if I eat too much, my stomach hurts badly. To be fair, I suppose it’s quite normal. If we eat too much, we don’t feel great at all. That’s why I always need to make sure I don’t cross that line at Christmas. I really hate feeling nauseated with stomach pain and a heavy head during the holidays. Also, I don’t want to ruin all of the hard work that I’ve been doing for the past few weeks.

This means, that I’ll do my best to go running once a week. But, I will also make sure that I won’t have three slices of Panettone in one day. I’m sure you know your limits, as well.

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Wrapping paper:

I’m not very good at leading an environmentally-friendly lifestyle but, after living in London for almost two years, I understand the importance and urgency to do so. Here in the city, everything is wrapped in plastic or paper. Every single lunch has some plastic in it and we all abuse the use of plastic bottles. It was a friend of mine who made me notice it and it’s very true, so I’m now trying to be more sensitive to that matter.

For this reason, I’m also considering what to do with wrapping paper. Not all wrapping paper can be recycled. Foil or glitter-decorated paper cannot be recycled and the same goes if there’s sticky tape or decorations on it. My suggestion here would be to make sure you buy wrapping paper that can be recycled easily – even better if that’s made with recycled paper.

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Of course, I understand the huge importance of traditions in our life and I, myself, love gathering together with my family to spend a wonderful Christmas together. However, traditions can be adapted to lifestyle and personal preferences. At the end of the day, what really counts is that we all spend a memorable day surrounded by the people we love the most because that’s what will make us happy.

What do you think? Are there any traditions that you are going to break or bend this Christmas? Let me know what your plans are for the holidays!

Best,

Ester Piubeni

My website: esterpiubeni.com

My Instagram account: ester_piubeni

Thank you again to Ester for her guest post on lifewithlilred! Happy holidays! Much love. -Sarah

Oh, Christmas Tree

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Oh, Christmas Tree

Hiiii! With the holidays right around the corner, I thought that I would share with all of you what my family Christmas tree looks like. Fortunately for me, I get to see it year round, because we never take our tree down. In fact, my family has gotten into the habit of putting other holiday themed decor on it like Easter eggs and Happy Harvest gear for fall. So, don’t be surprised if you see some ornaments that don’t quite belong! Haha, take a look:

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As you can see, we have a very large collection of ornaments on the Mushenheim family tree! My dad loves travel themed ornaments and I always try and get him one on every vacation we go on or any trips that I take by myself. Most of my siblings have followed suit on that tradition, so my dad has ornaments from all of our travels. So fun!

Other than the vacation ornaments, many of the ones that are on our tree date back to decor from both sets of my grandparents and from when my siblings and I were little. I think that, despite it being a little quirky, all of us like having the tree up at home, because it’s just one of our “things”. And, it’s nice to feel some holiday cheer no matter what the season is. 🙂

Do you have any travel themed ornaments on your tree? Do you have a favorite ornament in your collection? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Selfie Spam & An Accessory Story

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Selfie Spam & An Accessory Story

Hello! The broadcast of the Naked palette swatches has been interrupted by some Selfie Spam & An Accessory Story. We apologize for any inconvenience.

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Wow, I guess I’ve been really feeling myself lately!

The pictures that I love the most are the ones with some very special accessories. In two of the above pictures, I am rocking some of the hats from my late grandma’s collection and never have I felt so beautiful. My beloved grandma had a stock pile of over one hundred hats, and that love single-handedly got passed down to me in what is known as the “Hat Gene”. Hats are an obsession for me but it’s a healthy one, I promise! This love has helped kick start quite the collection of my own but, my most prized ones are my grandma’s, of course.

Hats are something that require great confidence to pull off and, for a good long while, I just didn’t have it. And, like many things, my self esteem and image got better with time and popping a hat on my head as I walked out the door seemed like an easy thing rather than a nerve wracking feat. Once a better sense of confidence was instilled in me, wearing hats became an exciting staple in my personal style, because nothing screams chic more than a well dressed woman in a beautiful hat.

No matter which hat I choose from my collection to wear, whether it be a vintage piece of my grandma’s or a new purchase of my own, I always feel like I have this warm halo of love around me. I know that my grandma would be so happy to see me wearing her own favorites as well as the new ones that I picked out, all because of her and her timeless elegance. ❤

What is one of your favorite accessories to wear? How about your favorite style of hat? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Lil Red’s House/Pet Sitting Tips & Tricks

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Lil Red’s House/Pet Sitting Tips & Tricks

Hello! A great way to make some extra scratch and earn some brownie points with your neighbors is to house and pet sit for them. I just finished up a week long gig watching over my next door neighbor’s two pups and home while she celebrated the holidays in sunny California with her husband, son, and daughter in law. Although this might sound like an easy task, there is a lot more to it than you would think and this post will offer some of my go to tips and tricks to make you the best sitter ever.

If you are house sitting:

Always Get Their Mail/Newspapers:

During my criminology class in college, one of the prime things that burglars look for as told by actual burglars was a pileup of newspapers or an overflowing mailbox. If this doesn’t scream “no one is home” than I don’t know what does! If the family you’re sitting for isn’t cancelling their mail and papers for the week, be sure that you are prompt in picking them up upon delivery. Place the newspapers and mail in separate piles and voila – you just knocked one task off of your list for the day!

Make Yourself Known:

It is always a good idea to let your neighbors know that you will be house or pet sitting for a family, if they haven’t done so already. Nosey neighbors love to snoop and one of them had the nerve to text a client of mine that she thought that someone was breaking into their home when it was just me! This will also let your neighbors know to keep an extra eye out for anything suspect when you aren’t home. Try to be at the site that you are sitting for as often and long as you can, because an occupied home is a major deterrent to burglars.

Clean Up:

This should go without saying, but do make sure that you clean up after yourselves! Wash the linens and remake the bed that you slept in upon the homeowners arrival back. Run the dishwasher if there is a pileup of dirty dishes. Water their plants. Get the house looking how it did before the owners left in the first place. I like to Swiffer the floors when I’m housesitting, too. With the snow and rain that Akron has been getting lately, tracking mud is easy to do, and no one wants to come home to that!

If you are pet sitting:

Stick To Their Schedule:

Whether your watching dogs, cats, rabbits, or fish – house pets love their schedule. Learn when the pet owners feed their pets, walk or exercise them, and take them out to potty and stick to it. The pets are probably in a state of confusion or worry that their owners aren’t there and adhering to their schedule can be a huge comfort to them.

Stay And Play:

All of the pets and snuggles can also be a comfort to the animals that you are watching so stick around and just be with them. Play with their toys with them, talk to them, or do some of your own busy work in the house. Your presence can help the pets feel at peace, so if you don’t have to leave just yet, don’t. And, if you have to sneak away to work for a while, turn on the TV or some music until you get back.

Clean Up:

This should also go without saying, but do make sure that you are cleaning up after the pets. Put their toys back in the bin, wipe them off if it was rainy or muddy when they were out (No one likes eau du wet dog and dirty paws!), and clean up any accidents they might have had in the house. It’s not fun, but could you imagine how you would feel if you got home from a trip and there was number one and two everywhere?! If the pets are prone to having accidents in the house, set down some newspaper or piddle pads to make your job a little easier.

If you do your job well while the home or pet owners are away, you will surely be invited back the next time they need someone. And, if they spread the word, you might have your own mini business in no time!

What are some of your tips and tricks when you’re pet or house sitting? Where was the last trip that you went on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah