Tag Archives: fyi

May13

How To Prepare For The Sale Of Your Home

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How To Prepare For The Sale Of Your Home

Selling your house is an exciting time, but it can also be quite stressful with all of the things you need to plan for and take care of – especially if you’ve never done it before. To make the process easier on you, in this post we’re going to share with you some of our top tips on how to prepare for selling your house:

Pick a good estate agent:

The very first step when it comes to selling your house is to ensure that you have a good estate agent who will be there to make the process as easy as possible and help you with any questions you have or any issues that arise throughout. Although there’s no foolproof system for finding an estate agent who does a good job and who you can trust, a good way to go about it is by asking for recommendations from friends and family who have sold or bought through a specific agent and then contacting them. Another option is by doing a search online in your local area, for example, for an agent with good reviews and see what you can come up with. At the end of the day, you are going to want to Sell your Houston area house fast (or your local area). An excellent estate agent will understand that and do their best to move you along onto your next adventure in a timely manner.

Carry out repairs:

Once you’re starting to prepare the house to get ready to sell and conduct viewings, then it’s going to be a good idea to start carrying out the repairs that have been getting put off and that really need done. This will also give a much better impression with the new potential owners, so it’s a good idea from an investment point of view. Whether it’s repairing floors, fixing a leaky pipe, installing a new Tsurumi submersible pump, or even fixing the roof, get these things done before you even start conducting viewings.

Completing necessary repairs can be a time consuming and expensive process. This can be a major hindrance if you would like the selling process to be as speedy as possible. Should this be the case for you, there are other options. Simply enter a search for “We buy Houses North Carolina” (or your local area). From there, you will be able to begin weighing your options as there is a chance you can sell your home as is. Perhaps you will want to carry out repairs that are less expensive to increase your offer. Or, you will accept the cash for houses amount and be on your way to your new place without the worry of major repair bills.

Have your paperwork ready:

Selling a house is a big task that involves a lot of paperwork, so making sure that you have everything ready on this front is very important and will make your life so much easier – especially if you’re looking for a faster sale or need things done in a certain way. You can speak to your bank and estate agent as well as your lawyer about the kinds of paperwork you need in order to get everything organized, but it’s definitely a good idea to do this as early as possible so that everything can run smoothly and you’re not rushing around trying to gather things that you don’t have.

Make sure everything is well presented:

If you want to sell your house, then you want to entice potential buyers and they’re not going to be interested in buying from you if your house is a mess, the garden looks like a jungle, and it looks like nothing has been taken care of since you moved in. Make sure that the place and the surrounding areas are clean, tidy, and free from clutter and, in some cases, it could even help you raise the value of the place a little before you sell it, which is never a bad thing!

Use the tips above to ensure that your sale goes smoothly and happy moving!

Featured Image By: Pexels

May10

Taking Care Of Yourself When You Have A Chronic Condition

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Taking Care Of Yourself When You Have A Chronic Condition

A chronic condition is one that is likely to stay with you over the long term, sometimes even for life. So, managing it is much different than getting sick with something like the flu and then recovering after a short time and getting back to your normal life. Take a look at how to deal with a chronic health condition along with some specific examples and suggestions in the post below:

General advice:

First of all, it needs to be stated that each chronic condition and the individuals that suffer from them will require different treatments that are customized to their needs. What works for one person may not work for another. That’s why we go to the doctors’ for their advice. However, there are some more general principles that can help if you find yourself in this situation.

The first is learning self-compassion. In fact, it’s vital that you can not only forgive yourself when you can’t do what everyone else around you can because of your chronic illness. Otherwise, your mental health can really suffer, as well.

Secondly, patience is crucial when you have a chronic condition because you are likely to experience times when you are in remission and times when things become worse. Of course, patience can really help you to get through the difficult times without spending all of your energy and motivation on worry and frustration.

Diabetes:

One chronic condition that is very common in the Western world is diabetes, both type 1 and type 2. What few people realize is that some doctors recommend treating type 2 diabetes with diet and lifestyle changes.

Type 1, however, is something that you are born with or develop in early life, and that means you need to get used to monitoring your own condition including regularly testing your blood with a meter that you can get from a diabetic medical supplies specialist. If your blood sugars are too high, you will need to take insulin, and if they are too low, then you may need to fuel your body with a sugary drink or snack. It’s crucial that you adhere to the advice that the practitioner in charge of your care has given you.

Depression:

Another common chronic condition is depression. In fact, it can seem as if this is a plague as so many people suffer from it. Once again, each different type of depression will need a separate type of treatment. However, there are some factors that can commonly help if you do find yourself suffering from this issue.

The first, is to take regular aerobic exercise, something that has been shown to be at least as effective as antidepressants in studies. Additionally, making changes to your diet, as well as seeking out therapy that focuses on how you relate and act on your more negative thoughts (namely CBT) can help too, especially over the long term. Something that can make depression, although a chronic condition, much more easy to manage.

Treatment will be different for everyone but use the advice above to help you take the first steps in monitoring your chronic condition.

May8

Simple Tricks For Unblocking Your Drain

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Simple Tricks For Unblocking Your Drain

Now that spring is here, it is the ideal time for us to look at cleaning the entire house to make a brand new start for the summer season. Spring cleaning is something we do once a year where the whole home is cleared out, tidied, and thoroughly cleaned, and it really makes life easier in the long run.

Today, we are going to have a chat about one specific part of your spring cleaning which can be a little tough: the drain. Our kitchen drain will often get clogged up with suds, food waste, and other deposits and it is up to us to clear this out so that the drain runs properly and doesn’t become blocked. You could use a Thrift drain cleaner, pipe cleaner and other methods to do this, and we are running through our top few methods today.

Before we begin, it is worth reminding all of you to DIY at your own risk. Sometimes, quick-fix methods do more harm than good. If you feel like the blockage in your drain is beyond your capabilities, call an expert in your area by searching online for “Blocked Drains Plumber Sydney” or wherever you reside to ensure a safe and effective solution. Now, let’s get to it:

Wire Hanger:

If you know that your drain is clogged up to the max and you need to fix the blockage right away, a bent wire hanger can be ideal. It is a simple but effective choice and it will allow you to fish and dig for different sediment and dirt which might be left in the drain. Once you’ve pulled out as much as you can, make sure to rinse with hot water.

Baking Soda and Vinegar:

One of the easiest ways to clean a drain is by using a simple chemical reaction found in the kitchen. By mixing ½ cup baking soda and ½ cup vinegar and pouring it down the sink, you will be able to watch a fizzing reaction which would put any science fair volcano to shame. This is a super easy way to clean your drain and all you need to do is leave it for 10 minutes and then rinse with hot water after.

The Wet & Dry Vacuum:

If you weren’t already aware of this, there is such a thing as a wet and dry vacuum which is used for situations just like this. If you have one, you can set your vacuum to wet and cover up your vent to the sink to allow dirt to be sucked up without any mess.

Boiling Water:

If you don’t like the idea of throwing a ton of different chemicals down the drain every time you want to wash it, then boiling water will be for you. Everything has a melting point and when we pour hot water into the drain, it will start to melt the grime and dirt and wash it away. Let the water work its magic for a few seconds between each pour and soon your drain will be as good as new.

Caustic Soda:

For tough grease and grime which you cannot remove by regular means, this is one of the easiest ways to make sure that your drain is clean and tidy. To start, you will want to wear gloves as this is strong stuff and then mix 3 cups of caustic soda with ¾ gallon water. Stir well and pour into the drain before leaving for 30 minutes. Rinse with water.

Nothing is worse than a blocked drain, so clear it up with the simple methods above!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Apr22

Moving Update

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Moving Update

Hi everyone! I have been super busy with the big move but I just wanted to let all of you know that it’s going swimmingly so far! I cannot wait to give you guys a virtual tour of my apartment once it’s to my liking and show you my new digs. In the meantime while I am unpacking my brains out: What are some of your tips to help a move go smoothly? What was your first apartment like? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr17

Making Working With Remote Employees A Breeze

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Making Working With Remote Employees A Breeze

Thanks to technology and developments in online communication, it’s likely you’ll be working with remote employees in your organization. Cloud computing, be it hybrid, multi-cloud management, public or private, in addition to video conferencing, and better networks mean that businesses can choose from a wider range of talent for their teams, resulting in more employees working from remote locations. Remote working also provides flexibility to your staff, allowing them to work at home and in other locations – something which can provide a better work/life balance.

While having remote workers can be great for your business, it can come with some pitfalls, too. To help make working with remote employees a breeze for your business, take a look at the following tips:

Set your expectations:

It can be difficult for remote workers to find their feet. Without the structure of the office environment, the onus is on them to manage workloads, timekeeping and so on, so it’s useful for employees to know what’s expected from them. Having core hours that you expect everyone to be available is beneficial to your business, while putting reporting systems in place will help you monitor progress. Create clear guidelines that will help them and you navigate remote working much easier.

Give them the tools they need:

For all employees to do a good job, they need to use the right tools. Providing remote workers with the right equipment and technology will ensure that they are able to work effectively and be a part of the wider system. Cloud management systems are a cost-effective tool for business that will help everyone access what they need and facilitate collaborative working with ease.

You can read how a system like Templafy brings value to businesses at https://www.templafy.com/blog/techradar-pro-names-templafy-among-the-best-document-management-systems/. The standardization of forms and templates can help employees stay on brand and ensures that they’re using the right systems for their work.

Create an inclusive work environment:

It can be difficult for remote workers to feel like a part of the team. There are ways to help remote employees feel included that include encouraging bonding between colleagues and recognizing the contributions of your remote workers. Communication is another important aspect, so providing regular communication can help employees feel connected, even when they’re in another location.

Working from home can be difficult for employees for many reasons. Where possible, make it easy for your remote employees to travel in when needed. Give them a travel budget and arrange meetings that will allow them to enjoy face to face contact with the rest of the team. Remember to include some social activities as part of these visits to strengthen those team bonds.

Making a success of remote working depends on several factors, but it’s important to put the time and investment into developing clear guidelines and processes to help everything fit into place. Remember to check in with your remote employees regularly to ensure that they’re happy and that things are working well and review things if it’s not quite right. Your remote workers are an asset to your business, so help them feel like a valued, recognized part of your team.

 Featured Image By: Unsplash

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

Apr9

What Is Visual Weight And How Can You Use It To Improve Your Home Decor?

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What Is Visual Weight And How Can You Use It To Improve Your Home Decor?

When you’re decorating, it’s important that you have a good sense of balance and symmetry in a room. It’s also important that you’re considering the size of the room that you’re decorating so that you don’t end up with large rooms that feel too empty or smaller spaces that are cramped and uncomfortable. Often, the furniture choices that you make have a big impact on this, but that’s not the only thing to consider.

Visual weight is an interior design term that refers to the weight that an object or surface appears to have, rather than how much it weighs on a scale. Understanding how to use visual weight to your advantage when you’re decorating your home will help you design the best space possible. Read on to find out more:

Color And Material:

The first thing to consider is the color and material of things around the room. As a general rule, darker colors and materials have a higher visual weight. Red tends to have the highest while a pale yellow has the lowest, blues and greens are somewhere in the middle. That’s why a room that is painted entirely red will feel very claustrophobic and so will a room where all of the furnishings are red.

That doesn’t mean you can’t use colors with a high visual weight, but it’s important that you balance them with lighter colors, as well. The same goes for materials; using reclaimed wood in the home is a great way to get a rustic look, but it has a high visual weight. If you design a room with reclaimed wood on the walls and then fill it with wooden furniture, the balance will be off. You need to choose one or the other and offset the wood with some light furniture or pale shades on the walls.

If you need some visual examples, it can be helpful to visit a Furniture store in Rockwall, TX (or your local area) for inspiration. Browsing through the displays and fixtures in person can really help you start to picture your home in a different way. Be sure to snap pics as well as inquire about different color options to the staff for any pieces you might like.

Size:

Size plays a big role in visual weight so it’s important that you consider it when choosing furnishings and ornaments to put around a room. If you’re using thick curtains on the windows, for example, they have a heavy visual weight. If you combine that with a lot of large pieces of furniture, the room will start to feel cramped. If you wanted to have a big coffee table and some large armchairs in your living room, you’d be better off looking into blind installation rather than sticking with the heavy curtains, so you can balance out the furniture. When it comes to decorations around a room, you need to group them by size. So, if you’ve got a large sculpture on one side of the room, you need to balance that with something of a similar size, or a grouping of small objects on the other side of the room.

Transparency:

Any items that are transparent seem to have a lower visual weight, and you can use this to your advantage. If you’ve got a room where the walls and furniture already have a high visual weight, you can offset that by using clear vases or bottles to decorate with. This is also ideal for darker rooms where you want to improve the flow of sunlight and brighten the space up a bit.

If you experiment with visual weight and remember these rules when you’re decorating, your home will be stunning and guest ready in no time.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Apr6

Detoxifying Your Lifestyle

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Detoxifying Your Lifestyle

They say we should treat our body like a temple, but many of us are very good at ignoring that advice. In fact, some of us behave more like our bodies are toxic dumping grounds and completely forget that the things we consume actually have a significant effect on our health and well being. Luckily, if we know what is good and bad for our body, we can make much more educated and healthy decisions. A topic you can read more about in the post below:

Liquids:

There are some things that are good to drink and some that aren’t so great for you. Of course, water is essential, as staying hydrated can not only help you be more mentally alert but can help your body function better all the way down to the molecular level! Be careful, though, because you can have too much of a good thing. In fact, if you go over your recommended daily water amount it can actually make you quite ill.

There are some drinks that you should try to stay away from, as well, or at least minimize your consumption of, due to their toxic nature. These include alcohol, sugary soft drinks, and even caffeinated beverages. You don’t have to give them up entirely if you don’t want to, but they all can have a dehydrating effect. Sugar and caffeine can also cause an increase in anxiety, while too much alcohol is not only bad for the liver but can seriously impair your judgment.

Products:

I know you’re expecting the next section to be all about things you should not eat because they are toxic, but before we get to that, we want to talk about the lesser known issue of products that we use that can have an adverse effect on our health. In particular, makeup, perfume, and cosmetics need mentioning here, because they are nearly always applied directly to the skin and so are easily absorbed by the body. What that means, is that if there is anything nasty in them, it will end up in you!

In fact, recently, there has been a move towards more natural and healthy products in the cosmetic and toiletries industry including non toxic perfume and paraben free toiletries. Using beauty products that are better for you has never been easier.

Food:

Finally, when it comes to food, there are plenty of things that can be toxic if you consume them. However, apart from the basic poisonous plants and berries, there are also other things that you need to watch out for. These include sugar which, while we love the taste is beginning to be thought of like a narcotic style substance that can cause many problems when ingested.

It’s also wise to be mindful of the containers you store your foods in, as some can leach out plastic molecules, which we then end up ingesting. This is something that can lead to a toxic buildup in our system and contribute to all sorts of health problems!

Treating your body as a temple includes being mindful of what you’re putting in it, so use the tips above to detoxify your lifestyle today!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Mar27

Feel Useful With These Career Choices

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Feel Useful With These Career Choices

If you ask workers across the world what they want from their job, there are a few things that crop up pretty routinely. One that you hear a lot is that people generally want to feel that what they are doing is useful. People want their work to matter, to make a difference to something, and when this is not fulfilled it can quickly lead to some unhappy people stuck in satisfying jobs. If you know this feeling, and you are looking for some kind of a change, you are clearly not alone. But it’s hard to know where to begin, and the prospect of changing jobs can be remarkably stressful even at the best of times. Primary amongst your concerns is probably the question of what job you are actually going to go for. How about one of the following?

Doctor:

While this is not the kind of work that you can slip into from another field, it is worth mentioning here as it is known as being one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. Doctors come in all forms, of course, and there is a world of difference between a surgeon and a GP. But, whatever area you get into, you can be sure that being a doctor enables you to feel like you are doing something very useful. If you are in a position to start doing the relevant training and education, and you want to make sure you spend your life helping others, then this is one of the best options you are going to have open to you.

Nurse:

Nurses might be paid considerably less than doctors, but their job satisfaction rates are frequently very high, and for that reason it is a job worth considering if you want to feel that you are doing something worthwhile with your time. That being said, they are paid fairly well, but you will also be expected to work some long hours – and it is known as being one of the most stressful jobs that are out there. If you feel that you have the resolve for it and the patience to see it through, then it’s well worth thinking about as a potential career choice for someone who really cares about others.

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Pexels Image

Therapist:

A therapist or counselor can get into their position with much less training than you might assume. You don’t need any medical expertise and you don’t need to have an undergraduate degree to do it. Instead, all you need is the time to partake in a short course – sometimes even as short as one year, although the better ones are longer than this, up to three years or so. More than any training, you need a particular skill set: the ability to listen, empathize, appreciate possible solutions for individual problems, and to exercise a great deal of both patience and reserve. Being a therapist is hard work, and you will have to be skilled at not taking on board the problems of others – otherwise you might not survive such a job emotionally.

Being a therapist offers the ability to have sessions online, making it highly convenient for your schedule. Since the pandemic, online therapy has really taken off and could be a great route to go for your practice. You can also expand your career even more when you learn how to rank on google for online therapy.

Teacher:

Another powerful way to help people lead more fulfilling lives is to become a teacher. The best teachers are those who are able not just to teach their students, but to encourage them to live in a way which is wise, compassionate, and eager to learn more every day. You will need to undertake some training and it is best if you also have a degree in something relevant but, most of all, you will need the passion to teach children in a way which might bring about a better world. Whether you are thinking about getting into something subject-specific which you have a talent for or just some cross-curricular teaching, this is going to be a great job for feeling useful.

An exciting part about being a teacher is that there is always more to learn for you and your students. There are countless resources available like The Teaching Couple to assist in finding innovative ideas for your classroom. You will surely be the favorite teacher at the school!

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Who was your favorite teacher?

Charity Worker:

People are often a little unsure about working for charities. Clearly, the charity system is far from perfect, and that is a shame because there are plenty of organizations doing some great work out there, regardless. If you want to get into charity work, the most important concern will be to make sure that you thoroughly research the companies you are considering working for. You don’t want to put all of your kind efforts into a business which is not actually doing much, or – worse – which is entirely corrupt. That being said, most charities do some good work, and if you want to take on a job which doesn’t require much in the way of qualifications, then you should make sure that you are considering this.

Architect:

Being an architect is truly fascinating. Not only do you get to design buildings however you like, but you will usually be able to travel the world in the process, and that is certainly a nice thing to have as a perk for your job. Of course, to be an architect requires a lot of education and training, and you should be prepared for that if you want to follow this particular line of work. But, as such, there is no reason you should not be able to make it work, and you will also find that it is quite rewarding as a kind of work to get into.

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Climate Scientist:

There has never been a better or more pressing time to get into the science of climate change. The world is burning up as we speak, and globally we are far behind on our goals of reducing the temperature of the planet. It might not sound drastic for the planet to heat up by one or two degrees over a hundred years, but it is. If you would like to do something about this, then becoming a climate scientist could be the way to go. You will get to research the effects and causes, and you might even be the person who comes up with a strong solution.

Politician:

Most of us have mixed feelings about politicians, but the truth is that you can easily get into politics in a positive and engaging way. In fact, most politicians are genuinely just trying to make the world a better place when they start out, although there is a great deal of corruption and so on which ends up taking place. But if you want to make a difference to the world from the top-down, then you might want to think about getting into politics. It can be a noble and true profession, and at its best you will find it enormously satisfying and rewarding, as you go about changing things for the better.

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There are so many different worlds you can get into if you are hoping to lead a life which is truly useful in some way or another. Any of the jobs mentioned above would be a great way to make yourself feel valued and to feel as though you are doing something rewarding and worthwhile.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Mar26

Moving On Up

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Moving On Up

Hi! So something very exciting happened this past Friday… I put down a security deposit for an apartment! That’s right, in the middle of April, Lil Red will be leaving the nest and moving into her own space. I picked out a two bedroom loft in the Timbertop apartment community, which just so happens to be down the street from my old neighborhood. It is also where my sister and her family are located.

This spot is perfect, because I didn’t want to move too far away from any of my clients and where I am now is basically a central location between the eight of them. I am so looking forward to decorating my place and furnishing an office where I can get all of my blogging and paperwork done comfortably. In fact, I started the haulathon the day I put my deposit down by going to TJMaxx so you’ll definitely see all of the apartment goods I got in a future post.

These aren’t the best pictures of my new place, as I took them quickly when I was seeing it for the first time. But, still:

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Pretty cool, right?!

I am literally in love with my apartment and can’t wait to keep you all updated on the moving process. In the meantime, what are some apartment essentials that I will need? Where is your favorite place to shop in store or online for home products? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah