Tag Archives: nature

Settle Your Home Anxieties For The Winter

Standard
Settle Your Home Anxieties For The Winter

You needn’t be a high maintenance person to feel stress occupying a home in which cleaning is not the expected standard. For example, if visiting the home or apartment of a friend’s friend, we may feel dismayed to see the bathroom in poor state, or perhaps that their dogs have left hair all over the sofas.

Many of us have caring standards for our homes, even if they might get a little messy from time to time. Thankfully, the anxiety or at least noticeable necessary need for a clean we can see will direct us to careful action. Often, the transfer of the seasons will help us notice this more, as they show our homes in a new light. This is why the bright warmth of spring often gives way to cleaning, to use one example.

Settling your home anxieties for the winter then, as we begin our slow march towards it, could be a great method of ensuring your home is catered for and refined once cold weather strikes. We would like to offer you some worthwhile advice here, and hope it can make a real difference:

Roofing:

Roofing truly does matter. A solid roofer will be able to figure out if you have holes or damages that need attending to, because this could have opened you up to a terrible attic leak, a loss of insulation, or even an infestation of some kind. Settling your home anxieties will often mean caring for your roof first, because the intense coldness of the weather can cause cracks to show, shingles to become damaged, or tiles to become loose. An inspection, therefore, is always a wise idea.

Pavement Care:

The pavement outside and leading up to your home (in the form of a patio, garden path, and driveway) can be a real victim of harmful black ice. This can lead to nasty trips, falls, and injuries, especially in the morning when you may still be waking up for your commute. Even if you’re aware of this it can be dangerous, let alone when elderly or younger relatives come to visit or bound from your home in an excitable fashion. As such, we recommend hiring a professional asphalt contractor that uses innovative Crack Sealers to fix up your driveway (and elsewhere) and improve the paving. You should also purchase a good amount of gritting material to limit slips and provide traction should it be a problem.

Weather Debris:

Weather debris is important to consider. From damaged fencing, loose roof tiles, upturned trampolines, and uprooted signs, it’s important to consider your potential weather debris and plan for that. Perhaps if a heavy winter’s snowfall or hailstorm is predicted, then bringing your vehicle into the garage to protect it could be important or putting heavier locks on your doors, or even, in some cases, rooting down exterior belongings that could rise in the weather. This may seem outlandish, but these scenarios do happen, and it’s always best to remain prepared to that degree.

With this advice, you are certain to correctly settle your home anxieties for the winter. Now get some hot chocolate and relax!

Featured Image By: Pexels

A Few Vacation Pics

Standard
A Few Vacation Pics

Hellooo! I didn’t take too many pictures during my recent family vacation to Asheville, North Carolina but, of course, I took a selfie or two and had my dad snap a few as well. My dad is a great photographer and usually does the majority of the picture taking when we’re on vacation. And, I was so busy enjoying my damn self that I guess I just forgot! Anyways, take a looksee:

vaca1vaca2vaca3

^^^ These pics were all taken at Altapass Orchard.

Now, you might find yourself wondering who that handsome man is in the last person and that is the one and only BILL CARSON. He is the owner and face behind the Altapass Orchard on the Blue Ridge Parkway and he is an absolute delight. The orchard in itself is gorgeous but the real fun happened shortly after we got there and a country trio began to play music in their gift shop.

In the gift shop was a stack of bumper stickers boasting the phrase “Honk if you survived a dance with Bill Carson” and I thought it was hilarious. I had no idea who he was at the time but I did know I wanted that bumper sticker for my car desperately. So, as luck would have it, Bill just so happened to be at the gift shop with his wife to enjoy the music and cut a rug on the dance floor.

And, dance we did. Bill and I shared a lovely hoedown to the country music and it was a complete blast. After our dance, my dad bought me the bumper sticker that I had my eyes on because I earned it, damnit. My family had a riveting chat with Bill afterwards about his life story as a NASA engineer and how his sister and himself came in possession of the Altapass Orchard.

Long story short, Bill’s sister purchased the land which developers were very interested in to build along the Blue Ridge Parkway. This was a massive “no no” though and the Carson family refused their offers to buy it. They have since had the land recognized by the National Parks of North Carolina so that it can never be built on and have its vast beauty appreciated forever.

Bill Carson was a joy and I loved learning his story and the hard work that was put in to keeping the Altapass Orchard afloat during the past five years of insufficient crops thanks to climate change. The orchard serves not just as that but as a sort of clubhouse where local music is played and anyone can get up and dance. And, if they’re lucky, they can survive a dance with local celebrity Bill Carson too!

Are there any local celebrities in your neck of the woods? What is your favorite fall activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

The 10 Most Beautiful Places To Travel To In The Fall

Standard
The 10 Most Beautiful Places To Travel To In The Fall

Hello, hello everyone and welcome to a top ten travel countdown brought to you by one of my darling fall guest bloggers, Lexie. Miss Lexie is the author of Living Like Lexie, a blog focused on travel on a budget. And, as a baller on a budget myself, she is truly a woman after my own heart! Today, Lexie is going to talk about the most stunning places to travel to during the fall around the world. Read up, pack your bags, and head off on your next adventure!

The 10 Most Beautiful Places To Travel To In The Fall

Every season has its own unique type of beauty. The fall is when the air gets a little crisper, the trees start to shed their leaves, and all of the Pumpkin Spice Latte lovers come out. The fall can have a special look and feel to it based on where you are. There are so many beautiful locations around the world that bring a whole new reality to what the season of fall is.

Here are 10 of the most beautiful places to travel to that provide the ultimate “fall” experience:

1- Bavaria, Germany

The southern region of Germany is known for its rolling alps, the birthplace of Oktoberfest, and the castle that inspired Sleeping Beauty’s palace. It’s a beautiful place to go to during any time of the year, but it’s especially stunning in the fall.

Imagine being able to take a train ride through the mountains while the foliage of the leaves changes color. It’s like a painting coming to life before your eyes. With all of the surrounding beauty, it’s also a great time to party at Oktoberfest. What could be a more appealing fall experience to have?

2 – Alberta, Canada

The Canadian National Park of Banff is flocked to by tourists at all times of the year. With its towering mountains, ever flowing forest, and emerald lake – it’s definitely a sight worth seeing. In the fall, this view is flourishing with color as the trees start to prepare for the winter months ahead. And a bonus: you can get out of the chilly fall air by taking a dip in the hot springs.

3 – Napa Valley, California

Fall colors and wine anyone? Going to Napa Valley during its off-season means that the hotels prices go way down, making it a great affordable option. You might not think of California as a top destination to view the warm tones of fall, but what you will find is that the already stunning wine vineyards are where the season’s colors appear. They display rows upon rows of the unique orange and red autumn colors.

4 – Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is known for its Cherry Blossoms in the spring, but it is also a sight to behold in the fall. The red pagodas around the city are highlighted by the changing leaves of the season.

5 – Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

The Shenandoah Valley is the perfect place to take a road trip through. You can watch all the fall’s foliage pass you by like a movie. The landscape allows you to take in the incredible show that mother nature is putting on. The valley and hills present a new perspective at every turn, which will keep you captivated for hours.

6 – Paris, France

Paris is already romantic from the mystic it has surrounding it. The beauty of fall’s warm tones contrasting with the cool blue and gray tones of the city’s landscape give it a vibrant breath of life. Take a trip to the city of love with your love this fall to take in the city’s beauty in a whole new way.

7 – Iceland

Iceland is full of color for a land named after ice! There are many incredible sights to see in Iceland like its waterfalls, black sand beaches, and the Blue Lagoon. These places become even more surreal with the accent of the fall tones. Make sure you bring a warm coat and your camera along to this breathtaking country!

8 – Scottish Highlands, UK

Calling all Outlander fans! The Scottish Highlands in the fall takes you on an incredible journey that will make you feel like you are living out the show yourself. The highlands are gorgeous at any time of year, but they have a certain vibrancy to them specifically during the fall.

9 – Duluth, Minnesota

The city of Duluth is located right on the tip of Lake Superior. Duluth is full of hilly roads, unique shops, and often the well-known Minnesotan accent, don’tcha know? If you’ve ever pictured what a chilly fall day would look like spent relaxing in a log cabin while overlooking the warm fall tones surrounding the largest lake in North America, look no further than Duluth, MN.

10 – New York City, New York

New York City is great for those that love the fast-paced life of the city, but still want to have the opportunity to walk through Central Park with your Pumpkin Spice Latte and chunky sweater on. The fashion capital of the world is the place to be if you want to rock the fall trends and take in the atmosphere; while admiring both the fall colors and NYC’s skyline.

Are you ready to take off to one of these ten stunning destinations this fall? To make sure you are prepared and have everything you need packed up, download this free Ultimate Packing Checklist!

About the Author:

lexie

Lexie DeVries is a full-time college student from Minneapolis, Minnesota who is seeing the world one trip at a time – and doing it on a budget! Her blog Living Like Lexie shares her travel journey, as well as the tips and tricks she has found to make travel affordable. She is passionate about inspiring others to make their travel dreams into a reality, as she knows what an incredible impact traveling can make on someone’s life.

I’d love to connect with you!

Thank you so much to Lexie for sharing her travel expertise with us and do be sure to check out her blog and give her social media a follow! Where is your top destination to travel to this fall? What are some other great travel locations this season? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

4 Overlooked Tips For Being At Your Best Each Day

Standard
4 Overlooked Tips For Being At Your Best Each Day

Life has a habit of beating us down. The list of responsibilities and chores just seem to stack up and up, and there’s rarely anything that effortlessly comes along to relieve us. However, just because life will naturally move that way if we let it, it’s not like we have to accept it, and we definitely don’t need to let it have a negative impact on our lives. There are things we can do to push us in a positive direction, each and every day. Below, we take a look at four helpful, yet often overlooked, actions that’ll make your day better:

Start the Day Right:

You’ve got to start the day as you mean to go on. If you have a terrible beginning, then it’s much more likely that things will continue to go in the same direction. On the other hand, if you take steps to make sure that your day begins well, in peace and tranquility, then you’ll be ready to step up the moment you walk out of the front door. So what does this look like exactly? It’s about not being in a rush. If you wake up early, go for a short run, take a cold shower, and then have a leisurely breakfast, you’ll find that you’re on Cloud Nine, and all before 9 AM.

Look Your Best:

If we’re going to be at our best, then we need to be confident, and if we’re going to be confident, then we need to look and feel our best. There’s real value in putting together a routine that leads towards looking your best! Take a look at hair and makeup routines, for example, and choose the ones that are suitable for you – and which you can do each morning. On the wardrobe front, it’s all about those stylish and comfortable tops for women. With a new and improved rack of clothing, hairstyle, and makeup routine, you’ll walk out of the front door confident and ready to take on the day.

Make the Commute Fun:

It’s understandable that people grow tired of the boring old routine when they have such a soul-destroying commute to the office. However, who says that the commute needs to be quite as miserable as everyone says it is? This is one of many areas where it’s better to do your own thing, rather than follow the crowd. Make the most of your time by yourself! You can listen to podcasts, sing, talk with friends, or anything else, and why not? If it’s bumper to bumper traffic that’s bringing you down, then look to see if there’s an alternative route. Even if it takes a little longer, you’ll enjoy it much more if it’s a scenic journey and there are far fewer cars.

Get Outside:

Finally, make sure you’re spending some time outdoors. Studies have shown that being in nature gives us a natural happiness boost. It’ll also provide a little breathing room between your state of mind and whatever is trying to push it down.

Every day isn’t going to be perfect, but these simple tips above can certainly make them a little better!

Featured Image By: Pexels

How To Keep Mosquitoes Away This Summer

Standard
How To Keep Mosquitoes Away This Summer

Mosquitoes are a nuisance, especially for their whining buzzes and itchy bites during the night. They are also vectors of many diseases, from malaria and yellow fever to zika virus and dengue fever. While it might not be possible to keep mosquitoes away completely, there are a few things that can help you to reduce their numbers. Here are some of the ways you can reduce mosquitoes in your home:

Use natural mosquito repellents:

Mosquitoes have a very sharp sense of smell, which makes them locate human beings with ease. Human beings emit carbon dioxide and other odors that these annoying pests find irresistible. In the same way, there are certain scents that mosquitoes find unappealing. These scents can be used to keep mosquitoes away. Here are some oil scents that can keep the bugs at bay:

  • Peppermint oil
  • Citronella oil
  • Eucalyptus oil

Get rid of stagnant water near your home:

Mosquitoes thrive well in stagnant water by breeding in there to large populations. They will eventually find their way inside your house. You can avoid this by emptying water around your house from containers lying around, garbage bin lids, and flower pots. This will destroy their breeding grounds and significantly reduce their population around your house.

Get a mosquito lamp:

Most people have front and back door lights. These lights attract all kinds of insects, mosquitoes included. They will hang around your door area, ready to rush as soon as you open it. To prevent this, always have a mosquito lamp on your front door which emits a repellent to keep the mosquitoes away.

Keep grass trimmed:

Mosquitoes find overgrown shrubs, weeds, and grass an attractive place to hide during the day. They are usually active at night and will spend most of their day resting in these areas. Keep grass near your house trimmed to avoid giving the pests an extra place to hide.

Set up mosquito traps:

Mosquito traps can be used to keep mosquitoes away when placed on your porch. Make sure that you change the traps regularly to help them remain effective in reducing their population levels.

Make your home Mosquito free:

It is important that you adopt a long term solution to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home. Reduce the breeding grounds around your house and combine the above strategies to help reduce the population of mosquitoes around your home!

Spectacular Sunset

Standard
Spectacular Sunset

Hello! There is nothing more beautiful than an amazing sunrise or sunset and during the summer time, both are absolutely spectacular in my neck of the woods. While driving home from work last week, I got to bear witness to this beauty below and it was too lovely to not snap a pic! Take a look:

sunsetsunset1

The sky seriously looked like ice cream sherbet and I just wanted to dive in and eat it up! The deep purple mixed with the light orange was such a stunning combination and it really helped end a great day at work. This also happened to be the day before my birthday and all of my clients helped to make sure I had a very special one. And, it seemed like planet Earth was doing the same thing by giving me a gorgeous sunset to cap off the day and kick off twenty-five!

What is your favorite color? Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Fun Activities To Do With Your Kids This Summer

Standard
Fun Activities To Do With Your Kids This Summer

If you are looking for things to do with your kids this summer, then you have come to the right place. Down below, you are going to find a short list of ideas that you can use to fill the time while your little ones are off from school. They don’t have to be anything elaborate as you will see when you keep reading, but just something different and fun to do as a family. Take a look:

Take Them Climbing:

The first thing that we are going to suggest is that you take them climbing. There is going to be some sort of mountain within a few hours drive from you, and this is the perfect thing to do on a sunny day. Just make sure that you are taking a lot of food and drinks with you to avoid anyone feeling weak or tired on your journey. Not only is this something fun that you can do as a family, but it is also great for exercise and getting everyone out and about. Staying indoors can be fun, but every now and then you need something to get you moving and get your blood pumping!

Or, if climbing isn’t really something you want to do, you can find a nice nature trail to follow. There are lots of these dotted around, and you will find some amazing views when you embark on one of these journeys.

fun.png

So cool!

Learn An Instrument:

The next thing that we are going to suggest is that you take up an instrument. This can be fun to do with your children no matter what instrument you choose to do. This could be piano, guitar, or even something as peculiar as the ukulele! If this is something that you want to consider, you can find the Top 12 Easy Ukulele Songs with 4 Chords (C, G, Am, F) online to look at! By doing this, you don’t even have to hire a teacher to help you learn. Instead, you can teach yourselves at home and make it into a fun experience for those days where you just don’t want to leave the comfort of your own home.

Create Something Beautiful:

Finally, have you thought about doing something creative with them? This can be anything from painting with them in the garden to building somewhere for them to play. Obviously, you don’t want them handling sharp tools, that’s for you to do, but they can help with passing you stuff, assembling, and decorating when it’s finished. Projects like this are great because they take up a few days at least, and they make sure everyone has a task to do.

You can also think about getting them to help you out with the gardening and creating a beautiful outdoor space. This might not sound like the most fun idea, but it is something that everyone can be involved in and looks amazing when completed.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now have a few good ideas for activities that you can do with your kids this summer!

 

Top Ways To Attract More Clients To Your Events Place

Standard
Top Ways To Attract More Clients To Your Events Place

Ever wondered why malls, concert grounds, office buildings, hotels, resorts, events places, and even schools invest so much effort and money into beautifying their gardens and parking lots? The landscape and terrain of an events place are more than just a backdrop for photos and videos. They have a logistical purpose, too.

If you’re managing an event place and you want to attract more clients, you might need to look into the current amenities you’re offering. If you haven’t yet invested in commercial landscaping services in North Oklahoma City, it’s about time you rethink that decision. A well-landscaped garden area and parking lot, along with the affordability of your place and other amenities and features, is an important consideration for many potential clients.

Parking lot, gardens, pathways, driveway, etc:

Most of the time, an event place is filled to capacity with people. Whether it’s a wedding, a corporate event, a birthday, or a product launch, events places house as many guests as they are capable of. With this, comes the responsibility of providing ample parking spaces for the guests and the clients. This also includes regular maintenance to the parking area like seal coating and line striping, so that people can clearly see where a proper parking space is available. It would be wise to find a professional to manage the upkeep of this for you. In order to find a professional near you, simply enter a search for “Paving contractor in Royse City, TX” or your local area. And, while many event places leave enough area for a parking space, not many of them invest money and energy into landscaping their parking lots and driveway.

The landscape of an events place’s parking lot, pathway, and driveway, however, is more than just aesthetics. It’s more than just a backdrop for a nice wedding photo. Hilly and uneven terrain will make it hard for guests to reach the main hall of the event place (especially if it’s a formal event and the women are wearing sky-high heels!). A landscape artist will see that these issues are dealt with. They will also make sure that during rainy days, the gardens won’t collapse and the pathways are well covered to protect the clients and their guests.

Indeed, the right landscaping can turn your event space into a sought after destination for weddings and retreats. When you work with a commercial landscaping company, you will be able to coordinate a plan for all four seasons so your event space will always look photo op ready. The team you choose will be able to bring your vision to life with plants, flowers, and greenery appropriate for the season. A beautifully maintained property is a sure fire way to get people talking!

Marketing:

You could have the most beautiful event space in the world but no one will know about it if you don’t market it properly. A great place to start is by advertising your business at expo fairs specific to the events you host like weddings or corporate get togethers. You can set up your booth with a custom tent wall, giveaway products, flyers, and banners so it will catch everyone’s eye. After the fair, you can add the banners and flags you used to the exterior of your event center to capture the attention of even more traffic.

Another excellent way to put your business out there is by inviting the clientele you’re hoping to attract to an event. For example, those in the wedding industry would be impressed by a wine and cheese tasting to preview the space and be inspired for pre wedding cocktail hours. To get started, simply enter a search for “wine tasting bath” (or your local area) to find specialty restaurants or wineries to accommodate. An event like this is casual, fun, and a perfect ice breaker.

Full and topnotch amenities:

Does your event place have a waiting area for the guests’ drivers and aids? Is it wheelchair accessible? Do you have facilities that cater to the need of individuals with physical challenges? These are important features of an event place and many potential clients may start to look to your competitors’ direction just because you didn’t put enough ramps (for wheelchairs and strollers) in your building or garden. Sometimes, the reason why clients won’t rent your place is as simple as not having a few important amenities and features.

Let’s also consider your outdoor setting as this is a very important aspect if you are hosting events both inside and out. Are there enough shaded areas for guests to be comfortable on a hot day? Will there be an outdoor bar or dining area? How about benches scattered throughout to enjoy the landscape? Aluminum is an excellent option for this as it is durable in the weather and lightweight. Felton Industries (or a similar company in your local area) specializes in outdoor aluminum furniture and can be your one stop shop to furnish the outside of your event space. Always remember, the comfort of your guests is key!

Affordability and price competitiveness:

There are a lot of competitions in this industry. Restaurants are opening their doors for events. Hotels have grand ballrooms where a large event can be held. There are exhibit halls to host seminars and conferences. Even parking lots are turned into concert grounds when the situation calls for it. What separates your event place from all of the others? One thing that potential clients will look into is the affordability and competitiveness of your pricing scheme. If you can offer the same facilities and amenities for a lower price than your competitors, then clients are more likely to choose your event place.

space1

Having a well-maintained landscape is good for your business, especially during the summer time! Keep these things in mind so that you can create a great environment for your employees and customers.

Super Cool Planter

Standard
Super Cool Planter

Hi! As you all know, my dad is an expert gardener so that makes gift giving very easy for him. For his birthday this past month, I got him this awesome stackable planter set from Amazon. Since it has warmed up significantly in Ohio since April, he finally got around to getting the planter set up with strawberries and flowers and it looks great! Take a look:

plant2plantplant1

I was so happy to come home on Mother’s Day and see the planter out on the deck in its full glory. It also made me smile to see the garden gnome planter that I got for him last year with a potted plant in his little knapsack. Seeing the splendor of my dad’s hard work never ceases to amaze me and it’s always so cool to see the projects that he tends to so lovingly take full bloom!

What is your favorite plant or flower? Who else is a fan of gardening? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Welcome To My Crib: Balcony Edition

Standard
Welcome To My Crib: Balcony Edition

Hi, MTV, and welcome to my crib! Today, we’re going to take a look at the lovely back balcony that my apartment offers. Despite its lack of furniture, which I promise I’m getting soon, it is still so nice to be on and enjoy the weather and the company of some little animal friends. Take a look:

crib1crib2crib3crib

As you can see, I have some bird buddies who have made a home in the rafters of the balconies of myself and my neighbor. I’ll tell you what, nothing startles me more than when I’m standing outside and one of the tenants takes flight! It gets me EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I’m hoping that I’ll see some deer in the wooded areas behind my apartment building at some point, too. #NATURE

Literally all I need to complete my balcony is some bright colored lawn chairs and I’ll be set. It’s a simple area but it’s one of my favorite parts about chez moi. Standing under the covering while it’s raining and breathing in the fresh air is good for the soul and I revel in it every chance I can get!

What type of furniture do you have for your outdoor areas? Do you have any animal companions that live in your yard? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah