Tag Archives: pro tips

Oct23

Stuck On Early Holiday Shopping? Have Some Ideas!

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Stuck On Early Holiday Shopping? Have Some Ideas!

Hello!! Yes, yes, roll your eyes all you want to my last minute holiday shoppers but Lil Red is over halfway done with her Christmas shopping! In case you haven’t noticed, I absolutely love gift giving and because I have so many people to shop for – the earlier I can get done the better for me. A stress free December where all I have to do is wrap up prezzies is the goal.

However, my drive to complete my holiday shopping doesn’t mean I haven’t gotten stuck on gifts to purchase. In fact, it’s been difficult this year because I feel like I’ve used up all of my best ideas before. Lol, so I had to get creative and if you got gifter’s block like me, you might appreciate these ideas:

Insect Condos:

I have quite a few giftees with a positively green thumb and gifts for the garden always go over well for them. This year, I was very interested in insect condos to help promote healthy garden growth as well as our bee population. These little “houses” feature all of the materials that handy insects like lady bugs, bees, butterflies (the list goes on) love like sawdust, bamboo, and cedar wood.

I thought these insect condos would be a perfect addition to the gardens that my giftees tend so lovingly and you can find tons of amazing homemade ones on Etsy or there are plenty on Amazon. I also had to snag a butterfly feeder for my dad (He doesn’t read my blog so I can post this, I swear!) because him and his granddaughter love watching the butterflies in his garden together. I know they will both be happy with it!

Baking Boxes:

This year, I wanted to get something different for the families I work with as opposed to the normal holiday decor, chocolates, or ornaments. So, I found some baking boxes through King Arthur Flour to gift them with. These boxes come with all of the ingredients to make a delicious dessert and I thought it would be a fun activity that all of them could bake and enjoy together.

There is nothing better for baking than products from King Arthur Flour and I was happy to be able to get such nice gifts for a price I was comfortable with. In fact, I plan on purchasing more as it gets closer to Christmas to have shipped to other loved ones on my list.

Willow Tree Figures:

I have always been fond of gifting the beautiful Willow Tree figurines to people because they are sentimental and simple decor and it’s easy to find one that applies to wherever your giftee is in life. For example, last year when my mom and dad became grandparents, I gifted my mom a statue to represent that, as it was a grandma holding her sweet grandbaby.

From celebrating your pets and relationships to saying thank you by purchasing a Willow figure holding a bouquet of flowers, you are surely to find the right one for your giftee!

Stocking Stuffers:

Stocking stuffers are great if you need a little something extra for a gift or you want to do an entire goodie basket. Winter accessories like hats, gloves, and scarves are a great place to start if you’re doing a gift exchange in your friend group. Cozy blankets, a decadent box of chocolates, and bottles of wine always go over well too! Still stuck? Candles, bath and body care, gift cards, your favorite book, and even socks (I like getting them!) are all crowd pleasers.

Take some of the stress out of your holiday preparations with the gift ideas above. Happy shopping!

When do you normally start holiday shopping? Who is the most difficult person on your list to shop for? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct20

Got A Pest Problem? Here’s What To Do

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Got A Pest Problem? Here’s What To Do

Nobody wants to have a pest issue in their home but, somehow, it seems to happen to everyone at some point during their life. You could have a mouse or rat infestation, a wasp nest, or an ant problem – but whatever kind of pest you have, it’s important to take the necessary steps to get rid of them. Even those of us who love animals and don’t want to harm them have to take action against an infestation in our own homes. Unfortunately, rodents carry diseases which are unhygienic and dangerous for us. Plus, they’ll give you a fright if you see one scurrying around in the night!

So what are your options for pest control? Here are some ways to combat a pest issue in your home:

Natural Means Of Extermination:

Natural pest control consists of a number of different actions you can take. If you aren’t a fan of harmful chemicals or poison being put down to kill the pests, you can try other means of pest control which are more natural and ethical. These could include:

  • A cat or terrier dog: This might sound like a laughable suggestion, but rescuing a cat or small dog is a great natural means of controlling mice and rats. Cats will hunt naturally and are savage when it comes to killing their prey, while terrier dogs are genetically programmed to run after small furry creatures in their space – and kill when they catch them. This is a means of ‘natural’ pest control because the dog and cat is living out its natural instincts, while the pests aren’t being killed using chemicals.
  • Sustainable pest control: This would involve hiring a sustainable pest control company who specializes in non-toxic means of exterminating pests.

Hiring A Pest Control Company:

If you have an issue that goes beyond a mouse problem, you might need to consider hiring a traditional Pest Control company to deal with it. Spider, cockroach, or wasp infestations can be dangerous for yourself, your children, and your pets and require more than just a few mousetraps to get the job done. You will want to do your research before hiring a professional company. Look for companies that are well reviewed and have experience with the pest your dealing with. Typing “Roanoke pest control companies” in the search bar or whatever area you’re in will help narrow down your search considerably.

Remember that pests will vary depending upon where you live and not every pest control company will be well versed in dealing with them. For example, if you live in a particularly hot climate, you might want to consider a company like Responsible Pest & Scorpion Control (or something similar in your local area) as they are capable of dealing with the dreaded, climate specific pests like scorpions.

Pest control companies use a range of techniques which will aim to minimize the effect on your home and routine, while maximizing the effectiveness of extermination. These can include:

  • Using poison to kill the population of pests.
  • Using deterrent chemicals, such as strong smelling oils like peppermint oil.
  • Using humane means to trap the pests. This will especially be the case if you have a problem caused by bigger animals and require Squirrel Removal or something similar. 
  • Filling in the cracks in your home using a special foam which is impossible for mice and rats to chew.
  • Advising on other home habits such as cleaning, avoiding piles of garden waste, removing spider webs on a regular basis, and avoiding leaving food out which tempts pests. Heavy cleaning is an especially important step in bed bug treatment options so be prepared to put the work in.

Clean Your Home Top To Bottom:

While you are waiting for pest control to sort the problem, there are still things you can do. Clean your home from top to bottom, leaving no crumbs or other little things for pests to nibble at. It is a crucial step for a multitude of pests and is especially important for bed bug prevention. This will ensure you reduce the chances of pests coming into your home and causing further disturbance.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Oct13

5 Ways To Tell You’re Ready For A Career Change

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5 Ways To Tell You’re Ready For A Career Change

Many people aren’t actually doing what they want to do work wise or, unfortunately, only see their job as a means to an end. It’s common to feel a bit stagnant and decide to focus on furthering studies or learning something new. If you’re not feeling challenged anymore, it might be time to shake things up a bit with a career change. You’ll be more likely to be engaged and motivated at work, and will be able to start making realistic financial goals for your future. Here are five ways to tell you’re ready for a career change:

You don’t feel like your job makes a difference:

Many people opt for a career change because they want to do something more rewarding. This might mean a new job where you help make a difference in people’s lives. If you’re interested in this type of work, you could look into taking a course with an occupational therapy school. This is an example of a career where you can help people of all ages with any physical, developmental, and social challenges they may be facing.

You no longer feel challenged:

If you’ve been in the same job for a while, it’s easy to feel bored and in a rut. Often people are afraid to change careers because they don’t believe they can learn something new. This is not the solution, however, and it’s much more beneficial to seek out new challenges. This way, you’ll improve your skill set and have more opportunities in the future. It’s time to get focused and finally leave your comfort zone.

You would like to continue studying:

There are also many benefits to furthering your education. You’ll be a much more valuable member of staff to any employer, and you’ll be able to gain more experience and responsibility. Perhaps there’s a subject you’ve always wanted to study but haven’t got round to yet? It’s never too late to continue studying and if you don’t want to leave your current job you can opt for a part-time course online. Employers are generally on board with this idea, as it helps to motivate staff, so they might even offer to sponsor you.

There is a wide variety of online courses and certificate programs available. Local community colleges tend to offer fully online degrees or you can search online for well credited programs. From literary arts to home inspector training online, you are sure to find something that fits your interests.

You don’t feel financially compensated:

It’s also time for a career change if you don’t feel financially compensated. By focusing on gaining a new qualification you might be able to finally curb financial anxiety and get paid what you deserve. Money isn’t always the reason people decide on a career change, but it’s definitely a factor if you don’t feel valued at work.

Your priorities have changed:

Your priorities might have changed since you were younger. Whereas in your previous role you were more interested in travel or networking, for instance, you might now be looking for other challenges in order to progress. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for in the future, here are some tips on how to prioritize. Before you make the decision to change careers, you need to get your goals and priorities straight.

It’s never too late to try something new and, yes, that includes your career! Good luck!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Oct13

How You Can Start Decluttering Your Home

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How You Can Start Decluttering Your Home

As we approach winter and the festive period, you may be wondering exactly what you could be doing in your home that can have a positive impact on your life. Aside from getting excited about what is to come, you can make some big improvements in your home. Decluttering and clearing away mess, then organizing the chaos can help you to feel happier and more content in your home. So what can you do to get started? Here are some of the things to think about:

Find a solution for the things you want to keep:

One of the biggest issues we can find when it comes to our homes is feeling like we have no choice but to get rid of some of the things we want to keep, because our homes just can’t house them right now. Maybe pieces of furniture or other big items like baby and kids beds. Something you may want for the future, but have no need for now. Decluttering doesn’t always mean selling, donating, or disposing of things, it can mean storing correctly. Using a secure self storage facility could be a great option to consider. Meaning you can store items you want for one day, such as when family dynamics change or you have a bigger property.

After you have used a site like Storage Locator to find a facility near you, the real clear out can begin. Keep in mind that storage spaces can easily become cluttered too. You will want to only store what you absolutely need to keep so you’re not simply moving the clutter from one area to another.

Start with five minutes a day:

Often, it is the small things that can start to drive you crazy when it comes to decluttering your home, so you may want to not overwhelm yourself when you start the journey. This is when just using five minutes a day can start to make a big difference. Grab a bag and walk around your home for five minutes, getting rid of bits of rubbish, odd items, and clutter. Then go through it and decide whether it needs to be disposed of or not. This method is great for cleaning papers and other recyclable items. Helping you to have a clearer space to work with.

Seek out inspiration:

If you are struggling, then you may want to seek out some inspiration online or through visual videos and programs. This is when The Home Edit, the Marie Kondo TV series on Netflix, or following the account on social media could be great sources of inspiration. There are some simple things that you can do to store items better such as using canisters in cupboards or folding clothes in a specific way. The inspiration could help you to come up with ways to store the items in your home more effectively.

Focus on one room at a time:

If it feels like you have a lot to go through, then focus on one room at a time. You can then dedicate the time you have to going through drawers, decluttering items, and storing them differently or more effectively. The one room at a time method gives you a focus and once it is done it can be a huge motivation to carry on with the next project.

Don’t forget as you go through each room that decluttering doesn’t just mean removing the items from the room, but throwing them out, donating, or having a yard sale. If you have a huge clear away, you might need the help of rubbish removal services to get the job done. You will still have to deal with clutter if you put these items in a storage facility to use later!

Get to decluttering more effectively with the tips above! Happy cleaning!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Oct13

Steps To Take Towards A Healthier Pregnancy

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Steps To Take Towards A Healthier Pregnancy

For a lot of women, simply getting the good news that you’re pregnant can be work enough. However, it’s about to get a lot tougher after that due to the range of health issues that, even if they’re not serious, can plague a pregnancy and make it much tougher to get through. Aside from following all of the advice from your doctor, let’s discuss some tips that can help you achieve a healthier pregnancy.

Before we begin, it’s so important to confirm your pregnancy as soon as possible if you have any suspicions or tell tale signs. This can be done with an at home test or doing Blood Tests Glasgow (or your local area). The sooner you have an answer, the sooner you can begin taking the steps to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Folic acid and Vitamin D are key:

Eating a healthy and balanced diet is important when you’re pregnant, but there are a few vitamins and nutrients that are worth giving a little more focus. In particular, vitamin D is crucial for developing healthy bones and muscles, while folic acid can help decrease the risk of a wide range of birth defects. As such, talk to your doctor about taking folic acid supplements. These are often prescribed to expecting mothers and are usually taken up until the end of the first trimester when you should be out of the woods.

Keep moving:

Pain is a greater risk when you’re pregnant. You’re gaining weight, a lot of it on your belly, which can change the way that your body handles the pressure caused by gravity pushing down on that weight. This can lead to very achy joints and back pain. For that reason, it’s a great idea to make sure that you remain as active as you safely can through all stages of the pregnancy. There are pregnancy exercise classes that you can do in person or online, whichever is safest at the moment. Otherwise, even daily stretches and walks can make a big difference.

Tackle your pain head on:

By being more active and addressing posture issues, you can make sure that your added belly weight isn’t stressing your body out as much as it otherwise would. However, chronic pain is a regular part of many women’s pregnancies and one that should be addressed with care. As such, look for professionals like a chiropractor that offers specific treatments for pregnant women that take into account your additional health concerns. There are also maternity massages that ensure your baby bump is kept safe while offering you some much-needed relief.

Don’t ignore your mental health:

We naturally complain more when we’re pregnant. We’re in more physical discomfort, we might be anxious about the upcoming birth, we’re planning for a huge life change. However, if you’re having real trouble with your mental health, then it is worth taking the time to reach out to a counselor. Nowadays, it’s much easier to find trained professionals online who can help you deal with a wide range of anxieties and insecurities. Don’t feel like you would be too much of a burden talking to friends and family, either. Everyone wants to make sure you get through this in tip-top shape.

Your doctor’s advice is always paramount when it comes to deciding how you deal with a pregnancy. However, the tips above can be a good supplement to that and are worth keeping in mind!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Oct12

Keeping Clothes You Love Looking New

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Keeping Clothes You Love Looking New

When you fall in love with a piece of clothing, whether it’s your new jeans or an elegant blouse, you want them to last for as long as possible. Unfortunately, when it comes to fashion, nothing lasts forever. Clothes are made to be worn, and as such, they can develop signs of wear and tear. It’s part of their life cycle.

However, more often than not, the items you love don’t even make it to “old age”, so to say. Your fall haul shopping may not last longer than a couple of months if you can’t prevent damage. If you’ve been choosing new clothes to keep you warm in fall and winter, here is a brief reminder of how to avoid those rookie fashion care mistakes.

Read the label:

It might sound silly, but you’d be surprised to know that most people are quick to snap the label off without reading it. It makes sense: Labels can be itchy and unpleasant against the skin. Yet they contain valuable information. If you’re going to cut it, make sure to store it safely for future reference. Your label will display different symbols related to wash, bleaching, tumble dry, ironing, dry cleaning, and additional instructions. A hot wash and tumble dry are the most common places where damages can occur! If you’ve removed the label without reading it, your best bet is to apply the following principles:

  • Warm wash for cotton and similar fabric
  • Hand wash for silk, satin, underwear, lace, mesh, and wool fabric
  • Avoid tumble dryer for wool, non-stretchy clothes, and fragile clothes such as underwear, tights, or mesh skirts

Check your water:

Do you find white marks on your clothes after washing them? It could be limescale. Hard water can damage the fabric and leave white stains that are difficult to remove. Ideally, you want to consider hard water removal solutions such as a water softener. You can test your water to figure out if it is relevant to you. However, the easiest way is to check for limescale is in the kettle, around the taps, and on the shower curtains. Hard water will deteriorate your most loved clothes so it is wise to look into a Water softening equipment supplier in Vista, CA or your local area to get this problem solved.

Sort your colors and fabrics:

Granted, nowadays, you can throw all your clothes in the wash at the same time and add a color catcher sheet to avoid color bleeds. Do these sheets work? Yes, more often than not, they can be highly effective. But it takes only one lousy sheet to ruin your laundry, so it’s best to learn to sort out your clothes. Ideally, you want to end up with distinctive piles: whites, darks, lights, denim, delicates. Color sorting is only one step! Make sure to consider fabric weight – hence denim VS delicates for instance – heavily stained garments.

Keep your washing machine clean:

A dirty washing machine will damage your clothes. Simple steps such as removing debris after a wash like pet hair and small particles and not leaving wet clothes inside the machine for too long can avoid unpleasant odors. You can also run a cleaning cycle as most washers have one nowadays. You won’t need a machine safeguarding assessment if your washing machine isn’t functioning as it should but a call to a local handyman will do just fine!

If you’ve had your love affair with a piece of garment cut short because of unexpected damage, now’s the time to stop the story from repeating itself! Keeping your clothes for longer means becoming more strategic and organized with your laundry routine.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Oct6

4 At Home Issues To Handle To Ease Your Mind

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4 At Home Issues To Handle To Ease Your Mind

Life is hard sometimes. It’s an amazing adventure that we’re all lucky to embark on, but that doesn’t mean it’s not going to be full of stresses and strains to our mental well-being along the way. For some reason, life likes to throw curve balls at us in order to challenge our will and capabilities. That’s okay, though, because the harsher times allow us to really appreciate the good ones.

Something that a lot of us have to deal with from time to time is anxiety or an obscene amount of personal stress. While this isn’t the most convenient set of feelings in the world, they’re pretty common. They can also be helped and lessened quite easily if you know how to attack the route of the issue.

Most of the time, the root of the problem is right at home. If we’re not content in our abode, then everything else can feel toxic. Everyone’s domestic life is different, obviously, so spoon-feeding you solutions probably won’t work. Here are a few suggestions, however, that could do your mind a world of good:

Create a housework routine:

Doing things around the house can feel so draining – especially when you’re not used to doing them. Leaving them and holding off for ages seems okay at the time, but you’ll eventually have to do the jobs, and the longer you leave them, the more work you have to do. If you get into a systematic routine, you’ll get things done quickly, and it’ll all feel like a cakewalk. Plan out a daily cleaning routine so normal messes don’t turn into huge disasters.

Reconcile issues with those in the house:

When something’s weighing on your mind, it can affect how you behave day-in-day-out. You need to open up and talk about things with others – especially if there’s some awkward tension or friction there. The best thing to do, always, is to talk things out and get to the bottom of whatever is going on. Even if the outcome is pretty negative, it is still an outcome and closure – you can move on accordingly.

Take care of tedious tasks:

We all have annoying aspects of the home that need to be seen to. A lot of people, however, get on with life and don’t get them handled. They just plod along and get upset whenever they see the things that need to be changed or fixed. It’s understandable as there are many important aspects of one’s life, but everyone has the same twenty-four hours. Get in touch with an electrician if you think your wires are on the fritz. Speak to a plumber who can deal with the awkward piping and boiler situation you may have. Don’t leave things until they go completely kaput.

Take a look at finances and spending habits:

Our bank accounts and our outgoings can put us under a lot of pressure – sometimes unnecessarily. Take a look at how you’ve been behaving financially over the past year or so. If you’re doing okay for money, then, by all means, continue enjoying what you do. If you’re a little tight for cash right now, then you might want to look at your situation and do a little revising for emergencies.

Feeling good starts in your house. Take care of what you can DIY and, as always, call in the professionals when you need help!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Sep29

Having Trouble Focusing While Working From Home?

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Having Trouble Focusing While Working From Home?

Many of us have had to get used to the prospect of working from home over the past few months. While there are undeniable benefits to being able to take care of business in your own space, a lot of people have trouble adjusting to it, as well. If you’re having trouble getting productive, here are a few solutions that might help you get back on top of things:

You’re not making time for it:

With the flexibility that comes with working from home, it might feel tempting to simply do work whenever it suits you and not have any solid plans. However, this tends to end up wrecking your work-life balance. It’s a good idea to find what time you’re more productive and create a daily schedule around that, complete with strict starting and finishing times. This way, your life and work-life don’t start to bleed together to the point that you feel like you have to be half “on” whenever you’re in the home.

You’re surrounded by clutter:

It might sound like the difference would be minimal, but a neat and organized desk actually has a big impact on your mental condition while you’re working. Clutter has been shown to be a more significant cause of stress than we otherwise give it credit for. Maximizing closet space and making use of things like desk trays in the home office can ensure that you’re not surrounded by bits and bobs all day long. You may find that your office space becomes cluttered quickly because you don’t have enough surfaces to work at. If that is the case, then it might be time to check out Office Monster to see if there is any furniture that you could add to your current set up to help better organize your space so you can complete your day’s work free of distractions.

Your office doesn’t give the right vibe:

This point might sound nebulous, but getting yourself in the right headspace to work is vitally important. As such, investing in decor that can help you create a quirky but professional vibe is important. You want to make sure that you’re surrounded by imagery and designs that inspire and energize you while also ensuring that the workplace is subtle enough that it doesn’t serve as an ongoing distraction.

For some people, it might be as simple as hanging a few pieces of art to give the room some life. For others, it could be a total change of scenery to complete a huge deadline. If this is the case, utilizing Hamilton Cabin Hire (or a similar service in your local area) could give you a welcome reprieve from your home office to focus fully. Your best work might just be a long weekend away.

You’re physically uncomfortable:

Of course, even if your office gives the vibe you need and is organized to perfection, you’re going to have a hard time enjoying it if you’re dealing with a sore back. You might not notice the impacts of poor posture immediately, but if you start to feel some aches and pains in your back and joints towards the end of the day, that means it’s time to look at your chair and desk setup. Ergonomic furniture design can help support these achy parts of you, leading to a more comfortable working day while decreasing the chances that you might actually injure yourself.

It isn’t always easy to create a home office that feels right for your working needs. However, it’s worth taking the time to implement fixes and find what works for you rather than letting yourself start to hate the prospect of working at home entirely.

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Sep28

Solutions For Having Too Much Stuff

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Solutions For Having Too Much Stuff

We’ve all been there. Somehow, over the years, you’ve accumulated piles upon piles of stuff, and now you don’t know what to do with it. The stuff could be work-related (think heaps of documents, bits of equipment you never know if you might need, old materials, even backlogged products you’ve yet to sell) or personal.

What are you meant to do with those homework files from twenty years ago, the hundreds of drawings and old toys your kids used to play with, all those films you watch once in a blue moon? Getting rid of all of this stuff can be difficult, both psychologically and practically, but luckily there are some solutions that can help you move on with the old:

Sorting and Organizing:

If you don’t want to throw everything (or anything!) away, some simple organization can help clear your space. First, sort all of the mess into clear piles. You might even find that one of these piles becomes items you can throw away – it’ll be easier to see with it all separated out. The piles can be sorted by many different categories; age, how often you use something, the type of object it is. Once this is done, put each pile into a separate box and stack them neatly, or find other places to store them. This organization can clear space and create order without forcing you to get rid of all your stuff – a perfect solution!

As you organize, you might find that some of the clutter is coming from storing things for other people. Perhaps you have some of your sister’s clothes in your closet. Maybe your mom’s baking tins are in the kitchen or you have a stash of books from your friend you have been meaning to return. While you have organizing in mind, send those unneeded items off! Services like those provided from Drift Couriers (or a similar business in your local area) offers same day delivery. Your house will be less cluttered and those items you have been meaning to return can be checked off your to do list.

Storage Solutions:

Sometimes, you simply might not have enough space even after sorting and organizing everything. In this case, if you’re still unable to make great inroads by using the trash, it’s worth looking at external storage solutions. These come in many shapes and sizes, from storage trailers, to garage-sized units, to entire warehouses. Renting storage is an amazing solution if you’re running a business that requires surplus stock, and also personally if you’re moving house and need temporary storage for a while.

Having A Clear Away:

Finally, we come to it. The best solution for having too much stuff is simply to get rid of it, and yet this is easier said than done. Many personal items can hold sentimental value and letting go can be harder than it sounds – yet often, after the initial separation, you may never think of it again! It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. To help yourself let go, you can use a tidying method like the famous Marie Kondo.

Getting Help:

If you’re struggling to clear all of your stuff (and who doesn’t), it’s time to get help. Having another person in the room, a friend or a partner, is a great way to force yourself into making decisions. They are there to tell you when you’re being overly sentimental, and to grieve with you over the little items you’ll miss, but really don’t deserve to be taking up space any longer. Getting help doesn’t mean hiring a demolition company, it just means finding a friendly (but stern!) voice to keep you company while you make your decisions.

Clean away your clutter and make your home (and headspace) much more clear! 🙂

Featured Image By: Pexels

Sep26

Making Every Family Dinner Special

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Making Every Family Dinner Special

If you want to spend more quality time with your family but you’re struggling to figure out how to do it, one way is to start making your family dinners special. If you all sit down for dinner and ignore one another while scrolling on your phones or watching TV, of course it’s going to feel like you don’t have enough quality time together.

Similarly, if you all eat dinner separately, then you’re missing out on a great opportunity to catch up with one another. It might not be possible to do this every day, but there are all kinds of benefits to having dinner together each night. If you want to make the family dinners that you do have together more special, then read on for some advice:

Make It A Ritual:

Start by making it a ritual. Try to do family dinners at the same time, wash up beforehand, and name three things you’re grateful for before you begin to eat. Of course, your ritual may differ – but it’s definitely worth coming up with one that means something to you.

Set The Table:

Set the table for your dinner with nice plates and cutlery, place mats, a tablecloth, and even candles. Make it look fancy. This is especially important if you don’t get to have many family dinners together. Setting the table nicely can make a huge difference to the atmosphere.

Have Themed Nights:

It can be really fun to have themed dinner nights together. You could have Mexican nights, Italian food nights, and even nights based around Porter & York meats. Having themes can keep family dinners exciting and give some structure to your week if you have one every few days.

Turn Off The TV:

Ban phones from the table and don’t watch the TV, either. Enjoy one another’s company. Listen and concentrate – these could be the most meaningful moments of your day! This is so much better than spending hours sitting together while not really concentrating on one another at all.

Prep Together:

Involving your family in the preparation of the dinner can help everyone to get more invested in the meal and bond beforehand. This is especially great for younger members of the family, as they tend to enjoy helping and will learn a lot from it. They are also far more likely to eat different foods if they have had a hand in making them!

Find Something To Celebrate:

It doesn’t need to be a special occasion for you to find something to celebrate. Has somebody in the family achieved something? It doesn’t matter how small – find something and celebrate it! At the very least, this will make each dinner a cheery event and teach everybody to look for the good, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant!

Family dinners are tons of fun and helps bring you and yours closer together. Bon appetit!

Featured Image By: Pexels