Tag: Adult time

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Adulting Food How To Life Things to Do

6 Tips For Hosting the Perfect Cocktail Party

Perfect Cocktail Party

From lavish garden parties to quaint dinner parties with home-cooked meals, there is something so special about throwing little parties, right? That is especially apparent when you’re going to be around those who are important to you. But what about cocktail parties? These can be done for any occasion and can be super special! So, here are some fabulous ways to throw the perfect cocktail party. 

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Perfect Cocktail Party
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How to Host the Perfect Cocktail Party

Serve cocktails

If you’re planning to throw a cocktail party, you’ll need a good variety of drinks. You’ll also need to make sure your guests are comfortable drinking them. Before you serve a cocktail, be sure you’ve read the ingredients. If there are any allergies, you’ll need to provide a safe drink for everyone. While yes, cocktails can be intimidating; you can learn how to make your own Miami vice cocktail here.

Identify the demographics of your group of guests

Whether you’re hosting a small gathering or a cocktail party for the ages, a little forethought and planning go a long way in making your event a smash hit. Identifying the demographics of your group of guests is the first step to throwing a successful soiree. This list can include co-workers, friends, and family. If you have a large enough guest list, you may want to consider a caterer. However, if your budget is tight, you’re better off DIYing it. Is this for friends around the same age as you or co-workers with varying ages?

Create cocktail party favors

If you want to create cocktail party favors, think outside the box and consider combining edible party favors with your alcoholic treats. It will add a special touch to your celebration and is about deciding on a theme. A theme will help you determine what to serve and how to decorate the party. Having a color scheme can also be a great way to set the mood.

Add garnishes

There is something about garnishes that beautify a beverage. So, you’ll want to have some great garnishes to create the perfect atmosphere. These are a great way to add a visual appeal to your drink and can be a unique conversation starter. Whether you’re serving a martini or a gin gimlet, you can use these ideas to bring your cocktail to the next level. Decorative ice cubes are a simple way to create a festive drink garnish. You can fill them with herbs, fruits, or even edible flowers. Plus, some drinks need these garnishes as they enhance the flavors.

Think about martinis for a moment; the dry ones tend to have olives, while the coffee or chocolate-based ones tend to have coffee beans. Even something like a tequila sunrise has orange wedges or orange peeling. While yes, they don’t seem like a lot, the point of a cocktail is to look great and taste great. They can be a fun addition to any cocktail and can be prepared a week in advance.

Make sure you have the correct glassware

It may not seem like much, but it’s a big deal, so make sure you have the best glassware to showcase your drink. Not only will a proper glass enhance the flavor of your drink, but it will also show off its aesthetics. You wouldn’t want to put cognac in a martini glass, right? It’s going to look weird, raise some eyebrows, and the flavors might be off! Glassware has come a long way and is available in various shapes and sizes. You can find various options, from traditional martini glasses to ice spheres.

On top of glassware, you shouldn’t neglect the essential tools that go with cocktails. You have your cocktail shaker, the ice tray, the ice tongs, your toothpicks, umbrellas, the muddler, and the list can go on and on. They might not seem like much but are an essential part of the aesthetic and the creation of these cocktails.

Turn up the tunes

It is essential to choose the right music. You want to keep it at a low volume and ensure everyone has a good time. Playing some jazz is good, but you want to be calm. Keep a few classics in your playlist to entertain guests while they drink cocktails. For a truly fun evening, try adding some speakers to your house. These will not only make your party stand out, but they will also allow people to move around the house.

Recap: Plan the Perfect Cocktail Party

Planning the perfect cocktail party is easier than many people believe. Use these tips to plan the best one yet and have a good time with your guests.

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Adulting Holiday Wine

13 Amazing Wine and Halloween Candy Pairings That Will Surprise You

Halloween, Halloween Candy, Wine, Wine and Candy, Candy and Wine, Halloween Party, Halloween for Adults

When you become a parent, Halloween revolves around the kids. You can make it special for you too, however, by trying some wine and Halloween candy pairings.

Once the kids go to bed on Halloween night, you have free rein in their candy bag. Don’t feel bad as you steal a few pieces because, after a long day of Halloween celebration, you deserve to relax.

Or, if you can’t wait until Halloween to try these wine and Halloween candy pairings, plan a night with friends to try them together. It would be the perfect Halloween party theme for adults, or you can have a girl’s night with a few of your closest friends.

Halloween, Halloween Candy, Wine, Wine and Candy, Candy and Wine, Halloween Party, Halloween for Adults

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Wine and Halloween Candy Pairing

1. Reese’s and Syrah

Syrah complements the peanut butter and chocolate perfectly. Syrah also helps balance the sweet and salty tastes of the Reese’s. Plus, it might remind you of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as you try them together.

2. Snickers and Cabernet Sauvignon

Snickers have a strong flavor that requires a bold wine to compliment it. The sweetness and saltiness of the candy bar will be complemented by the bold Cabernet Sauvignon.

3. Reese’s Take-5 and Ice Wine

Ice wine is a dessert wine, but the sweetness is delicate. It’ll complement the sweet and salty flavors of the Reese’s Take-5 candy bar. Ice wine is made by letting the grapes freeze on the vine, which is what gives it its unique flavor.

4. 3 Musketeers and Red Zinfandel

Red zinfandel is semi-sweet and has a jammy flavor with hints of blackberry, black cherry, and plum. It pairs well with the creaminess and fluffiness of a 3 musketeers candy bar.

5. Milky Way and Madeira

This wine is less known to many, but it has hints of caramel, almonds, raisin, and coffee. It is absolutely amazing and compliments the caramel Milky Way perfectly.

6. Skittles and Sauvignon Blanc

I’m not usually a huge fan of sauvignon blanc, but when I tried it with skittles I was blown away. This dry wine compliments the skittles in a way that lets the sweet taste of skittles stand out in a pleasant way.

Halloween, Halloween Candy, Wine, Wine and Candy, Candy and Wine, Halloween Party, Halloween for Adults

7. Starburst and Moscato

These two go well together because they have similar sweetness and fruity flavors. The Starburst and Moscato complement each other and both have a tart flavor.

8. M&M’s and Merlot

M&M’s pair well with most wines, but Merlot is a great one that highlights the chocolate in the candy. The sweetness of the candy will be complemented by smokey flavors with hints of red currant, cherry, berry, and warm spices.

9. Twix and Malbec

The chocolate and caramel candy bar are amazing with Malbec. This wine has hints of blackberries and cocoa, which complement the Twix.

10. Kit Kat and Pinot Noir

Pinot noir is my favorite wine, so I’m happy I found candy to pair it with. The bold flavors of fruit, cherry, and plum make it seem like you’re eating chocolate-covered fruit when you pair it with a kit kat bar.

11. Candy Corn and Chardonnay

If you’re one of those weirdos who like wine as dry as Chardonnay, this one is for you. When paired with candy corn, the buttery flavor of the candy goes with the buttery flavor of the Chardonnay. The wine softens the sugar found in the candy, too.

12. Hershey’s and Syrah

Yes, another candy that goes well with Syrah. As a full-bodied wine, Syrah complements and enhances the chocolatey flavor of a Hershey’s bar. It’s a classic pair and works well every time.

13. Butterfinger and Pinot Grigio

A Butterfinger candy bar is super sweet, and the citrus flavors of Pinot Grigio rounds it out. The dry taste and the hint of citrus highlight the crunch, too, and bring out the buttery taste of the candy bar.

Did I Miss Any Wine and Halloween Candy Pairings?

If you know an amazing wine and Halloween candy pairing that I should try, tell me about it in the comments!!

Be Careful When Consuming Alcohol – Wine and Halloween Candy Pairings

I do not recommend drinking in excess. This blog post is intended to be used as a wine tasting type of post, where you consume a little amount of wine at a time. Be careful, know your limits, and practice safe alcohol consumption.

Halloween, Halloween Candy, Wine, Wine and Candy, Candy and Wine, Halloween Party, Halloween for Adults
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Health Healthy Living Mental Health On My Mind

19 Practical Self Care and Me Time Ideas For Adults

Practical Self Care

When life gets busy, it’s hard to find time for practical self care, but it is SO important that you squeeze in a little each day. A couple of hours to yourself is ideal, but sometimes you can only squeeze in 15 minutes at a time. That’s okay! A little time is better than no time at all, and you must make yourself a priority. You can’t give your all to your kids, your partner, your job, etc. if you are not making YOU a priority.

I learned the hard way how important self-care is. I let myself become overwhelmingly burnt out and still refused to do anything about it. The emotional burn-out made me feel grumpy, emotional, short-tempered, and like I couldn’t even accomplish the smallest tasks. Still, I was piling more and more stuff onto my already full plate and couldn’t keep up. I felt like I had no time for myself so I just ignored the need to relax and enjoy ME. It got to the point where I just couldn’t do it anymore.

Finally, I caved and asked my husband to take the kids somewhere for a couple of hours so I could have a break. It was just what I needed. By the time they got home, I was happy to see them and much more rejuvenated. Now I make sure that self care and me-time are a normal part of my life.

Before You Begin Practical Self Care

If you don’t have the option of asking your partner to take the kids, ask a family member or a close friend. If those aren’t options, take the kids to the park all day and wear them out so that they will go to bed quickly and easily. Ignore your usual chores or nightly routine for one night and get that practical self care and me-time you need. You have got to take care of yourself!

Before you start your self-care time, turn your phone off. Don’t let anyone or anything interfere with your time. If you need to leave it on, turn the volume up and leave it across the room or in another room where you will hear it but won’t be so tempted to scroll through social media.

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Ideas For Practical Self Care and Me Time

1. Take a Bath and Pamper Yourself

Run a hot bath, use a bath bomb, light some candles, turn on music, and pour a glass of wine. Put on a face mask, exfoliate, and read a book while you relax. Afterward, paint your fingernails and toenails. By the time you’re done, you will feel so good and relaxed.

Practical Self Care

2. Catch Up On a Favorite TV Show

Take some time to binge-watch your favorite TV show or something you’ve been wanting to try out. Make sure you have some yummy snacks and comfy clothes.

3. Stick to Your Skincare Routine

Practical Self Care

Finding a skincare routine that works for you and makes you feel good is essential. By ensuring you take care of your skin each day, you will experience a boost of happiness each time you do it. Focus on preventing blemishes, eliminating acne scars, and keeping your skin healthy.

4. Spend Time Outside

Garden, go for a walk, lay out in the sun, read a book outside, watch the sunrise or sunset, or simply sit outside and enjoy the breeze. It doesn’t matter what you decide to do out there, just get outside and breathe in the fresh air.

5. Try Yoga to Enhance Practical Self Care

Find a beginner’s video on YouTube or Amazon and give yoga a shot. You could even try to find a beginners class near you, but for me, I have to do yoga when the kids are in bed so *this video* is where it’s at for me.

6. Write in a Journal

Make time every day to write. Write about your day, your feelings, what you’re grateful for, or anything else that comes to mind. The point is to get your thoughts out on paper no matter what they are. You can find super cute journals on Amazon or you can check out your local Target.

7. Cook or Bake While Focusing on Practical Self Care

Take time to make your favorite recipes, or try something completely new. For practical self-care, do your cooking and baking alone instead of with your kids. You can cook with them later, but right now, focus on enjoying your time alone.

8. Relax, Stretch, Take a Nap

Sometimes the best type of practical self care is to spend time relaxing and stretching your body. If you get so relaxed that you feel like taking a nap, do it!

9. Take Yourself On a Date

Do whatever makes YOU happy. Since you’re the only one on the date, you don’t have to worry about anyone else. You can go to a movie, eat at your favorite restaurant, or have a picnic. Make sure it’s a relaxing date!

10. Enjoy Coffee in Peace

For me, this means waking up before my kids and curling up with a hot cup of coffee while I read a book or watch something on TV. Sometimes I sit on our patio and enjoy the cool morning alone.

11. Enjoy the Water

Go to a nearby lake, river, or ocean and just relax. Don’t do anything while you’re there… just be. Spend time meditating or focusing on your breathing.

12. Read a Book for Practical Self Care

Curl up with your favorite blanket or find a relaxing spot outside to read a book. Choose one that helps you relax rather than something that makes you feel anxious or sad.

13. Read a Magazine While Enjoying Your Favorite Beverage

Magazines aren’t as popular as they used to be, but I love to spend time reading them and looking at the pages. I love the Magnolia Journal or Good Housekeeping. There are other magazines that I enjoy, both of those are the ones I regularly have and look forward to.

Then, choose your favorite beverage to enjoy while you browse the magazine. For me, it’s wine, of course.

14. Make a List of Your Goals and Create Vision Boards

Make a list of your short-term or long-term goals. Your goals could be oriented around your career, family, personal life, or home. Whatever it is that will make your life better, begin determining your goals in that area.

Once you have a good idea of your goals, create a vision board. Vision boards will help you remember what you are working toward, giving you inspiration and motivation moving forward.

15. Do Your Make-up

I’m a mom of five kids, so I rarely have time to do a full make-up routine. My daily routine consists of throwing on some mascara in the car when we arrive wherever we are going. I always enjoy having the chance to take my time and do concealer, foundation, powder, eyeshadow, etc. It is one of my favorite “me time” activities.

16. Do Your Hair for Practical Self Care

When I say do your hair, I don’t mean wash and condition it. I mean that you should take your time and do something super cute that you don’t always have the time to do. Or, you can turn it into a challenge and see what you can come up with within 15 minutes or another set timeframe. You never know, you might find your new favorite hairstyle. Pinterest has a TON of ideas to get you started.

17. Choose New Recipes You Want to Shop For

Look through cookbooks or browse Pinterest for a few new meals to try. Make a list and shop for the ingredients on your next shopping trip.

18. Start Planning For the Next Holiday

When you are excited about an event, the planning process will often prolong the joy you feel. Plan the perfect holiday and start getting things ready, even if the event is still a few months away. I always start with a brain dump because it’s easy to get my first thoughts in order that way.

19. Practice Photography

Take your camera or smartphone and go take photos somewhere. Have a little photoshoot of whatever you want to capture. Practice your camera skills and experiment a little so you can unwind and enhance your skill while having fun.

Practical Self Care

Remember, you must take care of yourself to give your all to anything else in your life. Even if you can only take 15 minutes to yourself, squeeze in something that you enjoy.

Practical Self Care

Leave a comment and let us know how you fit practical self care and me-time into your life!

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Adulting Health Healthy Living How To Wine

4 Easy Tips to Drink Less Alcohol This Year

Drink Less Alcohol

Do you enjoy a nice glass of wine in the evening or a refreshing cocktail on a sunny day? Although there’s nothing wrong with the occasional alcoholic beverage in moderation, it is possible to overdo it. Even the smallest quantity of alcohol has a significant impact on your body, and this effect only increases the more you drink. There are a few easy lifestyle changes you can make to drink less alcohol this year, without quitting altogether.

Prolonged alcohol consumption can cause all kinds of health issues such as liver damage, cancer, digestive problems, insomnia, and infertility. To make things worse, alcohol is highly addictive. Your post-work drink might seem harmless, but it’s a good idea to consider your drinking habits and decide whether you need to cut down.

Amid the global pandemic, many people have been drinking more. This is due to people occupying themselves throughout lockdown and restrictions, but also as a coping mechanism to get through these stressful times. Alcohol should never be used as a crutch, as this could lead to dependency and severe consequences for your health. If you want to drink less alcohol this year, here are four tips to get you started. 

Drink Less Alcohol
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Tips to Drink Less Alcohol

1. Set Limits

Drinking less is sometimes harder than not drinking at all, as there are no clear limits to how much you can consume. To make your objective easier, you should set clear boundaries for how much you can drink in a given week or day.

The exact limit will completely depend on your current drinking behaviors, but any decrease is a good start. This figure will help keep you motivated to reach your target. Plus, it will prevent a casual post-work drink from descending into a heavy all-night session.

2. Ban Alcohol at Home

A small amount of alcohol can be harmless if you are careful about it. Drinking in a social setting can be enjoyable, and there are few things better than an ice-cold beer in a brewery or a shared bottle of wine after a busy day in the office.

With so many opportunities to consume alcohol with friends and family, you can get by without drinking alone at home. Make an effort to limit alcohol at home. By doing this, you will have no choice but to drink less. If you struggle with alcohol and drugs, now could be the time to explore outpatient drug rehab.

3. Alternate Drinks

When attending social functions like birthdays, funerals, or parties, it is easy to drink too much. Wine, beer, and cocktails are flowing freely, and it’s sometimes hard to say no, especially if there’s an open bar thrown into the mix.

A good way to slow yourself down is to alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. So, for every glass of beer or wine, follow it up with sparkling water or a glass of lemonade.

Tell Your Friends

We all have those friends who drink excessive amounts of alcohol and like to encourage others to do the same. These people can be dangerous if you’re trying to drink less alcohol. Tell your friends and family about your efforts to cut alcohol and ask them to keep you accountable for your actions.

Drink Less Alcohol

Drink Less Alcohol

There’s nothing wrong with the occasional alcoholic beverage (trust me, I know!), but it is easy to overdo it. Start paying attention to how much you’re drinking and when you want to drink the most. This can help you cut back as you are more aware of your habits.

Do you have any tips to add? Leave a comment, if so! 🙂

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Adulting Decor For the Home How To Outside Fun Spring Summer

5 Easy Ways To Make The Most Of Your Balcony

Make The Most Of Your Balcony

Does your apartment or house have a balcony? By making a few improvements, you could turn this space into the ultimate outdoor retreat. You have many options when it comes to what you want to do to the space, and you can truly make the most of your balcony by implementing some new ideas.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Make The Most Of A Balcony
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How to Make The Most Of Your Balcony

1. Add Some Cozy Chairs

If you want to sit out on your balcony, you’ll need some chairs. An outdoor lounge suite might be out of the question if you only have a tiny balcony, however, you needn’t settle for cheap plastic chairs.

Cozy options such as these Adirondack chairs from The Best Adirondack Chair Company could be the perfect choice for reading a book or sunbathing. You may even be able to fit a loveseat on your balcony for romantic home dates with a partner. If you’re very limited for space, a pair of cozy bar stools with footrests could be an option. 

2. Add a Small Table

A small table could allow you to eat meals on your balcony or even work on a laptop. You could consider a simple rattan side table or a small glass coffee table. If you’ve got bar stools on your balcony, you may need a slightly higher table – it may be possible to fix a table to your balcony rail. Collapsible tables could be another option for saving space. 

3. Grow Some Outdoor Plants

If you want to get into gardening but don’t have a backyard, you could still use your balcony as a space for growing outdoor plants. Narrow potted plants are the best option as they don’t take up too much room.

You can also hang flower boxes from the railings or hang flower baskets on the walls. Many different colorful flowers can grow in boxes and baskets including begonias, fuchsia, and geraniums. 

4. Light it Up

If you want to enjoy your balcony in the evening, outdoor lighting is essential. You don’t want anything too bright, as your balcony is likely only to be a small space. Ambient and low lighting options could be worth looking into.

You could hang string lights across the railings or from the ceiling. Alternatively, you could add some wall lights. These lights could be battery powered or solar powered to save you energy and reduce the need for electrical wiring. If you live in a rented apartment, you may not be able to get permission to wire in lights, anyway.

5. Install Some Heating

Your balcony could start to get cool in the evening. Adding an outdoor heat source could help to keep the space warm. A fire pit is unfortunately not a possibility, but you may be able to consider an electric patio heater.

There are electric wall heaters that can be fixed to walls and tabletop electric heaters that you can buy. These outdoor heat sources don’t take up a lot of space and are perfect for keeping you warm. Some of these are solar-powered, preventing the need to wire them up.

Make The Most Of A Balcony, balcony vibes, cute balcony, functional balcony, small balcony, balcony

Make The Most Of Your Balcony

Your balcony can be the perfect place to spend time relaxing. Envision yourself reading a book or enjoying a drink at the end of a long day. Make the most of your balcony so that you can enjoy the space that you have.

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Adulting Health Healthy Living How To Life Meal Plan

3 Common Mistakes When You Are Trying to Live a Healthy Life

Live a Healthy Life

While most people want to live a healthy life, many struggle to stick to it. Others find it hard to begin living a healthy lifestyle at all. Those who fail at sticking to a healthy routine likely struggle with giving in to temptations. Those who can’t seem to begin at all tend to have this problem because they are constantly procrastinating.

While it can be a struggle to get up and hit the gym or cook and eat healthy meals for a whole week, there are mistakes you could be doing that may limit you from getting your desired results. Such errors aren’t evident because everyone thinks they are doing what is suitable for their health.

Here are the top health mistakes you are making trying to live healthily, to help you get a better insight:

3 Common Mistakes When You Are Trying to Live a Healthy Life Common Health Mistakes, Healthy Life, Healthy Living, How to Be Healthy #healthmistakes #health #healthy #healthylife #healthyliving #howtobehealthy #behealthy #stayhealthy
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1. You Fail to Commit to Your Health Goal

Everyone has different health goals that may include improving their overall health, living longer, reducing weight, building muscles and abs, following a healthy diet, sleeping better, and healing from a specific illness. While such goals may change with time, most people fail to commit to them.

You fail to commit to your health goals if you continually procrastinate on things like going to the gym or drinking a gallon of water daily. Failing to commit also happens when you have set unrealistic fitness goals for yourself. The best thing to do is set SMART healthy goals, which means that they should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound to help you commit.

2. You Don’t Take Breaks

Research shows that taking a break is the best way to help reduce stress and maintain excellent performance. You can take a break from work, life, and a romantic relationship. You can also take a break from your health routine as a way to recover lost energy, stretch and get relief.

While following a healthy routine, you must take breaks, and there is no limit to how you can do this. For instance, you can relax by using homegrown cannabis, which also helps achieve personal enjoyment.

If you don’t yet grow this plant, it would be best to start doing so and ensure you use the best rosin press for better results. These machines are highly reliable for extracting rosin from your cannabis in high concentrations.

There are also some traditional methods you can try when you need to take a break. You can take a long rest, go a day without exercising, or even take a vacation!

3. Sticking to What Doesn’t Work

Another mistake you might make while trying to sustain a healthy lifestyle is doing what doesn’t work. With a busy life schedule, you are prone to doing things that may not have effective results. For instance, if you are busy with work or taking care of the children, you are more likely to have limited time for exercising.

With limited workout time, you may do light exercises that give mediocre results. The best thing to do is find something that works for you. Or, have a specific schedule that suits your lifestyle. By doing this, you can have enough time to find the health routine that works for you and ensure you stick to it!

3 Common Mistakes When You Are Trying to Live a Healthy Life Common Health Mistakes, Healthy Life, Healthy Living, How to Be Healthy #healthmistakes #health #healthy #healthylife #healthyliving #howtobehealthy #behealthy #stayhealthy

Bonus Tip For Living a Healthy Life

There were only supposed to be three tips, but there’s one more common mistake you may make when trying to live a healthy life –

Pushing Yourself Too Hard

The more stress and pressure that you put on yourself to reach your goals as fast as you can, the harder it’s going to be. It’s not a race against anyone in the world, so it’s okay to take your time. Focus on the next goal that is in front of you, and work on getting there at a healthy pace. For example, if your next goal is to kick an addiction that you may have then getting help may be the best possible idea, but you need to break it down. You can look at how to find a good addiction therapist online, and that’s the first step. Then, you can take the second step now that you have achieved something and feel good about yourself for doing that.

Recap: Live a Healthy Life

Sticking to a healthy lifestyle can be daunting, but it is easier than you think to live a healthy life. The reason most people fail to start or stick to it is that it does take hard work and dedication. However, the above mistakes also contribute to the cause.

Make sure you stop doing the things listed above so that you can live a healthy life. What health tips do you swear by? Share them in the comments!

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Adulting For the Home Home Life

4 Easy Ways to Make Your House Feel More like a Home

make your house feel more like a home, house feel like a home

As the old saying goes, “there’s no place like home.” In many ways, our homes are the places that we turn to for comfort, rejuvenation, and even inspiration. Our homes are where we spend some of our most cherished moments with the people closest to us, and they are where we refine our sense of who we are. For these reasons alone, you must make your house feel more like a home.

make your house feel more like a home, house feel like a home
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Taking care of your home is so important, and there are many things that can contribute dramatically to making your home feel more like a home. You can make it the kind of place where you enjoy spending time, and where you and your family can thrive.

Perhaps you have just moved into a new home and haven’t quite settled yet. Or, maybe you just aren’t quite happy with how you relate to your existing living space. Either way, taking steps to help make your house feel more like a home is essential.

How to Make Your House Feel More Like a Home

1. Get a Pet

There are many brilliant upsides to getting a pet – especially for families with young kids.

For one thing, getting a pet such as a new Labrador puppy, from a responsible breeder such as https://chocolatelabradorretriever.ca, can immediately fill the home with a rich sense of innocent, jubilant energy, while simultaneously allowing every member of the family to participate in the wonderful aura of enthusiasm that results from this.

For another thing, pets – for many families – symbolise the real solidification of a home. They complete the “white picket fence” dream of what a family home should look and feel like.

In addition to all of this, pets can teach all sorts of valuable lessons to all members of the family, but especially to children. Lessons concerning things like responsibility, to give just one example.

2. Personalize Your Home with Things that have a Personality and a Story

There is certainly a kind of allure connected to the simple and streamlined aesthetic that you will find in many home décor catalogs these days. But, there are setbacks to filling your home with this type of furniture.

The things you fill your home with will dramatically affect how the place feels to you, how you perceive it, and how capable you are of relating to it. If everything in your home was mass produced in a factory, there’s a good chance you will feel alienated from your home.

This is because for a living space to really feel like a home, it has to feel like something that you have a relationship with. Something that has character, personality, and that is personal and relevant to you – rather than just being something broadly utilitarian and pretty.

The more you can ensure that the objects in your home are more than just “objects,” but that they have a story and personality – or, at least, can develop a story and personality over time – the more your house or apartment will come to feel like a home.

3. Get Your Home in Order and Keep it That Way

No matter how great your house may be or how many meaningful items it contains, it will be hard to feel comfortable in your living space if it is messy, and chaotic.

While “comfort” isn’t exactly the same thing as your house feeling like a home, it is at least a significant factor to consider. If you find yourself in this situation, it can be difficult knowing just where to start. You may even struggle with getting the energy and momentum to step forward and begin the process.

Despite those obstacles, the best thing you can do for transforming how your home feels overnight is to dive into the cleaning and organizing process. Make sure that there is a place for everything, and that everything gets put away.

From there, you will be able to see, feel, and appreciate the unique and beautiful features of the place that had been obscured before.

4. Develop Routines to Create a Sense of Happiness and Meaning Each Day

Your home is much more than a place where you simply sleep and eat in between going to work or school.

It’s meant to be a place where you flourish, and where you can get in touch with yourself and appreciate some of the small pleasures of everyday life.

One thing you can do to make your house feel more like a home is to come up with routines that can introduce a sense of happiness and meaning on an everyday basis.

This might mean having a family breakfast each morning at a beautiful dining table, or it may mean sitting on your porch with a cup of coffee before starting the day properly. It could even be as simple as enjoying a good book in your favorite chair.

Your home is supposed to be a special place where you can truly let go. You should be able to relax and enjoy the time you spend at home. This means finding a way to make your house feel more like a home is essential.

What are some of your tips for making a house feel more like a home? Do you have any simple daily routines that help you find pleasure in your home each day? Tell me in the comments! I’d love to hear about it.

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Adulting Decor For the Home How To Life

5 Easy Ways to Create a Cozy Living Room You Will Love

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There are certain times of the year where you just want a cozy living room to enjoy. The winter is one of those times, but how can you make your living room as cozy and relaxing as possible, with minimal effort? Well, here are some quick tips for making your living room as cozy as possible.

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How to Quickly Create a Cozy Living Room

1. Clean Up

No one can be genuinely cozy in a place that needs to be decluttered. Most people tend to clean during the winter and again in the springtime. So if you’ve been putting off your winter clean, it’s time to get it started. 

Declutter as much as possible, though you’ll likely do this to make room for a Christmas tree or some sort of festive decorations, anyway. The more you eliminate, the better you will feel as you cuddle up on your couch to read a book or watch your favorite show.

2. Add Texture

Some textures are super comforting during the winter months. Look for textured fleece blankets, chenille sweaters, or warm fluffy socks to keep nearby. If you already have them, it’s time to grab your most comfortable blankets and have them ready on the couch. This is one of the most important things you can do to get that cuddly, cozy feeling in your living room.

Having a soft fluffy rug will also help to keep your living room warm and insulated, as well as add extra texture to the living room too.

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3. Consider the Lighting

If you want to create some specific atmospheres, then lighting is the way to do it. One of the best things you can do is to add fairy lights to the space around your living room. Wrapping fairy lights around shelves, around your Christmas tree, or around windows to add a festive twinkle to your living room. 

Then, when the sun sets early in the winter months, you can turn the sparkle up. For an extra cozy feeling, you might want to keep the overhead lighting off and let the rest of the twinkling lights work their magic. 

4. Make Sure It’s Warm

Part of being cozy is being warm, so make sure your living room is well-heated. If you haven’t had your boiler checked out for a while, now is the perfect time to do it. Many people find themselves in need of a water heater repair just as winter hits. 

Plan ahead so that you don’t get stuck in this situation. If you have a fireplace, consider getting that checked out, as well. There is no way to be cozy if you aren’t warm, and you don’t want to get stuck this way in the middle of the night.

Before switching on the radiators in every room in the house, read this handy guide and how you can save money on your heating over autumn and winter.

5. Fragrances

Some fragrances just remind us of the winter. Spiced apple, cinnamon, pumpkin and Christmas cookies are all great scents that can make a room feel extra cozy. If you don’t want to have open flames, then reed diffusers can help bring comforting smells to your living room. 

Many fragrance brands have brought out specific holiday-themed fragrances, which means you can recreate that cozy Christmas feeling all year around. You can also opt for a simple plug-in. 

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So, once you have created a cozy living room, it’s time to get settled in. Put on your favorite comfy clothes, get a cup of coffee, and grab a blanket before hopping on the couch.

I always like to watch Gilmore Girls when I have a chance to get cozy on the couch. What do you like to do when you’re cuddled up on the couch in the winter? Tell me in the comments!

Categories
Adulting Wine

What Are the Benefits of Wine and Painting Parties?

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Art is one of the oldest types of human communication and is a popular way to unwind. Wine and painting parties offer a great chance to learn how to express yourself artistically while enjoying a glass or two of wine.

In addition to having fun at wine painting Denver parties, there also are the following benefits:

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Boosts Your Emotional Health

Many noted experts have talked about the many benefits of art therapy to help with stress, depression, and anxiety. Paining classes provide you a safe and non-judgemental place where you can put your energy into your artwork and release tensions. Many people also find that they can effectively express their emotions through painting, which is highly therapeutic.

Makes People Appreciate Art More

People who have wine and painting classes or parties can make enjoying art and its history a lot of fun. If you are at an event with a knowledgeable person, they may talk about the type of artwork they are doing, as well as the artists that inspire their work. You can be encouraged to take part in more art-related activities. This provides a lot of personal enrichment.

Increases Self-Confidence

Many people may feel self-conscious about their artistic ability and may feel they do not have the ability to create something memorable. Wine and painting disprove this idea by being for everyone and intended to be enjoyed by people with many levels of skill in art. You will feel a sense of self-confidence and pride as you finish your piece.

Improves Your Fine Motor Skills

Learning to hold and use a paintbrush properly helps to regulate wrist and hand movements. It also helps with the connection between your brain and muscles. This is helpful for older adults as well as people who have health problems that affect fine motor skills.

Helps Socialization

Painting as you enjoy wine helps you to relax and talk to other people at the event. Those who go to these parties or classes alone often find it a breeze to make new friends. Those who go with friends find doing wine and painting classes and parties as a way to improve their current friendships.

Improves Your Mood

Creating art has many benefits, including on your happiness. Painting has been shown to make people live happier lives. Those who get involved in art are more likely to feel good about themselves. Also, think about the sense of pride that will flow through you when you finish an artwork!

In our face-paced world where there never seems to be enough time to get everything done, it is helpful to have a fun activity that gives you the chance to finish something memorable.

Helps with Concentration and Healing

People who work on paintings tend to enter a purer space where, in a strong state of concentration, they can make time pass without being aware of it. Physical pain often fades; many say it is almost like entering another dimension without leaving the body.

This is a concentration state that is called Alpha. One part of your brain is conscious while the other part is bringing the unconscious out. There is a higher level of creating because energy is being put into what is created. It is possible to spend hours on a piece and not get tired. Drinking wine while you paint can make you even more creative.

There are many benefits to wine and painting parties and classes that millions of people have come to enjoy in the last few years. Give it a try and you will see just how fun and beneficial wine and painting can be!

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Categories
Adulting Guest Post How To Life Wine

Alternative Methods of Opening Wine Without a Corkscrew

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You are so excited to attend your best friend’s party! You arrived early to help prepare and set up. However, while doing an inventory of needed party materials, you realized something: your friend doesn’t have a corkscrew! And the party will start soon! What should you do?

In times like these, creativity is your greatest asset. You must find a solution – not drinking the wine is not an option. We will tackle some methods of opening wine without a corkscrew to prepare for similar problems in the future.

Before we start, let us first review how a typical corkscrew works.

Steps in Opening a Wine Bottle Using a Corkscrew

Typically, opening wine only requires two materials: a bottle of wine and a corkscrew. The most popular type of corkscrew is called a waiter’s key. To open the wine, you need to:

  • First, remove the foil or the covering. Place the knife part of the corkscrew underneath the bottle’s lip. Turn the bottle to slice the foil and then remove the cover foil.
  • Push the corkscrew through the middle of the cork and turn clockwise. Stop when most of the corkscrew has penetrated the cork.
  • Pull the handle until half of the cork is out of the bottle.
  • Repeat if necessary.
  • Pull the cork until only a small part remains in the bottle.
  • Using your hand, pull the cork out.

The instructions above are quite easy to follow. But what if you don’t have a corkscrew? What can you do?

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Other Ways to Open a Wine Bottle

Opening wine without a corkscrew will require different materials. Take note of them in the list below:

  • Use a screw, screwdriver, and hammer
  • Get a long screw and using a screwdriver, screw it to the cork. Stop pushing when you only have around one inch of the screw visible. Pull out the cork using the claw (the backside) of the hammer. This method requires a little strength, so you better prepare.
  • Use a wooden spoon
  • You can use the handle of a spoon to push the cork until it goes inside the bottle. You’ll need to hold the bottle steady, as it can easily slip using this method.
  • Open it with a bike pump
  • Punch the needle through the cork until it reaches beyond the cork. Then pump air and watch the cork move out from the bottle.
  • Use a serrated knife or keys
  • Opening wine without a corkscrew is also possible if you have keys or a serrated knife. Push the knife or keys into the cork at an angle (around 45 degrees). Then move the item in a circular motion, slowly removing the cork. After a few rounds, the cork will come out.
  • Use a towel and the wall
  • Wrap the bottom of the bottle with a towel and then hit it repeatedly against a wall. Use just enough strength to move the cork but be careful with the glass bottle. Continue until the cork slides out of the bottle, and you can pull it free. Practice caution when using this method. You don’t want to break the bottle, so make sure you form an adequate cushion with the towel before hitting the wall.
  • Use a shoe
  • If you’re afraid of using the wall, you can use a shoe to slap the wine’s bottom. However, before doing this, you must wrap the wine bottle with a towel and then place it upside down between your legs. Continue slapping until you notice the cork sliding out of the bottle.

Now, you know some techniques used to open wine bottles without a corkscrew. If ever you find yourself missing a corkscrew, then you can utilize one of the above techniques.

This guest post was written by Bill Marcia at Stags’ Leap Winery.

You can follow Stags’ Leap Winery on social media at:
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