Tag: adulting

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Holiday Safety Tips: Don’t Let Mishaps Steal Your Spring Holiday Cheer

Holiday Safety Tips: Don't Let Mishaps Steal Your Spring Holiday Cheer

The coronavirus pandemic has lowered the possibilities of individuals enjoying the Easter holiday. Easter is a joyful celebration, and you can make it possible with a few holiday safety tips. Covid-19 isn’t the only worry, either, with food allergies and other issues being possible.

The traditional Easter activities may be an excellent way to make memories with friends and families. However, you might be worried, especially if you are hosting an egg hunt, that things will go badly. With these holiday safety tips, though, you will be well on your way to a successful Easter celebration.

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

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Holiday Safety Tips for Easter

Food Safety

You have to protect your family and guests from food allergies. Online shopping can come in very handy for this, as you get a wider variety of allergy-free foods. You can order some candies that are gluten, peanut, egg, and dairy-free. Additionally, you can go for snacks like popcorn, cheese crackers, or other allergy-free snacks to replace the other treats.

Food safety doesn’t stop at food allergies, and you must make sure the food is cooked and stored properly. Eggs should be thoroughly cooked and cooled before decorating them.

If you use hard-boiled eggs for the Easter egg hunt, hide them minutes before the hunt. Hard-boiled eggs should be eaten within two hours of removing them from the refrigerator. If you are concerned about the safety of hiding real eggs, switch them with plastic ones, instead.

Related Post: Living With Allergies: Our Journey to the Diagnosis

Fire Safety

Fire incidents increase drastically during the holidays. You can easily get preoccupied during big family gatherings. To prevent occurrences of fire that can ruin your holiday cheer:

  • Avoid congestion in the kitchen and try as much as possible to keep children out of the kitchen.
  • Always make sure that you are alert when in the kitchen. Don’t use the stove or oven when you are sleepy or drunk. Don’t leave anything unattended; use a timer always.
  • Whenever there is a stove fire, turn off the burners and keep the door open.
  • Be cautious when frying things. In case of a small fire, restrict the flame by gliding the lid to cover the pan and turn off the burner.

Pet Safety

The spring holiday cannot be complete without your furry friends. Ensure that they also get to enjoy their festivities by protecting them from all known toxins and dangers. As a pet owner, you know that the chemicals present in chocolate can be deadly to cats and dogs. It can cause coma, seizures, heart failure, or even death.

Some flowers can be deadly when consumed by cats, so you must be careful with those, too. Flowers like lilies, which bloom during spring, can cause kidney failure or even death in cats. Check your cat for signs of poisoning like fatigue, lack of appetite, and vomiting. Contact a vet immediately if you suspect that your cat has consumed any of the toxic plants.

Egg-hunt Safety

When inside the house, avoid hiding eggs in light sockets, near electric outlets, and in glasses. Instead, keep them below the participants’ eye level and always count and track the eggs you hid.

When outside, avoid hiding eggs in any foliage rooms, animal homes, or play areas. Throw away any eggs that have been cracked to ensure the candy doesn’t become contaminated.

Holiday Safety Tips

The spring holiday comes with many enjoyable family activities, and as a parent or guardian, you need to make sure that you keep safety in mind. Hunt safely, keep food allergies in mind, practice egg safety, protect your pets, and avoid fire accidents.

Do you have any other Easter safety tips to add? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Adulting For the Home Home How To Life

5 Common Household Bugs To Be Aware Of

common household bugs

No matter how hard you try, there will be instances where you find an unwelcome critter in your house. This might alarm you, especially if you’re scared of bugs, have children, or have pets, but it’s important to remember that not all creepy crawlies are bad, and some are even to be expected. There are a handful of common household bugs you might find in your home, and knowing how to deal with the situation will help put you at ease.

Common Household Bugs

1. Dust Mites

Dust mites naturally live in every house, and generally, they don’t cause issues. When there’s a lot of them, though, they can cause a range of symptoms including:

  • Rash
  • Itchy eyes
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny nose
  • Sneezing

Dust mites typically can be found on fabric such as carpet, curtains, bedding, and other plush surfaces. You won’t be able to keep them out entirely, but you can certainly minimize their effects by washing bedding, curtains, and soft items frequently, as well as vacuuming weekly.

2. Woodworm Beetles

Dampness is a common issue that many homeowners face in some capacity, and generally, it doesn’t cause major damage. Certain types of damp can attract bugs like woodworm beetles, though. Woodworm beetles can be destructive, but they’re relatively easy to spot and treat.

There are a few types of woodworm beetles, the most common being the common furniture beetle which is brown and roughly half a centimeter long. They don’t usually cause any harm to humans or pets, but they can damage furniture and skirting boards. To avoid woodworm beetles, you need to avoid dampness in your home.

The beetles are attracted to damp wood, so you need to tackle the root cause of dampness first. If the affected area is only small, you can dry out the wood with the use of a heater, or you can inject a vinegar-water solution into the boreholes to drive the remaining larvae out.

3. Fruit Flies

We’ve all had instances where we’ve left fruit on the kitchen counter a little too long past its recommended eat-by date and it’s attracted flies. One or two fruit flies aren’t a problem, but they multiply really fast and things can get out of hand fairly quickly. No one wants to eat fruit that’s got fly larvae in it, so to avoid it, you should store fruit in the refrigerator and get rid of it as soon as it starts to turn bad.

4. Ants

You’re more likely to have an ant infestation in the warmer months, and most of the time they’re not a problem aside from the fact they’ll eat their way through all your snacks, but some types of ants can be potentially dangerous in the sense that they can sting and bite.

If you spot an ant, watch it carefully to see where it’s coming from and apply ant-killing solution. Keep in mind that some ant-solutions can be harmful to children and pets.

If you don’t want to use ant powder, you can try ant traps which are a safer option for those with children and pets. To avoid ants altogether, it’s a good idea to store any loose food like cookies and cereal in airtight containers.

5. Silverfish

silverfish, common household bugs

These pesky creatures are very small and hard to see, but they can cause a lot of damage to fabric, wallpaper, and books. They’ve been known to also eat glue, oats, and flour, so there’s not much these wingless insects won’t go for!

Since silverfish eat anything, it makes treating them hard, especially when you consider how hard they are to see. The best solution is usually sticky traps, but sealing up food, reducing the amount of clutter in your home (letters/newspapers, etc.) and sprinkling diatomaceous earth can also work.

common household bugs

Common Household Bugs To Be Aware Of

Hopefully, you don’t have the misfortune of encountering these creepy crawlies any time soon, but if you do, use the ideas suggested here. Have you had a problem with any of these household bugs before? If so, tell me about it in the comments!

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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 For the Home How To Life

3 Reasons Smart Homeowners Are So Obsessed With Sealing Their Homes Up

smart homeowners, seal up your home,

These days, the vast majority of homeowners want to live in properties that consume as little energy as possible. They believe their houses should be like frugal hybrid cars, keeping their fuel bills to a minimum. To achieve this, smart homeowners use certain methods for sealing their homes up.

Some homeowners are using all kinds of clever technology, like triple glazing, roofing insulation, and cavity walls. And they are spending thousands of dollars on the way. Interestingly, though, there is a technology that is even more powerful for reducing bills than all these features. Plus, it works in a much simpler way too. It’s called airtightness, and smart homeowners focus on it when sealing their homes up. 

Smart Homeowners
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What Is Airtightness and Why Do Smart Homeowners Swear By It? 

Airtightness is the idea that you can make your home more energy-efficient by blocking off all your drafts. It means more than just shutting your doors and windows. Usually, it works by sealing your property with plastic sheeting, preventing gaps and holes from allowing cool air to enter. 

There are several types of airtightness technology currently available on the market. The simplest just uses builder’s tape. Handymen go around your property, installing tape behind walls to prevent air from moving in and out. 

The most advanced airtightness procedures usually involve fitting a large membrane to the rear side of a cavity wall, preventing any of the micro-pores in the masonry from releasing warm air. 

These systems aren’t perfect, but they do increase the effectiveness of all your energy-saving investments. So if you do decide to spend money on triple-glazing, getting airtightness might be something you want to consider at the same time. 

Why Smart Homeowners are Obsessed With Sealing Their Home

Apart from the obvious, airtightness produces a host of benefits. 

1. Lower Heating Bills

The first reason for getting on board with sealing your home is because it lowers your heating bills. When less air can escape, the warmth stays in your home for longer. That means that your boiler or furnace doesn’t need to work so hard, and your bills go down. 

2. Prevents Bugs From Getting Inside

Airtightness helps keep creepy crawlies out of your home. Things like spiders, ants, and other annoying bugs can make their way inside and begin to multiply. Sometimes numbers can build up so much that you need to call in the spider exterminator. Sealing off your house, however, gets rid of the small gaps that creepy crawlies use to enter.

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3. Makes Air Conditioning More Effective

Think about it: heat exchange happens when there is a difference in temperature between the inside of your home, and the outside. So when the outside is warmer than the inside, hot air molecules travel through gaps in the structure of your home, heating the interior. The air conditioning unit has to work harder in response. The solution? Close off these gaps and prevent hot air from getting in.

Why Smart Homeowners Are Obsessed With Sealing Their Homes Up

Now that you know why eco-conscious people and smart homeowners are becoming so obsessed with sealing their homes. It helps to save energy, makes your home more comfortable, and prevents unwanted pests from entering.

Have you sealed up your home? What are some of your best tips? Let me know in the comments!

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Adulting Healthy Living How To Life Mental Health Our Family Parenting

7 Smart Tips for Parents to Stop Feeling Like a Headless Chicken

Tips for Parents

There’s no doubt that being a modern parent causes a busy lifestyle, so tips for parents are always helpful. Whether you’re a working parent, a stay-at-home parent, or something in between, you always have plenty to do. You might have support from a partner or friends and family, but it still feels like you have a never-ending to-do list.

With lots of different things to do both at home and out of the house, juggling it all can be overwhelming. Getting organized can help, but it doesn’t necessarily eliminate any of the tasks you must do. If you feel like you’re constantly running around like a headless chicken, you need to find ways to lighten your load, and these tips for parents can help.

Tips for Parents
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Tips for Parents to Stop Feeling Crazy

1. Make a List of Everything You Do

Do you know how much you do for yourself and your family? Making a list of all of your responsibilities can make it clear just how much you have on your plate. It might be a little frightening at first, but it can also be a good starting point.

Creating a list of everything you do could be a way for you to get the help you’re not getting. Does your partner insist they do just as much as you do when you know they don’t? Showing them your list might just convince them to start doing more. Creating this list can also help you recognize when you need to ask for help.

Another advantage of making a list is that it can show you which tasks are really necessary. It can help you decide which tasks could be altered, and which you might be able to cut out completely.

2. Adjust Your Standards of Tidiness and Cleanliness

Whether you’re a working parent or not, housework takes time. Even when you split household tasks with your partner and kids, it can still require a chunk of your time.

Being a parent does mean that you will probably feel like you’re always tidying up and cleaning in some way. One way you might consider changing things is by reassessing your idea of what clean and tidy means. Having extremely high standards might not be particularly realistic, especially if you want to get some of your time back. Decide what you can be happy with so you can keep up a standard that works for your family.

3. Hire a Cleaner/Housekeeper

Another option for saving time is to hire a cleaner or housekeeper. Some people feel reluctant to do this because they feel like it’s their job to maintain the home. If you can afford to hire someone, though, there’s no shame in getting help.

You don’t necessarily need to have someone come every day. A housekeeper visiting for a few hours each week can make a difference and save you from some time-consuming jobs.

4. Have Things Delivered

Tips for Parents
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Do you feel like you’re always going from place to place buying things? You have to do grocery shopping, clothes shopping, visits to the drugstore, and many other things.

If you’re always going from store to store and running errands, you must find ways to stop doing so much. One possibility is to get things delivered whenever possible. This can work best when you know exactly what you need.

You can order repeat prescription delivery for any medications or order your groceries online. Some things are better to buy in person, though, like things you should try on.

5. Create a Family Schedule

Tips for Parents
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If you have a long list of things to do but you’re never sure when you will have time, you might want to think about making a schedule. Instead of having one just for you, it can be for the whole family.

Begin by filling in certain things that are scheduled each week. Then, look for free timeslots that you can use for anything else that needs to be completed.

You could have a digital calendar, a weekly printable, or even a whiteboard. It gives you a sense of order and can be a way to get everyone helping around the house.

6. Stop Overscheduling

As a parent, you and your kids are likely always busy. You want to ensure your kids get to participate in extracurricular activities. Plus, you’re involved in lots of things too, from yoga class to the PTA and everything in between. Many of these activities are totally optional, and you might be giving everyone too much to do.

For every activity your kids do, you have to make sure they get there and have everything they need. Not only that, but your child might be tired from being overscheduled too. Remember that your kids put in a full day of school work, so extracurricular activities make their day even longer. Then, you have to plan for dinner after the activities, too.

Even though you want to ensure everyone has opportunities, sometimes you all need time at home to rest. Spending time together as a family unit is important, too.

7. Say No to Things

If there’s too much on your plate, it’s not necessarily all your own doing. Some things just have to get done, while other things can be requested of you from others. Remember that just because someone asks you to do something, it doesn’t mean you must say yes.

There are times when the best option is to politely refuse. Whether your refuse because it would interfere with your health or you have no time, don’t feel bad. If the thing they are asking would interfere with family time, you should also consider saying no. Reluctantly doing something isn’t going to produce the best results anyway, so learning to say no can really help you.

Tips for Parents, headless chicken

Tips for Parents to Stop Feeling Like a Headless Chicken

When you feel like you’re always running around trying to get things done, you need to slow down and lighten your load. Use these tips for parents to stop feeling like a headless chicken. Take control of your life and make sure you do things that make you and your family happy and peaceful.

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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 How To Life

3 Easy Ways to Get Rid Of Nasty Smells In Your Home

get rid of nasty smells in your home

We have all been in a situation where there’s a horrible smell in our home but can’t quite seem to get rid of it. Where is it coming from? Why does it exist? More importantly, how on earth can you stop it from stinking up your home and making you uncomfortable?! If you’re currently suffering from bad smells in your home, use these tips to get rid of nasty smells in your home.

Get Rid Of Nasty Smells In Your Home
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How to Get Rid Of Nasty Smells In Your Home

1. Don’t try to mask the smell with air fresheners

Your first instinct is to pick up a can of air freshener and spray it everywhere when there’s a bad smell in your home. In reality, this does nothing. If anything, it makes the smell worse as it now mingles with the air freshener.

When you do this, you’re not dealing with the problem at all. The smell still exists, you’re just attempting to cover it up. It’s literally like seeing a crack in the wall and putting some sticky tape over it! So, save yourself time and money by not spraying air freshener everywhere. 

2. Identify the cause of the smell

The correct way to approach things is by identifying the cause of the smell. Here are a few of the most common causes of bad smells in your home:

  • Moldy food
  • Stinky trash
  • Pet poop
  • Dead animals
  • Clogged pipes

You have to start figuring out if any of these things are the source of the terrible smell in your home. It sounds like a hard task, but you can quickly rule out some of the potential issues. For instance, if you don’t have any pets, you know that they aren’t the cause of the smell!

Nevertheless, the best place to start is with the plumbing system in your home. Go to the bathroom and see if the smell gets stronger – particularly if you sniff near plug holes and drains. The same goes for your kitchen and any other areas of your home with pipes. If you don’t smell any strong scents coming from these areas, the chances are that you don’t have a plumbing problem. Of course, if the smell intensifies, it’s a pretty decent bet that clogged pipes or drains are the issues. 

If you check the plumbing and don’t notice any problems, your next step is to hunt around your kitchen. First, check the garbage – if it reeks, you know that it’s causing the smell! This is so common, and you can easily solve it by taking the trash outside. However, if the trash isn’t the issue, start opening cupboards and looking for any signs that the smell intensifies. If it does get worse, check that area for moldy food.

For most of you, these two steps will identify the source of your smelly problem. Plumbing issues and smells coming from your kitchen are highly common.

If you still can’t find the source, there’s a high chance a small animal might have died in your home. Particularly if the smell has gotten worse over time, and you see flies buzzing around areas of your home. Mice, rats, and birds can get into your home via the attic, ending up trapped. So, if the smell gets really bad as you go to your attic, you know this is the problem. Generally, it’s quite easy to tell if a dead animal is the source of your smell as they have a very distinct odor.

3. Removing the source

After identifying the source, you have to remove it. This is the only way to get rid of the smell for good, and then you can freshen up your home. For any plumbing issues, always get a local plumber to handle them as you want to avoid making the problem even worse. Thankfully, most issues can be solved within a few hours, so your home will start smelling better. After any blockages are cleared, it helps to pour some bleach down plug holes, further freshening things up. 

For smells in the kitchen, begin by removing any moldy food and throwing smelly trash out. Then, clean the area where the scent was found, using disinfectant to kill the smelly bacteria. This will go a long way to removing the scent from your home.

Obviously, if dead animals are causing the smell, you need to call a pest control provider to deal with it for you. They’ll help you find out where the smell is coming from before removing the animal for you. This should have an instant impact on how your home smells. If pet poop is the problem, remove it, clean the area, and teach your pet to not poop inside in the future.

Get Rid Of Nasty Smells In Your Home

Get Rid Of Nasty Smells In Your Home

By following all of these steps to get rid of nasty smells in your home, you will now have a clean and fresh home. Open all of the windows to air out your home and get rid of any lingering smells. Once the smells have disappeared, then you can use candles or air fresheners to make the rooms smell nicer.

Do you have any tips to add to this list? Let me know in the comments!

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Adulting Home How To Life

4 Helpful Ways to Overcome The Challenges Of A Long-Distance Move

Long-Distance Move

A long-distance move is something many people dream of. There are so many beautiful places in the world enticing people to move, and some people choose to move because they want to have better opportunities. While this idea can be exciting, the process itself can come with some challenges that you will need to overcome.

Long-Distance Move
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How to Overcome The Challenges Of A Long-Distance Move

1. Moving Your Possessions

Moving all of your things to a new place is hard, but it is especially challenging when moving long-distance. You can’t take things like furniture on a normal passenger plane, making it worth looking for companies like Sky Van Line to go through this process for you. Using vans, boats, and planes, you can move all of your possessions to your new home easily.

Another option is to sell your large furniture and buy new once you get to your new home. When deciding which route you want to take, consider the cost of each option.

2. Finding Work

Finding work in a different place can be a daunting prospect, especially when you factor in the cost of moving. You can find a job before you move, with options like online freelance work for those with the skills. If your move is a while away, you can consider starting a blog and monetizing it before moving.

Other times, you can get hired by a company before your move, with a start date after the move. Some employers will even be happy to help you move if it means that you can work for them.

3. Finding A Home

Looking for a home when you don’t speak the language or can’t visit the place can be tricky. It leaves you in the hands of your real estate agent. Thankfully, modern technology has solved this sort of issue, with virtual viewings being possible from a wide variety of companies.

You may need to look for options that offer this service, but it will be worth the search. With this service, it is easy to get a feel for a place before you decide to move.

Consider mortgages as well because getting mortgages in a different country can be difficult. It is worth talking to your bank about this ahead of time, too.

4. Keeping The Family Happy

Keeping your family happy through this process should always be a priority. It is important to make this decision with your partner and discuss it thoroughly. When it comes to your kids, the best time to move is before they have started school and made friends. You can still move if your kids are older, though, but you should enable them to maintain their old friendships.

Long-Distance Move

Overcome The Challenges Of A Long-Distance Move

A long-distance move should be exciting, so make sure you prepare to overcome the challenges. If you follow these tips, you will feel ready to take on the challenge of a long-distance move.

This process can be great, giving you new opportunities and a chance to enjoy a new life. It will also provide your family with experiences that can only be gained when you’ve lived in more than one place.

Have you ever moved long-distance? What are some of your best tips? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Adulting For the Home Home How To

5 Easy DIY Ways To Add Value To Your Home

Ways To Add Value To Your Home

Adding value to your home is something that can certainly benefit you financially if you choose to ever sell your home. There are a few reasons you decide to move, whether it’s for work, needing more space, or needing to downsize. Whatever the reason, it’s important to try and gain as much profit from your investment as possible. There are a number of easy DIY ways to add value to your home, making it easier than ever.

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DIY Ways To Add Value To Your Home

1. Convert The Loft Space Or Basement

Converting your loft space or basement is a great way to take advantage of space that’s already in your home. Most properties will have a basement, a loft space, or both. Before you decide to build an extension or an add-on to the property, focus on what you’ve already got.

It will be less expensive to convert the space you already have, and upgrading the space will make it easier to sell your home for a profit. Many buyers are going to like the fact that you’ve done the hard work for them, and they’ll be willing to pay more because of it.

If you spot potential in your basement space or loft, then try to convert them into liveable spaces. Whether that’s a bedroom, a dressing room, or perhaps a study or workout space, the new owners will be happy about it. There are endless possibilities and it’s worth doing something with it, even if it is a simple upgrade.

2. Build An Extension

An extension is something that many homeowners have the option of doing. You must have space on your land and get the go-ahead from your township or city. It’s a lot of work, but if you have the ability to do it, then it’s almost certainly going to add value to your property.

When thinking about doing an extension, make sure you speak to your neighbors beforehand. It’s good to keep them informed and to keep them on your side, in case there’s any early morning starts or building work that is likely to be disruptive to their living situation. 

Make sure you’ve given yourself a budget and that you don’t overspend as this can be a costly investment already. You don’t want to spend so much that you get less back on the sale because of it.

3. Fix Anything That’s Broken

Fixing things that are broken is another big improvement for any potential buyers. By fixing fixtures and fittings around your home, it will allow buyers to move in without having to do much to it.

In some homes, they may need to fix broken windows or doors and it can end up being expensive to do. If you fix these things before potential buyers see your home, it will set you apart from those who don’t bother.

If you’ve got old windows or doors that need replacing, then now is the right time to do it before you put it on the market. Renewal by Andersen is a great company to use and having new windows and doors will increase your property’s value.

4. Add-In Smart Features

Smart features are something that is worth adding to increase your home’s value. Technology and advancements in engineering are making us want more of it in our own homes, rather than only using it in public spaces. Your home has the potential to be more functional, and these simple upgrades can make all the difference.

Simple things like a hot water tap can be great for those who like to cut down any waiting time. You may want to install a smart thermostat to control via an app or maybe underfloor heating for that extra cozy feeling during the colder months.

5. Upgrade Your Bathroom Or Kitchen

Upgrades are often needed around the home and they are most apparent in rooms like the kitchen and bathroom. These rooms get a lot of footfall and usage on a daily basis, so they quickly become run down. It’s worth doing an update or upgrades to these spaces every few years to ensure they stay as new and fresh as possible.

For some, renovations might be needed to completely overhaul the space and design. This might only be needed every 15-20 years or so. Determine how out-of-date your space is before determining how large of an upgrade you need to do.

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DIY Ways To Add Value To Your Home

Adding value to your home is beneficial in a few ways. You can enjoy the upgrades and improvements, or you can list your home for a profit. Either way, these simple DIY ways to add value to your home can help you improve your living space. What are some things you recommend to add value to a home? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Adulting For the Home Home

4 Helpful Pieces of Advice For First-Time Homeowners to Make it More Enjoyable

advice for first-time homeowners

Being a first-time homeowner is a lot of responsibility, but it can also be an enjoyable experience. Buying a home is a significant investment of your time and money so it makes sense you want to take your new purchase seriously and be a responsible homeowner. Luckily, there are a few pieces of advice for first-time homeowners that you can follow. This advice will help ensure you have a successful and smooth transition moving into your new home.

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Helpful Pieces of Advice For First-Time Homeowners

1. Take Time to Get Settled

One piece of advice for first-time homeowners is to take the time to get settled into your space and neighborhood. Avoid putting off unpacking boxes and get your belongings in order right away. You want to create as much livable space as possible and see what you’re working with before you decide on what home improvement ideas and decorating you want to start.

The more organized you are and less clutter there is, the better you’ll feel and happier you’ll be at home. Also, go around and introduce yourselves to your neighbors and get to know the area.

2. Budget for Repairs & Trouble

You never know when an item or appliance in your home is going to break. You must plan and budget for emergencies and trouble to unfold. Make sure you have plenty of money set aside for repairs.

For example, if it’s summertime and your air conditioner goes out then you’ll need to call and hire an AC repair or installation service to assist you. You’ll want it fixed or replaced right away so you can ensure your home is at a comfortable temperature.

Not only that, but you need to make sure that you find reliable contractors too. Be sure to look for a trusted roofing company and other trades in the area. Don’t just look for any old company, it’s good to look at reviews and get recommendations from new neighbors too.

3. Tackle One Project at A Time

Another tip to consider as a new homeowner is to plan on tackling one project at a time. Give yourselves some time to live in your home and enjoy it before you decide what you might want to do with it.

Make a priority list and create a budget you can follow to help you stay on track and organized. Maybe pick a few large projects each year to complete and sprinkle in some smaller ones to address when you have some downtime. You want to avoid overwhelming yourself or spending more than you had intended right away.

4. Don’t be afraid to DIY

You shouldn’t be afraid to complete and tackle some of your house projects yourself. Deciding what you can DIY is what homeownership is all about. It’ll be fun to research and teach yourself new skills and you’ll save money by not having to hire a professional.

However, know your limits and never put your safety at risk. For example, you may not want to mess with anything that has to do with the plumbing or electrical. However, there are plenty of other projects you can do yourself such as making small repairs, sprucing up your curb appeal, painting your walls, and refurbishing old furniture.

advice for first-time homeowners

Pieces of Advice For First-Time Homeowners to Make it More Enjoyable

Owning a home is exciting, but it can be stressful if you don’t handle it well right from the start. Use these pieces of advice for first-time homeowners and you will see how enjoyable it all can be.

What piece of advice would you add for first-time homeowners? Let us know in the comments!