So, you FINALLY bought your dream home and you’re ready to host some family and friends for a night of fun. You’ve got plenty of outdoor living space but you’re not sure where to start. I’ve got the perfect, budget-friendly solution – build a firepit! Now before you get intimidated, I want you to know that you only need three things to get your firepit going. A shovel Some large rocks Firewood
Open House Safety A few years ago, we hosted an event with the Beverly Carter Foundation to bring Realtor safety to the forefront of our minds. This foundation was started by Carl Carter, Jr., the son of Beverly Carter. Beverly was killed following her kidnapping which took place during a showing and her son has been advocating Realtor safety ever since. At the event he shared several tips, but you are here to find out how to protect yourself and others during an open house.
Ask an Expert: My heater isn’t working, now what? Imagine this, you wake up, it is still dark out—your alarm hasn’t even gone off. You shiver a little; there seems to be an extra chill in the air this morning, so you make your way to the thermostat so you can turn the heat up. Only you discover that your heat seems unresponsive. This is a reality that many will face in the next coming months. When temperatures are freezing this can be far more than an inconvenience, going without heat could be detrimental to your health. Given that the weather has been unseasonably cold so far this autumn we wanted to arm ourselves with the best defense to a situation like this; so, we asked an HVAC expert to give us some tips!
I can’t believe the holiday season is already here! I feel like this year has flown by. As my family continues to grow and kids get older (and more expensive ) I find myself stressing out about how I’m going to pay for the all gifts I want to give. I decided to take control of my stress (and my spending) a few years ago by making a list of everyone I had to buy for and creating a budget for each person. For example, I would set a ten-dollar limit for adults and a five-dollar limit for kids. “Savanna, that’s a crazy small budget! How do you do it?” Don’t worry friend, I’m going to share all of my secrets. The key is to make it personal, even if it’s for someone you barely know. Whether you’re buying for your loved ones or just want to make your co-workers day a little sweeter, there is a perfect gift for everyone. I’m that girl that loves to give gifts and that includes gifting my acquaintances. In those instances, I think about inexpensive gifts that can make that person’s life easier. Typically those are things they wouldn’t buy for their self. One year I bought my cousin a new purse. Sounds simple but to a single mom who puts her children first and NEVER buys anything for herself outside of the necessities, it was a grand gesture. Not to mention that I found it online for TEN DOLLARS! Still questioning my methods? This particular cross-body bag had great reviews and two years later the purse still looks fantastic! Read on folks, I’m going to give you some great gift-giving ideas that fit every budget.
Tips to Stress- Free, Last Minute Hosting With the holiday season upon us, there are lots of opportunities to get together with friends and family. We love this time of year, so cozy, so full of fun… but let’s be honest, it can be so stressful!!! I wish I could write all the tips and tricks for having a stress-free 25-person extravaganza of a party at your home but that is not what I am doing here. Because, if I’m being honest, that is not my style. Of course, I want my guests to be able to talk to everyone, but I want to enjoy the time we spend together too. So, for me this means small get togethers that often are impromptu. I’ll share with you some of my favorite tips and tricks for hosting a last minute, casual shindig.
The Best “Good for the Soul” Chili Recipe Is there any other food that can divide people like chili? If you are not sure, try this: put yourself in a group of people and mention that some put cinnamon in their chili then sit back and let the fireworks begin! I mean honestly, no one is hosting a chicken pot pie cooking contest. People have a definite opinion about what is good chili. Even if someone doesn’t think their chili recipe is the best, you can be sure that they could point to someone they know who “makes the best chili!”
It’s that time of year again and I want to help you save a little bit of money. Every year I stage and photograph my own Holiday card and I want to pass my DIY skills onto you. Don’t be intimidated, all you need is some holiday décor, a camera (your smartphone camera will work), and your loved ones.
Let’s start at the beginning. According to Webster’s dictionary, Hygge is a “quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” Think of it as cozy meets minimalism. The idea is to make the coziest space with the least amount of items. So in other words, DECLUTTER. Hygge is an idea brought on by the Danish and Norwegians and has become popular around the world. Follow along with my easy recommendations and you’ll feel cozy and relaxed in no time!
When a DIY Becomes a DI Why? If DIY stands for Do it Yourself, then DDIY should stand for Don’t Do it Yourself. The internet is littered with DIY fails, from elaborate make up to homemade wreaths to ornaments with a pet’s paw print. Some of them are hilarious but some are relatable, albeit still hilarious. What is it that causes a project to become a DIY fail? For me, its when I get a bit too cocky and a little too ambitious; I start thinking, “I can do this. All I need is a little…”—it’s bad news from there. But isn’t that what the internet is great for? It may give you an idea for this “great DIY” project but when you crash and burn, it can provide comfort, knowing you aren’t alone, as you scroll through other’s failures to DIY. That’s what my goal is here. I’ll be that person that you can relate to as you read about my DIY’s that turned into D.I. why’s.
Ah, fall. The absolute best time of the year. A time to refresh your mind, body, and home. Lucky for you I have some budget-friendly, easy to create fall décor to help get you in the spirit of the season. These DIY’s are pretty much foolproof. Seriously, there are no rules. So, read on and take a few notes. We’re going to have some fun!