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Home Maintenance Tips For Responsible Homeowners

If you spend all the time and money it takes to purchase a home, you’ll want to do all you can to make sure that home stays in good repair for as long as you occupy its space. Keeping up with the maintenance on your home will also work to save you money over time.

You won’t have to pay to replace the big-ticket items in your home as often or as soon when you take the necessary steps to preserve their condition. Take a few moments now to read through a brief look at some home maintenance tips you’ll want to follow in order to be a responsible homeowner.

Monthly home maintenance routines

There are things around your home that you should do regularly every month. If you’re new to homeownership, consider these tasks each month to maintain the integrity of your house.

  • Check the HVAC filter (and change if dirty).
  • Clean out the sink disposal.
  • Spray for pests to avoid termite damage in your home.
  • Inspect your fire extinguisher.
  • Test the auto-reverse function on your garage door.
  • Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide monitors.

What to check annually on your home

Winter – Check for air leaks around doors and windows to keep your home warm and your energy costs down during the winter. Keep an eye out for ice buildup around your home that may cause damage to the exterior of the structure.

Spring – Get your HVAC unit ready to combat the heat of the summer. Consider having it serviced at least once per year. Check and clean residual debris from your gutters, and give the garden a little pick-me-up.

Summer – Get outside in the sunshine to look over the integrity of your deck and other parts of your home. Check that all your plumbing is functioning with ease, and clean the exterior portion of your dryer vent. Lint buildup is a fire hazard.

Fall – When the leaves fall in the Autumn, your gutters can get mucked up. Inspect and clean out your gutters. Consider installing a leaf gutter guard to prevent damage to your roof. Flush out the hot water heater to remove excess sediment buildup. Clean out your chimney for warm nights by the fire, and check your sump pump to keep the basement dry.

Look at these things every couple of years

You should test your hot water heater’s pressure release valve every two years. It’s good to know it will work in the case of an emergency. Check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and vacuum the dust off of your refrigerator coils.

Take steps to defend against water

Water is your home interior’s worst enemy. More homes deal with damage from water than any other perpetrator. Also, understand the maintenance and function of your home’s sump pump to protect against basement water leaks.

 

How to Maximize the Use of Your Skincare Products

If you have several steps in your skincare routine, you’ve probably invested some money in the whole system. Even if each item costs average, in total, they all cost a fortune. It could have been taken away from your food allowance, savings or other spending on yourself. It’s not a waste of money if you use it wisely, though.

Here’s how you can do just that. 

Stick to a Product Until You Finish It

One of the reasons a product feels like a waste of money is because you don’t see the results. If you’ve only been using it for a week and you’ve already decided to replace it, that’s a waste of money. Instead of doing this, stick to a product until you’ve used up all of it. The exemption, of course, is if your skin is reacting negatively to it. If that’s the case, see if you can return the item or give it to your friend for them to use. Even better, discuss a trade; they’ll have your barely used product if they replace it with a product you want to try as an alternative. If you give them a good deal, you’re essentially getting a new product at a discounted price–without throwing away any unused product.

Try Sample Sizes

A product may be the most friendly for all skin types, but you still can’t guarantee that you will not have negative reactions. This is why it’s recommended that you try sample sizes when buying a particular product for the first time. After you’ve proven that that face toner works well on your skin, you can buy it online at bigger quantities. This lessens the possibility of waste, and helps you transition to a different product in case something doesn’t work out for you.

Have a Manageable Routine 

You’re tempted by all the seemingly wonderful products you see online, and you want to buy them all. The problem is that you may not have the time or the knowledge to use them all in one go. If you barely have the time to do a basic skincare routine, buying complicated serums will not suddenly make you an expert. Each product you buy should come with the commitment that you will use them–and that you have time to do so; otherwise, they will definitely be a waste of money.

Watch Before You Purchase

There is no fee for watching beauty vloggers try different products and show you how to use them. With every watch, you get to see how easy or difficult they are to apply, and how effective they are on others. It’s like asking your friend to review their makeup for you. You get the insights without paying for the product until you’re completely sure. Just make sure the reviews you’re watching are unbiased so that the knowledge you’re accumulating will be honest and truthful.

Each purchase should be put to good use, whether you’re buying food or makeup. For your skincare purchase, be smart and be knowledgeable.

How to Plan a Romantic Getaway

When it comes to planning a trip for you and your special someone, it can sometimes feel a bit intimidating trying to make sure you get everything just right. How do you determine the location of your romantic weekend? Do you fill every moment with adventures and excursions or leave your schedule open to see what happens? You want to make sure everything goes perfectly, so let us help you out. Take a look at our top tips for planning a romantic getaway!

1. Choose the Location

With so many beautiful, romantic destinations, it can sometimes feel overwhelming trying to choose one for your special trip. Take a moment and consider a few factors. What is your budget? How is the weather? What do you and your significant other enjoy doing together?

If you’re trying to be frugal, consider a staycation at an Airbnb and explore the city as tourists. If it’s getting chilly and you are longing for some sunshine, consider taking a trip somewhere warm and exotic, such as a beach trip on the west coast or an excursion in Brazil. If you are both avid hikers and lovers of the outdoors, consider checking out some hotels near Zion National Park and plan a few days inside the park.

2. Get on the Same Page with Expectations

For some people, they hear “romantic getaway” and envision a couple days full of exciting adventures, discovering an exciting new place, and a whole lot of walking. Other people think of sleeping in and booking a couple’s massage. Make sure you are both on the same page in terms of what to expect on the trip. Consult with each other to determine how you can plan out your trip so you can both enjoy it. Unless it’s a surprise, in which case you could talk with a family member or close friend to get an idea of what your partner would like.

3. Plan Carefully

Once you have an idea of what the expectations are for the trip, do some research into what activities are available. You want it to be enjoyable for both of you, so while you might enjoy a day full of sightseeing, your partner might prefer to visit a nearby museum. Don’t feel like you have to fill every moment either! Giving yourself some free time in the mornings and evenings to relax and recuperate can provide the perfect balance for your trip.

You might also want to take into consideration the time of year you will be taking your romantic trip. Holidays can make many destinations pretty crowded, as can warm weather. Scheduling your getaway during the off-season is likely to provide smaller crowds and give you the opportunity to explore more freely.

4. Ask the Locals

Perhaps one of the oldest tips in the book is to talk to the locals about where to go, what to eat, and what to do during your stay. Sure, the tourist destinations and exciting sights are worth the trip. But chatting it up with some of the local residents can give you insight into opportunities and experiences that you probably wouldn’t know about otherwise. They can point out all of the best “hole-in-the-wall” food spots, and at the very least can give you easy-to-follow directions if you get lost.

5. Romance is in the Details

Sometimes the most romantic gestures are not the most elaborate. Show your affection for your significant other in small ways to take your getaway to the next level. Get some greeting cards and write little notes for them, and then hide the cards in various places throughout the vacation for them to find. Talk to the concierge at your hotel or resort and see what can be done in terms of floral arrangements or chocolates, and above all, make it a point to disconnect from technology. Turning your attention from your phone to your partner will perhaps be one of the most meaningful parts of the trip.

 

5 Ways To Keep Your Body Looking Young

Living life as a woman brings about many challenges. Women face a much stronger pressure from those around them to look young and fit. Maintaining your body should never be something you do for others.

Rather, you should work to maintain a young, fit appearance to uphold a strong stance against the shallow expectations of society. Take some time to read through a few tips that will help you feel and look your best, and start paving your own path today.

Eat a balanced diet

Everyone knows that their diet directly affects their physical health, but few people truly understand how to create a healthy diet. If you’re one of the many who don’t really know what it means to eat a balanced diet, it’s time to do some research.

You’ll want to start by adding plenty of greens to your meals. Fruits, veggies, and other natural foods are always a good dietary decision. Avoid refined sugars, saturated fats, and excess sodium. As a general rule, anything in a box or can probably isn’t the best dietary choice.

Refrain from smoking and drinking

Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol is bad for every part of your body. In terms of aesthetics, the two are notorious for prematurely aging a person’s skin.

You’ll look like your 80 before you know it if you live a fast lifestyle for an extended amount of time. Of course, there are some who escape this fate due to their genetics, but the majority of people express the same diminishing outcome.

Consider cosmetic surgery

If it is of your own choosing, there’s no shame in investing in cosmetic surgery. People all around the world go under the knife every day.

If you have good health and a good mind to choose cosmetic surgery, you could greatly extend the length of your youthful glow. Just be careful not to go overboard, so you don’t end up looking like a piece of plastic.

Take good care of your skin

Avoid overexposure to the sun. Your skin will become damaged over time when you insist on “tanning” often.

Burning your skin does far more damage than you realize, and the full effects of the damage may take years to arise. Wear sunscreen, and don’t spend every day baking in the sun. Your skin will look more youthful for longer.

Avoid yo-yo dieting

Dramatically shifting your weight from large to small and back again will cause your skin to lose its elasticity. Eventually, you’ll be left with unsightly, saggy skin.

If you want to lose weight, commit yourself to a lifestyle change. Dieting is a temporary solution. Changing the way you live will produce lasting results.

 

Stacey Tokunaga – Tips on Getting The Authentic Mexican Experience in Mexico City

My dear friend Stacey Tokunaga moved down to Mexico City just over 8 years ago, and I couldn’t wait to get down and visit her. As things worked out, after 3 or 4 trips down to the Mexican capital I also fell in love with the place and followed in Stacey’s footsteps in moving down here. This is a city which really combines modern and traditional culture, and you can enjoy both city life and authentic Mexican experiences during your time here. If you are looking for the authentic Mexican experience then here is what you need to do when you are in Mexico City.

Eat Tacos

To say that tacos are life would be a massive understatement and you will see in just a few days here just how essential tacos really are to the Mexican culture. On almost every street corner of the city you’ll find vendors who sell an array of different types of tacos, not to mention that almost every restaurant will have a taco option. When finding good tacos in the street, aim for a cart with many people around it, this is a great indicator of the quality of their tacos.

Go To Teotihuacan

Mexico has rich history of ancient civilizations who once lived on these lands, principally the Aztecs and the Mayans. The result is that throughout the country there are many archaeological sites which have been well preserved and give an insight into the past of the country. One of the most impressive of these ruins is the ancient city of Teotihuacan which is juts over an hour outside Mexico City. This sprawling city was home to both the Aztecs and the Mayans before them, and it features two key pyramids and many plazas and living quarters which have been perfectly preserved.

Listen to Mariachis

If you go to Plaza Garibaldi in the Zocalo area of Mexico City you will see many Mariachi groups waiting to play to those who want to hear a song. There is nothing more Mexican than Mariachi music and for the authentic Mexican experience you should head to Garibaldi and pay for a group to play you a couple of songs. Great music played by great musicians.

Visit a Cantina

Cantinas were traditionally working class watering holes where the locals could hear great music and enjoy some food and drink. These days these bars are accessible to everyone and they provide you with the real Mexican experience. Generally what happens is that you pay for your drinks and the food is free, naturally this will mean you pay a slightly higher price for your drinks. The best thing to do here is to go in a small group, but a bottle of rum or whisky for the table and then enjoy as many snacks as you can handle. Traditional music is played in these places and they are a real hotbed of activity where you can experience some real Mexican culture.

James Haidak – Reasons to Combine Travel With Something You Love

About two years ago my buddy James Haidak and I decided that we would combine our love for surfing with our love for travel and we embarked on a month long trip around Costa Rica to hit some of their best surf spots. This is something which James had been doing for many years but I on the other hand used to just travel to explore, without really making the most of my favorite hobbies when I was away. This trip with James changed all of that and I have since then 2 more trips which have combined my passion for travel with me other passions in life. This is such a rewarding experience and here is why I’d recommend it.

Learning

Whether surfing in Costa Rica, going on a vineyard tour in France or going fishing in Alaska, when you travel and enjoy your hobby in other locations around the world, you learn so much about your passion. This is much about what travel can bring you as well, getting out there and meeting different people, learning new skills, new methods and new approaches to things, and this is also what you’ll get when you combine your trips with something that you love.

New Places

When you pick your travel destination based on where the best place to practice your hobby is, you’ll find that you visit places which you may not have previously considered. For example I’m not sure I’d ever have gone to Costa Rica were it not for the surfing community that they have down there. Although I may not have seen the appeal in the past, I can honestly say that I really fell in love with this country and I would certainly go back again. The same goes for those who love wine, fishing, kayaking, climbing or art, you will visit places that you may never have considered before.

Like Minded

Meeting people on the road is great, you can get to know people from other nations and cultures and through travel you can often make some great friends. When you travel to do something you love however you’ll greatly increase the number of like-minded people who you will meet, and I personally made many great friends during that Costa Rica trip with James, and others that I have been on since. Your passion gives you something to talk about and a great way to connect with people, this is why it is much easier to make good friends when you travel.

Fun

Ultimately traveling in this way is just so much more fun than any other type of travel and I have completely fallen in love with the idea of traveling to places where I can enjoy my hobbies and passions. Traveling is fun on its own, combine that with something you love and you are guaranteed to have the best time!

Why not give it a try for your next vacation!

 

Interdependence PR – Reasons To Love Working in Public Relations

Recently I was asked by my daughter to go into her school and discuss working in pubic relations and what it means to me. I have to be honest that it wasn’t until I sat down to give it some thought that I realized just how much I really do love this industry. I work for the brilliant Interdependence PR and they are a firm which have allowed me to achieve everything that I wanted to in this industry. I wanted to talk to you a little today about why I love this industry and why I would certainly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in this field.

Creative Juices

No matter what project or client I am working on there is always an opportunity to flex my creative juices and think up some out of the box way of deliver a message or strategizing. What I love in particular about this industry is that you are working as part of a team with other amazing people who are creative and innovative and this really brings out the best in you.

Teamwork

I am not a born leader and I have no ambition to be a leader, which is why I am so content in my position as part of a well oiled team. Public relations isn’t a position which you do alone and if you want to work in a team of great minds then this is a position which can certainly give you that.

People

Ever since I was young I have loved working with a wide range of people, I enjoy communicating with people from different industries and backgrounds and thankfully, that is what I do in my daily job. Whether it is setting up events and communicating with event staff, working with clients or speaking with press officers, if you are a people person like I am then you are going to love this job. Within public relations it is absolutely essential that you are able to build strong relationships with those that you work with which is why being a people person will help you so much in this industry.

Seeing Results

I love the cycle from the moment that we speak to the client and understand what their needs and their goals are, planing a strategy and then watching as the results are delivered. This is an incredibly rewarding part of the job and it is something which I love to see.

Variety

There is no monotony at all in this industry and everyday you will be doing something different than the day before. I love this variety and I know that there are many out there who are also looking for a career which promises them variety like this. One day you are planning an event, the next you are fire fighting and the next you are looking to build on your client list.

This is a great industry to work in and one which I really love.

 

What to Look For When Buying Home Warranty Protection

There has been a rise recently in the number of people who are looking to get a home warranty policy for their home. Much of this has been as a result of some of the natural disasters which we have seen in California and Florida in recent years. Home warranties protect you where the home insurance policy does not and it is vital that you take the time to make sure that you get the perfect policy and provider for you. When you begin to compare home warranty policies, here are some of the things which you should be focusing on.

Reviews

The reason I chose the home warranty that I did was because of the glowing First American Home Warranty reviews and I would urge you to do the same when you are looking for the right company. When something goes wrong in the home, the actions of the home insurance or in this case the home warranty company makes a huge difference and good or bad, people want to share their experience. You can get great value when looking at what other buyers of home warranty have said about the company.

Price

When looking into price you naturally want to ensure that you get maximum protection at the best price. Costings don’t just come down to how much the cover will be and you also need to bear in mind how much cover you will get for each system in the home, as well as placing a focus on the deductible you will have to pay should you need to use the policy. Different plans are designed for different types of homeowner so find yours and make sure that you get the most reasonable price.

Recommendations

There are many experts online who will blog and post on social media about the best home warranties to look into and this too can offer you some good value when you are making your decisions. Policies are changing all the time and to ensure that you have the most up to date information, you should ensure that you check what the experts are saying.

Reputable Company

Most price structures between various providers are similar so if you find a price which looks too good to be true, then it probably is. Make sure that you fully check who is providing the service and find out whether or not they are a reputable company. The last thing you want to do is find out that they are not, when you are in your hour of need.

Customer Service

Customer service is something you should certainly expect from a home warranty company and when you first make contact with them this is what you should be looking for. If they aren’t able to offer a new customer some high quality service then what will they do when you need them to fix an issue?

 

Reasons to Travel Solo

For my good friend Thomas Leeper Myrtle Beach has been his entire life, he was born here, he was raised here and apart from the odd trip across to other regions in North Carolina, he has remained here for the majority of his adult life. As someone who loves to travel I just struggle to understand people who don’t want to go out and see what the world has in store for them, and so I began to try and convince Thomas to take a trip away. Thomas had concerns about traveling alone, but I gave him plenty of reasons as to exactly why he should. Thomas took the advice and spent what sounds like a wonderful week in Costa Rica last year. I wanted to extend what I said to Thomas about solo travel to anyone out there who isn’t sure whether or not they should do it.

The Trip is Your Own

When you go solo traveling every decision that is made is your own, you don’t have to listen to what others want, you won’t have to compromise, nor will you have to sacrifice any aspect of the trip. When you travel solo you can eat when you want, go to whichever attractions take your fancy, go to bed early or late, and you won’t have to hear anybody else complain if things aren’t working out well. This autonomy on the road is so valuable.

Time to Reflect

Traveling can often be a very sobering experience and one which causes you to look at your own life and reflect on where you are going and where you have been. Now when you travel with others you can talk about these things but there is far less time for a personal reflection. When you travel solo however this is exactly what you will get, the chance to hit the pause button on life and just take stock of everything that is going on.

Meet People

Whilst you can of course meet people when you travel with others, it is not the same as when you travel alone because you are more of a package deal. When you travel alone, however, this is not to say that you have to stay alone, and you should take the opportunity of meeting new people during your trip. People are much more inclined to approach you if you are on your own than with friends or family and this can open up the chance to meet a number of interesting people, you may even make a friend!

Drinking It In

In my personal experience, I find that I get much more from a destination when I go there on my own. Whilst it is nice to share your experience with others and to chat about what you are seeing, you really get to focus better when you are by yourself.

If you want to go away alone but you are unsure, take my word for it, you will love it!

 

Ali Ata on What Beginner’s Should Do Before Real Estate Investment

Ali Ata has spent his career in real estate investment, he began working as a real estate agent in his younger days and in the last decade he has switched his focus to the buying and selling of luxury real estate. He is then the perfect person to offer advice to beginners who are just about to embark on their real estate investment career. Real estate investment is a great way to put your money to work and it offers a stable and diverse market for investors. Before you get started, here are some tips which Ali believes you should pay attention to before you part with a single cent.

Homework

Because of the large amounts of money that are involved in real estate investment, you can’t afford to make any mistakes and that is why now is the optimum time for you to get researching. Expect to spend at least 3 months learning about this industry and how you will operate within it. You should be looking at the market in various locations, which impacts the price of houses and how the market moves. You should also focus on what trends there are at the moment and which real estate property types are the easiest to sell and rent out. The more information you gather now, the better your chances are of success once you get started.

Making Contacts

Once you get started in real estate investment you are going to need to call upon many different services with regularity and that is why it is important that you use this time to make some contacts. For example, you will need lawyers and a solicitor on your team, you may also need workmen and construction companies and these services are going to give you much more favorable deals and prices if you have a relationship with them.

Understanding What Type of Investor You Will Be

There are many ways to make money in real estate and knowing what type of investor you plan to be is also going to be helpful once you get started. For example, you may wish to flip properties that involve buying them cheap, investing money to get them up to scratch and then selling them on for a small profit. Alternatively, you may wish to look for a long term investment and rent out the property or properties over a number of years. The choice is, of course, yours but deciding now will help you to get an idea of how to get started.

Cash

Finally, you have to align your finances and know exactly what you can afford to spend on your first property. Plan well as that cash will be tied up in an asset and you don’t want to restrict your ability to invest capital elsewhere. Make sure that you always leave money in your account as in this game there are always additional things to pay for which you may not have foreseen.