Tips To Fulfill Your Home-Buying Resolution This New Year

 As the New Year approaches, you will probably have a list of personal and financial resolutions. Buying a new home may be on it for the year ahead. While it is the best thing to do for your future, you must realize that it requires a lot of preparation. You cannot jump on the first deal you like, even if you are financially ready. Planning puts you in a good place, so you must know the basics before diving in. Let us share some valuable tips for fulfilling your home-buying resolution this New Year.

Create a wishlist

Creating a wishlist for your dream home gives you a good start, as it enables you to narrow down your searches once you start looking for a property. Of course, it also helps you decide on the budget for the purchase. Look for the essentials, such as an optimal size, location, and features. For example, you may want a large house for your family of six in a safe neighborhood. Check features like toddler safety, elderly needs, and sustainability for a dream home.

Prepare your finances

Besides knowing what your dream house should look like, you should be financially ready. The New Year is the best time to look at your finances and understand whether you are in a good place to go ahead with the resolution. Ideally, you must have 20% of the buying price (budget) in your savings fund as a down payment. Check your credit score because a healthy one ensures easy mortgage availability.

Seek expert assistance  

Home buying is a complex task, so you should not even try doing it alone. Seeking expert assistance eases the journey and saves you from costly blunders. Look for a real estate agent to help you shortlist the best properties and guide you about the market. Having a conveyancer by your side during the purchase helps you deal with documentation and legal steps. You can Get a conveyancing solicitor quote to bring an expert on board without breaking the bank. With experts reviewing the title paperwork, you can seal the deal without stress.

Get your documents in place

Another step to fulfill a home-buying resolution this New Year is to get your documents in place. Not having them can delay your mortgage process, and you may even end up losing a dream deal. Typically, you will require your IDs, income statements, and bank statements for the borrowing process. But the document list can get overwhelming when you need them for a quick mortgage deal. Having all your stuff in one place can save the hassle.

Understand the real cost of home-buying

Getting educated about home-buying should also be on your resolutions checklist because it goes far beyond your imagination. You must understand the real cost of home-buying to keep your budget on track. Be ready for additional expenses like stamp duty, realtor’s commission, closing fees, homeowners’ insurance, maintenance, and taxes. Add them to your budget to get a realistic amount from the outset.

Buying a home is an easy-to-fulfill resolution, provided you plan and prepare well. Follow these tips to own the house of your dreams this New Year.

 

Five Ways That Busy Parents Can Unwind

 

Things always tend to get a bit stressful during the winter, don’t they? It is tough enough to make sure that your kids are getting everything that they need and that everyone is staying happy and healthy without making sure that you are looking after yourself as well. Every parent is more than familiar with feeling like their self-care is getting pushed to the bottom of the list, and every parent knows that this is part of the deal. But if you are not taking care of yourself, then you are going to struggle to take care of everyone else.

It is especially important to make self-care a priority during the winter with the short days, the bad weather and the added stress of seasonal viruses. If you are someone who finds it tough to unwind and look for ways that you can relax, here are a few easy tips to help you carve out that time.

Find Some Time That’s Just For You

This is always easier said than done when you are running a whole household, but the first and most important thing to take care of if you need to unwind is to make time for some you-time. It’s not always easy to find a whole day or a whole weekend, particularly after the holiday season when it’s back to work with a vengeance. So, think about where you could make a little time every day. Is there a half hour or even a twenty-minute slot where you could step outside of all the rest of the stress that you are dealing with? Think about going for a walk or a cup of coffee, something that is just yours and yours alone.

Try Getting Into Gaming

One of the best ways to unwind is to find an activity that is completely removed from your everyday stresses. This is why so many of us enjoy chilling out in front of the TV watching shows that are about people doing unbelievable things in far-flung destinations. But one of the problems with this is that it is all too easy to find ways for your normal distractions to creep back in, like checking social media or your work messages. Have you considered trying playing videogames to relax? It is something that requires your total concentration, and it’s fun! If you are not sure where to start, it will be worth reading some site and game reviews before you dive in. If you’re looking to try online gambling and play slots games, check out Online Casino Review. They have detailed reviews of all the best online slots and more.

Embrace A New Hobby

Everyone has that one thing that they would like to be better at if they only had more time. For some people it’s painting, for others it’s learning a new language, for others it’s getting into cooking properly for the first time. There is a lot to be said for picking up new skills, and one of the more important bonuses is that it is something that you enjoy which is for you and you alone. Learning something new can be a struggle if you are not enjoying it, so think about what you have always wanted to try and then give it a go. If you find it too difficult or if it is not as fun as you had hoped, you can always try something else! 

Make Time For Your Friends

One of the first things that can fly out of the window when you are overworked and overstressed is time with your friends. Everyone knows the pang of having to rearrange an evening with your favorite people for the millionth time and wondering how many months it is going to be before you can get it in the calendar again. As we head into the new year, this should be a resolution that we all try to make. Remember that there is something truly nourishing about spending time with the people who know you the best, and if you have been looking for ways to unwind, this could be the best option.

Treat Yourself When You Can

With the rising cost of living around the world, everyone is worrying about how much money they are spending, and everyone is looking for ways that they can cut down on non-essentials. It is important to remember that self-care is not something that you can afford to cut out of your life. No one is saying that you need to go for a spa weekend every other weekend (although it is worth thinking about every so often). But the little treats that make you feel like you are giving yourself something that you really wanted, whether it’s a new piece of clothing or a spontaneous meal out at a restaurant, are important.

Homemade Boozy Butter Cream Candy

Last year, I made several tasty vintage candy recipes for the holidays, to the delight of my family. It was fun, but this year, I decided I wanted to do something different.  That is where these decadent butter cream cake vodka candies came into play. 

I made homemade butter creams last year, and they were so good that I didn't even offer the kids the chance to lick the bowl after I scooped them out. I hid in the pantry and enjoyed it myself. HA! So, this year, I started on the butter creams but decided to do something wickedly decadent. I added cake vodka to the mix. And Holy Cow, they were amazing!

Ingredients:

1 stick of unsalted butter, softened

4 ounces of softened cream cheese

5 to 6 cups of powdered sugar

½ cup of cake vodka

For coating

½ teaspoon of crisco

4 ounces of almond bark or milk chocolate

Directions:

Combine butter and cream cheese until well blended.

Add cake vodka and blend for 30 seconds.

Add 3 cups of the powdered sugar and begin stirring.

Add 2 cups of powdered sugar and stir until you have a thick cream.

If needed, add the remaining powdered sugar.

You want to have a consistency that is very thick!

Begin scooping out the buttercream and dropping it on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Freeze the butter creams for 1 hour.

When the butter creams are completely frozen, melt the chocolate or almond bark with a ½ teaspoon of crisco over a double boiler.

When you can stir the chocolate smooth, remove from heat.

Working quickly, dip the butter creams into the melted chocolate, place them back on the baking sheet and put them back into the freezer for 15-25 minutes to harden the chocolate.

These are best stored in the fridge or the freezer until they are ready to be served.

 

These are an awesome and unique gift from the heart to share. They are sweet, have a little kick from the vodka, and will certainly offer a boozy treat that will set off the holidays just right for grown up friends.

As these are boozy, it would be a good idea to put a little warning on them before sharing. 

I am going to be serving these at my Christmas party; I think I will also make a batch in white chocolate.

If you like cocktails, check out some of my favorite recipes:
Night King Cocktails
15 Amazing Wine Cocktails
Bomb Pop Cocktails
Blueberry Vodka Lime Sorbet

Holiday Gift Ideas

The holidays are near and I have gathered up some of my favorite products of the year to share with you. This list has some fun gift ideas that you will want to grab for the people on your shopping list.

Samples were provided for consideration.

Fuzzy Glow in the Dark Blankets

These blankets are awesome for kids! Give them a warm and cozy blanket with a cute design that does double duty. It glows in the dark to act as a one of a kind night light that kids will love to sleep with every night. Get these for about $30.

Kitty Light

My youngest needs a night light to feel secure, but the old fashioned kind that plug into a wall don't seem to do the trick. This light makes for such a cute and friendly night light option for her that she can move around if needed. Get these for $20.

Nautilus Puzzles

These puzzles have a nostalgic feel and are super fun to put together. I love giving these as a family gift that everyone can work on together. Get an assortment of designs starting at about $16.

12 Days of Ice Cream

This is the tastiest way to count down to the holidays! Give flavors like the best cookies and cream we have ever tried, chocolate chunk and salted caramel brownie to name a few for a gift that keeps on giving. Order  for $130.

Forever 60's 

This collection from Time Life makes a great gift because it offers a complete trip down memory lane featuring some of the best hits from the 1960's! Find music by The Beach Boys, The Guess Who, Elvis Presley, Sonny and Cher and More! This collection features 155 songs. Order it for $150.

Rock n Roll Hall of Fame

This 17 dvd set is like having the greatest concert of all times at your fingertips with performances by The Boss, Tina Turner, Paul Simon, BB King and More! Order this for a music lover for $220.

 

Chef Woo Noodles

These plant based noodles are so tasty! Available in flavors like roasted chicken, braised beef, and thai lemongrass. This would be a great gift idea for college students who are sure to appreciate the flavor and convenience. 

Body Comp Scale 

Give the gift of great health with this incredibly smart scale by Withings. It offers a snapshot of your BMI, vascular age and more. This is the best gift for a health conscious loved one this holiday season. It combines tech and a healthy lifestyle for a great gift Get this for $209.

Morphee

If you want to give a unique and meaningful gift that will keep giving long after Chrsitmas has passed, then, get a Morphee. It combines mediation and relaxation sessions for a deep sleep experience that is unbeatable. This is under $100 and worth every penny.

Sleep

This sleep tracking mat is such a good gift idea. Everyone can use a good night sleep and this mat tracks heart rate and snoring so you can have a smarter sleep experience. Order for under $130 for a gift that anyone can use an enjoy.

Andy Robot

This code and play robot is an awesome gift for kids. It combines fun and learning for a toy that they will keep coming back to! Get this for $50 for curious kids.

Intro to Gears 

This set offers kids an easy way to learn about gears and how they work. This is a great stem kit for kids that love to learn and want to have some hands on fun that challenges them. Get it for $40.

Magformers

This basic set is a great gift for kids of all ages because these are so much fun to play with! Get this set for about $25 for a gift that will have kids completely intrigued!

Which of these gifts would you like to receive this year? Be sure to check back as I will be updating this post all month long. 

Happy Holidays!

How To Prepare The Perfect Christmas Dinner

 The 25th of December is such a special day for many families around the world, and that’s likely why it’s so popular to prepare a delicious festive feast to tuck in to with your nearest and dearest! 

Cooking up the perfect Christmas dinner can often seem like a mammoth task, and it can be tough to keep everyone around the table satisfied with their meal. However, this guide contains some of the best tips and tricks that you can make the most of to ensure you can whip up the most mouth watering meal that’s memorable for all of the right reasons!

So, what are you waiting for? Read on to discover more and start preparing your festive feast today!

Image Source - Pexels 

Start Prep A Few Days Beforehand 

Attempting to complete all of your cooking responsibilities on Christmas Day is no doubt going to be one of the worst decisions that you can make, as you need to give yourself more than enough time just in case anything goes wrong. Starting your prep a few days beforehand is the best way to go, as you can do all manner of chopping and creating before the big day. For example, you can get to work chopping and parboiling your vegetables and potatoes a day or two before, and simply pop them in the freezer ready to roast a few hours before your guests arrive. You can also create things like Yorkshire pudding mix or cake mix a day before too - just put them in a sealed container and leave them somewhere fresh! You’ll be so glad that you started your prep a few days earlier, as there’s nothing worse than running round your kitchen like a headless chicken with far too many tasks to complete! 

Cater For Every Diet 

Making the mistake of preparing one set meat for every single one of your guests could leave you in hot water, as there are so many different diet types and food preferences that people have in today's modern world. Putting in a little extra effort so that you can attempt to cater to a few different common diet types will always be a productive option, as those who eat them will massively appreciate you including their needs in your cooking! For example, you can prepare a batch of gluten free stuffing, or even make an eggless triple chocolate layer cake for dessert. There are lots of different recipes online that you can make the most of if you’re not too sure about different diet and their guidelines, and these will often contain some advice about how to minimize any contamination too - this is absolutely essential if you have any dinner guests who have allergies or intolerances, as you don’t want to make them poorly by accident. 

Figuring out how to prepare the perfect Christmas dinner has never been such a simple task when you can utilize some of the brilliant tips and ideas detailed in this informative guide! Good luck in your quest to prepare a magical festive feast.