Author Archives: Jeffrey Scott Thomas

Common mistakes not to make when buying your first home

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Buying your first home is a mix of excitement and potential challenges. While the idea of homeownership is thrilling, there are also pitfalls to watch out for. To make sure your experience is positive, it’s essential to avoid some common mistakes that first-time homebuyers often make. So, get ready for a journey through the twists and turns of the real estate world with some valuable tips.

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Falling in Love Too Quickly: The Honeymoon Phase

Getting smitten by a house, flaunting shiny countertops, and a backyard that’s a private hideout happens to the best of us. But diving in too fast can be like love goggles for your judgment. So, hold your horses, take a chill pill, and size things up. Look beyond the surface sparkle, think about what you need versus what you just want, and toss in a dash of practicality. Remember, it’s not only about love at first sight; you’re committing to a long-term relationship with your new home. Make sure it’s a match made in practical, cozy heaven, not just a fleeting fancy.

Ignoring the Hidden Costs: Budgeting Beyond the Purchase Price

Don’t let the thrill of discovering your dream home blind you to the sneaky costs of hiding in the shadows. Closing costs, property taxes, and those homeowners association fees – they’re the budget busters you didn’t see coming. Here’s a handy tip: when you’re figuring out your budget, don’t just look at the house price. Toss in these extra expenses, and you’ll be ready for whatever the homeownership journey throws at you. Being financially savvy from the get-go prevents you from getting sucked into a budgetary whirlwind later on.

Skipping the Home Inspection: Peeking Behind the Curtain

In the real estate game, appearances can be deceiving. Skipping a home inspection, thinking you’ll save time or money, is like playing with fire. Trust me, a thorough inspection is like a superhero swooping in, revealing any lurking issues. Picture it as giving your new home a health check-up before making a serious commitment. You wouldn’t marry someone without knowing they’re healthy, right? Well, your home deserves the same consideration, and Define Property is the right choice. So, invest a little time and money upfront, and you’ll thank yourself later when you dodge potential headaches and unexpected expenses down the homeownership road. 

Neglecting the Neighborhood: More Than Just a House

Sure, your dream home might boast the dreamiest kitchen and a bathroom straight out of a spa fantasy, but hold your horses before you sign the dotted line. Take a little detour and check out the neighborhood vibes. Safety, amenities, and the local community feel – they’re the unsung heroes of home happiness. Your house isn’t an island; it’s part of a neighborhood story. A fantastic neighborhood can transform a good house into an absolute gem. So, make sure your dream home isn’t just a pretty face but is surrounded by the kind of neighborhood you want to see every day.

Getting Too Comfortable with Your Lender: Shopping Around Pays Off

Bagging a mortgage is like choosing the perfect pair of shoes – you want it to fit just right. Don’t tie yourself down to the first lender you meet; it’s a bit like marrying the first person you date – risky business. Instead, be a smart shopper. Explore different mortgage rates and terms; it’s like finding the best deal in town. A tiny change in interest rates can sprinkle some serious savings magic over the life of your loan. So, treat your lender hunt like a treasure hunt. Be as picky with them as you are with your dream home. 

Failing to Plan for the Future: A House That Grows with You

Sure, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of the now, like choosing the perfect Netflix show for the evening. But hold on smart homebuyer! Think ahead a bit, just like you do when planning a weekend getaway. Picture your long-term plans – maybe more family members on the way or a pet-friendly home. Picking a home that can roll with the punches of your evolving lifestyle is like choosing a wardrobe staple that works for any occasion. Trust me; it’ll save you from the headache of packing and moving too soon. 

In a nutshell, buying your first home is an exciting adventure with some tricky parts. To make it smoother, avoid common mistakes like rushing into decisions, missing hidden costs, and overlooking the neighborhood. Stay smart, and may your homeownership journey be a happy and successful one. Happy house hunting!

 7 Unique Holiday Gift Ideas to Treat Your Best Friend

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Celebrating those we love is the best part of the entire holiday season. It’s a magical time when you’re able to show those you are closest to just how much they mean to you. But this can be a very stressful task to take on as well. Because you are going to want everything to be perfect. What exactly would show your bestie just how much they mean to you? And you don’t want to be scrambling at the last minute to get something they absolutely love.

We are here to help you find a unique holiday gift that’s perfect for your best friend.

1.    For the New Mama Bear

Did your best friend recently bring a new bundle of joy into the world? Get them something that shows them how much they’re loved for being a new mom . You can get them an embroidered sweater and one for their little one to match. They’ll love having something custom made that lets them show off their little mini-me. It will also make for the most adorable photos.

2.    For the DIY Dinner Party Queen

We all have a friend who is the hostess with the mostess. But how can you get her something as unique as she is when she’s the one always thinking of the perfect little touches. This is a job for DIY! Get crafty and make her some candle and flower centerpieces. Incorporate her favorite flower and maybe even paint the pot with some fun designs. She’ll be absolutely entranced and so grateful to have the perfect centerpieces for all of her garden dinner parties.

3.    For the Clean Girl (Who Takes It Beyond An Aesthetic)

You know exactly who I am talking about. Her home is spotless, her outfits are impeccable, and she has sanitizer wherever she goes. She’s the ideal in cleanliness and hygiene. So what can you get a girl who knows how to clean just about everything? UV device sanitizers ensure that one of our most used objects, our phones, are free from any germs or bacteria that may have found a new home. She’ll be grateful to have something that makes her phone just as clean as everything else in her world.

4.    For the Tough One

Got a tough girl or guy in your life? Are they the one you go to when you need someone strong (and maybe a little scary!) to hide behind? This customizable paperweight is the perfect thing for them to show off just how tough they are. These are solid brass, sturdy, and sure to make an impression.

5.    For The Work From Anywhere Queen

Do you know someone whose computer is their whole life? And are they always on the go? Toting it around to work in coffee shops, bars, libraries, and wherever they can catch a wifi signal? They absolutely need the security that a lock adaptor can bring. Be sure to help them protect their computer and keep their remote work game going strong.

6.    For the Christmas Elf

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We all have that friend who is crazy about Christmas. The moment Halloween is over she breaks out the tinsel and lights and is ready to go. Check out a customizable Christmas sweater that she will want to break out the second she can. There is no better way to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.

7.    For the Crafty One

Do you have a friend who can’t keep their hands still? They always have a pair of knitting needles or a crochet hook ready to go? Get them some nice yarn, a new pair of needles, and find a cool pattern and put them all together in a nice basket. They will be so happy that you’ve given them something nice that they can spend quality time on.

Show Love on the Holidays

The holidays are the best time to show your loved ones how much they mean to you. And by giving them something thoughtful you are showing them that you really know them very deeply. The holidays bring out the best in all of us. It starts getting cozier, people focus on those they hold dear, and practice gratitude. Your best friend has been by your side supporting you and showing you love, and this is your chance to show them how much they mean to you. The best gifts aren’t fancy or flashy, the best gifts simply come from the heart.

Reviving Retro: How to Give Vintage Items New Life in Your Home

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Buying vintage has become one of the most popular trends of 2023, and not just among the climate-conscious. For those who crave antique collectibles that can’t be found anywhere and for those who want something that makes a statement, vintage is the way to go. But giving life to a vintage piece can be like inflating a deflated tire; it requires patience, perseverance, and the right arsenal.

Reviving vintage items in your home is more than a design choice; it’s a celebration of history and a nod to sustainability. Being aware of how to transform vintage items for home purposes is essential. It might not require an extensive renovation, but little changes that aid significantly. It might be something as simple as DIY stain glass lamps or something as complicated as replacing hardware and refinishing old furniture. Here’s your simple guide on giving vintage items a new lease of life.

Refurbish and Refinish

Thrift stores are a goldmine for those who know how to look, and when you’ve found the right items, from mid-century furniture to quirky accessories, there are many dated pieces you can revive with the right refurbishing. If you’ve found worn-out or damaged items, there is a chance that you can fix them through a bit of refurbishing. This can include reupholstering old sofas, armchairs, and even headboards.

Use wood polish, wood paint, and clear sealants to revive wooden furniture. You can highlight the natural grain by refinishing it, and any chips or scratches on the wood can be fixed with wood glue or filler.

Repurpose Items

While items and furniture are made for a specific purpose, there’s no reason that you have to use them the way they’re intended. For example, vintage record crates can be repurposed to be unique side tables or even shelving units for other items like books. Unplayable vinyl records can be repurposed to be decorative bowls with a bit of heat molding. Depending on the vintage item you have, there is a variety of choices when it comes to repurposing.

You can repurpose old lamps to be planters, especially if they are not functional. Other examples include repurposing wine corks to be a bed headboard, and vintage clothes can become a blanket or a throw. The easiest repurposing projects can be turning vintage items into decor. Changing a vintage bicycle to become outdoor decor doesn’t require much. Just paint it again, and you’re done!

You can also go on a hunt for vintage suitcases and upcycle them to be side tables (providing both aesthetic value and storage). Old suitcases can also make for ideal shelves for any home. You can also paint over them to ensure that they fit your home’s interior design.

Invest in Quality Equipment

If you want to have functional vintage decor in your home, you need to purchase tools that can help revive them. It can include items like a vinyl record cleaner to ensure that any vinyl records you purchase end up being usable. It can guarantee that your vinyls are always in peak condition, and this is vital if you use them frequently or plan on selling them later on.

Investing in basic items like cleaning supplies is essential when you’re planning to purchase vintage items. Rust cleaning solutions, abrasive scrubs, leather cleaners, cleaning gloves, and so on are vital for vintage items. All vintage items will require a good clean once they arrive in your home, and you need to have a good cleaning routine down to ensure that they look well taken care of once they’re in your home. For wooden items, you may need some type of sanding machine and experience in handling wood-cutting equipment.

Consider Layering

Creating a thoughtful and well-decorated home means guaranteeing that you have a good combination of vintage and modern elements. Combining these two elements will help you highlight the vintage items where needed and ensure your home still feels current and relevant. It could be something as easy as designating one vintage item per room to be the focal point, whether it’s a retro dining table or a vintage chandelier. Let that be the central piece for the room, and build the rest of the decor around it.

Another way you can layer vintage items throughout your home is through the thoughtful use of textiles. Rugs, carpets, tapestries, throw pillows, and curtains make for great layering pieces in any room. Layer these textures alongside modern furniture to create an elegant and sophisticated place that remains functional.

Making Your Home a Vintage Haven

Vintage items, whether they’re passed down in your family or have been found elsewhere, all contain their own stories. It could be in the craftsmanship of a bygone era or the sentimentality with which they were passed down. Knowing how to revive them and accommodate them in your home can take considerable thought and hard work. If you’re determined to make the most of vintage items in your home, it has to be through careful placement, refinishing, and upcycling. Once you have the basics down, there’s nothing stopping you from making your home a true vintage haven!

Fabrics That Feel as Beautiful as They Look

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Nothing feels better than when someone compliments what you’re wearing and you get to say, “Thank you, and it’s so comfortable!” When it comes to fashion, the best balance is finding something that looks great and feels great. So what are the most comfortable fabrics that you can wear while still looking fantastic? When looking for comfort in a garment you should be looking at fabric type, garment design, and size.

Read on to get all our best tips and tricks for curating the cutest and comfiest wardrobe you’ll ever have.

Fabric Type

This is obviously one of the most important elements to consider. Fabric type can change a lot in terms of comfort, and this can also vary from person to person. Consider if you have any sensitivities or allergies, consider if the garment has any appliques that could irritate your skin, and consider whether or not the fabric has any stretch. 

Here are some fabrics that we love for their comfort and versatility:

●     Cotton

Cotton is an extremely breathable and comfortable natural fabric. It’s also extremely common and easy to wash. Cotton dresses, pants, and blouses are ideal for summer days or when you just don’t want to feel restricted.

●     Polyester

Polyester is a synthetic fabric that is durable, stable, and adaptable. Similar to cotton, it’s easy to wash. However, you do not have to worry about any shrinking when it comes to polyester. Polyester isn’t as breathable as cotton, but this makes it a more ideal choice for colder days when you want protection away from the elements.

●     Rayon

Rayon is a very durable fabric that is made from wood pulp, eucalyptus, or other natural fibers. The fabric is woven from very thin threads which leads it to be extremely breathable and ideal for summer wardrobes.

●     Linen

Linen is perhaps the fabric that people often think of when they think of luxurious comfort. Linen clothes are not just beautiful, they’re light and breathable, making them ideal for a saunter in the sun.

Everyone relates to fabrics differently and has their own preferences. If you’re unsure which fabrics you like, go take a look in your closet. Figure out what your very favorite comfy pieces are made from, and seek out pieces made with those fabrics.

Garment Design

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Garment design can make or break an overall outfit’s look. This can, again, come down to preference, but there are some designs we absolutely love when it comes to cute comfort. Whether you are dressing for winter or summer, these tips can help you to build out your wardrobe

●     Go With the Flow

Few things look as fancy and feel as free as a nice flowy dress. Pair this with some long layered necklaces and a straw clutch and you can walk out looking like springtime personified! And the best part? No part of the outfit will stick to you, making it oh-so-comfortable as you sweep along with the breeze.

●     The Wide Leg

Pants can be difficult when it comes to finding something cute and comfortable, but reaching for a wide leg pant in a comfortable fabric can make them one of the most unexpectedly comfortable things in your wardrobe. Plus, you’ll look very cute and boho-chic when you reach for this option.

●     The Oversized Cardigan

Nothing says cozy like a big knit sweater draped across your shoulders. And we all know that layering can create some of the cutest outfits. A comfy and cozy knit cardigan draped over a dress conjures up images of cute cottagecore dreams. So go ahead and wrap yourself in the embrace of an oversized cardigan.

Layering, loose fit, and conscious design are all things to embrace if you are looking for the comfiest and cutest design.

Sizing

It’s a common issue these days: you’re one size at one store, but then at another you’re three sizes up, and at another, you’re two sizes down! What gives? Sizing has become very unstandardized and this variance can cause a lot of stress and anguish while shopping. If you are shopping online this can be even more stressful. Pay close attention to sizing charts and try to gravitate towards brands that carry a lot of plus sizes, even if you aren’t plus-size, this signals that a brand cares about how all of their customers feel in their clothes.

Celebrate Your Style

Nothing feels better than just being unapologetically yourself. Celebrate your personal style by embracing all of the things that make you feel good in your own skin and clothes. For some people that may be a crop top, for others a big comfy sweater. It doesn’t matter what you wear–as long as you wear what brings you joy, and comfort, and makes you feel beautiful.

5 Favorite Everyday Fashion Trends

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5 Favorite Everyday Fashion Trends

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Fashion is changing as it becomes increasingly responsive to consumer demand. And a lot of that demand has to do with sustainability and fashion industry accountability. The 5 favorite everyday fashion trends we’ll talk about in this post are primarily concerned with a shift in consumer consciousness toward sustainability. Let’s take a look at what’s hot right now and what’s going to stay hot in the coming year.

1.  Fashion Shifts Gears: Slow Fashion

Fast fashion has become a global problem, producing in excess of 90 million tons of waste each year. In response, slow fashion is rising as a trend toward quality over quantity. Well-made clothes that last are now more desirable than the “disposals” of yesterday.

Part of the trend encourages consumers to buy from companies located close to home, reducing the environmental cost of shipping. Designer clothes that last, in classic cuts and styles are the new wardrobe staples, so “shop til you drop” is last year’s battle cry. Now, it’s “shop for a healthier planet.”

2.  Sustainable Fabrics

Organic cotton, untreated by substances harmful to the planet, is surging as a textile. But the biggest change has to be in recycling plastic and nylon to create new, sustainable fabrics.

Sea plastic is being recovered and transformed into fibers to create eco-friendly fabrics. The sea is cleared of harmful plastics, while unwanted waste is given something useful to do! But nylon, a durable material, is being recycled too. By recycling this plentiful textile, the environment is spared the high ecological price of producing new fabrics.

3.  Everything Old Is New Again

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Retro fashion is having a renaissance, with the 70s, 80s, and 90s all figuring prominently.

The 70s: A Wild Night at Studio 54

Bust out those sequined flares and hit the disco! All that’s worn close to the body, is sensually draped, or covered in sequins and glitter is back with a vengeance. And if you don’t have any of that stuff, don’t worry. Your local thrift shop can help with vintage band t-shirts, flares in bold patterns (another key trend) and all that catches the light like a mirror ball rotating over the dance floor.

The 80s: Johnny Rotten Rides Again

Get back in that thrift store, finding a striped sweater distorted by decades of wear and cut holes in it. You’re halfway there! 80s punk is another key impulse that promises anarchy in the UK and everywhere else! Wear your messed-up sweater over a vintage punk band T-shirt peeking out from those holes you’ve cut in it. Pull out that beaten-up leather jacket in the back of your closet or hit the garage sales for that Rebel Without a Cause look. Then, do Sid Vicious one better with a heavy chain link necklace, padlocked shut. Just add black lipstick and Catwoman eyeliner and you’re a countercultural goddess.

The 90s: Smells Like Grunge Spirit

Carrying over from 2023, Grunge 2.0 abides just as reliably as The Dude. A slip dress worn with Doc Martens is the lynchpin of this look but keep that flannel handy for your casual looks. A flannel shirt over 2024’s booty shorts with combat boots and torn hosiery ushers Courtney Love into the 21st century. In heavy rotation for the coming year, Grunge 2.0 is your moment to tip your hat to one of Seattle’s most notable exports.

All these retro looks are easy to put your personal spin on. Start in your own closet, collecting thrifted and garage sale items to build any of these trendy looks. You can even create your own vintage style by blending older items with fresh trends for a hybrid style that breaks the mold!

4.  Comfort Dressing

Comfort dressing in 2024 will be defined by the overwhelming popularity of athleisure wear. Not just for the gym or life’s more casual moments, athleisure is showing up on catwalks everywhere. Sleek athleisure derivatives are even showing up in professional settings. The trick is thoughtful construction that results in a superb fit, coupled with high-tech fabrics that wick moisture away and protect you from the sun. But comfort dressing extends to staying cozy at home, with “nesting” looks that wrap you in cuddly warmth, like a wearable blanket hoodie.

5.  Prints That Announce You

Big, bold, and not the least bit shy, 2024’s prints bloom with roses. The rose print trend is joined by tropical and geometric prints that have no qualms about owning a room. Asymmetrical and mismatched patterns (polka dots with stripes or florals) are also expected to blow up in 2024, drawing on Maximalist design that declares “more is more.” Minimalism is fine for some but you’re far too lively for such sartorial reticence. Get loud! And remember: there’s plenty of boldly vibrant retro print to be had secondhand! As 2023 recedes in the rearview mirror, 2024 is full of promise for change, reinvention, and the resurrection of old looks in new guises. It’s your year to make a statement for the planet and for your personal style, retooling the past for the needs of an environmentally sound