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Questions To Ask Yourself Before Hosting A Custom Dinner Party

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A dinner party is usually a tight-knit, low-key affair centered around excellent food and conversation. To foster the right connectedness with you and your guests, you should make sure you have everything you need to make them feel comfortable and cared for. Whether the event is classy and elegant with a few dozen guests, or simply an intimate get-together with friends, you should always facilitate a fun and relaxing environment.

Ask yourself these essential questions before hosting your dinner party and you’re sure to make it an evening to remember.

Do guests have any food allergies or intolerances?

It’s a lovely thought to want to make your favorite food for your guests. However, your close friends and family might have a dietary restriction you may not be aware of that has never come up in conversation or that you may not recall, so it’s important to check with your guests prior to putting together your menu.

It would really spoil the party if your gluten-intolerant guest couldn’t enjoy pasta and breadsticks and you didn’t have a backup, or you made a sauce with a trace of peanuts and your guest had an allergic reaction. Additionally, your guest simply might not like something on the menu, and you should spare them the awkwardness of pretending to eat and enjoy it.

Do you have all the equipment you need?

Party rental equipment is less expensive than you might think, and you’ll be able to host a much more successful and comfortable party if you have the right tools at your disposal. This includes dishware, cutlery, hot and cold serving trays, buffet tables, seating, tables, and much more.

For bigger parties, you can even rent stages and sound systems for any hired performers. You won’t regret going the extra mile to get party rental equipment if it saves you countless time and effort. Plus, most rental services offer setup, takedown, delivery, and pickup, so you don’t have to worry about anything.

Can you cook a high-quality meal for everyone?

Before you set your mind to cooking a big dinner party for a dozen hungry guests, consider if you’re skilled enough, if you have enough time, and if doing so would cause you a great amount of stress. If you and/or your other hosts can manage it, great. But if you want a fancy dinner and you don’t feel confident in your cooking skills, consider hiring a caterer or private chef.

There are many obvious benefits to getting your food made for you or delivered, but one you might not have thought of is how much time and energy it saves you. Cooking for a large group is exhausting, and having to make sure they’re all warm and ready on time is a big undertaking. You might finally get to dinnertime and not even have the energy to entertain your guests or enjoy yourself. If you see that happening, consider other options.

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Do you have enough beverages?

Just because it’s a dinner party doesn’t mean you should focus on the food and forget everything else! Make sure you have enough beverages – alcoholic or otherwise – to quench your guests’ thirst throughout the whole night.

Not sure how much to get? A general rule of thumb is to assume at least one drink per hour per person, then get extras in case someone still wants more. Some people advise to plan for at least two drinks for each person if it’s cocktail hour. Chances are, guests will bring beverages to your party themselves, but that’s not guaranteed, so you should always make sure you have enough to share. Make sure you purchase non-alcoholic beverage options for anyone who may not drink or who may be the designated driver for the evening, as well.

Do you have enough space for coats and shoes?

It’s a simple thing to remember, but it’s annoying if you forget to think about it. Simply make sure you’ve assigned enough space for your guests’ coats, shoes, and bags when they arrive!

Did you unload the dishwasher?

Here’s your friendly reminder to clear the dishwasher before the party starts! It’ll make your future much happier, we promise.

Have you stocked up on snacks and nibblers?

Your guests should have a moment to chit-chat and unwind before everyone takes their place for dinner. Besides drinks, your guests would certainly enjoy the presence of a few appetizers to munch on. Also, a snack tray gives people a central point to gather around and make mingling easy.

You can offer a bowl with chips and salsa, or you can prepare tantalizing amuse-bouches if you’re hosting a fancy affair. Make sure your snacks are very light and not filling, otherwise a guest that arrives hungry might fill up on snacks and not eat enough of the delicious dinner you prepared!

Relax and have fun!

A dinner party is meant to be intimate and enjoyable. Take a breather and relax, and if you’ve followed our tips and done your planning, it’ll go wonderfully. Enjoy!

How To Move To A New House Like A Pro

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When you’re moving into a new house, there’s a lot to think about. While we generally think of moving processes like packing and unpacking as the only main roadblocks to properly settling in, the things you do after you move into a new house are what make the largest impact.

Of course, you already have a lot on your plate. So, to help you organize your to-do list, we’ve compiled a fast list of the ten most important things to accomplish when moving into a new house. The majority of these tasks aren’t time consuming, but they do demand you to make a conscious effort to complete them. Read on to learn what you need to know, then make a strategy. Soon, you’ll be able to relax, crack open a bottle of champagne, and toast your new home.

1. Perform a walkthrough

When your new house is absolutely vacant, there is no better opportunity to undertake a comprehensive walkthrough. Take a look around before setting up your furniture and getting unpacked. You’ll want to double-check that: 

  • The previous owner has completed all required and agreed-upon repairs 
  • Everything that was supposed to be included in the transaction is present in the house 
  • All outlets, switches, and fixtures are in good working condition.

If you discover something that violates the sale contract (for example, the previous owner took the washer and dryer with them when they were supposed to leave them behind), contact your agent right away to see what options you have. Issues that you discover that were not covered by your contract are now your problem, but knowing what they are can assist.

2. Figure out where everything is going

When moving into a new house, establishing a plan of attack for putting everything up rather than winging it will save you a lot of time and headache. 

This is especially true for goods that are large and heavy, such as furniture. 

While you undoubtedly already have a general sense of what belongs in whatever room, take a minute to consider how you’d like the setup to appear. 

Of course, you may make adjustments afterwards, but approaching this activity with a basic strategy will always make the process easier.

3. Confirm that your utilities are operational

Hopefully, you took care of getting your utilities set up before moving into your new house, in which case, now is the time to double-check that everything is in working order. 

Check your electric, gas, water, heating and cooling, phone, and internet connections on moving day. Then contact your local waste management facility to make sure your new house is also set up for rubbish collection. 

If you’re having troubles moving try hiring Pinnacle Removalists to avoid stress and have experts do the whole moving process for you.

4. Find the water valve and fuse box

The fuse box and the water valve are two items you don’t want to be hunting for when you need them the most. It’s far better to locate them now, so that if your electricity goes out or you need to cut off the water for whatever reason, you’ll be able to get there quickly. 

Your fuse box will most likely be in your basement, garage, or storage area, whereas your home’s water valve will most likely be positioned someplace around the perimeter of your property.

5. Perform a thorough cleaning

Cleaning your new house from top to bottom may be the last thing on your mind after going through the moving process, but it is the greatest time to do it. 

Fortunately, we’ve put up a new house thorough cleaning guide to assist you. Consider hiring professional cleaners instead if you don’t have the time or interest to put on your cleaning gloves and grab a mop right now (we don’t blame you). Starting life in your new house in a clean condition is more than worth it, whether you invest in time or money.

6. Replace your locks

Changing the locks on your new house is always a smart idea. Even if the former owner isn’t a worry, you never know who could have a key.

 It’s best to be safe than sorry in this case, so call a locksmith or change the locks yourself if you’re comfortable doing so. Rekey the locks on all doors going from the inside to the outside of your house, as well as the windows. It’s a tiny price to pay for a lot of assurance.

7. Modify Your Address

You may have already notified the post office of your change of address prior to moving day, but if you haven’t, now is the time.

 Friends and relatives, subscription services, your bank, any loan providers, and anybody else who sends you regular communication or invoices should all be informed of your relocation. 

A comprehensive list of who should be notified may be seen here. If you’ve relocated to a new state, you’ll need to contact your state’s department of motor vehicles to get a new driver’s license and updated car registration.

Moving into a new house is naturally stressful, but following the 10 steps outlined above can make the process go more smoothly. However, there is a lot to do, so don’t be hesitant to ask for assistance, whether from a friend or family member or from a professional service provider. The sooner you can deal with the major issues, the sooner your new house will begin to feel like a home.

How To Stay Fit And Healthy In Your Thirties

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What if I told you that two-thirds of adult Australians are overweight or obese? If you’re a man whose waist circumference is more than 98.0cm, or more than 87.9cm for a woman, you might be one of them. In your thirties, the issue might become less solvable if you ignore it. The metabolism becomes slowlier as years pass by. Let’s see how you can stay fit and healthy in your thirties and fit into the good part of the statistics. 

  1. Determine your ideal BMI and try to maintain it

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to most adult men and women. It is a number calculated from the individual’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of their height in meters. The BMI can be used to indicate whether someone is overweight or obese. The World Health Organization defines “overweight” as a BMI greater than or equal to 25, and “obese” as a BMI greater than or equal to 30.

It is important for people who are overweight or obese to try to maintain their weight because they are at an increased risk for developing many diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and some cancers.

  1. Have a healthy diet plan and stick to it

A good diet plan includes a variety of foods and encourages you to eat healthily. Eating healthy will help you maintain your weight and improve your health in the long run. Here are some healthy diet plans for people in their thirties.

  • Paleo Diet: A diet that focuses on unprocessed, natural foods like meat from animals you hunted yourself or plants that you have processed yourself. If you want to avoid gluten, dairy, and refined sugars, this is the right diet for you.
  • Mediterranean Diet: A diet that focuses on healthy eating habits from countries where the food is mostly plant-based with a small amount of fish and poultry and a fair amount of fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, and nuts. The Mediterranean diet is good for people who want to limit their intake of sugar and saturated fat.
  • DASH Diet: A diet plan created by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute that focuses on eating healthy amounts of food groups like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fish low in both sodium and saturated fat and low in cholesterol.

There are many diets, so make sure you consult with a nutritionist about this. 

  1. Always warm-up before exercising and have a rest day

It is important to always warm-up before exercising. It helps your muscles get prepared for the workout. You can do a light jog, some light stretching, or perform some exercises that are less intense than the ones you will be doing for the rest of your workout.

A rest day is also important to have every once in a while so that you can recover from all the physical work and exercise you have been doing. This day should not be a full day of rest instead it should just be an active recovery day.

  1. In case of injuries see a physio

Exercise is an important part of your life and it can help you stay fit. But if you have an injury, it is better to see a physio. If you don’t go for a physio appointment, the injury will get worse and your recovery will be slower.

One of the most common reasons for people to avoid seeing a physio is that they are worried about the cost. But in reality, it’s worth spending that money on your health. Physio Canberra center offers different recovery programs for every wallet.

  1. Check your overall health at least once a year

It is important to check your health at least once a year. This will help you catch any illnesses or diseases early on and prevent them from developing into something more serious.

It is recommended to get screened for different types of cancers, such as breast cancer and colon cancer. You should also get tested for blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, and other health markers that can help you live a healthy lifestyle.

  1. Balance private and professional life

 You should stay in touch with your friends and family, work on your hobbies, and try not to stress too much at work.

Having a good social life can help you maintain better mental health, keep your stress levels down, and even improve your performance at work.

Doing hobbies can be a great way to take some time out of the day for yourself while also improving your creative thinking skills.

There are so many ways of staying healthy and fit in your thirties and we only presented some of them. We are all constantly learning and improving ourselves, so never think that once you’re an adult with a stable job, you stop living life to its fullest.

Top 10 Organization Tips For Spring Cleaning This Year

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A clean home is a happy home. Participating in spring cleaning can do wonders for opening up the space in your home, as well as provide you with mental clarity. When you’re no longer stressed about the state of your home, you can put more effort into planning activities or simply living in the moment. If you’re looking for a little divine inspiration, we have you covered. Let’s go over our top 10 organization tips for deep spring cleaning.

1.    Plan Ahead For Springtime Pests

When spring arrives, so do the bugs. Enjoy your sunshine-filled days to the fullest without the stress of bug bites or home infestations. Keep unwanted visitors out of your home with preventative DIY pest control. Combat all your common pest problems without the hassle or expenses of booking an exterminator. Secure your entire property line with easy-to-use pest control spray equipment. Bask in the beauty of spring with the comfort of knowing your home is safe from household pests.

2.    Switch Out Your Wardrobe

Out with the winter and in with the spring! As the days get warmer, will you really be wearing that turtleneck? It’s an important question to ask when you’re trying to emulate that clean-slate, spring-clean feeling. Be sure to use space-saving containers that can easily fit in any storage area, so your winter clothes are out of sight and out of mind. Plus, going through your wardrobe is an excellent excuse for another key spring organizational tactic.

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3.    Donate What Doesn’t Bring You Joy

It can be easy to let your collection of clothes build up over the years. Rather than continue to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of clothes you have accumulated, take time to sort through your seasonal wardrobes and create a donation pile. You’ll feel a lot better, lighter, and more inclined to enter the next chapter of your style. And don’t forget that clothing donations qualify for a tax deduction.

4.    Create A Cleaning Plan

In a perfect world, a complete spring cleaning can happen in a day. Most of the time, this isn’t an option. And that’s okay! Plan ahead for the effort it takes to clean your home. Schedule out a week-long or multi-week cleaning plan checklist that you can refer to as you work room by room. It’s entirely up to you, your schedule, and your preferred cleaning methods. If you need some inspiration, there are plenty of spring cleaning resources online.

5.    Find Functional Storage Hacks

The internet is ripe with tips and tricks for creating usable storage in the smallest spaces. Think your situation is helpless? Think again! There are plenty of online organization experts ready and willing to share their secrets. Check out creative storage hacks for immediate improvements to your home’s organizational system.

6.    Put Effort Into Your Kitchen

Your fridge, pantry, and kitchen cabinets should bring you peace amidst life’s chaos. The last thing you want to do is come home to a disorganized kitchen that brings stress before meal planning. Craft the kitchen of your dreams with a spice organizer. Deep clean remnants of old produce and eliminate expired condiments from the fridge. You will feel the weight of stress lift off your shoulders in no time. A clean kitchen should feel like a weekly fresh start and not a constant chore looming over your head.

7.    Deep Clean Your Mattress

When’s the last time you did this? Many people skip their mattress entirely when it comes to an annual spring clean, but it deserves some TLC. Get rid of dust, bacteria, and sweat with an easy sprayable cleaning solution made of dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, and a little baking soda. This also may give your mattress a longer life expectancy. Pro tip: flip your mattress twice a year for maximum comfort and even use!

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8.    Take A Crack At The Garage

Ah, the garage. To many people, this is the no-fly zone when it comes to cleaning. The overwhelming feeling of staring into a disorganized garage is not for the faint of heart. Give yourself a day during your spring cleaning journey to do some damage. Starting is half the battle. Sometimes all it takes is just a mindless clean to give yourself a future organization game plan that you can stick to all year long.

9.    Create a Calming Atmosphere

Create a calming atmosphere in your home with house plants, essential oils, or even a decorative candle or two. Your home is your sanctuary and it deserves to be treated as such. Create a clean atmosphere that you look forward to entering every day. Try a citrus-scented air freshener for a natural odor eliminator that smells delightful or experiment with seasonal scents you can’t get enough of.

10. Keep It Sustainable

If you decide on a super complicated organizational system for your fridge, how likely are you to stick with it? Be honest with yourself. The goal of spring cleaning is to set yourself up for success, but make sure your system is maintainable for you and your family. A realistic cleaning organizational system will keep your house in great shape and give you the opportunity to focus on other parts of life.

Let’s Get Cleaning

However you decide to start your spring cleaning process, be sure to plan ahead. Set intentions and goals, and try your best to see them through. Giving your home a well-deserved deep clean is an awesome way to enter springtime feeling like you’ve turned a new leaf.

Author Bio:

Carolyn Mitchell is a freelance writer and content strategist with a passion for home décor. She can often be found re-painting and updating the furnishings in her home, and she is also a dedicated cat mom to two adorable kitties.

Disaster Proofing Your House

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Your home is your sanctuary. It is the place that you’ve put a lot of time and attention into making a safe, comfortable environment for you and your family. This is why the prospect of a natural disaster causing damage or disruption to your house can be so upsetting. 

No-one likes to dwell on this possibility, of course. However, even if you aren’t living in an area that has frequent earthquakes or storms, that doesn’t mean to say that your home is immune to emergencies. The World Economic Forum recently reported that extreme weather events are occurring more frequently, and they are likely to continue causing severe damage and destruction in the future. This rise has also been linked to the growing effects of climate change. As such, it is imperative for the continued safety of yourself and your family that you take steps to ensure that your home is protected from disasters.  

This is all very well to say, but it’s not always easy to know how to go about doing this practically. It’s certainly a wide-ranging area, but we’re going to take a moment to guide you through a few main points for your attention. How can you best act to protect your home, and sleep soundly at night, safe in the knowledge that you’ve done all you can to keep your family safe? 

Audit Current Issues

Whether you’ve purchased a home with the specific intention to renovate, or you bought a new build, an audit is essential. Why? Well, in most cases, the pre-purchasing property survey that was undertaken at the time would have been geared toward determining the general safety of the home. Indeed, when buying a home, people are usually on the lookout for common trouble areas — existing water damage, pest issues, or health hazards. As such, you are unlikely to have the data you need to understand how well-prepped your home is to withstand an unexpected natural disaster.  

It can be a good first step to review the types of natural disasters that may be most likely to occur in your area. After all, it’s not wise to disaster-proof your home for earthquakes if you are not in a risk location. Review recent years’ weather and emergency events — has there been an uptick in any activity? The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) keeps statistics for all reported disasters, which can help guide you. However, it can be just as useful to talk to neighbors and local emergency services personnel about what you should be aware of.

Using this knowledge, undertake a review of your home. You can do this personally if you feel confident doing so — identifying all the areas that may leave your home vulnerable or dangerous. Use ready-made checklists to review systems like electrical and plumbing. It can also be helpful to engage a contractor here. That way you not only benefit from their assessment expertise, but can also arrange for any repairs to be made, or at least make a plan for the future that fits your budget. 

Alternative Utilities

Disasters don’t just affect the integrity of your home. In a lot of cases, they may impact the infrastructure that allows you to maintain a safe and operational house. There may be direct contact with your property that causes utility outages, or there may be a problem further down the line that affects you. If you live in a remote area, it may take a long time for your services to be restored. It can therefore be appropriate to look into alternative solutions.

A generator on your property can provide backup power when there is an outage. However, this tends to be terribly cost-ineffective, and it’s not particularly environmentally friendly. On the other hand, solar power is an increasingly popular and accessible choice for homeowners. In essence, you’ll need a solar panel array — either on your roof or somewhere near your property — which is attached to an inverter that turns the energy into usable electricity, which is then distributed through your home using a computerized controller. You can also get a battery backup system to assist in emergencies. While you can install it personally, it can be wise to engage a skilled contractor if you’re not familiar with your house’s electrics.  

While most internet and communications lines are underground, that doesn’t make them impervious to disasters. Your ability to stay in contact with friends, relatives, and emergency services can be vital when a disaster strikes. Therefore it can be sensible to set up alternatives in your home. A spare 5G router can keep you connected to the internet to check for updates and advice. 

Structural Upgrades

If you have the budget for it, it is definitely worth considering which structural upgrades you can make to your home. Over the last few decades, there have been technological advances that can put your home in a better position to withstand a disaster. Some of these are simple and others make for more involved projects.

If you live in an area that is particularly prone to heavy storms, earthquakes, or even wildfires a good example of advanced structural technology is interlocking 3D panels. These are constructed from a combination of materials — concrete, steel, polystyrene — and reinforced by welded wire trusses. As such, this means that the building can withstand high winds and effectively fireproof the home for at least two hours.

However, this requires substantial capital to undertake, and if you are unable to access these funds immediately it can be worth considering refinancing your home to some extent. This is possible even with bad credit, although it can be sensible to repair your credit score first to get a better financing rate. It can seem like a big step, but this could be an important safety feature in your home and even raise its value.

Conclusion

Your home is an important asset to you and your family, and as such you want to protect it and everyone within it from natural disasters. Not all the alterations you make need to be structural overhauls. However, you should guide your actions with a thorough understanding of the risks.