How to handle Valentine’s Day in a BRAND NEW relationship

February 13, 2017 by Leave a Comment

It’s Valentine’s Day; that special time of year dedicated to all things heart shaped, loved up and ohh la la!

Deciphering how you should spend the 14th of February is usually pretty easy; if you’re in a relationship you go on a date, share gifts and so forth, and if you’re single you rock out your singledom with friends and have fun… or you try not to text your ex and watch any romantic 90s Hugh Grant classics and cry in the bath.

But what about if you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a NEW boyfriend? You’ve both been dating for 2 months, a month, a couple of weeks… what are the rules here? How far do you go? Do you celebrate it all at?

Don’t panic, we’re here to help point you in the right direction!

1. Feel whether the time is right

It can be ‘too soon’ to celebrate Valentine’s Day with each other. If you’ve only gone a few dates with one another, then we’d suggest that it’d be best to ignore Valentine’s Day this year. Follow your gut, if you think it’s too soon… it probably is. At the beginning of a relationship it’s always best to keep it cool and casual than to appear to needy.

 

2. Are YOU ready?

Question how you feel about this relationship. Celebrating Valentine’s Day with one another is a big step and shows that you’re into each other and potentially looking for something more long term. Maybe you’re not looking for a relationship right now, if that’s the case question whether or not celebrating Valentine’s Day may send your new boyfriend the wrong message. You don’t want him to get hurt if you don’t see this as a long term relationship!

 

2. Be open and talk about it with one another

If you feel that both of you are ready, just be frank about it and simply ask him, ‘It’s Valentine’s Day, do you want to do anything?’ If it feels weird, just laugh about it and keep it light! If he’s not ready however, don’t push it and don’t let it bruise your ego, sometimes people need more time to dedicate themselves to a relationship.

 

3. Keep it low-key

Whilst talking to your new boyfriend, tell him that you don’t mind keeping Valentine’s Day low-key. You could make rules like no gift giving or only doing something during the day. Create a plan together that works for both of you.

 

4. Go out for drinks

If you’re a new couple, perhaps just going out for a drink or two is the perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Impress your new date with your favorite little black dress number, don’t go too overboard with something like a ball gown though… or a wedding dress. We’re pulling your leg of course, but wearing something flirty and simple is ALWAYS the best option for a Valentine’s Day date. If you feel like having fun, maybe go somewhere with a theme (like a 20s speak-easy style establishment!) or somewhere fancy!


5. Have a home cooked meal

If you don’t feel ready to go to a fancy restaurant together just yet, why not celebrate with a home cooked meal for two at your home? It’s still intimate, and fun, but it’s also causal. If you don’t know each other too well yet it’s also a great way to feel relaxed around one another and talk. Going to a posh restaurant can feel stifling and put pressure on you both. Give your new boyfriend the opportunity kick off his cool men’s chukka boots and relax in your company.


7. Do you get each other gifts?

Decide together whether you’re going to get gifts for one another. You don’t want to give him a bunch of flowers and a bottle of wine and discover that he’s got you zilch, or the other way around. Make a plan before Valentine’s Day.


8. Don’t get him anything too big for Valentine’s Day

You may want to get him SOMETHING to show that your relationship is going well and that you care about the guy, but you don’t want to get him something TOO romantic or serious as it may spook him. And the same goes vice versa! Just picture it: you’ve been going out for a month and a half and he gets you a huge plasma screen TV for you to watch Netflix together at your place. You’d want to run for the hills wouldn’t you?

Aim for a gift that’s not too expensive and something fun and casual. If he’s mentioned a book that he wants to read, get him the book! If he likes a band, buy him their latest CD or get him an itunes voucher so that he can download them himself! It would be too far to buy him tickets worth hundreds of pounds to their reunion tour… in Belgium. The thought is nice, but it’s too much too soon. For unique and quirky gift ideas check out some online shops like Mr Shoes.

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Radiator dos and don’ts: staying warm and safe this winter

February 13, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Having a central heating system and nice, smart, heat-emitting radiators in your home is, of course, all about making sure you and your family keep snug and warm through the winter months. However, sometimes one or all of your radiators may not feel like they’re as warm as they should be or you may feel they’re not operating as they should and, because of that, may even be dangerous to use. In which case, what should and shouldn’t you do when it comes to radiator safety…?
Don’t fiddle with the valve

The radiator’s valve is there to do a job and so, unless you definitely know what you’re doing, don’t play around with it in order to make the room warmer or cooler. Should you open the valve, it’s likely to allow excess piping-hot steam escape from the radiator. Generally speaking then, the valve should be open completely if the radiator’s not in use, or closed completely if it is in use. Moreover, should a banging sound be emanating from the radiator, it probably means the device is leaking – don’t fiddle with the valve, get in an expert to repair the radiator.

 

Keep the boiler’s pressure down

Something else people have a wont to do to generate more heat from their central heating system is to turn up the boiler’s pressure, believing this will increase the heat of the home’s radiators. Don’t do it; because it won’t. In fact, high-pressure steam from the boiler will actually move through the system slower than low-pressure steam. And, in addition to keeping valves closed on the radiators you’re using, check to make sure the pipes that connect the radiators to the boiler are well insulated.

 

Are your children aware of radiator safety?

It’s important for young kids to be aware of what radiators are capable of. There aren’t many dangers associated with them, of course, but as soon as they’re able to understand, children ought to be informed that if they touch the hot metal of a radiator it could burn them (potentially badly) and that, technically, hanging something from a radiator could cause it to catch fire. Also, it’s true that not all radiators look exactly the same – for instance, standard traditional-looking models appear different to stylish radiators and, in turn, one of these will appear different to an electric towel rail. Thus, this may confuse a child if it’s not properly explained to them, so it’s important to stress all radiators can potentially carry the same dangers. If you are concerned, there’s always the option of installing an elegant metal or wooden cover over a radiator or placing a guard in front of it.

 

Location, location, location

Many radiators are located on walls beneath windows, specifically because this can be the most effective position for it to heat a room and keep it warm. However, this also means that the top of a radiator could come into contact with the bottom of a window’s curtains or drapes. You need to ensure this can’t happen, otherwise there genuinely may be a danger the curtains/ drapes could catch fire.

And that goes for furniture too. It may sound obvious to say that sofas, chairs, tables and the like shouldn’t be positioned too close to a radiator but, owing to the fact their upholstery could be burned or – again – in the worst case scenario they could catch fire, it’s worth pointing it out. Especially as there have been recorded instants of toddlers and young children falling into gaps between furniture – especially beds – and radiators and getting burned.

All in all then, like the other tips outlined above, use your common sense when it comes to radiator safety – and if you’re concerned about something that you can’t solve simply yourself, be sure to call in a professional expert.

 

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Poochy & Yoshi’s Woolly World

February 13, 2017 by Leave a Comment

This gorgeous Wii U game is making its way to Nintendo 3DS. This version contains some new features, plus every stage available in the original. Exclusive new stages focus on Poochy: Players must time Poochy’s jump to collect beads, and Poochy Pups as they head for the goal. Poochy Pups are curious little helpers who jump on suspicious spots to indicate where players should look for secrets and collectables. Nintendo and Japanese stop-motion animation studio Dwarf are collaborating on 30 animated shorts featuring Yoshi and Poochy that will be included in the Nintendo 3DS version of the game. A yarn amiibo figure of Poochy will launch at the same time as the game.

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The Minimalist Guide To Managing A Vacation Rental

February 1, 2017 by 1 Comment

When it comes to choosing accommodations for your family vacation destination, you don’t have to be restricted to choosing between different types of hotel or motels. Now you have more choices, like short term house rentals, apartment rentals, AirBnB, or RVs.

You also have plenty of alternative choices when it comes to family activities other than going to the beach or a theme park. You could, for example, explore a cave, visit a state park, enjoy boating, go on day hikes, or take road trips.

Deciding Where to Stay

Assuming you’ve decided where to go and what to do, your main quest will be to find the perfect place to stay.

If you’re looking for an apartment, villa, house, or condominium a website like Your Rent can help you do a search by city.

If you’re looking for extra rooms, complete homes, or unique accommodations like castles, then check out Airbnb. This is an option if you’re planning an overseas vacation.

And if you’re planning on traveling by RV, then get a directory that shows you the best campgrounds.

When deciding where to stay, it’s advisable to start your search as early as possible.

Steps to Take when Renting

Once you’ve found a place to rent, here are 6 steps to make sure everything goes smoothly:

1. Don’t skim over the contract.

It’s tempting to skim over the contract and not read it properly. After all, you’ll probably be relieved to have found a nice place to stay. However, before you turn your attention to having fun, it’s important to read the whole document.

Besides the schedule of payment, you are also agreeing to take on certain liabilities. For instance, if the landlord believes the rental has not been properly cleaned, you may have to pay for extra cleaning costs. You also have to be clear who is responsible for paying for things like propane, housekeeping, cable, telephone, Internet, and utilities.

If you have to pay for utilities, you should get a good estimate of what it will come to as it might be more than you’d pay back home. Air conditioning, for instance, might run high in the summer months.

So, besides covering the down payment and the rent, be sure you have enough to pay for everything else you are liable for.

Finally, get a clear idea about the rules on subleasing, having pets, amenities, and furnishings.

2. Use an attorney.

If, for one reason or another, you don’t have a good feeling about the contract, then it might be worth spending a couple of hundred dollars to get an attorney to review it for you. There may, for example, be some ambiguous clauses that the landlord fails to explain clearly. Ideally, get a lawyer you know and trust who has real estate experience. This step will help you decide whether you should sign the contract or look for another place. The contract might be standard and fair, after all. Alternatively, you don’t want to be held liable for more than your fair share of costs.

What do you do if the attorney things that the contract is not fair? While, of course, you can always walk away, another option is to renegotiate the contract. The landlord might be willing to reduce excessive costs or waive restrictive conditions rather than have you walk away.

3. Understand the conditions of the deposit.

Be sure that you have enough in your budget to cover your security deposit before you commit to renting. Sometimes the deposit may be higher than you might expect for a down payment because the landlord has had some inconsiderate renters in the past and had to pay for cleaning and repair. Also, be absolutely clear what conditions have to be met before you can get your full deposit back. If you’re not clear about these conditions, then the landlord can always make ambiguous claims that you did not leave the place in a good condition when you left and refuse to return your deposit.

4. Understand housekeeping policies.

Different properties have different rules about housekeeping. You may have to do the cleaning yourself; the cleaner might come in when you’re there; or the cleaner may only come on the last day before you leave. Cleaning services might be part of the rental service or you might be asked to pay the bills. So understand the housekeeping policies, and don’t assume that they are the same as the last place you rented on your previous vacation rental.

5. Do a walk through before and after renting.

Walk through the premises with the landlord before and after renting out the property. Take photographs of any existing damages when you do your first walk through so that you are not stuck paying for a problem a previous renter created. By doing the two walkthroughs with the landlord, you will both be aware of the property conditions.

6. Get contact numbers.

You may have an emergency when you’re vacationing, so be sure to get the landlord’s number. In case of an emergency, like a plumbing problem, an electric shortage, or a burglary, you will have someone to call to take care of it right away.

Renting a vacation home, apartment, villa, or condominium is often a fairly straightforward process, and armed with these 6 steps, you’ll be able to forestall any potential problems.

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Great Brisbane Destinations for Young Travelers

February 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Young, wild and free? Here are some of the best Brisbane destinations that are perfect for young travelers (or anyone who’s up for the challenge, really.)

Some tourists may be hard pressed to find rental car once they arrived, which is why it is recommended to book before arriving. The car hire in Brisbane by DriveNow, for instance, allows you to easily and quickly book car hire online and get behind the wheels right after arriving at the airport.

Tree top walk. Found at Lamington National Park, this trail of suspension bridges is the closest you can come to walking on air. The structure was built 25 years ago and features 180 meters of suspended bridges, which sways 15 meters off the ground. Conquer your acrophobia (fear of heights) and burst through the canopy by climbing up to one of two observation decks along the way. The highest tower reaches 30 meters above ground.

Games night out. Put some supersized fun into your next board game by playing with your buddies using a giant version of classic board games. Game Night is held in King George Square every last Thursday of each month starting at 5 PM up to 9 PM. There are giant versions of Connect Four, Jenga, Dominoes, Chinese Checkers, as well as a selection of regular board games. What’s best is that joining is free and you can bring your own games.

Moreton Island glamping. Love camping but not the gear-lugging, latrine digging and tent-pitching? Take a trip to Merton Island and take advantage of their “glamp,” which is a collection of permanent two and four-person tents which are splendidly furnished with a queen size bed, veranda and other necessities. No more creepy crawlies! You can choose to rough it by cooking your own meal at the communal kitchen and barbecue area or glam it up by simply strolling to the on-site restaurant.

City hopper ride. If time is on your side and wants to explore Brisbane’s inner centre, then jump aboard a CityHopper. A free service ride that uses reconditioned Brisbane City Council ferries and meanders along the river. The ferry stops at North Quay, South Bank 3, Maritime Museum, Thornton Street, Eagle Street Pier, Holman Street, Dockside and Sydney Street terminals. Catch the red-hued CityHoppers between 6 AM and midnight, seven days a week. They run every 30 minutes, so you and your travel buddies have plenty of chance.

Seafood. Craving for seafood? You can buy fresh prawns from the trawler in Cabbage Tree Creek at Shorncliffe.  The trawlers can be found mooring along the Sinbad St. stretch of the inlet, playing their ocean-fresh offering on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings.

Rooftop Cinema. The rooftop bar of Fortitude Valley’ Lime Hotel has the best view in town. They screen classic films as well as recent releases on Thursday nights starting at 7:30 PM while you recline on couches and pillows or you can even set yourself up at bar tables. The bar opens at 5 PM, serving tapas and drinks, and stays open after the movie ends until midnight.

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New Year, New Tech

February 1, 2017 by 1 Comment

VR Real Feel Racing lets you race cars from the comfort of your living room. Not only is there the headset, but it comes with a steering wheel as well. The headset is pretty cool and actually comfortable (my son and husband both have larger then average heads, and neither one has an issue wearing it) to wear. Other virtual reality headsets have you tilt your head to steer and you have no control over gassing or breaking the car. With the VR Real Feel Racing, you can control these with the steering wheel, and you also feel the vibrations when you crash, bump other cars, and more with the Max Force Feedback™.  The app itself is also a lot of fun for both kids and adults who like to play racing games.

You can also use the headset to play other VR apps. You can order on Amazon for about $30. Requires 3AAA batteries, not included.

The GAMESIR: G3s Gamepad is a multi-platform, portable game controller that is compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, and Playstation 3.  It has 18 hours of game time per charge, and has rechargeable batteries.  It has automatic sleep mode and a power saver, so it will conserve it’s battery life.  It’s great for travel, and lets you play wirelessly on your smartphone or tablet using bluetooth. The G3S Gamepad has double shock vibration so you can really get into your games, feeling each hit and explosion. If you want to use it with your PS3, just use the wire and connect it (this one needs to be connected).  It’s a great gift for gamers of any age, and brings more fun to playing on your tablet or phone.

You can pick one up for about $30 at Amazon.

DOK Universal Multi-Charging Station let’s you charge 5 smart devices at once. If you and your family are always running out of outlets, or places to charge your smart-stuff, this is worth looking at. You can charge your smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, MP3 players, or pretty much anything that uses a USB cable for charging. You can also listen to music on the 6 watt Bluetooth speaker while you are charging, as well as answer calls hands-free. It’s not huge, so finding a space for your DOK to sit won’t be too difficult, either. Better then a million chords and wires laying all over the place- less annoying, and more aesthetically pleasing, as well. It comes with the device cradle, 3 inserts, 1 “aux in” cable, 3 cable charging wires, and 2 micro charging wires user guide, warranty card, and more. You can pick on up for $ 79.99 at Amazon.

Since it’s still winter, and using your smart devices in the cold can be somewhat less than comfortable, these are handy. The NewerTech NuTouch Gloves are great for cold weather, because you can keep them on while still able to swipe and click and anything else. NuTouch gloves are thin, not at all bulky, and easy to keep in your purse or coat pocket. They come in Small, Large and XL in Charcoal color for $20 at Newertech.com.

HP Spocket Photo Printer let’s you print from anywhere. Take this pocket sized printer along with you, and print right from your smart phone or social media website. You can even print on sticky paper so you can create sticker photos.  Lightweight and portable, this is a fun take along for things like baby showers and birthday parties- really, any get together. Edit, use filters, crop, or add emojis to your photos with the “edit” button.  All you have to do is open the top, load the paper of your choice, and print. Each battery charge will give you about 30 photo prints, and it takes about an hour to recharge.
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Update- Win $50 Gift Card, Prize Pack for Pets, and More

January 27, 2017 by Leave a Comment

For anyone who might have heard the story about the dog used in “A Dogs’ Purpose” and wanted to know more, as did I, this was the information that was just sent to me on the topic. (I had posted a giveaway and wanted to give you all the same information I had at this point in case you were also wondering.)

“Statement from A Dog’s Purpose Producer Amblin Entertainment and distributor Universal Pictures

Los Angeles, CA (January 18, 2017) – A DOG’S PURPOSE, produced by Amblin Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures, is a celebration of the special connection between humans and their dogs.  And in the spirit of this relationship, the Amblin production team followed rigorous protocols to foster an ethical and safe environment for the animals.

While we continue to review the circumstances shown in the edited footage, Amblin is confident that great care and concern was shown for the German Shepherd Hercules, as well as for all of the other dogs featured throughout the production of the film.  There were several days of rehearsal of the water scenes to ensure Hercules was comfortable with all of the stunts.  On the day of the shoot, Hercules did not want to perform the stunt portrayed on the tape so the Amblin production team did not proceed with filming that shot.

Hercules is happy and healthy.”

This relates to the giveaway on my page, posted here. It is for a $50 gift card and pet prize pack and movie items. I wanted to share the information from the show’s producers in case anyone else had questions. If you have any others, please direct them to the movie’s social media or site, as you know everything I do at this point. Here are some links.

 

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Tips for holidaying during cash crunch

January 27, 2017 by 2 Comments

A vacation, especially a family vacation means you need to be ready for many expenses like transportation, accommodation, food and drinks, and so on. Holidays are meant to be relaxing and comforting but unexpected cash crunch can ruin your mood completely.

If you are planning to visit Amsterdam, you can book cheap apartments to rent in Amsterdam for long term that are not only cost-effective but comfortable too. Enjoy the atmosphere of Amsterdam and discover the amazing museums, galleries, shops and café by comfortable tram rides. Riding a bicycle on the streets of Amsterdam can give you a very satisfying experience. You do not have to be a financial broke after visiting Amsterdam. There are plenty of tourism sites which give amazing deals on Amsterdam tourism. You do not have to sacrifice your enjoyment to make it cost-effective.

Amsterdam has the widest selection of accommodation. There are many options to suit every taste and budget. The canal homes and old-world hotels give the travelers the most satisfying holiday experience in Amsterdam.

Budget accommodations– As Amsterdam is one of the busiest tourist destinations, it is always better to book your accommodation in advance. There are plenty of budget accommodations in the city. For a pocket-friendly holiday in Amsterdam, you can look for studio apartments. Studios are an appropriate arrangement for couples visiting the city. Booking a self-catering apartment can also save your money. In a self-catering establishment, tourists can cook their own meals. Youth hostels are great for students and backpackers. Some of the hostels have separate smoking rooms. Bigger apartments are suitable for a group of families traveling together. The families traveling together can share the rent of the apartment. The holiday apartments come cheap if you book for a longer period.

Book early– To save some extra money during your holiday, plan well. If you plan early and book your budget accommodations early, you can get some handsome discounts. Use price comparison websites to check the lowest rate for rooms. Plan your vacation in the off-season. Usually, less number of tourists visits Amsterdam in winter. Hotels and apartments give great discounts during the off-season. Make the most of it.

Travel light– Keep your bags and suitcases as light as possible. Research on the weather and pack your clothes accordingly. When you pack light, you do not have to pay extra for your heavy baggage.

Public Transportation & Tourist Pass– Research on public transportation system of the city before arriving. The tram rides are quite comfortable in Amsterdam and suitable for sightseeing too. You can also book a sightseeing bus ride at an affordable rate. Get a tourist pass to travel through the city. These passes can save a lot of money. Travel passes are available for different durations (one day to seven days passes).

If you are short on budget you can easily skip the souvenirs. The t-shirts, caps or keychains are not the things that make your holiday memorable. Click lots of photos and take them back home as photos are one of the cheap ways to share fond memories. The cafés are the part of Amsterdam’s cultural heritage. Visit one or two during your stay in the city. If you are short on cash, you can try small cafes in the streets of Amsterdam. They serve amazing food for little prices.

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