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Category: General

Top Picks From J McLaughlin

I have loved the newest looks from J McLaughlin. So many of my readers have been sending in notes that they have never shopped at J McLaughlin until recently seeing my posts. I am happy that I am able to induce you to this classic chic brand. I love it for staples. The pieces I select for myself I reach for time and time again. I love love that about J McLaughlin. It is such a win for me. Click on any of the descriptions below for more information or to order.

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How perfect is this jumpsuit? Great for holiday parties or a fun night out to dinner.

I bought this camel poncho. It’s fabulous with leather pants for a dressy look or a dark-colored pair of jeans.

This gold puffer is fabulous!!

I’m obsessed with these gorgeous plaid shoes….I love the martini details.

This is the perfect puffed-sleeve sweater….and the cashmere is so so soft!!

This satin skirt has been a bestseller for a while now. I have run into so many of my readers wearing it out and about and I am obsessed.

How cute is this little puffer with a fur collar?

I love these adorable faux fur flats. They look adorable with pants and also a dress.

This scarf makes the most amazing Holiday gift. I love the Hermes-like print on the inside.

Everyone is always looking for a wrap during the winter months. I love this one with the faux fox fur. It is also great for winter months in Florida on chilly nights.

These pants have been the number one bestseller. I love the slit on front. They have sold out a few times and are restocked. Many of my readers told me that ordered them and love them.

The same style comes in plaid. I saw someone wearing them and had to have them They are perfection. I have worn them nonstop since I got them.

Maintenance Tips You Won’t Regret Doing For Your Home’s Health

Keeping your home’s health in check is important and if you’re not staying on top of its health, then it’s going to fall apart. With maintenance needed for all properties both old and new, the more you do, the less you’re likely going to need to fork out when it comes to replacing and fixing things that are damaged.

With this being said, here are some maintenance tips that you won’t regret doing for the sake of your home’s health.

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Cleaning the gutters

The gutters are an important part of the home because if they’re not cleared out regularly, they will become blocked and that doesn’t bode well for your home’s exterior or interior structure.

With the gutters blocked, any rainfall will remain stagnant and stuck in these gutters and will eventually overflow onto the exterior of the wall. This can seep into the wall and cause some pretty serious dampness, mold and other structural damage if unattended to.

Try to stay on top of cleaning the gutters by cleaning them out every so often. Ideally, every season is the best frequency. 

Fixing any plumbing issues

Plumbing issues can often be a problem with any home and are caused by a lack of attention or misuse of the pipes and drains. From flushing down all manner of objects down the toilet other than just water to clogging the kitchen drains with food, oils, and fats.

With any plumbing issues, it’s best to try and fix them as quickly as possible. That way, you’re not going to likely cause even more issues in other areas of the home.

A plumbing company is a great pick when it’s fixing plumbing issues because some DIY jobs may end up doing more damage than good.

Getting the heating checked out

The heating is an important part of the home, in fact – the most important part of the home. With no heating, you’ve got no hot water and no hot water can be critical during the cooler months of the year.

Getting your heating serviced is a good way of making sure that the home stays warm and that more importantly, the family stays warm!

Roof inspections

Roof inspections are a good one because we often forget just how important our roofing actually is. If we don’t look after the roof, chances are, it’s going to get damaged and cause significant damage to the rest of the home.

With a roof inspection done annually, it can pinpoint any areas of concern so that they can get fixed before they do more damage.

Deep cleaning the washing machines

Your white goods are important to keep in good condition, especially when it comes to those that you’re most reliant on as a household like your dishwasher or washing machine. Make sure you’re doing a deep cleaning of these washing machines, especially when it comes to the filters.

It’s important to keep your home in good condition, and that includes keeping pests at bay. Some signs of pest infestation include droppings, chewed wires or fabrics, and unusual smells. If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to call local pest control services immediately.

Get rid of pest infestation 

Suppose you are a resident of Wollongong, Australia. In that case, search “pest control Wollongong” on Google and let the professionals take care of your home. They can help you to identify and remove pests from your home safely and effectively. 
Remember, pests can cause serious damage to your home’s structure and pose health risks to you and your family. Don’t wait until it’s too late – take action as soon as possible. 


Maintenance tips such as the ones like the above can make a big difference to the home’s health, so make sure to do it!

Things to Consider When Buying Apparel and Accessories As a Gift For Your Kids


Purchasing apparel and accessories as a gift for your children is a beautiful way to show them that you care about them. This can be done in various ways, but the most important thing to remember is that a gift can be affordable. You can also choose something small that will make them smile. Ultimately, you want to show them that you are a particular person and want to make them feel loved.

Clothing

Buying apparel and accessories for your kids at Janie and Jack is no small feat. This is especially true if you have picky kids about what they wear. The best way to handle this is to go the route of the experts. If you want something luxurious for your little one, go for customized dresses and let your designer kids flaunt their style. This entails a little shopping around and some serious haggling. This is a great way to see what your kids will wear and what they will not. If you’re shopping around for the correct price tag, you’ll be able to find a plethora of new-fangled clothes that your kids will adorn. Luckily, there’s also a way to go about it that’s completely green and eco-friendly. If you’re in the market for new clothing for your kids, consider buying some that aren’t. This way, you can reuse the clothes for your kids’ outfits and avoid wasting money.

Layering

Whether you are dressing your child for cold or warm weather, layering is the key to regulating the temperature. Layering clothes is a great way to keep your child warm and stylish. The key to layering is choosing suitable layers. This means selecting the base, mid and outer layers that work well together. A base layer should be made of soft and breathable materials. This layer will help to wick moisture away from your child’s skin. A mid-layer should be loose enough to allow air to circulate between the layers. This middle layer is the one that will hold heat and keep your child warm in cold weather. The final outer layer should be water-resistant and protect your child from the elements.

Durability

Choosing durable garments and accessories for kids can be a challenge. Children are rough on their clothes and sometimes even in the wash! For these reasons, durability is a must. However, you can take some simple steps to make your clothes last longer. The first thing to do is to choose durable material for your garments and accessories. Fabric quality, stitch count, and stitch type and trims all play a role. You should also check labels for washing instructions. Some garments are prone to be damaged in the wash, so read the fine print. It would be best to choose garments with a crease-resistant or water-resistant coating. Whether you’re looking for a gift for a little one or want to get a new accessory for your child, there are some things to consider. This article will give you an overview of what to look for when shopping for apparel and accessories for children.

Accessories

Buying apparel and accessories for your kids can be a rewarding experience in and of itself. However, a few tips and tricks will help you avoid pitfalls. For instance, go for quality over quantity if you’re in the market for new shirts and pants. This is especially important if your kids are teens or tweens. Besides, this is an excellent time to get a head start on your teen’s college fund. Luckily, shopping for your kids can be a fun and rewarding experience that will be fondly remembered for years. Including kids in the shopping process will ensure you get all of the year’s best deals if you have kids.

How To Properly Maintain Your Home

Taking care of your house may seem like a big job, but the most important thing is that you do it consistently. As long as you remember to do basic maintenance tasks like changing the furnace filter and cleaning out the gutters every two weeks, nothing bad should happen to your property because you forgot to do them. The tips below will help you take care of your home properly and avoid trouble.

Photo by Antonio Friedemann

Get Insurance 

You should always make sure your house is insured. You won’t have to worry about losing money if disaster strikes or if your belongings are stolen. It can also be useful if accidents on the premises lead to legal action. It’s important to make sure that all of the people who will be living in the home are included in the policy, as well as any other insurance coverage they may need.

Because of the unpredictability of some natural catastrophes, such as earthquakes and floods, it is important to ensure that your property is adequately insured. Although you may not give it much thought if nothing has happened in years, having adequate coverage could be a lifesaver in the event of a disaster.

Don’t Forget Your Landscaping

In the warmer months, you should make it part of your house maintenance routine to tend to your flower beds at least once a month, in addition to your weekly lawn care. Allowing weeds, dead leaves, and trash to accumulate in certain areas of your home, such as flower beds, can be dangerous since it invites pests and poses a fire risk. If you want to keep your yard looking nice and ward off pests, you should prune and otherwise manage it at least once a month.

Check Your Roof And Gutters

Buying a new roof is sometimes necessary, but no one wants to deal with the hassle, and most of the time, it can be avoided. Not only is it a pain to replace your whole roof, but it also costs a lot of money. By checking your roof and gutters once a year, or, even better, having experts such as Primo Roofers check it for you, you can keep your home from being damaged by erosion. In the long run, this will keep you from having to get a new roof. And when you really do need one, you’ll already have roofers in mind to help you out. 

Look At The Plumbing 

Plumbing can be a major hassle if it goes wrong. You’ll be out of water, so you won’t be able to bathe, brush your teeth, wash your hands, or even use water from the kitchen tap. This is why it’s important to pay attention to your plumbing. If there is a leak or something doesn’t seem to be working properly, call the experts to check things out. 

Do Regular Inspections 

It’s a good idea to take a walk around your entire property, inside and out, once a month or so. If you do this, you’ll soon notice if anything is amiss, and you’ll be able to fix the problem sooner rather than later, which could save a lot of money and inconvenience later on. Make sure you don’t forget to check those areas you don’t often visit, such as the basement or attic, as there could be problems there that you’ll never otherwise see, even if you check the rest of the house.

Gift Guide For Him

Here is the most requested of all the gift guides. The gift guide for him. I do not know why men are so hard to shop for. Here are some great picks for the men in your life. So many I have added to my own cart. Click on the descriptions below for more information or to shop!!!

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From Left to Right:

This therapeutic handheld massager is perfect for the sportsman and it gets rave reviews to boot!!

Ok, my son and a few friends are going to go CRAZY for this hot sauce kit.

This game looks like so much fun!

I also ordered this…..a popcorn seasoning kit!!!

I have heard so many good things about this reading light/sound machine/clock. I want it for myself!!!!!

You can never go wrong with a good quality cashmere crew sweater.

Everyone I know is crazed for their Hydro Flask….#1 gift for sure!!!

Cloud 9 sneakers are voted the best time and time again!!

These North Face shoes are winners for sure..I love the grey/black combo.

Also, these Birkenstocks are chic…Did I actually say that out loud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????!!!!

This sleep mask is incredible….I have seen it on many wish lists….

I am putting Bala Weights on here because they are awesome overall.

2023’s Most Festive Cities

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Sleigh bells are ringing, snow is glistening, while Mariah Carey serenades shoppers at every department store — it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

Which of the 200 biggest U.S. cities most resemble a scene out of a Hallmark movie?

LawnStarter made a list of 2022’s Most Festive Cities and checked it twice. We looked for cities with bags of fun, like holiday festivals and European-style Christmas markets serving delicious goodies.

Of course, no winter wonderland is complete without snow, so we also measured the average snowfall in each city to find the most Instagram-worthy backdrops. 

Check out the 10 most festive cities — and the 10 most bah humbug — below, followed by highlights and lowlights from our report. (See where your city ranks here.)
Most Festive CitiesRankCity
1 New York, NY
2 Las Vegas, NV
3 Los Angeles, CA
4 Chicago, IL
5 Denver, CO
6 Houston, TX
7 San Antonio, TX
8 San Diego, CA
9 Charlotte, NC
10 Philadelphia, PA
Highlights:
Christmas in New York: Kids from 1 to 92 will find it hard to sleep in The City That Never Sleeps. New York is our No. 1 most festive city for the second year in a row, dominating four out of five categories. 

Even though New York placed eighth in “Frolicking,” no other city holds a fir-scented candle to America’s most popular tourist destination. It would take a miracle on 34th Street to beat the city with the most holiday festivals, attractions, music venues, gift shops — you name it.

To rub icy elbows with your pal Jack Frost, head to Upstate New York. Syracuse, Buffalo, and Rochester are true winter wanderlands, boasting excellent walk scores and the highest average snowfalls among all 200 cities. The region already hit an icy milestone, a historic 4 feet of snow in a single day, back in November.
Where the Grinch Stole Christmas: Crowd-averse residents of several California, Florida, and Texas cities can enjoy more than one silent night this holiday season. Three cities from each of these states make up most of our bottom 10.

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