These days, we’re all trying to save money. When you’re trying to fix up your home or you are figuring out the best ways to keep your finances in check you have to look at your immediate surroundings. When it comes to your appliances you must remember that these are one of the biggest expenses in the home. As such, we have to remember how important it is to look after our appliances. Many people believe that appliances are only built to last so long. But the important thing to bear in mind is to make sure that your appliances last longer, not just for the benefit of your wallet, but for the environment as well. What are the best approaches to take?
Read The Instruction Manual
When you need to fix your brand name appliances, do you ever refer to the instruction manual? We’re all guilty of throwing the instruction manual away but as boring as this sounds, the user manual will help us to make sure that we are using our appliance properly. Also, user manuals give plenty of pointers on the appliance maintenance. When we start to care for our appliances properly they will last longer, but also remember that there is plenty of customer support for your appliances available from the manufacturer.
The Importance Of Ventilation
Whether it’s your washer dryer or your refrigerator/freezer, it’s important to remember that these appliances need adequate ventilation to do their job properly. When the coils on your fridge gather dust and you do not routinely clean it, it can cause issues over time with the power supply. As dust collects, the fridge has to work harder to pump the electricity around. Leave 2 cm of extra space behind and above the appliance, allowing for ventilation but also to give you the opportunity to clean these items properly.
Keeping Your Appliances Clean
Many people think that they only need to clean the appliance when they start to see aesthetic issues. But when it comes to something like your washer-dryer, the amount of mold and bacteria that can build up without you being able to see it can mean that your appliance is corroding from the inside. It’s important for you to run your washer-dryer without any clothes in it once a month without any detergent. The vast majority of your appliances will work much better when the residue is clear. I use THIS washing machine cleaner and it works wonders!
Inspect the Items Around Your Home
It takes a couple of seconds to look at your toaster or kettle before you use it and once you get into this mindset of having a quick glance to see if there are any problems you’ll be able to keep on top of these issues. It’s a good idea to get into a maintenance mindset because you will be able to spot any problems before they get worse. The same thing applies to your appliances like your washer-dryer. When you check the filter and empty it on a regular basis, you will get rid of the debris and other bits that have accumulated inside there over time.
It’s very easy to make your appliances last a long time, but so many people don’t think that they can’t do anything about it apart from purchasing a new one. If you really want to save money and save the environment, follow these four practices, and extend the life of your household appliances.
In honor of my mom’s, an entertainer extraordinaire, Birthday today, I choose the fab book, Platters & Boards for this week’s Book Club selection. In the past couple of years, cheese boards, and charcuterie platters have taken center stage in entertaining. I love putting one together when friends come over or when we meet for a picnic on the beach. This book is so full of great ideas and suggestions from how to choose a board to arranging your treats…..
Platters and Boards — Entertaining dishes and party dishes your guests will love
Entertaining and party dishes from Platters and Boards: Celebrated author and food blogger Shelly Westerhausen shares the secrets to creating casually chic spreads anyone can make and everyone will enjoy (and envy) in her bestselling Platters and Boards cookbook. This visual cornucopia of a cookbook is the guide to entertaining with effortless style.
Platters and Boards is an inspiring resource for throwing unforgettable get-togethers: Organized by time of day, 40 contemporary arrangements are presented with gorgeous photography, easy-to-prepare recipes, suggested meat and drink pairings, and notes on preparation and presentation.
Helpful advice includes:
- Tips on portioning
- Guides to picking surfaces and vessels
- Recommendations for pairing complementary textures and flavors
- A handy chart featuring board suggestions for a variety of occasions (from holiday parties to baby showers)
For more information or to order this book, click HERE.
With Starbucks re-opening just a few days ago..I started looking for a fun option for Mother’s Day, from their stores How great are these DIY decorated re-useable cups from Starbucks? You can decorate them with sharpie pens and the cups are easily purchased at any Starbucks location. Bring mom her coffee in bed with her own beautifully decorated cup that she can use many mornings after.
What I hear the most from everyone in quarantine is that they are sick of cooking but I have the most delicious, easy, 2 ingredient chocolate mousse recipe for Mother’s Day. I promise you that if you make this once, you will have a hard time not making it every week!!!!
adapted from instrupix.com
Ingredients
- 1 box instant pudding (any flavor and size)
- 2-3 cups heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Using a hand mixer, make the instant pudding according to the package directions, only substitute heavy cream for the milk.
- After the pudding and heavy cream are well combined, place it in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes, and mix it again until it’s super thick.
More people are communicating via zoom these days. Whether it be with your friends, family, work commitments, or online appointments. Here is some retail therapy for while you are staying home. Or as I like to call them, the MVPs of quarantine. Please click the links for more information. Or feel free to EMAIL me with any questions or your own suggestions.
A great new colorful or printed blouse or sweater will really elevate your zoom game!
A new pair of statement earrings are a must since they really pop during a zoom call.
If you do stay in your pajamas all day (no judgment here!!!!). They should at least be Glam Pajamas!!!!!!!
I found these industrial paper towels …GAME CHANGER in a pandemic for sure.. it has been over a month and I have gone through only one roll so far. I would have gone through 8 + rolls of bounty!!!
Here is the new Alexa flex. With her new prices point and the ease of simply plugging her in any outlet, you can easily have her in any room of your house. The games we play are Jeopardy and Song Quiz (this is the version that plays the actual song verses to guess). And check out the EVERYTHING ALEXA page for all new features.
HERE and HERE (readers and non magnifying) are the blue light blocking glasses I use, since there is even more time spent on screens these days!!!!
Simply Scrumptious baked goods are incredible. Most items are low or non-fat and way under 100 calories. They make indulging have much fewer consequences and guilt!!!!
Who says you cannot have that skin kissed glow during quarantine….
Or, just go for the straight sunshine in a bottle!!!!!
Nails seem to be a huge problem for everyone…I just tried these really incredible nail color strips that give you a salon quality manicure that lasts for up to 10 days!!!!
Who does not LOVE a DIY..but most of use are not that crafty..never fear..I have 2 really easy yet really impressive ones for you!!
DIY Carabiner Layering Necklaces:
Cut the necklace to where you want to add the carabiner and screw it on. Depending on how fancy you want your necklace you can add one or 2 carabiners (a larger and a smaller or a different shaped or stone version) . You can be as creative as you want when layering…
And here are all the Carabiners!!
DIY Party Pajamas
I found THESE pajamas and many different colored BOAS. I used a GLUE GUN to attach the feathers to each of the sleeves and each pant leg. One boa was enough to do one pair of pajamas. I have seen people wear the top with jeans or the pants with a dressy flared sleeve blacktop or the top and bottoms together with cute heels to a wedding or Holiday party. When our quarantine is over, I am going to send mine out to have the feathers sewn on (but I’m sure a lot of you can do it yourself)!!! I just love this look!!!!!
Here are some tips for elevating your Zoom background or “scene” as I like to call it!!!
Set up your computer in front of the window so your face gets natural light, which is the most flattering type of light.”
You can improve your appearance and look airbrushed. Just click the “enhance my appearance” button under video options.
Use laptops/computers over phone/tablets. It allows for better control of viewing and accessing chat features.
Mute mics and only unmute when you are speaking; it eliminates some of the screen jumping that is triggered by sound/noise.
Surround yourself with things that inspire you: a decorative piece, a Himalayan salt lamp, or burn a candle.
Place Lamps At Both Sides Of Your Desk, if you are seated at a desk.
Clean your space. Do not show clutter. Think about your background. A nice piece of artwork or your fireplace and mantle would work nicely. Basically something interesting to look at.
Add a decorative object to the background, like a vase of flowers.
A book shelf makes for an interesting and eye catching backdrop.
Have nice accessories, a pretty mug (my friend, Melissa, used these recently) or glass. Use a decorative pen or notebook, if you need one during the meeting.
The state of the current affairs has us rethinking a lot of things at home. You are really supposed to reevaluate all your insurance every few years. Truth be told, I have never revaluated anything. It always seemed like an intimidating project and I never really knew where to start. If you’re looking for more affordable car insurance, sometimes there are too many choices and it really can be a bit overwhelming. Don’t worry, it’s easier to save money on your car insurance if you follow some basic advice. Always reject the first offer and try to negotiate. Do what you can to find the best premium rates. Even things like adjusting your job title can get you a reduction. Here are some tips on how to spend less on car insurance.
Get the best deal
It’s better to do your research before committing to one car insurance company. Shop around and use price comparison sites to find the best offers online. It’s often cheaper to go for a shorter-term deal. Don’t go for “auto-renew ” as this means that your premium will be renewed automatically with no room to negotiate. You will save more money by going with a company that is willing to fight for you to choose them. Second-hand vehicles will tend to get you a lower premium. New cars go down in value as soon as you drive them out of the dealership. They go through an 11% depreciation on average almost immediately and then depreciate even more in the next few years. Used cars have already gone through this depreciation, so you won’t have the same problem.
Be a responsible driver
The best way you can protect your family and avoid making a claim on your car insurance is by driving more safely. Put your phone away. Do not text and drive. Don’t let road rage take over. Avoid slamming on the brakes or the accelerator. Always follow the traffic laws and don’t take any risks. Avoid distractions while driving. If you don’t have any driving issues you can rely on your no claims bonus. A very interesting and unknown fact is that your job title can also make you appear more responsible to an insurer. If you’re a freelance skilled worker, technically you’re the “company director”. Try testing out a job picker online to help make your job title get you a better deal. on your policy. As long as the job title you use technically describes the work you do, it shouldn’t be a problem for the insurance company.
What to do if you have an accident
If the unfortunate does happen it’s not necessarily the end of the world, but it might make you think about how you can improve your driving. Refresher driving lessons or a defensive driving course might be a good idea. Immediately after the incident, you should file a detailed accident report. You don’t want to be misinformed or lose out on your claim. Speak to lawyers about arranging legal help for injury claim. There could be a number of factors that might have led to the accident. You could be entitled to compensation. Make sure you are as informed as you can be about the claims process. Get the details of the other driver and their vehicle. Take plenty of photos at the scene, and speak to any witnesses. Be as prepared as possible when you make a claim.