Tips for an Unforgettable Dinner Party

08/15/2018 Leave a comment Social

A dinner party can be many things. It can be formal and sophisticated. It can be inventive and almost playful. The one thing your dinner party should never be is boring. You want any party that you throw to be memorable for everyone. You may even want your party to be the talk of the town. There are a number of ways to make sure that that happens.

The Right Guests

Are you the kind of person that has a number of friend circles that you kind of wander in and out of? Maybe it is time to introduce a few of the friends from one circle to a few of the friends from another and see how they mesh. Don’t purposely choose opposites especially people on opposite ends of the political spectrum. That would be too potentially tense, maybe even explosive. Instead, find friends that may have something that might be complementary to one another.

Since people may not know each other, have place cards and try to pair people that you think will have interesting conversations with one another. Don’t get hung up on trying to create “love” connections and forget the rule that everyone should be seated in a certain way. Do what will work with the people that you have invited.

Choose a Theme

Even if you stick to straightforward food and drink and pleasant conversation without any frills or fancy decor, you will want to have a theme to unify and hold the whole party together. For instance, you might choose to do foods of a certain region making sure that each of the dishes flow well together. Of course, you will also want the drinks that you serve to match the type of food that you are serving.

If you would like a more involved theme, you can tie in the decor, serving ware and even dress according to what you have selected. It will be a great way to get your guests excited for what is to come and will give them something to talk about afterwards.

It takes a lot more work but you could do a murder mystery dinner party. It takes some careful planning and you will need the help of a few of your guests but it would be a party that would get rave reviews and everyone would be begging you to help them plan a similar party in their own home.

Set the Mood With Lights and Music

An elegant dinner party should be softly lit by dimmed overhead lights and candles so that the dining area seems to be enveloped in a glowing aura. Soft music playing in the background also helps to set the tone but should be something that will not take away from the conversations at the table. Keep in mind that music could help spur conversation though so don’t forego it completely.

The Host to the Rescue!

Always be prepared for food, drink and guest emergencies. If you see conversation lagging, tell an interesting story or a brief joke. Ask someone a question, especially if you already know the answer and let them have the floor. Make sure that drink glasses are never empty and that everyone has enough of the foods they enjoy.

At the End of the Evening

While you should serve dessert at the table a special treat would be to send each guest home with an individually boxed cupcake from a local bakery. If you are an avid baker and don’t mind the added work, bake them yourself and decorate according to your theme. Wish each guest a good evening, safe travels and give them their treat as they go.

Toilet Talk – What To Look For When It’s Time for a Replacement

08/06/2018 Leave a comment Household

Have you started noticing that your toilet looks a bit old and outdated? It might be one of those rose-colored models from decades ago. Maybe it has a persistent dripping that happens all night long. It might requirement maintenance every month in order to keep it going. Whatever the issue is with your toilet, it might be time to replace it and upgrade to something more efficient and newer. There are some signs you can watch out for that will indicate a new toilet is in your bathroom’s future. Let’s take a closer look.

Overflow Issues

This is a common issue that many homeowners deal with. If you have children in the house you likely have had too much toilet paper flushed down the drain before. Kids trying to flush toys down the toilet can also lead to problems. However, if you notice that your toilet is clogging up numerous times per month with no real known cause, there might be a bigger issue going on. Newer toilets are designed to use less water. At least next time your daughter tries to flush her doll down the toilet, there will be less water to mop up. When you install the new version, you can address any clog issues that might be causing your overflows before you install the new model.

Running Constantly

When you flush your toilet, this will cause water to run for a few seconds or more. When you start noticing that this running sound is occurring more often, without anyone flushing, there might be something wrong with a part inside the toilet. It could be a damaged flapper valve or a broken float. Some of these items can be replaced very affordably. If you can’t seem to find a problem with any of these moving parts, the problem could be deep within the workings of the toilet and won’t benefit from repairs. Make sure you address this problem quickly. If you leave for the day, you could end up coming home to quite a mess.

Improper Flushing

When you go to flush the toilet a couple of different issues can occur. For one, the water levels might remain lower than normal. Also, the bowl can become clogged. There are a number of issues that could be contributing to your inability to flush. You can make sure that the upper tank portion is filling up with enough water. If this area is fine you can check the bowl and drain to make sure nothing is clogged up.

Leaks

One of the most common reasons a toilet needs to be replaced is a leak of some sort. After many years a toilet will eventually wear out because of a bad seal, broken flanges or cracks that have formed in the base of the toilet. Hopefully you have caught this problem before your floor is ruined by a slow leak. Be sure to have your toilet replaced immediately to prevent further water damage. A crack in your toilet isn’t something that can be fixed and it will only get worse with time.

Other Benefits of Toilet Replacement

In addition to replacing your toilet because of functional issues, there are also some aesthetic benefits to think about. For example, an updated toilet can completely transform the look of your bathroom. You can re-do every other aspect of your bathroom, but if you leave the old toilet in place this can be a big eye sore. Not to mention, the added efficiency you get from your new toilet will help pay for the recent updates.

If you have decided that it is time to replace your toilet and want to speak with a professional about the process, it is important to find a reputable and trustworthy company in your area to do the job. You want to make sure the installation process is done right so that you can trust your bathroom is protected and safe for years to come. They can also help you pick a toilet that will work with your current bathroom setup, improving the aesthetics and he overall function of your bathroom area.

Words of Wisdom for a First Time Mother

08/02/2018 Leave a comment Family

There is no shortage of advice given to first-time mothers. Some are practical. Like, do not spend too much on children’s clothing. They will outgrow them quickly. Others are heartwarming. The adage “the days are long, but the years are short” is repeated often.

Becoming a parent opens up a large community willing to share their experiences. They will talk about exclusive breastfeeding. They will try to convince you of the virtues of the Montessori method on young children. A small, but very passionate, group will talk about the value of essential oils for getting children to sleep through the night.

But, there is one thing that young mothers almost never hear: trust yourself.

It seems obvious, but mothers need to hear it. Raising a baby is not a joke. It is physically and emotionally demanding, so it is easy to second-guess yourself.

But, the truth is that nobody knows your baby more than you. On that point alone, you are the expert. More experienced parents might have been doing the parenting thing longer, but they do not have your qualifications. You are the one who carried your baby to term. You were there when he or she came out into the world. You have been training for this moment for 40 weeks, more or less. Holding the baby in your arms means that you passed the interview and you now hold the job. Other people can try to sway you with their experiences, but this is your turf.

Parenting is a maze of questions with few definite answers. It is easy for first-time mothers to get lost. What breast pump should I use? Should I use formula? Will attachment parenting encourage my child to excel or turn him or her into an emotionally fragile wuss? On some nights — fine, most nights — you might stand in the middle of the room, trying to console an inconsolable baby and think, “I don’t know what I’m doing!”

It might seem impossible at the time, but trust yourself.

The details of parenting will work themselves out. People always talk about maternal instincts, but that doesn’t always happen instantly. Sometimes, it takes time. As you and your baby get to know each other. you will be able to tell if your baby needs milk or just wants to be cuddled. You have to be kind to yourself and give yourself time to learn the ropes. Nobody is born knowing how to run. The first, unsteady steps are part of the process.

Parenting in this day and age is harder because there is too much information out there. Sometimes, they are even conflicting. It is a double-edged sword. On one side, it’s great to be plugged into so much knowledge. If you don’t know something, Google it. You can even hop on to a forum and ask a question. People will answer.

But, the downside is that it is easy to doubt yourself and compare your performance with others. Also, some parents can be pretty intense. Do you want some proof? Go to a parenting website, type “vaccine”, and watch the comments section explode.

When there is too much coming at you, what should you do? You are the only one who can answer that. Parenting is a deeply personal experience and what works for one family does not necessarily work for another. Information is there to help. Other parents can support you. Or they may not. But, it does not really matter.

You are the only one making decisions as a mother. Sometimes, your choice might be the unpopular one; but, stand firm. Whether it is standing up against an internet troll or setting boundaries with your mother-in-law, you need to believe in your judgment.

It would be nice if motherhood came with an instruction manual. But, that is not the case. In fact, it is bound to get confusing for a while. By the time you are an expert on infants, your infant has turned into a toddler intent to say no to everything. When you finally understand the mindset of a toddler, you have a preschooler trying to test limits. Of course, let us not forget about puberty.

No one is really an expert at parenting. But, there are steadfast ones. Years pass by throwing all sorts of curveballs, but strong parents are unfazed. Why? Because they trust themselves. Why shouldn’t they? When you are motivated by the love for your child, you are bound to make the correct decisions. Every choice is examined and all the consequences are considered. You cannot help but want what is best for your offspring. That is the nature of parenting, whether a first-timer or not.

So to you, the first-time mom who might feel tired and overwhelmed and a little unsure of what to do: trust yourself. You got this.