Lifestyle

If you’ve ever shopped online and been disappointed when your package arrived at your home only to not be what you were expecting, then you know how careful you need to be when making online purchases. But while small purchases don’t make much difference, if you’re spending a lot of money on something or shopping for a high quality brand, you’ll want to be sure that you’re getting exactly what you think you’re paying for.

To help you with this, here are three tips for shopping top brands online.

Look For Authorized Resellers

If the item you’re buying is from a reputable fashion brand but you’re not going through their website to make your purchase, one thing you’ll want to do is to make sure you’re buying from an authorized reseller. When a company is certified as an authorized reseller for that brand, you’ll know that you’re not being sold a fake item or an item that won’t come to you as you’re expecting.

Additionally, if the item that you’re buying has some kind of manufacturer warranty, buying the item not from an authorized reseller or retailer can nullify that warranty. So if you want the warranty to stay intact, make sure you buy things like your Hermès accessories and your kitchen appliances from reputable sources.

Check Reviews Before Purchasing

If you’re buying your top brand item from a third-party distributor that you haven’t used in the past and don’t know much about, one of the first things that you should do before making your purchase is to check reviews about the company online.

Ideally, there will have been other people who have used this company in the past and then reviewed the experience they had. Their reviews can give you all kinds of information, from how their customer service department handled issues, if the product came as was advertised, how the shipping process went, or if the company is actually trustworthy and should be given your business.

Get All Your Shopping Done At Once

When shopping online, you’ll most likely have to pay shipping for the items that you purchase. So to help you make the most of the items you’re buying and save some money in the process, it’s wise to get all of your shopping done at once from each retailer so that you don’t have to pay shipping costs over and over.

Knowing this, it might make sense to wait until you have a few items that you’re wanting to purchase so that they can all ship together and lower your shipping costs, especially if you’re already going to be spending a lot of money to purchase items from this top brand in the first place.

If you want to shop top brands online, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you do so successfully.

 

A handwritten card, a food basket, a glazed teapot, a diamond necklace – getting any gift is wonderful and also means a responsibility to keep the gift for as long as possible.

Different things should be stored differently and breakable gifts in particular you want to handle a particular way. Here are 3 tips for you.

Ask the Giver

Chances are that a gift is bought with thoughtful care and with so much knowledge about the gift, one of the first things you want to do is ask the gift giver about any particularly delicate features and specific care requirements. In fact, even a conversation to understand their intentions could very well reveal tricks from how they figured the gift would be handled.

You want to initiate a conversation with them, first sincerely thanking them for the gift and then asking specific questions about handling, cleaning, and any nuances that come with the present.

For example, say an old high school friend just gives you a delicate handcrafted glass ornament. Engaging them to thank them and ask for handling tips means advice like holding it by the sturdier base rather than the fragile extended elements, plus an indication to them that you really appreciate the glass ornament.

Custom Cushioning

Any breakable gift could benefit from some cushioning, especially if it’s tailored for their shape or unique vulnerabilities. Plus, it can do wonders for aesthetics.

Custom cushioning can be pretty simple; you want to check out the gift’s dimensions, materials, and fragility, pick out appropriate cushioning materials -soft fabric, foam, custom-cut inserts – then design or buy a dedicated display case that’s just right.

Say your sibling gives you a fragile ceramic sculpture. It’s a very good idea to have a custom-fitted foam insert that snugly surrounds its contours as well as a transparent acrylic display case so that there’s a protective barrier with no obstruction.

Hold or Use with Precision

Accidents do happen, but certainly not nearly so much with precise handling. Using care every time you want to enjoy a gift is one of the most respectful, appreciative things to do.

Different kinds of fragile gifts need different handling, but generally, you want to:

• Always use both hands and distribute the weight evenly
• Move as slowly as you can, deliberately, avoiding sudden movements or jerks
• Look around your environment. It’s how you’ll steer clear of obstacles or hazards in your path

For example, say your best friend finds you a fragile antique photo frame. If it’s going to last, you don’t want to grip it with one hand, touch the glass surface directly, or constantly move it from one place to another.

Often, gifts are thoughtful presents meant to last. And while you should absolutely enjoy any gift, it’s best to be careful! Keep these tips in mind for your more breakable gifts.

First dates can be scary and nerve-wracking for all kinds of reasons. But one thing that you shouldn’t be stressed about for a first date is what you’re wearing. Luckily, by following along with this advice, you can choose the perfect first date outfit without worrying too much.

To help you see how to do this, here are three tips for dressing for a first date.

Get Your Shoes Right

One part of your outfit that you absolutely don’t want to get wrong is your shoes. Depending on what you’re doing for your date, your shoes can literally make or break your experience on your date. So as a good rule of thumb, it’s wise to go with something versatile like a leather shoe that will work in almost any situation.

If you know exactly what you’re going to be doing on your first date, feel free to choose shoes that will work best in the given circumstances. But if your first date is going to be somewhat of a surprise, it’s wise to err on the side of comfort so that, regardless of what you might be doing or where you might be going, you’ll know that you can handle anything that might be thrown your way.

Choose Something You Feel Comfortable And Confident In

In addition to wearing something that you’re comfortable in, you’ll also want to choose clothes and shoes that you feel confident wearing.

When it comes to making a good first impression, confidence really is key. So while there might be something in your closet that people have told you looks great on you, if you don’t feel great while you’re wearing it, opt for something that helps you to feel confident and more yourself so that you can give a beautiful and accurate representation of who you are on your first date.

Add Some Versatility To Your Look

In many cases, if a first date goes well, both parties might want to prolong the date past what was initially planned. If this becomes your reality, you’ll want to be ready for whatever else the night may bring. So to help you with this, you should try to add some versatility to your look and make it easy for you to go from one venue to another.

To do this, you should consider embracing layers as part of your first date look. This way, if it’s warmer during the day and gets cooler at night, you can already have an additional layer with you that you can throw on to feel physically comfortable while also looking and feeling great.

If you’re unsure about how to dress or what to wear on a first date, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you figure out just what to do.

As a pet parent, you want to provide the best care possible for your animal, which entails performing regular, everyday chores to keep them content and healthy. Follow these ten basic pet care recommendations every year for happy, healthy pets for life.

Have regular vet appointments.

Scheduling regular vet visits is the most important aspect of responsible pet ownership. Because dogs and cats live shorter lives than people do, they should be examined at least once or twice a year. While your pet may visit the vet more frequently when they are young, depending on their immunization schedule, keeping up with vet visits as they age is crucial to establishing and maintaining good pet health.

Dogs typically relish car rides. Take your dog on fun excursions to prevent him from associating getting into the car with going to the vet. When you find a veterinarian who is a good fit for your pet, many dogs don’t mind going there.

Get your pets spayed.

Aside from minimizing the number of homeless animals, spaying your pet helps to prevent many health problems, including difficult pregnancies. By having your pet cat or dog spayed, you can decrease their chances of developing cervical and ovarian cancer and keep your pets from having heat (animal menstruation) which reduces the likelihood that they’ll leave the house in search of a partner and makes any nearby male cats or dogs uncomfortable.

Your pet will be less aggressive after being neutered, and it will not develop testicular cancer. Because neutering or spaying is a surgical procedure that requires general anesthesia, your pet will most likely spend at least one night at the vet’s clinic for monitoring and recovery.

Get them vaccinated and booster.

Vaccinating your animals is part of providing them with the care they require. Make a vaccination appointment as soon as you bring your new pet home. During your initial visit, the veterinarian will set up a vaccination program for your small dog or kitten to protect them from illness and disease. Vaccinations should be administered to your puppy within the first few weeks of his arrival.

During your initial checkup, discuss with your veterinarian the best time to schedule that visit. They aid in the prevention of diseases such as rabies and distemper. Ensure that the adult or senior animal you have adopted has also received its vaccinations. Not just for young animals but for all animals, booster vaccinations are necessary.

Give nutritional meals.

The proper pet food will improve your pet’s quality of life by providing them with the vitamins and minerals they require. There are a lot of different options for meals, which can be confusing. However, by becoming informed about the key ingredients and how they benefit your dog or cat, you can quickly become an expert. In the cat food you choose, look for the right balance of protein, carbs, and fats. These ingredients are required for dog food, along with plenty of fiber for the digestive system.

Consult with your veterinarian before switching your pet to a special diet by selecting a pet food formula that is suitable for your pet’s age, health, and degree of physical activity.

Socializing and pet training are important.

Making sure your cat or dog is well-trained is one of the most significant aspects of good pet care, and regular socializing is part of that. Although it is ideal to begin when they are young, it is never too late to learn new skills.

Toilet training and making progress on dog obedience should come first for any animal you share your home with. When your dog or cat learns socialization skills, it will strengthen its bond with you and other pets. A joyful pet makes a satisfied owner, and untrained animals do as well.

 

If you have a young child who’s just at the beginning of learning how to read, you may find that they might be struggling with certain parts of the reading process. When this happens, it can be very easy for them to become discouraged and want to give up reading entirely. But in order for them to continue learning and become a strong reader, you have to find a way to help them overcome these challenges and work with their learning style.

To help you see how this can be done, here are three ways to help a child who’s struggling with reading.

Take It Slow When Reading Together

When your child is first learning how to read, one of the best things you can do with them is to read together. As your child sees you read more and gets into books with you, they will learn to recognize letters and words, learn how the cadence of reading goes, and learn from you your love of reading.

During this part of learning to read, you should make sure that you’re taking it slow as you read together. Ideally, you should use your finger to follow along with the words that you’re reading so that your child can keep track. This can be especially helpful if you think your child might be dyslexic, as going slow can help them not to mix up their letters and words as much.

Build Their Confidence With The Right Books

Another thing that might be making it harder for your child to succeed with reading is reading the wrong books. If your child is reading books that are either too easy for them or too challenging, they might now want to read as much as they should.

To find books that are just right for your new reader, consider speaking with their teacher or a tutor about books that you should look for. Generally, if your child can read almost all of the words on a page of a book with minimal help, that is likely a book that is at or just above their reading level.

Make Reading Fun With Games And Apps

For many kids, just sitting down and reading a book can sometimes seem like punishment, especially if you’re wanting to have them read before they get to do something that they want to do.

To avoid this obstacle, try to find some fun games or apps that your child will enjoy while also building on their reading skills. There are all kinds of educational games and apps like this that your child can spend a lot of time playing and will come out as a better reader because of it.

If you want to help your child overcome their struggles with learning to read, consider using the tips mentioned above to see how you can do this with your child.

 

Poker has been considered a “man’s game” for decades, but that shouldn’t stop women from enjoying the game just as much as their male counterparts. In fact, we’re seeing more prominent women in the pro poker ranks of late, and one study even showed that 81% of women who have actually played before have enjoyed it! There’s simply no reason to consider the game a domain for men.

This is even more the case when we’re talking about poker at home. While it’s understandable that some women would still rather avoid the male-dominated poker rooms at actual casinos, hosting a poker night with your girlfriends makes for an excellent night in. You can catch up, enjoy some food and drinks, and enjoy a bit of playful competition in the process. If this sounds like a good idea to you, we have a few fun tips for how to make the evening memorable.

Make Some Cocktails

Ladies’ night in is a great time for a few nice cocktails regardless of what else you’re doing. And around the poker table, it can help everyone loosen up a bit! Your instinct may be to turn to some of the numerous poker and casino-themed drinks out there, and to be fair, some of them are sort of fun (you might even replicate the “Vesper” from Casino Royale). But really, you should focus on drinks that everyone will enjoy before drinks that fit a given theme. For the summer season ahead, we like both of the girls’ night in cocktails that The Spruce Eats promoted last year –– “Pretty in Pink” (made with vodka, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and grapefruit juice with a rosemary garnish), and “Blueberry Pomegranate Slushies” (a frozen blend with blueberry, pomegranate, lemon, and gin). But those are just a few examples. The best approach is to poll your group and figure out what people like and then track down a recipe accordingly. Consider making “mocktail” versions as well, for those who may not want to drink for one reason or another.

Have Some Food Ready

Whether or not you set up accompanying cocktails, it’s always a good idea to provide some food to your guests. Because it’s not usually convenient to have a whole dinner plate in front of you while playing poker though, the best move is often to set up a bunch of snacking options for company to enjoy (or ask everyone to bring something small and easy to eat!). For some inspiration, we’ll turn to some great finger food suggestions that The Pioneer Woman posted last December –– most notably pizza rolls, deviled eggs, cranberry brie bites, and classic pigs-in-a-blanket. You can opt for plenty of other finger foods as well, but these are easy ones to consume that won’t get people’s fingers too dirty or greasy (though napkins should still be handy), and which are thus easy to enjoy during a few rounds of poker.

Invest in a Poker Set

A poker chip set can make for an excellent item to pick up for your own home poker nights. Playing with chips isn’t strictly necessary, but if you’ve played with them before, you know they add a certain level of professionalism to the game. Plus, let’s be honest: We all feel kind of cool fiddling with them by the side of the table. Similarly, having great cards (newer, thicker, and shinier, usually) will enhance the experience of the game. And while some of this might sound like a splurge, it all comes quite cheap. A nice set of chips and cards can be had for under $100, and new cards alone –– from the likes of good brands Bicycle or Theory 11 –– can cost as little as $10.

Buy a Poker Table

There are a lot of options when it comes to buying a real poker table, or some version of one. At the very high end of things, you can invest thousands in a permanent piece of furniture with a custom-made felt topping, special features (like drink holders), and matching chairs. If you’re not looking to spend a great deal on your table though, there are also options such as foldable tables, fold-up table toppers, and even mats that can roll out over a table to provide a more satisfying playing surface. You may want to keep a simple wooden interior design in your room and thus not even bother with a topper. The most important thing though is to have that surface, as it makes the game look more real and helps cards and chips slide more smoothly. Beyond that though, your choice will depend on your own preferences and the amount of space you have.

Set Up a Poker Atmosphere

This last suggestion is one to have fun with, and it can mean any number of things. Perhaps you want to set up some soft jazz or bossa nova music in the background to establish a retro casino feel; maybe you want to put up some poker décor (posters of classic films for instance, or poker paintings you find online), or maybe you want to control the atmosphere through some dimming lights, or an affordable chandelier hanging directly over the table. Whatever the case, give some thought to the kind of poker night you want to host and think of some options like these that can help you establish the accompanying atmosphere. The game will be better for it.

Girls’ night doesn’t have to be a night out at a cocktail bar or an evening dedicated to venting, as stereotypes would have us believe. A poker night gives you a great way to let loose with the girls, enjoy a specific activity together, and simply hang out with friends. And with the tips above, you can set up a great one –– and possibly even a new regular tradition.

 

Luckily, most car accidents are small and don’t result in major injuries or too much property damage. But for the times when big car accidents do take place, it can be helpful to know what you can do to better protect yourself, your vehicle, and any passengers in your car from getting more hurt than they otherwise could have been.

To help you know what you can do to prepare, here are three safety tips to know if you get in a bad car accident.

Prepare By Keeping Your Car Clean

When in a car accident, one thing that can make things much more dangerous is having free-moving items in your car. Any items you have in your car will essentially become projectiles launching around when in a high-velocity car accident.

Knowing this, it’s best to keep your car as clean as possible when you’re driving around. If you bring something into the car with you and it doesn’t need to stay in there, it’s best to take it back out of the car with you at the end of your ride. And for things that do need to be in your car, make sure that those items are securely fastened down. This way, if and when you get in a car accident, the items won’t get thrown around to hurt you or break windows, which can cause even more harm and damage.

Keep Important Tools Nearby

In the event that you do get into a bad car accident, there are certain tools that it can be incredibly helpful to have close by your seat so that you can easily grab them and use them if necessary.

One thing that you’ll want to keep close by is a seat belt cutter. In some accidents, the seat belts can get stuck or you might not be able to reach the seat belt to unbuckle. In times like these, having a seat belt cutter will make it possible for you to exit the vehicle. Additionally, having a glass breaker near your seat can be helpful if you can’t get the door open but need to get out of the car in a hurry.

Get Out Of Potentially Dangerous Situations

After a bad car accident, it’s very common for people to be in shock and not functioning how they normally would. But despite this, one thing that you should keep in mind that will help to keep you safe is to move out of potentially dangerous situations as quickly as possible. This means moving your vehicle out of traffic if you can, staying far away from the road, and trying to get out of the vehicle if you smell gas or see that something is on fire.

To help you stay safer the next time you’re in a car accident, consider keeping the above-mentioned information in your mind every time you get in the car.

 

While selling your home is almost inherently going to be a stressful situation, there are things that can be done to limit the stress that you feel and help the process go along as smoothly as possible. So if you’re someone who finds themselves getting stressed out about things easily, here are three ways to reduce the stress associated with selling your home.

Work With A Trusted Real Estate Agent

One of the best things you can do to help make the selling of your home easier on you is to work with a trusted real estate agent. Especially if you don’t have much experience in real estate yourself or this is the first time that you’re selling a home, it can be very overwhelming to try to take everything on yourself.

But with a real estate agent that you like and know has your best interest at heart, you can put so much of the responsibility on their shoulders. They can take care of so many of the aspects of selling a home for you. And if you’re looking to do things like sell your home as-is or get an all cash offer, they can use their expertise to help ensure that you get exactly what you want without having to stress yourself out too much in the process.

Be Realistic About When To Have Showings

Something that causes people the largest amount of stress when selling their home is the showings. Before most people look to buy a house, they want to actually walk through the property. And to make sure your home looks irresistible to anyone who does a walk-through, you’ll want to have your home looking immaculate.

While keeping a home in this state might be easy for some, for others it can be a huge headache. So to help limit some of the stress associated with showings, it’s best to be realistic about when to have showings. If you really can’t handle showings during the day, set these boundaries with your agent. While this might make it harder for buyers to see your home, it can help to reduce your stress.

Focus On What You Can Control

There is so much about the home selling process that is, frankly, out of your control. You can’t control how the housing market changes or what your neighbors choose to do that might impact your home value. You also can’t control what buyers are interested in or what they might offer you. And while these things can cause stress, stressing out about something that you really have no control over is very unproductive.

If you’re able to, try to focus more of your attention on what you can control. This way, you can feel like you’re doing something to help your cause even if things might not work out the way you wanted.

If you’re going to be selling your home soon, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you learn how to keep your stress in check during this process.

Whether you are planning a birthday party, an anniversary, a fundraising event, an art show, or funeral services, there is a lot that goes into the planning of an event. You may start to feel stressed out or like there is no way you will be able to pull things off the way you want to, but don’t fret! Here are 4 simple tips to help you plan any type of event.

Start Early

Start your planning as soon as possible to account for any snags that may end up coming in your way. It may feel strange to start planning a Christmas event during the summer, but time will run out before you know it and you will be glad to be able to get things done ahead of time. Of course, certain things cannot be planned much in advance. If you are planning a funeral for example you may not have much time. Just do the best you can with the time that you have and don’t let time constraints increase your stress levels too much.

Get Help

You may opt to hire professional event planning help, or you might choose to do everything on your own and ask some friends or family members to help you out with planning. Either way, make sure you have extra hands, eyes, and brains in some form! It is extremely difficult to single handedly plan any event, no matter how small, so don’t expect too much out of yourself. Take help where you can get it and set aside some of your budget just in case you need to bring in a professional later on.

Budget

Make sure you have a budgeting plan for your event as a whole as well as every individual aspect of it. Planning even a small event can get expensive very quickly and you don’t want to overspend and end up having to backtrack later. Do not allow yourself to go over budget by making lists of pros and cons of certain event aspects in case there is something you need to choose to cut out.

Stay Organized

Keeping organized with calendars, notebooks, spreadsheets, and reminders in your phone will go a long way in helping you to plan any event with much less stress. As long as you have lists so that you know exactly what needs to be done each day you will be able to manage your time wisely so that nothing gets forgotten.

Planning an event is a large task and you should be proud of yourself for undertaking it. As long as you start your planning as early as possible, get help when you need it, budget properly, and keep organized, everything will turn out exactly as you envision it.

 

 

In addition to getting things like a hunting license and all of the necessary equipment before you leave on a hunting trip, to have the best possible experience, you may also want to spend some time preparing your body for what you’re about to put it through. So to help you in accomplishing this, here are three ways to prepare your body for a hunting trip.

Exercise Your Body Correctly

When thinking about preparing your body for going on a hunting trip, one of the biggest considerations is how you’ll train physically so that you can withstand all of the physical activity you’ll be doing throughout the hunt.

To help you with this, Josh Kirchner, a contributor to GearJunkie.com, recommends that you spend most of your time focusing on your legs, core, and cardio training. By building up these parts of your body, you’ll be able to handle all the walking involved in hunting as well as find that your body can better support itself under the weight of your pack. And with all that extra weight you’ll be carrying throughout the day, you’ll be glad you did some cardio training so that you aren’t completely wiped out when it comes time to take care of the meat you got on the hunt.

Get The Right Equipment And Gear

Another part of preparing your body for going on a hunting trip is making sure that you have the gear and equipment you’ll need so that you can be safe and comfortable.

As part of this, Hunter-ed.com recommends that you get appropriate clothing for your trip and get the right gear to use. Depending on what type of hunting you’re doing and what time of year you’re going out, the right clothing could range from a basic hunting t-shirt to full winter clothes. Along with this, the gear you’ll bring will vary based on what you’re hunting too, so make sure you do research beforehand to best prepare yourself and bring what you’ll need.

Prepare Yourself Mentally

It’s not only physical preparation that you should undergo when planning to take a hunting trip.

According to Tyler Freel, a contributor to OutdoorLife.com, going on a hunting trip can be just as mentally taxing as it is physically taxing. Knowing this, you can prepare yourself mentally by realizing that you’ll likely be very physically uncomfortable throughout a lot of your hunt, what with walking for miles and miles in unpredictable weather. Additionally, the thrill or disappointment that you might feel when your trip is over should be something you prepare for as well.

If you’re wanting to go on a hunting trip in the near future, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you be physically and mentally prepared for this excursion.