Quick Tips to Prepare Your Home for a Dinner Party

Inviting guests to your home is a fun activity and event that most homeowners look forward to. While this might be tasking hiring caterers for whatever occasion you are hosting is the way to go to make the event successful. Flavors Catering and Events can assist you with caterers that will prepare food and services that will blow your mind. On the other hand, hosting a dinner party to enjoy with friends and family can be a tad difficult and stressful. For the dinner party, you want to make your guests as comfortable as possible, and for this reason, you should be prepared in time to avoid any chaos. However, there are some tips that you can use to ensure that your dinner party is a success.

Tips

Prepare your bathroom

It is no doubt that your guests are going to use your bathroom and you do not want them to find it dump and dirty or mess with essential items that you have in there such as medicine. Prepare the bathroom before your guests arrive by ensuring it is clean, your medicine cabinet is locked, and towels and tissue wipes that they will use are available. Your toilet can clog anytime and thus, keep a plunger available in case of such a mishap.

Make your house smell great

As soon as your guests start arriving, the first thing that they sense is the aroma in the house. Having a pleasant smell is more inviting and sets the mood for the rest of the evening. Be it the smell from the food or the candles lit it will create a welcoming environment making your guests look forward to spending the evening.

Host the dinner in a spacious room

Depending on the number of people that you are inviting, it is essential that the dinner party is hosted in a well spacious room where the guests can interact and move freely. Being in a cramped up space will affect the mood of the evening as people will be confined and unable to walk and associate freely. This might also lead to items in the housebreaking as guests are squeezing and pushing one another trying to move.

Do not do things last minute

When hosting a dinner party do not wait until the last hour to start decorating the house or preparing food. This might cause you to forget certain important details such as laying out spoons for eating or tissue paper in the bathroom. Always begin preparations early to be on time and set out everything.

Be prepared for disaster

As much as you are hopeful that the dinner party will go great something might go wrong, and if you do not have a backup plan, the whole dinner may become a disaster. Some of the accidents to be prepared for are: wine spilling, dishes breaking and lights going out. Ensure you have wipes and brooms available as well as a generator or some candles.

5 Tips to Improving the Lighting of Your Home

lighting

You can’t overemphasize the role that good lighting plays in changing the overall look of any home. Yet the thought of upgrading your home seems daunting to many homeowners. However, there are simple ways of improving your lighting without overhauling the system completely. This article will detail a few of them.

  1. Embrace Diversity

Rooms that aren’t well-lighted lack some kind of warmth. Fortunately, handling them is quite simple. Just add some new sources of light that are distinct from the ones that are in the room. For instance, if you only have recessed lights in your space, try adding a wall sconce, a table lamp, or both. You’ll be surprised at the difference it would make.

  1. Task Lighting

Every room should have a special light that’s dedicated to serve while you’re doing a specific task. For instance, a bedside task light could help you read conveniently deep in the night without disrupting anyone. Also, placing task lights on kitchen counters can help in proper preparation and cooking of food.

  1. Use of Reflective Accents

Introduce some reflective elements into a poorly lighted room and you’d have fixed its problem. For example, paint your walls white to reflect and amplify the light that’s available. You’ll only require a few light sources in such a bright space. Also, try hanging a large mirror on your wall so it can reflect light and brighten the room.

  1. Fix Fixtures Issues

Despite the fact that you can update your lighting fixtures at a low cost, most people take it for granted. Just because they work doesn’t mean you shouldn’t replace them. If fixtures are not working well, they may cause problems with security, have a negative impact on your room’s overall outlook, and cost you in energy consumption.

Updating a number of your home’s most important fixtures can go a long way in improving your overall lighting. It is easy to replace a fixture that is either inefficient or stylistically outdated with a newer model. Again, there’s no need of replacing all the fixtures in your home. Just focus on the most prominent ones.

A few ideas on fixing your fixture issues can improve your lighting significantly. You could layer them, that is, combine different types in the same room to make it more functional and better looking. Also, use coverings, shades, and sconces to fix the fixtures that have exposed or naked bulbs

  1. Energy Savers

Most people are struggling to settle their energy bills because they have lights that consume so much power. By simply replacing your ordinary lights with LEDs, you could save some money. Even though their initial cost may be a bit high, they are cost-effective in the long run.

Another idea is installing outdoor fixtures that save energy through their advanced technology. Typically, they feature a motion sensor or a photocell turns the light on only when someone is present or at night. It also turns it off during the day.

Conclusion

There is no reason why you should not improve your home’s lighting system. Apart from bringing an element of elegance to your home, it is cheap and requires simple ideas. Update your lighting today to enjoy these benefits and much more.

Are you looking for an electrician in Cherry Hill, NJ to fix your lighting issues? Contact us for more information about our electrical services.

 

Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 442

Hi Everyone! Welcome to this week’s linky party! You’ll notice we have a new banner with a couple of new faces! I’m excited to be welcoming Jennifer of Busy Being Jennifer and Lauren of All About That Mommy Life as hostesses to our little party! If you’ve never visited their blogs, please go over and give them a shout!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

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Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Lauren at All About That Mommy Life – Pin | Inst

Jennifer at Busy Being JenniferTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst

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College Football Spirit with Dr Pepper® + DIY Photo Booth Tutorial

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FootballFanGame #FiredUpFans

Saturdays in the fall is football day at our house.  Each week you’ll find us wearing our favorite sports apparel, chowing down on some yummy football food, and of course, watching football and showing our team spirit.  As the season grows near, I’m getting my shopping list ready so I can buy all the food and supplies we’ll need for a little homegating.  A few items we could not live without include Dr Pepper®, Kingsford® Original Charcoal, and Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Dressing!  Today I’m here to show you how we do football, and I’ve also got a tutorial for DIY Photo Booth that can help make your football party fun and unique!

I’ve always been a huge fan of Dr Pepper and am happy that it is the official drink of college football fans and has been part of college football for over 25 years.

And apart from drinking the Dr Pepper, you can also use it as a marinade for your favorite meat or serve it up in some delicious Dr Pepper Floats.

You can purchase Dr Pepper in the can drink aisle at your local Walmart.  Be on the look out for special college football packaging!

The grill is a staple in our home.  We use it at least once a week, and it’s great for making some of our favorite football foods like pulled pork, grilled chicken, hamburgers, and hot wings.

My husband is our resident grill master! I can always count on him to grill up some delicious meats for game day. He loves the Kingsford brand and says it is the only thing he will use on a charcoal grill. The product is made in the USA with 100% natural North American ingredients.

We purchase our Kingsford Original Charcoal at Walmart.  Look for it in the lawn and garden department, along with other Kingsford varieties like Kingsford Charcoal with Applewood as well as varieties with Hickory, Pecan, Cherrywood, and Mesquite. Check your local store to see if grocery pick up is available for your convenience.

Hidden Valley Ranch is the perfect addition to salads, veggies, meats, crackers, and even pizza!

 

Of course, it’s not a party or even a regular day at my house unless I am taking pictures!  I’m the Queen of Picture Taking and I’m always walking around taking pictures of people, animals, or just random every day things!

To make more professional photos of our son, I have a very simple DIY photo booth, and this set up works great at parties for a little decoration and for a spot where your guests can take their own fun photos!  I like to place ours in our kitchen because it has the best natural light.

Supplies / Tools

32 ft of 3/4″ wide PVC pipe

(4) 3/4″ PVC T Pieces (slip on, not threaded)

(2) 3/4″ PVC Elbow Pieces (slip on, not threaded)

PVC Pipe cutters

Additional Supplies:

Clasps / Clips to hang backdrop

Backdrop and photo props – You can purchase cheap or expensive backdrops, but I usually use every day items like blankets, tablecloths, curtains, and shower curtains.

Note: The measurements in this tutorial will give you a backdrop that is 4 foot across.  The small booth set up is 40 inches high, and the large booth is 70 inches high.  If you need for your booth to accommodate taller people, you will obviously need to adjust the lengths you cut on the pipe.

Directions:

Use your PVC Pipe Cutters to cut your pipe into pieces as follows:

6 – 30 inch pieces

2 – 4 ft pieces

2 – 40 inch pieces

To assemble, take 2 of the 30 inch pieces and place them in either side of a T-joint.  Repeat with 2 other 30 inch pieces.  These will be the bottom of the base.  Next take a 40 inch piece and place it in the other side of the T joint.  Repeat with other 40 inch piece.  This gives you the bottom and the lower half of the sides.  Next add another T joint to the top of each 40 inch piece.  Take one of your 4 foot pieces and use it to connect your two sides.  This will give you the small assembly seen above.

If you are just doing a photo booth for small kids, you can hang a backdrop from this and you are ready to go.  (It can also accommodate teens and adults who are seated.)

To complete the large set up, take your other two 30 inch pieces and add them to either side.  Then add an elbow joint to either side.  Next use your other 4 ft piece to connect the two

sides.  This will complete the large assembly.  Now you are ready to hang up a backdrop, get out your props, and have some fun.

With a photo booth like this your friends and family can take professional looking photos in front of a fun scene.  It will help them commemorate the day, and it is a lot of fun for one and all!

Are you ready for football? Get fired up with more football fan ideas. I’d also love to hear your tailgating tips, traditions, and ideas. Please join us in the comments or on social media. 

What Worktop Should I Choose for a Modern Farmhouse?

 

Combining multiple design trends is quickly getting very popular throughout the UK. Increasing number of homeowners now mix and match two or more decor to create a unique space. One of the most popular choices from this trend is the modern farmhouse style. It combines the comfortable design aesthetics of farmhouse with contemporary design and its clean lines for a fresh and unique take on a decor inspired by country living.

But what could be the best worktop for a modern farmhouse kitchen? One of the best things about this decor is its versatility. There are many different worktop options that would look great in one such kitchen. Some top options include:

1. Granite worktop

The simplicity and warmth of modern farmhouse kitchen blends very well with natural material worktops like granite worktops. Worktops made from granite are very popular for their beauty and durability. Moreover, they are non-porous, highly resistant to temperatures and add great value to the home. Also, many of the granite surfaces are available in several different finishes like honed, polished, bush hammered, flamed, etc. to perfectly suit the kitchen.

2. Marble worktop

The unmatched beauty of marble makes it a great choice for any kind of kitchen decor. The modern farmhouse decor which is characterized by natural materials and textures mixes very well with marble worktops to further enhance the overall appeal of the kitchen. Softer colour marbles like Acqua Bianca Marble, Calacatta, Calacatta Colorado, Namibian White Marble, etc. are some excellent options for a modern farmhouse kitchen.

3. Sintered porcelain worktop and ultracompact surfaces

Also known as ultra-compact worktops, sintered composite is a new generation of worktop materials. These materials are known to offer several benefits over many other types of worktop materials and are scratch-resistant, non-porous, and are available in a wide range of finishes and colours. Neolith and Dekton are two of the most popular brands that offer an extensive range of sintered composite worktop materials.

4. Quartzite worktop

Quartzite is another natural material which blends very well with many different types of kitchen decor, including modern farmhouse. The quartzite worktops are well-known for their colour consistency, heat resistance, hygiene, and minimum maintenance requirements. Moreover, quartzite does not etch or get damaged easily. So, it is an excellent option for homeowners who are looking for the beauty of marble without the maintenance requirements or cracking problem of the natural material.

5. Quartz worktop

Quartz is a man-made material prepared from quartz, resin, polymers and pigments. Quartz worktops are available in endless designs and colours and are a safer option than many of the top worktop materials as they are engineered for kitchen and bathroom use. Silestone and Caesarstone are two of the most popular brands that offer a wide range of beautiful quartz worktop materials.

The modern farmhouse style can be a great option for a homeowner looking to create a classy and chic kitchen decor. If you are planning to create this style in your kitchen, these are some of the top worktop options that you can consider.

Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 441

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

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Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

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5 Side Effects of the Keto Diet

With increased popularity of the keto diet, you may be getting pulled into the craze. Before you get started, you should understand what you are getting into and figure out if the side effects are going to keep you from following through with your diet commitment. While the keto diet is a powerful diet that will help its users drop pounds, there are things to consider. In this article, we are going to talk about five side effects of the keto diet.

1. Rapid Weight Loss

When you stick to the keto diet and are doing everything properly, you will notice rapid weight loss. Many times people get scared when they lose weight so quickly, but you shouldn’t get worried when you start seeing the scale drop quickly the first week.

Keto dieters reduce carbs and get very little of their fuel from the consumption of carbs. Once you learn how carbs work with your body (or against your body if you are trying to lose weight), you can more easily understand why the keto diet works.

As you are following the keto diet, you will initially drop a good amount of weight in water weight due to how your body reacts from not having as many carbs as it is used to.

2. Muscle Loss

Whether you are consuming keto cookies or cramming your face with avocado, you are going to start noticing how much weight you are losing. One of the things you should know is that some of the weight that you are losing is weight from your muscles. Most people have a problem with this, but you shouldn’t worry too much. It isn’t going to take all of your muscle mass.

3. Low Energy Levels

When you switch your energy source from carbs, you are asking your body to make a major adjustment. If you’ve been running on carbs and suddenly you change this on your body, it is going to cause you to have low energy levels. Having low energy levels might make you feel unmotivated and even make you want to go back on your diet commitment. If you can hang on until you get through the tired portions of the keto diet, you will be able to start feeling better again. Since your body is getting rid of unwanted fat, your energy levels are likely to increase as times progresses.

4. Flu Symptoms

If you are terrified that you might get the keto flu, one of the best things you can do to prevent this is to start on a lower carb diet before you go all out on committing to keto. This will help your body get used to being fueled by something other than carbs.

When you start experiencing the keto flu, you might want to run the other direction and stop your diet in its tracks, but if you understand what is happening to you, it is easier to keep going through the symptoms.

Your body burns carbs for energy as a default setting. When carbs are reduced dramatically with the keto diet, your body no longer has stores of glucose and now uses fatty acids for energy. This is when you’re in ketosis.

This natural reaction to entering ketosis may feel like the flu, but it won’t stick around forever. There are some key things you might notice when you are going through keto flu. Some of the things you might experience are:

* Brain fog

* Dizziness

* Confusion

* Stomach pains & aching

* Diarrhea

* Constipation

* Lack of focus

* Trouble sleeping

* Nausea

* Muscle soreness and cramping

* Cravings for sugar

* Heart palpitations

Most people notice these symptoms within the first day or two of their ketogenic diet journey and depending on the person; the annoyance could be short or long. Some people totally escape keto flu, but some people deal with it for a week or two. Once your body adapts, you should be good to go.

5. Constipation

Keto constipation is one of the unspeakable side effects many people experience. While you might not want to advertise your unwilling bowel movements, you should know this is a common occurrence. You should also know that not passing stool every day does not mean you are constipated. A range from two bowel movements a week to three a day is perfectly normal. Before you start freaking out and thinking you are constipated, keep this in mind.

Is Keto Right for You?

Thousands of people have used the keto diet to shed unwanted weight. The most important part if that you stick with the diet since we know it is a viable option for many people. While there is room for error, you want to follow the plan as closely as possible or otherwise; you are not going to get the results you should have gotten.

Conclusion

While having side effects that are less than enjoyable might make you want to run the other direction, it is better if you keep pushing through the pain and start seeing results. When you start to notice the results you are getting from the diet, it is much easier to stay on your path. Connecting with a support group filled with fellow keto dieters is another good strategy for ensuring you are going to keep sticking with your plan. Forming the habit and figuring out the foods you need to eat with your diet isn’t as difficult as actually sticking to the diet and using your willpower to stay on track. Was this article helpful and informative? Leave us a comment with your thoughts in the section below.

Friday Favorites Linky Party – Week 440

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

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Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

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Panasonic HomeHawk Front Door Home Monitoring Camera Review and Giveaway

Disclosure: I received free product to facilitate this post. Post contains affiliate links. The opinions are my own.

Today I have a very special review and giveaway for you!  If you love technology and the idea of a smarter home, and if you have a family or property you wish to protect, please read on.

 

For the last few years our dog Shadow has served as our home monitoring system.  At the smallest sound, Shadow will spring in to action, run to the nearest window or door, and bark very loudly to let us know she sees something. The problem is that she cannot tell us at what or at whom she is barking.  Enter the HomeHawk Front Door Home Monitoring Camera.

Just as it sounds, this product is used to monitor the front of your home.  (Additional units may also be used to monitor the rear other areas of your property.)  You simply mount your camera over your front door, set the product up on your wi-fi network, and download the HomeHawk app on to your smart phone or other mobile device.  And you are ready to go!  You can view a live feed of the front of your home any time, and if you install an SD card into your unit, the camera will actually record and save the feed for future viewing.

What I Love

When I hear something outside (or hear a dog bark) I’m in a habit of running to a window to look out, and with the HomeHawk I don’t have to do that anymore.  No matter what room I am in, I just pull the app up on my phone, and I can see if there’s someone outside.  As a new mom, I find this so convenient.  When you’re feeding a baby or rocking a baby, the last thing you want to do is run to a window or door only to find it was a false alarm, or else a stranger, whom you have no time or desire to deal with.

Favorite Features

The product has several notable features that I enjoy and find helpful.

  • Panoramic View – I was amazed at the viewing area you get with this small camera.  As you can see in the photo above, I am able to view my entire porch, yard, and driveway, as well as the street in front of our house. (This is great because I can see someone pull up well before they actually reach our front door.)
  • Two-Way Audio Communication -Using the app, I can hear what’s going on outside our front door, and I can hit the microphone on my device to talk to the person.  (This is great because I’m often tied up and in a hurry to answer the door, and now I can tell people, “Be right there.”  Or I can use this to say something to my husband while he is outside.)
  • View from Anywhere – I love that we can view the app even when we are not home.  When my husband is at work, he can check the app anytime to see that we are at home and that everything appears to be in order.  If something seems amiss, he can just give me a call.
  • Alerts – You can also set it up so that you can get alerted anytime someone is near the camera.  The alerts come to you whether you are at home or away, and each person who has the app will get an alert.  At this same time, a light comes on the unit and a speaker lets anyone outside know that the premises is being monitored.  I love the extra-added security this feature provides!

  • Night Viewing – The camera also gets a great view of the outside even at night.
  • Time Stamps – Obviously if an incident or suspicious activity is going on around your home, it is good to have a time stamp.  But on a less serious note, the timestamp could help you to know when family members come and go.  This is a real plus if you are trying to track someone down or you are away from home and want to make sure the teenager is at home.
  • Snapshot – As you can view the live feed you can also hit the camera and take a still snapshot with timestamp.

All in all, I think this is a great product.  I love the extra-added security and peace of mind that it gives us, and I feel like it’s helping us to move forward into the in to the 21st century.


Giveaway: One Simply Sweet Home reader will win a Panasonic HomeHawk Front Door Home Monitoring Camera.

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Friday Favorites Linky Party – Week 439

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! [Read more…]