Author: marcetheblogger

For a long time, it has been a personal goal of mine to own a home.  Now this has shifted and has become a family goal of ours.  For years, we went through some struggles and setbacks which pushed our timeline back.  My biggest fear was that after going through some financial hardships that we would never reach homebuyer status!  At times we felt defeated and getting out of that rut felt so far away.  

After years of working together and coming up with a plan to get out of our financial rut, I am happy to report we have made significant progress.  So much so that today we find ourselves slowly prepping for the big move.  For now, it is just a plan with no actual determined date (this housing market is insane) but the plan is at least in some motion.  We are gradually beginning to check off all of the steps to finally be able to get into our first family home with our little ones and dog.

Although this brings a ton of emotions ranging from good to bad, they are all surpassed by excitement.  At times, it can get really overwhelming but staying focused on the big picture is what keeps us motivated to keep going.  The thought of having our own place for our kids to grow up in is the fuel we use each day. 

So for now in the middle of looking for homes, going to tons of viewings, and constant communication with our lender and realtor, I am already coming up with a list of what will need to be done once we have our very own moving day!  After many conversations with others who have been through this, I think a list will help make that part of this process the least hectic. 

To start, I have jumped right into Spring cleaning!  This time around I am not just swapping out winter clothes with spring and summer clothes, but I am also slowly getting rid of items we no longer need or want.  This goes way beyond just our clothes too.  We have a ton of so many different household items that we either have never used and some that have served their purpose. These items are ready to go onto the next person or the trash in some instances.

After lots of careful research and conversations with others, one of the main things is how will we get everything from our current place to our new home.  We have decided that we will utilize our close friends and family if they are available to help with the big move in exchange for some meals haha.  However, we will also be looking into a moving company.  When I was searching for some, I came across All In One Moving & Storage. They offer a variety of services including moving and storage in New Jersey, vehicle transport, and even packing supplies.  This will help eliminate having to wait for someone to help us out when they are free because we will be able to just contact the company and schedule them when we need them to be there. 

Aside from this, anything we will not need right now has been stored in clear bins. I also added labels to the bins so we can locate everything after the big move. This is also just a great system to have when storing anything at all because it makes finding what you need so much easier. 

Another great tip I have gotten from an old coworker was how to transport our clothes. Between myself, hubby, and our kids we could open up a boutique so finding an easy way to move them was definitely a plus. He suggested using industrial strength hand wrap. He said you take a roll and literally spin it around your clothes on the hangars and then put them in a box. Once you get to the new place, you hang them and then unwrap them! He made sure to mention that it was the easiest part of his whole moving experience. 

For now, this is about as much as we can get done around the apartment while we wait to find our first home.  Some other items on the list are hiring a cleaning company for the new place and patching up any holes we may have made on the walls in our apartment.  Thankfully there were not many but if we can get that small task done it will be one less for the future. 

I cannot wait to keep you posted on how our journey turns up. I keep my faith everyday and know the one is out there and will come to us in due time!

Have you gone through the homebuyer process? How was it for you?

If you have been following my blog, you know I went through a tragedy last year. At the beginning of 2021, at what I thought was a regular prenatal check up, I found out my baby had stopped growing and no longer had a heartbeat. It was probably one of the most difficult times I have ever faced in my lifetime.

I tried to get back into blogging but it almost felt forced. I tried to use it as an escape from reality and as a way to move on but it really was not working. I was trying to avoid dealing with my feelings and thoughts. To put it simply, I was a hot mess trying not to be a hot mess.

I felt completely lost and at times even helpless. I felt alone although I had close ones express their sympathy and show genuine concern. This was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Today I am happy to say that I started therapy to try and help me cope with the loss I went through along with other issues. I have mostly good days now. There are moments where a baby picture or announcement still triggers me and I shed a few tears but overall I am in a much better place.

I will be back to blogging regularly and look forward to sharing some awesome posts in the weeks to come!

Stay Tuned!

Spring is slowly starting to spring up. Whether you are hosting an outdoor event for a small group of friends, there are plenty of ways to bring the family together that’s also simple to do. It can be very easy to go overboard with epic ideas that can blow everyone’s budget. Entertaining is expensive and hosting a family get together is no small task. After all, get togethers are about creating memorable experiences, rather than giving gifts or spending money. It’s about bringing everyone together and enjoying each other’s company while making these memories. 

Below are a few ideas to create some relaxing family get together moments. 

1. Think of A Fun Theme- Your party theme will set the tone for the entire get together. There are so many exciting ideas and some of the family-friendly ideas include a fun sports theme such as tailgating with bags toss, listening to baseball on the radio, and encouraging guests to wear their favorite sports team. You could also have a pool party that can include filling up your outdoor pool or a fun fill-up kiddie pool. Encourage everyone to participate in water fights, Marco polo games, or water balloons. Some fun treats such as fruit and fish can be a fun way to bring the cool water to you and your guests.

2. Activities – If you’re just enjoying a relaxing time with neighbors you want to make sure you have some activities as well for them to participate in if they want. Have some summer tunes going such as pop, oldies, or country. Think of an era that everyone can enjoy. Music is great so it’ll make your get together a fun little party. You can even ask what everyone wants to listen to and give them DJ requests. Having two or three games or challenges are enough to keep everyone entertained without having to force everyone into an activity. If your family is super sporty, ask your guests to bring their favorite sports equipment. A badminton set or a bocce ball game can add to the fun. For your neighbors or friends try to play simple games like ‘bop it’ or a card game or Uno. For kids, you can have them enjoy making a picture frame from the dollar store or making fun paper craft that matches the theme of the party you’re putting on.

3. Create The Perfect Spot – If you’ve been wanting to update your backyard with your guests, one way to do that is by creating a comfortable seating area for your guests to enjoy as well as an opportunity for good shade. Peter’s Roofing offers a variety of roofing options to keep you and your family, neighbors and friends shaded from the sunlight both inside and outside. This Newark NJ roof repair helps when you need to repair your roof, the shingles, add sunlight such as skylight, adding a chimney, gutter services or attic fan. 

4. Plan A Scavenger Hunt – No we aren’t talking about a small little hunt but a fun adventure for everyone! Get a few fun objects and hide them in places around your backyard or even neighborhood. Create teams and clues and send each team on its way. The first team to come back with all of the hidden objects wins a prize. This is a fun activity as an alternative to the ever-popular movie or TV night with friends. 

5. Food – You want to be able to enjoy your get together with everyone so have fun prepared ahead of time. Think of simple things your guests will enjoy and also give you time to socialize instead of being stuck in the kitchen the entire time. Some simple food ideas can be kabobs filled with chicken or fruit for people to grab, pizza bites made from bagels and pizza sauce as well as simple sandwich bars for guests to make their plate. 

With warm weather finally here, this might be the time we all need to start slowly socializing with everyone again. Take your time and invite only a few people over. Go with the flow on what occurs or have somewhat of a schedule for setting up food, games, and conversation times for everyone. What are some fun ideas you can enjoy with those you want to see most?

It is hard to believe that the years seem to just fly by in the blink of an eye.  As I get older, I realize that there is more that can be done for the older peeps in my family. It is like the roles have shifted and I now begin to take more care of them just like they did as I was growing up. This can help give you a sense of peace if you are not around or if you happen to travel for a lengthy period of time.

One thing to do is make them aware of any new scamming alerts. Scams tend to target the elder folks and sharing this information could prevent them from becoming the next victims. This could range from phone calls asking for confidential information or even strangers ringing their doorbell pretending to be their cable or light company. You can also add their phone numbers to “Do Not Call” registries. You could also suggest not answering the door if they did not set up an appointment for any repairs or installations.  They can always call their providers directly to double check any unplanned visits.

Another thing is quick lessons on how to use their electronic devices. Setting up a passcode to get in their devices is key to avoid any confidential information being tapped into if their devices are lost or stolen. Something as small as organizing commonly used apps on their main screen can lessen frustration.  Storing “Favorites” to their contacts so they can easily locate those they most frequently chat with can also go a long way. If they are up for it, you can also show them how to create grocery lists right on their devices and can make their shopping trips a bit easier to manage.

You can also try to ensure their safety in their home by any necessary modifications.  You can do this by making sure they have all of the proper equipment to alert of potential hazards; smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, etc. If you are like me then you may not be sure if their detectors are properly installed.  If this is the case, then you could consider calling in professionals. Tech Services of NJ is your one-stop shop to purchase the essentials for any home and they can also do the installation. They also offer 24/7 monitoring on your home for fire and home intrusion, as well as repairs, should something go wrong. Be sure to check out this alarm system in New Jersey for all your security system needs and questions!

Another way to assist the elderly is to visit often. You may want to set up a schedule with other members of your family so that everyone can have a consistent rotation. Social interactions at this stage are very important. Not only do they serve as a way to spend time together but also presents you the opportunity to make sure your family members are safe, healthy, and even add some physical activity to get them active such as taking a walk. You can also utilize the time to sort their mail, check medications, or even help with tidying up or by washing some of their laundry. All of this can alleviate some of the daily tasks that could be overwhelming them.

I will mention the importance of having essential conversations. Although these conversations may be tough at first, you can find a way to ease into them by explaining how critical it is to have a handle on all matters.  You will want to make sure that you are reviewing important paperwork with them. You will also want to make sure finances are being kept up with. This will give you peace of mind in the event of an emergency.

One last thing, do not forget about yourself. Those who take care of their elders have been found to suffer from excessive stress, anxiety, depression and musculoskeletal disorders. Although the focus is to make sure your elders are taken care of, you will need to make sure you are taking care of yourself as well. If you lose track of your well-being, you will not be able to help anyone else.  If possible, split up the responsibilities between you and other family members. It is also important to take breaks, get away a bit and enjoy your life as well.

Can you think of other ways to help out the elderly in your family? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Spring is literally right around the color and I cannot contain my excitement!  This time of year always puts our household in cleaning mode. We open up the windows, turn on some music, and begin to tackle every room and storage container! 

With a family of 4 and a dog that sheds a ton, we constantly end up buying multiples of clothing because at some point, there is nothing that will remove embedded dog hair strands. To top it off, I have a teenager who changes her dress style often and a toddler who outgrows his clothes in the blink of an eye. All this together means by the time spring hits, our closets need major clean up.  We each are tasked with going through our clothes and getting rid of items that no longer fit, that are no longer our style, and ultimately that are no longer serving any other purpose than collecting dust.

In addition to our routine cleaning methods, this year we became concerned with black mold. We had a few tough storms and at one point some water damage due to some faulty areas on the roofing of the home we live in. After much research we found that if left untreated black mold could lead to various health issues including chronic coughing, sneezing, rashes, and persistent headaches. 

Fortunately, we discovered Nash Everett which provides air quality guidance for your home. If you’re unlucky and have a home plagued by mold, Nash Everett can offer corrective measures at a reasonable budget and I am all about staying within budget. These days many people have more sensitivities but you can trust Nash Everett has already thought about that because they prioritize working chemical-sensitive people. Removing mold from your home will ensure your health is good and this is key especially in a household with growing kids and a pet. It will also help your entire wardrobe smell its best! Clean clothes are the best type of clothes am I right?! So if you are in the New Jersey area, visit this mold removal in red bank business make sure the air quality in your home is healthy. They are sure to be there to make your home look and smell the best it can for years to come.

As you go through your cleaning, make sure to create separate piles. We always have a donate pile, a garbage pile, and a keep it pile.  Once everything is sorted, we don’t go back and second guess anything in the donate or garbage piles because they ended up there for a reason!  After this we go in and do any cleaning to our closets which could mean grabbing a vacuum or a good old broom and mop. Once we clear out all of the dust bunnies, we can go ahead and store our keep it pile.  This gives you the opportunity to revive some items that you may have forgotten about but ultimately love. Having a clean and fresh space will make getting dressed more enjoyable and easier and present you with opportunities to make new combinations of outfits you hadn’t even thought of which helps with sustainability! 

Happy Spring Cleaning! Make sure to leave any comments, questions, or suggestions of what you do to declutter.