Flying The Nest: How Do You Know When It’s Time To Move Home?

Posted on January 22, 2017 by Krissyar

Most of us really love our homes, and with good reason! Your home is that place where you are able to really feel comfortable and relax. It’s the place where you can escape the stress of everyday life and feel totally safe and secure. Or at least, it should. After all, it’s the place where you’ll probably end up spending the vast majority of your time so it probably should be somewhere that you actually enjoy being in. However, sometimes you realize that the home that you’ve lived in until now, maybe for years, simply isn’t right for you anymore. This is a pretty common thing for a lot of us, let’s face it, people change, and it’s ridiculous to assume that your home is the only thing in your life that you won’t potentially grow out of. But it’s not always that easy to tell whether or not it’s time to move on. So here are a few ways that you can tell that it might be time to fly the nest and find somewhere new.

You’ve grown up

A damp, dark, cramped studio apartment might be perfect when you’re young and getting your first taste of independence. There’s even a certain charm to living in your first dive of an apartment. But as you grow up, there’s nothing wrong with wanting something a little bit more, mature. People tend to grow out of their first dingy home around the same time they realize that they might be a little old to have posters tacked to the walls.

You need more space

When you first moved in, your home might have felt like a palace! This is especially true when people move out on their own for the first time. If up until that point, you’ve been in your parent’s home or a college dorm, the idea of having an entire place all to yourself can be incredibly exciting. But as people get older they start to need somewhere a little more accommodating. The kitchen that only one person could stand in at a time might have been cute once, but now it’s just an inconvenience. This is especially true if you’ve started a relationship and want to move in together, or if you’re planning on starting a family. If you and your partner are moving in together, then make sure you find the right place for both of you. Also, check out moving companies who would be able to help move both sets of stuff into the new place, just to save you dealing with any extra hassle.

 

You don’t feel safe

 

Your home isn’t just the property itself, but the area it’s in. Neighborhoods change and evolve all the time, and not always for the better. When you moved in it might have been the perfect friendly street that you were happy to live on, but over time that might have stopped being the case. If you don’t feel safe stepping out your front door, or you’re kept up at night by constant disruptions, then it’s probably time to pack your bags and find somewhere new, or look into a home safety system like Vivint smart homeVivint smart home. 

 

Posted in Cleaning & Organizing | 1 Comment

The Confession of a Would-Be Hoarder

Posted on January 21, 2017 by Krissyar

So this year I made a few resolutions to myself , and I’ve posted a lot about my new way of eating with the Keto Diet. Another big focus this year is the getting organized – and getting rid of the clutter.

Now most of you know I like to shop. I can’t help but buy multiples of the same shirt I love, in 5 different colors. The amount of yoga pants in my closet and dresser is a bit shameful. Also I get a lot of great stuff from sweepstakes, and the blog, and I have a hard time getting rid of any of it. Usually I have a yard sale, but it’s been a crazy 2 years or so ..and my basement is starting to look like a room of an episode of Hoarders.

(Disclaimer: this is not my house. I am a bit embarrassed to share my basement right now – maybe with the after photo!)

Though like I mentioned this isn’t my house, it is very close to what my basement looks like right now! I am in the process of de-cluttering bedrooms, and all the stuff is going in boxes and totes and to the basement for a yard sale in the Spring (at this point, it may just fund our entire vacation).

A few weeks ago we started with my daughters’ joint bedroom. It’s a lofty type room that takes up the entire attic (honestly I would of been thrilled to have a room so big when I was a kid!) Since its on the 3rd floor I rarely ever went up – I would hang their clothes or put them in a basket and tell them to put them up, and assume that it wasn’t a complete disaster..except I was wrong.

What was I thinking?! 2 young teens – and no one to check up on them? Yikes! The amount of clothes and papers and just straight up mess was a bit appalling. So we started in one corner and we’ve been making our way across the bedroom throwing away garbage, sorting clothing and old toys and such for the yard sale, and helping the girls really figure out what they wanted to keep. It’s amazing how much stuff we collect over the years. All the little knick knacks, and souvenirs, school art and papers, journals and notebooks..and the list goes on.

I reminded them – the more you have, the more you have to clean up. Imagine having a less filled room, nice and organized – and only taking a short amount of time to clean it?
It definitely helped them make decisions on letting some things go..

My biggest surprise – even books! (I didn’t really encourage that, but they want room for more books!)

We aren’t quite done as I still have other household chores, and work to do but it is getting there – and right now in their room alone I would estimate a good 8 to 10 kitchen garbage bags full of GARBAGE that was thrown out, and at least that many boxes and totes filled with clothes, shoes and purses to go in our sale (and you thought I was kidding about it paying for our family vacation!)

I’ve been working on my closet and room as well – and my son’s. I have to admit it’s hard when I am used to accepting items to review, winning things in a sweepstakes, or even shopping online for clothes and coming across a great deal I have to pass up. I would definitely be considered a shopaholic, and though I don’t plan to give that up entirely (I get wayy too many good deals on clothes the kids need for the next season, or next year I save us a good amount of money that way) I am thinking twice, leaving things in my online cart and going back later – and weighing the pros and cons.

As I’ve started going through everything and wondering how my house got in such disarray, I realized a lot of it is emotional. I believe last year I was fighting off a bit of depression and instead of staying on top of things and being pro-active like I had always been, I ignored my problems and threw myself into my work or hobbies or just numbing my mind with things like Netflix. (Netflix is a blessing and a curse I do believe)

I have to focus and make myself keep my head out of the clouds, and even if I don’t deal directly with what had been bothering me – I need to focus on at least my physical life not being in total disarray.

So step one is the bedrooms – and I’ve come up with some great ideas on how to make money from all the extra ‘stuff’ laying around my house which I’ll be sharing about next week.

I can’t wait until I feel back in control of my life – I am getting there one step at a time!

 

 

Posted in Cleaning & Organizing | Leave a comment

Keto Diet: Week 3

Posted on January 20, 2017 by Krissyar

So last week ended with a bang, and I am still going strong. I haven’t felt a strong desire to ‘cheat’ at all, and though I am still learning the in and out’s of watching my macros – I am doing well.

I have noticed a major difference in my eating habits. Before I was quite the snacker – when you sit at a desk for most of the day, it tends to happen. We constantly have businesses bringing in goodies (in fact today it was a Busken coffee cake!) but I have kept going strong and haven’t even been tempted to take a bite. To me this is MAJOR progress, and something that I probably couldn’t have done on any other diet. As I said before counting calories has always left me hungry and feeling deprived – that’s definitely not how I feel on Keto.

Today was weigh in day – its been a week, and I haven’t lost any weight. I have stuck to the plan, only going a bit over on protein and I was feeling a bit discouraged (after a 10 lb weight loss in about 10 days you can see why). But I’ve learned something new – which is easiest explained in the photo below
(and I apologize, I have no idea who to give credit too, I’ve seen it every where when I search on google and I can’t find the original creator)

The scale does lie!! Just keep going! #KetoDiet #keto #weightloss #weightlossjourney #nocarbs #lowcarb #lchf #

A photo posted by Krissy Higgins (@krissyar) on

There’s a lot I have realized I need to learn not only about the human body in general – but mine. Pretty much what I need to do is be patient and keep on keeping on..my “WOOOSH” will come.

I have to remind myself – and those that I encouraged to do it with me – that this is a marathon – not a sprint. Most diets, or ways of eating that give super fast results continuously, are impossible to keep off long-term. I don’t need another yo-yo diet that leaves my body in an uproar.

This week I tried a few new recipes (including the Keto Brownies I posted about earlier this week) and even ventured out to coffee land again. It makes me really nervous to have someone else make my drink and know that if they screw it up that it could set me back a week or two in progress  (which by the way, gives me a whole new appreciation for people with severe allergies, or children with severe allergies – I can’t even imagine and I’d probably never eat out!)

This week my favorites were the steak and chicken stir fry (sauteed steak and chicken with green peppers, very light on the onion since they are high in carbs, and taco seasoning) I did eat one low carb tortilla but at the rest with a fork and it was delish! Definitely something I will make again.

I also went to Starbucks to try a drink a lot of people in the different low carb groups that I’m in on Facebook had recommended. It’s pretty easy to order (though the Barista may look at you like you are crazy) but this concoction taste like a melted strawberry milkshake.
Get a venti passion tea – no classic. Made with heavy whipping cream instead of water. Add 3-5 (depending on your liking) of Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup, and add whipped cream. It’s delightful, and I wish they had a bigger super-size sized cup because I wanted more! It was around 6/7 carbs, but totally worth it! (Next time I will be trying an iced coffee – will update details for you then). I think this would be a great drink to have in the summer – and you won’t feel like you’re missing out when your friends decide they want to hit up Starbucks.

Though I am a bit disappointed with the fact that I haven’t lost anymore, like I mentioned I am just going to keep at it. I am hoping to report BIG NUMBERS next week. If not I will need to do some re-calculating of my macros and maybe start cutting out some of the artificial sweeteners I’ve started to love.

Until next week!

Posted in Fitness/Health, Weight Loss | Leave a comment

How To Upgrade Your Home Without Spending A Fortune

Posted on January 15, 2017 by Krissyar

There are times you’ll be sick of the way your home looks. However, don’t get discouraged without reviewing your options.

There are ways to make your home look better and not feel guilty. See how to upgrade your home without spending a fortune.

DIY

Turn to your DIY skills and roll up your sleeves. Make a checklist of what you want to be completed and which of those items can be done yourself. Don’t be afraid to learn a new skill or do something you’ve never done before. This is how you learn. If you try something and mess it up, you’ll know not to do it yourself again. Worst case, call a professional to come in and save the day. Start small and leave the heavy lifting to the experts.

Don’t Make Matters Worse

Know when to call a professional for help. Don’t ignore projects that are meant for a professional just because you’re feeling cheap. Mold is one item you can’t ignore. Either learn how to remove it yourself or research the home mold remediation cost and hire someone to get the job done. Understand when it’s a project for someone else and don’t let things fester longer than they should. If you do, it’s likely you’ll make matters worse, and it’ll end up costing you more to fix.

Makeovers

Instead of remodeling your entire kitchen or bathroom, simply conduct a makeover. Make updates to what you can and leave the rest the way it is for now. Replace towels, frame a mirror and paint the walls. These are just a few ways to upgrade the rooms without breaking your bank. You can always replace a vanity or the floors at a later date. My favorite room update is lighting. Drum chandeliers are a great way to makeover any room. From kitchens, to bedrooms, a chandelier can make any drab room POP! 

Paint

Painting is easy on the wallet, and it’s fun. Check out your rooms and see where paint is chipping or if a new color would look better. It shouldn’t take you very long to do, depending on the size of the space. Go for something bold or daring and if you don’t like it, paint over the area. Make sure everyone who needs to be onboard is committed to the color before you start painting.

Declutter

Organizing and decluttering is a cheap way to improve the look of your home quickly. Look at each room and get rid of what you don’t need. Start putting loose items in organizers and make sure everything has a place. You’ll love how refreshing your home feels after it’s clean and tidy. You’ll also be making room for items that never had a spot before. This is a very inexpensive way to enhance the look of your home. That’s all it takes is time and patience.

Conclusion

There are many ways to go about decorating a home. It’s exciting to see it all come together and to be able to enjoy it in the end. These are ways to upgrade your home without spending a fortune, and you’ll be happy you did.

Posted in Crafts/DIY | Leave a comment

Things You Don’t Want to Miss in Newark Delaware

Posted on January 13, 2017 by Krissyar

Newark has a ton of places you don’t want to miss – from shopping, to some historical adventures check out Newark Delaware.

Christiana Mall. Induldge in brands you love at the best shopping mall near Philadelphia. With hundreds of stores and restaurants, you could spend a whole day here exploring all that Christiana has to offer!

Glasgow Park. one of New Castle County’s premier parks. Glasgow Park is full of amenities for all to enjoy. The huge playground area features a wide variety of activities for ages 2 to 12 and are ADA accessible. The state-of-the-art Skate Park includes rails, steps, and half-pipes for fun and fitness. Bark Parks include separate areas for small and large dogs. Other amenities include a 2.75 mile paved walking path, basketball and tennis courts, and 4 pavilions (1 large and 3 medium) available for rental from April 1st to October 31st. Restrooms and free electricity are Included in your pavilion rental. You can also permit out our park for events like 5K runs, walks, and other special events.

White Clay Creek State Park. Come to White Clay Creek to escape the encroaching development of New Castle County. The park’s lush greenery and sparkling streams offer a refreshing change of pace and countless opportunities for outdoor fun and relaxation. Hiking is one of the most popular activities in the park. 37 miles of trails lead explorers to historic sites and scenic vistas overlooking lush valleys and impressive rock outcrops. Hikers and mountain bike riders can enjoy trails at Possum Hill and the Judge Morris Estate, or follow the Pomeroy Rail-Trail to the pedestrian bridge over White Clay Creek.

This post is sponsored by Newark Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM.

Newark Resevoir. The newly constructed Newark Resevoir has 1122 acres and a 1.8 mile paved walking trail around the perimeter. The site is connected to the William R. Redd Jr Park to the North and has a wonderful view of the city and surrounding areas.

Cooch’s Bridge. About 700 American troops including a select group of 100 marksmen under General William Maxwell set up a classical ambush at Cooch’s Bridge. Protected by the thick woods and heavy brush south of the bridge, the Americans waited for the lead forces of the British Army. It’s a beautiful historical landmark that some say is also haunted!

 

Iron Hill Museum.Originally opened in 1966 by Robert L. Melson, and operated by the Delaware Academy of Science since 1968, the Iron Hill Museum is one of the best local repositories of historical information about the Iron Hill region, as well as wildlife, ecology, archaeology, and the natural sciences. Located within one of the last surviving DuPont Schools, we are currently building a new facility to house our collections. When it is finished, the D.A.S. plans to restore the schoolhouse to its original state, that it may serve as an enduring monument to the legacy of the DuPont Schools, and as a center for historical research on that era of Delaware’s history.

Hale-Byrnes House. Hale-Byrnes is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is part of the 9-state Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trail and is also the southern anchor site of the federally-designated Wild and Scenic White Clay Creek.

 

Posted in Travel, Uncategorized | Leave a comment