Sensibo Pure Smart Air Purifier Unboxing

A new review video for the Sensibo Pure Air Purifier.

How To Achieve Homeownership

 Do you have big homeownership dreams for your future? Good for you. Dreams captivate you and keep you motivated towards your goal. Getting there, however, can be frustrating if not difficult to achieve. Fear not. There are ways to make your dreams a reality.

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Do you dream of owning a home?

One of the goals of many generations is to become a homeowner. If that looks like an outsized task, break it down into more manageable pieces to accomplish. 

Your first step will be to take an honest look at your finances. Gather all of the necessary paperwork to assess your monetary situation. Write them down in a journal, notebook, or make a spreadsheet. Do what is easiest for you so that you can maintain the momentum. Utilize bank and credit card statements, receipts, and track your income and outflow. Once you have done that, determine your gross monthly income. A general rule among financial experts is that you should only take out a mortgage for approximately 28% of your gross monthly income.

Now that you know where you sit financially, it is time to find the best property for you. Take note of these factors when searching:

• Home size

• Proximity to work or school

• General location

• Proximity to public transportation

• Condition of home

• Age of home

After finding a home, it is time to secure financing. Your next step is to contact a lender for mortgage quotes. Find a reputable company that will guide you through the process with care and efficiency. During communications, ensure a quote will be educational and informational only and will not pull a credit check. Working with a lender means you can create a customized plan to get you the best rates possible while working within your goals.

A few items to consider.

When you are thinking about buying a home, look at whether you intend to make any large purchases in the months or year beforehand. Smaller purchases will not impact your chances of getting a home loan, but a large purchase might prove difficult. 

Having a car loan that you have paid on time for one or more years is a positive way to build up your credit and show potential lenders that you are a good risk. Choosing to purchase a new car via a loan in the month before requesting a home loan may show that you have the potential to overextend your finances. Whatever you choose to do, always do your due diligence and research your ability to pay your bills before applying for another loan. It is viable, however, if you are able to comfortably maintain that lifestyle.

An emergency fund is imperative as a homeowner. Some experts recommend having one set up before purchasing your home. Others say it is ok to fund it as you go along. Regardless of which mindset you subscribe to, it is an essential task to accomplish. As a homeowner, you will inevitably encounter major appliances that wear out, a water leak and resulting damage, shingles that need repair, and the list goes on. None of these things should lead to undue stress if you have an emergency fund to utilize when needed.

Here is a video guiding you on how to begin an emergency fund.

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You worked hard to be a homeowner, take some time and enjoy the fruits of your labor. After you have moved into your new home, make it a cozy space that suits you. 

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Make Your Home Cozy for Fall

 

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Some of us may feel sad to realize that Summer is coming to an end and moving into Fall. However, we believe that you should embrace the change in the season. Not only does it mean that we have lots to look forward to, but we can also think about spending time at home, with our families, snuggled up, warm and cozy. 

To make sure that your home is as cozy and welcome as possible, you will want to make some changes to how it has looked over Summer. These don’t have to be massive changes, and you may be surprised by how simple it is to make sure that you are Fall ready.  

To help you make the most of it, we have put together our top tips on making your home cozy for Fall.  

Light some seasonal candles 

Candles are a great way to illuminate your home and bring in some warmth too. If you really want to embrace Fall whilst making your home nice and cozy, you may choose scented candles. You can buy candles in a variety of scents, which means that you are sure to find one that not only signifies Fall but that you like the smell of too.  

Bring in the candy 

If there is one thing that we think about when it comes to Fall, you get to eat a whole lot of delicious food. Most of the foods are a one-day affair, which you will have on particular days, but if you want to have something out all the time, then you may want to think about setting up a little candy station in your home. As the weather cools, you won’t have to worry about it melting, and you get to enjoy it whenever you want to.  

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Check out your AC system 

You may not be planning on turning on your AC system during the Fall due to the change in the weather, but that doesn’t mean that you should forget about it altogether. Sure, this doesn’t relate to being cozy, but we think it is essential to give your AC system the once over. This can help you to identify any issues that may require AC repair. Also, if you do need to turn the unit on when the weather is in that in-between stage, you’ll be able to do so comfortably.  

Add throws and cushions 

The chances are that as the Fall weather starts to take hold, you will want to be as warm and comfortable as possible. One way to do this is to add plenty of throws and cushions to your home. This will help you stay comfy, but you can also make sure that these are in Fall colors, such as warm reds, oranges, and browns, which will transform the way that your house looks.  

Want to welcome in Fall, say goodbye to Summer, and keep yourself as warm and cozy as you can? These are just some ways to make sure that the change in the season is as smooth as possible and that you are more than happy to spend some time at home. 

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YunLone Aurora Star Projector Review

Thanksgiving Day 2017

I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving Day!  I spent mine with my family at home.   

I had a great time decorating this year.  Autumn is my favorite for decorating.  The fall colors are just so beautiful!  I especially love the flowers centerpiece for the table.  I got them from Walmart!  The pineapple vase, as well.  I got them both at the same time a few months ago, and I thought the golden pineapple vase was gorgeous.  It may not say Thanksgiving, but I don't care.  I love pineapples, too!

Today, the family and I did a little shopping, but no early morning store run for us!

Best Choice Products Glass Bar Review

This bar, by Best Choice Products, makes a nice bookshelf and TV stand as well as a bar. 

It arrived in three boxes.  The heaviest box contained three boards; the next heaviest, two glass shelves; the smallest, most ligthtweight, various small parts and tools, including three long metal rods with threads at both ends.  Also included are two pages of diagrams in lieu of instructions, printed in black on two 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheets of paper - one page per sheet, for a total of two pages, stapled together in one corner.  These diagrams show how many of each small part and tool are included, the the various stages, in order, of assembly.  There was also a small packet of screws which were not shown in any of the diagrams, and do not seem to serve any purpose with relation to the assembly of this bar.

It took me about twenty minutes to unpack all of the parts.  Then it took me and my husband about an hour to assemble the parts.

Be careful not to tighten any of the three metal rods too much.  I made this mistake twice.  The first time, I tighted one of the rods until it punctured the top of the bar, marring the surface of the black enameled  bar which I might have liked to leave perfectly smooth.  The second time, I tightened another of the rods until I "ringed" it, as my father says, which means the rod snapped into two pieces, reducing the structural integrity of the fully assembled bar.  I would probably have avoided over-tightening the rods if there had been a written warning in the instructions, instead of just illustrations and diagrams.

I strongly recommend having two people work together to assemble this bar.  The two glass shelves seem particularly dangerous and difficult to balance.

Although an Allen wrench and another special tool are included to tighten certain special bolts, I found that I needed to use one of my own Phillips screwdrivers, which was not included, to fasten ten screws in place.  Regrettably, I also chose to use a pair of vise grips to tighten the three rods mentioned above.

Inspite of the difficulties I encountered while assembling this bar, my husband and I were able to turn it right side up (after assembling upside down, as per the diagrams in the instructions), and move it across the room to the corner where I intend to use it as a TV stand, and it seems sturdy enough to hold normal objects such as glasses and decanters, which people would normally place on their bars.

Bar Best Choice Products

 

Best Choice Products Wrought Iron Chandelier Review

For today's post, I am reviewing this wrought iron chandelier from Best Choice Products.

 This chandelier came already assembled, for the most part.  It included a chain, which I needed to thread the power cord through. The style of the chandelier can work with a lot of different decor.   The chandelier itself feels durable, but lightweight so it was easy to hold during installation, and didn't need a super strong support beam.  With the single bulb, I think this was a perfect choice for my porch, where it allows for the perfect amount of light.

Chandelier Best Choice Products

Minos Moka Pot 6-Cup Espresso Maker Review

This coffee maker by Minos is very solid and well made, like all of the Minos products I've ever seen.

The most significant difference between this one and any other I've seen is that it makes six cups at a time.

It comes with a spare O ring, sealed in a clear, plastic envelope.

Its handle is steel, so I recommend using an oven mitt to handle it when it has been heated on a stove top or campfire.

It comes with an instruction booklet with repeated warnings about how dangerous it can be if its release valve gets clogged, or if it is mishandled.  It is, essentially, a pressure cooker.

You place water in the lower receptacle, up to the fill line.  DO NOT over fill!  Then you place a sieve in it, and fill the sieve with coffee grounds.  Then you screw on the upper receptacle, and place the pot on a stove and heat it up until the water boils.  You leave the lid up for safety, and also so you can see with the hot coffee bubbles up into the upper chamber.

Coffe Pot Minos Moka Pot 6-Cup Espresso Maker 

Best Choice Products Vanity Review

This vanity comes partially preassembled in a single box, which includes the parts for a matching stool.
It also includes an instruction booklet, with two pages printed on each side of one 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheet of white paper, for a total of four pages.  Illustrations are included.

Also included are an Allen wrench, eight bolts of one size and sixteen of another; eight washers; and sixteen metal connectors.
It took me five minutes to open the box and unpack everything.  Then it took me twenty-five minutes to attack the four legs to the vanity.  It only took me an additional ten minutes to assemble the stool, for a total of forty minutes assembly time.
The vanity has a mirror on hinges which opens and closes, and two, compartmentalized drawers.  It's so small and lightweight that I can move it around a small room by myself.  The best part is how much of my makeup it holds, and the removable trays included.  It has all the space I need.

Vanity Best Choice Products

I ordered this dress in a size small.The fit is loose, and very comfortable, and stretchy. The neckline is interesting, and the fabric is soft, and cozy, making this perfect for fall and winter. The grey is pretty, and goes with so many different accessories.

This dress is $14.99.

Dress Milumia

Best Choice Products 5-Piece Semi-Circle Wicker Sectional Sofa Review

This set of four chairs and one coffee table, by Best Choice Products was delivered in three large
boxes. It took me and my husband approximately fifteen minutes to unpack all three boxes.  Then it took me five minutes to assemble one of the four chairs, so it should have taken me a total of forty-five minutes to unpack and assemble the entire set, but it was difficult to screw some of the bolts in  the other chairs, so it took us a total of one hour to finish.
 

Each chair requires five bolts and washers to fasten the back of the chair to the seat.  Each pair of chairs comes with two pages of instructions, printed on both sides of one 8 1/2 by 11 inch piece of paper.  Each pair of chairs also comes with ten bolts, ten washers, and one Allen wrench.  The coffee table and the feet of the chairs come pre-assembled.  I was happy to find that not a lot of assembly was required.
 

Each cushion comes in a plastic bag.  Each cushion has a zipper on one side so that the cover can easily be removed and washed in a machine.  These chairs are intended for outdoor use, and can easily be scrubbed, but they are elegant enough to place indoors as well.  They are so lightweight that one man can easily lift any one of the three boxes which they were shipped in.  Even I, a petite woman, am easily able to lift and move the individual pieces of furniture around my yard.
By the way, each of the shipping boxes has a second cardboard box which fits inside of the outer box to serve as a protective liner.  The solid pieces are all bubble-wrapped.
Once my husband and I finished assembling the chairs, and arranging them in a semi-circle by the pond on my grandmother's farm, we found ourselves just sitting there enjoying the sunset, sipping drinks, and munching snacks for more than an hour. 

Sofa Set Best Choice Products

Green Lace Up Sweater and Minos Moka Coffee Pot

This sweater fits me very well as an oversized item.  It is very comfortable, and I think I have worn it every day since it arrived in the mail.  I was a little concerned that the lace up back would allow air to make me feel colder, but I have not noticed that to be the case at all.  I love the olive green color, I think it makes this so perfect for a fall sweater.

This sweater is $24.99 and comes in several other colors.

Sweater Coco Fashion

This coffee pot by Minos is made of shiny, stainless steel, and, with its rounded contours, looks very modern and attractive.

It comes with a palm-sized, eight-page instruction booklet in English and Chinese, printed on card stock paper, with twelve excellent, full color photos for illustrations. 

However, this device is so simple to operate, that most people could probably figure out how to use this device in a few minutes.  The most important part of the instructions are the warnings. 

For example, DO NOT over fill the lower chamber with water, so as to immerse the escape valve; when heated, this device is essentially a pressure cooker, which can explode.

The worst thing about this device is that the handle is metal.  Even by following the instructions and placing the handle over a part of the stovetop or hot plate that is not heated heats this metal handle until it is unpleasant to touch, which is why I'm docking it one star.

Cheaper, plastic, electronic coffee makers are simpler and safer to use, but this device is for the hard core coffee ritualist, and more attractive in photographs.

Coffee Pot Minos

Best Choice Products Half Umbrella

This patio umbrella by Best Choice Products is the most interesting patio umbrella I've ever seen, because it's shaped like half of a patio umbrella, to accommodate being placed against a wall on one side, ideal for narrow balconies, or narrow lanes and sidewalks such as the one beside my former home in Los Angeles.

This umbrella is easy to assemble and light weight.  I had my husband hold the box and then the plastic wrapper while I pulled it out.  It comes in two parts:  the umbrella and an extension pole.  I was able to assemble it by myself in a few minutes.

The tan color of the umbrella canvas and the dark pole match my plastic wicker, patio furniture set (also from Best Choice Products) perfectly!

Umbrella Best Choice Products

I ordered this top in a size extra small, and it is still plenty large and comfortable on me.  I like that tie waist, and the unique look of the blouse.  The fabric is very stretchy, soft and comfortable.  I think this is something that can be dressed up or down.  The fabric does show through, so you will need to wear something underneath.  The large, bell sleeves also make this top extra stylish and different than most things already in my wardrobe.

This top is just $15.99!

Top Romwe

Best Choice Products Patio Makeover Sweepstakes

In my past posts, you may have seen me sharing a lot of my favorite Best Choice Products items.  I have been very happy with all of their items, and now you have the chance to win some of your own!

Best Choice Products is now having a patio makeover contest!  The winner of the sweepstakes will be given $1,000 to use at their online store to pick and choose any number of outdoor BCP products provided in their Outdoor collection.

How to Enter?

Step 1:  "Like" their Facebook page.

Step 2:  Reply to the Sweepstakes post and explain why you deserve a patio makeover.

8/27/17 – 9/4/17

                                             Announcing Winner

                                            9/6/17

Here's a look at some of my my favorites from Best Choice Products:

Faux Leather Sofa 

This sofa is so comfortable!  You can see my full review in this post.

This wicker patio set is also so comfortable, and stylish!  See my post here for my review!

This dining set looks great, and it's also a great deal!

I love this swing!  It's so fun to swing, and it helps that this one is so pretty, too!

I still can't get over how great this orange sofa looks in my tiki bar!  The color is so fabulous!