Yearly Archives: 2021

4 Things You Need To Know Before You Get Married*

09th November 2021

Weddings are traditionally one of the happiest times. They bring together families and friends all celebrating the marriage of people that they love. However, before you decide to tie the knot, there are some things you need to know and carefully consider. Keep reading to find out what they are. 

Weddings can be expensive 

First of all, one of the most useful things you can know before you decide to tie the knot is how expensive weddings can be. Most people just have some vague idea that it will cost them an unspecified amount of money, but knowing precisely what you can expect for your budget can be very helpful. 

Indeed, it’s this foresight and planning that helps to reduce the stress of the wedding process, as well as manage the expectations of the people involved. After all, it’s easy to get carried away when it comes to weddings, and spending all your savings before you have even begun your marriage isn’t a great idea.  

What your partner wants and expects from your marriage  

Another important thing to talk about before you marry is your expectations. Indeed, it’s volta that you are truthful about your own, and that you listen to what your other half has to say. This is because if your needs and wants are too far apart, for example, you want children, but they do not, it can put your relationship under serious strain in the future. 

Marriage is a long term commitment 

Marriage is often referred to as the next step in a relationship for a reason. It’s about making a commitment, melding two families together, and announcing to the world that you are in it for the long term. That is why marriage should never be entered into lighting, and why it’s vital that the wedding isn’t the most important thing. 

Although, it is also worth noting that there are routes out of a marriage if it’s not working out. These include separation while you work on your issues together and individually, and sometimes divorce is the best option for everyone involved. 

Of course, if divorce is decided on, an equitable agreement as to the conditions involved needs to be established. The good news is that a good family mediation specialist can help you work through this difficult time, in the fairest way possible without further aggravating the already fraught emotional situation. 

Marriage is wonderful but is also work 

Last, of all, I think it is really important that everyone realize that while marriage can be one of the most wonderful and satisfying things in life, it also needs to be worked at. Just like any other relationship. 

Heading into marriage with this attitude is crucial as it ensures you are realistic and don’t expect everything to be all flowers and chocolates all the time.  Additionally, by approaching your marriage with such an attitude you will be in a much better position to be fulfilled and fulfill your partner’s needs as well, something that will help you both be happier over the long term. 

Posted in wedding

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Should You Build or Buy Your Next Home?*

01st November 2021
Photo by Derick McKinney on Unsplash

One of the most important decisions to make when looking for a new property is whether you should buy it, or build it. It can take a lot of time searching through the internet when trying to find your next property; you often have set criteria for what you want, and if you have a family then there are more people you have to consider in the process.

When looking for a new property, there are also many factors that you need to consider, for example- the size, style, location, age, space, schools, neighbours, garden, costs, and more. Trying to decide whether to buy or build can be challenging to say the least. 

Here are some pros and cons for both building and buying, to help you further with your decision.

Costs 

There have been many debates as to which is the cheapest option. However, this is not an easy question to answer, as it entirely depends on the land you intend to build on. In some cases, especially if you are considering renovating or updating a property once you have purchased it, it can work out cheaper to build a property. This is especially the case when you have house and land packages available from specialists such as BellRiver Homes. However, the costs can work out a little bit more if you are looking to build a home from scratch, as you will need to consider expenses such as getting permits, fitting and connecting utilities, and whether any work has to be done to improve the land. When buying a home, there is often little wiggle room for negotiation, depending on your budget. If you build a home and are willing to get involved in the process more, then you could play a role in sourcing better, cheaper materials and contractors to help suit your budget. 

Maintenance

When purchasing a new home you tend to get a survey completed which will provide you with information on the structure and quality of the property. This is essential before purchasing, for your information, but also for your lender to accept you for a mortgage. Unfortunately, with any property you purchase, you will never know the full extent of its problems until you move in and spend time there. Some unforeseen maintenance costs, for example, problems with the roof, the heating systems, or the walls can significantly drive the costs for repairs up. In some properties, you will not only need to pay for functional repairs, but also any renovations that you want to do to update the property, and furnishings. 

Building a home can also carry the risk of unforeseen circumstances for example, sourcing materials and construction workers. 

Unfortunately the decision to buy or build property has to be your own. It will take time to research and weigh out both options, as it will entirely depend on your lifestyle, your location, your housing criteria and much more. If you have a set property in mind and have the budget, then building a home may be the best option so you have more freedom with the design.

Posted in home

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Essential Items For a Comfortable and Relaxing Baby Nursery*

23rd October 2021

A new baby is always a joyous occasion, and it’s exciting to plan out your little one’s nursery. With so many options on the market, from colors to bedding, there are endless possibilities for what you can do with their room. But have you thought about the essentials? In this blog post, we’re going to walk through four items that will make your life easier when caring for a newborn in their nursery.

Photo by insung yoon on Unsplash

#1 Changing table

The first thing we’re going to recommend for your baby’s nursery is a changing table. The first few months of motherhood can be challenging, and it’s important that you stay as organized as possible, so the little one doesn’t suffer from any unnecessary discomfort. Also, keeping diapers close by will make those middle-of-the-night changes easier, allowing you to get back to sleep more quickly after such an exhausting task!

It would be best if you also thought about investing in some diaper stackers or other storage bins that fit on top of the changing table. This will help keep everything tidy when not in use, keeping your child’s environment clean and fresh.

#2 Rocking chair

Another thing you might not have thought of is a rocking chair for the nursery. Newborns don’t sleep through the night, and they need their parents’ help to get back to sleep once they do wake up – which means that mom or dad will be spending a lot of time in this room with them! So it’s important that everyone who spends time here feels as comfortable as possible (which can sometimes be difficult when sitting on such an unforgiving surface like a standard wooden baby crib).

A good way to make it more relaxing would be by adding some cushions and placing your child in something soft like a plush rocking chair. Parents spend hours upon hours feeding, burping, and changing diapers, so making yourself as comfy as possible is very important. This is a great way to make sure that you can spend as much time with your baby as possible and not fall asleep in the chair!

#3 Baby monitors

Another important item for your nursery is a baby monitor. As the little one spends more time in their own room, it’s vital that parents are able to keep an eye on them at all times. This will allow you to get some much-needed sleep when they finally do fall fast asleep! There are countless models available with different features and capabilities depending on what kind of parent you are. 

So finding something that works best for your lifestyle should be easy enough once you narrow down the options! Last but not least, make sure to place the unit somewhere safe where no one can interfere or touch it by mistake.

#4 Nursery furniture

Lastly,  you’ll need a place to put your baby. The best furniture for the job is going to depend on personal preference, but here are some things you might want to keep in mind when making that decision Foryourlittleone later down the line:

  • It should be made from natural materials rather than particle board or pressed wood because it’s better for babies and safer.
  • If you plan on having more children, consider purchasing items with classic lines so they can transition into other rooms (like their bedrooms) later down the line.
  • If you’re short on space and only have room for one piece of furniture like a changing table, make sure it has storage options built into it–you’ll still need somewhere else to store diapers and wipes!

Keeping everything organized will make these tasks easier to complete, and having a comfortable space for your little one will also encourage them to get some rest. It’s important that parents are able to relax as well after spending hours caring for their child during the night without any relief! These essentials should help keep everything neat and tidy when not in use, letting parents focus on what matters most: Spending time with their baby.

Posted in home, interiors

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What You Need To Know About Travelling With A Baby!*

20th October 2021
Photo by Hassan Nizam on Unsplash

It’ll be very stressful and everyone on the plane will hope they’re not sitting next to you – the end! That’s our first thoughts and one of the big reasons why, when we do book a honeymoon it will be within the UK!

That’s a joke, of course; there are many more things for you to know about travelling with a baby. It is going to be pretty stressful, mainly because you’re worried about your baby and want to keep them as happy and quiet as can be – particularly during the plane journey. Once you’re at your destination, things become a bit easier, though you are still juggling your parental duties. 

I know there are plenty of you reading this that have either just had a baby or are approaching your due date. At the same time, you’re also thinking about going on holiday as a family, possibly even during the festive season. It can be a great way to celebrate the birth of your child, but there are some crucial things to know before travelling with a baby…

When is it safe for babies to travel?

It depends on who you ask as different people have different opinions. Airlines will have policies that restrict how young a baby can be on their flights. Most will only allow them on the plane if they are 2 weeks old, though some have policies that let babies that are only a week old on the flight. 

You might be tempted to take your child on holiday as soon as possible, but doctors will suggest otherwise. Instead, a doctor recommends that you let your baby’s immune system develop a bit before they travel. As a general rule, this should be between 3-6 months. It is a good idea to wait for a few months, as this helps you see the health of your baby and if they have any underlying problems to worry about before you travel. 

Do babies need passports?

This might surprise some of the new or soon-to-be parents out there, but your baby does indeed need a passport. You might think that they have to be a certain age to require one, but the truth is that a baby needs a passport from the moment they take their first breath. Let’s say you have your baby abroad and want to get home, you will need to apply for their passport before you can do so. 

Realistically, that predicament won’t be an issue for most people as you shouldn’t travel anywhere near your due date! Even so, be aware that you have to go through the passport application process for your baby before they can travel internationally with you. 

Do babies need visas?

Again, the travel requirements regarding visas are the same for people of all ages, no matter how young they may be. This means that your baby will need to apply for a visa if you are travelling somewhere that requires one. Well, you’ll have to apply on behalf of them, obviously! It can be an extra bit of annoyance, but it has to be done if you want to travel without any issues at the border. 

Similarly, the same rules apply for any schemes or systems in place where visas aren’t required. The most common one is the ESTA for travellers going to the US from the UK. Here, you fill in an application that grants you a visa waiver, meaning you can travel without a visa. The requirements are the same for babies; they will need to have an application filled in for them. 

Do you need to buy a plane ticket for your baby?

If your baby is under 2 years of age, they technically don’t need to have a plane ticket for certain airlines. However, in most cases, you will have to pay some sort of infant charge for them to travel with you. This will be cheaper than a typical plane ticket, and it means your baby can sit on your lap during the flight. It also means that they get a special seatbelt to help secure them in place. 

Alternatively, you can buy a seat for your infant, with some parents bringing car seats to put on the seat next to them. It is completely up to you, though you do have to take the airline’s policy into account. Some airlines will make you pay for a seat even if your baby is on your lap – it just depends on the policies they have in place. 

Can you bring essential baby items onto a plane for free?

Again, it is totally dependent on the airline you’re flying with. For context, EasyJet has a policy that lets you bring two items onboard for free. This includes a travel cot, pushchair, double pushchair, buggy, car seat, pram, booster seat or baby back carrier. 

Most airlines will let you bring your own baby food onto the plane with them, along with your own bottles. They don’t provide sterilised baby bottles for passengers, so keep that in mind. When it comes to bringing liquids on board, you have to look at the airport restrictions. Some relax the rules when babies are involved, letting you bring more than the minimum liquid requirement onto the aircraft. 

This section isn’t the most helpful as it really does depend on so many external factors. You have to check with the airlines and the airport before you travel, so you know what you can bring with you, how much it will cost, and so on. 

The bottom line is that travelling with a baby is fairly similar to travelling with children of any age. They still need passports and visas, you still need to pay for them to be on flights, and so on. However, the main differences revolve around how they sit on the flight, what you’re allowed to bring on with you, and when they should start flying. You’re also going to pack a lot of extra stuff with you when you have a baby, such as changing gear, extra food in your suitcase, etc. One other thing to note: bring ear protection for your baby on the flight. Their ears will be sensitive, and you need to protect them from the sounds of the plane. With all of this taken into consideration, you’re ready to travel with a baby!

Posted in travel

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Thinking About Proposing? Here’s How To Stand Out*

14th October 2021
Photo by sergey mikheev on Unsplash

Marriage proposals can be a tricky thing; with the volume of ideas that you can choose from planning it out may be difficult. Alongside this you’ll need to make sure that it’s something your partner will love.

After all, you’ll want to get them in the mood to say ‘yes.’ While there are countless marriage proposal ideas to choose from you’ll need to put more effort in than simply picking one. You’ll actually need to plan it out and implement it.

That’s where things could get difficult. Most people don’t know how to propose in a unique and romantic way. You should keep a few things in mind when planning out your marriage proposal.

How To Make Your Marriage Proposal Stand Out

Have A Fake Backstory

You’ll want to make the proposal as surprising as possible. If you’re planning something romantic that involves going somewhere, you might need some form of excuse. That’s especially true if you’re not already celebrating something.

To overcome this, it’s worth coming up with some kind of excuse or fake backstory. While this might involve lying, it’ll be for the greater good. It’s worth keeping this simple and believable to help throw them off the scent.

Make Sure You Get The Right Ring

There are countless unique engagement rings to choose from. The sheer volume could make it difficult to pick one. You’ll need to spend a lot of time thinking this out and comparing different options.

When you’re choosing one, you’ll need to keep your partner’s preferences in mind. Would they want something big and shiny or something small and classy? While diamonds are typically used in engagement rings, your partner might prefer something else.

You’ll also need to make sure that you get the right size ring. If you and your partner haven’t discussed this before, their ring size could be difficult to figure out. You mightn’t want to ask them straight out, as this might give things away.

You could instead borrow some of their jewelry and take it to an expert so that you can find out the right size.

Be Flexible

Things don’t always go as you’d expect. If you have a plan for your proposal, then it mightn’t go exactly that way. It’s worth being flexible with your approach. You might aim to plan exactly at sunset, for instance.

If the moment doesn’t feel right, however, then it might be worth postponing slightly. You could still do so the same night, but simply when the moment feels right. Rushing things to stick to the plan isn’t recommended. Try to go with the flow.

That’ll make the moment feel much more personal and romantic, which is what you’re aiming for.

Wrapping Up

As it’s something you mightn’t have done before, you mightn’t know how to propose. Using each of the above when you’re planning things out will make sure that things go smoothly. There could be other things to keep in mind.

Once your partner is front and foremost in your mind, you shouldn’t have any issues planning things out.

Posted in inspiration

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