Facebook
X
Pinterest
Copy Link
Home Security and Safety for the Holidays
The holiday season can bring joy and peace, but it can also bring package thieves and burglary. Stay safe this winter by taking a few precautions with your home security. From old-school security tricks to new digital home monitoring tools, there are many options when it comes to keeping our homes safe and preserving that sensibility.
10 Tips for Valentine’s Day at Home
Valentine’s Day is a time for exchanging gifts, indulging your sweet tooth, and spending time with your significant other. Of all the places you and your Valentine could be, where better to spend the day, than in the place you love most: home sweet home. Let this list of ideas inspire your day at home with the one you love.
Tips for Valentine’s Day at Home
- Breakfast in bed: Kick off your Valentine’s Day by preparing breakfast in bed. Surprise your Valentine by waking up early to get a jumpstart on decadent breakfast classics like pancakes, an omelet, or frittata, or keep it simple with donuts and coffee.
- Create an at-home spa: Couples massages are a fitting indulgence for Valentine’s Day. Fortunately, you can create the same experience at home. Set the mood by lighting candles and putting on some relaxing music. Take turns applying facial masks and giving each other massages to put you both in a state of relaxation.
- Scavenger hunt: Combine the thrill of adventure and your memories as a couple with a scavenger hunt around the house. Create clues tied to memories of your relationship and hide them room-by-room, letting the answer to each clue lead to the next. Get creative and plan something special for discovering the final clue!
- What’s for dinner? Spending this special day at home gives you and your Valentine countless options for dinner. If you feel like keeping the kitchen quiet, order in your favorite meal. Otherwise, your culinary team of two can try your hand at a Valentine’s Day staple—fondue. For the full fondue experience, go for three courses: a broth fondue to open the palette; a cheese fondue to pair with bread, sliced meats, and charcuterie; and a chocolate fondue with fruit and pound cake bites to top it all off.
- Plan a game night: Add some fun to your Valentine’s Day itinerary by setting aside time to play games. A game will help you and your Valentine relax and have a laugh between the food, drinks, and chocolate. Grab a deck of cards for classic two-player games like Go Fish, Crazy Eights, War, and Rummy. Add in a game of truth or dare or charades to kick your game night into high gear.
- Paint and sip: Keep the creative juices flowing this Valentine’s Day at home with a paint-and-sip activity. It’s simple: pick out your favorite wine, set up two easels, and choose a reference image to paint. For some extra laughs, face each other and paint one another’s portrait.
- Dance the night away: Make dancing an integral part of your day at home with your Valentine. Whether slow jams or ballroom classics are more your style, pick out a playlist and turn your living room into a dance floor.
- Save room for dessert: Be sure to save room for the tastiest part of Valentine’s Day—dessert. Whether you put on the aprons and make dessert together or pick something up from your favorite bakery or chocolatier, no Valentine’s Day would be complete without it. Red Velvet Cake, dark chocolates, cheesecake, and brownies are just some of the can’t-miss classics for you and your partner to enjoy after dinner.
- Cuddle up for a movie: At the end of your busy day together, cuddle up, settle in, and turn on a movie. Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion for a romantic drama or rom-com.
- Look to the future: Valentine’s Day is also a time to reflect on the love in your household and where you are headed in the future. What plans or changes lie ahead? How does your home fit with the changes you see coming?
From all of us at Windermere, we wish you and your Valentine a Happy Valentine’s Day!
Black History Month
How Black History Month Began
In 1915, American historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland founded what is now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History® (ASALH) to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans and to encourage studying the history of Black people. In 1926, the ASALH debuted what was then called “Negro History Week” to bring awareness to their mission. The event took place during the second week of February, coinciding with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14). It continued to grow through the decades and in 1969, Black History Month was first proposed by the Black United Students at Kent State University. Years later, in 1976, President Gerald Ford decreed Black History Month be observed nationally. Since then, every President has recognized February as Black History Month (also known as African American History Month).
Black History Month 2021
Black History Month’s first official theme was “Civilization: A World Achievement” in 1928. Since then, the annual themes reflect changes of social movements’ impact on ideas of race, how the Black community’s aspirations have evolved over time, and how those of African descent living in the United States view themselves. The theme for 2021 is “The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity.” For more information on this year’s theme, past themes, and more on Black History Month, visit asahl.org.
In Real Estate
In the real estate industry, methods of redlining and steering have historically prevented members of the Black community from building wealth through home ownership. At Windermere, we are committed to doing our part to address discrimination, racism, and inequity within our company and the real estate industry. There are a number of initiatives in place throughout the industry to support diversity and inclusion, commit to fair housing, and make home ownership fairer and more equitable than it has been in the past. For more information and resources, visit the National Association of REALTORS® Fair Housing and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion pages.
Hosting for the Holidays
Whether you’re planning on having visitors fill your home with holiday cheer or keeping the holiday celebrations to a minimum, there are steps you can take to reduce the stresses of gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many homeowners have become accustomed to applying the following principles to their at-home lifestyles thus far this year, and this holiday season is no different.
Disinfect
The first step in getting your home ready for the holidays is to disinfect. When preparing to host, it’s natural to tidy up your home and give everything a cleanse with soap and water. However, additional measures need to be taken this year to reduce the risk of spreading germs.
Proper disinfectants
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends a 70% alcohol solution—or four teaspoons of bleach per quart of water—for reducing the chance of spreading COVID-19. Be sure to ventilate your home as you prepare to disinfect to avoid any harmful effects of toxins. After applying the bleach solution, let it stand for up to ten minutes before wiping it off.
Surfaces
The most problematic surfaces for germs are high-touch areas. Doorknobs, banisters, toilets, sinks, refrigerator and door handles, light switches, and faucets are all likely candidates for spreading germs, so be sure to direct your disinfecting attention there.
Your guests
In any event itinerary or reminders you send out, make sure to emphasize the importance of frequent hand washing, especially before and after touching communal items and eating. On the day your visitors come over, provide plenty of disposable towels and hand sanitizer in eating areas, food-prepping stations, and bathrooms. Place garbage cans nearby to reduce contact.
Keep a Distance
As the host, you have the opportunity to create a cozy, comfortable environment that still leaves room for practicing social distancing and other preventative measures. Know that indoor gatherings with poor ventilation pose a greater risk than those with good ventilation and that indoor gatherings are altogether more risky than outdoor. Members of different households should remain six feet apart to reduce the chance of spreading infection. Encourage masks to be worn at all times except when eating.
If you are planning an outdoor gathering, get creative with your lighting décor while adding some warmth for your guests. Space heaters, patio heaters, parasol heaters, and propane fireplaces have become more popular as homeowners look for ways to entertain safely and comfortably.
Virtual Gatherings
If in-person gatherings are too risky for you and your family, virtual gatherings are a way to celebrate with friends and extended family members while being apart. Here are some ideas for hosting virtually this holiday season:
- Choose fun activities for the group to share virtually. Arrange a time for a virtual gift exchange, sharing the gifts you’ve bought each other.
- Try a virtual recipe share with friends and family. Send out a recipe for everyone to enjoy and schedule a video call to share in the cooking process.
- Select a movie and showtime to have everyone settle in with their cup of hot cocoa or tea and enjoy a flick together.
No matter the size of the gathering in your home, these steps will help you navigate the stresses that come with hosting celebrations. For more information and advice for gatherings during what will be a unique holiday season, visit the CDC’s website here: CDC Guidelines for Holiday Celebrations
Celebrating 4th of July During COVID-19
While this year’s Fourth of July festivities will not come with the large crowds and spectacle-filled public events of years past, it is an opportunity to celebrate from the comfort of your home, and ring in the summer in a more intimate setting. Here is your guide to an at-home Independence Day celebration.
Celebrating Earth Day at Home
This year’s Earth Day will certainly look different than in years past. Fortunately, when it comes to reducing your footprint or assessing the eco-friendliness of your lifestyle, your living space is a great place to start. Here are some tips for celebrating Earth Day from home.
Four Holiday Décor Trends to Inspire You This Season
The holiday season is here and for many of us, that means it’s time to deck the halls. If you’re looking for some inspiration and a place to start, here are some ideas that are certain to get everyone in the spirit.
A Gold Thanksgiving
We’re in the thick of autumn now, with Thanksgiving just days away. That means it’s time to start considering how to best showcase your home before the calendar shifts fully into winter.
Four Holiday Decor Trends We’re Excited About This Winter
The holiday season is here and for many of us, that means it’s time to deck the halls. If you’re looking for some inspiration and a place to start, here are some ideas that are certain to get everyone in the spirit.
How to Stay Safe During the Holidays With Design and Planning
While many people look forward to the arrival of a jolly red-suited visitor one night this winter, for all of us the holidays are a gift and a danger. All of us want to stay safe from burglary, and there’s nothing paranoid about taking a bit of extra time to stay safe. The holidays are a time for relaxation, peace of mind, and sharing love and affection. From old-school security tricks to new…
