It was a part calculated, part impulse move. But one of the best decisions I ever made. 

Over the years, I’ve started 4 blogs, in 3 different niches. Only one stood the passage of time, and I’m happy it was this one.

But first, let me go back to where it all started. Time to get back to the beginning of my blogging experience.

My first ever blog – 2011

I’ve been dabbling with blogging for a long time. Since 2011, actually, when I published my first blog about movies.

I had just started my Masters’s degree in London and I discovered my passion for movies. So I somehow decided to write about them, in an effort to occupy my time and make some new friends (mostly online).

Aziza’s picks, the blog was called, and it was such an amazing experience overall, even though I had no idea what I was doing.

My Blogger theme was extremely basic and ugly, I didn’t have self-hosting, and I definitely didn’t know about SEO, keyword research, etc.

I wrote about films I liked and disliked, about topics that made me think, and much more.

I made a lot of online friends with similar interests, and most importantly, I felt part of a community.

But that blog wasn’t created to become rich, so I didn’t actually make money out of it. The only cool thing I got out of it was being invited to movies for free, and that was more than enough for me.

As life progressed, hobbies changed, Masters ended, so eventually the blog died down. But it still remains, to this day, a wonderful project I fondly remember.

Trying out a niche blog – 2017

Fast forward to 2017. By this point, I had already started working in digital marketing, so I began to research and understand the business of blogging much better.

I knew I needed to choose a niche with potential, that had many monthly searches, and that I could monetise.

So I started my second blog, this time on the health niche.

I wanted to make sure it looked amazing from the get go, so I made an effort on web design and logo, and hired a web designer.

Similarly, I also got website hosting from day one and made sure it was well optimized.

It was, overall, a solid start to blogging. But I made two big mistakes.

1. The blog was written in my native language. That meant that I was limited to a specific audience, a small one, in an Eastern European country. So there was no potential for big growth.
2. I wasn’t passionate about the niche I chose. I could and I did write about health issues, but I didn’t particularly enjoy it. Moreover, you can’t really improvise or be creative in this niche, so it got boring fast for me.

These two mistakes led to the third one, which made me stop blogging on it altogether: I wasn’t consistent with it.

Because I wasn’t having fun and I didn’t know what to write about, I published blog posts infrequently, and it faded out over time.

There goes my second attempt at blogging; a necessary step into my blogging experience.

Coming back to old hobbies – 2018

One year later, I decided to return to an old favourite: movies.

My film passion was reignited, and with it, the need to write about it.

So I created my third blog, Geekteller.  

I, again, invested money into a theme and hosting, because I wanted to do it right.

I started writing about movies and tv shows. And it worked for a year, I think.

But then life happened. I changed jobs and got a boyfriend, so I slowly started prioritizing other things.

Also, I didn’t have the same need to talk about and review movies like I did the first time around. I wasn’t intently watching movies to review them, but to simply enjoy them…for fun.

So, as you guessed it, this blog died down, too. My last post on the movies blog was at the end of January 2020. Right before the pandemic started. It was a post about the last movie I saw in theaters, “1918”. It’s still active (actually, all three are), I just haven’t written on it for a very long time. 

Fourth time’s a charm- Cozy Home Hacks- 2020

2020 was a crazy year for most of us. I, like many others, started working from home in March. After a couple of weeks, my company announced that I would be in furlough for 2 months. 

During those two months, I decluttered my whole house, I cleaned it, I tried to workout at least 10 minutes each day, and…. I watched A LOT of YouTube videos. 

And that’s where I learned more about the possibilities of Blogging and how much you can do with it, if you do it the right way. 

I got inspired by all the cases of SAHM and corporate people who quit their jobs to focus on a blog that made them double or triple their salary and gave them time to spend with their families. 

Because deep down, that’s what I wanted. Freedom to work whenever I could and the possibility to make money from home and, most importantly, passively, as much as it was possible. Especially since I plan to expand my family soon, and I want to be able to spend as much time as I can with my kids. 

So I started researching tips & tricks, best case practices, and seeing what others were doing best. I watched a lot of videos on content management, Pinterest & Facebook groups, and many others. 

I accumulated as much information as I could, then I started WORKING. 

First step: figuring out my niche. I could write pages about it, but this is not the post for it. Let’s just say I narrowed down to a home & decor niche, but I didn’t specifically choose a sub-niche. Instead, I started writing posts and figured out along the way what I liked and I was good at. 

Second step: brainstorming blog post ideas. This was the fun part. I started by writing my own blog post ideas. What I thought could work and I could write. Then I researched online what others (and my competitors) did. 

Third step (which took the longest): writing at least 12 blog posts, so I could prove myself that I am on the right track, and also to have some posts as back up, in case I didn’t have time to write one day.

Fourth step: the logistics. 

• I chose a name. This was and continues to be one of the hardest parts of blogging for me. Choosing a name that is cool and special, but NOT yet used by someone else. 
• Purchased my domain. 
• Set up web hosting. 
• Bought a cool wordpress theme.
• I set up my blog, in terms of categories, banners & co. 

The first three steps were done between April and October of 2020. The last step was done in the two weeks up to the release of the blog. (Although I’ve thought about the name ever since April, I decided on it on October)

Fast forward one year later, the Cozy Home Hacks blog is still going strong and is thriving. 

Let me tell you why. Here are some important lessons I learned along the way in my blogging experience:

10 Vital Lessons I learned in my 10 Years Blogging

1. CONSISTENCY is what is going to make your blog successful.  

I learned this the hard way, with Cozy Home Hacks. Success, or traffic, in our case, doesn’t come overnight (unless you go viral, but that happens extremely rarely). It has to be built over time, and in order to do that you need to be consistent with your writing and posting. I’ve posted, so far, a little over 80 articles, and I haven’t missed a week. At the beginning I posted bi-weekly. Now I only do it once a week. Either way, I didn’t stop and I made sure I had something to post every week. And I believe that was the drop that filled the glass, to say so. If you want to make it big, you need to put consistent effort into your blog.

2. Decide, from the get go, if your blog will be a PASSION PROJECT or a SIDE HUSTLE / BUSINESS VENTURE. 

This decision will impact the outcome. If you want to start a blog as a hobby, and write about what you like or know, and/or about your passions, then things will be easier. But if you want to start a business and make money out of it, prepare to work harder and for a longer period of time before actually seeing results.  

3. Choose your NICHE wisely. 

If you chose to blog in order to make money, you need to do a couple of things before starting to write. You need to consider your competition, the public’s interest for the topic, and if you are able to actually write about that topic (do you have the knowledge or the interest to research and get better at it?). Choosing a niche with too much competition, or one that has a very narrow audience will diminish your success, or just make it that much harder.

4. Be USEFUL to your readers.  

This is a harsh truth that bloggers need to learn. If you want people to read your articles, you need to provide information, or entertainment, or stories that they can relate to and empathise with. If you want to earn money from your blog, I recommend writing posts that provide useful information (how to’s), and/or give answers to Frequently Asked Questions in that specific niche.

5. Website DESIGN is important, but NOT VITAL. 

If you’re just starting out, don’t focus your energy on website design. Pick a theme (paid or free), customize it to fit your blog (create categories, legal pages, etc) and just start writing. If you don’t have any content or website visitors, it doesn’t really matter if the menu is blue or green, am I right? 🙂

6. Focus on USER EXPERIENCE and WEBSITE SPEED. 

If you want to improve your blog, start with these two topics. Why? Because that will help the reader stay more on page, therefore consume more content and maybe even buy from your affiliate links. These types of optimizations will help you more in the long run, compared to design changes, for example.

7. Start implementing SEO tactics FROM DAY ONE. Or as soon as you can. 

SEO helps your blog to show up on Google (or other search engines) queries. So for example, if you write about cleaning & organizing, and someone searches “how to clean jewelry”, then you would want your blog to appear on that Google results page, wouldn’t you? Well, you can accomplish that by implementing SEO tactics. 

Unfortunately, it takes a while for Google to register your optimizations, so you need to make sure you’re writing SEO optimized content. If you’re thinking about starting a blog, research it beforehand and start implementing the tactics from day one. If your blog is years old already, it’s never too late to start, so get on it. 

8. You have to WORK for your WEBSITE TRAFFIC. 

Blogs don’t just get visitors out of thin air. They need to find your blog somewhere, be it on social media, or groups, or by Googling it. Either way, you have to make sure your blog is visible and it attracts people on board. And that is one of the hardest parts. Because it requires time and energy. For a longer period of time. But once it starts growing, it will all be worth it. 

9. Constantly ADAPT to the changing online and offline environment. 

If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that we need to be able to adapt quickly in order to survive and thrive. And that applies to the online world, too, especially blogging. 

Let’s give an example. So if, let’s say you write about dog training, and there’s a new TV show or a popular online course about dog training, you can use that opportunity to write about it, review it, etc. In short, find trends and use them to your advantage. 

10. CONTENT IS KING. 

Plain and simple, your blog will not be successful if you don’t have good content. So your first task, your priority, should always be to provide quality content to your readers. The rest are just optimizations and adjustments you can do AFTER you’ve provided the content people want and need. 

CONCLUSION

10 years and 4 blogs later, I think I’ve gotten into a rhythm. I know what to do, I know how to get things running, but I definitely have a lot more to learn…and implement. I hope to, one day, say I’m a full time blogger and that I have time for everything. Right now, I’ll just work my 9-5 job and blog on the side, hopefully in a successful manner. 

Let me know your blogging experiences down below! What is the hardest part of blogging, from your perspective?

The post My 10 Years Blogging Experience – Why This 4th (!) Blog Is The Most Successful One Yet appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Especially if you have to prepare it for your whole family. 

When you reach that point, you need to make sure everyone has presents, that there is food on the table and that the house looks nice enough for Christmas (and sometimes, for guests, too). Among other things. 

I’m here today to help you with that. 

I’ve always been the planning type. I always made sure to buy Christmas presents in November, for example. And when I met my boyfriend, those tasks doubled. And then tripled, because I had to make sure the house looks nice, has a Christmas tree, and is able to receive guests. 

So in the last few years I’ve had to up my game and become a Christmas planner expert. And I’m happy I got these skills now, because they will be very useful when we decide to have kids. 

That being said, I really want to share with you my process and tips & tricks on how to prepare for Christmas, so you don’t get overwhelmed during the last month of the year. 

Here are the main areas you need to consider when preparing for Christmas:

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS: PRESENTS

This is one of, if not THE most important part of Christmas: the presents. 

I suggest the following plan; it’s been working for me for the last 6-7 years, at least. 

• Start a Christmas Presents list in October. 
• Write down all the people you need to buy presents for.
• Start brainstorming gift ideas. For example, this year I’m thinking about getting my mom a cozy bathrobe, and my dad some cool new winter boots. 
• And from then on, you start looking out for those gift ideas in stores and buy them when you find sales, or the right time to get them. 
• I suggest starting buying presents early November, so you don’t need to spend all your money in a couple days, all from the same paycheck. Heck, if you’re really sure about what to get for people, you can start buying in September or October. 

A few tips & tricks for buying cool presents that your loved one will appreciate:

• For kids & teenagers, ask them or their parents what they want / what is on their Christmas present list; 
• If you’re stuck on what to get parents & grandparents, I usually go for clothes & accessories. And if they are homebodies (like my parents, for example), try cozy slippers or cozy loungewear sets from Amazon. If they’re more adventurous, you can get them new activewear. 
• For partners (girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife), I recommend getting them what they need and/or want. Or something you know for sure they will love. 

My boyfriend, for example, is a huge board game fan, so I will definitely get him a board game for Christmas, plus one other item. If your partner is the same, check out this Gift Guide for Board Game Lovers right here. 

I also have this great blog post with many Gift Ideas for Men, if you’re having trouble choosing what to get them. 

• Another great tip is to save all the gift bags you’ve received so far (Christmas specific and simple ones), and reuse them for this year’s presents. This way, you won’t have to go out and buy new ones. Money saved!

• I also try to get as many presents as I can on Black Friday sales, that helps me save a lot of money. It also takes off the pressure of buying everything in December. 

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS: HOME DECOR

I have to admit, I’ve developed my Christmas home decoration skills pretty recently. And that’s because I was single for a long time, and I didn’t feel the need to decorate only for myself. 

But now that I am in a relationship, and about to get married and have kids, I’ve started putting more effort into this. 

So I’ve learned that the main things you need to have for home decorating are the following:

• Christmas tree
• Tree decorations
• House decorations (other lights, candles, etc)
• Front door decorations (mainly wreath, but whatever else you want, too)

1. Christmas tree

When it comes to trees, to each his own. Get a fake one. Go buy a fresh, new one from the market. 

Do it on the 1st of November or the Eve of Christmas. 

Either way, you need a Christmas tree. 

I, personally, have a fake Christmas tree that I get out every beginning of December. 

(Yes, I’m the weird one who decorates in December, around the 6th or 7th.)

2. Tree decorations

You also need Christmas tree decorations. 

Some people use the same things every year. Others buy new tree decorations for every Christmas. 

I’m somewhere in the middle. I always try to mix it up every year and change up the colors or the actual decorations in it, so I don’t end up with the same tree every time. That means that I sometimes need to buy new items, like globes of a certain color. But not everything is new.

Last year we went for a gold and purple theme. This year, we’re thinking of gold and red. 

3. House decorations

This is the area where I’ve seen certain people go all out. I mean, their house is literally a Christmas store. A great example of this is Angie Bellemare’s house (from YouTube). 

You don’t have to do all of that. But you can add small touches around the house to remind you and your family & guests of Christmas, like:

• Throw Pillows with Christmas designs;
• Winter smelling candles;
• Extra fairly lights hanging on the stairway or cabinet;
• Cute Christmas-y table runner of the dining room table;
• …and the list goes on. 

I usually have 2 cute red throw pillows for my living room couch and an extra set of fairy lights for the library.

In the “House decorations” category we can also include front door Christmas wreaths, too. Check out what you can find on Amazon here. 

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS: MEAL PLANNING

This section of “how to prepare for Christmas” is tricky. Because it’s not always up to you. 

What I mean by that, is that you don’t usually have to cook only for your home. You will also have to prepare or buy something to take to your parents and in-laws house, if you celebrate Christmas at their place, too.

That’s what we do every year. On the evening of the 24th we go to my parents’ place, and the 25th of December is reserved for my in-laws. 

Now, luckily for me, I don’t have to cook all the food. But I do have to prepare a cake or a side dish for both places. Especially since we usually come back home with leftovers from both families. (Lucky us!)

And I bet you have to do the same. If not for two Christmas gatherings, at least for one. So you need to get ready for it. Here is how:

• Ask beforehand the host what you have to bring to the Christmas party. Even if they say nothing, it is nice to contribute with something, so at least bring a dessert or a bottle of wine.
• Make your own Christmas meal plan list. Think about what you want and need to cook before, during and after Christmas. Write down the meals and their main ingredients. 
• Then make sure the groceries are done before the 24th of December. This way, you don’t have to run out to get ingredients in the middle of the night. 
• Try to prepare everything on the 23th and the 24th of December, so you have everything ready on the day, but don’t do it earlier than that, because the food won’t be as fresh anymore. 

CONCLUSION

I know there are many more things to say on how to prepare for Christmas, but I wanted to cover the 3 main areas you need to focus on. Presents, decor and meal planning usually take up the most amount of time. I hope it was useful for you and I hope you get prepared for Christmas on time this year, so you don’t get stressed. Enjoy the holidays!

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you.

The post How to prepare for Christmas: Decor! Presents! Meal Planning! appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Actually, the more you use it, the more you need to organize it better. That’s because we tend to accumulate (sometimes) unnecessary things on it, like we (sometimes) do in our homes. 

So if you’re hoarding certain items or haven’t cleaned your phone in a while, then this post is for you. 

I will show you the 4 main areas you need to go over in order to save up space, but also improve your experience on it. 

Time-wise, you can do it in chunks. For example, you can allocate 20 minutes per area. 

(Except area 2, Photos, which will probably need to be split in even more chunks, especially if you take A LOT of photos.)

Or you can spend 1-2 hours on a rainy Sunday afternoon and go through all of the phone areas I mentioned above.

By the end of it you will have a clean, organized and clear smartphone that will help use it more efficiently. 

So let’s get going! Here’s how to declutter your phone: 

HOW TO DECLUTTER YOUR PHONE – Main Areas To Go Over

1. Home Screen

This is one of the easiest and fastest things you can do right now to clear space on your phone. 

Open your home screen and do the following:

a. Delete unused apps. Be ruthless about it. That online store you bought from a year ago, but haven’t touched ever since. It needs to go. Same with the photo editing you don’t like and don’t use, or that random grocery store app you downloaded during Christmas shopping for points and stopped using it afterwards. 

b. Create folders. For example, one for Utilities apps. One for Shopping. Photo Editing. Social Media, and so on. 

This is helpful in so many ways:

• You spend less time to find the specific app on your home screen
• If your apps are organised by category, you can work faster and more efficiently. 
• Better use of notifications. If the bank / utilities folder has a notification, and so does the social media one, then you probably already know that you need to check the first category folder. You can leave social media for later. If you didn’t have this segmentation, you would have been fooled by the Instagram or Facebook notification and you would have spent a lot of unnecessary time on them. 
• Also easier for future decluttering tasks.

c. Change background, if you want to. This is a great time to change the background or lock screen visuals, too. According to likes, season, or just change up your family photos to recent ones. The purpose is to make it prettier and nice to look at.

2. Photos

This area is going to take the longest, especially if you like to photograph EVERYTHING. But it’s probably the most important section of this “how to declutter your phone” guide, because this helps you organize and clear the space the best. 

You need to go through all your photos and delete

• Photos you don’t like
• Duplicates / Very similar photos
• Blurry ones
• Screenshots of things you don’t need anymore

BONUS tip: Favorite the best pictures, then download and print them. Create an album and have it forever to look back on. This will be invaluable if you have the misfortune of losing your online photos. (if you delete them by mistake, or a virus prevents you from using them)

3. Media section of Whatsapp app 

You probably didn’t think of this, right? 

Well, the app has the option to automatically save the whatsapp pictures and videos people send to you. And that can occupy so much space. 

If you want to know if this is turned on for you, go to Whatsapp Settings, then chat and check off the Save to Camera Roll, if applicable. Choose not to save them. 

Another thing you can do is to or delete much older media content in your app. While it might not be saved in your photo gallery, it does occupy a lot of space in the app, so the app occupies more space in your phone. 

You can do it by going to the Whatsapp Settings, then Storage and Data, then Manage Storage, then go into the “Review and delete items” section and start going through it. I recommend going way back and start deleting the videos you don’t need anymore, those occupy a lot of space. 

4. Music  

Clearing this area will probably not apply to all, especially if you don’t have a music app or if you don’t download music to listen offline. 

But if you do, go now to Apple Music or Spotify or whatever else you are listening to. See what you downloaded. And delete what you don’t listen to anymore. This helps save you so much space and it will refresh your playlists. 

CONCLUSION

In my opinion, everyone needs to know this: how to declutter your phone. This will help you organise it, clear space, and use it more efficiently for a longer period of time. Do it now!

P.S. If you want more decluttering ideas, check out my posts below:

• How to declutter books
• How to declutter your wardrobe
• How to declutter makeup
• How to declutter your home to clear up space

The post How To Declutter Your Phone: 4 Areas To Declutter & Free Up Space In Your Phone appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Some people love Secret Santa. I’m not one of those people. Why? Because I like to put a lot of thought and care into the presents I give. And finding ideas for someone I don’t particularly know is pretty hard and exhausting. 

Now, I know some families do Secret Santa and that’s great. That means the above problem should not exist. But in most cases, Secret Santa is done at work or in a group of friends. And I’ve participated in a few gift exchanges in the last few years, so I know what to expect.

That’s why I know how hard it is. So I’ve decided to create this list of “Secret Santa Gift Ideas for Her”, all under $30, so you don’t break the bank for it. 

I hope you’ll find something useful in the list below!

SECRET SANTA GIFTS IDEAS FOR HER

Travel Mug 

Travel Mugs, or Coffee Mugs for that matter, are on top of my “Great Secret Santa Gifts Ideas for her” list. Most people enjoy a drink while working (be it coffee or tea or just plain water), so this gift idea will be useful for most women. 

I found this stunning aquamarine travel mug on Amazon and I would definitely buy it for myself. It’s made of high quality stainless steel (apparently, taste-free, rust-proof, leak-proof). And the lid is made of food-grade silicone, BPA free, with guaranteed high durability. Honestly, I just love the color.

Another great travel mug option is this Contigo TwistSeal Travel Mug from Amazon, with cute coffee doodles. 

Fancy Chocolate

Another cool Secret Santa gift idea for women is a box of chocolates or fancy sweets. It’s a wonderful treat that they can enjoy alone or with family. Just make sure the person is not allergic to chocolate or any other ingredients (milk, egg, peanuts, etc).

If you don’t know what to choose, you can splurge on a Godiva Chocolate Box, they’re the rave and best rated. But I think the Ferrero Rocher boxes are just as nice, and they’re a fraction of the price. It’s actually my favorite chocolate and I always recommend it to people, and also gift it to people. 

Books 

This one might be a hit and miss for some. I recommend going with this specific Secret Santa gift idea for her only if you know this person well.

The book choice should be catered to that person’s interests. So if she reads non-fiction books, like personal development, try to get her a new release from the category. 

Or, if she has a specific hobby, a table book with that would be appreciated, I’m sure. 

If you really want to buy them a book, something like “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” can be a good choice for most people, especially co-workers and friends 🙂 

Gift Sets

If you want to get out fast out of Secret Santa gift shopping, check out the gift sets section in Amazon or other big stores. I’m not saying to get the first thing you see, but there are some nice sets out there, like this Burt’s Bees one. 

Alternatively, you can do a self care set, a cocktail making set (but that would be more expensive) or a hot chocolate set. Just browse around and see what catches your eye and you feel it suits the person you are buying a gift for. 

USB Flash Drive

The USB Drive could be a fun choice for the “Secret Santa gifts ideas for her” list. Especially if you pick a fun design. 

It’s actually a great idea for men, as well. 

Anyway, here are some cute and fun USB flash drives you can get as a Secret Santa present for women. 

1. Retro Metal Heart Key Shaped Thumb Drive from Amazon

2. Chocolate Bar USB Flash Drive from Amazon

Adult Coloring Book 

You might disagree with this idea of Secret Santa gifts for her, but I think it would be funny. And useful for the stressed coworker or friend. Or the artistic one. 

Adult Coloring Books. 

You can find hundreds of them online. Some are the usual “color in shapes and animals”, like this stress-relieving coloring book from Amazon:

Others are so much funnier than that. If your female friend / coworker enjoys them, check this “F*ck this shit” coloring book, also from Amazon:

Classic scarf 

A classic scarf could make a great gift for older females. It’s simple and easy to wear, and a neutral color saves you the time to figure out what suits her. I suggest going with something like black, grey or beige. 

Here is a lovely classic scarf option from Amazon:

Cute Notebook

Most people need an actual piece of paper to write to do lists. Or grocery lists. Or goals & action plans. Some even journal. 

If the person you are buying a Secret Santa gift for does any of the above, then you can definitely get her a cute notebook (or notepad). If she is a very digital gal, then you should skip this. 

There are hundreds of cool, unique, creative notebooks out there. Here are my top 3 picks from Amazon:

1. Marble, Black/Gold/White Lined Ruled Notebook. This one is simple, yet classy, with a touch of elegance. 

2. Steel Mill & Co Cute Floral Mini Spiral Notebook. I love the cute print. It’s a bit more girly, and also more intense / interesting than the first option. Bonus points for being spiral bound.

3. Cats Journal / Notebook. This notebook would be great for, obviously, cat lovers / cat owners. 

Starbucks Gift Card

A Starbucks Gift Card (or 2) is the easiest item on the “Secret Santa gifts ideas for her” list.

Easy and fast to buy. (Most) Likely to be very much appreciated and used. Quickly. 

Get it from Amazon here. 

Touch screen responsive gloves

When Secret Santa time comes around, it’s usually really cold outside (unless you live in Australia or something similar, down south).

So, what better gift to receive than a pair of touch screen responsive gloves? I personally would love a pair, and I know a lot of women who would need one, too. 

Check out this affordable Women’s Winter Touch Screen Gloves from Amazon: 

WHAT NOT TO GET FOR SECRET SANTA 

Stuffed toys. I once received a green dinosaur. My first reaction was complete bewilderment and surprise. Then confusion. Then I just “filled” it in my brain as a bad Secret Santa present. 

NSFW objects. I really wouldn’t get into these types of presents unless 1) you absolutely know this person very well, and 2) it is not a work buddy / will not be presented at work. When I say NFSW, I mean things like sex toys, kama sutra books, etc.

Clothes. I don’t think this is a good idea because you don’t know that person’s style, or likes, or their exact size. So in order to avoid awkward situations, just skip clothes all together.

“Funny” stuff. You might think it’s funny, but some might not agree. Avoid this especially for people you don’t know very well, coworkers or older family members. 

CONCLUSION

So these are the Secret Santa Gift Ideas for Her that you can go to this year! I hope this was helpful and you got at least one good idea for your Secret Santa exchange. 

And if you’re stuck on gift ideas for other people, check out the gift guides below:

• Gift Ideas for Board Games Lovers
• Gift Ideas for Foodies and Cooks
• Gift Ideas for Astrology Lovers
• Gift Ideas for Men
• Gift Ideas for Homebodies

DISCLAIMER: This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you.

The post Best Secret Santa Gift Ideas For Her Under $30 appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Those are lovely, but you can do better than that. You just have to know what type of foodie the person you’re buying gifts for really is. 

Is he/she the type that cooks all the time and is constantly trying new recipes? Then you have to go for cool kitchen tools, for example. 

But if he/she is just a foodie that enjoys eating almost everything, but not necessarily cooking, then you can think of different food subscriptions or gift baskets they could try. 

I have at least 10 gift ideas for foodies and cooks down below that can work for both categories. Some are tried and trued (and loved), so I can vouch for them. 

It has everything from spices and meat box subscriptions, to cheese boards and knives set. 

Check out the gift guide for foodies and cooks below!

1. Blended Sea Salt Variety Pack

I recently found this amazing gift idea whilst browsing Etsy. It’s a 5 pack of sea salt tubes, in which you can choose from different flavors of fresh organic herbs, veggies, fruit and even wines. 

It’s beautifully packaged and has great reviews! I highly recommend it, it’s a great option for gifts for foodies and cooks, but it can also work as a Housewarming Gift or a present to yourself. 

2. Kitchen Cooking Utensils Set (33 pcs)

This would make a fantastic gift for foodies that have recently moved or don’t have all the tools to cook the meals they want. 

Made of BPA-free silicone that can withstand temperatures up to 446°F/230°C, it can be used for any type of food. 

The set has everything, from spatulas and serving spoons, to tongs, measuring cups and silicone mat. 

Get it now from Amazon – click here!

3. Digital Meat Thermometer for Cooking

This gift idea is great for seasoned (or almost there) foodies, who cook all the time and experiment with different types of food. 

I think they definitely need a digital meat thermometer like the one from Kizen. It takes the temperature in less than 3 seconds, and it can also be used with beverages, deep frying, candy making, baking, grilling, and more!

4. Spice Madam Monthly Subscription Box

If you don’t want to gift people kitchen utensils or gadgets, you can definitely go the food route, specifically spices, because we are talking about people who love food, am I right?

Now, why spices? Because we use spices in everything, they make the food better, and we can never have enough, or better yet, we will never actually get to test every spice out there. 

But if you, or your friend, want to try it, you can go for a spices subscription box, like this one called “Spice Madam” that you can find on Crate Joy. 

It’s a monthly curated box that contains a selection of spices, recipes, themed music and fun facts from each featured country from that month. I love it!

5. Pack of 2 Kitchen Cooking Aprons

People don’t really wear aprons any more, do they? I remember seeing women in classic movies wearing them, or even my grandma or my mother, but recently, my friends (and me included) don’t use aprons whilst cooking. 

And that’s a shame, because aprons are great! They help protect your clothes from spilled food and I feel like they actually make you feel like a chef in some way. 

I recently stumbled upon this set of 2 aprons on Amazon and immediately added it to my cart. I will definitely use it. My partner? Not so much, but it’s good to have a backup. 

Either way, aprons can be considered great gift ideas for foodies and cooks, so definitely add it to your list of potential presents. 

6. Cake Stand with Dome (4-in-1)

This cake stand would be great for people who love to bake. They can use it, either as a cake stand, or as a cupcake holder. 

According to the producer’s Amazon page, it can also be used as a cheese board, appetizer serving tray, decorative snack stand, charcuterie board, and so much more.

We all love a multifunctional item, so this could be a good investment for any foodie or cook out there!

7. Professional Kitchen Knives High Carbon Stainless Steel Chef Set

Can someone actually call themselves a cook or a chef if they don’t have an amazing set of kitchen knives? I don’t think so.

So if your friend / family member / partner likes cooking and doesn’t own a professional knife set, it’s time to get them one. 

This particular knife set includes a 8-inch chef knife, a 7.5-inch santoku knife, and a 5-inch paring knife. It’s made of German high-quality high carbon stainless steel and is durable. 

8. Butcher’s Box – Steak Lover’s Box

Speaking of subscription boxes, what do you think about a meat delivery one? 

I personally would love one, since my partner loves everything meat and I definitely like to enjoy a steak from time to time. 

This Butcher’s Box one is especially made for gifting it to someone. It contains 2 ribeyes, 2 filet mignons, 2 NY strips, and 4 top sirloins. More importantly, they’re all 100% grass-fed, pasture raised.

I would put it high on the “best gifts for foodies and cooks” list, and so should you!

9. KitchenAid Stand Mixer with Pouring Shield

I know, this one is EXPENSIVE! 

But if the person you love, be it partner, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, etc, LOVES TO BAKE, he/she needs to have a KitchenAid. It makes things so much easier to cook.

It has a 10-speed slide control and it includes Flat Beater, Dough Hook and Wire Whip.

And most importantly, it comes in so many lovely colors! I especially love the one below!

10. Bamboo Cheese Board and Knife Set

I feel like this is a type of present that would be perfect for people who love to entertain. 

I mean, what host doesn’t have a cheese board or charcuterie set? (uhm, me?!? But that’s a different discussion)

So add this Bamboo Cheese Board and knife set with slide out storage tray and 4 cheese knives to your list of gift ideas for foodies and cooks. 

It’s made of natural and sustainable bamboo and it’s easy to clean, you just need some mild soap and water. 

In conclusion

There are so many gift ideas for foodies and cooks out there, you just have to know 

1. If he/she is a foodie aka only likes to eat delicious food
2. And/or if he/she is a cook (aka also likes to cook delicious food)

Depending on the answer, you have at least 10 gift ideas for foodies and cooks in the blog post above!

What will you choose?

*This post contains affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you.

The post 10 Best Gift Ideas for Foodies and Cooks appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

And I get why. 

First of all, it has gold framing, and gold always looks good, especially in home decor.  

Second of all, the Anthropologie mirror frame has a very vintage, almost baroque look to it, and that’s what makes it so special. The intricate details on the top and the low sides are very beautiful and they definitely give a room a more special feel to it. 

The original Anthropologie Primrose mirror comes in four different sizes, and can be ordered with three different finishes: brass, black, and silver. Price-wise, it goes from $498 to $1550, and it’s constantly in or out of stock.

But let’s face it, most of us can’t afford it, so obviously, we’re all currently looking for anthropologie mirror amazon dupes. Because they’re cheaper and you can get them through Amazon Prime, so that works out for the best. 

Since I’ve fallen in love with it, I’ve also gone looking for it, too. That’s why I’ve compiled this list with 4+ anthropologie mirror amazon dupes that could definitely pass for the real one. Check it out below:

Kate and Laurel Arendahl Traditional Ornate Wall Mirror

This is one of my favorites from the list. It has the same vintage details, but it’s a bit simpler, and you can find it in different finishes, not only gold. The one above is silver, and at the time of me writing this, the gold one was out of stock, but you might get luckier than me. Definitely bookmark it.

It comes in three sizes, it has keyhole hangers that are attached to the back for easier installation, and it’s under $150, so it’s a steal. Simple, yet effective!

Hamilton Hills Top Gold Baroque Wall Mirror

This is also similar to the original Anthropologie Primrose Mirror, but the edges are thicker. It gives a more rich and opulent feel to a room, and it definitely stands out. 

The Hamilton Hills mirror comes in three sizes: 24×36, 28×42 and 40×30. The company prides itself in its exceptional quality, and it assures that the product is safe because of the reinforced boxes it is shipped in. 

The smallest size option is just around $200, and the biggest one can go up to $225-250. 

As far as Anthropologie Mirror Amazon dupes are concerned, it’s a great option, especially if you’re looking for something bolder and bigger. 

Noble Park Morrey 25 3/4″ x 34 1/4″ Crown Top Angled Wall Mirror

This is my favorite of the list of Anthropologie Mirror Amazon Dupes. I love the simple, yet imposing design and the sharp edges. 

Right now, the one size Noble Park mirror is $199, and while it’s a bit more expensive than the other options, I would definitely pay for it. 

Just be careful with shipping, some reviews say the mirror was shipped broken into pieces. But then again, that can happen with any heavy, glass product. The great thing about it is that you can return the item. (Fingers crossed you won’t need to)

Raphael Rozen VintageHanging Framed Wall Mounted Mirror in Antique Gold

Now, I know this is not the exact same shape of the original primrose mirror, but if you’re looking for a vintage looking, gold framed mirror, this could be the one for you. 

It can be placed horizontally or vertically and it can be ordered in Antique Gold or Satin Gold. It also comes in multiple sizes from which you can choose from: 20×30, 26×36, 30×30, 30×40, 35.5×45.5. Take your pick!

Those were the 4 Anthropologie mirror amazon dupes that you can purchase if you don’t have the budget for the real one. Which one was your favorite?

The post Anthropologie Mirror Amazon Dupes – 4 Options under $250 appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

My idea of a good time was never clubbing or partying the night away. I actually don’t even remember ever getting blackout drunk. 

What I do enjoy is spending time with my friends, with my partner or by myself, and if it’s at home, that’s even better, because I get to feel comfortable and not worry (that much) about what to wear, or other people, money, and so on. Home is always a good place for me, and that’s why I strive to make it as nice and inviting as possible. (That’s actually one of the reasons I started this blog)

When it comes to gift ideas for homebodies, I know my stuff, so I’ve created the list below taking into consideration what me and my friends use to relax at home. Most of them are tried and true, but of course, to each its own. 

So if the person you love spends that much time at home, and it’s that time of the year to get him/her a present (Christmas and/or birthday), you have take into consideration the following points and make sure that 

1. he/she wear comfortable clothes
2. they are entertained
3. he/she feels pampered and/or relax

The best gift ideas for homebodies can be answers to one of the points above. So let’s start! 

If you’re looking for a gift guide for people who don’t like to leave the house aka homebodies, check out the list below:

Comfy Loungewear Set 

You can definitely start by ordering them a loungewear set that looks cool, but also feels great. This Amazon Women’s Two Piece Outfit with a Short Sleeve and Tracksuit Pants is cool, decently priced, and it comes in sooooo many colors, you have plenty to choose from (including tie dye). 

For more inspiration, check my Best Amazon Loungewear Sets article, there are at least 10 different sets you can choose from.

Board Games

I love board games and I always recommend them to people because they provide entertainment and they work both in couples and in large groups. 

My go-to Board Game is Ticket to Ride. It’s light, easy to play, yet competitive, colorful, and a great way to spend long, cold nights at home (or warm evenings, depending on the season). 

If you’re not familiar with board games, and don’t know where to start, check out my Board Games for Beginners list, you’ll get more gift ideas there. 

Vinyl machine

This is not an obvious choice for a gift, but it could make a wonderful birthday or Christmas gift idea for homebodies, especially if they love music. A vinyl record player. 

If you want a cool, sleek, but also more 21st century vinyl player, go for the Victrola vinyl machine. It has over 40k great reviews and, most importantly, it’s a Bluetooth Portable Suitcase Record Player with Built-in Speakers. Wow!

If you want a machine that has a more classic look and feel to it, go for this Turntable Vinyl Player. Great price, too!

Cozy Slippers

Can someone really be comfortable at home without cozy slippers? I think not. 

That’s why I believe one of the best gift ideas for homebodies is a pair of cozy slippers. I like them so much, I even wrote a cool guide about cozy slippers. (click the link for more ideas)

When choosing a pair, take into consideration the weather and the personal preferences, of course. But a pair like these Muk ones could make a great choice. 

Favorite drink of choice

I have to admit, I was going to recommend tea as a great gift idea for homebodies, but then again, not everybody drinks tea, and some might actually prefer wine or beer to tea or coffee. 

So instead, I suggest getting the person who doesn’t like to leave the house something good to drink, according to their preferences. It could be:

• A good bottle of wine;
• Selection of teas; (or a tea subscription box, like Sips by)
• South American sourced coffee;
• A beer subscription;
• 18 year old bottle of whisky.

And the list continues. Whatever they like to consume!

Candles and / or Incense 

Can we really have a gift guide for people who like to stay home without candles? I don’t think so. 

Any homebody who wants to have a clean and cozy home needs candles. They help make the house smell better, and sometimes, they can even have a therapeutic effect. Especially if they are lavender or peppermint, those usually help calm anxious personalities. 

I recommend going with this lovely sea mint & spruce candle from Amazon, it works both for summer and winter days, and it looks so pretty! 

Stars installation

This is something you would usually find in children’s gift guides, but I really think an adult would love it just as much. 

A star installation gives a magical touch to any room, especially a bedroom (or entertaining room, if you have one). I think it would be a great gift idea for people who want to make nights better.

This blue one is from Amazon, you can check it out here.

Books

I found that most people who enjoy spending time at home usually like to read. So unless the person who likes to stay at home doesn’t like to read, you’re free to buy almost any book. Ideally, you would know what kinds of books he/she likes, and will try to buy something similar. 

I always recommend going for fiction, especially fantasy or thrillers, just because I feel these genres are more entertaining, but please do ask around before buying. Like Falling by T.J. Newman.

But some people only read non-fiction, for example. Then you try to go for the personal development books like The Comfort Book by Matt Haig, which sounds amazing: “it’s a collection of notes, lists, and stories written over a span of several years that originally served as gentle reminders to Haig’s future self that things are not always as dark as they may seem. Incorporating a diverse array of sources from across the world, history, science, and his own experiences, Haig offers warmth and reassurance, reminding us to slow down and appreciate the beauty and unpredictability of existence.”

Cool Mugs

This last item on the gift ideas for homebodies list is not that original, but can be very appreciated, especially if the person who likes to stay at home

1. Needs a new mug
2. Loves mugs

So here are two mug options:

1. The classic mug, like this blue ceramic set of 2 mugs

2. A funny mug, like this one:

And here we are: 9 gift ideas for homebodies aka people who like to stay at home! What was your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you.

The post Gift Ideas for Homebodies – Gift Guide for People Who Like to Stay At Home appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

I’ve been to a couple in the last few years, and recently I even organized one, alongside two other neighbors. It was a fun and interesting experience, so I thought I could share some of the things I’ve learned during it, mainly what to sell at a yard sale in order to make some money. 

Before actually selling your items, you need to have a place to sell them. I could write a whole article about how to organize a yard sale, but that’s for another time. Just make sure you have space for it, and try to organize and price the items the best you can.

Now let’s talk about what to sell at a yard sale. But first thing, first:

What is a yard sale?

According to Wikipedia, a Yard Sale (or Garage Sale) is “an informal event for the sale of used goods by private individuals, in which sellers are not required to obtain business licenses or collect sales tax (though, in some jurisdictions, a permit may be required).”

Basically, it involves you selling your things and showcasing them on tables and such, on your front lawn or green space. 

I highly recommend doing this after a house declutter or before moving out, so you can get rid of things you don’t need or want anymore. 

The 7 best things to sell at a yard sale

There are many things you can sell at a yard sale that will make you money. But the key here is to find the items that are in demand and cost more than 1$. Below you’ll find a list that ticks most of these boxes. 

But before we start, I want to emphasize the importance of selling only items in good condition. Please don’t try to sell broken items or that cannot be used/worn. They won’t sell and it’s not fair towards your potential customers. 

Now that is out of the way, here are 7 best things to sell at a yard sale:

1. Furniture 

This category has a lot of potential. 

Firstly, because you are getting rid of (usually big) pieces of furniture you don’t want anymore, so that means extra space, or less things to transport to the new place. 

Secondly, furniture, if it’s in good condition and is large and/or made of wood / leather, can sell for a lot of money, even if it’s a yard sale. You might not get the $1000 you paid for it initially, but you could get $200 or $300, again, if it’s in good condition. 

I recommend selling 

• Sofas
• Chairs
• Coffee tables
• Cabinets

2. Vintage or Unique Jewelry

Ok, so this category might NOT make you A LOT of money, but it might help declutter your or your mothers’ / grandmothers’ collection of jewelry. 

You know what they say: “A man’s trash is another man’s treasure” or something like that. 

Some people are always on the hunt for vintage and/or unique jewelry, and you can have some cool pieces on your hand that you don’t even know about. 

I encourage you to especially sell Necklaces, Rings and Earrings, I noticed they were the most appealing to yard sale customers. 

3. Sporting gear

This section surprised me: sporting gear.

People are always on the lookout for good deals on sporting goods, especially camping and fishing, and yard sales are a great place to find them. 

This is especially true, since most families go on camping or fishing trips once or twice, then the products sit unused in the garage. 

If you’re one of those families, and want to know what to sell at a yard sale, definitely consider selling your unused sporting items, like tents, fishing rods, hiking boots, bikes, scuba diving gear and so on. 

4. Tools 

Although you will probably find mostly women in yard sales, the men that do come, they are usually in the lookout for tools and/or sporting gear. 

So grab your husband / partner and rummage through the garage; decide what tools you don’t use anymore, or won’t need in the future, and then put them on the “what to sell at a yard sale” list. 

Think tool boxes, hammers, screwdrivers, even utility knives and flashlights.

5. Toys

This was a hit in my yard sale: TOYS. 

Considering how fast kids get bored of toys and games, it’s almost a job in itself to keep them entertained. So parents are always on the lookout for cheap, yet cool & usable toys for their children. 

Definitely add toys to your inventory. But always remember to NOT sell broken or non-functional toys, nobody will buy them.

You can try selling brand new toys your kids didn’t even want to touch, or duplicates they might have received at birthday parties. 

Or things they played with 1-2 times, but still look and feel new. 

Lego blocks are always needed, so you can definitely add that to the list. 

6. Clothes, especially Kids’ clothing

You can never go wrong with clothes, especially in this day and age where people are looking to spend less, and also be sustainable. Thrifted items are the way to go. 

Obviously, you can sell at a yard sale whatever you want (except underwear, I don’t recommend that, unless it’s new with tags on). But I suggest you go with:

• Coats
• T-shirts
• Sweaters & Pullovers
• Shoes
• Kids clothing

The last category was one of the most popular ones, because, as we all know, kids grow up fast, so they go through clothes at a lightning speed. So parents will always want to buy kids’ clothing. 

7. Cold drinks & Snacks

This last section of items will surprise you, but you can make a nice profit out of it. 

Consider this: don’t you get hot and thirsty when you’re walking around, especially when it’s hot outside? Most people would kill for a water bottle in that moment, so why not have it on hand? 

You can get the 24 16.9 fl oz water pack at Walmart for as little as $2.56 (current price) and then charge people something like 75 cents or $1. It’s not that much, but overall, it adds up. 

Similarly, you can sell ice pops for the kids or mini chips bags. 

And we are: the 7 best things you can sell at a yard sale. What do you think? Have you been at one? What do you recommend? Let us know in the comments!

The post 7 best things to sell at a yard sale – What to sell in order to make money appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

And guess what? They’re not that hard to organize. Well, they can be, if you really want to go the extra mile and make it perfect and Bridgerton-worthy. 

The first thing you need to decide, when you are considering hosting a tea party, is what kind of tea party you want to organize. 

Is it a simple afternoon tea, with some snacks, or do you want to do high tea? For more info, check out the difference between afternoon and high tea. I, personally, would go for the afternoon tea, so it can be a bit more informal and relaxed.

When that is decided and taken care of, you need to focus your attention to the 4 essential areas you need to manage when it comes to hosting a tea party: 

• the actual tea;
• the tea set;
• the decor;
• and the snacks. 

I’ll go through each one below, so you can have all the information (plus tips & tricks and recommendations) on how to organize the best tea party EVER!

Let’s start! Here’s how to host a tea party:

What you need for a tea party

1. Tea set – pot, cups, saucers & co 

This is actually something you NEED and without it, in my opinion, you can’t really call it a tea party. 

A TEA SET. 

You need a tea set, with cups, saucers, pots & so on. Like this Amazon 21-piece porcelain tea set.

Or this plain, simple white porcelain tea set, also from Amazon. 

They’re pretty affordable and it can be an investment piece that you will use for many years to come, and who knows, maybe even give it to your kids or grandkids. 

2. Location & Decor 

When it comes to how to host a tea party, the decor plays a big part in it. 

Why? Because it needs to put you in the mood for it, and make it feel special (and elegant / classy).

First thing, first. LOCATION.

I suggest hosting the tea party in any of the following places:

• Living room;
• Dining room;
• Garden (or any other green and/or outdoor area you have access to).

Second on the list is the DECOR, I recommend making sure you have:

• A white tablecloth. You need it to be white and simple, or maybe a white tablecloth with lace, like this one. 

• Cloth napkins.

I wouldn’t consider this a must on the list of how to host a tea party, but it does give it a nice touch. I found these white cloth napkins on Amazon, and they come in different colors, if you want to try a bolder color. 

• Cake stand.

You absolutely need a Cake Stand if you want to host a tea party. It makes the experience ten times better and it will look great in pictures. Plus, you need a cute tray for your snacks, right? This is perfect for it. Moreover, this is what the English actually use for Afternoon Tea. 

Here are two cool options from Amazon: a simple white cake stand, and a ceramic white and green cake stand. 

3. The Tea

Now here comes the most important part of knowing how to host a tea party: the tea. 

The #1 rule you HAVE to follow, and the key to having a cool tea party, is to SERVE LOOSE TEA, NOT TEABAGS. After all, you need to use the pots somehow. 

I recommend going to a local tea store and getting at least two, if not three types of tea: Black Tea, Green Tea, Fruit Tea. If you want to go crazy, try White Tea and maybe even Herbal Tea. 

Alternatively, you can order loose tea from Amazon:

• English Breakfast Tea aka Black, from Twinings

• Green Tea from Taylors from Harrogate

• Fruit Tea from Harney & Sons

4. Sweet & Savory Snacks

Last, but not least, you need snacks, both sweet and savory. 

Ideally, for an authentic afternoon tea you would also need scones. So if you want to go full out and actually serve scones, you can make them yourself- here is a recipe for Authentic British Scones. 

If you can’t make them, for any reason, I suggest going the mini sandwiches route. The most famous and used ones are Cucumber Sandwiches and Smoked Salmon.

As for the sweet snacks, you never go wrong with mini eclairs, mini fruit tarts, and small cakes. (You can definitely buy them from the store and arrange them on the cake stand, most people do it)

How to Host a Tea Party

Step 1: Invitations

After you’ve decided on a date and a location, it’s time to start inviting people. You can go about it in two ways:

• The easy way: Call, text, send an email and/or message on Messenger / Whatsapp, etc.
• The fancy way: Real invitations, printed on nice paper. If you need inspiration, I found a cool website where you can customize tea party templates and print them. Some of them look amazing, so check out greetingsisland.com.

Step 2: Plan decor, tea & snacks

You’ve settled on a date, location and you’ve sent out the invitations.

It’s time to check off the next things on your list:

• Get inspired. Pinterest and Bridgerton are your best friends. Figure out an aesthetic, the main colors and details you want and need in order to host a tea party.
• Buy the necessary tea accessories, if you don’t already have them. See the list above for what you need to host a tea party (cake stand, tea set, tablecloth, etc.)
• Research snacks ideas & plan your tea party menu. Make sure you know beforehand what tea you are going to use and what snacks you need to prepare / buy.

Step 3: Prepare location – decor & menu

It’s the day of the event aka the tea party, so you need to prepare everything. 

• Make sure the room / garden is decorated and all the tea accessories are washed and nicely displayed for the guests to use. 

• Set up the atmosphere with a cool soundtrack (upbeat classical music or even the Bridgerton soundtrack).

• Prepare beforehand (or buy and refrigerate) the snacks. 

• Have the tea ready to be made, but don’t make it until guests arrive, so it can be served hot / warm.

• Get yourself ready. Take a shower and change.

Step 4: Enjoy your tea party

You’ve gone through all of the steps of how to host a tea party and you’re reached the last one. Hooray!

It’s time to be the loveliest host: talk to everyone, make sure the tea is properly brewed, and refill cups & snacks platters, if needed. And most importantly, enjoy yourself, it’s a party for you, too.

I hope my guide on how to host a tea party helped you organize your own and provided useful tips. Let me know in the comments if you want to organize one, or have done it in the past.

P.S. Nervous to host? Here are 4 essential things to do before guests arrive! 

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you.

The post How To Host a Tea Party – Simple & Cute Details For a Fun Afternoon Tea Gathering appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

I, for one, can’t wait to go on mine. I actually have two summer vacations planned: one is just a weekend away at the seaside (we live about 2.5-3 hours next to the sea), and the second one is a longer one, a one week road trip. Counting the days!

Since I’ve always loved to travel and I had the privilege and opportunity to do so, I’ve gotten used to packing fairly quickly. By quick, I mean I’m usually done in 30 min to an hour, tops, depending on the length of the trip. 

But I always manage to forget something, or don’t even think to bring it in the first place. For example, on my last trip, I forgot to bring tweezers, and I had two strays that bugged me for 3 whole days before I caved in and brought a cheap one from the supermarket to resolve the situation. (Guess who just added tweezers to her list of summer vacation packing?)

So I’ve decided to create a packing checklist for summer vacations, based on my previous experiences. Here is how to pack for summer vacations, I hope it helps you pack better and faster, so you won’t forget anything and the whole process doesn’t stress you out:

How To Pack for Summer Vacation

CLOTHES

The key tip on how to pack for summer vacation that I can give, especially when it comes to clothes, is to plan your outfits. 

Let’s say you are gone for three days. Think of three outfits, top + bottom. 

If you want to save space, you can wear one pair of jeans for two days and the third day you’ll wear a dress. So instead of three pairs of pants and three tops, you will have one pair of pants, two tops and one dress. 4 items instead of 6. More room for souvenirs and shopping, am I right? 

Besides your daily outfits, don’t forget pajamas, socks, underwear (bras and panties). Maybe an outfit for late nights or days you stay inside, if you’re staying in, and not visiting and walking all day.  Or a car drive outfit, if you’re going on a road trip (more tips on how to prepare for road trips here).

If you’ve already reserved a meal at a fancy restaurant, maybe grab a special outfit for that night, too.

And of course, don’t forget bathing suits and cover-ups. I recommend at least 2 bathing suits, for diversity and for wetting reasons. 

SHOES & ACCESSORIES

This section of “how to pack for summer vacation” will look different according to taste, destination, comfort level, etc. You choose what you know you need and want. 

Flip Flops will be mandatory if you’re going to the pool / seaside, and so will sunglasses. 

Maybe you won’t need beach towels, so check to see if your hotel provides them. 

TOILETRIES

This is a rather important section of your luggage. You definitely need a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, even SPF, if you’re going to the beach. 

Otherwise, some things you can leave behind, if you want to pack light. For example, you might be able to skip body wash, shampoo and conditioner, if the hotel provides them. 

The rest is up to you. For example, makeup. How to pack for summer vacation when it comes to makeup? Well, you might only bring a CC cream, a concealer and a mascara. Or you might have a separate bag just for your makeup products. Your choice. (Just make sure you have room for them in your luggage)

MISCELLANEOUS 

Then we have the “Others” category. This includes electronics, chargers, entertainment, and the little things that you usually keep in your purse / carry on, like documents, lip balm, tissues, and so on. 

The two most important items of this list are, by far, the phone charger and the travel documents. Definitely don’t forget those!

And that’s it. That’s how to pack for summer vacation! The printable above should help you pack everything you need! Let me know in the comments if I missed anything!

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