Planning a Stay-at-Home Buck’s Party

While some guys love to go out and party in the city for their buck’s night, some prefer to stay in. There are plenty of benefits and good times to be had at an ‘at home’ buck’s night and it’s usually much cheaper than going out. Here’s the lowdown on venue, booze, food, and entertainment that will have your mates wishing you were getting married every weekend!

The Right House

First off, you’ll need to pick a good house to have your buck’s party. Will it be your own home or someone else’s? If you already live with your wife to be, perhaps you could suggest that she’d like to spend a weekend away with her friends. Make sure you tell her what you’re planning, though, and buy her some flowers or chocolates as a thank-you gift. Think about how many people you’re planning to invite over and how much space you need. A small apartment could be okay, but do you know someone who’s got a backyard? It’s also a good idea to have the party in a place where a spilt beer on the carpet won’t be a disaster.

Booze

If your mates are big drinkers, stocking up on booze will be essential for your buck’s night. If you’re trying to save on dosh, stock your kitchen full of beer (even hire a keg) and tell your mates that if they want other types of alcohol, they’ll need to bring their own. If you’re not that much into booze, consider what other things you’re mates will want to drink – fizzy drinks and energy drinks are usually the go.

Food

Food is essential, especially for later in the night if you’ll all be drinking. If you’ve got a yard or a balcony, consider organising a BBQ. If you haven’t got space for a barbie or don’t want to put in heaps of effort, a table full of chips, dips, pretzels and other ‘snack’ foods will go down well too. If you want something more substantial, consider oven-food like party pies and sausage rolls that are quick and easy to prepare. Alternatively, order pizza!

Music

Make sure you have an endless stream of music playing at your buck’s night to really pump up the party atmosphere. Remember that there are noise restrictions, though, and that your neighbours probably won’t appreciate excessively loud music all night. The last thing you want is a bunch of cops showing up at the door and ruining your fun. It might be worth arranging to send flowers to your neighbours in advance with a note explaining your planned celebration – it is polite to give them advance warning of any activity out of the ordinary and they will probably send their congratulations rather than call the police to complain!

Strippers

It’s almost standard practice these days and having a stripper at your party can be loads of fun! It is usual for the best man to organise this rather than the buck himself. If you are the best man, make sure you know whether this is something that the groom would like. If you don’t want the stripper to be the centre of the night’s entertainment, why not consider hiring some topless waitresses instead!

Other Entertainment

If the groom is not the stripper type, respect his decision and come up with some other activities like a poker night, a night of drinking games of even a game of footy or soccer in a yard or nearby park. If you’re still stuck for ideas, consider an activity elsewhere like paintball, golf or off-road driving and then head back to the house later on.

Crashing

If you’re all drinking or if you live in the sticks, it’s also a good idea to let your mates crash the night. However, if not, you can consider providing them with a hire bus or maxi taxi to take them home at the end of the night. If you live in a shared house, make sure you give them a time of when they have to be out the next day.  

Follow all of these tips and you’re bound to have a fantastic buck’s night. Your mates will wish you were getting married every other week!

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How to Secure Your Home before a Holiday

Going away on holidays? It’s always a good idea to take the necessary steps to secure your home so that you can enjoy your break, without worrying about your home. So what are the steps you should take a week before you leave and just before you walk out the door? Read on to find out.

Cover your bases

One of the first things to do is to make sure your home insurance policy and car insurance is all up to date. They’d be nothing worse than returning home only to find out something disastrous took place and you aren’t covered. Of course fingers crossed this won’t happen, but it’s always better to play it safe by making sure your insurance is all in check.

Talk to a neighbour

It’s always a good idea to let those who live around you know that you will be going away. That way, if they see people coming up to the house, they’ll be able to do something about it. An overflowing mail box is a sure sign to burglars that no one is at home. So ask your neighbour to collect your mail for you while you’re on holidays.

Making it look like there is someone at home

A great way to keep your home looking as if you’re there is to use timers on your lights. As soon as it hits dusk, have your timers activate certain lights in your home. These are easy to operate, and can be bought at most hardware stores for a reasonable price.

Make sure all electrical goods are off

Rather than just turning lamps, kitchen appliances and your TV off at the switch, why not turn them off at the power point? Televisions still use power even in standby mode so it’s worth turning them off at the power source. Things like electric blankets need to be switched off too to ensure they don’t cause a fire. Each year electric blankets cause fires across the country and as we head into winter, more and more people forget to make sure they are switched off.

Securing your car

Make sure your car is parked securely in your garage or car port before you head off. Double check that it’s locked, the lights are off and all the windows are up.

Double Check everything is secure

Give yourself five minutes or so once everyone is outside to go into each room and make sure that every window is locked and secured, and all electrical appliances are turned off at the power point. This last minute check will ensure that everything is secure, and will make sure you have complete peace of mind while you’re away.

The most important thing to remember when going on holidays is to try not to rush out the door without confirming that everything is off and secure. Give yourself enough time for a final last look, to make sure that you’ve done everything you can to keep your home as safe as possible, while you enjoy your holiday.

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How to Save Money with Home Safety Features

Having a safe home not only protects you but can also save you a lot of money in the long run. When we think of home security, we imagine the vast sums that we could spend on special security gadgets, surveillance equipment, roller blinds, alarm systems and even security patrols. But how about all the little things you can do to secure your home that do not cost a fortune.

General Door Locks

A standard door lock is not enough these days. Not only is it easy to break into a house with only a standard lock on the door, but you will also end up paying more for insurance. You should at least have a deadlock on every entry way (front and back door) for improving your insurance premium.

Be sure to check with your insurance company for ways that you can reduce your premium. It is usual practice that an insurance company (when arranging your initial cover) will ask you about your current locks. If you have changed your locks since you took out your policy be sure to let them know, as they could reduce your insurance premium.

Window Locks

While you can't stop people breaking your windows, you can stop them from being opened. A window lock is different from the ordinary latches found on a standard window. Window locks can even prevent many types of windows from being lifted out of the frame. You should check to see what kind of glass you have installed in your windows, particularly if you have old windows. Older window styles are easier for people to break into, especially the ones that lift open rather than slide.

Screens and Shutters

Apart from locks on your doors and windows, security doors and windows provide extra defence. It is better to spend a little extra on security screens and doors – the quality of the more expensive ones is much superior. Many cheap security screens and doors look great but have little strength. This means that a thief could pull your security screen off the window or bend open your security door. Some cheap models can simply be unscrewed!

Outdoor Areas

Outdoor areas are your first line of defence against robberies and there are very cheap ways that you can secure the outside of your home. The key to good security is to provide visual deterrents – any form of garden light is invaluable, especially motion sensor lighting. These are very cheap and can prevent you being robbed. It is also a good idea to have lights in important areas, such as your pool area. Pool supplies will take care of the clean water side of things, but ensuring your backyard is well lit serve to deter potential thieves.

Remember, you don't have to spend a fortune to be safe and secure in your own home.

Floor Motives

Monday is the time for the splash of yellow. Let me share here wonderful primate motives on the floor of the Schmutzer Primate Center (Jakarta, Indonesia). Great artworks on the floor. 

White and Black Stripes

 No need to look at their heads, you can easily say what type of animals that have black  stripes on white like them.

 The Weekend in Black and White

Making a Child-Friendly Home

Making sure your house is friendly to children is not just about safety. You also have to make sure they can study comfortably, have easy access to any stationery or textbooks they may need, and have their own space in the house. Here is some food for thought when it comes to creating a happy household for kids.

Safety first

A parent’s nightmare is seeing their child hurt or injured, but it can happen in the blink of an eye and at any time. That is especially true if you haven’t taken the time to ensure their surroundings are safe, regardless of their age. Smaller children will require a different approach to safety than teenagers. Latches on cupboard doors, plastic plugs protecting unused powerpoints and limiting what they can climb on is just a start.

Then there are safety issues that can be addressed that affect the whole family. This can include loose pavers, slippery floors, damaged flooring and chipped or cracked items, such as tiles and mirrors. Every home should have a RCD as well that cuts the power in the case of an electrical emergency to prevent electrocution.

Remove temptation

This is not only a safety issue but also one that ensures your children have the best environment in which to study and learn. For small children it is as simple as not leaving sharp implements or other dangers within reach of little fingers. It can also mean moving breakables out of sight or out of reach.

For older children it can get a bit trickier. While they may not be able to break anything, there are temptations that come with experimentation and even rebelling. Just as you would with smaller children, keep medicines secure and also consider putting a lock on the liquor cabinet. You child may not be looking to drink alcohol just yet, but sometimes peer group pressure can be a trigger.

Temptation also comes in the form of distraction. If a child is supposed to be studying, don’t put them in the same room as their gaming console! You can guess which one they would pick if they had a choice.

Give them space

Older children in particular need their own space. It’s not because they don’t like you, it’s just because they are growing up and are becoming more independent. If they do retreat to their bedroom, don’t barge in every 10 minutes to see if they need anything or what they are up to – it will only cause friction.

One of the best ways to give them space while also being able to keep an eye on them is to create a kids’ zone. This can be a spare room, a lounge room or even the shed. It’s a place where they can listen to music, watch television, play games or just chill out. A couple of bean bags, some toys or posters, their electronic items of choice or even a writing desk are all that’s needed. Let them pick a colour scheme or how it is set up. It will give them a place they can call their own.

Be open and honest

Without doubt the best way to create a child-friendly home is to be the best family you can. You need to make sure your children also have your support, encouragement and are there when you need them. You also need to know when to give them some space. Be involved in their activities and interests and remain positive to ensure you create the happiest household possible.

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