Priority To Do List for Moving Day

Moving into a new home is an exciting time, and you’re probably daydreaming about decor and paint schemes and new furniture. But before you get into the fun stuff, there are some basics you should cover first.

Change the locks

Even if you’re promised that new locks have been installed in your home, you can never be too careful. It’s worth the money to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that no one else has the keys to your home. Changing the locks can be a DIY project, or you can call in a locksmith for a little extra money.

Steam clean the carpets

It’s good to get a fresh start with your floors before you start decorating. The previous owners may have had pets, young children, or just some plain old clumsiness. Take the time to steam clean the carpets so that your floors are free of stains and allergens. It’s pretty easy and affordable to rent a steam cleaner—your local grocery store or hardware store may have them available.

Call an exterminator

Prior to move-in, you probably haven’t spent enough time in the house to get a view of any pests that may be lurking. Call an exterminator to take care of any mice, insects, and other critters that may be hiding in your home.

Clean out the kitchen

If the previous occupants wanted to skip on some of their cleaning duties when they moved out, the kitchen is where they probably cut corners. Wipe down the inside of cabinets, clean out the refrigerator, clean the oven, and clean in the nooks and crannies underneath the appliances.

Dunedin Spotlight: Lane's Lemonade

Did you know citrus has been a part of Dunedin, Florida's history since the 1880s? This is Florida after all! In addition to its rich Scottish history, Dunedin is known for its history of oranges, orange groves, and citrus packing. In 1888, the Orange Belt Railway became the first railroad through Dunedin, and although there were passenger trains, its primary source of income was citrus shipments.

Today the former railway depot is now the Dunedin History Museum, and what was once railroad tracks is the popular Pinellas Trail. On the trail, next to the museum, is an eye-catching red boxcar, and fittingly, the boxcar is home to Lane's Lemonade.

This perfectly placed, not to be missed, juice business offers freshly squeezed lemonade, orangeade, and limeade as well as sandwiches, ice cream, and milkshakes. When walking or riding along the Pinellas Trail, Lane's Lemonade is the perfect place to stop for a break and a refreshment. My personal favorite is the vanilla-orange swirl ice cream. As you can imagine, it tastes like a Dreamsicle, and I would say it's the best tasting Dreamsicle I've ever had.

When you're in Dunedin, Florida, pay tribute to the town's citrus history and be sure to make a stop at Lane's Lemonade for a refreshing lemonade and delectable ice cream treat.

Ideas for Accent Walls

An accent wall can totally transform a room, taking it from boring and drab to bold and exciting. Accent walls create a new focal point for your space, add liveliness and contrast, and are typically a very inexpensive DIY project.

The starter accent wall

You can easily add an accent wall to your room in one afternoon by applying a new paint color. Deep blues and bright oranges are common choices for accent walls, but choose a color that will complement your existing decor and overall design aesthetic.

Interesting textures

Bright, contrasting paint is a good starting point, but there are other options for accent walls that are even more eye-catching and distinct. Floor-to-ceiling wood planks can make your home seem both rustic and modern all at once and provide a natural, outdoors-inspired feel. It’s more work than simply painting a wall, but it’s still relatively inexpensive. You can source the wood from pallets on Craigslist and stain it yourself before attaching it to your wall. It takes a little extra elbow grease, but it’s worth the effort.

Patterns, murals, and more

Paint and wood are bold enough on their own to transform a room, but they’re still pretty subtle compared to other accent wall options. A chalk paint accent wall is a creative idea for any room and makes for some fun moments when you’re entertaining. There are also endless options for wallpaper and stenciling if you want some patterns or you can get really bold with a mural or oversized art print.

Some Good News

Right now, as we are all at home following Safe at Home orders and practicing social distancing, one thing we all need is something to keep us smiling. When things don't seem to be going your way and you're surrounded by negativity, sometimes the best thing you can do is just laugh and keep swimming because this too shall pass.

Thankfully, mixed among all the negative news out there you can still find an abundance of good news to provide a needed dose of optimism. Sometimes you may need to look a little harder to find that happy news, but thankfully, some are making it easy to find it all in one place. For the last few years, one of my favorite sources for good news is Good News Network.

More recently, another favorite source for positivity comes from one of my favorite actors, John Krasinski, and his weekly Some Good News "broadcasts" on YouTube. He posts every Sunday evening and delivers about 15 minutes of uplifting news. If you haven't watched any of these yet, you can check out the first three episodes below. 

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay magical. Just keep smiling.

Episode 1: 

Episode 2:

Episode 3:

A few notes about Mortgage Forbearance

What is mortgage forbearance? With a mortgage forbearance, you and your mortgage company agree to temporarily suspend your mortgage payments for a period of time. Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act borrowers with government-backed mortgages are allowed a maximum 12 months of forbearance.

What is a government-backed loan? They are home loans owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (which make up about half of all mortgages in the U.S.); or insured by HUD, the VA, or the USDA. However, there is a difference between who owns a loan and who services your loan. The mortgage servicer is in charge of administrative aspects of a loan i.e. payments, handling escrow accounts, etc., which means your loan could be serviced by Chase Bank and owned by Fannie Mae.

How do I know who owns my loan? An easy way to find out who owns your loan is to call your mortgage servicer and ask them. They will also be able to tell you what options are available to you. You can also try to find out online who owns your loan:

Look up your loan at Fannie Mae
Look up your loan at Freddie Mac

When do I need to pay back the missed payments after forbearance? This is the most important question to ask when you are contacting your mortgage servicer about a forbearance. There are different repayment options, and it is important to understand what is being offered to you.

What are the repayment options? You will need to speak to your servicer directly to know exactly what your repayment options are. I am not a lender and cannot tell you what your repayment options would be. Commonly, with a mortgage forbearance, some of the repayment options include Lump-Sum Payment (all missed payments paid in one payment after forbearance period), Short-Term Repayment Plan (missed payments are divided and paid back over a period of time, usually about 6 months, in addition to your usual mortgage payment), or Extended Loan Modification (the missed payments get tacked on to the end of the loan). Whatever the repayment option is, please make sure it is something you will be able to do because failure to pay under the repayment plan will, unfortunately, lead to foreclosure by the bank.

What if my loan is not government-backed and is privately owned? Unfortunately, privately owned loans are not covered under the CARES Act. However, the government is encouraging lenders to work with their customers, and most are motivated to help and offer options. You will need to reach out to your lender to find out what is being offered.

This is a short, basic explanation of mortgage forbearance and the different repayment options available based upon my own personal experience and research. I am by no means an expert, and this is merely meant as some guidance and understanding. Each lender is different, and each loan is different. If you are considering forbearance, you will need to speak with your lender to know who owns your loan, to understand the options available to you, and to learn exactly what the terms of those options are.   

Wednesday Wisdom - 10 Quotes to Start Your Day

In continuation of last week's Monday Motivation post, I am sharing with you ten more of my favorite quotes. Feel free to share with your friends! As always, have a magical day!

Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life.

Every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams, or wake up and chase them.

Ignore what other people think. Most people aren't even paying attention to you. - Amy Poehler

It's a slow process, but quitting won't speed it up.

Remember that there is only one time that is important - Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. - Leo Tolstoy

Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit. - Conrad Hilton

Take chances. Take a lot of them. Because honestly, no matter where you end up and with whom, it always ends up just the way it should be. Your mistakes make you who you are. You learn and grow with each choice you make. Everything is worth it. Say how you feel, always be you, and be okay with it.

That might sound boring, but I think the boring stuff is the stuff I remember the most. - Russell, Disney Pixar's Up

The very things that held you down are going to carry you up, up, up. - Timothy, Walt Disney's Dumbo

You did not wake up today to be mediocre.

The Dirtiest Items in the Home and How to Clean Them

Of course, one of the dirtiest objects in anyone’s home is the toilet. But, that’s not the only place where dirt and germs accumulate. Here are five other dirty places and suggestions for cleaning them.

1. Bath Towels - When you and your family dry off from your shower, your bath towel absorbs the water from your body. Then it sits all day breeding bacteria that thrive in warm, moist areas. Combat this issue by changing your bath towels out every two days and washing your dirty towels in hot water to kill anything living on them.

2. Shower Curtain - Shower curtains easily pick up bacteria the same way bath towels do. They also attract germs from the toilet if they are near each other. Clean your shower curtain by spraying it down with a bleach-based product. Spray the rings and rod, too. Also, when the shower curtain is beyond cleaning, replace it.

3. Doorknobs - Entryway and bathroom doorknobs are exposed to myriad germs daily. Thankfully, doorknobs are easy to clean. Wipe them down with antibacterial wipes regularly.

4. Window/Door Tracks - Window and door tracks are harbingers of dust and dirt. The grime that builds up can make you and your family ill. You can easily clean these areas by vacuuming out large pieces of debris and then spraying the stuck-on dirt with water, letting it loosen up and wiping it with a damp cloth.

5. Toothbrush Holders - Your toothbrush holder is likely teeming with germs and bacteria. Wash it with hot soapy water twice a week. If you can, run it through the dishwasher to ensure it gets clean and sterilized.