Mandy, Author at Serendipity Mommy

Benefits of Driving a Luxury Vehicle

March 15, 2019 by Mandy

Buying your first luxury car, whether new or used, is quite an amazing experience. It makes you feel that you have taken a step up in the world. Why is this so? Read on to find out more about owning a beautiful, luxury vehicle.

Top of The Line Technology: Having a luxury car allows drivers to fully experience automotive technology at its finest. From radio systems, GPS systems, and electronic engineering, you cannot go wrong with the technology built into a luxury vehicle.
Safety: All luxury cars, including the Lexus, have top of the line safety features to make sure that the driver is safe at all times. Any safety concerns can be researched online or at your local dealerships. Before releasing a luxury car for purchase, they are always heavily inspected and tested to make sure all safety features are running to the company’s expectations. Features added to luxury vehicles are blind spot warning, stability control, anti-lock braking systems, and side-front airbags.
Quality: Used or new, luxury vehicles give the driver better quality in their vehicle than they could ever dream of. From air-conditioned seats to in-headrest TV’s, you can never go wrong with the quality of a luxury car.
Self-Rewarding: Owning a luxury car is something that gives a driver a rewarding feeling for all the long hard hours they worked to get their vehicle. Whether they bought it brand new from a dealership or a used car business, owning a luxury car always gives a person a wonderful sense of satisfaction.

Benefits of Owning a Lexus

A Lexus is designed for accuracy and safety, making this luxury car an excellent option for anyone that needs the extra reassurance of driving safely behind the wheel. The engine inspectors for the Lexus are trained professionals that go as far as installing engine parts in front of their supervisor to ensure everyone that the car is up to Lexus professional standards and running perfectly before it is released from the dealership. After the parts are installed, the Lexus is then put through testing, including extreme environmental conditions to truly put the vehicle to test, making the Lexus one of the safest luxury cars available. Always keep in mind that if it’s the safety of a Lexus you want but you are on a budget, there is always the option of used cars Montgomery AL.

Why is Good Credit Important

When purchasing any luxury car, it is important to make sure your credit is up to standards with the dealership you are purchasing the vehicle from. When you show up with a credit score that will not impress the sellers, it will be unlikely that they will want to do business with you unless you are walking in with the amount of money it takes to buy the car outright. Purchasing a luxury car can be a process between saving and getting your credit score higher, the goal is never out of reach.

Maintaining a Luxury Car

Maintaining a luxury vehicle has never been easier for car owners as most of the maintenance work is done behind the scenes at a dealership. Most vehicle brands do not allow their cars on the road if they fall below safety standards at any given time. This helps the drivers to have full protection and be satisfied at all times. They can know that their vehicle is up to par with any and all safety regulations for the particular brand they are driving. If at any point in time you feel as if your luxury car is not running properly, contact the dealership of your particular vehicle to have it tested properly and professionally.

New Versus Used

Whether you purchase a new or used luxury vehicle, it is still under the luxury category and still comes with all the safety features and technology that your brand vehicle builds into the car. The only difference between new and used is that your used luxury car may have a few dents (easily fixable), more mileage or slight damage in other areas of the car by the previous owner. At the end of the day, if there is anything wrong with a used luxury car you purchased, it can be solved quickly by calling the company that sells and maintains your car brand.

The Most Common Fragrance Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

March 11, 2019 by Mandy

The type of fragrance you wear can transform you from the average Joe into someone who people want to be around. When we smell good, we usually feel better too, helping us feel more confident when it comes to socializing, securing a job interview or going on a date. However, there are various fragrance mistakes that many people make, so knowing what to look out for can make all the difference.

Not Created Equally

Firstly, it’s important to note that not every fragrance is created equally. There are 5 fragrance types that you should know about, helping you understand their concentration levels and how long they can last. These are Body Mist (the lowest concentration of them all, typically lasting for around an hour), Cologne (slightly higher in concentration with an average of three hours lasting power), Eau de Toilette (an 8-10% concentration level with four hours lasting power), Eau de Parfum (lasting up to six hours with 10-20% of essential oils), and Parfum (the most expensive of them all, with 16 hours lasting power).

Wide Variety of Scents

Many people believe that there only two types of scents, those that smell great and those that smell bad. However, this is not the case. Fragrances consist of top notes, middle notes, and base notes which all have a variety of layers that can make a huge difference in the aroma of the fragrance. To create various scent combinations, all a fragrance chemist needs to do is play with several notes to come up with a new scent.

Everyone is Different

What works for your friend may not work for you. If a fragrance smells great on one of your pals, it can be easy to think that you will have the same outcome. However, this is where skin chemistry comes into play, which can make a scent smell completely different person to person. The best way to check whether a fragrance smells good on you is to spray it on your skin, wait a couple of minutes and get a good sniff.

Matching Your Personality

The fragrance you wear should match the type of personality you have. If you are free-spirited and go with the flow, you may want to look into scents with notes of vanilla and citrus. For those who are a bit more mysterious, notes of exotic berries and wood may be the perfect option for you. You will be surprised to learn how fragrances can amplify how you come across.

Finding the Perfect Fragrance

You can buy original fragrances for men online at Maple Prime, helping you find your perfect scent. Maple Prime sells a variety of well-loved brands such as Lacoste, Burberry, Givenchy, and Giorgio Armani, giving you plenty of choices. What’s more, the company provides authentic fragrances to suit every kind of budget, meaning you don’t have to spend a fortune to smell great.

You will want to invest in a fragrance that suits your personality and brings out the best in you. Wearing the right fragrance can turn heads for all the right reasons, injecting a bit of confidence and a stride in your step. With so many options to pick from, it’s always best to try out a few fragrances first before picking your signature scent.

Tips To Make Your Honeymoon Road Trip Perfect

March 11, 2019 by Mandy

Are you a newlywed couple looking for a great honeymoon escape but your budget is a bit on the low side to jet away to a far flung island locale with sun, sea and sand? Never fear – road trips are here! Road trips are a great way to get away from your hometown for a while to just enjoy the open road, each other’s company as well as the ability to explore places in your own backyard you may never have thought of visiting. Here are some top tips to help make your honeymoon road trip a success!

Pack For Eventualities

Packing for every eventuality and ensuring you have a roadside emergency kit in your car will help alleviate worry and stress if something should happen and you become stranded. Things to include in such a kit are blankets, food, water, an extra mobile battery pack and a first aid kit with bandages, headache tablets, alcohol and the like. Be sure to keep some extra clothes in your car too as well as anything else you think you might need in the event of a breakdown or getting stuck in a car. Be also sure to carry an extra can of petrol to avoid the embarrassment and problem of running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere!

Check Those Tyres

Did you know that stopping times in your vehicle can vary widely, especially in wet, icy and snowy weather? Are you planning a trip to an area that gets a lot of rain or can be icy in the springtime? In icy conditions it can take up to ten times as long to come to a full stop and in wet conditions it can take up to twice as long. Check out your #StoppingDistance in this useful video Kwik Fit have developed and then be sure to get your car tyres checked, balanced and rotated if it’s been awhile before you set off.

Check Oil And Brakes

On the topic of stopping distances, getting your brakes tested is a key and integral part to making sure you stay safe on the roads. Your brakes should be tested as part of your standard MOT, but if it’s been awhile since your last one and you just want to play it safe, you can get your brakes checked at any Kwik Fit location to help put your mind at ease. While there, be sure to get your oil checked and changed too in order to ensure optimum vehicle efficiency and performance.

So if you’re heading out on a road trip this year for your honeymoon, be sure to consider these great tips and suggestions to ensure your trip goes off without a hitch.

Debunking 3 Myths About Bankruptcy Designed to Terrify You

March 1, 2019 by Mandy

Every parent who is worth their Dora the Explorer purchases knows that, sometimes, it’s necessary to bend the truth when dealing with their kids.

For example, while it would be ideal for kids to grasp that going to bed vs. staying up to watch TV is best for their health and long-term growth and development, a more pragmatic route typically involves conjuring up a monster of some sort who goes from house to house in search of kids who stay up past their bedtime. Is this lying? Yes. Does it work? Yes!

However, there are other myths that aren’t fundamentally ethical. Instead of pointing (okay, manipulating) people towards making smart choices that are best for them, these myths are designed to mislead and ultimately harm people. And in the grown-up world, there isn’t a better — or make that worse — example of this then when it comes to terrifying bankruptcy myths.

Here’s the thing: the fundamental purpose of bankruptcy law is not to punish debtors who can’t pay some, most, or maybe all of their bills. This isn’t the 1800s, and debtors’ prisons don’t exist anymore. Rather, the point of bankruptcy law is to provide debtors with legal protections so they can, eventually, restore their financial health. In other words, it’s not in society’s best interest for debtors to sink deeper and deeper in debt.

And so, if society doesn’t have it in for debtors, who or what is behind the scary bankruptcy myths that we’ll debunk in a moment? Why, creditors of course! They don’t want individuals and businesses that owe them money to file for bankruptcy, because once that happens creditors must immediately cease all communications and collection activity (e.g. lawsuits, wage garnishment, etc.).

What’s more — and far more egregiously to creditors — they must stand in line beside all other creditors and wait their turn to (in most cases) get a fraction of what they’re owed. Creditors hate that. They’d much rather intimidate and exhaust debtors into paying all or most of their overdue bill. In this respect, and quite strangely, the biggest threat for creditors doesn’t come from debtors. It comes from other creditors who also want a piece of the pie.

And so, now that you know that creditors are behind the horror story of bankruptcy, let’s look at three myths that many of them tell debtors, so they can get their money as quickly as possible and run away:

Myth: Very few people qualify for bankruptcy so you shouldn’t even bother.

Truth: Virtually anyone who passes their state’s respect means test can file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. And if they do not pass the means test (because of a relatively higher income level), they can still almost certainly file for either Chapter 13 or Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Myth: If you file for bankruptcy then you’ll lose everything.

Truth: Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 all provide for exemptions that may allow debtors to keep assets, such as their primary residence, some personal items, and registered retirement funds. For Chapter 11 and Chapter 13 filings, debtors will be able to keep their car provided that they make timely payments during the reorganization plan.

Myth: Filing for bankruptcy will permanently destroy your credit score.

Truth: Filing for bankruptcy will result in a significant credit score hit (the exact amount depends on the credit score at the time of filing — the higher the initial credit score, the larger the hit). However, it will not permanently destroy your credit score. You can apply for secured credit cards immediately after discharge, and within a few months you’ll be eligible for conventional credit cards— albeit at a pricey interest rate. Provided that you make full payment (not just the interest!), then your credit score will start to rise, and within about a year or so after discharge you can apply for a conventional credit card. After a couple of years, you can apply for a conventional mortgage, and then you’re fully back in the game. Chances are your credit score within a few years of bankruptcy will be higher than before you files, because you’ll have much better earning, spending and saving habits.

To learn more about bankruptcy facts — and just as importantly to learn more about bankruptcy myths — then check out the blog at charleshuberlaw.com. There are hundreds of easy-to-read articles on everything from how to file for bankruptcy, to how to deal with aggressive creditors, and more. Simply put, it’s the blog that creditors don’t want you to read!

Keeping Your Family Safe, Warm and Happy This Winter

February 27, 2019 by Mandy

When its cold outside, nothing is better than being indoors with the family. This is especially true when a Polar Vortex is bearing down and it’s outright dangerous to go outside. What you may not know is that sometimes even indoors can become a death trap in frigid temperatures.

Knowing what to do in cold weather can save their lives

There have been some unusually cold temperatures, some minus 37 degrees in certain regions. This has called for some city officials asking their citizens to turn down their heat to the low to mid 60’s because of a shortage of natural gas. More than two dozen people perished in the recent cold blast.

While the news is heartbreaking in all, one news report really stood out. According to The New York Times, “Four men in Illinois, Wisconsin, and two in Michigan were found frozen near their homes, and a woman was found frozen to death inside a Milwaukee apartment after the thermostat malfunctioned.”

This could have possibly had a different outcome had there been preventative maintenance on her apartment’s life-saving furnace. The furnace is one of those things many won’t even think to check unless something is amiss, it’s making noise, or they see a fluctuation in their bill. Still, a furnace, much like a car, must have a tune-up or preventative maintenance to maintain good running conditions. You don’t need it breaking down at a critical moment such as this one when roads and businesses are closed.

Know who will be open ahead of frigid temperatures and don’t wait until it’s too late to call in a professional for furnace repair or inspection.

What to do inside with your family when it’s too dangerously cold to venture outside

This is not just for your sanity, it is also for theirs. Being isolated indoors for a significant amount of time can actually do some strange things to your mind and to theirs. This is a real condition often referred to as “cabin fever.”

Keeping your family and yourself occupied can really make all the difference. Here are a few ideas that have proven successful time and time again.

Have an “indoor campfire” with the kiddos

No, I haven’t entirely lost my mind. You only take tissue paper in red and orange colors and use a flashlight to create a flames effect. Grab a few marshmallows, tell stories around the campfire!

No logs? Use brown paper bags to create the illusion of logs.

Be creative with it, do a cowboys and Indians theme, get the sleeping bags, let your imaginations take you wherever you want to go. Just don’t use real fire indoors on your camping adventure.

Get active

Grab the nearest roll of masking tape and get a hopscotch game going. This gets everyone moving around and preoccupied. Charades is another great game to get you laughing and active.

Try Twister or even sensory games to dispel some of that pent up energy. One idea that we just loved and which sounded like a ton of fun is to create a family work out video. After a while the obvious runs out. You have to get creative and have fun doing it.

Make time for some valuable lessons

Let’s face it, the isolation won’t be a 24/7 party. There will be times when even the fun isn’t much fun anymore. This is a great time to get organized, clean up, or make some home improvements while teaching some very valuable life lessons.

Accompany this with stories that your grandparents used to tell you about their childhood or your own. There is just something a little nostalgic about the stories and the values that are passed down through them.

Show them how to cook, sew or whatever your heart desires. Scrapbooking and looking at old family photos are other great ideas and they learn about their history.

Play in the snow, inside

Don’t fear to bring the outdoors indoors. If that sounds a little crazy, that’s ok, so is the weather. Use buckets and build a snowman right in your sink or bathtub. Additional snow play can be done on waterproof tablecloths on the tile flooring. Afterward would be a fantastic time to implement the above suggestion of cleaning and organizing.

You’re never too old to build a fort

Show the kids how fort building is really done. Go all out. Use boxes, bedding and even decorations. Have fun with it and get as creative as you like.

You can even camp out inside your fort afterward, make a day and a night of it! You can even use a tent. This is an activity only as limited as your imagination.

Hey Alexa, play some music

It’s time for a dance off. This will get the blood pumping and laughter in the air. It’s also great for burning calories and pent up energy. You can even introduce the kids to some of your music back in the day and show them how to really boogie down! You can put on plays, shows and even go all out dressing up with the crazy hair and makeup. When it comes time to wash it all off, make a spa day out of it.

Make time for the gamer

Dare to challenge the gamer in the house to a gaming marathon. The younger ones can enjoy some learning games on the smaller devices while you show the older ones a thing or two about what you know. Board games are also a fun idea.

Make time for your spouse

After the kids are in bed, get all dressed up, have a romantic candlelight dinner with good music and talk about the things that you normally don’t have time for after work. Finding time to spend together when everything is hectic can be tough. Take advantage of the downtime. Cuddle on the couch and watch a movie, or make out in front of the fireplace. Whatever your heart desires, just make time for one another.

There you have it. With a lot of love, a little effort, and some wild imagination, being inside with your family can get you through this intense Polar Vortex. This time can be turned into priceless memories and irreplaceable bonding moments that you will all be thankful for.