Archives for April 2019

3 Tips For Making It Through A Messy Divorce

While no one ever really wants to go through the process of getting divorced, some couples are able to navigate these waters amicably and dissolve their marriage with relative ease. However, many couples find that their divorce is the hardest and most stressful part of their lives. While your spouse might have worked with you during your marriage to be agreeable, many people find that, once the pretense of marriage is over, trying to figure things out to get the divorce over with can be extremely challenging.

So to help ensure that you’re able to come out the other side without too many battle scars, here are three tips for making it through a messy divorce.

Learn To Let Go Of Certain Things

During a divorce, there are likely going to be many things that you and your spouse have to figure out together. Especially if you have children together, custody issues and child support configurations can make both parties feel stressed.

So to keep your stress at a tolerable level during this time, Cathy Meyer, a contributor to LiveAbout.com, advises that you learn to let go of certain things that simply aren’t in your control anymore. Where there are things you take issue with that you do have some control over, feel free to fight for what you want or think is best. But when something comes up that isn’t in your purview anymore, try to learn to let go.

Create A Plan For When You Disagree

When you and your spouse are trying to figure everything out with your divorce, and even after your divorce is final but your lives are still connected in some way, there will likely be times when you’ll continue to disagree about things. To keep from having these disagreements completely destroy you, Pamela Cytrynbaum, a contributor to Psychology Today, recommends that you create a plan for how you two will handle things when you disagree. Whether you’ll meet with a mediator or go through some other process, try to create a plan that you’ll both agree to follow in the future.

Start Seeing A Counselor

Going through a divorce will likely be one of the most stressful times of your life. It will take up so much of your mental and emotional energy and take over your life for quite some time. To help you work through all that’s happened and still is happening, Marriage.com recommends that you start seeing a counselor. By having someone to talk to and help you learn how to cope with, you’ll be able to come to terms with what happened and find ways to be better because of it.

If you’re going through a messy divorce, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you survive this time in your life and learn to thrive after it’s all said and done.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

What To Do If You Are Wrongly Accused Of a Crime

Sometimes good people find themselves wrongfully accused of a criminal act. Although most people don’t think that it could ever happen to them, the truth is that it’s more common than you might imagine.

Despite being a law-abiding citizen, sometimes the worst can happen to unsuspecting people. The best way to defend yourself is to have a plan of action in place should something like this happen to you. It’s always best to be prepared; whether it’s for being wrongfully accused of a crime, or suffering a natural disaster. The best offense is a good defense.

Therefore, here are some of the best things that you should do if you ever find yourself being accused of a crime.

Remain Silent

You may have heard police say in plenty of movies, “You have the right to remain silent.” It’s true in real life as well. Even though you are innocent and want to cooperate with the police, they may use anything you say against you in court.

Rather than risking being wrongly accused, say as little as possible to avoid things being twisted. You have every right to refrain from speaking until you have a lawyer present.

Always Call The Police

If you fail to alert the authorities of a crime that occurs in your presence, it’s crucial that you be the first person to call 911. Statistically, the person to call the police is a victim, not a criminal, so be sure not to skip this step.

If you fail to call the police, it may look suspicious. After all, if you were innocent, why wouldn’t you have called for help right away?

Don’t Allow Police To Search Without a Warrant

Even if you know that neither you or anyone in your circle has done anything wrong, it’s vital that you do not allow police to search your things without a warrant.

Police may try to talk their way in or convince you that they have the right to search; however, this isn’t true unless they have a warrant.

Get an Experienced Criminal Lawyer

When your innocence is on the line, it’s essential that you find the best possible representation that you can find. When it comes to attorneys, you get what you pay for.

Paying for a cheap lawyer means that they’ll likely produce poor results. Even though a good lawyer may be out of your price range, there is no price tag attached to your freedom. Try to find ways to come up with how you’ll pay it however possible.

You may have to sell your belongings or ask family members for help; however, it’s better than going to prison for a crime you didn’t commit. Feel free to leave a comment or contact us here!

5 Tips For Avoiding Burnout During a Move

Moving is truly a tiring chore. Every step of the way takes just about all of your energy to make it happen. From the packing process to loading it up, cleaning out the house, and unpacking it all over again, calling it physically demanding is an understatement.

Your regular routines are interrupted, and your personal life can be strained. It’s easy to start to feel spread thin in all areas of your life. Some people lead such busy lives that a regular day is exhausting enough as it is. When you throw moving into the process, it’s no surprise that some people reach a burnout.

So how do you stay healthy and avoid burnout? Here are some of the best tips to help you survive your moving process.

Give Yourself Plenty Of Time

One of the quickest ways to exhaust yourself during a move is by doing everything last minute. If you’re planning on moving to a new city you want to especially avoid waiting until the last hour to do your planning.

Try looking for homes for sale or apartments to rent with plenty of time to spare. In most cases finding a home is almost always going to take much longer than you anticipate. The same goes for packing. Start weeks to months ahead. As a result, you’ll be able to take your time and do things gradually rather than in a panic.

Get Your Sleep

A lot of people take sleep for granted. However, sleep is a crucial part of your day to day life. You’ll need your rest not just to stay energized, but also to avoid getting sick and handling stress.

While it’s ok to work late packing and organizing for your move once in a while, it shouldn’t be a habit. Try to get as much sleep as you can at least a few times a week. Pulling all-nighters will lead to burnout in no time.

Stress and fatigue go hand in hand, the same as stress and moving do. Getting enough sleep will keep your stress levels down, and help you survive your move.

Eat Well

It’s essential that you eat plenty of healthy food during a physically demanding process. It may be convenient to grab meals that are fast and easy, but it will only drag your immune system down.

The last thing you need is a crash in energy when you’ve got a massive list of to-do’s to take care of. Reach for something nutritious and naturally derived instead.

Avoid Booze

Although you may be convinced that a glass of wine or five may be just what the doctor ordered after a long day of packing, it’s only going to make you drowsy.

Not only will you feel less energized the next day, but you’ll be much less productive. You’re best avoiding booze during times of high stress like a move.

 

Four Ideas for Your Next Bathroom Remodel

Typically, home improvements include renovating and transforming the look and feel of your bathroom. Are you planning to redesign and redecorate your bathroom? A bathroom remodel project involves upgrading your fittings, tile, lighting, and vanity. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on transforming your bathroom into a cool, relaxing space. There are several ways you can remodel and refresh your bathroom design in no time. Here are four bathroom remodel ideas to consider when renovating and redesigning your bathroom on a budget.

1. Paint the Bathroom

Repainting your bathroom is one of the most inexpensive bathroom remodeling ideas. It’s an effective way to give your bathroom a new look and make it a perfect place to have a relaxing time. While your bathroom could be the smallest room in the house, you have to paint gently and slowly around the corners, the window, the sink, the toilet, the shower, and the switchplates.

Take your time and use a painter’s tape to make sure the renovation project is executed perfectly. Moreover, you need to invest in high-quality paint with a satin finish since bathrooms are often infested with mold and mildew owing to the high presence of moisture and humidity. A special bathroom paint that contains mildewcide should be used on the ceiling to help prevent mold growth.

2. Update fixtures

Next, consider updating the little details such as light units, drawer fittings, sink faucets, and towel frames. Although these components may appear insignificant at the face value, upgrading them can make a huge difference in how your bathroom looks. You can find ways of replicating fixture update ideas if some of the items you find seem expensive. For example, you don’t have to buy towel racks at IKEA or home improvement stores when you can creatively use old plumbing to transform your bathroom into a cool, refreshing space. In other words, you can even get these items from an old house that is about to be demolished for free.

3. Redo Instead of Buying New

You can also remodel an old tub or shower by having it relined professionally. However, this approach may not work for shower fixtures and sinks as it may cost more to refinish the items than to replace them. Contractors who offer these services often charge a premium price.

On the other hand, if your vintage bathroom fixtures or old tubs are made of cast iron, fiberglass or porcelain, you can refinish them affordably. With supplies such as paint brushes, face masks, spray gun, sander, and a basic DIY refinishing kit, you can spend less than $500 to remodel your bathroom.

You can also save on countertops by investing in granite countertops with imperfections. The more visible the imperfections are on a slab of granite countertop, the cheaper the price will be. Moreover, if the imperfections are located where the sink will be, then you won’t see the imperfections anyway. The idea is to find something that you can pull off creatively and with style without too much hassle.

4. Limit your Tile

While tiles help to keep your bathroom clean and dry, you should limit the amount of tile you lay out. This can be an expensive project, especially if you hire a professional contractor for the job. To save time and money, focus on laying out the tile on high-impact areas such as floors instead of shower stall walls. You can tile one strip running horizontally along the bathroom wall and paint other areas.

Depending on how much you want to change, you can remodel your entire bathroom with a budget of between $2,000 and $20,000. You can even spend less than $2,000 if you do a DIY and get more creative when remodeling your bathroom. In other words, determining how much you can afford for your bathroom remodeling project will help you determine the extent of the changes you can make. For instance, you should consider adding simple fixtures and new paint if your budget is less than $1,000. On the other hand, larger changes such as adding a new bathroom, a bigger shower, new tiles, or windows may require a bigger budget of around $5,000 or more.

Five Appliances You Need In Your Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of your home, and having the right appliances in it is essential if you’re going to get the most out of your space. Gone are the days when housewives had to wash their clothing by hand in the sink or keep their milk on a marble shelf. Appliances are now king and no kitchen would be complete without a fridge freezer, oven, washing machine or dishwasher. While we all know that these appliances are absolutely essential for modern living, there are also lots of smaller appliances which you really should consider having in your kitchen too. Here are five of the best that you should definitely invest in.

A Food Processor

Is there any kitchen appliance more versatile than a food processor? This one handy gadget can do pretty much anything. It can dice, slice and whip, preparing sauces and dips in seconds. What could be easier? It’s also a very small appliance, so you can store it away in a cabinet with ease, or even keep it out on your countertop ready to be used at a moment’s notice.

A Slow Cooker

If you’re out at work all day, the last thing you need in your life is to get home in the evening and have to prepare a complex dinner. The good news is that if you invest in a slow cooker you won’t have to do that ever again. All you need to do is throw your ingredients into the pot, turn the gadget on before you head out of the door in the morning and you’ll return home to the smell of delicious cooking and a dinner all ready to serve. You can prepare a huge range of meals in a slow cooker too. You can cook whole joints of meat, stews, soups, chilis, curries and even desserts like cakes, custards and puddings – making this a truly multifunctional purchase.

The Kettle Tap

Don’t use a standard kettle! Instead, invest in a kettle tap. This modern kitchen appliance gives you instantly boiled water on demand so you’ll never need to wait for the kettle to boil again. They’re also a more energy-efficient alternative to using a regular kettle so you can do your bit for the planet too.

A Coffee Machine

Although you might have a French press in your kitchen cabinets, sometimes you just want a latte or cappuccino without having to go to your local coffee shop and pay a fortune. Coffee machines have a small footprint and can easily sit on your counter top without taking up too much on it. There are several different types, but a pod coffee machine is one of the best options since it allows you to make all kinds of coffee in just a couple of minutes. They’re also incredibly low maintenance and simple to use since all you’ll need to do is open a box of pods, pop one into the machine and you’ll be good to go in seconds. Pod coffee machines aren’t just for coffee lovers either! You can make regular or fruit teas, hot chocolate and chai beverages too, so there’s something for everyone!

A Water Softener

If you live in a hard water area, you might want to consider investing in a water softener. Hard water can cause a whole host of problems. Not only can it cause scale to build up on your appliances and faucets, but it can also cause your water to taste unpleasant. You may also find it hard to get a lather when using soap when you have hard water coming from your shower heads and faucets. A water softener resolves all these problems. It helps to make your water more tasty and it will also guard against that unwanted scale build up that can be so difficult to clean away. Visit this link now to find out more about how to choose the best water softener to suit your needs on the market today since there are several different types available to choose from.

These five items are absolute musts for any home. Invest in all of them and enjoy all the benefits of a newly revamped kitchen!

Create A Study Space That Is Both Calming And Comfortable

When it comes to studying, having a space that’s conducive to concentration and focus is essential. You can’t do your best work when you’re surrounded by distractions or when you have to perch on a hard dining chair! With that in mind, here are our top tips for helping you to create the perfect comfortable and calming study space that will help you to achieve the results that you need and deserve!

Choose A Spot

The first step to making a comfortable and calming study space is to choose the right spot. You’ll need to select somewhere that’s right for you and that will ensure you aren’t disturbed. It’s no good choosing a spot in a family room where children and pets are going to be running through your space every few minutes. Select a space that’s easily accessible and secluded and that you can adapt to suit your preferences.

Natural Light is Important

Whenever possible, you should choose a study space that has plenty of natural light. Try to choose a space which is near a window so you can maximize the amount of daylight you can enjoy while you work. This has been shown to help you study more effectively. If you can’t find a spot near a window, try to place a mirror to reflect the light in the space so you can add more vitality and warmth to your study area. Make sure, however, that you’re not going to be looking directly into the light while you’re working as this could hurt your eyes and prevent you from working properly. It’s often better, if you’re reading, to have your back to the light so your pages can be properly illuminated.

Setting The Tone

It’s been shown that classical music is best for concentration so get some Bluetooth speakers or install a CD player and play some Mozart! You should also think about buying some plants as houseplants not only make the room feel more serene but they also improve the quality of your indoor air. Choose a plant which is low maintenance so you won’t need to spend too much time caring for it and enjoy the peace that it brings to your study environment.

Customize Your Room

Studying should be a positive experience and customizing your space can help you to associate good things with your study time. Think about how your space can be turned into a more conducive environment. Clear up any clutter in the space and put up some family photos or artwork that you really love to keep you motivated.

A Comfortable Chair

You can’t focus on your work if you haven’t got anywhere comfortable to sit. It probably isn’t a great idea to flop down on your couch with your workbooks since you won’t be able to concentrate properly but it’s also probably a bad idea to sit at the dining table too. Finding a compromise is important. A good office chair is often a great solution. With a well padded seat and adjustable functions, you can raise and lower an office chair to suit your work surface and get the right height to ensure that you’re super cozy while you study.

A Soft Pillow

Sometimes, if you’re reading, it just isn’t practical to sit at a desk. However curling up on your sofa or bed isn’t always as comfortable as it could be. Finding the right pillow for reading can be a challenge, but if you check all details here, you’re sure to find a cozy pillow that will help you to stay comfortable while you work.

An Adjustable Desk

Sometimes, a bit of versatility is what you need when you’re working. You don’t always want to be sitting down, so an adjustable desk could be the answer. Standing desks can be raised up or down to suit your needs, so you can increase your blood flow without having to stop work! Of course they can also be lowered too, so you can get just the right height to suit the chair that you’re sitting in.

Follow these top tips and your study space will be welcoming and comfortable but won’t distract you from your work!

Four Places To Truly Unwind With Your Family This Summer

Are you looking for the ideal spot to visit with your kids this summer? Finding the right vacation destination isn’t always easy when you are traveling with the whole family. Everyone has different ideas about what makes the best kind of break and while the kids might be having a wonderful time, all too often, parents are more stressed at the end of their trip than they were at the start! Conversely, when parents choose a spot that suits their preferences, kids often get bored and we all know that bored kids lead to stressed parents!

With this in mind, it’s time to plan a vacation for this year that everyone will love and which will leave every family member feeling relaxed. Here are four places that you should go that will ensure everyone from the oldest to the youngest will be able to truly unwind and have a fantastic time.

Jamaica

The Caribbean is always a wonderful spot to visit at any time of year, whether you’re traveling as a couple, solo or with the kids. With so many all-inclusive resorts, it makes sense to go here on your vacation with the entire family since there’s something to keep everyone happy. There are often luxury spas for moms and dads to enjoy while children can attend the kids clubs and have as much activity as they can handle. There are often private beaches attached to the best resorts, and while the kids can paddle in the sea and dig in the sand, parents can recline on the sands on a comfortable lounger, sipping a cocktail and reading a good book – what could be better? In the evenings, the whole family can enjoy a leisurely meal together in a specialty restaurant and enjoy all-inclusive entertainment into the night. There are also lots of great day trips to take together. How about swimming with dolphins? Climbing a waterfall? Or riding a zipline? It’s all possible here.

Disney World, Florida

If there’s one place that everyone should take at least one family vacation in their lifetime, it’s Disney World in Florida. The key to a relaxing Disney vacation is to take it easy. Book a Disney resort and you’ll be on the doorstep of all the attractions. There’s free transportation too so you won’t need to drive. With the meal packages available, there’ll be no need to cook during your break and with entertainment on tap you’ll never have to think about what to do to keep the kids occupied. With fantastic pools, outdoor movies and plenty of free things to enjoy, once you’ve paid the cost of your vacation you’ll have a wonderful time with no additional expense.

National Park Camping

Wherever in the country you’d like to visit, a National Park camping site could be the ideal spot for your relaxing family vacation, and it won’t cost the earth either. There’s something about life under canvas which makes you really unwind and with less modern conveniences around you, you can really enjoy some quality time. Enjoy activities like horse riding, kayaking and canoeing and have campfires in the evening where you can toast some S’mores – what’s not to enjoy?

Take A Cruise

Although a cruise isn’t exactly a place to visit, it’s certainly a destination in its own right. There’s no more relaxing way to take a break with the children in tow. There are activities to keep the little ones occupied all day long and for parents there are spas, adults-only areas and plenty of bars where liquid refreshment is available to aid with relaxation! There are also lots of off-ship activities to enjoy too. You’ll have the thrill of seeing a new country every day and plenty of options for tours around historic monuments, sporting activities or sightseeing trips. Don’t forget to take a splash-proof backpack to protect your things if you’re going to be participating in any kind of water-related activities since you don’t want your precious family items to be damaged!

Any of these four ideas could be perfect for you for your next family vacation. They’ll keep you and the kids relaxed, calm and happy, ready to return to everyday life!

 

Welding Projects For Women

More women than ever before are getting into welding, and it’s about time! There’s no hobby, pastime or career for that matter which women should feel excluded from! If you’re a woman who’s keen to try her hand at welding you might need a little inspiration to get started on your first project. Here are some great ideas to help you get your new hobby off the ground.

Furniture

The first idea for a welding project that is both ideal to decorate your home or perfect to sell if you’d like to make a little extra money from your hobby. Stools, chairs and tables are all great choices, although you might want to have a little experience before you start making one of these since they are slightly more complex ideas to tackle. You can be as creative as you like, coming up with a range of designs and styles and coming up with a piece of furniture which is completely unique.

Home Décor

Everybody loves a unique piece of home décor, and welding lends itself to lots of home decoration projects. They also often make great beginner projects for anyone who is new to this hobby. If you’re looking for some good ideas for pieces to decorate your own home, to give as a gift or even to sell for money coat racks, picture frames and fireplace guards are all good places to start. As you gain more experience you can increase the complexity of these projects and add extra details.

Yard Art

Who doesn’t love a piece of yard art to make their backyard look even more beautiful? Welding represents a great way to make metal artistic designs for gardens and to fix to walls. They’re also a good project for any woman who is just starting out with welding. You can’t really go wrong with a yard art project. You can use small bits of metal such as leftovers and scraps then weld them together, which makes it a great way to use up any small pieces that would otherwise be thrown away. Animals are often a popular choice for these kinds of projects and look great in your backyard as a focal point. There’s no need to be anatomically accurate, so you can practice your skills and really be creative in creating stylized versions of your favorite animal.

Metal Brackets

If you’re looking for a really simple project for your earliest forays into welding, you can’t get an easier beginner project than metal brackets. Cheap to make, extremely simple and quick to produce so you won’t get bored part way through, metal brackets are made by simply joining some small bits of metal together. You can use metal that you have lying around in your workshop if you want to save money. These are also popular for sale, so you could make some money once you’ve honed your skills.

Getting Started

Before you can begin your first welding project you’ll need to make sure you have everything you need to get started. The very first thing you’re going to need is the right welder. A flux core welder is a good choice for different types of projects. You’re also going to need the right safety gear to be able to weld without putting yourself at risk. You’ll need a welding helmet, protective clothing, protective footwear and gloves to make sure that you’re as safe from burns as possible.

Although you can teach yourself welding, you might want to think about taking a course or getting some private lessons. It’s the best way to make sure that you are learning the right techniques and keeping yourself self while you work.

Why Try Welding?

Welding is a great hobby for any woman who loves to work with her hands. Giving you the chance to really be creative and produce something that you can show off afterwards, it’s a fun pastime that will give you years of joy as you create a host of beautiful projects. Even better, you’ll never need to worry about buying gifts for your friends and loved ones again – you can simply make them something with your own hands. Or even sell your work and make money from your hobby! What could be better?

How to Get Rid Of Mold in Your Home

Mold is a major-league nuisance that grows on damp wood, floors, walls, and ceilings. It often darkens your decks, discolors drywall, and blackens the grout lines in your shower. Almost every home can be mold-infested at some point, and for you to stay safe and healthy, you need to know how to identify and remove mold. Mold emit microscopic spores that may cause sneezing, runny noses, allergic reactions, and disgusting odors. In this piece, you’ll learn how to remove mold and get rid of odors.

Identify the Mold

You can adequately execute a mold remediation project if you know where the mold by identifying the affected surfaces. Mold is a type of fungus that grows out of tiny spores floating in the air. Mold grows on any moist surface with comfortable temperatures of between 40 and 90 degrees, meaning that every damp area in your home is a potential breeding ground for mold.

Mildew is the most common type of mold that is quite visible. This type of mold starts as tiny black spots and grows into bigger colonies. It is the black stuff you usually see in damp, shady areas, painted sidings, and grout lines in your shower.

Sometimes, it might be difficult to distinguish a mildewed surface from a dirty one. You should dab drops of household bleach on the mildewed area to test for mildew. If the area remains black after a few minutes, you probably have dirt. If it lightens, you have mildew.

While mildew won’t compromise the structure of your home, other types of mold can cause rot and eventually damage your home’s structure. You can use a sharp tool or screwdriver to remove mildew from wooden surfaces.

You can also smell high concentrations of mold in your home. Check for mold in crawlspaces, under floors, and on damp walls and carpets whenever you detect a typical musty odor. These infestations should be cleaned right away before they escalate into larger infestations.

Removing Large Infestations

Removing large infestations of mold in your home requires precautions and the right tools. With a bleach/water mold cleaner solution, you can scrub away mold from sidings and bathrooms in a matter of minutes. However, mold can also grow in hidden areas and be difficult to notice until you notice a mushy drywall, staining on your surfaces, or a musty odor. Therefore, it is important to take special precautions or hire an expert when removing mold from hidden areas when you detect musty odors or find extensive mold damage. In order to avoid contaminating the rest of the house and protect yourself while removing the mold, take the following steps:

  • Wear old shoes and clothes that you can dispose of after the cleanup work
  • Wear goggles and gloves
  • Wear special N-95 or P-100 respirators
  • Ventilate the room while working with a cheap or old box fan in a window
  • Use a mold cleaner to scrub moldy surfaces
  • Tape plywood around your window openings to prevent spores from blowing back in
  • Moisten moldy areas with a garden sprayer to control airborne spores while working
  • Contain spores by closing doors, covering ducts and turning off your furnace and air conditioner
  • Keep your wet/dry vacuum outside and dispose of the filter. Wash out the attachments including the tank.
  • Use a dehumidifier to dry the cleaned areas and check them after a few days to confirm whether you were able to get rid of odor and remove the mold.
  • Seal cleaned surfaces after they have dried out using pigmented shellac or an oil-based primer.
  • Repaint cleaned walls with ordinary latex paint that contains mildewcide to prevent future mold regrowth.
  • Wrap moldy carpeting in a plastic bag and stash mold infested debris in a garbage bag before disposing of.

The process of removing mold can be quite challenging, especially to first-timers. Since, you might be forced to replace certain surfaces entirely rather than try to clean them, it’s better to hire a professional mold removal service provider. The secret to proper mold removal is to remove the mold before they get serious and harm your health and your home’s structure.

It is possible to remove mold with ordinary home cleaning products. However, disturbing big mold infestations of black mold can be harmful to your health, especially if you have a weakened immune system or you’re allergic to mold; some mold types are highly toxic. In other words, if you don’t have the right protective gear or adequate mold removal knowledge, it is advisable to contact an experienced mold removal professional.

Ten Items You Need In Your First Kitchen

Moving into a new apartment or home? Congratulations! However, before you settle down in your new paradise, you need items to put in your first kitchen. A good idea for beginners is to get a cookware company that creates starter kits or customized kitchen toolkits. However, if you want to choose the right kitchen items separately, the process can be a bit overwhelming. Regardless of your budget and preference, there is always something you need in your kitchen. Here is a handy checklist of the ten items you need for your first kitchen:

1. Measuring Spoons and Cups

There is always a need to prepare the food items (measure the ingredients) before you start the cooking process. The prep requires a wide range of kitchen items such as measuring spoons and cups. Although the specific items you need for this first preparation step depends on your cooking experience and the type of food, these basic items will help you measure accurately.

2. Sharp knives

Sharp knives are a necessity in the preparation stage of cooking most foods. You may need different sizes and types of knives to cut or chop ingredients like onions, tomatoes, meat, etc.

3. Cutting Boards

When it comes to cutting boards, you need to pick sturdy boards, usually plastic or wood. Wooden cutting boards are porous, and thus not perfect for cutting raw meats.

4. Salad Spinner and Immersion blender

You need to invest in items such as a salad spinner, immersion blender, and a garlic press if you’re an avid cook. They often come in handy when preparing your favorite fruit or vegetable salad or when blending some fresh juice.

5. Baking sheets and cookie sheets

You may need a few baking items even if you’re not an experienced baker. Baking sheets (with sides) and cookie sheets (without sides) will come in handy for baking and cooking various food items. You can use these tools to roast vegetables, make chocolate chip cookies, roast salmon, or even bake breaded chicken. With a cookie sheet, you can easily slide off your finished cookies. If you are likely to whip up some breakfast muffins, a batch of brownies or a birthday cake in your kitchen, you may need cake pans, muffin tins, and baking pans.

6. Pots and pans

Unless you’ll only be cooking in the microwave, you need a set of pots and pans. It’s advisable to have a range of sizes including 2-quart and 1-quart saucepans, a Dutch oven, and a 10-quart or 8-quart stock pots. Make sure that you buy pots with lids. Ensure that you choose materials that are sturdy and built to last; copper, non-stick, or stainless steel are great options.

You will also need a skillet or frying pan for stir-frying rice or frying eggs. One of your frying pans should be nonstick. You will also need a casserole for making lasagna or scalloped potatoes. Consider investing in different sizes of stoneware, glass, or porcelain.

7. Tongs, spoons, and whisks

Your kitchen drawer or pitcher should have a variety of crucial utensils such as tongs, spoons, spatulas, cooking chopsticks, rubber scrapers, ladles, utensil holders, slotted spoons, wooden spoons, skimmers, and whisks. You should buy multiple sizes and materials of utensils. For example, you can purchase spatulas and wooden spoons made of different materials and of different lengths. Invest in a colander for draining pasta, picking through dried beans, and rinsing rice. You should also include a potato masher in your list of utensils for making guacamole and mashed potatoes.

8. Refrigerator and oven

If your kitchen doesn’t come fitted with major appliances such as a refrigerator or oven, you may have to make major investments. Go for quality rather than size as these are expensive kitchen appliances that should last longer.

9. Dishes and mugs

Of course, you need to invest in a set of cutlery, dishes, mugs, and drinking glasses. To make life easier, purchase a cutlery divider.

10. Smaller appliances

Appliances should be categorized as splurge kitchen items when shopping for your first kitchen. Although they are not essential, they are also necessary. Consider investing in smaller appliances such as a toaster, blender, microwave, and coffee maker.

Whether you are moving into a new house or first apartment, the kitchen will be an important part of your new life. In order to prepare delicious meals, you need these kitchen essentials. In addition, you can expand your cooking repertoire with some nice-to-have additions as long as they fit your budget.