As for car reviews, much of that past content is here on the blog under car reviews, and new content can be found in our new cars category.

Looking back, we’ve had the opportunity to drive so many fun cars and we hope to continue that going forward. Here are some of our favorites:

2014 Corvette Stingray

We were blown away with the new Corvette when the C7 was released several years back, and driving that beautiful beast in California ranks up there as one the most enjoyable experiences we’ve had testing new cars.

2018 Lexus LC

We recently drove the all-new Lexus LC in Hawaii, and this new coupe is the perfect addition to the Lexus lineup. It’s the ultimate luxury coupe with real performance chops.

2016 Mazda MX-5

Mazda completely redesigned its iconic roadster, and the result borders on driving perfection!

Track Day at Miller Motorsports Park

This experience was incredible, as we learned to drive Mustangs on the track and also got introduced to the 2013 Mustang Boss 302.

There’s nothing better than live communication with a woman you’re interested in. Thanks to modern technologies, the very concept of communication between men and women has changed dramatically with all kinds of easy tools like texting, video chat, etc. For many of us, this makes communicating with women that much easier. Texts and messaging ease the pressure of a phone call. It’s also simpler. You downloaded the messenger, press a few keys and everything is ready to go.

Still, there are some nuances to this type of communication that guys need to keep in mind. Check out some of the rules below for some guidance on how to communicate with her. You can also practice your skills on Eastern European girls on Yes Dates to master texting and messaging for good!

Flirt in a Messenger: The Basic Rules

Of course, these aren’t holy commandments but rather things to keep in mind. It also can depend who you are talking with.

1. Start the conversation naturally. Starting a conversation is the most difficult. At the first stage, your task is to overcome embarrassment and involve a person in a conversation. It is best to immediately find the reason for the conversation. For example, mention that you like her updated photo. If a a girl is interested in communicating with you, she will be happy to continue the conversation, but do not use very overly suggestive language.

2. Do not get carried away with greetings. Get past the greeting quickly and start a real conversation. If you feel that the conversation had a good start, go to the standard questions about work, study and everyday things.

3. Avoid monosyllabic answers. We mean those that can only be answered with “yes” or “no.” Construct the phrase differently. For example: “I saw you reposted this link. This is really an interesting topic. What attracted you to it?” Otherwise, you risk receiving the same monosyllabic answers. She’ll quickly get bored.

4. Do not complain about your problems. Do not tell a new friend about all your life’s troubles and difficulties – it will turn her off. On the contrary, show her that you are an interesting and energetic person. People do not like to listen to other people’s misfortunes because everyone has enough of them. You communicate in order to be distracted from everyday life and get pleasant emotions.

5. More joking. Nobody expects an incredible stand-up routine from you, but a little humor goes a long way. If you had a bad day, the best thing is to talk about it in a joking tone. That said, stay away from vulgar jokes. Remember that on the other side of the screen is someone you do not know. You can easily offend her with an inappropriate joke, and then, communication will cease before it ever really begins.

6. Use stickers. After you overcome the embarrassment, you can integrate stickers and emoticons into the conversation – this will give the conversation liveliness and variety. The main thing is not to overdo it. Almost all modern messengers have such a variety of stickers that you can express almost every emotion.

7. Finish the conversation first. Nothing is more intriguing than an unexpectedly interrupted conversation. Do this politely and she’ll be left wanting for more. You will achieve two goals at once: avoid embarrassment if the conversation slowly fades away and create some intrigue.

Final Note

Flirting by correspondence should be treated as a fun exercise, but be aware that it won’t always work. In this case, just gently curtail the conversation; if a person does not want to talk to you, do not impose yourself. In any case, there is always a chance that she was in a bad mood or just tired. You can always try again when you have something interesting or fun to say.

Tony Dorsett

The first of the Cowboys Hall of Famers on this list, Dorsett joined the Cowboys in 1977 and proved himself right from the start. Over the course of an exemplary career, Dorsett was selected for four Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams. He also won the 1977 Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and helped the Cowboys win Super Bowl XII.

Randy White

During the 14 years he played for the Cowboys, Randy White was a defensive force to be reckoned with despite initially joining the team as a linebacker. Two seasons in, he made the switch and developed into the hall of famer fans remember him as today. The “Manster,” as he was known, earned nine Pro Bowl and nine All-Pro selections, and along with Tony Dorsett, he was part of the team that won Super Bowl XII, with White earning co-Super Bowl MVP.

Roger Staubach

Roger ‘The Dodger’ Staubach is widely regarded as the greatest Cowboys player of all time, an honor that he has more than earned. Known for his unconventional playing style and leading the Cowboys to many comeback victories, Staubach was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985. He led the Cowboys to victory in two Super Bowl tournaments and five NFC championships.

Emmitt Smith

Emmitt Smith, the 2010 hall of fame inductee, boasts some of the most impressive statistics in all of NFL history, including the record for all-time rushing yardage, having run for 17,162 yards. His other accomplishments include 153 touchdowns, being selected for five All-Pro teams and eight Pro Bowls. He also played in three Super Bowls with the Cowboys and received honors for Super Bowl XXVIII.

Mel Renfro

In college, Mel Renfro was well known for his offensive talents. Tom Landry, the Cowboys coach at the time, made the bold decision to switch him to a defensive position where he made his mark on Cowboys history. He helped the Cowboys win two Super Bowl titles and entered the Hall of Fame in 1996.

These five players are by no means the only legends to have graced the Cowboys line-up over the years, and every season, new talent is being added to the team. You never know when the next Roger Staubach or Mel Renfro is going to begin their career. This season is no exception, so check the Dallas Cowboys schedule and make sure you’re watching those big name games when new players really have a chance to shine.

“Fist Fight”

Comedy works best when it’s grounded in real situations, but nothing about “Fist Fight” feels even remotely realistic, starting with its titular premise. Most of the teachers in this film wouldn’t pass a background check, let alone display the competence to run a classroom, while Ice Cube’s hot-headed teacher would have been fired long before swinging an axe into a student’s desk. (Side note: If he was already feared among everyone in the school, what kid would think that provoking him was a good idea?) Unfortunately, co-writers Van Robichaux and Evan Susser have put so little thought into the screenplay that the movie is filled with these kinds of questions. That might have been excusable if “Fist Fight” was actually funny, but not even Charlie Day’s manic energy can save this film.

Extras include a brief featurette on location shooting in Georgia and some deleted scenes. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP

“Collide”

Though it features some pretty big names, this generic action thriller from director Eran Creevy is just as disappointing as his last movie, “Welcome to the Punch.” Nicholas Hoult still hasn’t convinced me that he’s leading man material (and the screenplay doesn’t help his cause here), while Felicity Jones is wasted as the damsel in distress. Not even the high-speed car chases are very good, although in keeping with the title, Hoult’s character does crash into a shit ton of stuff, including a major set piece on the Autobahn where he does about 20 barrel rolls and walks away with barely a scratch. If there’s any entertainment value to be found in “Collide,” it’s watching screen veterans like Anthony Hopkins and Ben Kingsley compete to see who can chew more scenery as the film’s cartoonish gangsters. Spoiler alert: Kingsley wins.

Sadly, no extras have been included on the Blu-ray release. FINAL VERDICT: SKIP

Car speakers are an essential component of automotive audio systems that, when paired with other features, enhance sound quality.

Adding high-quality speakers to your vehicle can be a great way to make your daily commute infinitely more enjoyable. The problem with traditional speaker systems is that they don’t offer too much in regards to real sound quality. That can leave your music sounding hollow, and most factory speakers aren’t capable of picking up on the entire range of a given sound, which means you may be missing out on your favorite parts. For that reason, installing new car speakers can be essential, and finding the right type is key to ensuring that you get excellent sound quality.

One of the first things to consider is that your speakers are capable of handling the audio demands of your music. In most cases, car stereo speakers only feature two channels of sound. That means they can only encompass low and high sounds, so a lot of the middle range sounds get completely left out or are almost unnoticeable. That means you’ll want to consider speakers that have three to four channel sound so that you can account for all the mid-range noise, as well as the sounds of different frequencies.

Also, you’ll want to consider the extra items that can help enhance your car stereo speakers. This means you should think about getting a subwoofer and an amplifier. A subwoofer is the ideal way to experience bass and will give you that great punch of sound that you are really striving to achieve. An amplifier is capable of providing you with more power so that you can actually get your system to work properly. The problem with high-quality speakers is that they require more power than your vehicle is able to supply. An amplifier changes this so that you can maximize your power and provide your system with exactly what it needs to run at optimum quality.

Finally, you can’t underestimate the importance of having a car stereo speakers brand that you can trust. Buying from top brands is essential so that you can guarantee the quality of your sound before the speakers are even installed. That means going with popular brands like Polk Audio, Pyle or JL Audio. hese names are widely known for a reason, and they will be worth your trust as you’re guaranteed to love the sounds coming from your speakers. All you have to do is find the best speakers for your car, based on design and personal taste.

You can usually find what you need from the local auto store. The advantage is that you can buy them and have your speakers professionally installed. However, you can also buy your speakers online, which can be a great way to research what you need and save money. Read more info on car audio systems at Car Audio HQ.

A delicious variation on The Last Word, the Prosecutor was named by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, who played no small part in introducing me to the cocktailian world during the waning days of her “Air America” radio show. The drink itself was, as per the absurdly prolific Frederic Yarm, concocted by Boston bartender Josey Packard.

What’s in a name? I haven’t a clue, but the Prosecutor is really quite delicious. Refreshing, well-balanced, super boozy and sweeter than you might expect, it’s not a bad way to welcome the summer this Memorial Day weekend.

The Prosecutor

1 1/2 ounces rye whiskey
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce Yellow Chartreuse
1/2 ounce elderflower liqueur

Put everything in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Shake as vigorously as you think necessary to bring sense into an apparently brain dead 40% segment of the populace, and strain into a well chilled rocks glass. Sip and appreciate the fact that justice may actually be done…eventually. Partially. Maybe.

****

Except for one round with the last of the tasty, no-name, artisanal elderflower liqueur I used last week, all of my stabs at the Prosecutor contained St. Germain, which is an absurdly delicious product in any case; for me, it brings back childhood memories of illicitly licking up honeysuckle nectar. My ryes included the last of my Hochstadter’s, as well as Woodford, Rebel Yell Small Batch and Canadian Club 100% rye. The first and last were probably the sharpest, sturdiest attempts at the Prosecutor; the others were slightly more on the mellow side, but all were really pretty delightful.

I think the secret to this one is the way the Yellow Chartreuse — which is sweeter and, at 80 proof, a mellower brew than its green sister beverage — and the St. Germain blend to overpower the lemon juice but not the whiskey. Also, I think serving this in a smallish rocks glass, as opposed to the more typical cocktail glass, is an intriguing final touch. Somehow, it just makes the drink seem more judicious. And, no, I really don’t know what I mean by that.

Coming soon: I promise to be developing my own augmented take on the Prosecutor. Any guesses as to the name?

One of the best things about switching to vaping from smoking is the huge amount of e-liquid flavors that you can choose from. It’s likely that your e-cigarette or vaporizer kit already came with a number of e-juices included, however, many new vapers like to get out there and see what else is available when it comes to different tastes and flavors. But with so many different flavors, flavor combinations and other factors to consider when it comes to selecting the perfect e-liquid for you, it can quickly become a rather tricky decision to make.

Many people don’t want to risk purchasing an e-liquid that they are unfamiliar with, as they don’t want to spend money on something that might not be used. However, when it comes to picking out your first e-liquid, chances are that you won’t have tried many of them before. So, we’ve put together some top tips to help you select an e-liquid that you’ll love vaping with.

Tip #1. Try Before You Buy

If the option is available, trying an e-liquid before you buy it is definitely the best idea. If you’re purchasing online, then this may be a little tricky, but most high street vape shops will offer samples for customers to taste before deciding which one to go for. Many new vapers will buy their first e-liquids from a high street store so that they can get a better idea of the flavors that suit them best; after this, you can simply find the ejuice that you like online to get a better deal.

Tip #2. Stick to Flavors You Like

When it comes to choosing an ejuice, it’s a good idea to narrow your search down by sticking to flavors that you know you already like. For example, if you usually hate anything with blueberries in it, then you’re probably not going to enjoy a blueberry-flavored e-liquid, either! Thankfully, since everybody’s tastes and preferences are so diverse, ejuice manufacturers offer a broad range of flavors that cater to everyone.

Tip #3. Play It Safe with Tobacco

If you have just taken up vaping in a bid to quit cigarettes, then it may take you a while to fully get used to vaping with various flavors rather than the taste of traditional tobacco. But here’s the good news: E-liquids come in a variety of tobacco flavors, so you can still feel like you’re smoking a cigarette without all the nasty added chemicals such as carbon monoxide and tar.

Tip #4. Stick to Good Quality Brands

When it comes to choosing an e-liquid for your vape, it’s not just the flavor that you will need to think about – the brand that you choose can also have a huge impact on how much you enjoy your vape. Remember that not all e-liquids are created equally, and just like in most industries, you really do get what you pay for when it comes to purchasing vaping accessories. Bear in mind that cheap e-juice is much less likely to provide the highly satisfying experience that you want from your vape.

Tip #5. Read Online Reviews

When choosing an e-juice for your new vape kit, the best place to look for information is online. Today, there’s a huge community of vapers online, and you can find blogs, YouTube channels, reviews and more, all providing in-depth information, detailed experiences and advice to help new vapers make the most of their kit. Before you decide whether to purchase any particular e-liquid, a quick Google search for it is a great idea; this will likely bring up information that can help you make a more informed choice.

Tip #6. How Much Nicotine?

Another main factor that you’ll need to take into consideration when you buy an e-liquid is how much nicotine you will need. For those who have just switched over from cigarettes to vaping as a method of helping to quit, it’s likely that a high level of nicotine will be needed. Once you have gotten used to vaping with your higher concentration of nicotine in your e-juice, you can gradually start to reduce it until you are vaping with little to no nicotine at all. You may be tempted to start off vaping with only a small amount of nicotine, but bear in mind that if your body is used to a lot more, then you might find it harder to quit.

Tip #7. Throat Hit

For many new vapers, the quality of the throat hit that they will get when inhaling is an important factor to consider when choosing a new e-juice. If you have just quit cigarettes and are using vaping as an alternative, then this is probably also an important factor for you too, since you’ll want the experience to be as similar to smoking as possible so that it’s easier for you to make the switch.

In general, for a better throat hit, you should choose an e-liquid made with a higher concentration of propylene glycol rather than vegetable glycerin. An 80/20 mix of the two is usually the best type of e-liquids for a good throat hit.

Tip #8. Vapor Clouds

On the other hand, if you’re not really bothered about getting a good throat hit but would like to create big, billowing vapor clouds, then you should opt for an e-liquid with a higher concentration of vegetable glycerin, which results in greater amounts of vapor. However, bear in mind that liquids made with mainly, or 100%, vegetable glycerin are often thicker and therefore more prone to burning in certain types of e-cigarettes and vapes. If you are using the standard ‘pen’ starter kit, for example, then a pure VG e-juice may not be the best idea, as it’s unlikely to work in the type of tank that these kits use.

Tip #9. Mixing

Another great way to find a flavor of e-liquid that works perfectly for you is to simply mix different flavors together. As long as you try to stick to e-liquids from the same brand, or at least liquids made with the same percentages of PG and VG, then you should have no issues with mixing different tastes together to come up with something unique. For example, if you are used to smoking menthol cigarettes and have recently made the switch to vaping in order to help you quit, then you could get great results from mixing together both menthol and tobacco flavored e-juices to get a taste that’s exactly like the one you’re used to.

Tip #10. Don’t Stick to the Same Flavor

From as soon as possible when you begin vaping, it’s a good idea to find several flavors that you enjoy so that you can switch between them. This will enable you to enjoy your vape more. Vapers who stick to the same flavor of e-juice for a long time can often end up with a condition known as ‘vaper’s tongue,’ where you become so accustomed to your e-liquid flavor that it becomes difficult to properly taste it over time. Each time you need to replenish your e-juice, it’s a good idea to try out a new flavor or brand to avoid this from happening!

Tip #11. Bulk Buying

Some vape stores offer better value for money, and you may even be able to bag a discount if you buy your e-liquid in bulk. Once you’ve found a few flavors that you’re sure you like, stocking up on them can be a smart move. Not only will this mean that you can make savings by bulk-buying, but you’ll also have the peace of mind that your supply will last a while, which can be essential for many vapers, especially those who are vaping in order to quit cigarettes. If you plan to gradually reduce your nicotine amount over time, then you might want to bulk-buy e-juice in varying nicotine strengths to help you get started with this.

Tip #12. Safety First

Last, but certainly not least, when purchasing a new e-liquid or buying e-liquids for the first time, safety should be one of your main concerns. As e-cigarettes and vaping have significantly increased in popularity, different brands of e-juice have begun to pop up everywhere, giving us plenty of choice when it comes to flavors, ingredients and quality. But be careful, because while most good e-juice brands are heavily regulated in order to ensure that they are safe, some are not.

Before you purchase any e-liquid, it’s a good idea to do as much research as possible to find out some key facts about it, such as where it was manufactured and whether it is approved by the FDA and other relevant regulating bodies. Additionally, any e-liquid that you buy should also ideally be child-proof so that it’s difficult for little ones to accidentally open them. Bear in mind that all vapes and vape accessories should be stored in a safe place out of the reach of children or pets.

Did these tips help? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” fails to get the 14-year-old series back on track. While it is an improvement over the previous sequel, “On Stranger Tides,” directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg succumb to many of the same problems found in that film. For starters, the character of Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is no longer the charming antihero he once was – straddling the line between good and evil – but rather a drunken pirate who wanders aimlessly through set pieces.

Unlike Gore Verbinski’s massive sequels, the action sequences aren’t enough to cut it here. They’re surprisingly infrequent over the course of Sparrow’s search for the legendary Trident of Poseidon. Although screenwriter Jeff Nathanson attempts to return the franchise to the simplicity of the first movie, it lacks the same energy, and that’s a problem that begins and ends with Jack Sparrow, a character who had something driving him in the 2003 original. He used to have a personal motivation and real conflicts, but now he just drinks a lot, keeps making the same old jokes and finds his way out of sticky situations just as you’d expect him to. He’s lost his unpredictability.

This time he’s on the run from Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem), a performance and visual effect that’s never quite convincing. In his younger years, Jack Sparrow helped turn the pirate killer and his crew into ghosts, and now that Salazar has escaped the Devil’s Triangle where he was imprisoned, he goes hunting for the man who not only damned him but is the only one who can save him. Nobody knows where Sparrow is, including Will Turner’s son Henry (Brenton Thwaites) and an astronomer accused of witchcraft named Carina (Kaya Scodelario). Sadly, Henry and Carina aren’t particularly lively additions to the cast, as they pale in comparison to the colorful supporting characters this series once featured, such as Captain Barbosa (Geoffrey Rush). Sparrow’s old foe is still present and has a strong payoff here, but it’s not enough to bring much heart and soul to the movie.

In the original trilogy, Jack Sparrow had a proper arc where he actually evolved as a character, but he’s lost that magic in the years (and films) since. When Depp first appeared as the infamous pirate, there was a real magnetism about him that kept your focus on Sparrow. Now, it feels like there’s no other place for the character to go. In “Dead Men Tell No Tales,” even Sparrow’s sense of humor is on the decline. The jokes, especially the ones between Depp and Thwaites, are rough. There’s no chemistry among any of the characters, except maybe for Sparrow’s crew. The great Stephen Graham, thankfully, gets a moment or two to shine, including some of the film’s biggest laughs.

As talented as Javier Bardem is, however, he’s undermined by the character’s visual effect. It’s impossible to look past and is a distraction every time Salazar appears. His motivation and personality are completely masked by the character’s design, which feels like a less appealing redux of what we saw in “Curse of the Black Pearl” with the moonlight skeletons.

The first movie’s sense of adventure and wonder is long gone in this latest installment, which moves with little momentum and urgency. Despite being almost 40 minutes shorter than “At World’s End,” it feels twice as long. Even the action doesn’t help to pick up the pace, as it lacks the grandness and imagination found in the original trilogy. All things considered, “Dead Men Tell No Tales” is an all-around underwhelming experience.

2 / 5 Stars
Starring: Johnny Depp, Javier Bardem, Brenton Thwaites, Kaya Scodelario, Geoffrey Rush, Golshifteh Farahani, David Wenham, Stephen Graham
Director: Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg

In places like the UK, gone are the days of trekking to bookie shops to place a bet on your favorite teams. Today, you can simply navigate to any of the latest betting sites or use your favorite betting app to place a bet from the comfort and safety of home, office or even while commuting. (Will we ever get this in the US?) Still, with so many possibilities to choose from, where can you begin? Here’s a list of some online bookmakers that Brits can enjoy:

Betway

The Betway platform is set up for sports lovers, boasting over 40 different sports and markets. You can find anything from Rugby to Finnish baseball in one convenient spot. Along with its stellar desktop platform, Betway provides the opportunity to bet on the go with its exclusive Betway mobile app, which has plenty of cool offers.

Ladbrokes

Another popular online betting destination to visit is Ladbrokes. Not only does this site cover sports betting, but it also has top-rated casino, bingo and poker platforms for those interested in some variety. Ladbrokes is a brand that has been around since the 19th century. The betting site also offers an app that can be downloaded for an engaging mobile experience.

Coral

Coral is another site that caters to sports betting as well as casino and slot gaming. Moreover, you can also navigate to lotto-focused play as a great pastime in between betting. Coral has a variety of apps, each catering to a specific niche like live casino, poker or sports betting. This allows you to place a bet anywhere and provides easy access to the game of your choice.

Grosvenor

Grosvenor is an online bookmaker that offers variety and diversity, from sports to casino betting, providing great support and a variety of payment methods.

Bet365

As one of the world’s leading betting sites, Bet365 has a diverse range of sports, casino games and other betting options. Bet365 has an app that can be installed on any mobile device to allow you to join in the games wherever you are. Like most other sites, it has enticing welcome offers to new players.

William Hill

To make things more convenient for players, the online bookmaker extends its desktop site via an app that can run on most smartphones and mobile devices. With mobile betting in place, it allows you to wager anywhere you go. In addition to this, William Hill has a variety of sports, as well as access to its casino products, providing a great range of games and sports betting markets. Whatever your game or interest, it goes without saying that the online bookie may have what you’re searching for.

If this is the year that you’ve been asked to have your friends over to your condo for the upcoming summer holidays, don’t wait until the last minute scrambling for festive and hip home decor. The main goal is to impress your guests, and even your date, but not go overboard. Here are just a few ways that you can add some classy looks and homey touches to your place before the guests arrive.

Patriotic Parties

With grilling season just around the corner, upcoming holiday parties for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July are often moved outdoors. From ice cold beers to jello shots, warm weather allows you to entertain all of your guests, especially the ladies, out on your patio or balcony. Patriotic holidays are the best time to display your love for patriotic decor. This includes:

• Red, white and blue ribbon or burlap wreaths
• Outdoor flag pillows for the swing or porch chairs
• Colorful striped garden flags to accent your walkway or patio area
• Red, white and blue plates and matching napkins and placemats
• Patio lights to accent Americana decor

However, don’t forget about the indoors, especially the bathroom. When your partygoers step inside, follow up the festive theme with some American flag bathroom decor to sync with upcoming fireworks shows or an evening bonfire. And don’t throw away all of your patriotic-themed home accents after Memorial Day. Some items, such as the flag-inspired decorating pieces, can stay up for the Fourth of July, and in some cases, year-round.

Cover Up the Scuffs

Did you just get the call from your mom that you will be the one hosting your younger brother’s graduation dinner for the entire family? Try not to stress out about putting on an impressive dinner for everyone. Keep it simple. Cover up the scratches on your entryway table with a simple and cheap tablecloth or pastel sheet. Set up simple snacks, including dips and veggie trays that everyone will enjoy snacking on. Move your furniture to cover up dings in the wall and stains on the floor. Impress your favorite aunt and maybe even introduce everyone to that new girl you’ve been seeing.

If you’re on a roll, why stop with summer? A man can host a party or family get-together any time of year! Here are some tips for Christmas and New Year’s:

Lighten Up

If you’re planning on having your new girlfriend over for a cozy Christmas Eve nightcap, don’t leave out the traditional holiday accents. One of the biggest ways to quickly accent your home with holiday spirit is to let there be light! If you don’t have the time or money to put up a last-minute Christmas tree, just reach for the lights. Subtle, twinkling holiday lights not only put ladies in the mood for cookies with Santa, but they offer a great way to add a festive ambiance to any room in your home. Add some colorful candles, as well as the perfect gift, and your Christmas wonderland is a romantic and cozy space for you and your date in front of the fireplace.

De-Stink the Place

Ringing in the new year is the right time for your favorite party treats and the best champagne! A New Year’s Eve party at your place is likely a happening thing, especially if your home is set up as the ultimate bachelor pad. You have the man cave and the big screen TV, but your dogs and poker night smoke-outs have your home smelling a little stale and foul. Brighten up not only the appearance of your space but the aroma in your home with a few quick refreshing tips:

• Place some fabric softener sheets in between the couch and chair cushions.
• Purchase a masculine tart warmer and accent wax tarts to fill the room with a vibrant festive smell.
• Simmer homemade potpourri on your stove.
• Bake some cookies just before guests arrive.
• Add some attractive scented candles throughout your home.
• Open windows briefly as you clean to allow fresh air to flow in.

Using multiple methods to clean and freshen up your home’s appearance will make your guests feel like getting comfortable as the 12 o’clock hour approaches.

Utilizing multiple methods to decorate for last-minute holiday parties or a get-together a year in advance will help make your gathering one to remember!