Four Home-Improvement Tips to Add Value to Your Property

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If you’re thinking of selling your home, you may get a higher price for it if you invest a little money in home improvements before putting the property on the market.

 While it may sound strange to invest time and money on a home you’re trying to get rid of, a few changes and updates to your property could give you decent bang for your buck in terms of resale value. These simple renovation ideas could help you add value to your property without breaking the bank.

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Get Repairs Done

 While you may be tempted to start on bigger projects such as a bathroom remodel or loft conversion, don’t forget the basic structural and cosmetic repairs that will add significant value to your property. Getting those repairs taken care of might seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be amazed how many people rush to do order new living room curtains before repairing that leak in the second-floor bathroom. Not a great sign when the real estate agent brings your potential buyers through for a showing!

 Install Central Heating

Installing a new central heating system—or updating your old one—is a sure-fire way to boost the value of your house. Older houses are charming in many ways, but chilly hallways is not one of them. Even some more modern houses have out-dated heating systems that do not heat the home efficiently or cost-effectively. An extra plus that comes with updating the central heating is that even if you don’t sell your house immediately, you will save extra money on energy bills while you’re still living in your home. A new—and more importantly, energy-efficient—central heating system is a powerful selling-point, as buyers usually take future costs into account, in addition to the listing price.

 Furniture

 Of course, the furniture in your home has no bearing on its value on the property market. However, one of the most effective ways to increase your chances of finding a buyer, and the price you get for your home, is by displaying your home to its full advantage with the use of tasteful, stylish furniture. Of course, it’s not worth your while completely redecorating your home in order to sell. Even if your furniture is already tasteful and stylish, it may be a little too personal, which can alienate buyers. Consider Home Staging. Modern, tasteful furniture arranged to professional interior design standards lets your home’s true potential shine by showing potential buyers how amazing the house can look.

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Garden

 Your garden is not technically part of your house, but it will make a strong impression on a potential buyer. Not only is your garden a testament to the care you have put into the property, letting the buyer know that the property has been looked after, but giving your garden a fresh look helps the buyer to imagine the type of lifestyle that is possible if they buy your house. If you’re a keen gardener, you can do the landscaping yourself, or hire a professional to take your garden to the next level.

 Whether you’re putting your home on the market now, or you’re thinking of selling in the near future, these home improvement tips will help you fetch a higher price for your house.

Four Home-Improvement Tips to Add Value to Your Property

This Post May Contain Affiliate Links

If you’re thinking of selling your home, you may get a higher price for it if you invest a little money in home improvements before putting the property on the market.

 While it may sound strange to invest time and money on a home you’re trying to get rid of, a few changes and updates to your property could give you decent bang for your buck in terms of resale value. These simple renovation ideas could help you add value to your property without breaking the bank.

Image Source: Pexels CC0 Licence

Get Repairs Done

 While you may be tempted to start on bigger projects such as a bathroom remodel or loft conversion, don’t forget the basic structural and cosmetic repairs that will add significant value to your property. Getting those repairs taken care of might seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be amazed how many people rush to do order new living room curtains before repairing that leak in the second-floor bathroom. Not a great sign when the real estate agent brings your potential buyers through for a showing!

 Install Central Heating

 Installing a new central heating system—or updating your old one—is a sure-fire way to boost the value of your house. Older houses are charming in many ways, but chilly hallways is not one of them. Even some more modern houses have out-dated heating systems that do not heat the home efficiently or cost-effectively. An extra plus that comes with updating the central heating is that even if you don’t sell your house immediately, you will save extra money on energy bills while you’re still living in your home. A new—and more importantly, energy-efficient—central heating system is a powerful selling-point, as buyers usually take future costs into account, in addition to the listing price.

 Furniture

 Of course, the furniture in your home has no bearing on its value on the property market. However, one of the most effective ways to increase your chances of finding a buyer, and the price you get for your home, is by displaying your home to its full advantage with the use of tasteful, stylish furniture. Of course, it’s not worth your while completely redecorating your home in order to sell. Even if your furniture is already tasteful and stylish, it may be a little too personal, which can alienate buyers. Consider Home Staging. Modern, tasteful furniture arranged to professional interior design standards lets your home’s true potential shine by showing potential buyers how amazing the house can look.

Image Source: Pexels CC0 Licence

Garden

 Your garden is not technically part of your house, but it will make a strong impression on a potential buyer. Not only is your garden a testament to the care you have put into the property, letting the buyer know that the property has been looked after, but giving your garden a fresh look helps the buyer to imagine the type of lifestyle that is possible if they buy your house. If you’re a keen gardener, you can do the landscaping yourself, or hire a professional to take your garden to the next level.

 Whether you’re putting your home on the market now, or you’re thinking of selling in the near future, these home improvement tips will help you fetch a higher price for your house.

Vacation Happiness: Making Every Mile Count

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Going on vacation isn’t just about putting your feet up at a random beach you’ve never heard of. Yes, the sun is shining down and just lying down and getting a golden bronze tone is quite relaxing. But did you really travel all this way just to lounge around? You need to make every mile of your vacation count, it should be something you can look back on and really enjoy. That means coming out of your shell and doing things that you wouldn’t normally think about doing while at home. Taking risks and trying new things in strange foreign lands is what a holiday should be about. It’s easier said than done though because we’re not used to not being our normal selves. So you need a plan, a set of things to cross off your list as you go along while abroad.

Not so touristy

You might not even notice but many of the tourist hotspots for food have been Westernized. This means that even when a restaurant says they do ‘authentic’ national cuisine, if it’s a tourist beehive then chances are it’s not really that authentic. The real deal is usually in the street food, something that the locals eat on a daily basis. If you would like to try something new and get the real flavor, then look for street food carts while on the road. If you’re shopping and enjoying the sights, avoid convenience by going where everyone else is going. Street food is not watered down, it’s not made less spicy, or less pungent. This kind of food is normally for the locals so nothing will be altered to suit a foreign palate.

Seek a thrill

Wherever you go in the world there will always be a number of thrill seekers in among the crowd. That’s why tourist industries in all nations have something to give you a shot of adrenaline. Rather than admiring a mountain, you should seek to conquer it. For example, Mount Kilimanjaro is a volcano in Tanzania. Instead of driving out to take a few pictures, look for mountain biking trails up and down it. The steep hills and the rough terrain make it a tough challenge for anyone. Be honest, would you rather say you saw the volcano or that you rode it down at high speed? Seek a thrill on the holidays you go to. Have a least one day dedicated to being an adrenaline junkie.

Document your experience

Rather than taking pictures when you’re at certain sights, document the entire holiday. When you get home you can use scrapbooking supplies to make a book full of diary passages, photos, things from the trip such as flowers, gifts, souvenirs, and recipes of food you enjoy. Keep with you a notebook and use your smartphone to constantly take snaps every half hour to document your journey for the entire vacation. 

When you travel abroad to enjoy a different way of life, don’t mull around on a beach. Go thrill seeking, taste the real cuisine from street food stalls and document everyday of your trip for your scrapbook.

 

3 Ways To Give Your Garden A New Look

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Giving a garden a new lease of life can be incredibly beneficial. You can treat it as an escape, or if you are very green-fingered, it can become a very satisfying hobby.

Today we are going to look at a few things you can add to your garden to give you a secondary sanctum that you can escape to, should the everyday stresses of life become a little too much.

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Water Feature

Having a water feature in the garden can give it a brand new look, unbelievably though it can also give you a new lease of life. 

 Owning a water feature actually has proven psychological benefits. The sound of a water feature alone can promote calmness and even increase focus.

The one painful thing about water features can be the price. If you are feeling up to the challenge, you could always try and build one yourself. Building a water feature, rather than buying one can be far cheaper and way more satisfying.

To build a basic frame, you only require CLS, featherboard, and a decent pond liner. Building an upstanding structure can also take away the need for days worth of digging.

Dining Area

Having an outdoor dining area can be a fantastic little escape, even if that escape is right outside your house. There is something beautiful about dining outside and listening to the sounds of the world.

Getting the dining area just right is vitally important. You don’t want to be in direct sunlight, so outdoor sun shades are a great idea. You also want to avoid being too close to plant life. Given all the excellent pollinators that will be nearby. You don’t want bees and wasps flying around your head while you are having a relaxing meal with your family.

Another thing you could consider, especially during the winter months, is a firepit. There is nothing cosier than a firepit on a slightly chilly evening. You can sit outside toasting smores and watch the wonders of the night sky.

Homegrown Planter Boxes

Having some homegrown planter boxes is just a fantastic idea. You want them to be sitting at around two feet above the ground as this will hopefully keep those ground critters away.

The next step would be to plant seasonal vegetables and herbs in your boxes that you can continuously replenish. One thing you shouldn’t do is buy the seeds. You should always try to recycle your own fruits and vegetables in order to grow more.

There are so many fruits and vegetables you can grow from your own kitchen scraps. This gives you long term satisfaction of watching your waste regrow into something wonderful. It not only gives your garden a new look, but it gives it a little more purpose. Finally, it also gives you a little extra cash in the pocket some new additions to your beautiful garden.

Are There Secret Problems Lurking In Your Home: Here’s What Could Be Happening

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When it comes to our homes, they are our biggest investment, and they cost us the most money each month. Not just with the mortgage or rent, but also with the bills and outlay. Not to mention the upkeep and maintenance side of things. So it is important that you remain on the ball when it comes to your home, but there can be secretly problems waiting to manifest. Here are some of them to help you be more aware.

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Leaks in your home 

One of the first issues that you could find lurking in your home is leaks, and the potential hazards that they can cause. There are many different types of leaks, from holes and cracks in walls to slab leaks. This is when you may want to look online at How to Save Water & Money by Getting On Top Of Slab Leaks so that you can ensure that they don’t cause too many problems. Water damage can be hazardous because when left untouched, it can develop into a mold, which can cause health and allergy problems. It is always wise to check your home for potential leak problems. 

Pests infesting your property

Cracks and holes in your home are not just prone to water damage, but they can also invite unwanted pests into your home. Rats, mice, cockroaches and other bugs and insects can be a huge problem when it comes to your home. You may not even realize there is a problem until you start to identify evidence. This is when you may need to call in pest infestation experts. They can also habit the loft areas and attics, and things like wasps, flies and other creatures can lurk in the attic areas. Check them regularly. 

Damage to the roof

The roof is one area that you can ordinarily see that much, but it is always a good idea to check it especially when there has been a storm or severe weather with wind. Slates and tiles can move and that can cause a hole or damage to the roof area. If you are unsure if there is a problem, it might be worth calling someone to climb up and take a closer look to be on the safe side.

Mould and damp issues

We have already mentioned that water damage can cause mold and damp, but you might also need to be aware that this can be caused over a period of time and covered up with plaster or wallpaper before you even moved into the property. This is when survey checks can help to ensure that there are no issues with damp and mold that have been a long term progression. 

Appliances that are not energy efficient 

Finally, you may not realize is, however, old appliances that are not energy efficient could cause you problems in the future. Not just with the amount of energy they use and the increase in costs to your bill, but also in terms of their operation. An old boiler may omit a gas that isn’t too good for you. Old appliances may spark at the plug and cause issues. It is always good to ensure that your appliances and fixtures are not past their best. 

Let’s hope this has made you more aware of some of the problems that could be lurking in your home.

Three Expensive Purchases That Will Bring You Eternal Happiness

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Sometimes quality really matters. It’s worth decorating your home on a budget in order to afford certain items that make a big difference to your quality of life. Here are three pricey purchases that will make you glad every time you use them. 

Photo by Caroline Attwood on Unsplash

A Chef’s Knife

Cheap knives may start out sharp, but they very quickly become the source of daily frustration. Why squash your tomatoes when you could slice them, right? While you might need to save up to purchase a knife worthy of a chef, a decent quality kitchen knife will last you a lifetime. If you decide to take the plunge, it’s worth doing your homework on the best knives out there. Look at restaurant kitchen supply chains to see what knives chefs are using, and then look around for outlets selling them to the general public. Don’t forget to invest in a good knife sharpener and hit up Youtube to learn the art of knife sharpening. The upfront cost of your knife and sharpener setup might sting at first, but next time you carve the family feast, you’ll be smiling.  

A Comfortable Mattress

Given that the average human being spends twenty-five years asleep—or trying to sleep—it’s well worth investing in the optimal sleep experience. The princess and the pea needed hundreds of mattresses to get some shut-eye, but you may only need one quality mattress for a lifetime if you make a smart purchase. Finding your dream mattress is a personal choice. Soft or hard? Foam or spring? Prepare to spend a little time finding your perfect sleeping partner. Be that person in the mattress store: lying down on every mattress and pretending to be asleep. Not everyone has time to shop in person, however. Investigate options at https://shopdiscountdirect.com/ for convenience and quality.

Remember that what’s right for your spinal alignment isn’t necessarily going to suit your partner down to a T. Before you buy a pricey mattress for both of you, make sure you discuss your needs and preferences. With all the options out there, you should be able to find a good compromise. When in doubt, ask your chosen store if they’d be prepared to let you try the mattress out for a few nights before committing to this important—and pricey—purchase.

Photo by Monica Silvestre from Pexels 

A Safe Car

Not everyone agrees that shelling out a fortune for a slick ride is a good use of your hard-earned cash. However, paying a little extra for a vehicle made by a manufacturer that has invested in safety is undoubtedly a good investment. Lexus and Volvo are famously safe cars, but you needn’t feel limited if these vehicles are too sensible looking for you. Do your homework to find the safest car that suits your style. Not only will you feel safer on the road, but the extra peace of mind will reduce your stress levels long term. 

How we spend our money is personal. Some people prefer to invest more in luxury goods than others. Some people take pleasure in being thrifty. However, there is general agreement that spending a little extra on these three items will improve your quality of life. 

When Was The Last Time You Had Real, Hilarious Fun?

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Pexels
Fun is not superficial. It is not something that only children should care about. It is not
something you should feel guilty about. In fact, fun can be used to learn, to de-stress, and to
come back to the present. No matter how much of a workaholic you are, you can be sure that
having fun is one of the most wonderful things you could ever experience, and it will never lose
its lustre even in old age.
But when was the last time you had real, hilarious fun? When was the last time you threw your
head back in laughter with your friends, not the polite kind of laughter you might do when eating
dinner with your in-laws, but the real, snorting, unattractive kind of real laughter that makes you
feel like your soul has just been massaged?

Well sure, sometimes it can be hard to remember and pinpoint this exactly. But why try to sit there remembering the last time when you could create new times? Here’s some advice for doing just that below:

Comedy Clubs

Comedy clubs are unfortunately starting to lose the lustre they had in the 90’s and early
noughties. This is because many comedy clubs are starting to enforce odd laughs about what
comedians are allowed to say in the modern day. This means less and less comedians are opting for offensive or button-pushing content. Of course, that never necessarily ensures that
simply being offensive is ‘good,’ far from it. But a little danger and the willingness to be hilariously shocked at an opinion is something that we all find quite funny. But of course, this
isn’t a dying art, because it’s human nature. Head to comedy clubs in your city, but avoid the
mainstay names, and you’re likely going to get an open mic experience with professionals and
trainees anew trying to make you laugh through a range of hilarious anecdotes.
Leave the Netflix comedy specials for now, and go to see some real comedy. A great sign of beautiful and hilarious shows to witness are those developed and put on by real comedians and
not a business, such as consortium shows that travel. If one’s in town, go see it. You’ll likely see
a real, hilarious distillation of what comedy can be. Just be sure to bring a friend who is willing to
laugh along with you.

A Road Trip

A road trip be a wonderful experience if you know how to do it right. You might decide to plan your route along with the indulgences you care for, such as eating plenty of food, or
perhaps visiting a range of theatres from city to city. A road trip can help you enjoy travel, but
also give you the option of laughing your way from place to place, with a lighthearted willingness
to travel and enjoy that which is over the horizon.
Simply the experiences of driving from one place to another can be enjoyable when with a good
friend or relative, but so can pushing yourself to do things that you might not have done
otherwise. Why not separate the responsibility, such as having one person decide what to do in
the day, only to switch up roles for the following day?
This not only reduces any conflict from both people wishing to do different things in the same
day, but allows both of you to open up to new experiences. One might be interested in culture
today, the other in abseiling tomorrow. A road trip can be a hilarious, extremely fun and
completely focused endeavor, even better if someone brings a camera!
Hilarious, Awesome Purchases
Sometimes you need to return to that childhood sense of fun in order to enjoy yourself. Children
seem to have fun so easily, but then as we get older, it takes more and more time and attention
in order for our enjoyment to be reached as well. Hilarious, awesome purchases can help you in
that direction, particularly if you also decide to invite your friends around with some wine to
enjoy them. A board game night can certainly help the natural fun flow, or perhaps challenging
people to a few rounds of Mario Kart in the evening. A bluetooth hoverboard can help you enjoy
your street with hilarity in summer, or perhaps a new barbecue set can help you become the grill
king or queen as your garden furniture becomes more and more appropriate for use.

A night out

An impromptu booking of a night’s festivities, such as a beer cellar dance, or perhaps an escape
room, or perhaps an activity day at the local safari park can also work well. The best purchases
are those that are spontaneous, for you to have fun with, not particularly only to celebrate a
birthday or other event. All you need to do is keep your eyes out and ready for something that
might fulfill this hilarious function.

Pranks

A good old prank is relatively harmless, but can be absolutely hilarious. Just make sure they’re
not mean-spirited, nor will interfere with the public in any way. Head to your local practical joke shop. You might be surprised as to what things you can find there, and just what silly havoc you
could have in your office or with your siblings. Just be sure that you play them appropriately,
and don’t repeat their frequency to a questionable degree, because sometimes they can get a
little tiring.

A Tasting

There’s nothing wrong with indulgence from time to time. Heading to a wine tasting learning how
to taste like a sommelier can be a hilarious time with a friend, and the same goes for craft beer
or whisky tasting if that’s more up your speed. For the non-drinkers, cheese fairs and german
markets often show themselves, and with a friend by your side, sampling these delectable
goods can both help you indulge and remain educated at the same time.
With these tips, you are absolutely sure to have real, hilarious fun, perhaps the fun you might

have been longing for.

Preparing For A House-Move And Everything That Comes Afterwards

Moving to a new house is simultaneously incredibly exciting and incredibly stressful. You’ve got a fresh new start ahead of you in a brand new house and a brand new location but you’ve got to deal with the pain of moving from one home to another. There are a million different variables to consider and packing is only one of them. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by the entire process then this following guide might just help you prepare for a big house-move and everything that comes afterwards.

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Plan the packing process.

It’s so important to have a checklist and organizational plan for packing up your possessions. This isn’t like going on a vacation; you’re bringing absolutely everything with you. And whilst it might sound as simple as putting things in boxes, you need to avoid the trap of packing everything in a disorganized way. Think ahead to arriving at your new home. You want to be able to unpack everything as quickly as possible so that you can get settled, and you’re going to find that it’ll take far longer if you’re confused as to which boxes contain which possessions. Most importantly, you want to keep track of everything. You want to tick off items on your checklist as you pack them so that you know you’ve got everything you need. Make sure you label boxes and keep similar possessions together.

Get help where needed.

Family and friends should be more than happy to help you with this big new chapter of your life; if you’re moving with your family then they’ll definitely be a big help. You might need their help not only with the heavy lifting but in terms of deciding which things you should keep or throw out when it comes to some of your older possessions. You may not necessarily be a hoarder but most homeowners end up collecting an array of things over the years which they never really use or need. It’s only when you start to pack things up ready for moving out that you’re truly confronted with the question as to whether you should keep certain things or not.

Your loved ones can be a big help when it comes to mental support during this stressful time. Of course, when it comes to the more practical side of packing up and heading off to a new house, you’ll want to look into selecting a good moving company to help you with the process. It’s crucial that you get this part of the planning process right because you want to know that you’ve got reliable help on hand when the big day finally arrives.

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New things for the new house.

The goal is to bring as many of your old possessions as possible to fill your new home and avoid additional costs, but there will be some new purchases that you’ll have to consider. Getting new locks is always a smart idea because you really don’t know who has keys to your new home. It’s a matter of basic safety and security, really; think about changing the keys to front doors, back doors, and even the garage.

Prepare your new house.

Before you unpack all your many boxes, you should take the time to prepare your new house. You won’t get the chance to see this place entirely empty again unless you go to a lot of unnecessary effort and hassle, so you should use this time wisely. Start by cleaning and tidying every room thoroughly because there’s a chance it won’t have been left in pristine condition by the previous owners. This involves more than scrubbing floors. You’ll also want to think about repainting all the walls and ceilings in a fresh coat of white paint. It’s not just about covering cracks, smudges, or stains but also giving your brand new home that brand new feeling; fresh white walls reflect sunlight and serve to brighten your house too.

You’ll also want to get all the technical aspects of your house sorted out before you move in. You’ll want to make sure you have clean heating and cooling systems, first of all. Of course, it’s important to make sure these things are serviced before you move in too (this should be a regular occurrence after that). The last thing you want is for a boiler to let you down when you’ve barely moved into a place.

You may not yet know of the exciting challenges which await you at your brand new house, but that’s part of the fun of it. Do all the preparation you can but embrace the unknown of everything else.

A 3 Step Plan To Upgrading Your Bathroom

Making upgrades to your bathroom and turning it into something new and different is a fantastic idea. It’s common knowledge that renovations of any type can add serious value to your property. But, a bathroom renovation is right up there with one of the main things to consider. This is because there’s so much you can do to improve this room and make a huge difference to your home.

However, you need to know the right steps to follow when undertaking this idea. Bearing that in mind, here’s my guide with all the steps down below:

(Image via: http://bit.ly/2vYcO1b)

Step 1: Choose The Design

Designing your new bathroom is the first step on your beautiful journey. There are a couple of ways you can do this. Firstly, you can come up with a design all by yourself from scratch. Or, you can find bathroom designs online or in stores and copy them. Regardless, you’ll still need to pick and choose all the different tile colors, sink designs, bathroom styles, etc. Everything needs to be decided before you move onto the second step which begins the renovation process. Ultimately, you should have a clear visual design of your new bathroom at the end of this stage.

Step 2: Find A Contractor

Unless you’re highly gifted in the art of DIY and have experience doing handiwork and plumbing, you’ll need some professional help. Now, if you’re wondering how to select a bathroom renovations contractor, don’t worry, it’s a fairly simple process. There are three key things to consider; experience, price, and reviews. You want to hire contractors that are experienced and have proof of previous work that they can show you. But, they need to be reasonably priced within your budget, and they must have positive reviews from other customers. Find someone that ticks all three boxes, and you’re ready to start the renovations.

Step 3: Get Out Of The Way

When you have a contractor in doing all the bathroom work, you want them to finish as quickly as possible. This doesn’t mean you want them to rush the job, you just want the disruptions in your house to be over quickly. The best way to ensure a great job gets done fast is by getting out of the way. Avoid distracting the contractors as they work by making sure people in your house are out of their hair. This might mean using a neighbor’s bathroom or staying with family until the job is done. This means they can work without having to stop as someone needs the toilet or getting asked questions by your kids all the time.

If this seems extremely simple, that’s because it is! These are the three main steps you should follow to upgrade your bathroom. Start with the design, find people to make the design a reality, then give them space to get the job done in a time that suits you. Before you know it, you’ll have an upgraded bathroom that makes those early mornings more bearable!

KNOLLY NIBBLES Interactive Story App

Last month at Blogger Bash I was introduced to Knolly Nibbles. I just leaned the Interactive Story App is launching in just two days and had to share.

It’s an INTERACTIVE story of little Knolly Nibbles who is born without a tail and heart-shaped ears, Knolly wonders why she is so different and longs for her own tail,  she goes out on an imaginary adventure to find the perfect tail, before she realizes she IS special just the way she is!  Its a simple but effective“TALE of TAILS” that educates kids young and old about self acceptance!  A GREAT Message!  

Knolly Nibbles was born from the heart of her creator, Michele Goren. Out of pure love and empathy, Michele sought out a way to create a very special character for children seven years ago. She wanted every child (and the child in every adult) to know; no matter who they are, where they come from, what they look like or what they’ve been through, they are beautiful, just the way they are.

In just two days The APP will be available for you to download. This is a paid app and will cost 2.99 to download. From what I saw of this special character, it is sure to be a hit.

To be the first to know about all things Knolly Nibbles check them out on Twitter and Facebook